bZIPDB : A database of regulatory information for human bZIP transcription factors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Basic region-leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins are a class of transcription factors (TFs) that play diverse roles in eukaryotes. Malfunctions in these proteins lead to cancer and various other diseases. For detailed characterization of these TFs, further public resources are required.</p> <p>Description</p> <p>We constructed a database, designated bZIPDB, containing information on 49 human bZIP TFs, by means of automated literature collection and manual curation. bZIPDB aims to provide public data required for deciphering the gene regulatory network of the human bZIP family, e.g., evaluation or reference information for the identification of regulatory modules. The resources provided by bZIPDB include (1) protein interaction data including direct binding, phosphorylation and functional associations between bZIP TFs and other cellular proteins, along with other types of interactions, (2) bZIP TF-target gene relationships, (3) the cellular network of bZIP TFs in particular cell lines, and (4) gene information and ontology. In the current version of the database, 721 protein interactions and 560 TF-target gene relationships are recorded. bZIPDB is annually updated for the newly discovered information.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>bZIPDB is a repository of detailed regulatory information for human bZIP TFs that is collected and processed from the literature, designed to facilitate analysis of this protein family. bZIPDB is available for public use at <url>http://biosoft.kaist.ac.kr/bzipdb</url>.</p

Clinical Analysis and Red Flag Signs in Pediatric Headache According to Age

Purpose The clinical characteristics of headaches vary by age among pediatric patients. Red flag signs are key factors in differentiating secondary headaches and should be considered in the context of the patient’s age. Methods This study involved a retrospective chart review of pediatric patients presenting with headaches. Patients were categorized by age into three groups: pre-school age (under 6 years), school-age (6 to 12 years), and adolescence (over 12 years). Demographic data, headache characteristics, laboratory findings, and neuroimaging results were evaluated. Overall, 17 potential red flags were assessed. Results A total of 687 patients were included, of whom 102 were of pre-school age, 314 were school-aged, and 271 were adolescents. The frequency of overweight/obesity was found to increase with age. The pre-school age group experienced a shorter period from symptom onset to presentation and a briefer duration of pain. In contrast, adolescents displayed a longer period from symptom onset, a greater frequency of headaches occurring at least three times per week, and a higher rate of headache episodes lasting over 3 days. Children under 6 years old were more commonly diagnosed with secondary headaches than older children. Across age groups, secondary headaches were suspected when systemic symptoms such as fever were present, when the headache had a sudden onset, when the patient responded poorly to medication, or when abnormal neurological signs and symptoms were observed. Conclusion The clinical features of pediatric patients vary by age group. Clinicians should consider red flag signs in the context of patient age and individual characteristics

Strong Bathochromic Shift of Conjugated Polymer Nanowires Assembled with a Liquid Crystalline Alkyl Benzoic Acid via a Film Dispersion Process

We present aqueous dispersions of conjugated polymer nanowires (CPNWs) with improved light absorption properties aimed at aqueous-based applications. We assembled films of a donor???acceptor-type conjugated polymer and liquid crystalline 4-n-octylbenzoic acid by removing a cosolvent of their mixture solutions, followed by annealing of the films, and then formed aqueous-dispersed CPNWs with an aspect ratio &gt;1000 by dispersing the films under ultrasonication at a basic pH. X-ray and spectroscopy studies showed that the polymer and liquid crystal molecules form independent domains in film assemblies and highly organized layer structures in CPNWs. Our ordered molecular assemblies in films and aqueous dispersions of CPNWs open up a new route to fabricate nanowires of low-band-gap linear conjugated polymers with the absorption maximum at 794 nm remarkably red-shifted from 666 nm of CPNWs prepared by an emulsion process. Our results suggest the presence of semicrystalline polymorphs ??1 and ??2 phases in CPNWs due to long-range ??????? stacking of conjugated backbones in compactly organized lamellar structures. The resulting delocalization with a reduced energy bang gap should be beneficial for enhancing charge transfer and energy-conversion efficiencies in aqueous-based applications such as photocatalysis

The Effects of MnO2 Addition on the Physical Properties of Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3-Pb(Zr,Ti)O3-Pb(Mg1/2W1/2)O3-BiFeO3 Ceramics

In this paper, for the application to multi-layer piezoelectric devices capable of being used in piezoelectric speakers, Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3-Pb(Zr,Ti)O3-BiFeO3 ceramics substituted with Pb(Mg1/2W1/2)O3 were manufactured according to MnO2 addition, and their physical properties were studied. At non-doped MnO2 added specimen, the maximum values of piezoelectric properties were shown, respectively: the εr of 2182, d33 of 513 pC/N, and kp of 0.634. When taking into consideration the low dielectric constant and high d33 in case of increasing the numbers of multilayer in ceramics, the x = 0.2 composition ceramics was suitable for the device application such as speaker using low-temperature sintering multilayer piezoelectric actuators

Technical and economical assessment of thermo-mechanical extrusion pretreatment for cellulosic ethanol production

Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Grain Science and IndustrySajid AlaviThe Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 has set the goal of 36 billion gallons of annual ethanol production in the U.S. by 2022, which is equivalent to 17.5% of the current gasoline consumption in the U.S. However, corn ethanol is expected to plateau at a level of 7.3% of current gasoline consumption on an energy-equivalent basis. Thus, it is essential to utilize a variety of substrates including lignocellulosic biomass from perennial energy crops such as switch grass, crop residues such as corn and sorghum stover, and agri-industrial co-products such as soybean hulls and wheat bran. Lignocellulosic substrates have a recalcitrant nature and require a pretreatment step that is critical for efficient enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose to fermentable sugars. In this study, soybean hulls were used as a model substrate for cellulosic ethanol. A novel thermo-mechanical pretreatment process using extrusion was investigated and compared with two traditional pretreatment methods, dilute acid and alkali hydrolysis, with regard to structural changes in the lignocellulosic substrate, and glucose and ethanol yields. The effect of extrusion parameters, such as barrel temperature, in-barrel moisture and screw speed, on glucose yield from soybean hulls was determined. Optimum processing conditions were screw speed of 350 rpm, maximum barrel temperature of 80C and 40% in-barrel moisture content, resulting in 95% cellulose conversion to glucose. Compared with untreated soybean hulls, the cellulose to glucose conversion of soybean hulls increased by 69.5, 128.4 and 132.2% for dilute acid, alkali and thermo-mechanical pretreatments, respectively. Glucose and other hexose sugars such as mannose and galactose were effectively fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, resulting in ethanol yields of 13.04–15.44 g/L. Fermentation inhibitors glycerol, furfural, 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde (HMF) and acetic acid were found in the thermo-mechanically pretreated substrate, ranging in concentrations from 0.072–0.431, 0–0.049, 0–0.023 and 0.181–0.278 g/L, respectively, which were lower than those reported from acid hydrolyzed substrates. The economic feasibility of commercial cellulosic ethanol production processes employing dilute acid hydrolysis and thermo-mechanical pretreatment were compared using a system dynamics modeling approach. It was concluded that low feedstock cost and high sugar conversion are important factors that can make cellulosic ethanol production commercially viable. Thermo-mechanical pretreatment was a more promising technology as compared to dilute acid hydrolysis because of the lower capital and operating costs, and higher sugar conversion

Effect of enzyme application in temper water on wheat milling

Master of ScienceDepartment of Grain Science and IndustryEkramul HaqueThe effect of enzyme in temper water on wheat milling performance and flour quality was studied. Five independent variables, enzyme concentration, incubation time, incubation temperature, tempered wheat moisture content, and tempering water pH, were studied. An enzyme cocktail consisting of cellulase, xylanase, and pectinase was used at 5 different concentrations. A single pure variety of hard red winter wheat was tempered under defined conditions following an RSM central composite design which required 33 tests including 7 replicates. Each treatment had 5 levels: high, medium high, medium, medium low, and low. After tempering, the physical characteristics of the wheat kernel were determined by using the Single Kernel Characterization System. An experimental laboratory mill (Ross Mill) was used to mill wheat into flour. Thirteen streams of flour, and additional streams of bran, shorts, red dog, and germ were obtained. Product yield, protein, ash, and flour color were evaluated. The data were analyzed and compared using the software SAS and RSM Plus. The data showed that incubation time was the only significant factor affecting the tempered wheat hardness (p<0.05). The treatments affected the flour yield from the break rolls more than that from the reduction rolls. However, a maximum point for flour yield was not found. The relationship between treatments and flour yield was established with a prediction model equation. Also, the enzyme effect on the dough properties and bread making were investigated. The treatments did not affect the optimum water absorption for the flours. However, enzyme treated flours showed shorter mixing times. Regardless of the differences in mixing times, the specific loaf volumes were not significantly different for the all treatments. Bread baked from the flour milled from enzyme treated wheat did not show a positive effect on bread staling

Microstructure and Piezoelectricity of (Na,K,Li)(Nb,Sb)O3–(Bi,Na)(Sr)ZrO3–BaZrO3 Ceramics

In this paper, (Na,K)1&minus;xLi.x(Nb,Sb)O3&ndash;(Bi,Na)(Sr)ZrO3&ndash;BaZrO3 ceramics were fabricated with x(= Li) substitution by two-step sintering method, and their physical characteristics were investigated. When Li substitution was added to the ceramics, piezoelectric constant (d33) and electromechanical coupling factor (kp) were rapidly reduced. However, mechanical quality factor (Qm) was enhanced. For the KNN-BNZ((K,Na)(Nb)O3&ndash;(Bi,Na)(Sr)ZrO3) ceramics with Li(x) = 0 substitution, the best physical properties of d33 = 300 [pC/N], kp = 0.40, Qm = 33 and dialectic constant (&epsilon;r) = 2430 were shown, respectively. Additionally, the KNN-BNZ ceramics with Li(x) = 0.02, the d33 of 246[pC/N], the kp of 0.37, the Qm of 42 and the &epsilon;r of 2090 appeared, which were suitable for the low-loss piezoelectric actuator