Background: Oral cancer, the largest subset of head and neck cancer, has become one of the most lethal malignancies during the last two decades. Although several diagnostic tools have been applied for the early detection of oral malignancies, it is still urgent to identify novel tumor markers. In this study, we explored the cell surface N-glycomes of primary cultured human oral keratinocytes (HOK), immortalized human gingival keratinocytes (SG cells), and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OC2). Methods: Enzymatically hydrolyzed cell surface N-glycans were analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Results: High levels of fucosylated N-glycans, especially core-fucosylated N-glycans, were observed on the OC2 cell surface whereas the major N-glycans on SG and HOK cells were high mannose type. In addition, the mRNA expression level of fucosyltransferase 8 was elevated significantly in OC2 cells than in SG and HOK cells. Core-fucosylated glycoproteins of OC2 cells were then purified with lectin affinity chromatography and a key adhesion molecule in cancer cells, CD147, was identified. Finally, overexpression of cell surface CD147 was confirmed on OC2 cells and oral cancer tissues (tissue array). Conclusions: CD147 was discovered by glycoproteomic approaches and suggested to be a potential novel tumor marker for oral cancer diagnosis.

Background: Oral cancer, the largest subset of head and neck cancer, has become one of the most lethal malignancies during the last two decades. Although several diagnostic tools have been applied for the early detection of oral malignancies, it is still urgent to identify novel tumor markers. In this study, we explored the cell surface N-glycomes of primary cultured human oral keratinocytes (HOK), immortalized human gingival keratinocytes (SG cells), and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OC2). Methods: Enzymatically hydrolyzed cell surface N-glycans were analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Results: High levels of fucosylated N-glycans, especially core-fucosylated N-glycans, were observed on the OC2 cell surface whereas the major N-glycans on SG and HOK cells were high mannose type. In addition, the mRNA expression level of fucosyltransferase 8 was elevated significantly in OC2 cells than in SG and HOK cells. Core-fucosylated glycoproteins of OC2 cells were then purified with lectin affinity chromatography and a key adhesion molecule in cancer cells, CD147, was identified. Finally, overexpression of cell surface CD147 was confirmed on OC2 cells and oral cancer tissues (tissue array). Conclusions: CD147 was discovered by glycoproteomic approaches and suggested to be a potential novel tumor marker for oral cancer diagnosis.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The function(s) of the intracellular form of HBeAg, previously reported as the preCore protein intermediate (p22) without the N-terminal signal peptide, remains elusive. Here, we propose to elucidate the translocation of p22 during its formation from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to cytosol, how it differs from core in its inability to form a capsid and the biological functions of cytoplasmic and nuclear p22. Firstly, we have identified that a portion of p22, after the cleavage of its signal peptide in ER, is released back into the cytosol through an ERAD-independent mechanism, as neither wildtype nor dominant-negative p97 affected the ER-to-cytosol translocation of p22 or ER-Golgi secretion of HBeAg. Secondly, despite sharing the same sequence with core protein except for the extended 10 amino acid precore region at the N-terminus, we observed that p22 wildtype and C-7Q mutant are unable to form a capsid. Thirdly, we report that p22 but not the secreted HBeAg significantly reduced interferon stimulated response element (ISRE) activity and expression of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) upon interferon-alpha (IFN- α) stimulation. Furthermore, in line with this, RNA-seq analysis of ISG induction profile from IFN-α treated patients showed that HBeAg(+) patients exhibited reduced and weak antiviral ISG upregulations compared to HBeAg(-) patients. Further, mechanistic study indicated that while p22 did not alter the total STAT1 or p-STAT1 levels in IFN-α treated cells, it blocked the nuclear translocation of p-STAT1 by interacting with karyopherin α1, indicating that the cytoplasmic p22 may impede JAK-STAT signaling to help the virus evade host innate immune response and cause resistance to IFN therapy in patients. Additionally, nuclear p22 and nuclear core were found to interact with the promoter regions (ISRE – containing) of ISGs, suggesting a new mechanism of inhibition of ISG expression upon stimulation. Finally, we found that the nuclear p22 can bind to cccDNA minichromosome and affects cccDNA maintenance and/or transcription. Thus, our results indicate that there is a novel ER sorting mechanism for the distribution of the intracellular and secretory HBeAg, and the intracellular HBeAg may contribute to HBV persistence by interfering with IFN-α elicited JAK-STAT signaling and regulating cccDNA metabolism.

