A comparative study of reactive oxygen species (ROS) related parameters in rat tissues

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are believed to be responsible for pathogenesis of various diseases affecting tissues and systems. ROS generated by mitochondrial electron transport chain as well as extra-mitochondrially are eliminated by the respective defense mechanisms. We checked the activity of ROS generating system such as xanthine oxidase and also the parameter of ROS defense mechanism e.g. superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPox), reduced glutathione content (GSH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) in mitochondrial and post-mitochondrial fractions from various tissues (liver, kidney, brain and heart) of normal rats. Extent of lipid peroxidation (LPO) which is immediate consequence of ROS generation was also examined. Our results shows that significant tissue-specific differences exist in mitochondrial and cytosolic ROS generating systems and ROS defense mechanisms.     

Evaporation-based microfluidic production of oil-free cell-containing hydrogel particles

We demonstrate an evaporation-based microfluidic strategy to produce oil-free cell containing hydrogel particles. Perfluoro-n-pentane, which is used as the continuous oil phase to generate cell-containing hydrogel (Extracel) particles, is removed at an elevated temperature. Human colon cancer cells (HCT116) encapsulated in the hydrogel particles show higher viability than cells encapsulated in particles that are produced via a non-evaporative oil phase. In addition, single HCT116 cells can be cultured for a week in such particles and respond to inflammatory stimuli, highlighting the potential applications of the developed strategy for 3D cell culture, drug testing, and cell-based drug delivery.     

Fostering conceptual change and critical reasoning about HIV and AIDS

One of the challenges of science education is for students to develop scientific knowledge that is personally meaningful and applicable to real‐life issues. This article describes a middle‐school science intervention fostering adolescents' critical reasoning in the context of HIV by strengthening their conceptual understanding of HIV biology. The intervention included two components: critical reasoning activities that fostered knowledge integration and application to real‐world problem solving, and science writing activities that promoted argument building. Two seventh‐grade classes participated in the study. One class participated in the critical reasoning and writing activities (CR&W); the other class participated in critical reasoning activities only (CR group). Results demonstrate significant pre‐ and posttest improvements on measures of students' HIV knowledge, HIV understanding, and critical reasoning about realistic scenarios in the context of HIV, with the improvements being greater in the CR&W group. The discussion focuses on the role of conceptual knowledge in health reasoning, the role of science writing in fostering knowledge integration, and the benefits of a “thinking curriculum” approach to integrated health and science education. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 44: 844–863, 2007     

Socialization Values and Practices of Indian Immigrant Parents: Correlates of Modernity and Acculturation

Mothers and fathers from 100 first-generation, Gujarati, Indian immigrant families were interviewed about their socialization values and practices. Adolescents provided data about their parents' behavior as well. 3 predictors of parental attitudes and behavior were examined: modernity, acculturation, and time in the United States. The effects of the predictors varied as a function of parent and child gender. Whereas modernity and acculturation predicted socialization values for fathers of girls, only time in the United States predicted the socialization values of mothers. Parental modernity, acculturation, and time in the United States predicted the use of induction and psychological control, but differently as a function of parent and child gender. Implications for understanding the selective nature of acculturation are considered.     

Microfluidic separation of live and dead yeast cells using reservoir-based dielectrophoresis

Separating live and dead cells is critical to the diagnosis of early stage diseases and to the efficacy test of drug screening, etc. This work demonstrates a novel microfluidic approach to dielectrophoretic separation of yeast cells by viability. It exploits the cell dielectrophoresis that is induced by the inherent electric field gradient at the reservoir-microchannel junction to selectively trap dead yeast cells and continuously separate them from live ones right inside the reservoir. This approach is therefore termed reservoir-based dielectrophoresis (rDEP). It has unique advantages as compared to existing dielectrophoretic approaches such as the occupation of zero channel space and the elimination of any mechanical or electrical parts inside microchannels. Such an rDEP cell sorter can be readily integrated with other components into lab-on-a-chip devices for applications to biomedical diagnostics and therapeutics.     

