Hydronium Ions Are Less Excluded from Hydrophobic Polymer-Water Interfaces than Hydroxide Ions.

The cloud point temperatures of aqueous poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(ethylene) oxide (PEO) solutions were measured from pH 1.0 to pH 13.0 at a constant ionic strength of 100 mM.

An Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Estimation Programs.

In the environment, the class of chemicals known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) behave somewhat differently. This review covers situations where PAHs can be 'labile' and where they can be persistent. The in-silico prediction of toxicity and the properties of selected 29 PAHs were estimated using programs developed by the U.

Solvation Behavior of Elastin-like Polypeptides in Divalent Metal Salt Solutions.

The effects of CaCl and MgCl on the cloud point temperature of two different elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) were studied using a combination of cloud point measurements, molecular dynamics simulations, and infrared spectroscopy. Changes in the cloud point for the ELPs in aqueous divalent metal cation solutions were primarily governed by two competing interactions: the cation-amide oxygen electrostatic interaction and the hydration of the cation. In particular, Ca cations can more readily shed their hydration shells and directly contact two amide oxygens by the formation of ion bridges.

Proteomes reveal metabolic capabilities of for biological upcycling of polyethylene into high-value chemicals.

Sustainable processes for biological upcycling of plastic wastes in a circular bioeconomy are needed to promote decarbonization and reduce environmental pollution due to increased plastic consumption, incineration, and landfill storage. Strain characterization and proteomic analysis revealed the robust metabolic capabilities of to upcycle polyethylene into high-value chemicals. Significant proteome reallocation toward energy and lipid metabolisms was required for robust growth on hydrocarbons with n-hexadecane as the preferential substrate.

Y225A induces long-range conformational changes in human prion protein that are protective in Drosophila.

Prion protein (PrP) misfolding is the key trigger in the devastating prion diseases. Yet the sequence and structural determinants of PrP conformation and toxicity are not known in detail. Here, we describe the impact of replacing Y225 in human PrP with A225 from rabbit PrP, an animal highly resistant to prion diseases.

Ionizing radiation and chemical oxidant exposure impacts on Cryptococcus neoformans transfer RNAs.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungus that is able to survive abnormally high levels of ionizing radiation (IR). The radiolysis of water by IR generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as H2O2 and OH-. C.

New Drosophila models to uncover the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that mediate the toxicity of the human prion protein.

Misfolding of the prion protein (PrP) is responsible for devastating neurological disorders in humans and other mammals. An unresolved problem in the field is unraveling the mechanisms governing PrP conformational dynamics, misfolding, and the cellular mechanism leading to neurodegeneration. The variable susceptibility of mammals to prion diseases is a natural resource that can be exploited to understand the conformational dynamics of PrP.

Local Electric Fields in Aqueous Electrolytes.

Vibrational Stark shifts were explored in aqueous solutions of organic molecules with carbonyl- and nitrile-containing constituents. In many cases, the vibrational resonances from these moieties shifted toward lower frequency as salt was introduced into solution. This is in contrast to the blue-shift that would be expected based upon Onsager's reaction field theory.

Outcomes for Pauwels' Osteotomy in Nonunions of Displaced Femoral Neck Stress Fractures: A Case Series.

Femoral neck stress fractures (FNSF) are rare injuries and have shown poor results after displacement, including nonunion and osteonecrosis (ON). The goal of this study was to retrospectively evaluate a series of patients who underwent a valgus producing intertrochanteric osteotomy for FNSF nonunion and assess the degree of Pauwels' correction, ON rate, and return to duty. Current functional outcomes were prospectively obtained via a telephone script.

Non-displaced Femoral Neck Stress Fractures in Young Adults: 7-Year Outcomes of Prophylactic Fixation Versus Nonoperative Treatment.

Retrospectively compare outcomes of prophylactic fixation to nonoperative treatment of incomplete or non-displaced femoral neck stress fractures (FNSF) in young adults. Outcomes of 82 patients (mean age 21.7 years) who were diagnosed with incomplete or non-displaced FNSFs from 2002 to 2015 were compared.

Insight From Animals Resistant to Prion Diseases: Deciphering the Genotype - Morphotype - Phenotype Code for the Prion Protein.

Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative diseases endemic in humans and several ruminants caused by the misfolding of native prion protein (PrP) into pathological conformations. Experimental work and the mad-cow epidemic of the 1980s exposed a wide spectrum of animal susceptibility to prion diseases, including a few highly resistant animals: horses, rabbits, pigs, and dogs/canids. The variable susceptibility to disease offers a unique opportunity to uncover the mechanisms governing PrP misfolding, neurotoxicity, and transmission.

Temperature- and Pressure-Regulating Insoles for Prevention of Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) pose a major threat to the United States healthcare system as well as patients and their families. High ulcer recurrence rates indicate that existing preventive measures are not effective. A new generation of multimodal preventive devices may reduce ulceration and amputation rates.

Characterization of the putative polysaccharide synthase CpsA and its effects on the virulence of the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus.

The fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous opportunistic human pathogen capable of causing a life-threatening disease called invasive aspergillosis, or IA, with an associated 40-90% mortality rate in immunocompromised patients. Of the approximately 250 species known in the genus Aspergillus, A. fumigatus is responsible for up to 90% of IA infections.

Fracture Risk in Ulnohumeral Arthroplasty-A Biomechanical Study.

Purpose: Ulnohumeral arthroplasty, also known as the Outerbridge-Kashiwagi procedure, was popularized after reports of successful results in 1978, and has long been a means of management for ulnohumeral arthritis. However, there are concerns over the loss of integrity of the distal humerus as a result of fenestration. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the size of fenestration and fracture risk.

rtfA controls development, secondary metabolism, and virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus.

Invasive aspergillosis by Aspergillus fumigatus is a leading cause of infection-related mortality in immune-compromised patients. In order to discover potential genetic targets to control A. fumigatus infections we characterized rtfA, a gene encoding a putative RNA polymerase II transcription elongation factor-like protein.

Altered affective modulation of the startle reflex in alcoholics with antisocial personality disorder.

Background: Individual differences in neural circuitry that regulate emotional reactivity may be associated with alcoholism and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), a common comorbid condition. The emotion-modulated startle reflex was used to investigate emotional reactivity among alcohol-dependent (AD) men with and without ASPD.

Methods: Sixty-two men were tested: (1) AD (n = 24), (2) AD-ASPD (n = 17), and (3) non-AD, non-ASPD controls (n = 21).