No description available.

No description available.

Despite active volcanism, few geothermal energy resources have been developed in the Cascades Range. Temperature Gradient Hole (TGH) MB 76-31 was drilled to approximately 440 m measured depth to probe for zones where fractures provide fluid conduits that transport deep volcanic heat to shallow depths that could support baseload, carbon neutral electrical generation. These zones were predicted by a Play Fairway assessment (PFA) of resource potential along a zone 11 km west-southwest of the summit of Mount Baker Volcano, Washington State. Rock core, temperature logs, and an acoustic image log were obtained. By comparison to outcrops, the core is interpreted as the Chilliwack Group, comprised of partially metamorphosed basaltic to andesitic volcanics, but due to similar physical and mineral composition may represent the Nooksack Formation. Mapping of core reveals complex, steeply dipping networks of fractures and brecciation along slickensided strike slip faults; clay alteration is common in many of these structures. Most fractures are thoroughly healed by layers of chlorite and calcite, whereas chlorites and vermiculite line open fractures. Fracture porosity is primarily hosted by very dense fractures a few centimeters or less in length. These small fractures are not clearly evident or interpretable in image logs, leading to under-estimated fracture density and secondary porosity, although the image log provides good insights into frequency and attitude of fractures that fully transect the core. The combination of complex, non-planar fracture zones containing many short fractures and healing promote misinterpretation of natural fracture attitude and density in the image log. The equilibrated measured temperature reaches a maximum temperature 32°C at 408 m measured depth along a conductive gradient of 64ºC/km and calculated heat flow of 145 mW/m2 which is more than twice the regional average of 30ºC/km. The presence of vermiculite and several chlorite minerals lining fractures is consistent with the conductive temperature gradient measured in the well below a shallow isothermal zone, although, several fractures are open or only partially healed and resulted in fluid entries into the well. Together, the temperature gradient and vermiculite formation in the fractures indicate local influence of the Mt Baker magmatic system at the Little Park Creek TGH site and that TGH MB 76-31 reaches the upper edge of a caprock above a much deeper hydrothermal system. Do you conclude that this site will/will not support electrical generation? Should have a sentence here describing this since you start your abstract with the idea that you’re testing viability. / Geology

The industrial demand for high strength-to-weight ratio materials is increasing due to the need for high performance components. Epoxy polymers, although often used in fiber-reinforced polymeric composites, have an inherent low toughness that further decreases with decreasing temperatures. Second-phase additives have been effective in increasing the toughness of epoxies at room temperature; however, the mechanisms at low temperatures are still not understood. In this study, the deformation mechanisms of a DGEBA epoxy modified with MX960 core-shell rubber (CSR) particles were investigated under quasi-static tensile and impact loads at room temperature (RT) and liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperature. Overall, the CSR had little effect on the tensile properties at RT and LN2 temperature. The impact strength decreased from neat to 3 wt% but increased from neat to 5 wt% at RT and LN2 temperature, with a higher impact strength at RT at all CSR loadings. The CSR particles debonded in front of the crack tip, inducing voids into the matrix. It was found that an increase in shear deformation and void growth likely accounted for the higher impact strength at 5 wt% CSR loading at RT while the thermal stress fields due to the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between rubber and epoxy and an increase in secondary cracking is likely responsible for the higher impact strength at 5 wt% tested at LN2 temperature. While a large toughening effect was not seen in this study, the mechanisms analyzed herein will likely be of use for further material investigations at cryogenic temperatures.

No description available.

No description available.

Including the Arts in the Generalist Classroom is an integrated arts curriculum within a 6th grade classroom in Eagle Mountain Utah. This project describes the process of putting an art curriculum into an elementary 6th grade where there is no art specialist and no means of getting one. This project focuses on four lessons that have been written using the 6th grade Science and Social Studies Utah Core. Each lesson is written to ensure that a teacher and/or a parent volunteer can give instruction without any prior knowledge of content and/or technique in art.The Appendices describe the curriculum and more fully include essential information for proper lesson instruction. They include background information, websites, vocabulary, studio techniques, etc. are all there for the convenience of the teacher. The ultimate goal in creating these lessons is to help create an art curriculum for a school without an art specialist and have the instruction be not only art based, but also integrated withother core subjects in ways that enrich student learning through art instruction.