This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

Lung surfactant is a mixture of lipids and proteins and is essential for air breathing in mammals. The hydrophobic surfactant proteins B and C (SP-B and SP-C) assist in reducing surface tension in the lung alveoli by organizing the surfactant lipids. SP-B deficiency is life-threatening, and a lack of SP-C can lead to progressive interstitial lung disease. B-YL (41 amino acids) is a highly surface-active, sulfur-free peptide mimic of SP-B (79 amino acids) in which the four cysteine residues are replaced by tyrosine. Mammalian SP-C (35 amino acids) contains two cysteine-linked palmitoyl groups at positions 5 and 6 in the N-terminal region that override the β-sheet propensities of the native sequence. Canine SP-C (34 amino acids) is exceptional because it has only one palmitoylated cysteine residue at position 4 and a phenylalanine at position 5. We developed canine SP-C constructs in which the palmitoylated cysteine residue at position 4 is replaced by phenylalanine (SP-Cff) or serine (SP-Csf) and a glutamic acid-lysine ion-lock was placed at sequence positions 20-24 of the hydrophobic helical domain to enhance its alpha helical propensity. AI modeling, molecular dynamics, circular dichroism spectroscopy, Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy, and electron spin resonance studies showed that the secondary structure of canine SP-Cff ion-lock peptide was like that of native SP-C, suggesting that substitution of phenylalanine for cysteine has no apparent effect on the secondary structure of the peptide. Captive bubble surfactometry demonstrated higher surface activity for canine SP-Cff ion-lock peptide in combination with B-YL in surfactant lipids than with canine SP-Csf ion-lock peptide. These studies demonstrate the potential of canine SP-Cff ion-lock peptide to enhance the functionality of the SP-B peptide mimic B-YL in synthetic surfactant lipids.

Gender scholars argue that in Western culture hegemonic gender beliefs are widespread and stable, and individuals' access to resources and power are contingent upon their ability to conform to these ideals (Ridgeway and Correll 2004 ; West and Zimmerman 2002). However, they also argue that gender is a fluid and dynamic aspect of identity, as demonstrated by individuals' ability to revise personal notions of gender based on other salient features of identity, including, race, class, age, sexual orientation or physical (dis)abilities (Connell 1995 ; Fenstermaker and West 2002 ; Kimmel 2006 ; Ridgeway and Correll 2004 ; West and Zimmerman 2002). This dissertation uses male infertility as a case study for exploring what happens when the perceived foundations of masculinity are destabilized in the lives of heterosexual married men. Male factor infertility is a clinical condition that affects nearly half of the more than seven million infertile couples in the United States. For this original research study, I employed mixed qualitative research methods, including ethnographic observation in male infertility clinics, in-depth interviews with male infertility specialists, clinic staff, infertile men and their wives, and content analysis of medical texts and conference addresses, in order to examine how medical institutions and individuals socially construct male infertility. I argue that the social processes of constructing gender and negotiating masculinity are tightly intertwined with the process of constructing disease. Early in this dissertation I show that preconceived notions regarding women's responsibility for all aspects of reproduction have historically shaped popular understandings of male infertility and hindered the development and organization of male infertility as a medical specialty. I describe how medical practices are designed around preconceived notions of men as sexually knowledgeable and experienced, yet all the while strive to protect presumably fragile masculine identities. I detail the various ways infertile men work to redefine their condition in terms that downplay infertility's threat to masculinity. Throughout this dissertation I argue that gender-constructing and disease-constructing processes are inextricable, because notions of gender inform understandings of disease. When disease presents a threat to gender identities, individuals create new understandings of disease in order to negotiate and stabilize their personal gender identities

After shifting away from invasive mechanical ventilation and intratracheal instillation of surfactant toward non-invasive ventilation with nasal CPAP and less invasive surfactant administration in order to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome, fully non-invasive surfactant nebulization is the next Holy Grail in neonatology. Here we review the characteristics of animal-derived (clinical) and new advanced synthetic lung surfactants and improvements in nebulization technology required to secure optimal lung deposition and effectivity of non-invasive lung surfactant administration. Studies in surfactant-deficient animals and preterm infants have demonstrated the safety and potential of non-invasive surfactant administration, but also provide new directions for the development of synthetic lung surfactant destined for aerosol delivery, implementation of breath-actuated nebulization and optimization of nasal CPAP, nebulizer circuit and nasal interface. Surfactant nebulization may offer a truly non-invasive option for surfactant delivery to preterm infants in the near future.