Insulin potentiates the transactivation potency of the glucocorticoid receptor

AbstractA single copy of a glucocorticoid-responsive element (GRE) is sufficient in mediating the combinatorial response of a promoter to both glucocorticoids and insulin in HepG2 cells. This requires the presence of active glucocorticoid receptor (GR) since the response is significantly inhibited by the anti-glucocorticoid RU30406. The N′- and C′-terminal parts of the GR protein are not involved in mediating the response. Insulin had no effect on GR binding to GRE but it affected both the level and the phosphorylation state of nuclear-bound GR. Thus, insulin alters the GR transactivation potency while, concomitantly, modifies the molecule at the posttranslational level

On particles in equilibrium on the real line

We study equilibrium configurations of infinitely many identical particles on the real line or finitely many particles on the circle, such that the (repelling) force they exert on each other depends only on their distance. The main question is whether each equilibrium configuration needs to be an arithmetic progression. Under very broad assumptions on the force we show this for the particles on the circle. In the case of infinitely many particles on the line we show the same result under the assumption that the maximal (or the minimal) gap between successive points is finite (positive) and assumed at some pair of successive points. Under the assumption of analyticity for the force field (e.g., the Coulomb force) we deduce some extra rigidity for the configuration: knowing an equilibrium configuration of points in a half-line determines it throughout. Various properties of the equlibrium configuration are proved

On Making Good Games - Using Player Virtue Ethics and Gameplay Design Patterns to Identify Generally Desirable Gameplay Features

This paper uses a framework of player virtues to perform a theoretical exploration of what is required to make a game good. The choice of player virtues is based upon the view that games can be seen as implements, and that these are good if they support an intended use, and the intended use of games is to support people to be good players. A collection of gameplay design patterns, identified through their relation to the virtues, is presented to provide specific starting points for considering design options for this type of good games. 24 patterns are identified supporting the virtues, including RISK/REWARD, DYNAMIC ALLIANCES, GAME MASTERS, and PLAYER DECIDED RESULTS, as are 7 countering three or more virtues, including ANALYSIS PARALYSIS, EARLY ELIMINATION, and GRINDING. The paper concludes by identifying limitations of the approach as well as by showing how it can be applied using other views of what are preferable features in games

Relations of the spaces Ap (Ω) and C p (∂Ω)

This is the author accepted manuscript. It is currently under an indefinite embargo pending publication by Springer.Let Ω be a Jordan domain in C, J an open arc of ∂Ω and φ : D → Ω a Riemann map from the open unit disk D onto Ω. Under certain assumptions on φ we prove that if a holomorphic function f ∈ H(Ω) extends continuously on Ω ∪ J and p ∈ {1, 2, . . . } ∪ {∞}, then the following equivalence holds: the derivatives f (l) , 1 ≤ l ≤ p, l ∈ N, extend continuously on Ω ∪ J if and only if the function f|J has continuous derivatives on J with respect to the position of orders l, 1 ≤ l ≤ p, l ∈ N. Moreover, we show that for the relevant function spaces, the topology induced by the l−derivatives on Ω, 0 ≤ l ≤ p, l ∈ N, coincides with the topology induced by the same derivatives taken with respect to the position on J

MINERALOGY AND ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT OF BOTTOM ASH SAMPLES FROM AGIOS DIMITRIOS POWER PLANT, GREECE

Four bottom ash samples from the Power Units of the Agios Dimitrios Power Plant were studied by the method of PXRD to determine their semi-quantitative mineralogical composition. Their organic matter content was calculated by a wet chemical process. Also, the loss on ignition was measured. The samples are constituted mainly of calcite, quartz and feldspars, while micas, clays, gehlenite and portlandite were determined in a few samples in smaller quantities. The amorphous material varied between 10-43 wt. %, while organic matter varied between 5-42 wt. %. Measurements of the loss on ignition overestimate the unburned lignite contents in the bottom ash samples. The management of bottom ashes with high contents of unburned lignite should differ to that of the fly ashes. The oxidation of the inorganic compounds of the unburned lignite may lead to environmental degradation of the landfill areas. Samples showing lower values of organic matter are suitable for a series of uses, such as: snow and ice control, as an aggregate in lightweight concrete masonry units,as a raw feed material for portland cement, as an aggregate in cold mix emulsified asphalt mixes, base or sub-base courses, or in shoulder construction. Systematic study of the unburned lignite of bottom ashes is needed for possible re-combustion

