cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Associations between positive treatment outcome expectations, illness understanding, and outcomes: a cohort study on non-operative treatment of first carpometacarpal osteoarthritis
Creators: name: van der Oest, Mark J. W.
name: Hoogendam, Lisa
name: Wouters, Robbert M.
name: Vermeulen, Guus M.
name: Slijper, Harm P.
name: Selles, Ruud W.
name: Vranceanu, Ana-Maria
name: Porsius, Jarry T.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Space Science
subject: Medicine
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Physiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: Cancer
subject: Science Policy
subject: 111714 Mental Health
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: More positive outcome expectations and illness perceptions are associated with better outcomes for patients with several osteoarthritic orthopedic conditions. However, it is unknown whether these factors also influence outcomes of non-operative treatment for first carpometacarpal osteoarthritis (CMC-1 OA). Therefore, we assess the role of pre-treatment outcome expectations and illness perceptions in reports of pain and hand function 3 months after non-operative treatment for CMC-1 OA. We conducted a cohort study with 219 patients treated non-operatively for CMC-1 OA between September 2017 and October 2018. Patients were included in the study if they completed measures of pain and hand function, illness perceptions (scale: 0–10), and expectations (scale: 3–27) as part of routine outcome measurements. Pain and hand function were measured before treatment and 3 months after starting treatment using the Dutch version of the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to assess the influence of outcome expectations and illness perceptions on pain and hand function. Both positive outcome expectations (B = 0.64; 95% CI [0.1–1.2]) and a better illness understanding (an illness perception subdomain; B = 1.53; 95% CI [0.2–2.9]) at baseline were associated with less pain at 3 months. For hand function, similar estimates were found. We found that positive outcome expectations and a better illness understanding, were associated with a better outcome of non-operative treatment for CMC-1 OA.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONNon-operative treatment can often be successful for patients with arthritis of the thumb.Outcome expectations and illness perceptions are associated with pain and hand function 3 months after non-operative treatment for thumb base osteoarthritis.Improving the outcome expectations and illness perceptions of patients through better education could improve the outcome of non-operative treatment. Non-operative treatment can often be successful for patients with arthritis of the thumb. Outcome expectations and illness perceptions are associated with pain and hand function 3 months after non-operative treatment for thumb base osteoarthritis. Improving the outcome expectations and illness perceptions of patients through better education could improve the outcome of non-operative treatment.
Solution conformations of the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid domain of bovine prothrombin fragment 1, residues 1-65.
Creators: name: Darden, T.
name: Tulinsky, A.
name: Charifson, P. S.
name: Hughey, J. L.
name: Hiskey, R. G.
name: Pedersen, L. G.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1991

description: Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed (AMBER version 3.1) on solvated residues 1-65 of bovine prothrombin fragment 1 (BF1) by using the 2.8-A resolution crystallographic coordinates as the starting conformation for understanding calcium ion-induced conformational changes that precede experimentally observable phospholipid binding. Simulations were performed on the non-metal-bound crystal structure, the form resulting from addition of eight calcium ions to the 1-65 region of the crystal structure, the form resulting from removal of calcium ions after 107 ps and continuing the simulation, and an isolated hexapeptide loop (residues 18-23). In all cases, the 100-ps time scale seemed adequate to sample an ensemble of solution conformers within a particular region of conformation space. The non-metal-containing BF1 did not unfold appreciably during a 106-ps simulation starting from the crystallographic geometry. The calcium ion-containing structure (Ca-BF1) underwent an interesting conformational reorganization during its evolution from the crystal structure: during the time course of a 107-ps simulation, Ca-BF1 experienced a trans----cis isomerization of the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-21 (Gla-21)-Pro-22 peptide bond. Removal of the calcium ions from this structure followed by 114 ps of additional molecular dynamics showed significant unfolding relative to the final 20-ps average structure of the 107-ps simulation; however, the Gla-21-Pro-22 peptide bond remained cis. A 265-ps simulation on the termini-protected hexapeptide loop (Cys-18 to Cys-23) containing two calcium ions also did not undergo a trans----cis isomerization. It is believed that the necessary activation energy for the transitional event observed in the Ca-BF1 simulation was largely supplied by global conformational events with a possible assist from relief of intermolecular crystal packing forces. The presence of a Gla preceding Pro-22, the inclusion of Pro-22 in a highly strained loop structure, and the formation of two long-lived salt bridges prior to isomerization may all contribute to this finding.
Comparison of the dust and gas radial structure in the transition disk [PZ99] J160421.7-213028
Creators: name: Zhang, Ke
name: Isella, Andrea
name: Carpenter, John M.
name: Blake, Geoffrey A.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP)
subject: Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We present ALMA observations of the 880um continuum and CO J= 3-2 line emission from the transition disk around [PZ99] J160421.7-213028, a solar mass star in the Upper Scorpius OB association. Analysis of the continuum data indicates that 80% of the dust mass is concentrated in an annulus extending between 79 and 114AU in radius. Dust is robustly detected inside the annulus, at a mass surface density 100 times lower than that at 80 AU. The CO emission in the inner disk also shows a significantly decreased mass surface density, but we infer a cavity radius of only 31AU for the gas. The large separation of the dust and gas cavity edges, as well as the high radial concentration of millimeter-sized dust grains, is qualitatively consistent with the predictions of pressure trap models that include hydrodynamical disk-planet interactions and dust coagulation/fragmentation processes.
description: 11 pages, 8 figures, accepted by ApJ
Stimulation of dihydrofolate reductase promoter activity by antimetabolic drugs.
Creators: name: Eastman, H. B.
name: Schmitt, M. C.
name: Swick, A. G.
name: Azizkhan, J. C.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1991

