Professional development and career-preparedness experiences of STEM Ph.D. students: Gaps and avenues for improvement.

This study presents the experiences of current science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Ph.D. students and alumni with respect to professional development opportunities in their Ph.

Extraction of Membrane Components from Using Catanionic Surfactant Vesicles: A New Approach for the Study of Bacterial Surface Molecules.

Identification of antigens is important for vaccine production. We tested extraction protocols using cetyltrimethylammonium tosylate (CTAT) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) to formulate surfactant vesicles (SVs) containing components from . Carbohydrate and protein assays demonstrated that protein and carbohydrates were incorporated into the vesicle leaflet.

New Trimodal Phenotypic Reporter of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Activity.

Bacterial resistance to β-lactam antibiotics continues to grow as misadministration presents evolutionary pressure that drives bacteria to develop improved resistance enzymes. Known as extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), these enzymes are capable of hydrolyzing advanced β-lactam antibiotics such as third-generation (and higher) cephalosporins. Phenotypic detection substrates can be used to rapidly identify a cultured patient sample prior to confirmation by more exhaustive but slower means, critically aiding in the antibiotic stewardship essential in maintaining the effectiveness of not only the cephalosporins but also indirectly the carbapenems, our last-resort β-lactams.

Acyclic Cucurbit[n]uril-type Receptors: Preparation, Molecular Recognition Properties and Biological Applications.

This article traces the development of acyclic cucurbit[n]uril-type receptors with a focus on work from the Isaacs group. First, we describe the synthesis of methylene bridged glycoluril dimers capped with aromatic sidewalls which allowed us to probe the interconversion of the S- and C-shaped dimers which is a fundamental step in CB[n] formation. The C-shaped compounds were found to undergo discrete self-assembly (dimerization) in both water and organic solvents which lead us to investigate multicomponent self-sorting systems.

Molecular Containers Bind Drugs of Abuse in Vitro and Reverse the Hyperlocomotive Effect of Methamphetamine in Rats.

We measured the affinity of five molecular container compounds (calabadions 1 and 2, CB[7], sulfocalix[4]arene, and HP-β-CD) toward seven drugs of abuse in homogenous aqueous solution at physiological pH by various methods ( H NMR, UV/Vis, isothermal titration calorimetry [ITC]) and found binding constants (K values) spanning from <10 to >10  m . We also report X-ray crystal structures of CB[7]⋅methamphetamine and 1⋅methamphetamine. We found that 2, but not CB[7], was able to ameliorate the hyperlocomotive activity of rats treated with methamphetamine.

A Novel Strategy to Reverse General Anesthesia by Scavenging with the Acyclic Cucurbit[n]uril-type Molecular Container Calabadion 2.

Background: Calabadion 2 is a new drug-encapsulating agent. In this study, the authors aim to assess its utility as an agent to reverse general anesthesia with etomidate and ketamine and facilitate recovery.

Methods: To evaluate the effect of calabadion 2 on anesthesia recovery, the authors studied the response of rats to calabadion 2 after continuous and bolus intravenous etomidate or ketamine and bolus intramuscular ketamine administration.

In Vitro selectivity of an acyclic cucurbit[n]uril molecular container towards neuromuscular blocking agents relative to commonly used drugs.

An acyclic cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]) based molecular container (2, a.k.a.

Comparative Effectiveness of Calabadion and Sugammadex to Reverse Non-depolarizing Neuromuscular-blocking Agents.

Background: The authors evaluated the comparative effectiveness of calabadion 2 to reverse non-depolarizing neuromuscular-blocking agents (NMBAs) by binding and inactivation.

Methods: The dose-response relationship of drugs to reverse vecuronium-, rocuronium-, and cisatracurium-induced neuromuscular block (NMB) was evaluated in vitro (competition binding assays and urine analysis), ex vivo (n = 34; phrenic nerve hemidiaphragm preparation), and in vivo (n = 108; quadriceps femoris muscle of the rat). Cumulative dose-response curves of calabadions, neostigmine, or sugammadex were created ex vivo at a steady-state deep NMB.