PMI: A Delta Psi(m) Independent Pharmacological Regulator of Mitophagy

Mitophagy is central to mitochondrial and cellular homeostasis and operates via the PINK1/Parkin pathway targeting mitochondria devoid of membrane potential (ΔΨm) to autophagosomes. Although mitophagy is recognized as a fundamental cellular process, selective pharmacologic modulators of mitophagy are almost nonexistent. We developed a compound that increases the expression and signaling of the autophagic adaptor molecule P62/SQSTM1 and forces mitochondria into autophagy. The compound, P62-mediated mitophagy inducer (PMI), activates mitophagy without recruiting Parkin or collapsing ΔΨm and retains activity in cells devoid of a fully functional PINK1/Parkin pathway. PMI drives mitochondria to a process of quality control without compromising the bio-energetic competence of the whole network while exposing just those organelles to be recycled. Thus, PMI circumvents the toxicity and some of the nonspecific effects associated with the abrupt dissipation of ΔΨm by ionophores routinely used to induce mitophagy and represents a prototype pharmacological tool to investigate the molecular mechanisms of mitophagy

Electrical conductivity studies of anatase TiO2 with dominant highly reactive {0 0 1} facets

Nanostructured powders of titanium dioxide anatase nanoplates with dominant highly reactive {0 0 1} facets were fabricated using a solvothermal method. Two kinds of samples, as prepared and calcinated at 600 °C, were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and electrical conductivity in vacuum and in air. The dependence of the conductivity versus the inverse of temperature in the temperature range 150-440 K indicated the contribution of at least two conduction mechanisms in vacuum. The electron transport was controlled by partially depleted of charge carriers grains and adiabatic small polaron conduction in the high temperature regime and by Mott variable-range hopping (VRH) at lower temperatures. The environment was found from the experimental results to influence significantly the electrical conductivity values and its temperature dependence. A decrease with temperature in air is observed in the ranges 290-370 and 285-330 K for the as prepared and the calcinated sample respectively. Potential barriers caused by partial depletion of carriers at grain boundaries control the electrical conductivity behavior in air at high temperatures and VRH in the lower temperature regime

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in dehydrated patients: a preliminary report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Acute kidney injury has been recognized as a major contributor to end stage renal disease. Although neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (Ngal) has been reported as a promising biomarker for early detection of acute kidney injury, no study has yet examined its potential clinical impact in patients with normal renal function. The purpose of current study is to investigate possible difference in serum Ngal levels between dehydrated and control patients.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>A total of twelve patients presented with symptoms of mild dehydration defined by history of diarrheas or vomiting and orthostatic (postural) hypotension and an age and sex matched group of twelve control patients were included. The two groups of patients did not seem to differ in basic clinical and laboratory parameters. Serum Ngal was higher in dehydrated patients when compared to control group (Ngal = 129.4 ± 25.7 ng/mL vs 60.6 ± 0.4 ng/mL, p = 0.02). Ngal was not correlated with age, hemoglobin, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, urea or creatinine.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The presence of elevated Ngal levels in dehydrated patients may suggest its role as a very sensitive biomarker in even minimal and "silent" prerenal kidney dysfunction</p

Measurements of the Generalized Electric and Magnetic Polarizabilities of the Proton at Low Q2 Using the VCS Reaction

The mean square polarizability radii of the proton have been measured for the first time in a virtual Compton scattering experiment performed at the MIT-Bates out-of-plane scattering facility. Response functions and polarizabilities obtained from a dispersion analysis of the data at Q2=0.06 GeV2/c2 are in agreement with O(p3) heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory. The data support the dominance of mesonic effects in the polarizabilities, and the increase of beta with increasing Q2 is evidence for the cancellation of long-range diamagnetism by short-range paramagnetism from the pion cloud