description: Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR; EC 1.5.1.3) is required in folate metabolism for the synthesis of purines, thymidine, and glycine. Although there have been several reports of induction of DHFR enzyme by methotrexate (MTX), a drug that competitively inhibits DHFR, there are no studies reported that examine the effect of MTX on DHFR gene transcription. We have examined the effect of MTX and other inhibitors of DNA synthesis on DHFR transcription using a transient expression assay. MTX stimulates transient expression in a concentration-dependent manner from a hamster DHFR promoter construct containing 150 base pairs 5' to the start of transcription. Addition of either tetrahydrofolate or hypoxanthine plus thymidine prevents the promoter induction in response to MTX, suggesting that stimulation by MTX results from inhibition of these metabolites. Furthermore, two other antimetabolic drugs--fluorodeoxyuridine and hydroxyurea--also stimulate the DHFR promoter in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, aphidicolin, which blocks cell growth through inhibition of DNA polymerase alpha, has no effect on the DHFR promoter. The potential relevance of these results to cross-resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and to the process of gene amplification is discussed.
HIghMass -- High HI Mass, HI-rich Galaxies at z~0: Sample Definition, Optical and Halpha Imaging, and Star Formation Properties
Creators: name: Huang, Shan
name: Haynes, Martha P.
name: Giovanelli, Riccardo
name: Hallenbeck, Gregory
name: Jones, Michael G.
name: Adams, Elizabeth A.
name: Brinchmann, Jarle
name: Chengalur, Jayaram N.
name: Hunt, Leslie K.
name: Masters, Karen L.
name: Matsushita, Satoki
name: Saintonge, Amelie
name: Spekkens, Kristine
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We present first results of the study of a set of exceptional HI sources identified in the 40% ALFALFA extragalactic HI survey catalog alpha.40 as being both HI massive (M_HI > 10^10 Msun) and having high gas fractions for their stellar masses: the HIghMass galaxy sample. We analyze UV- and optical-broadband and Halpha images to understand the nature of their relatively underluminous disks in optical and to test whether their high gas fractions can be tracked to higher dark matter halo spin parameters or late gas accretion. Estimates of their star formation rates (SFRs) based on SED-fitting agree within uncertainties with the Halpha luminosity inferred SFRs. The HII region luminosity functions have standard slopes at the luminous end. The global SFRs demonstrate that the HIghMass galaxies exhibit active ongoing star formation (SF) with moderate SF efficiency, but relative to normal spirals, a lower integrated SFR in the past. Because the SF activity in these systems is spread throughout their extended disks, they have overall lower SFR surface densities and lower surface brightness in the optical bands. Relative to normal disk galaxies, the majority of HIghMass galaxies have higher Halpha equivalent widths and are bluer in their outer disks, implying an inside-out disk growth scenario. Downbending double exponential disks are more frequent than upbending disks among the gas-rich galaxies, suggesting that SF thresholds exist in the downbending disks, probably as a result of concentrated gas distribution.
description: 66 pages, 17 figures, 3 tables; accepted for publication in ApJ; higher resolution figures available via http://www.asiaa.sinica.edu.tw/~shan/HIghMass_140728.pdf
Optimization of NANOGrav's Time Allocation for Maximum Sensitivity to Single Sources
Creators: name: Christy, Brian
name: Anella, Ryan
name: Lommen, Andrea
name: Finn, Lee Samuel
name: Camuccio, Richard
name: Handzo, Emma
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Pulsar Timing Arrays (PTAs) are a collection of precisely timed millisecond pulsars (MSPs) that can search for gravitational waves (GWs) in the nanohertz frequency range by observing characteristic signatures in the timing residuals. The sensitivity of a PTA depends on the direction of the propagating gravitational wave source, the timing accuracy of the pulsars, and the allocation of the available observing time. The goal of this paper is to determine the optimal time allocation strategy among the MSPs in the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) for a single source of GW under a particular set of assumptions. We consider both an isotropic distribution of sources across the sky and a specific source in the Virgo cluster. This work improves on previous efforts by modeling the effect of intrinsic spin noise for each pulsar. We find that, in general, the array is optimized by maximizing time spent on the best-timed pulsars, with sensitivity improvements typically ranging from a factor of 1.5 to 4.
description: Accepted by Astrophyiscal Journal
The C-terminal half of UvrC protein is sufficient to reconstitute (A)BC excinuclease.
Creators: name: Lin, J. J.
name: Sancar, A.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1991

