Purpose The goal of this study is to set an empirical baseline to map the structure-function relation of the antigens from the commercialized vaccine products. Methods To study the structural changes of protein antigens after adsorption several analytical tools including DLS, FTIR, Fluorescence, LD, and SEM have been used. Results All antigens have shown wide range of hydrodynamic diameter from 7 nm to 182 nm. Upon adjuvantation, the size distribution has become narrow, ranging from 10 to 12 μm, and has been driven by the derived diameter of aluminum phosphate (AlPO 4 ) adjuvant. Further to examine size and morphology of adsorbed antigens, SEM has been used. The SEM results have demonstrated that the AlPO 4 adjuvant suspension and adsorbed proteins consist of submicron particles that form a continuous porous surface. Diphtheria Toxoid (DT), Tetanus Toxoid (TT), and chemically-modified Filamentous Haemagglutinin (FHA) have shown surface adsorption to AlPO 4. Secondary structure alpha-helix and beta-sheet content of DT and TT has increased after adsorption to AlPO 4 adjuvant as shown by FTIR, whereas no significant changes were noted for other protein antigens. The results from Intrinsic Fluorescence have shown a structural rearrangement in DT and TT, consistent with the FTIR results. Multivalent vaccine product identity has been determined by FTIR as unique fingerprint spectrum. Conclusion The globular proteins such as DT and TT have shown changes in secondary structure upon adsorption to AlPO 4 , whereas fibrillar protein FHA has not been affected by adsorption. FTIR can be used as a lean technique to confirm product identity at different manufacturing sites.

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The α-cellulose was extracted from waste newspaper, and it was esterified by maleic anhydride. The effect of reaction time, temperature, ratio of maleic anhydride to α-cellulose, dosage of catalyst on the degree of esterification were studied, respectively. The weight percent gain and degree of substitution reached 40.30% and 0.6657, respectively, under the following reaction conditions: reaction time of 2.5 h, reaction temperature of 150 °C, ratio of MA to α-cellulose of 1.2 and dosage of catalyst of 10%. The structure and properties of the samples were characterized by FTIR and X-ray diffraction.

Currently, only a third of primary care providers screen for substance use, which is a growing epidemic. This quality improvement study aimed to improve the screening process by integrating the Drug Abuse Screening Test without information systems support into the electronic health record to increase completed screenings and provider interventions for positive screenings in adult patients at an urban primary care clinic. Electronic drug abuse screening should include a prescreen followed by the Drug Abuse Screening Test, interprofessional approach, comprehensive education, and utilization of generic tools to create new screening forms. Staff participated in a new drug abuse screening process, and chart audits and staff interviews were conducted. There was a 9% increase in completed screenings by medical assistants with electronic versus paper screening (30% vs 21%, respectively; P < .001). There was a 33.4% increase in provider intervention for positive screenings with electronic versus paper screening (55% vs 21%, respectively; P = .1081). Primary care providers can play an increased role in drug abuse treatment by using available technology to overcome barriers to screening independent of information systems support. By adopting the new electronic screening documentation process, this clinic was able to increase its screening outcomes.

Using cellulose extracted from waste newspaper as raw material, NaOH/urea aqueous solution as solvent, anhydrous sodium sulfate as pore-forming agent, cellulose sponge with super absorbent capacity was prepared by freezing method, and hydrophobic cellulose sponge was prepared by immersing cellulose sponge into hydrolysate of cetyltrimethoxysilane with different composition. The water absorption and oil absorption of water-absorbent and hydrophobic cellulose sponge samples were tested and characterized by infrared and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the water absorption of water-absorbent cellulose sponge could reach 560 wt% under the conditions of 3 g of microcrystalline cellulose, 15 g of pore-forming agent and 50 g of NaOH/urea solution. Hydrophobic cellulose sponge was prepared by hydrolysis of hexadecyl trimethoxysilane/SiO2, and the best oil rate was 157 wt%.