Non Transferrin Bound Iron: Nature, Manifestations and Analytical Approaches for Estimation

Iron is an essential trace element and plays a number of vital roles in biological system. It also leads the chains of pathological actions if present in excess and/or present in free form. Major portion of iron in circulation is associated with transferrin, a classical iron transporter, which prevent the existence of free iron. The fraction of iron which is free of transferrin is known as “non transferrin bound iron”. Along with the incidence in iron over loaded patient non transferrin bound iron has been indicated in patients without iron overload. It has been suggested as cause as well as consequence in a number of pathological conditions. The major organs influenced by iron toxicity are heart, pancreas, kidney, organs involved in hematopoiesis etc. The most commonly suggested way for iron mediated pathogenesis is through increased oxidative stress and their secondary effects. Generation of free oxygen radicals by iron has been well documented in Fenton chemistry and Haber–Weiss reaction. Non transferrin bound iron has obvious chance to generate the free reactive radicals as it is not been shielded by the protective carrier protein apo transferrin. The nature of non transferrin bound iron is not clear at present time but it is definitely a group of heterogenous iron forms free from transferrin and ferritin. A variety of analytical approaches like colorimetry, chromatography, fluorimetry etc. have been experimented in different research laboratories for estimation of non transferrin bound iron. However the universally accepted gold standard method which can be operated in pathological laboratories is still to be developed.     

Best practices and emerging trends in assessment of trauma in students with autism spectrum disorder

Children and adolescents with autism have a higher likelihood of being exposed to bullying, abuse, and sexual assault which, through repeated exposure, has been demonstrated to impede academic, social, and physical functioning among this population. However, the complexity of unpacking the characteristics of autism and trauma can pose a challenge for school psychologists in using the most appropriate clinical method of intervention. This paper summarizes the co-occurrence of autism and trauma in an effort to better inform practitioners and recommends the need for valid and reliable assessments that measure adverse experiences for children with autism. A practitioner assessment guide of childhood trauma and autism spectrum disorder is also provided to facilitate a comprehensive assessment process. We conclude that there is a pressing need for more research examining the relationship between autism and trauma by better understanding the relationship of these constructs, and for the development of more effective assessments to provide more evidence-based interventions.     

Insulin or sulfonylurea treatments of the diabetics differentially affect erythrocyte membrane and serum enzymes and extent of protein glycosylation

Erythrocyte membrane protein glycosylation increase by 3.4 fold in diabetes. Insulin or sulfonylurea treatment did not reduce the extent of glycosylation. The serum protein glycosylation was comparable in all the groups including control. Erythrocyte membrane Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity decreased in the diabetics; only insulin treatment partly restored the activity. Erythrocyte membrane acetylcholinesterase activity decreased only in the sulfonylurea treated group. Serum butyrylcholinesterase activity was relatively low in the diabetic and insulin treated diabetic groups. The Km and Vmax of the two components of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase from erythrocyte membranes were differently affected in the diabetic and the two treatment groups. The Vmax of acetylcholinesterase decreased only in the sulfonylurea treated group. Diabetic states resulted in decreased Vmax of components I and II of serum butyrylcholinesterase. In insulin-treated diabetics, component II was absent. Sulfonylurea group resembled diabetics.In vitro incubation with insulin differentially affected the Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase and serum butyrylcholinesterase activities.     

Promoting a culture of scholarship among educational developers: exploring institutional opportunities

Educational developers tend to be located in centres and units of teaching and learning outside the academic mainstream. They have little opportunity to engage in scholarship. Through an overview of the literature on educational development and educational professional roles and responsibilities, the author suggests that promoting a culture of scholarship among educational developers will contribute significantly towards their pedagogical professional development. It will enhance the quality of professional consultation between educational developers and academic staff in the faculties. The discussion concludes with suggestions for implementing innovative strategies to promote a culture of scholarship within the higher education academic mainstream.     

Extending and Customizing Content Discovery for the Legal Academic Community with Innovative Interfaces' Pathfinder Pro: The Pence Law Library Approach

Incorporation of technological tools into teaching methodology is an ongoing process. Using graphic illustrations with explanations, this article will demonstrate the functionality of one such tool, Innovative Interfaces' Pathfinder Pro, a context-sensitive linking mechanism, in conjunction with the Pence Law Library online catalogue. The article also discusses the benefits of using this tool in legal research instructions and distance learning programs.