description: The UvrC protein is one of three subunits of the Escherichia coli repair enzyme (A)BC excinuclease. This subunit is thought to have at least one of the active sites for nucleophilic attack on the phosphodiester bonds of damaged DNA. To localize the active site, mutant UvrC proteins were constructed by linker-scanning and deletion mutagenesis. In vivo studies revealed that the C-terminal 314 amino acids of the 610-amino acid UvrC protein were sufficient to confer UV resistance to cells lacking the uvrC gene. The portion of the uvrC gene encoding the C-terminal half of the protein was fused to the 3' end of the E. coli malE gene (which encodes maltose binding protein), and the fusion protein MBP-C314C was purified and characterized. The fusion protein, in combination with UvrA and UvrB subunits, reconstituted the excinuclease activity that incised the eighth phosphodiester bond 5' and the fourth phosphodiester bond 3' to a psoralen-thymine adduct. These results suggest that the C-terminal 314 amino acids of UvrC constitute a functional domain capable of interacting with the UvrB-damaged DNA complex and of inducing the two phosphodiester bond incisions characteristic of (A)BC excinuclease.
Cellular antioxidant activity measurement: An alternative to chemical antioxidant methods?
Creators: name: Granato, Daniel
Publisher: name: University of Limerick
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 31
subject: Biological sciences
subject: FOS: Biological sciences

description: Oxidative stress occurs when the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) overpasses their degradation and buffering by endogenous antioxidants and those derived from the diet (exogenous antioxidants). In food science and nutrition, assessing antioxidant activity relies on chemical reactions—chemical test‐tube assays—and human and murine cell lines. Usually, an ROS inductor, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or peroxyl radicals (ROO• ), is used to induce oxidation. Some biomarkers related to endogenous protection (i.e., catalase, superoxide dis?mutase, and glutathione reductase), oxidation‐end products (i.e., malondialdehyde), and intracellular ROS generation can be quantitatively determined. Herein, some insights into using human cell lines and related biomarkers are described, and the downsides of using chemical antioxidant assays are explained. In conclusion, research on antioxidants should be based on using relevant human cell cultures. In contrast, chemical antioxidant assays should be limited to an initial screening as their physiological importance is negligible.
Reducing the assemblies of amyloid-beta multimers by sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant at concentrations lower than critical micelle concentration: molecular dynamics simulation exploration
Creators: name: Zahraee, Hamed
name: Mohammadi, Fatemeh
name: Parvaee, Elahe
name: Khoshbin, Zahra
name: Arab, Seyed Shahriar
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biophysics
Biochemistry
Neuroscience
Biotechnology
Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Cancer

description: Amyloid-β peptide, the predominant proteinaceous component of senile plaques, is responsible for the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD), an age-associated neurodegenerative disorder. Specifically, the amyloid-β(1-42) (Aβ1-42) isoform, known for its high toxicity, is the predominant biomarker for the preliminary diagnosis of AD. The aggregation of the Aβ1-42 peptides can be affected by the components of the cellular medium through changing their structures and molecular interactions. In this study, we investigated the effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at much lower concentrations than the critical micelle concentration (CMC) on Aβ1-42 aggregation. For this purpose, we studied mono-, di-, tri- and tetramers of Aβ1-42 peptide in two different concentrations of SDS molecules (10 and 40 molecules) using a 300 ns molecular dynamics simulation for each system. The distance between the center of mass (COM) of Aβ1-42 peptides confirms that an increase in the number of SDS molecules decreases their aggregation probability due to greater interaction with SDS molecules. Besides, the less compactness parameter reveals the reduced aggregation probability of Aβ1-42 peptides. Based on the energetic FEL landscapes, SDS molecules with the concentration closer to the CMC are an effective inhibitory agent to prevent the formation of Aβ1-42 fibrils. Also, the aggregation direction of the peptide pairs can be predicted by determining the direction of the accumulation-deterrent forces. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
e-shape pilot S3-P3 - Merging offshore wind products
Creators: name: BADGER, Merete
Publisher: name: GEO Knowledge Hub
Year: 2022
Subjects: Offshore Wind
Wind energy
Space-bourne scatterometer
e-shape
DTU
European Commission
H2020
Group on Earth Observation
GEO
EuroGEO
MERSA
SAR
Renewable Energy Showcase

