3,443 research outputs found
An isochroman analog of CD3254 and allyl-, isochroman-analogs of NEt-TMN prove to be more potent retinoid-X-receptor (RXR) selective agonists than bexarotene
Bexarotene is an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL); however, its use provokes or disrupts other retinoid-X-receptor (RXR)-dependent nuclear receptor pathways and thereby incites side effects including hypothyroidism and raised triglycerides. Two novel bexarotene analogs, as well as three unique CD3254 analogs and thirteen novel NEt-TMN analogs, were synthesized and characterized for their ability to induce RXR agonism in comparison to bexarotene
Emotion-induced loss aversion and striatal-amygdala coupling in low-anxious individuals
Adapting behavior to changes in the environment is a crucial ability for survival but such adaptation varies widely across individuals. Here, we asked how humans alter their economic decision-making in response to emotional cues, and whether this is related to trait anxiety. Developing an emotional decision-making task for functional magnetic resonance imaging, in which gambling decisions were preceded by emotional and non-emotional primes, we assessed emotional influences on loss aversion, the tendency to overweigh potential monetary losses relative to gains. Our behavioral results revealed that only low-anxious individuals exhibited increased loss aversion under emotional conditions. This emotional modulation of decision-making was accompanied by a corresponding emotion-elicited increase in amygdala-striatal functional connectivity, which correlated with the behavioral effect across participants. Consistent with prior reports of 'neural loss aversion', both amygdala and ventral striatum tracked losses more strongly than gains, and amygdala loss aversion signals were exaggerated by emotion, suggesting a potential role for this structure in integrating value and emotion cues. Increased loss aversion and striatal-amygdala coupling induced by emotional cues may reflect the engagement of adaptive harm-avoidance mechanisms in low-anxious individuals, possibly promoting resilience to psychopathology
A mid-infrared Mueller ellipsometer with pseudo-achromatic optical elements
The purpose of this article is to present a new broadband Mueller
ellipsometer designed to work in the mid-infrared range, from 3 to 14 microns.
The Mueller ellipsometer, which can be mounted in reflection or in transmission
configuration, consists of a polarization state generator (PSG), a sample
holder, and a polarization state analyzer (PSA). The PSG consists in one linear
polarizer and a retarder sequentially rotated to generate a set of four optimal
polarization states. The retarder consists in a bi-prism made of two identical
Fresnel rhombs disposed symmetrically and joined by optical contact, giving the
ensemble a "V" shape. Retardation is induced by the four total internal
reflections that the beam undergoes when it propagates through the bi-prism.
Total internal reflection allows to generate a quasi-achromatic retardation.
The PSA is identical to the PSG, but with its optical elements mounted in
reverse order. After a measurement run, the instrument yields a set of sixteen
independent values, which is the minimum amount of data required to calculate
the Mueller matrix of the sample. The design of the Mueller ellipsometer is
based on the optimization of an objective criterion that allows minimizing the
propagation of errors from raw data to the Mueller matrix of the sample. The
pseudo-achromatic optical elements ensure a homogeneous quality of the
measurements for all wavelengths. The performance of the Mueller ellipsometer
in terms of precision, and accuracy, is discussed and illustrated with a few
examples
An engineered escherichia coli strain with synthetic metabolism for inâcell production of translationally active methionine derivatives
In the last decades, it has become clear that the canonical amino acid repertoire codified by the universal genetic code is not up to the needs of emerging biotechnologies. For this reason, extensive genetic code reâengineering is essential to expand the scope of ribosomal protein translation, leading to reprogrammed microbial cells equipped with an alternative biochemical alphabet to be exploited as potential factories for biotechnological purposes. The prerequisite for this to happen is a continuous intracellular supply of noncanonical amino acids through synthetic metabolism from simple and cheap precursors. We have engineered an Escherichia coli bacterial system that fulfills these requirements through reconfiguration of the methionine biosynthetic pathway and the introduction of an exogenous direct transâsulfuration pathway. Our metabolic scheme operates inâ
vivo, rescuing intermediates from core cell metabolism and combining them with small bioâorthogonal compounds. Our reprogrammed E. coli strain is capable of the inâcell production of Lâazidohomoalanine, which is directly incorporated into proteins in response to methionine codons. We thereby constructed a prototype suitable for economic, versatile, green sustainable chemistry, pushing towards enzyme chemistry and biotechnologyâbased production
The Impact of Sex, Circadian Disruption, and the Clock\u3csup\u3eâ19/â19\u3c/sup\u3e Genotype on Alcohol Drinking in Mice
Shift work is associated with increased alcohol drinking, more so in males than females, and is thought to be a coping mechanism for disrupted sleep cycles. However, little is presently known about the causal influence of circadian rhythm disruptions on sex differences in alcohol consumption. In this study, we disrupted circadian rhythms in female and male mice using both environmental (i.e., shifting diurnal cycles) and genetic (i.e., Clockâ19/â19 mutation) manipulations, and measured changes in alcohol consumption and preference using a two-bottle choice paradigm. Alcohol consumption and preference, as well as food and water consumption, total caloric intake, and weight were assessed in adult female and male Clockâ19/â19 mutant mice or wild-type (WT) litter-mates, housed under a 12-hour:12-hour light:dark (L:D) cycle or a shortened 10-hour:10-hour L:D cycle. Female WT mice (under both light cycles) increased their alcohol consumption and preference over time, a pattern not observed in male WT mice. Compared to WT mice, Clockâ19/â19 mice displayed increased alcohol consumption and preference. Sex differences were not apparent in Clockâ19/â19 mice, with or without shifting diurnal cycles. In conclusion, sex differences in alcohol consumption patterns are evident and increase with prolonged access to alcohol. Disrupting circadian rhythms by mutating the Clock gene greatly increases alcohol consumption and abolishes sex differences present in WT animals
Oleanolic acid: A promising antidiabetic metabolite detected in Aglianico grape pomace
Grape pomace, a bulky component of winery waste, is a source of healthy compounds. So far, scientific research has mainly focused on its polyphenol content, but given the impressive number of bioactivities shown by grape pomace, it is not unlikely that, besides polyphenols, additional metabolites, so far undetected, may be involved. In order to verify such hypothesis, an in-depth chemical analysis of Aglianico (Vitis vinifera) grape pomace was conducted by NMR and LC-MS/MS. In addition to a number of polyphenols, a remarkable concentration of oleanolic acid (0.45 mg/g - fresh weight) was determined in the analyzed material. Oleanolic acid is a natural triterpenoid showing many bioactivities including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and antiviral properties. Also, it was proven a potential antidiabetic molecule in Type1 Diabetes rats. Hence, its influence on the mitochondrial and glucose uptake activities of C2C12 myoblast was here assessed, thus supporting oleanolic acid as a promising antidiabetic metabolite
Mesurer la fiÚvre palestinienne. Notes sur une expérience de monitoring pendant la deuxiÚme Intifada, 2000-2006
Depuis lâautomne 2000 et le dĂ©but de la deuxiĂšme Intifada dans les Territoires palestiniens occupĂ©s (tpo), lâUnitĂ© de recherche sur la Palestine (urp) de lâInstitut universitaire dâĂ©tudes du dĂ©veloppement (iued) est engagĂ©e dans un projet portant sur le monitoring des conditions de vie de la population civile, ainsi que sur le rĂŽle et les effets de lâaide internationale. Initialement financĂ© sur le budget de lâaide humanitaire suisse, le projet est ensuite entrĂ© dans celui de la coopĂ©ration a..
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