scholarly journals “Water Association” Band in Saccharide Amorphous Matrices: Role of Residual Water on Bioprotection

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2496
Author(s):  
Sergio Giuffrida ◽  
Antonio Cupane ◽  
Grazia Cottone

Saccharides protect biostructures against adverse environmental conditions mainly by preventing large scale motions leading to unfolding. The efficiency of this molecular mechanism, which is higher in trehalose with respect to other sugars, strongly depends on hydration and sugar/protein ratio. Here we report an Infrared Spectroscopy study on dry amorphous matrices of the disaccharides trehalose, maltose, sucrose and lactose, and the trisaccharide raffinose. Samples with and without embedded protein (Myoglobin) are investigated at different sugar/protein ratios, and compared. To inspect matrix properties we analyse the Water Association Band (WAB), and carefully decompose it into sub-bands, since their relative population has been shown to effectively probe water structure and dynamics in different matrices. In this work the analysis is extended to investigate the structure of protein-sugar-water samples, for the first time. Results show that several classes of water molecules can be identified in the protein and sugar environment and that their relative population is dependent on the type of sugar and, most important, on the sugar/protein ratio. This gives relevant information on how the molecular interplay between residual waters, sugar and protein molecules affect the biopreserving properties of saccharides matrices.

Arts ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Déirdre Kelly

It seems inherent in the nature of contemporary artist’s book production to continue to question the context for the genre in contemporary art practice, notwithstanding the medium’s potential for dissemination via mass production and an unquestionable advantage of portability for distribution. Artists, curators and editors operating in this sector look to create contexts for books in a variety of imaginative ways, through exhibition, commission, installations, performance and, of course as documentation. Broadening the discussion of the idea of the book within contemporary art practice, this paper examines the presence and role of book works within the context of the art biennale, in particular the Venice Art Biennale of which the 58th iteration (2019) is entitled ‘May You Live In Interesting Times’ and curated by Ralph Rugoff, with an overview of the independent International cultural offerings and the function of the ‘Book Pavilion’. Venetian museums and institutions continue to present vibrant diverse works within the arena of large-scale exhibitions, recognising the position that the book occupies in the history of the city. This year, the appearance for the first time, of ‘Book Biennale’, opens up a new and interesting dialogue, taking the measure of how the book is being promoted and its particular function for visual communication within the arts in Venice and beyond.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-66
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Sadat Alavi Aliabadi ◽  
Sayed Alireza Vasei

This article attempts to trace the fundamental role of early Persian beliefs, Zoroastrians, to the decision of Ahl al-Bayt’s choice to migrate to Persia (Iran). This research is based on the fact that there are many places for pilgrimage to imams in Iran.  Specifically, this research investigates the similarity of several concepts in both religions, Zoroaster and Islam, regarding the teaching in the principle of God (Ilahiyyah), the principle of life after death (eschatology), and the principle of justice and morals of the religion embraced before Islam in Persia. Several studies have also reported on the distortions, opposition, and the consequences of encountering the two beliefs for the first time between Persian beliefs and Islamic teachings. This study employs a qualitative method with historical analysis and literature study along with relevant information of the study.  This article also uses the theory of migration and identity to see the interconnectedness of religion in the migration context. The results of this study show the factors that the Persians are interested in accepting and understanding the teachings of Islam. Those are: first, the emotional closeness of beliefs and moral values between Muslims and Zoroastrians (Magi); Second, the inclusive nature of Islam; third, the absence of racial, gender, and status discrimination in Islamic teachings. The descendants of imams Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet Muhammad SAW continued the prophet's preaching and the Imams in expanding the spread of Islamic teachings to various regions. During this expansion process, they found Iran as the most secure, and suitable region to accept the presence and teaching of Islam especially the Shiite sect. Therefore, they decided to migrate to Iran, and until now Iran is known as a Shiite country.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geet George ◽  
Bjorn Stevens ◽  
Sandrine Bony ◽  
Marcus Klingebiel