description: Resource assessment offshore is an important task, undertaken prior to the siting of wind farms. In situ 10min measurements are the most accurate, the installation and maintenance of offshore meteorological masts is of high cost and their spatial distribution limited. Offshore wind atlases from space-bourne scatterometer and SAR retrieved winds are currently available online for various atmospheric heights relevant for wind energy applications. A first attempt to unify the different atlases has already been attempted. In 2018, DTU Wind Energy has a goal to develop a new, unified wind product by merging scatterometer and SAR ocean surface windsAcknowledgmentThe e-shape project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement 820852.
Bogoliubov coefficients for the twist operator in the D1D5 CFT
Creators: name: Carson, Zaq
name: Mathur, Samir D.
name: Turton, David
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: The D1D5 CFT is a holographic dual of a near-extremal black hole in string theory. The interaction in this theory involves a twist operator which joins together different copies of a free CFT. Given a large number of D1 and D5 branes, the effective length of the circle on which the CFT lives is very large. We develop a technique to study the effect of the twist operator in the limit where the wavelengths of excitations are short compared to this effective length, which we call the 'continuum limit'. The method uses Bogoliubov coefficients to compute the effect of the twist operator in this limit. For bosonic fields, we use the method to reproduce recent results describing the effect of the twist operator when it links together CFT copies with windings M and N, producing a copy of winding M+N. We also comment on possible generalizations of our results. The methods developed here may help in understanding the twist interaction at higher orders. This in turn should provide insight into the thermalization process in the D1D5 CFT, which gives a holographic description of black hole formation.
description: 51 pages, 2 figures
Toward an animal model of cystic fibrosis: targeted interruption of exon 10 of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene in embryonic stem cells.
Creators: name: Wainwright, B.
name: Brigman, K.
name: Smithies, O.
name: Latour, A. M.
name: Koller, B. H.
name: Boucher, R. C.
name: Kim, H. S.
name: Scambler, P.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1991

description: A gene-targeting construct was made containing 7.8 kilobases of DNA spanning exon 10 of the mouse cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene in which part of the exon has been replaced by two neomycin-resistance (Neo) genes driven by different promoters. (This replacement introduces a chain-termination codon at amino acid position 489 in the CFTR sequence). A herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene was on each end of the construct, which was electroporated into embryonic stem (ES) cells. Colonies resistant to G418, or to G418 plus ganciclovir, were selected and screened by Southern blotting or by PCR amplification. Five pools of G418-resistant cells gave PCR products diagnostic of targeting. Four independent clones of ES cells with a disrupted CFTR gene have been isolated from these pools. The frequency of targeting was 1/2500 G418-resistant colonies. This low frequency is not the consequence of marginal expression of the Neo genes in the targeted cells. The CFTR targeting events were clustered among our experiments in a manner suggesting that some unidentified factor(s), possible passage number, influences the recovery of CFTR-targeted cells.
Abnormal fibrinogens IJmuiden (B beta Arg14----Cys) and Nijmegen (B beta Arg44----Cys) form disulfide-linked fibrinogen-albumin complexes.
Creators: name: Engesser, L.
name: Kerst, A. F.
name: Lord, S. T.
name: Grimbergen, J.
name: Novakova, I.
name: Koopman, J.
name: Haverkate, F.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1992

description: The molecular defects in two congenital abnormal fibrinogens, IJmuiden and Nijmegen, were determined by sequence analysis of genomic DNA amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. Both fibrinogens were heterozygous, IJmuiden having a B beta Arg14----Cys substitution and Nijmegen having a B beta Arg44----Cys substitution. Clotting induced by thrombin or Reptilase was impaired in both fibrinogens, indicating defective fibrin polymerization. Immunoblot analysis of both purified fibrinogens demonstrated that some of the abnormal molecules were linked by disulfide bonds to albumin. In addition, abnormal high molecular weight fibrinogen complexes with Mrs between 600,000 and 700,000 were present. Fibrinogen-albumin and high molecular weight complexes were also detected in the patients' plasmas. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that of the total plasma fibrinogen in the IJmuiden patient, 20% was linked to albumin and 10% was present as high molecular weight complexes. In plasma Nijmegen, 13% was linked to albumin and 15% was present as high molecular weight complexes. These results demonstrate that the additional abnormal cysteine in fibrinogens IJmuiden and Nijmegen resulted in the formation of disulfide-linked complexes with other proteins, predominantly albumin. We also found that a significant fraction of the abnormal fibrinogen molecules contained free sulfhydryl groups. These findings complicate interpretation of functional studies of these altered fibrinogens.
Efficacy of face-to-face behavior change counseling interventions on physical activity behavior in cancer survivors – a systematic review and meta-analysis
Creators: name: Meyer-Schwickerath, Corinna
name: Morawietz, Christina
name: Baumann, Freerk T.
name: Huber, Gerhard
name: Wiskemann, Joachim
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Science Policy

