Nutrition education: a questionnaire for assessment and teaching

It is generally recognized that there is a need for improved teaching of nutrition in medical schools and for increased education of the general population. A questionnaire, derived in part from a study of physician knowledge, was administered to first year medical students in order to assess their knowledge of various aspects of nutrition and metabolism, and as a teaching tool to transmit information about the subject. The performance of first year students was consistent with a generally educated population but there were surprising deficits in some fundamental areas of nutrition. Results of the questionnaire are informative about student knowledge, and immediate reinforcement from a questionnaire may provide a useful teaching tool. In addition, some of the subject matter can serve as a springboard for discussion of critical issues in nutrition such as obesity and markers for cardiovascular disease. A major barrier to improved teaching of nutrition is the lack of agreement on some of these critical issues and there are apparent inconsistencies in recommendations of government and health agencies. It seems reasonable that improved teaching should address the lack of knowledge of nutrition, rather than knowledge of official guidelines. Student awareness of factual information should be the primary goal.     

15‐Methylene‐Eburnamonine Kills Leukemic Stem Cells and Reduces Engraftment in a Humanized Bone Marrow Xenograft Mouse Model of Leukemia

Recent studies suggest that leukemia stem cells (LSCs) play a critical role in the initiation, propagation, and relapse of leukemia. Herein we show that (?)‐15‐methylene‐eburnamonine, a derivative of the alkaloid (?)‐eburnamonine, is cytotoxic against acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemias (ALL and CLL) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The agent also decreases primary LSC frequency in vitro. The cytotoxic effects appear to be mediated via the oxidative stress pathways. Furthermore, we show that the compound kills AML, ALL, and CLL stem cells. By the use of a novel humanized bone marrow murine model of leukemia (huBM/NSG), it was found to decrease progenitor cell engraftment.     

Apparatus for the vertical orientation cone calorimeter testing of flexible polyurethane foams

Of concern to regulators and fire safety engineers is how flexible polyurethane foam drips and flows during burning. Specifically, flexible polyurethane foam forms a burning ‘pool’ of liquid as the foam decomposes, which can lead to accelerated flashover events. To fully study this phenomenon where the ‘pool fire’ accelerates heat release, large‐scale tests like the furniture calorimeter (American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) E1537) are used, and no small‐scale technique exists. In this paper, we present our work in developing a new sample holder that works with a bench‐scale heat release test, the cone calorimeter (ASTM E1354). The holder was built upon designs developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which placed the foam in a cage in a vertical orientation during cone calorimeter testing. In this paper, we show the schematics for this test apparatus, as well as results obtained with this apparatus on four different flexible foams (shape memory and high‐density foam, flame retarded and non‐flame retarded). We compare the results from the vertical testing with that obtained via traditional horizontal ASTM E1354 testing. The advantages and disadvantages of this new apparatus are discussed in this paper. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and Piezoelectric Properties of (Na1−xKx)NbO3 Platelets and Their Application for Piezoelectric Nanogenerator

(Na_1?xK_x)NbO₃ (NKN) platelets synthesized at 600°C for 12 h have an Amm2 orthorhombic structure. However, the structure of NKN platelets synthesized at 500°C is a mixture of R3m rhombohedral and Amm2 orthorhombic structures. The formation of a rhombohedral structure is attributed to the presence of OH^? and H₂O defects in the NKN platelets. The piezoelectric strain constant (d₃₃) of NKN platelets synthesized at 600°C for 12 h is 100 pmV^?1, whereas that of NKN platelets synthesized at 500°C is lesser (50 pmV^?1) due to the presence of these defects. Piezoelectric nanogenerators (PNGs) are fabricated using composites consisting of NKN platelets and polydimethylsiloxane. A large output voltage of 25 V and output current of 2.7 μA were obtained for the PNG with NKN platelets synthesized at 600°C for 6 h. This PNG shows a high output electrical energy of 3.0 μW at an external load of 5.1 MΩ.     