<p>This study uses measurements from the <em>Elucidating the Role of Clouds-Circulation Coupling in Climate</em>, EUREC<sup>4</sup>A and the second <em>Next-Generation Aircraft Remote Sensing for Validation</em>, NARVAL2 campaigns to investigate the influence of large-scale environmental conditions on cloudiness. For the first time, these campaigns provide divergence measurements, making it possible to explore the impact of large-scale vertical motions on clouds. We attempt to explain the cloudiness through the varying thermodynamics and dynamics in the different environments.  For most of the NARVAL2 case-studies, cloudiness is poorly related to thermodynamical factors such as sea-surface temperature and lower tropospheric stability. Factors such as integrated water vapour and pressure velocity (ω) at 500 hPa and 700 hPa can be used to distinguish between actively convecting and suppressed regions, but they are not useful in determining the variation in cloudiness among suppressed cases. We find that ω in the boundary layer (up to ∼2 km) has a more direct control on the low-level cloudiness in these regions, than that in the upper layers. We use a simplistic method to show that ω at the lifting condensation level can be used to determine the cloud cover of shallow cumulus clouds. Thus, we argue that cloud schemes in models should not rely only on thermodynamical information, but also on dynamical predictors.</p>


2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (31) ◽  
pp. 2985-2996 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. YEVSEYEV

Influence of large radiation defects — disordered regions on photoconductivity of semiconductors Ge and Si , compensated as a result of an irradiation with fast neutrons and 1 GeV protons, is investigated. For the first time, the combined role of disordered regions and a large-scale potential relief in photoelectrical properties of Ge and Si , irradiated by high energy particles is defined. The model of photoconductivity that takes into consideration disordered regions as specific sensitizing recombination centers and allows formation of the spatial potential relief is developed.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Xing ◽  
Jin Zhang ◽  
Kai-Lian Zheng ◽  
Ming-Da Wang ◽  
Jun Han ◽  
...  

Abstract Backgrounds Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary liver cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death. Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) is an oncogene and has been shown playing an important role in HCC, but the major involved signaling pathways are still unknown. Here, we systematically analyzed the role of KLF8 in HCC using RNA sequencing and the anti-H3K27 acetylation ChIP sequencing combined with bioinformatics analysis, and the results of data mining. Results The results in this study showed that KLF8 worked as a transcription repressor in HCC and the main directly regulated ones were apoptosis-related genes. Furthermore, we verified the combination of KLF8 with some predicted target genes by ChIP, which supported the effectiveness of our analysis. Besides, we demonstrated that HMGA2 and MMP7, two predicted targets, were important participants in KLF8 mediated anti-apoptotic effect in HCC. Conclusions Our work offers a panoramic view of KLF8’s role in HCC for the first time and facilitates the discovery of new targets for HCC via KLF8.


2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052095964
Author(s):  
Laurent Bègue

Animal abuse is considered a significant marker of violence towards humans, and understanding its determinants is important. In this first large-scale survey on adolescent animal abuse carried out in France, we introduced and tested the relative explanatory power of a new variable potentially involved in animal abuse: speciesism, defined as the belief that humans are intrinsically more valuable than individuals of other species. In a school sample composed of 12,344 participants aged 13–18 years, we observed that 7.3% of participants admitted having perpetrated animal abuse. Consistent with existing studies, cats and dogs were the animals most often abused. Animal abuse was a solitary behavior approximately half of the time, and in 25% of instances it involved only another person. A multivariate logistic regression revealed that animal abuse was more frequent among males and that it occurred more often among adolescents with less positive family climate, lower support from friends, lower attachment to school, and with higher anxio-depressive symptomatology. As implied by the generalized deviance hypothesis, animal abuse was related to more deviant behavior such as drunkenness and bullying. Moreover, this study showed for the first time that animal abuse was higher among adolescents who endorsed speciesist attitudes. These results suggest that beyond psychopathological factors, normative beliefs regarding the value of animals and their human use may also be involved in animal mistreatment.