description: This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials determines the efficacy of face-to-face behavior change counseling (BCC) interventions on physical activity (PA) behavior in adult cancer survivors at least pre-and immediately post-intervention compared to usual care. Additionally, this review aims to answer the question which behavior change techniques (BCTs) are most effective. A structured search of the databases Medline, OTseeker, PEDro, the Cochrane Library, and article reference lists was conducted. All trials were critically appraised for methodological quality using the PEDro scale. The BCC interventions were coded using the BCT Taxonomy (v1). Random effect meta-analysis explored between group differences in PA behavior post intervention. Standardized mean differences (SMD) describe effect sizes. Fourteen studies were included, 12 effect sizes within 11 trials were pooled in meta-analysis. The SMD between groups favored the intervention group with a small effect (SMD 0.22; 95% CI 0.11, 0.33; p < 0.0001). The BCTs “graded tasks”, “self-monitoring of behavior”, “action planning” and “habit reversal” were more frequently coded in more efficacious interventions. BCC interventions are effective in increasing PA behavior in cancer survivors. Further research is needed providing details of fidelity assessment and structuring the intervention description by using a BCT taxonomy. Health care professionals should consider our results while awaiting further trial evaluation.Implications for RehabilitationFace-to-face behavior change counseling interventions can significantly increase physical activity behavior in cancer survivors.Although small differences are evident, included trials presented with a broad variety of study components, and characteristics, which limits the interpretation of effective components.The behavior change techniques “Graded tasks”, “Action planning”, “Habit reversal”, and “Credible Source” were used in the trials with a positive effect, but not in the ineffective ones. Face-to-face behavior change counseling interventions can significantly increase physical activity behavior in cancer survivors. Although small differences are evident, included trials presented with a broad variety of study components, and characteristics, which limits the interpretation of effective components. The behavior change techniques “Graded tasks”, “Action planning”, “Habit reversal”, and “Credible Source” were used in the trials with a positive effect, but not in the ineffective ones.
e-shape pilot S2-P2 - EO-based surveillance of POPs pollution
Creators: name: KLANOVA, Jana
Publisher: name: GEO Knowledge Hub
Year: 2022
Subjects: Persistent Organic Pollutants
Stockholm Convention (SC)
Environmental and human exposure
e-shape
RECETOX Masaryk University
European Commission
H2020
Group on Earth Observation
GEO
EuroGEO
Stockholm Convention Global Monitoring Plan Data Warehouse
Health Surveillance Showcase

description: The Global Monitoring Plan (GMP) of the Stockholm Convention (SC) was established as an effective and sustainable global system to collect comparable, harmonized and reliable information on POP levels in core media (air, human tissues (breast milk/blood), and water) supporting the effectiveness evaluation of the Stockholm Convention. However, systems for electronic data management, harmonization, analysis and visualization adaptable to ever increasing scope of the convention were not available. Our pilot S2P2 allows partners, data providers, policy makers and international organizations to expand our knowledge, improve decision making and broaden use of data in risk assessment and their visibility.AcknowledgmentThe e-shape project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement 820852.
Phytochemical profiling and evaluation of the antidiabetic potential of Ichnocarpus frutescens (Krishna Sariva): kinetic study, molecular modelling, and free energy approach
Creators: name: Kumari, Sonali
name: Saini, Ravi
name: Mishra, Abha
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biochemistry
Pharmacology
Biotechnology
Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified

description: This research explored novel antidiabetic drugs from natural sources using the Ayurvedic Rasayana herb Ichnocarpus frutescens through invitro enzyme assay, kinetics study, and computational approaches. Invitro enzyme inhibition assay demonstrated the promising inhibitory activity of root extract against alpha-amylase (α-A) and alpha-glucosidase (α-G) enzyme with IC50 value 7.34 ± 0.22 mg/ml and 4.40 ± 0.25 mg/ml respectively. Enzyme kinetic study revealed the competitive inhibition of both proteins by Ichnocarpus frutescens extract. High-Resolution Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer and Docking study revealed the better binding energy of phytoconstituents 23-Acetoxysoladulcidine, Atrovirinone, Bismurrayaquinone A, Lamprolobine, Zygadenine, and Gambiriin A3 than standard drug acarbose. Molecular modelling showed stable protein-ligands binding interaction during the 100 ns simulation. It revealed comparable Root Mean Square Deviation, Radius of Gyration, and Solvent Accessible Surface Area of these compounds with acarbose. The active site residues of both proteins remained stable and showed significantly less Root Mean Square Fluctuation. Molecular Mechanics with Generalised Bonn Surface Area analysis has illustrated the similar inhibitory activity of Zygadenine for α-A, 23-Acetoxysoladulcidine, and Gambiriin A3 for α-G protein, compared to the FDA-approved drug acarbose. Thus, the study suggested that the root of Ichnocarpus frutescens can be used as α-A and α-G inhibitors and be considered a compelling lead for the medication of type 2 diabetes. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma Atrovirinone, 23-Acetoxysoladulcidine, Bismurrayaquinone A, Gambiriin A3, Zygadenine, and Lamprolobine are the major phytoconstituents identified from Ichnocarpus frutescens. The computational study suggested that this compound possesses α-A and α-G inhibition potential. Invitro study confirmed the competitive mode of inhibition of both enzymes by root extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens. The antidiabetic potential of Ichnocarpus frutescens was investigated for the first time by kinetic study and insilico approach.
Beta 2-microglobulin-, CD8+ T-cell-deficient mice survive inoculation with high doses of vaccinia virus and exhibit altered IgG responses.
Creators: name: Morrissey, P. J.
name: Sato, T.
name: Voice, R. F.
name: Widmer, M. B.
name: Koller, B. H.
name: Maliszewski, C. R.
name: Spriggs, M. K.
name: Smithies, O.
name: Fanslow, W. C.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1992

