275 research outputs found
A Note on Solid-State Maxwell Demon
Starting from 2002, at least two kinds of laboratory-testable, solid-state
Maxwell demons have been proposed that utilize the electric field energy of an
open-gap n-p junction and that seem to challenge the validity of the Second Law
of Thermodynamics. In the present paper we present some arguments against the
alleged functioning of such devices.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures. Foundations of Physics, forthcoming. arXiv admin
note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1101.505
Evolutionary modes in protein observable space: the case of Thioredoxins
In this article, we investigated the structural and dynamical evolutionary behaviour of a set of ten thioredoxin proteins as formed by three extant forms and seven resurrected ones in laboratory. Starting from the crystallographic structures, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations and compare the trajectories in terms of structural and dynamical properties. Interestingly, the structural properties related to the protein density (i.e. the number of residues divided by the excluded molecular volume) well describe the protein evolutionary behaviour. Our results also suggest that the changes in sequence as occurred during the evolution have affected the protein essential motions, allowing us to discriminate between ancient and extant proteins in terms of their dynamical behaviour. Such results are yet more evident when the bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic thioredoxins are separately analysed
Efficient and Accurate Modeling of Conformational Transitions in Proteins: The Case of c-Src Kinase
The theoretical computational modeling of large conformational transitions occurring in biomolecules still represents a challenge. Here, we present an accurate "in silico" description of the activation and deactivation mechanisms of human c-Src kinases, a fundamental process regulating several crucial cell functions. Our results clearly show that by applying an efficient and automated algorithm able to drive the molecular dynamics (MD) sampling along the pathway between the two c-Src conformational states - the active state and the inactive state - it is possible to accurately describe, at reduced computational costs, the molecular mechanism underlying these large conformational rearrangements. This procedure, combining the MD simulations with the sampling along the well-defined principal motions connecting the two conformational states, allows to provide a description well beyond the present computational limits, and it is easily applicable to different systems where the structures of both the initial and final states are known
Small Molecule Inhibitors of Human Papillomavirus Protein - Protein Interactions
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) have now been identified as a necessary cause of benign and malignant lesions of the differentiating epithelium, particularly cervical cancer, the second most prevalent cancer in women worldwide. While two prophylactic HPV vaccines and screening programs are available, there is currently no antiviral drug for the treatment of HPV infections and associated diseases. The recent progress toward the identification and characterization of specific molecular targets for small molecule-based approaches provides prospect for the development of effective HPV antiviral compounds. Traditionally, antiviral therapies target viral enzymes. HPV encode for few proteins, however, and rely extensively on the infected cell for completion of their life cycle. This article will review the functions of the viral E1 helicase, which encodes the only enzymatic function of the virus, of the E2 regulatory protein, and of the viral E6 and E7 oncogenes in viral replication and pathogenesis. Particular emphasis will be placed on the recent progress made towards the development of novel small molecule inhibitors that specifically target and inhibit the functions of these viral proteins, as well as their interactions with other viral and/or cellular proteins
a review of empirical data and ethical analysis
Background Appropriate information and consent has been one of the most
intensely discussed topics within the context of biobank research. In parallel
to the normative debate, many socio-empirical studies have been conducted to
gather experiences, preferences and views of patients, healthy research
participants and further stakeholders. However, there is scarcity of
literature which connects the normative debate about justifications for
different consent models with findings gained in empirical research. In this
paper we discuss findings of a limited review of socio-empirical research on
patients’ and healthy research participants’ experiences and views regarding
consent to biobank research in light of ethical principles for appropriate
information and consent. Methods Review question: Which empirical data are
available on research participants’ perceptions and views regarding
information and elicitation of consent for biobank research? Search of
articles published till March 1st 2014 in Pubmed. Review of abstracts and
potentially relevant full text articles by two authors independently. As
categories for content analysis we defined (i) understanding or recall of
information, (ii) preferences regarding information or consent, and (iii)
research participants’ concerns. Results The search in Pubmed yielded 337
abstracts of which 10 articles were included in this study. Approaches to
information and consent varied considerably across the selected studies. The
majority of research participants opted for some version of limited consent
when being informed about such possibility. Among the factors influencing the
type of preferred consent were information about sponsoring of biobank
research by pharmaceutical industry and participants’ trade-off between
privacy and perceived utility. Studies investigating research participants’
understanding and recall regarding the consent procedure indicated
considerable lack of both aspects. Research participants’ perceptions of
benefits and harms differ across those studies. Conclusion The knowledge,
perceptions and views of research participants who have undergone a consent
procedure within the context of biobank research raise several questions on
the issue of how to inform and elicit consent in an ethically acceptable way.
