8 research outputs found

    Characterization of cassava biopolymers and the determination of their optimum processing temperatures

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    This work reports the characterisation of cassava biopolymers. Moreover, the effects of processing temperature on the tensile properties and phase morphology of cassava biopolymers were investigated. Eight different temperatures were selected as processing temperatures in sample preparation of the cassava biopolymers. Variance analysis justifies that 165 and 170°C are the optimum processing temperatures in producing maximum tensile properties. The present study reveals that the range of processing temperatures for cassava biopolymer was relatively lower as compared to the majority of the petroleum-based polymer. However, its low processing temperature makes this biopolymer has enormous potential in the development of fully biodegradable composites

    A comprehensive study on skin cancer detection using artificial neural network (ANN) and convolutional neural network (CNN)

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    Skin cancer is a significant health risk that requires early detection for effective treatment. This paper discusses two automated techniques, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), which make use of deep learning techniques for skin cancer detection. Through evaluation of research on skin cancer detection using ANN and CNN, the effectiveness and performance of these techniques in early and efficient diagnosis of skin cancer were established. The study found that ANN and CNN were successful in early detection of skin cancer using different data sets and hybrid models, demonstrating the potential for these technologies to improve accuracy in skin cancer detection. The paper highlights the novelty of using deep learning techniques for skin cancer detection and emphasises the critical need for an automated system for skin lesion recognition to reduce effort and time in the diagnosis process. The possible applications of this study include the development of more efficient and accurate skin cancer detection systems that can lead to earlier diagnosis and improved treatment outcomes. Overall, this research underscores the importance of using advanced technologies, such as ANN and CNN, in the fight against skin cancer and highlights the potential impact of these techniques in improving patient outcomes

    Modification by covalent reaction or oxidation of cysteine residues in the tandem-SH2 domains of ZAP-70 and Syk can block phosphopeptide binding.

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    Zeta-chain associated protein of 70 kDa (ZAP-70) and spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) are non-receptor tyrosine kinases that are essential for T-cell and B-cell antigen receptor signalling respectively. They are recruited, via their tandem-SH2 (Src-homology domain 2) domains, to doubly phosphorylated immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) on invariant chains of immune antigen receptors. Because of their critical roles in immune signalling, ZAP-70 and Syk are targets for the development of drugs for autoimmune diseases. We show that three thiol-reactive small molecules can prevent the tandem-SH2 domains of ZAP-70 and Syk from binding to phosphorylated ITAMs. We identify a specific cysteine residue in the phosphotyrosine-binding pocket of each protein (Cys39 in ZAP-70, Cys206 in Syk) that is necessary for inhibition by two of these compounds. We also find that ITAM binding to ZAP-70 and Syk is sensitive to the presence of H2O2 and these two cysteine residues are also necessary for inhibition by H2O2. Our findings suggest a mechanism by which the reactive oxygen species generated during responses to antigen could attenuate signalling through these kinases and may also inform the development of ZAP-70 and Syk inhibitors that bind covalently to their SH2 domains

    Modification by covalent reaction or oxidation of cysteine residues in the tandem-SH2 domains of ZAP-70 and Syk can block phosphopeptide binding

    No full text
    Zeta-chain Associated Protein of 70kDa (ZAP-70) and Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) are non-receptor tyrosine kinases that are essential for T-cell and B-cell antigen receptor signaling, respectively. They are recruited, via their tandem-SH2 domains, to doubly-phosphorylated Immunoreceptor Tyrosine-based Activation Motifs (ITAMs) on invariant chains of immune antigen receptors. Because of their critical roles in immune signaling, ZAP-70 and Syk are targets for the development of drugs for autoimmune diseases. We show that three thiol-reactive small molecules can prevent the tandem-SH2 domains of ZAP-70 and Syk from binding to phosphorylated ITAMs. We identify a specific cysteine residue in the phosphotyrosine-binding pocket of each protein (Cys 39 in ZAP-70, Cys 206 in Syk) that is necessary for inhibition by two of these compounds. We also find that ITAM binding to ZAP-70 and Syk is sensitive to the presence of hydrogen peroxide, and these two cysteine residues are also necessary for inhibition by hydrogen peroxide. Our findings suggest a mechanism by which the generation of reactive oxygen species generated during responses to antigen could attenuate signaling through these kinases, and may also inform the development of ZAP-70 and Syk inhibitors that bind covalently to their SH2 domains
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