description: Transgenic mice lacking an intact beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) gene fail to express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I proteins on the cell surface and, as a result, are virtually devoid of CD4- CD8+ lymphocytes. These animals provide a unique model system for directly assessing the role of CD8+ lymphocytes in the modulation of viral infection in vivo. beta 2m- CD8- mice and their normal littermates were inoculated at the base of the tail with the WR strain of vaccinia virus and monitored for serum antibody and lesion formation. Both groups developed similar lesions in response to a broad virus dose range, and all animals had completely recovered by day 28 after inoculation. Isotype-specific immunoglobulin levels were determined for each animal on day 7 and day 14 after primary inoculation, and again 7 days after a virus challenge. The virus-specific IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b levels were significantly different in the beta 2m-/- group (20-, 9-, and 30-fold lower, respectively, on day 7 after challenge) compared with the beta 2m+/- group. Virus-specific serum IgM levels for both groups remained similar throughout the experiment. In a separate experiment, beta 2m-/- mice were immunized with a nonviral antigen, 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-conjugated keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and both total and antigen-specific isotype-specific immunoglobulin titers were determined. Total IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 tended to be lower overall in the beta 2m-/- mice compared with beta 2m+/- littermates. In contrast, total and antigen-specific IgE titers were similar in the two groups. These data indicate that CD8+ lymphocytes are not required to clear high doses of vaccinia virus, and they suggest that beta 2m-/- mice are less efficient at antigen-specific IgG production than their beta 2m+/- littermates.
Accreting Circumplanetary Disks: Observational Signatures
Creators: name: Zhu, Zhaohuan
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: I calculate the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of accreting circumplanetary disks using atmospheric radiative transfer models. Circumplanetary disks only accreting at $10^{-10} M_{\odot} yr^{-1}$ around a 1 M$_{J}$ planet can be brighter than the planet itself. A moderately accreting circumplanetary disk ($\dot{M}\sim 10^{-8}M_{\odot} yr^{-1}$; enough to form a 10 M$_{J}$ planet within 1 Myr) around a 1 M$_{J}$ planet has a maximum temperature of $\sim$2000 K, and at near-infrared wavelengths ($J$, $H$, $K$ bands), this disk is as bright as a late M-type brown dwarf or a 10 M$_{J}$ planet with a "hot start". To use direct imaging to find the accretion disks around low mass planets (e.g., 1 M$_{J}$) and distinguish them from brown dwarfs or hot high mass planets, it is crucial to obtain photometry at mid-infrared bands ($L'$, $M$, $N$ bands) because the emission from circumplanetary disks falls off more slowly towards longer wavelengths than those of brown dwarfs or planets. If young planets have strong magnetic fields ($\gtrsim$100 G), fields may truncate slowly accreting circumplanetary disks ($\dot{M}\lesssim10^{-9} M_{\odot} yr^{-1}$) and lead to magnetospheric accretion, which can provide additional accretion signatures, such as UV/optical excess from the accretion shock and line emission.
description: 10 pages, 3 figures, Accepted by ApJ
Calcium-dependent increase in tyrosine kinase activity stimulated by angiotensin II.
Creators: name: Huckle, W. R.
name: Dy, R. C.
name: Earp, H. S.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1992

description: The cellular effects of numerous hormones and neurotransmitters, including the vasoactive agents angiotensin II (AngII) and [Arg8]vasopressin, are mediated in part by protein-serine threonine kinases activated by increase of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. In this study, we have tested the ability of Ca(2+)-mobilizing agents to activate cellular tyrosine kinases. Treatment of intact GN4 liver epithelial cells with AngII rapidly (less than or equal to 15 sec) increased tyrosine kinase activity measured either in unfractionated cell lysates or in anti-phosphotyrosine immune complexes from detergent-solubilized cells. Increased phosphorylation of the exogenous substrate poly(Glu80Tyr20) (3- to 4-fold over control) by immunoprecipitated kinases closely paralleled the time- and dose-dependence of the appearance of tyrosine phosphoproteins in intact cells. This effect of AngII was mimicked by thapsigargin, a Ca(2+)-elevating tumor promoter. The ability of AngII, but not epidermal growth factor, to increase tyrosine kinase activity was blocked in cells loaded with the Ca2+ chelator bis-(O-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid. Dephosphorylation of immunoprecipitated proteins by tyrosine phosphatase treatment was accompanied by a 60-70% loss in in vitro kinase activity, suggesting that the AngII-sensitive kinase(s) are activated by phosphorylation in intact cells. These findings demonstrate a link between two widely occurring signaling pathways, the tyrosine kinases and the Ca2+ second-messenger system, and suggest the possible involvement of Ca(2+)-activated tyrosine kinases in the endocrine actions of AngII and [Arg8]vasopressin.
e-shape pilot S3-P4 - WindSight - First class input data for wind energy models
Creators: name: BONDO, Torsten
Publisher: name: GEO Knowledge Hub
Year: 2022
Subjects: Wind resources estimations
Wind energy
Advanced surface roughness models
e-shape
DHI Group
European Commission
H2020
Group on Earth Observation
GEO
EuroGEO
WindSight
Image and data processing
Renewable Energy Showcase

