Preparation of Expanded Chitin Foams and their Use in the Removal of Aqueous Copper.

Chitin is an underexploited, naturally abundant, mechanically robust, and chemically resistant biopolymer. These qualities are desirable in an adsorbent, but chitin lacks the necessary specific surface area, and its modification involves specialized techniques and equipment. Herein is described a novel chemical procedure for expanding chitin flakes, derived from shrimp shell waste, into foams with higher surface area.

Human DNA quantification and sample quality assessment: Developmental validation of the PowerQuant(®) system.

Quantification of the total amount of human DNA isolated from a forensic evidence item is crucial for DNA normalization prior to short tandem repeat (STR) DNA analysis and a federal quality assurance standard requirement. Previous commercial quantification methods determine the total human DNA and total human male DNA concentrations, but provide limited information about the condition of the DNA sample. The PowerQuant(®) System includes targets for quantification of total human and total human male DNA as well as targets for evaluating whether the human DNA is degraded and/or PCR inhibitors are present in the sample.

Systematic review of the benefits and harms of calcitriol and alfacalcidol for fractures and falls.

Our objective was to conduct a systematic review on the benefits and harms of calcitriol and alfacalcidol in the reduction of fracture and fall risk. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing these agents to placebo or calcium and reporting fracture and fall incidence were retrieved from MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Two reviewers independently determined study eligibility, assessed trial quality, and extracted data.