The construction and cloning of synthetic genes coding for artificial proteins and expression studies to obtain fusion proteins

Synthetic genes coding for artificial proteins with predeflnedand nutritionally valuable amino acid compositions have beenconstructed and cloned In bacterial plasmid vector pKK233-2.The genes were constructed from three easily interchangeable‘cassettes’ encoding either essential, non-essentialor branched-chain amino acid residues. A potential hairpin loopstructure in the mRNA around the region of the ribosome bindingsite was probably the reason for blockage of translation fromthis vector. Two selected genes, AHB (containing one copy ofeach cassette) and A (consisting of six copies concatemerizedA₆cassette) were cloned into pUR300, a (ß-Gal fusionvector and expressed as fusion proteins (ß-Gal-AHBand (ß-Gal-A₆.     

On surveys of expert opinion

Probabilistic risk assessments are, like most computational assessments, subject to knowledge uncertainties. Quite often experts are consulted for their opinion on the subject matter in question to bridge the corresponding gaps in the computational assessment procedure. The less to the point information available, however, the more the expert judgement depends on features that may vary considerably from expert to expert. Additionally, a number of biases are pointed out in the literature that may have serious impact on expert judgements. Some of these biases are outlined and the variation in opinions between experts is illustrated by practical examples from different engineering disciplines. With respect to the credibility and usability of PRAs to nuclear power plants it is concluded that if expert opinion is to serve as a significant quantification basis it is to enter in form of a survey of expert opinion.     

The role of processing resources in age-related prospective and retrospective memory within old age.

This study investigated the role of processing speed and working memory in prospective and retrospective memory (i.e., free recall) performance within old age. The aim was to examine age-related differences in both memory domains within the age range of 65 to 80 years. The sample consisted of 361 older adults from Wave 1 data of the Zurich Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Aging. Using structural equation modeling, prospective memory, free recall, working memory, and processing speed were identified as latent constructs. Age effects were found to be larger for prospective memory than for free recall. Furthermore, when controlling for individual differences in working memory and processing speed, unique age effects remained for prospective, but not retrospective, memory performance. Results indicate that, within old age, prospective memory represents a distinct memory construct that is partially independent of age-related individual differences in speed of processing, working memory, and retrospective memory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

More confident,less formal: stylistic changes in academic psychology writing from 1970 to 2016

Scientometrics - Stylistic changes in academic psychology writing were examined in a corpus of 790,520 psychology journal article abstracts published between 1970 and 2016. We anticipated that...     

When Would Immunologists Consider a Nanomaterial to be Safe? Recommendations for Planning Studies on Nanosafety

The immune system is professional in recognizing and responding to non‐self, including nanomaterials. Immune responses by professional and nonprofessional immune cells are thus nearly inevitable upon exposure of cells and organisms to such materials. The state of research into taking the immune system into account in nanosafety studies is reviewed and three aspects in which further improvements are desirable are identified: 1) Due to technical limitations, more stringent testing for endotoxin contamination should be made. 2) Since under overdose conditions immunity shows unphysiological responses, all doses used should be justified by being equivalent to tissue‐delivered doses. 3) When markers of acute inflammation or cell stress are observed, functional assays are necessary to distinguish between homeostatic fluctuation and genuine defensive or tolerogenic responses. Since immune activation can also indicate that the immune system considers a stimulus to be harmless and induces tolerance, activation markers by themselves do not necessarily imply a danger to the body. Guidelines such as these are necessary to approach the point where specific nanomaterials are classified as safe based on reliable testing strategies.     

Fabrication of a Robust PEM Water Electrolyzer Based on Non‐Noble Metal Cathode Catalyst: [Mo3S13]2− Clusters Anchored to N‐Doped Carbon Nanotubes

High investment costs and a dependence on noble metal catalysts currently obstruct the large‐scale implementation of proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) for converting fluctuating green electricity into chemical energy via water splitting. In this context, this work presents a high‐performing and stable non‐noble metal catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), consisting of [Mo₃S₁₃]^2? clusters supported on nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs). Strikingly, a significant electrochemically induced activation of the Mo₃S₁₃‐NCNT catalyst at high current densities is observed in full cell configuration, enabling a remarkable current density of 4 A cm^?2 at a cell voltage of 2.36 V. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the highest reported value to date for a PEMWE full cell using a non‐noble metal HER catalyst. Furthermore, only a minor degradation of 83 µV h^?1 is observed during a stability test of 100 h constant current at 1 A cm^?2, with a nearly unchanged polarization behavior after the current hold. Catalyst stability and activity are additionally analyzed via online dissolution measurements. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy examination of the catalyst before and after electrochemical application reveals a correlation between the electrochemical activation occurring via electrodissolution with changes in the molecular structure of the Mo₃S₁₃‐NCNT catalyst.     

