78 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
Microarray detection of human parainfluenzavirus 4 infection associated with respiratory failure in an immunocompetent adult.
A pan-viral DNA microarray, the Virochip (University of California, San Francisco), was used to detect human parainfluenzavirus 4 (HPIV-4) infection in an immunocompetent adult presenting with a life-threatening acute respiratory illness. The virus was identified in an endotracheal aspirate specimen, and the microarray results were confirmed by specific polymerase chain reaction and serological analysis for HPIV-4. Conventional clinical laboratory testing using an extensive panel of microbiological tests failed to yield a diagnosis. This case suggests that the potential severity of disease caused by HPIV-4 in adults may be greater than previously appreciated and illustrates the clinical utility of a microarray for broad-based viral pathogen screening
Studies on morpholinosphingolipids: Potent inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthase
Synthetic 1-morpholino-1-deoxyceramides were designed to inhibit glucosylceramide synthase. The most potent inhibitor 2a possesses the unnatural R,R-configuration of D-threo-sphingosine.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/31632/1/0000566.pd
Conservation of Complex Nuclear Localization Signals Utilizing Classical and Non-Classical Nuclear Import Pathways in LANA Homologs of KSHV and RFHV
ORF73 latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) of the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is targeted to the nucleus of infected cells where it binds to chromatin and mediates viral episome persistence, interacts with cellular proteins and plays a role in latency and tumorigenesis. A structurally related LANA homolog has been identified in the retroperitoneal fibromatosis herpesvirus (RFHV), the macaque homolog of KSHV. Here, we report the evolutionary and functional conservation of a novel bi-functional nuclear localization signal (NLS) in KSHV and RFHV LANA. N-terminal peptides from both proteins were fused to EGFP or double EGFP fusions to examine their ability to induce nuclear transport of a heterologous protein. In addition, GST-pull down experiments were used to analyze the ability of LANA peptides to interact with members of the karyopherin family of nuclear transport receptors. Our studies revealed that both LANA proteins contain an N-terminal arginine/glycine (RG)-rich domain spanning a conserved chromatin-binding motif, which binds directly to importin β1 in a RanGTP-sensitive manner and serves as an NLS in the importin β1-mediated non-classical nuclear import pathway. Embedded within this domain is a conserved lysine/arginine-(KR)-rich bipartite motif that binds directly to multiple members of the importin α family of nuclear import adaptors in a RanGTP-insensitive manner and serves as an NLS in the classical importin α/β-mediated nuclear import pathway. The positioning of a classical bipartite kr-NLS embedded within a non-classical rg-NLS is a unique arrangement in these viral proteins, whose nuclear localization is critical to their functionality and to the virus life cycle. The ability to interact with multiple import receptors provides alternate pathways for nuclear localization of LANA. Since different import receptors can import cargo to distinct subnuclear compartments, a multifunctional NLS may provide LANA with an increased ability to interact with different nuclear components in its multifunctional role to maintain viral latency
A "democracia participativa y protagĂłnica", o povo e o lĂder: a experĂŞncia dos consejos comunales na parroquia 23 de Enero (Caracas/Venezuela)
Os Consejos Comunales/CCs sĂŁo uma experiĂŞncia de poder popular praticada nos Ăşltimos anos na Venezuela. Trata-se de micro-governos construĂdos no interior das comunidades, compostos e geridos pelos prĂłprios moradores e que possuem poder deliberativo e executivo sobre a gestĂŁo das polĂticas locais voltadas, principalmente, para a melhoria das condições de vida das classes populares. Os CCs fazem parte de um projeto nacional de construção de um Estado Comunal articulado por federações e confederações de Consejos Comunales e/ou por Comunas. É um projeto ambicioso, orientado por uma proposta para o Socialismo del Siglo XXI, para a construção de uma “democracia participativa e protagĂ´nica” que prevĂŞ nĂŁo apenas a participação polĂtica do povo, mas tambĂ©m que este seja o sujeito principal na resolução dos seus problemas, alĂ©m de envolver o desenvolvimento de um projeto econĂ´mico endĂłgeno e autossustentável para o paĂs. Apesar de fortemente incentivado pelo presidente Hugo Chávez Frias, este projeto encontra suas raĂzes em experiĂŞncias e demandas existentes nas bases da sociedade desde longa data. Deste modo, a eleição de Chávez, em 1998, a posterior abertura de uma assembleia constituinte