2019 ◽  
pp. 167-185
Author(s):  
Семён Валериевич Кожевников

Цель исследования - описать соединение христианской православной веры и медицинской хирургической науки в личности профессора В. Ф. Войно-Ясенецкого (святителя Луки) в красноярский период его жизни и деятельности. Для этого автором представлены сведения об общем количестве научных трудов Валентина Феликсовича по хирургии, об объёме произнесённых и записанных проповедей и философско-теологических произведений архиепископа Луки. В цифрах продемонстрирована его масштабная хирургическая деятельность. Показано исключительное значение хирурга В. Ф. Войно-Ясенецкого как учёного-новатора в области военно-полевой и, особенно, гнойной хирургии. Отмечена видная педагогическая роль Валентина Феликсовича в подготовке им в Красноярске ученых-врачей, продолживших и развивших дело профессора после его переезда в Тамбов. На основании воспоминаний очевидцев его священнического служения и научно-практической деятельности представлены убедительные доказательства гармоничного соединения науки и религии в личности святителя Луки в красноярский период. В итоге автор формулирует вывод: успех научно-практической работы учёного-монаха в глубоком тылу в военное время оказался возможным именно благодаря синтезу веры и науки. Необходимо отметить, что тема, изученная в данной статье, поднимается впервые. The aim of the study is to describe the connection of the Christian Orthodox faith and medical surgical science in the personality of Professor V. F. Voino-Yasenetsky (St. Luke) in the Krasnoyarsk period of his life and activity. For this purpose, the author presents information on the total number of scientific works of Valentin Feliksovich on surgery, the volume of sermons delivered and recorded, and philosophical and theological works of Archbishop Luke. The figures show his large-scale surgical activity. The exceptional value of the surgeon Valentin Felixovich is shown. Voyno-Yasenetsky as a scientist-innovator in the field of military and, especially, purulent surgery. The prominent pedagogical role of Valentin Feliksovich in the training of scientists-doctors in Krasnoyarsk, who continued and developed the work of the Professor after his move to Tambov, was noted. Based on the recollections of eyewitnesses of his priestly Ministry and scientific and practical activities, convincing evidence of the harmonious Union of science and religion in the personality of St. Luke in the Krasnoyarsk period is presented. As a result, the author formulates a conclusion: the success of scientific and practical work of the scientist-monk in the deep rear in wartime was possible thanks to the synthesis of faith and science. It should be noted that the topic studied in this article is raised for the first time.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Carange ◽  
Fanny Longpré ◽  
Benoit Daoust ◽  
Maria-Grazia Martinoli

Oxidative stress and apoptosis are frequently cited to explain neuronal cell damage in various neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson' s disease. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are phytosterols recognized to promote stress tolerance of vegetables via modulation of the antioxidative enzyme cascade. However, their antioxidative effects on mammalian neuronal cells have never been examined so far. We analyzed the ability of 24-epibrassinolide (24-Epi), a natural BR, to protect neuronal PC12 cells from 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium- (MPP+-) induced oxidative stress and consequent apoptosis in dopaminergic neurons. Our results demonstrate that 24-Epi reduces the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and modulates superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities. Finally, we determined that the antioxidative properties of 24-Epi lead to the inhibition of MPP+-induced apoptosis by reducing DNA fragmentation as well as the Bax/Bcl-2 protein ratio and cleaved caspase-3. This is the first time that the potent antioxidant and neuroprotective role of 24-Epi has been shown in a mammalian neuronal cell line.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-70
Author(s):  
Boris Altemeyer

Purpose This paper aims to analyse two large-scale business case studies for the benefits of using AI, computer science and machine learning to assess, recruit and retain staff. Design/methodology/approach The authors interrogate two large-scale case studies, including metrics on the success of AI in relation to user experience, compatibility, psychometric benchmarking. Findings The authors conclude that AI removes bias from assessment, recruitment and training processes and can save businesses significant time and resources as well as improve the cultural fit and diversity of their recruits. There is a balance to be struck, though, as the systems used are only as good as the science supporting the selection – and humans must ultimately retain the role of decision makers. Originality/value These business case studies are examined in detail for the first time in this paper.


Universe ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 277
Author(s):  
Maxim V. Barkov ◽  
Valenti Bosch-Ramon

Binary systems that host a massive star and a non-accreting pulsar can be powerful non-thermal emitters. The relativistic pulsar wind and the non-relativistic stellar outflows interact along the orbit, producing ultrarelativistic particles that radiate from radio to gamma rays. To properly characterize the physics of these sources, and better understand their emission and impact on the environment, careful modeling of the outflow interactions, spanning a broad range of spatial and temporal scales, is needed. Full three-dimensional approaches are very computationally expensive, but simpler approximate approaches, while still realistic at the semi-quantitative level, are available. We present here the results of calculations done with a quasi three-dimensional scheme to compute the evolution of the interacting flows in a region spanning in size up to a thousand times the size of the binary. In particular, we analyze for the first time the role of different eccentricities in the large scale evolution of the shocked flows. We find that the higher the eccentricity, the closer the flows behave like a one-side outflow, which becomes rather collimated for eccentricity values ≳0.75. The simulations also unveil that the pulsar and the stellar winds become fully mixed within the grid for low eccentricity systems, presenting a more stochastic behavior at large scales than in the highly eccentric systems.


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