description: The cost and financing of new wind energy projects on land depends on the Annual Energy Production (AEP) and how accurate it can be estimated. High quality input data for modeling the AEP is valuable for the wind energy industry prior to wind farm construction.WindSight is a suite of novel EO-based products for characterization of the land surface roughness and topography anywhere in the world. Together with state-of-the-art flow modeling tools for wind energy planning and prospecting, WindSight can replace current procedures for land surface characterization, which are based on manual assessment, coarse global data sets, or costly airborne measurement campaigns.Provisioning of EO based data sets for wind energy planning must be sustainable. To achieve this, end user requirements at different stages of a wind farm project cycle need to be fully understood and taken into account. Co-creation is the ideal pathway to delivering a service tailored specifically to the needs of each user type.AcknowledgmentThe e-shape project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement 820852.
Coinfection with multiple strains of the Epstein-Barr virus in human immunodeficiency virus-associated hairy leukoplakia.
Creators: name: Resnick, L.
name: Sixbey, J. W.
name: Raab-Traub, N.
name: Abdel-Hamid, M.
name: Edmiston, S. N.
name: Walling, D. M.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1992

description: Epstein-Barr virus DNA was analyzed from specimens of hairy leukoplakia, an oral lesion that occurs in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. The simultaneous presence of both type 1 and type 2 Epstein-Barr virus was demonstrated by Southern blot analysis and polymerase chain reaction assay. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the BamHI WYH region and in clones of the EcoRI C region suggested the presence of multiple strains of type 1 and type 2 viruses. The demonstration of multiple variably sized BamHI H fragments on Southern blot analysis and cloning of the EBNA-2 gene coding region also suggested the presence of multiple viral strains or variants coinfecting hairy leukoplakia. Recombination of the viral genome in and around the EBNA-2 gene apparently generated viral variants that replicated efficiently, one of which appeared to increase in abundance in a lesion over time. These data indicate that hairy leukoplakia involves coinfection with multiple strains of replicating Epstein-Barr virus and the endogenous generation of viral variants, some of which have mutations of the EBNA-2 gene.
Kepler Flares I. Active and Inactive M dwarfs
Creators: name: Hawley, Suzanne L.
name: Davenport, James R. A.
name: Kowalski, Adam F.
name: Wisniewski, John P.
name: Hebb, Leslie
name: Deitrick, Russell
name: Hilton, Eric J.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We analyzed Kepler short-cadence M dwarf observations. Spectra from the ARC 3.5m telescope identify magnetically active (H$α$ in emission) stars. The active stars are of mid-M spectral type, have numerous flares, and well-defined rotational modulation due to starspots. The inactive stars are of early-M type, exhibit less starspot signature, and have fewer flares. A Kepler to U-band energy scaling allows comparison of the Kepler flare frequency distributions with previous ground-based data. M dwarfs span a large range of flare frequency and energy, blurring the distinction between active and inactive stars designated solely by the presence of H$α$. We analyzed classical and complex (multiple peak) flares on GJ 1243, finding strong correlations between flare energy, amplitude, duration and decay time, with only a weak dependence on rise time. Complex flares last longer and have higher energy at the same amplitude, and higher energy flares are more likely to be complex. A power law fits the energy distribution for flares with log $E_{K_p} >$ 31 ergs, but the predicted number of low energy flares far exceeds the number observed, at energies where flares are still easily detectable, indicating that the power law distribution may flatten at low energy. There is no correlation of flare occurrence or energy with starspot phase; the flare waiting time distribution is consistent with flares occurring randomly in time; and the energies of consecutive flares are uncorrelated. These observations support a scenario where many independent active regions on the stellar surface are contributing to the observed flare rate.
description: 16 pages, 14 figures, ApJ Accepted
Coupling of adenovirus to transferrin-polylysine/DNA complexes greatly enhances receptor-mediated gene delivery and expression of transfected genes.
Creators: name: Zatloukal, K.
name: Birnstiel, M. L.
name: Kirlappos, H.
name: Wagner, E.
name: Mechtler, K.
name: Curiel, D. T.
name: Cotten, M.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1992

description: We are developing efficient methods for gene transfer into tissue culture cells. We have previously shown that coupling of a chimeric adenovirus with polylysine allowed the construction of an adenovirus-polylysine-reporter-gene complex that transferred the transporter gene with great efficiency into HeLa cells. We have now explored simpler, biochemical means for coupling adenovirus to DNA/polylysine complexes and show that such complexes yield virtually 100% transfection in tissue culture cell lines. In these methods adenovirus is coupled to polylysine, either enzymatically through the action of transglutaminase or biochemically by biotinylating adenovirus and streptavidinylating the polylysine moiety. Combination complexes containing DNA, adenovirus-polylysine, and transferrin-polylysine have the capacity to transfer the reporter gene into adenovirus-receptor- and/or transferrin-receptor-rich cells.
In silico evaluation of pharmacokinetic parameters, delivery, distribution and anticoagulative effects of new 4,7-dihydroxycoumarin derivative
Creators: name: Milanović, Žiko
name: Antonijević, Marko
name: Avdović, Edina
name: Simić, Vladimir
name: Milošević, Miljan
name: Dolićanin, Zana
name: Kojić, Miloš
name: Marković, Zoran
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biophysics
Biochemistry
Medicine
Molecular Biology
Pharmacology
Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified

description: In this study, pharmacological profiling and investigation of the anticoagulant activity of the newly synthesized coumarin derivative: (E)-3-(1-((4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)amino)ethylidene)-2,4-dioxochroman-7-yl acetate (L) were performed. The obtained results were compared with the parameters obtained for Warfarin (WF), which is a standard good oral anticoagulant. The estimated high binding affinity of L toward plasma proteins (PPS% value is > 90%) justifies the investigation of binding affinity and comparative analysis of L and WF to Human Serum Albumin (HSA) using the spectrofluorimetric method (296, 303 and 310 K) as well as molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Compound L shows a very good binding affinity especially to the active site of WF (the active site I -subdomain IIA), quenching HSA fluorescence by a static process. Also, the finite element smeared model (Kojic Transport Model, KTM), which includes blood vessels and tissue, was implemented to compute the convective-diffusion transport of L and WF within the liver. Finally, compound L shows a high degree of inhibitory activity toward the VKOR receptor comparable to the inhibitory activity of WF. Stabilization and limited flexibility of amino acid residues in the active site of the VKOR after binding of L and WF indicates a very good inhibitory potential of compound L. The high affinity of the L for the VKOR enzyme (Vitamin K antagonist), as well as the structural similarity to commercial anticoagulants (WF), provide a basis for further studies and potential application in the treatment of venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and ischemic heart disease. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Generation of mice carrying a mutant apolipoprotein E gene inactivated by gene targeting in embryonic stem cells.
Creators: name: Oliver, P. M.
name: Hagaman, J. R.
name: Zhang, S. H.
name: Maeda, N.
name: Piedrahita, J. A.
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 1992

description: We have inactivated the endogenous apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene by using gene targeting in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. Two targeting plasmids were used, pJPB63 and pNMC109, both containing a neomycin-resistance gene that replaces a part of the apoE gene and disrupts its structure. ES cell colonies targeted after electroporation with plasmid pJPB63 were identified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by genomic Southern analysis. Of 648 G418-resistant colonies analyzed, 9 gave a positive signal after PCR amplification, and 5 of them were confirmed as targeted by Southern blot analysis. The second plasmid, pNMC109, contains the negatively selectable thymidine kinase gene in addition to the neomycin-resistance gene. After electroporation with this plasmid, 177 colonies resistant both to G418 and ganciclovir were analyzed; 39 contained a disrupted apoE gene as determined by Southern blotting. Chimeric mice were generated by blastocyst injection with 6 of the targeted lines. One of the lines gave strong chimeras, three of which transmitted the disrupted apoE gene to their progeny. Mice homozygous for the disrupted gene were produced from the heterozygotes; they appear healthy, even though they have no apolipoprotein E in their plasma.
The origin of the 'local' 1/4 keV X-ray flux in both charge exchange and a hot bubble
Creators: name: Galeazzi, M.
name: Chiao, M.
name: Collier, M. R.
name: Cravens, T.
name: Koutroumpa, D.
name: Kuntz, K. D.
name: Lallement, R.
name: Lepri, S. T.
name: McCammon, D.
name: Morgan, K.
name: Porter, F. S.
name: Robertson, I. P.
name: Snowden, S. L.
name: Thomas, N. E.
name: Uprety, Y.
name: Ursino, E.
name: Walsh, B. M.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2014
Subjects: subject: Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: The Solar neighborhood is the closest and most easily studied sample of the Galactic interstellar medium, an understanding of which is essential for models of star formation and galaxy evolution. Observations of an unexpectedly intense diffuse flux of easily-absorbed 1/4 keV X rays, coupled with the discovery that interstellar space within ~100 pc of the Sun is almost completely devoid of cool absorbing gas led to a picture of a "local cavity" filled with X-ray emitting hot gas dubbed the local hot bubble. This model was recently upset by suggestions that the emission could instead be produced readily within the solar system by heavy solar wind ions charge exchanging with neutral H and He in interplanetary space, potentially removing the major piece of evidence for the existence of million-degree gas within the Galactic disk. Here we report results showing that the total solar wind charge exchange contribution is 40% +/- 5% (stat) +/- 5% (sys) of the 1/4 keV flux in the Galactic plane. The fact that the measured flux is not dominated by charge exchange supports the notion of a million-degree hot bubble of order 100 pc extent surrounding the Sun.
description: 9 pages, 6 figures, 1 table. The final version of the paper is available on Nature