Fully Atom-Efficient Solvent-Mediated Biopolymer Manufacturing: A Base Case Illustrated with Macromolecular Surfactants Tailored to Stable Polymer-Water Interfaces.

This work introduces a novel 1-pot, 0-waste, 0-VOC methodology for synthesizing polymeric surfactants using acrylated epoxidized soybean oil and acrylated glycerol as primary monomers. These macromolecular surfactants are synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, allowing for tunable hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) and ionic properties. We characterize the copolymers' chemical composition and surface-active properties, and evaluate their effectiveness in forming and stabilizing emulsions of semiepoxidized soybean oil and poly(acrylated epoxidized high oleic soybean oil).

Automated Metrics for Medical Multi-Document Summarization Disagree with Human Evaluations.

Evaluating multi-document summarization (MDS) quality is difficult. This is especially true in the case of MDS for biomedical literature reviews, where models must synthesize contradicting evidence reported across different documents. Prior work has shown that rather than performing the task, models may exploit shortcuts that are difficult to detect using standard -gram similarity metrics such as ROUGE.

Dihydroxyterephthalate-A Trojan Horse PET Counit for Facile Chemical Recycling.

Here, low-energy poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) chemical recycling in water: PET copolymers with diethyl 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalate (DHTE) undergo selective hydrolysis at DHTE sites, autocatalyzed by neighboring group participation, is demonstrated. Liberated oligomeric subchains further hydrolyze until only small molecules remain. Poly(ethylene terephthalate-stat-2,5-dihydroxyterephthalate) copolymers were synthesized via melt polycondensation and then hydrolyzed in 150-200 °C water with 0-1 wt% ZnCl , or alternatively in simulated sea water.

Cavitation-Mediated Fracture Energy Dissipation in Polylactide at Rubbery Soybean Oil-Based Block Copolymer Interfaces Formed via Reactive Extrusion.

Here, we spearhead a new approach to biopolymer impact modification that demonstrates superior performance while maintaining greater than 99% compostability. Using soybean-based monomers, a virtually untapped resource in terms of commercial volume and overall cost, a series of hyperbranched block copolymers were synthesized and melt-processed with poly(l-lactide) (PLA) to yield impact resistant all-polymer composites. Although PLA impact modification has been treated extensively, to date, the only practical solutions have relied on non-compostable petroleum-based rubbers.

The Evolution of Topical Formulations in Psoriasis.

Most people with mild-to-moderate psoriasis manage their disease with topical therapies. However, adherence to topical treatment remains a challenge, as the daily application creates a significant treatment burden. New topical therapeutic options need to offer higher efficacy and better patient acceptability, including easier application, to reduce treatment burden and enhance patient adherence.

Approach to hyponatremia in congestive heart failure: a survey of Canadian specialist physicians and trainees.

Background: Hyponatremia is a recognized complication of congestive heart failure (CHF) and is associated with reduced survival. Therefore, early identification and appropriate management of hyponatremia is important. The aim of this study was to determine the general approach amongst Canadian healthcare practitioners and trainees to the identification and management of hyponatremia complicating CHF.

Understanding the role of the healthcare professional in patient self-management of allergic rhinitis.

Objective: Allergic rhinitis is a common, usually long-standing, condition that may be self-diagnosed or have a formal diagnosis. Our aim was to identify how allergic rhinitis sufferers self-manage their condition.

Methods: A sample of 276 self-identified adult allergy sufferers pooled from social media completed an online survey comprising 13 questions.

Canadian consensus recommendations on the management of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer. Part 2: treatment.

Patients with cancer are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism (vte). Anticoagulation therapy is used to treat vte; however, patients with cancer have unique clinical circumstances that can often make decisions surrounding the administration of therapeutic anticoagulation complicated. No national Canadian guidelines on the management of established cancer-associated thrombosis have been published.

p53 is active in murine stem cells and alters the transcriptome in a manner that is reminiscent of mutant p53.

Since it was found that p53 is highly expressed in murine embryonic stem cells, it remained a mystery whether p53 is active in this cell type. We show that a significant part of p53 is localised in the nucleus of murine embryonic stem cells and that the majority of this nuclear p53 is bound to DNA. According to its nuclear localisation, we show that p53 alters the transcriptional program of stem cells.

Leveraging hospital formularies for improved prescribing.

Hospital formularies, guided by the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, exist to optimize medication use by identifying and designating drugs of choice to guide rational prescribing, ultimately reducing patient risk and costs and improving patient outcomes. Guidelines and a framework exist to guide critical evaluations of medications for formulary listing; however, there may be opportunities to improve and standardize how a formulary change could be instituted in Canadian hospitals. A formulary change at an Ontario hospital revealed that there are some key challenges to the formulary change process including the importance of a robust project plan, appropriate resources, healthcare staff education, and acceptance.

MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry-multivariate data analysis as a tool for classification of reactivation and non-culturable states of bacteria.

Some bacterial life states are only difficult to describe and to detect because they are on the border of active metabolism. A prominent example is the so-called viable but non-culturable state, which is mainly characterized by the inability of bacteria to grow on synthetic media. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF/MS) in combination with multivariate data analysis represents a powerful tool for mass-spectrometric pattern recognition of biological samples.

Sequential analysis by immunoprecipitation-MALDI-TOF: a novel method for detection and identification of alloantibody specificities.

Alloantibodies are known to influence transplant outcomes. Apart from human leukocyte antigens (HLA), non-HLA targets have been suggested to play a significant role, but little is known about their nature. Here, we present a novel method for identification and characterization of cell surface antigens bound by alloreactive antibodies.

Large-scale mapping of human protein-protein interactions by mass spectrometry.

Mapping protein-protein interactions is an invaluable tool for understanding protein function. Here, we report the first large-scale study of protein-protein interactions in human cells using a mass spectrometry-based approach. The study maps protein interactions for 338 bait proteins that were selected based on known or suspected disease and functional associations.

Cutaneous cleansers.

Skin cleansers may be an important adjunct to the regimen of those who use cosmetics, have sensitive or compromised skin, or utilize topical therapies. Cleansers emulsify dirt, oil and microorganisms on the skin surface so that they can be easily removed. During cleansing, there is a complex interaction between the cleanser, the moisture skin barrier, and skin pH.

Differential expression of p53, p21waf1/cip1 and hdm2 dependent on DNA damage in Bloom's syndrome fibroblasts.

The Bloom's syndrome gene, BLM, encodes a protein which bears homology to the RecQ helicases. It is believed to be involved in DNA replication and has been implicated in the maintenance of genomic stability. To investigate whether BLM was involved in cellular responses to DNA damage Bloom's syndrome fibroblasts were treated with either UV or ionizing radiation and the levels of p53 and two of its down stream effectors, p21waf1/cip1 and hdm2, were determined by western blot analysis.

Immortalisation of a human diploid fibroblast cell strain: a DT-diaphorase paradox.

Transfection of a normal human diploid fibroblast cell strain, GM38, with a simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen containing plasmid, yielded an immortal cell line, G38-8X, which had a similar sensitivity as the parental cell strain to the quinone-containing chemotherapeutic agent mitomycin C (MMC), under both aerobic and hypoxic exposure conditions. The activity level of DT-diaphorase was similar in both the parental GM38 and G38-8X cells. Although DT-diaphorase could be detected by Western blot analysis, using two mouse anti-human monoclonal antibodies, in GM38 cells, it was not detected in the G38-8X cells.

Presence of a heterozygous substitution and its relationship to DT-diaphorase activity.

A point mutation in the mRNA of NADP(H): quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1, DT-diaphorase) is believed to be responsible for reduced enzyme activity in the adenocarcinoma BE cell line. The present study examined nine cultured human non-cancerous fibroblast cell strains, five of which were from members of a single cancer-prone family, which demonstrated widely varying activity levels of DT-diaphorase (41 - 3462 nmol min-1 mg-1 protein), to determine if genetic alteration of the NQO1 or NOQ2 gene was involved in determining enzyme activity. All cell strains expressed NQO1 and NQO2 mRNA as measured by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction amplification technique.

Cellular approaches to bioreductive drug mechanisms.

Mitomycin C is being used as an adjunct to ionizing radiation in the treatment of some solid tumors. A rationale for this is that radioresistant hypoxic cells in solid tumors will have enhanced sensitivity to this bioreductively activated drug, compared to aerobic cells. The role of oxygen concentration and enzymatic drug reduction in bioreductive drug activation have been investigated.

Characterization of a set of Chinese hamster ovary variant cell lines demonstrating differing sensitivity to mitomycin C.

Three related Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines derived from CHO-K1R cells (MMC3-A2, 21-1 and G1B) previously shown to differ in their sensitivity to mitomycin C (MMC), were investigated in more detail to determine the factors controlling this sensitivity. A separately maintained wild type cell line (CHO-K1TOR) was included in this study for comparison. Continuous (chronic) exposure of the five cell lines to MMC during the 10-day colony forming assay demonstrated a 15-fold range in MMC sensitivity between the most sensitive cell line (MMC3-A2) and the most resistant cell line (G1B) with CHO-K1R, 21-1 and CHO-K1TOR falling at intermediate levels.

Families of adolescent drug abusers: systemic interventions to attain drug-free behavior.

Adolescent drug use in the community is a widespread social problem. The abuse of alcohol and/or other illegal drugs ranges from random experimentation to a complex pattern of regular use of a combination of drugs. This paper addresses systemic therapeutic interventions which have been constructed to achieve drug-free behavior.