Electrode Work Function Engineering with Phosphonic Acid Monolayers and Molecular Acceptors: Charge Redistribution Mechanisms

The uses of self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) of dipolar molecules or of adsorbed molecular acceptors on electrode materials are common strategies to increase their work function, thereby facilitating hole injection into an organic semiconductor deposited on top. Here it is shown that a combination of both approaches can surpass the performance of the individual ones. By combined experimental and theoretical methods it is revealed that in a three‐component system, consisting of an indium‐tin‐oxide (ITO) electrode, a carbazole‐based phosphonic acid SAM, and a molecular acceptor layer on top of the SAM, charge transfer occurs from the ITO through the SAM to the acceptor layer, resulting in an electrostatic field drop over the charge‐neutral SAM. This result is in contrast to common expectations of either p‐doping the carbazole of the SAM or charge transfer complex formation between the carbazole and the acceptor molecules. A high work function of 5.7 eV is achieved with this combined system; even higher values may be accessible by exploiting the fundamental charge redistribution mechanisms identified here with other material combinations.     

Injectable Peptide Decorated Functional Nanofibrous Hollow Microspheres to Direct Stem Cell Differentiation and Tissue Regeneration

Injectable microspheres are attractive stem cell carriers for minimally invasive procedures. For tissue regeneration, the microspheres need to present the critical cues to properly direct stem cell differentiation. In natural extracellular matrix (ECM), growth factors (GFs) and collagen nanofibers provide critical chemical and physical cues. However, there have been no reported technologies that integrate synthetic nanofibers and GFs into injectable microspheres. In this study, functional nanofibrous hollow microspheres (FNF‐HMS), which can covalently bind GF‐mimicking peptides, are synthesized. Two different GF‐mimicking peptides, Transforming Growth Factor‐β1 mimicking peptide Cytomodulin (CM) and Bone Morphogenetic Protein‐2 mimicking peptide P24, are separately conjugated onto the FNF‐HMS to induce distinct differentiation pathways of rabbit bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). While no existing biomaterials are reported to successfully deliver CM to induce chondrogenesis, the developed FNF‐HMS are shown to effectively present CM to BMSCs and successfully induced their chondrogenesis for ­cartilage formation in both in vitro and in vivo studies. In addition, P24 is conjugated onto the newly developed FNF‐HMS and is capable of retaining its bioactivity and inducing ectopic bone formation in nude mice. These results demonstrate that the novel FNF‐HMS can effectively deliver GF‐mimicking peptides to modulate stem cell fate and tissue regeneration.     

Simultaneous dynamic T1 and T2* measurement for AIF assessment combined with DCE MRI in a mouse tumor model

A double-delay SR-MGE-SNAP sequence allowing simultaneous T1 and T2* measurement was developed for integrating arterial input function (AIF) measurement into DCE MRI. Implemented on a 4.7-T animal MR system, this technique was applied to mice with colorectal tumor xenografts. AIF, measured in the mouse heart, was modeled by a bi-exponential function, whereas tumor K(trans) and v(e) parameter maps were obtained from analysis with a two- compartment model using an individually measured AIF. AIF analysis of T2*-corrected data yielded A1 = 9.2 +/- 4.3 kg/l, A(2) = 4.2 +/- 0.8 kg/l, m1 = 2.3 +/- 1.1 min(-1), and m2 = 0.05 +/- 0.02 min(-1). The mean initial plasma concentration C ( p )(t = 0) = 8.0 +/- 2.7 mM was compatible with estimated 8.6 mM. Without T2*-correction distribution phase parameters A1, m1, and C(p)(t = 0) were underestimated. In tumors, neglect of T2* effects yielded mean K(trans) values which were reduced by 14% (P < 0.05), whereas v(e) showed only a slight non-significant reduction. Simultaneous measurement of DeltaR1 and DeltaR2* studied in highly and poorly vascularized and (pre-)necrotic tumor regions revealed complementary behavior of both parameters with respect to vascular properties. In conclusion, the presented measurement technique is a promising tool for dynamic MRI applications studied in animal models at high field strengths and/or with CA of high relaxivities, as it combines classical DCE MRI integrating AIF assessment with dynamic T2* measurement.