Sugarcane Serine Peptidase Inhibitors,Serine Peptidases,and Clp Protease System Subunits Associated with Sugarcane Borer (Diatraea saccharalis) Herbivory and Wounding

Sugarcane’s (Saccharum spp.) response to Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: (Crambidae) herbivory was investigated using a macroarray spotted with 248 sugarcane Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) encoding serine peptidase inhibitors, serine peptidases. and Clp protease system subunits. Our results showed that after nine hours of herbivory, 13 sugarcane genes were upregulated and nine were downregulated. Among the upregulated genes, nine were similar to serine peptidase inhibitors and four were similar to Bowman-Birk Inhibitors (BBIs). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these sequences belong to a phylogenetic group of sugarcane BBIs that are potentially involved in plant defense against insect predation. The remaining four upregulated genes included serine peptidases and one homolog to the Arabidopsis AAA+ chaperone subunit ClpD, which is a member of the Clp protease system. Among the downregulated genes, five were homologous to serine peptidases and four were homologous to Arabidopsis Clp subunits (three homologous to Clp AAA+ chaperones and one to a ClpP-related ClpR subunit). Although the roles of serine peptidase inhibitors in plant defenses against herbivory have been extensively investigated, the roles of plant serine peptidases and the Clp protease system represent a new and underexplored field of study. The up- and downregulated D. saccharalis genes presented in this study may be candidate genes for the further investigation of the sugarcane response to herbivory.     

Voltammetric sensing of tryptophan in dark chocolate bars,skimmed milk and urine samples in the presence of dopamine and caffeine

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - The present work reports the development of screen-printed electrode (SPE) using flexible polyester sheets modified with nanodiamond (ND), Au nanoparticles...     

Structure-activity relationship for the first-in-class clinical steroid sulfatase inhibitor Irosustat (STX64, BN83495)

Structure–activity relationship studies were conducted on Irosustat (STX64, BN83495), the first steroid sulfatase (STS) inhibitor to enter diverse clinical trials for patients with advanced hormone‐dependent cancer. The size of its aliphatic ring was expanded; its sulfamate group was N,N‐dimethylated, relocated to another position and flanked by an adjacent methoxy group; and series of quinolin‐2(1H)‐one and quinoline derivatives of Irosustat were explored. The STS inhibitory activities of the synthesised compounds were assessed in a preparation of JEG‐3 cells. Stepwise enlargement of the aliphatic ring from 7 to 11 members increases potency, although a further increase in ring size is detrimental. The best STS inhibitors in vitro had IC₅₀ values between 0.015 and 0.025 nM . Other modifications made to Irosustat were found to either abolish or significantly weaken its activity. An azomethine adduct of Irosustat with N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) was isolated, and crystal structures of Irosustat and this adduct were determined. Docking studies were conducted to explore the potential interactions between compounds and the active site of STS, and suggest a sulfamoyl group transfer to formylglycine 75 during the inactivation mechanism.     

Aromatase and dual aromatase-steroid sulfatase inhibitors from the letrozole and vorozole templates

Concurrent inhibition of aromatase and steroid sulfatase (STS) may provide a more effective treatment for hormone‐dependent breast cancer than monotherapy against individual enzymes, and several dual aromatase–sulfatase inhibitors (DASIs) have been reported. Three aromatase inhibitors with sub‐nanomolar potency, better than the benchmark agent letrozole, were designed. To further explore the DASI concept, a new series of letrozole‐derived sulfamates and a vorozole‐based sulfamate were designed and biologically evaluated in JEG‐3 cells to reveal structure–activity relationships. Amongst achiral and racemic compounds, 2‐bromo‐4‐(2‐(4‐cyanophenyl)‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)ethyl)phenyl sulfamate is the most potent DASI (aromatase: IC₅₀=0.87 nM ; STS: IC₅₀=593 nM ). The enantiomers of the phenolic precursor to this compound were separated by chiral HPLC and their absolute configuration determined by X‐ray crystallography. Following conversion to their corresponding sulfamates, the S‐(+)‐enantiomer was found to inhibit aromatase and sulfatase most potently (aromatase: IC₅₀=0.52 nM ; STS: IC₅₀=280 nM ). The docking of each enantiomer and other ligands into the aromatase and sulfatase active sites was also investigated.     

Covalent immobilization of nisin on multi-walled carbon nanotubes: superior antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties

Despite unique and useful properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) such as high strength and a low synthesis cost, their weak antimicrobial property hampers their use as an antimicrobial material. Herein, we demonstrate that the immobilization of nisin, a natural and inexpensive antimicrobial peptide, with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG(1000)) as a linker significantly enhanced the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties of MWNTs. The MWNT-nisin composite showed up to 7-fold higher antimicrobial property than pristine MWNTs against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Moreover, the MWNT-nisin composite had a dramatically improved capability to prevent biofilm formation both on a deposited film and in suspension. In particular, the MWNT-nisin deposit film exhibited a 100-fold higher anti-biofilm property than the MWNT deposit film. Further, it has been shown that PEG and nisin are covalently attached to MWNTs with excellent stability against leaching. We envision that our novel MWNT-nisin composite can serve as an effective and economical antimicrobial material.