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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling Of Acetaminophen Metabolism And Toxicity, David M. Ng, Ali Navid Aug 2012

Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling Of Acetaminophen Metabolism And Toxicity, David M. Ng, Ali Navid

STAR Program Research Presentations

Acetaminophen is a common analgesic and antipyretic. Metabolism of acetaminophen and acetaminophen-induced liver necrosis are predicted using physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. Pharmacokinetic means the model determines where the drug is distributed in the body over time. Physiologically-based means the anatomy and physiology of the human body is reflected in the structure and functioning of the model. Acetaminophen is usually safe and effective when taken as recommended, but consumption at higher levels may lead to liver damage. Additionally, other factors such as alcoholic liver disease, smoking, and malnutrition affect the maximum safe dose of acetaminophen.


Using Stable Isotope Analysis To Study Zooplankton Trophic Ecology In San Francisco Estuary, Steven C. Westbrook, Julien Moderan, Wim Kimmerer Aug 2012

Using Stable Isotope Analysis To Study Zooplankton Trophic Ecology In San Francisco Estuary, Steven C. Westbrook, Julien Moderan, Wim Kimmerer

STAR Program Research Presentations

Zooplankton biomasses in estuaries are often high and represent an important food source for fish, like theendangered Delta Smelt. Human interferences (nitrates from crops, freshwater flow alteration, invasive species introduction…) have altered the structure of the San Francisco Estuary (SFE) ecosystem. We use stable isotope analysis to improve our knowledge of the planktonic food web in the SFE and gain insights into its evolution over the past decades. Every living thing has a specific isotopic signature. For example, in the plankton we study exists Carbon 13 and Carbon 12. Carbon 13 is different only because it has one extra neutron, …


Quantification And In Vitro Analysis Of Nanolipoproteins (Nlps) Containing Adjuvants, Purna Venkataraman, Craig Blanchette, Nicholas O. Fischer Aug 2012

Quantification And In Vitro Analysis Of Nanolipoproteins (Nlps) Containing Adjuvants, Purna Venkataraman, Craig Blanchette, Nicholas O. Fischer

STAR Program Research Presentations

Nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) self-assemble into nanoscale structures that can be used as vaccines or drug delivery agents. Due to the nature of the NLPs, a variety of immune stimulating compounds or adjuvants can be readily incorporated into NLPs: a characteristic difficult to engineer into most other nanoscale platforms. In light of this, a method for quantifying the amount adjuvant actually incorporated into NLPs is a question of high importance. Through the use of reverse phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and an Evaporative Light Scattering Detector (ELSD), standard curves can be constructed by analyzing mixtures of NLP components of known concentration, …


Analyzing Environmental Microbes For Genomic Regions Promoting Ionic Liquid Tolerance In E. Coli, Ann Nguyen, Alison Richins, Thomas Rüegg, Steven Singer, Michael Thelen Aug 2012

Analyzing Environmental Microbes For Genomic Regions Promoting Ionic Liquid Tolerance In E. Coli, Ann Nguyen, Alison Richins, Thomas Rüegg, Steven Singer, Michael Thelen

STAR Program Research Presentations

Ionic liquids (ILs) are promising as solvents to increase the efficiency of biofuel production; however, ILs are toxic to microbes used in the fermentation of liquid fuels. To engineer IL resistant biofuel hosts, environmental bacteria were screened for tolerance, and these were used to create gene libraries to test in E. coli. Future characterization of these libraries using molecular techniques will be used to identify genes that contribute IL-tolerance to transformed microbes.


Classification Of Multi-Domain Glycoside Hydrolases To Aid In The Enzymatic Production Of Biofuels From Biomass, Emi Leonard, Gregg Beckham, Deanne Sammond, Michael Crowley Aug 2012

Classification Of Multi-Domain Glycoside Hydrolases To Aid In The Enzymatic Production Of Biofuels From Biomass, Emi Leonard, Gregg Beckham, Deanne Sammond, Michael Crowley

STAR Program Research Presentations

Biomass conversion to renewable biofuels provides an alternative to conventional fossil-fuel based transportation fuels and a means to reduce dependence on foreign oil. However, plant cell walls have evolved to be quite resistant to enzymatic deconstruction, a phenomenon generally termed biomass recalcitrance. As enzymes represent a substantial cost in biofuels production, there is significant impetus to understand and improve their efficiency in converting cell wall carbohydrates to fermentable sugars. Much research has been conducted on single "free" enzymes with one catalytic unit per protein and on the much larger, complexed "cellulosomes" with many tens of catalytic units per protein, but …


Correction To Fully Enclosed Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices, Kevin M. Schilling, Anna L. Lepore, Jason A. Kurian, Andres W. Martinez Mar 2012

Correction To Fully Enclosed Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices, Kevin M. Schilling, Anna L. Lepore, Jason A. Kurian, Andres W. Martinez

Chemistry and Biochemistry

There is an error in the units of the concentrations of potassium iodide and trehalose described in the experimental details on page 1581. The correct concentrations are 0.6 M potassium iodide and 0.3 M trehalose.


Fully Enclosed Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices, Kevin M. Schilling, Anna L. Lepore, Jason A. Kurian, Andres W. Martinez Jan 2012

Fully Enclosed Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices, Kevin M. Schilling, Anna L. Lepore, Jason A. Kurian, Andres W. Martinez

Chemistry and Biochemistry

This article introduces fully enclosed microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (microPADs) fabricated by printing toner on the top and bottom of the devices using a laser printer. Enclosing paper-based microfluidic channels protects the channels from contamination, contains and protects reagents stored on the device, contains fluids within the channels so that microPADs can be handled and operated more easily, and reduces evaporation of solutions from the channels. These benefits extend the capabilities of microPADs for applications as low-cost point-of-care diagnostic devices.


Β-Casein–Phospholipid Monolayers As Model Systems To Understand Lipid–Protein Interactions In The Milk Fat Globule Membrane, Sophie Gallier, Derek E. Gragson, Rafael Jiménez-Flores, David W. Everett Jan 2012

Β-Casein–Phospholipid Monolayers As Model Systems To Understand Lipid–Protein Interactions In The Milk Fat Globule Membrane, Sophie Gallier, Derek E. Gragson, Rafael Jiménez-Flores, David W. Everett

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Phospholipid–protein monolayer films were studied as model systems to mimic the structure of the native bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and to understand lipid–protein interactions at the surface of the globule. Phospholipids extracted from bovine raw milk, raw cream, processed milk and buttermilk powder were spread onto the air–water interface of a Langmuir trough, β-casein was then added to the sub-phase, and Langmuir–Blodgett films were studied by epifluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy. In all films, β-casein was responsible for clustering of the sphingomyelin- and cholesterol-rich microdomains into larger platforms. This suggests that the same phenomenon may happen at …