com um chamado para repensar o Estado Venezuelano e a proposta de construção da Asambleas de Ciudadanos y Ciudadanas como instâncias de poder local sĂŁo fruto de um longo processo de desgaste da institucionalidade liberal que ocorreu durante o regime puntofijista anterior ao governo atual, bem como da articulação da sociedade civil sob diferentes formas com vistas a construir alternativas Ă quele regime. O objetivo desta dissertação Ă© analisar de que maneira se deu esse processo de construção de uma “democracia participativa e protagĂ´nica” na prática, observando as tensões e dilemas provocados pelas pressões dos poderes desde arriba e os dinamismos das bases desde abajo, utilizando como estudo de caso a Parroquia 23 de Enero, de Caracas, por se tratar de um territĂłrio reconhecido por suas tradições de organização popular anteriores Ă eleição de Chávez e por ser considerado um dos principais bastiões de sustentação do governo atualmente254 f
O Estado plurinacional e comunitário na BolĂvia: as lutas populares e o bem viver a partir de El Alto
A eleição do primeiro presidente indĂgena da AmĂ©rica Latina e a assinatura de uma nova
Constituição que tornou a BolĂvia um Estado Plurinacional e Comunitário trouxeram a tona um
novo arsenal ideológico e epistêmico. Na interseção entre a modernidade ocidental e as culturas
milenares originárias de nosso continente, encontra-se um fértil caminho para se vislumbrar
alternativas antissistĂŞmicas tendo como ponto de partida o protagonismo indĂgena.
A proposta desta pesquisa Ă© analisar a cultura polĂtica que desencadeou esse processo de
transformação do Estado a partir de um duplo movimento: desde arriba, isto é, compreender
quais as condições que propiciaram a eleição de Evo Morales e de que maneira o governo se
apropria e faz uso das tradições originárias, especialmente no que tange à temática do Bem
Viver como uma proposta de transformação radical da realidade (também definida como
―Proceso de Cambio‖ ou ―Revolución Democrática y Cultural‖); e desde abajo, do ponto de
vista das bases sociais, isto Ă©, como o povo, e em especial as classes populares e indĂgenas,
comporta-se em seu cotidiano diante das contradições e conflitos que permeiam o princĂpio
normativo anunciado pelo governo e a sua prática social.
Em relação ao último aspecto, utilizaremos como estudo de caso, a experiência da cidade
de El Alto. Localizada a cerca de 10km de La Paz, também considerada uma cidade insurgente,
possui um histórico de lutas que remonta à resistência ao Império Espanhol. Nos dias atuais,
teve um papel protagônico na Guerra do Gás de 2003 e foi determinante na derrubada de dois
presidentes antes de contribuir na eleição de Evo Morales em 2005. Sob o atual governo, é
objeto de grandes disputas, pois Ă© uma cidade-chave para a manutenção da estabilidade polĂtica
no paĂs. As juntas vecinales consistem em umas das principais formas de organização coletiva e
popular e combinam elementos modernos (pois se assemelham às associações de moradores) e
tradicionais (pois trazem aspectos constitutivos do poder da comunidade indĂgena oriunda dos
ayllus).
Acredito que a análise mais aprofundada sobre a experiência de El Alto, tendo como base
a perspectiva de algumas de suas lideranças locais, permitirá também uma reflexão mais
substancial sobre os dilemas e possibilidades que surgem com a apresentação do Bem Viver
(Buen Vivir, Vivir Bien, Suma Kamaña, Suma Kawsay, TeKo Kevi, Ñandareko etc) enquanto
alternativa pĂłs-capitalista, bem como os desdobramentos referentes Ă reflexĂŁo da possĂvel
articulação entre Estado, Democracia e Comunidade.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientĂfico e TecnolĂłgicoThe election of the first indigenous president of Latin America and the signing of a new
constitution that made Bolivia a Plurinational and Community State brought to the fore a new
ideological and epistemic arsenal. At the intersection between Western modernity and the
millennial cultures that originated in our continent, there is a fertile way to glimpse antisystemic
alternatives having as its starting point the indigenous protagonism.
The proposal of this research is to analyze the political culture that triggered this process
of transformation of the State from a double movement: from above, that is, to understand the
conditions that propitiated the election of Evo Morales and how the government appropriates
and makes use of the original traditions, especially with regard to the theme of Well-Living as a
proposal for radical transformation of reality (also defined as "Process of Change" or "Cultural
and Democratic Revolution"); and from below, from the point of view of social bases, that is,
how the people, and especially the indigenous and popular classes, behave in their everyday life
in the face of the contradictions and conflicts that permeate the normative principle announced
by the government and its social practice.
