Size Control and Fluorescence Labeling of Polydopamine Melanin-Mimetic Nanoparticles for Intracellular Imaging.

As synthetic analogs of the natural pigment melanin, polydopamine nanoparticles (NPs) are under active investigation as non-toxic anticancer photothermal agents and as free radical scavenging therapeutics. By analogy to the widely adopted polydopamine coatings, polydopamine NPs offer the potential for facile aqueous synthesis and incorporation of (bio)functional groups under mild temperature and pH conditions. However, clear procedures for the convenient and reproducible control of critical NP properties such as particle diameter, surface charge, and loading with functional molecules have yet to be established. In this work, we have synthesized polydopamine-based melanin-mimetic nanoparticles (MMNPs) with finely controlled diameters spanning ≈25 to 120 nm and report on the pH-dependence of zeta potential, methodologies for PEGylation, and the incorporation of fluorescent organic molecules. A comprehensive suite of complementary techniques, including dynamic light scattering (DLS), cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), zeta-potential, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, and confocal microscopy, was used to characterize the MMNPs and their properties. Our PEGylated MMNPs are highly stable in both phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and in cell culture media and exhibit no cytotoxicity up to at least 100 μg mL-1 concentrations. We also show that a post-functionalization methodology for fluorophore loading is especially suitable for producing MMNPs with stable fluorescence and significantly narrower emission profiles than previous reports, suggesting they will be useful for multimodal cell imaging. Our results pave the way towards biomedical imaging and possibly drug delivery applications, as well as fundamental studies of MMNP size and surface chemistry dependent cellular interactions

The Leafy Spurge Plant

The focus of the article is the description of the plant itself, it's parts, it's stems, it's flowers, it's roots, it's seeds, it's seedlings, vegetative buds, genetic diversity and it's latex and chemical properties. It's history in North America with the citation of it's roots overseas in Spain, Russia, the Balkans, Italy and Siberia is given brief overview

Becoming a Nurse: The Role of Communication in Professional Socialization

The nursing industry faces tremendous growth in the coming years, as over one million new nurses will be needed to combat the current shortage and enable the healthcare industry to function at an acceptable level. To investigate how nursing students are socialized into the nursing profession in order to meet this demand, data were gathered from baccalaureate students, faculty members, and recent graduates of one Midwestern nursing school using an interpretive, mixed method approach with a longitudinal panel design. This study found nursing faculty members to be primary agents of socialization, familiarizing students with the profession through messages regarding professional responsibility, inherent challenges, and required commitment. A revised model of the socialization process for nursing students is contrasted with the traditional three-phase model of anticipatory socialization, encounter, and metamorphosis. Also discussed are nursing students' communication skills, as well as what they are taught about professional nurse communication

Transforming Caterpillars Into Butterflies: The Role of Managerial Values and HR Systems in the Performance of Emergent Organizations

Emerging firms are the foundation for economic growth in today's business world, yet relatively little is known about the factors that contribute to the success or failure of developing organizations. This research study helps to address this broad question by examining the role that managerial values and practices play in the performance of high-tech start-ups. Using the resource-based and dynamic capability perspectives, this research project examines three critical factors that are likely to affect the performance of emerging firms: human resource policies and practices, an overarching philosophy of partnership, and an entrepreneurial orientation. Each of these is argued to produce a sustainable competitive advantage by providing firms with the ability to dynamically configure and reconfigure resource bundles. Results indicate that high performance work systems and partnership philosophy are positively associated with sales growth and innovation. Additional findings suggest that partnership and an entrepreneurial orientation both increase the likelihood of implementing high performance work systems. Finally, the results suggest that firms combining a greater utilization of high performance work systems with an entrepreneurial orientation achieve higher levels of sales growth

Pregnancy Outcome in Military and Civilian Women

Low birth weight and prematurity account for much of the morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period as well as for much of the cost in newborn care. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if two groups of pregnant women, military enlisted and civilian dependents, differed in selected risk factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, weight gain, prenatal care, work patterns, life stress, and social support) or in pregnancy outcome (infant birth weight and gestational age). The House (1981) theory of stress, social support, and health served as the framework for this study. Since little has been published on pregnancy outcome in military populations, it was hypothesized that there would be no differences between the military and civilian subjects. This comparative survey design included a sample of 200 low risk primiparas who were interviewed during the third trimester of pregnancy. Outcome data was collected after delivery. Data was analyzed by t-test comparisons of mean values for predictor and outcome variables, chi-square analyses of categorical data, correlation matrices of variables, and multiple regression. Results showed that several prenatal risk factors were statistically different for the two groups of women. Hours worked per week, weeks worked during pregnancy, and number of prenatal clinic visits were greater for the active duty military group. Prenatal weight gain and reported level of social support were greater for the civilian dependents. However, outcome measures of infant birth weight and gestational age were not significantly different for the two groups. Pregnancy outcome was not contingent on maternal military status or employment patterns. Work outside the home during pregnancy did not compromise outcome. Active duty women, who worked longer into pregnancy, demonstrated as favorable results as their civilian counterparts

Purdue Graduate School Thesis and Dissertation Policy Changes: Giant Leaps Forward

Inspired by the University of Iowa’s Beyond the PDF event last year, the Purdue Graduate School evaluated their policies pertaining to theses and dissertations. The evaluation concluded last summer and found that existing policies were unclear regarding acceptable types of theses, in particular, requiring submission in the PDF format. As students continue to utilize emerging technologies and publish journal articles to supplement their research, policies were rewritten to include non-traditional formats and types of theses. The challenges, motivations, and inspirations for the new policies will be shared as well as early indications of their impacts

Oxaliplatin-Induced Neuropathy in Colorectal Cancer

Oxaliplatin use in palliative and adjuvant treatment of colon cancer is frequently limited by cumulative neurotoxicity, leading to reduced quality of life and decreased dose. The mechanism of this neurotoxicity is unclear, but may relate to neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels involving calcium chelation by a metabolite of the drug. Various preventative measures have been tested to reduce the incidence of neurotoxicity, including calcium and magnesium infusions, dose interruption of the drug, and prophylactic neuromodulatory agents. Despite the promising efficacy of these measures, they are not universally accepted. Less is known about the best way to treat established neurotoxicity, which is permanent in some patients, although venlafaxine has shown promise in small clinical trials. This paper analyzes the extent, cause and risk factors for neuropathy, and the potential preventative and therapeutic treatments for oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy

Distribution and Economic Impacts of Leafy Spurge in North Dakota

The history, the distribution and the economics impacts of the weed, leafy spurge, in North Dakota, are reviewed for the reader. Leafy spurge was introduced as early as 1827 in Massachusetts. However, it did not develop into a problem under later in the Great Plains states. By 1950, this weed was found in every province of Canada, except for Newfoundland. Leafy spurge is found in all 53 counties of North Dakota. In those areas infested, the economic impacts of leafy spurge are first felt in hay and livestock productions. Next is the added costs of leafy spurge control, including chemicals and their application. The third effect is added expenditures on non-agricultural items such as roads, railroads, public utilities and government lands. The costs related to leafy spurge to the state of North Dakota averaging 1978-82 was approximately $13 million per year. The necessity of the continuance of management strategies of this weed are highlighted as being the appropriate measure to reduce future losses