In our empirical-ethical analysis we develop suggestions on how the practice
of eliciting consent in the biobank context should be improved
Targeted drugs and Psycho-oncological intervention for breast cancer patients
Personalized medicine is a new field based on molecular biology and genomics
in which targeted tumor therapies are administered to patients. Psycho-
oncology is a complementary approach that considers social and psychological
aspects of patients as part of the treatments for cancer patients. The aim of
this mini-review is to weigh clinical benefits for breast cancer patients of
both treatments and possibily enhance benefits by modulating the use of both
interventions. We have compared and evaluated on the one hand the use of anti
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and, on the other hand, psycho-oncological
interventions in metastatic and non-metastatic breast cancer patients. Both
treatments did not increase survival of metastatic breast cancer patients,
while in a selected study psycho-oncological interventions extended lifespan
of non-metastatic breast cancer patients and ameliorate psychological and
social factors of metastatic breast cancer patients. Because the two
approaches address completely different aspects of cancer patients, if the
comparison is limited to the extension of survival, the value of these two
treatments cannot be assessed and compared. It is likely that by comparing
patients reported outcomes, possibly by using standardized Quality of Life
questionnaires, both patients and health care providers can weigh the benefits
of the two treatments. It is therefore important to evaluate the use of cancer
patients’ quality of life measures as a mean to improve their experiences
about life and treatment, and possibly to extend their survival
Left atrial anomalous muscular band as incidental finding during video-assisted mitral surgery
Congenital fibromuscular bands have been described inleft ventricle or right atrium and have been diagnosed by echocardiography and CT scan. The first report of anomalous band in the left atrium was described in 1897 by Rollestone (1). We hereby present a case of a patient with an incidental finding of left atrial band during a minimally invasive mitral surgery procedure
Surgical embolectomy for acute massive pulmonary embolism: state of the art
Massive pulmonary embolism (PE) is a severe condition that can potentially lead to death caused
by right ventricular (RV) failure and the consequent cardiogenic shock. Despite the fact thrombolysis is often
administrated to critical patients to increase pulmonary perfusion and to reduce RV afterload, surgical treatment
represents another valid option in case of failure or contraindications to thrombolytic therapy. Correct risk
stratification and multidisciplinary proactive teams are critical factors to dramatically decrease the mortality of this
global health burden. In fact, the worldwide incidence of PE is 60–70 per 100,000, with a mortality ranging from
1% for small PE to 65% for massive PE. This review provides an overview of the diagnosis and management of
this highly lethal pathology, with a focus on the surgical approaches at the state of the art
Extraction of Zero-Point Energy from the Vacuum: Assessment of Stochastic Electrodynamics-Based Approach as Compared to Other Methods
In research articles and patents several methods have been proposed for the
extraction of zero-point energy from the vacuum. None of the proposals have
been reliably demonstrated, yet they remain largely unchallenged. In this paper
the underlying thermodynamics principles of equilibrium, detailed balance, and
conservation laws are presented for zero-point energy extraction. The proposed
methods are separated into three classes: nonlinear processing of the
zero-point field, mechanical extraction using Casimir cavities, and the pumping
of atoms through Casimir cavities. The first two approaches are shown to
violate thermodynamics principles, and therefore appear not to be feasible, no
matter how innovative their execution. The third approach, based upon
stochastic electrodynamics, does not appear to violate these principles, but
may face other obstacles. Initial experimental results are tantalizing but,
given the lower than expected power output, inconclusive.Comment: 18 pages including 12 figure
Cerebrovascular complications and infective endocarditis. impact of available evidence on clinical outcome
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening disease. Its epidemiological profile has substantially changed in recent years although 1-year mortality is still high. Despite advances in medical therapy and surgical technique, there is still uncertainty on the best management and on the timing of surgical intervention. The objective of this review is to produce further insight intothe short- and long-term outcomes of patients with IE, with a focus on those presenting cerebrovascular complications
- …