Regarding the last aspect, we will use as a case study the experience of the city of El
Alto. Located about 10km from La Paz, also considered an insurgent city, it has a history of
fighting that goes back to resistance to the Spanish Empire. Nowadays, he played a leading role
in the 2003 Gas War and was instrumental in overthrowing two presidents before contributing
to Evo Morales' 2005 election. Under the current administration he is the subject of major
disputes as he is a key city to maintain political stability in the country. The neighborhood
councils consist of one of the main forms of collective and popular organization and combine
modern elements (because they resemble residents' associations) and traditional elements
(because they bring constitutive aspects of the power of the indigenous community originated
by the ayllus).
I believe that a more in-depth analysis of El Alto's experience, based on the perspective of
some of its local leaders, will also allow a more substantial reflection on the dilemmas and
possibilities that arise with the presentation of Bem Viver (Buen Vivir, Vivir Bien , Suma
Kamaña, Suma Kawsay, TeKo Kevi, Ñandareko etc.) as a post-capitalist alternative, as well as
the developments regarding the reflection of the possible articulation between State, Democracy
and Community.223 p
A Conversation with David Usher
David Anthony Usher was born in Harrow in the UK on November 1st, 1936,
and emigrated with his family to Wellington, New Zealand in 1948. After
a year at Wellesley College in Days Bay he became a boarder in Grey
House at Wanganui Collegiate School. He attended Victoria University of
Wellington where he received a BSc (1958) and MSc with First Class
Honours (1960). He then moved to Cambridge, England, where he received a
PhD in Chemistry, working with D. M. Brown. After two year’s
postdoctoral at Harvard University with Frank Westheimer, he joined the
faculty at Cornell University in the Department of Chemistry where he
has remained ever since. His early work was on the mechanism of the
enzyme ribonuclease, where he identified two possible geometries for the
reaction, in-line or adjacent. In subsequent work he showed that the
mechanism was in-line for both steps. This work led to a prediction that
if RNA were 2’,5’-linked, instead of 3’,5’-linked as it is in nature, it
would hydrolyze more rapidly when it was part of a double helix. By
contrast, he predicted that 3’,5’-linked RNA would be stabilized by
becoming part of a double helix. Later work in the Usher laboratory
showed that this prediction was correct. In addition, this work
suggested a possible mechanism for the formation of RNA under prebiotic
conditions. Usher was one of the first to see the potential for what has
become known as antisense technology, and developed a novel amide-linked
oligonucleotide analog. In more recent years, Dr Usher has turned his
attention to possible mechanisms for the prebiotic formation of the
peptide bond using novel oligonucleotide templates, as a model for the
origin of protein synthesis. His interest in the Origin of Life is
broad, and includes collaborative research with Jonathan Lunine of
Cornell’s Department of Space Sciences, investigating possible chemical
evolution on Saturn’s moon Titan.
In addition to his research activities in chemistry, Usher has appeared
as the tenor lead in thirteen Gilbert and Sullivan shows that were
mounted by the Cornell Savoyards. He has a national ranking in the top
20 in tennis doubles in his age group. With his partner Dale Wise, he
won the gold medal for tennis doubles in his age group at the 2013
National Senior Games in Cleveland.1_omoivbpl1_h37icd0
A Conversation with Jerrold Meinwald
Jerrold Meinwald, the Goldwin Smith Professor Emeritus of the Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department, shares insights into the factors that drew him into the world of Chemistry and later into Chemical Ecology, a field he co-founded with the late professor Tom Eisner of CALS; he also reflects upon some highlights of his own career, how he was mentored, and shares perspectives on the evolution of Chemical Biology. The interview was conducted by a colleague of many years, Professor Bruce Ganem. Running time: 99 minutes.1_hbjbw55
A Conversation with Dave Collum
David B. Collum, the Betty R. Miller Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, describes his unusual entry into chemistry while an undergraduate at Cornell University, a exciting experience in graduate school at Columbia University, and his movement from organic synthesis to physical organometallic chemistry in his early days as an assistant professor at Cornell. The interviewer and former mentor, Professor Bruce Ganem, wander through life at Cornell, the temperament of the department, life as department chairman, and emerging interests in political economics.1_jr7635h
- …