Cynthia Robinson

Preparation of a Relatively Acid-Stable Antigen (CEA) by Disruption of its Specific Precipitate with Antibody

The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) of intestinal tract cancers is presently purified by extraction from a homogen-ate of such tissues with 1.0M perchloric acid (PCA), followed by two steps of chromatography and one of electrophoresis. In this study, rabbit antisera prepared against such purified CEA, and absorbed with normal human plasma, liver, kidney, spleen and brain, gave a conventional precipitin curve with a water homogenate or with a dialyzed PCA extract of intestinal tract cancers. The immune precipitate was almost completely soluble in PCA. Following dialysis of this solution against cold water, a new precipitate composed mainly of denatured antibody appeared. The remaining solution contained purified antigen. Recovery of this antigen (CEA-R), as judged by radioimmunoassay, appeared optimal when 3.0M PCA was used for disruption of the immune precipitate, and presence of 1.8M urea was helpful. When injected into rabbits, CEA-R was not as strongly antigenic as CEA. Comparison by immunodiffusion and...

From the Editors-in-Chief

One of the rewards of editing JME is working with authors and guest editors who are willing to address current issues in the field. They ask questions, they propose solutions, and most importantly, they provoke us all to work together to find answers. In this issue our guest editors, Melissa Williams and John Anderson — both educational leaders in the field of zoos and aquaria — looked to the wider field of social science to understand how museum educators might be better equipped to answer a new call: preparing visitors to leave their institutions as empowered actors in creating a positive future. Everywhere we look it seems that people across the globe are wrestling with how to affect positive and sustainable change. From political unrest in Egypt and Turkey to economic strife in Brazil and Greece; from environmental catastrophes like Superstorm Sandy in the United States and rising floodwaters in Alberta, Canada, to massive protests on issues such as school closings in Chicago and immigration reform in Washington, there is a call emanating from the masses that systemic change is needed. Now. The guest editors’ theme of engaging visitors to create positive futures builds on earlier articles published in JME. Back in the spring of 2010 we released an issue entitled, “Museums, The Public and Public Value,” 1 in which Dr. Carol Ann Scott introduced readers to a framework for understanding the role of the public in creating public value. Scott expands on the concept of the public as co-producers in a new book, Museums and Public Value: Creating Sustainable Futures. 2 (Look for a full review of this piece in a future issue of the JME.) In it she wrote: Audiences are demanding a new relationship with museums. Increasingly, people expect to author their own experiences and to engage in agenda setting. This implies a role as co-producers with significant

The JME Announces New Format and Submission Guidelines

Guest editors will edit a themed section of the JME. Those interested in submitting a proposal to guest edit a section of the JME must follow the guidelines already established (see below for guidelines), however the number of articles in a guest edited section has changed to 46, plus an introduction by the guest editor. Each JME issue will feature the guest edited themed section on the cover of the JME as well as in the Introduction from the Co-Editors-in-Chief.

Into the Future: Adult Professional Groups and the 21st Century Museum.

Abstract Museum programs for working adults in their workplace groups are an interesting and important recent development. These programs have the potential to contribute significantly to the future health of museums. This article shows that these programs link to and build on three important trends in museums—customized experiences, deep engagement, and responsiveness. The article also suggests what museum professionals need to do to make sure that these new programs are successful.