Protein Crystallisation using Microemulsions

X-ray crystallography is the most powerful technique for structural determination of proteins, a vital research tool, enabling insight at the atomic level, of the three dimensional structure of key protein receptors for potential drug compounds. To be successful, single, high quality crystals of the compound in question are required. Current methods to produce crystals involve frustratingly long timescales, extensive trial and error using large amounts of material, and have no guarantee of success. Polymorphic compounds add another level of frustration, requiring the thermodynamic control of crystallisation in order to overcome Ostwald’s rule of stages, which considers crystallisation from bulk solution to be under kinetic control with metastable polymorphs often crystallising initially. These factors have led to what is currently referred to as the “bottle-neck” of protein crystallisation, an acute problem motivating the rapid development of protein crystallisation techniques. This thesis aims to alleviate the bottle-neck found in protein crystallisation by exploring protein crystallisation using microemulsions; a technique, which until now, has only been successfully applied to the thermodynamic control of crystallisation for small compounds, such as 5-methyl-2-[(2-nitrophenyl)amino]-3-thiophenecarbonitrile (commonly known as ROY) and glycine. Through the application of several different surfactant systems for the crystallisation of model protein, Lysozyme, this thesis explores the use of microemulsions with the aim of producing high quality single crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction experiments. Numerous, large, high quality, single crystals of Lysozyme were successfully grown using a TritonX-100/1-hexanol surfactant system in which an anti-solvent, mixed microemulsion method was applied. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was effectively used to confirm formation of microemulsions and led to the determination of droplet sizes using generalised indirect Fourier Transform (GIFT) analysis. X-ray diffraction experiments showed single crystals grown from microemulsions to have a high internal order, with the resultant data sets of a publishable quality and of a comparative quality to data sets collected from crystals grown using standard vapour diffusion crystallisation techniques. This thesis demonstrates, for the first time, that microemulsions can be successfully used to produce high quality, single crystals of the protein, Lysozyme, shining light on this novel technique as a potential means of relieving the bottle-neck of protein crystallisation. Future directions of this work include exploring the robustness of the microemulsion crystallisation technique with other proteins such as insulin, glucose isomerase and albumin. Expanding this novel technique to the crystallisation of membrane proteins may be initially explored through the crystallisation of a 25 residue, membrane spanning part of the M2 protein of the influenza virus. This would provide an interesting starting point due to the proteins’ biological importance as a target of anti-influenza drugs

How and in what context do osteopathic medical students learn about interprofessional practice

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on February 13, 2008)Vita.Thesis (Ed. D.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007..The purpose of this study was to explore how and in what context osteopathic medical students learn about interprofessional practice. A mixed method design was used to gather data on attitudes of first- and second-year osteopathic medical students toward interdisciplinary practice and to elicit a rich description of their experience in a community-based elder visit program. Sixteen students participated in the qualitative portion of the study and 329 in the quantitative portion. The qualitative findings described the students' experiences of interdisciplinary interactions, and the quantitative findings described the attitudes of students before and after the program. Qualitative data included transcripts of focus groups and interviews, field notes and surveys. Based on the quantitative data, students enter osteopathic medical school with (a) generally positive attitudes about the value of teamwork as a contributor to quality of patient care, (b) some concerns about the effort required to develop and maintain effective teams, (c) reservations about sharing leadership in the team, and (d) relative confidence about their teamwork skills. Post-program data showed statistically significant positive change in attitudes about the value of teamwork, efficiency of teams, and teamwork skills. Principles from intergroup contact theory and a knowledge creation metaphor provided a framework for viewing students' reflections of their interdisciplinary teamwork experience. As a result of the program, students' expressed awareness of the importance of diversity of skills, communication, and teamwork were increased.Includes bibliographical reference

Randomized Trial of Four Financial-Incentive Programs for Smoking Cessation

Background Financial incentives promote many health behaviors, but effective ways to deliver health incentives remain uncertain. Methods We randomly assigned CVS Caremark employees and their relatives and friends to one of four incentive programs or to usual care for smoking cessation. Two of the incentive programs targeted individuals, and two targeted groups of six participants. One of the individual-oriented programs and one of the group-oriented programs entailed rewards of approximately $800 for smoking cessation; the others entailed refundable deposits of$150 plus $650 in reward payments for successful participants. Usual care included informational resources and free smoking-cessation aids. Results Overall, 2538 participants were enrolled. Of those assigned to reward-based programs, 90.0% accepted this assignment, as compared with 13.7% of those assigned to deposit-based programs (P Conclusions Reward-based programs were much more commonly accepted than deposit-based programs, leading to higher rates of sustained abstinence from smoking. Group-oriented incentive programs were no more effective than individual-oriented programs

The Grizzly, October 26, 1984

Campus Books Loses Contact • Significant Tuition Increase Possible for Next Year • Reception Held to Showoff Duryea Renovations • Editorial: A Welcome Alternative to Drinking, Driving • Letter: Grenada Student Opposes Rallies • Student Experiences Spain • Music Review: R.E.M in Concert • News of Yesteryear: Library Staff Portrait, Mr. James Rue • Writing Center Offers Help • Computer Plans Move Ahead • Grizzlies Make Bologna of Lebanon • Bear Booters Shoot for Playoffs • Shorts: Singers Attend Festival; Student Delegates Wanted; Homecoming Bonfirehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1125/thumbnail.jp

Study protocol: can a school gardening intervention improve children's diets?

BACKGROUND: The current academic literature suggests there is a potential for using gardening as a tool to improve children's fruit and vegetable intake. This study is two parallel randomised controlled trials (RCT) devised to evaluate the school gardening programme of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Campaign for School Gardening, to determine if it has an effect on children's fruit and vegetable intake. METHOD/DESIGN: Trial One will consist of 26 schools; these schools will be randomised into two groups, one to receive the intensive intervention as "Partner Schools" and the other to receive the less intensive intervention as "Associate Schools". Trial Two will consist of 32 schools; these schools will be randomised into either the less intensive intervention "Associate Schools" or a comparison group with delayed intervention. Baseline data collection will be collected using a 24-hour food diary (CADET) to collect data on dietary intake and a questionnaire exploring children's knowledge and attitudes towards fruit and vegetables. A process measures questionnaire will be used to assess each school's gardening activities. DISCUSSION: The results from these trials will provide information on the impact of the RHS Campaign for School Gardening on children's fruit and vegetable intake. The evaluation will provide valuable information for designing future research in primary school children's diets and school based interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN11396528