Stabilization of DNA i-motif structures by 7-aminoactinomycin D, an anti-tumor drug

Alternative DNA structures are likely to form from Watson-Crick B-form DNA when antitumor drug known to bind DNA loops -- can affect the iM structure. Our results demonstrate as an i-motif (iM). While both structures are known to exist in vivo they are energetically uphill can utilize intercalating cytosine-cytosine base pairing to form a four-stranded structure known controlled by alternative DNA structures like G4s and iMs. especially during processes that involve superhelical duress. A guanosine rich strand can form a facilitate their stabilization. In this report we present data on how 7-aminoactinomycin D -- an formation. Earlier it was believed that iMs required slightly acidic conditions (pH ≤ 6) for four-stranded structure known as a G-quadruplex (G4). The complimentary cytosine rich strand from double strand DNA (dsDNA) meaning that additional factors are needed to facilitate their of ~7. Additionally loop regions of iMs have been implicated in their thermal and pH-dependent shift the pKa of the iM (the pH at which 50% of the iM is folded) nearer to the physiological pH small molecules may be a promising way to therapeutically regulate expression of genes stability. Small molecules such as polyamines and larger molecules like proteins can interact structure stabilization. However crowding agents like polyethylene glycols and dextrans can that a small molecule antitumor drug can stabilize or destabilize iMs by simultaneously changing there is an asymmetric distribution of guanosine and cytosine on opposite DNA strands thermodynamic properties including Tm pKa and ΔG°37 °C. Our results suggest that the use of with iMs by binding to their loops suggesting that additional biochemical factors may also facilitate their stabilization. In this report, we present data on how 7-aminoactinomycin D -- an antitumor drug known to bind DNA loops -- can affect the iM structure. Our results demonstrate that a small molecule antitumor drug can stabilize or destabilize iMs by simultaneously changing thermodynamic properties including Tm, pKa, and ΔG°37 °C. Our results suggest that the use of small molecules may be a promising way to therapeutically regulate expression of genes controlled by alternative DNA structures like G4s and iMs

Di- and Trinuclear Mixed-Valence Copper Amidinate Complexes from Reduction of Iodine

Molecular examples of mixed-valence copper complexes through chemical oxidation are rare but invoked in the mechanism of substrate activation, especially oxygen, in copper-containing enzymes. To examine the cooperative chemistry between two metals in close proximity to each other we began studying the reactivity of a dinuclear Cu(I) amidinate complex. The reaction of [(2,6-Me2C6H3N)2C(H)]2Cu2, 1, with I2 in tetrahydrofuran (THF), CH3CN, and toluene affords three new mixed-valence copper complexes [(2,6-Me2C6H3N)2C(H)]2Cu2(μ2-I3)(THF)2, 2, [(2,6-Me2C6H3N)2C(H)]2Cu2(μ2-I) (NCMe)2, 3, and [(2,6-Me2C6H3N)2C(H)]3Cu3(μ3-I)2, 4, respectively. The first two compounds were characterized by UV-vis and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies, and their molecular structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. Both di- and trinuclear mixed-valence intermediates were characterized for the reaction of compound 1 to compound 4, and the molecular structure of 4 was determined by X-ray crystallography. The electronic structure of each of these complexes was also investigated using density functional theory

Five moral foundations as nonmoral residuals. An alternative model for MFQ

Haidt and Joseph’s Moral Foundations Theory (MFT) is one of the most influential theory of morality using the Moral Foundation Questionnaire (MFQ) to map differences in human morality across the cultures and within societies. The theory assumes five module-like moral domains developed in human evolutionary history upon which are culturally different moralities built: harm/care, fairness/reciprocity, ingroup/loyalty, authority/respect, and purity/sanctity. These domains are embedded in two broad areas of Individualizing and Binding morality. In the former it is an individual at a center of harming and unfair treatment and in the latter, it is the community binding people into mutual relationships under domains of loyalty, authority, and purity in the spotlight. MFQ was mostly used to shed a light on a link between morality and political ideology, but its use is much more diverse including religion. However, in the studies using MFQ, there is usually a poor fit between the five moral domains model and the data indicated by low CFI and TLI indices favoring null model over the five-factor model with five distinct moral domains. The crucial question is why are these indices so low and how to explain this fact? We hypothesized that five-factor model does not correspond the way people think about the moral issues as captured by MFQ. Thus, we tested enhanced and more suitable alternative model based on recent development in the factorial statistics, namely two-tier model and employed more efficient measures of internal reliability (Omega Index, Hierarchical Omega Index and Explained Common Variance). A two-tier model achieved better results than a previously employed five-factor model. Results indicate an overestimation of the five moral domains model in the research as to discern Individualizing and Binding morality seems to be more appropriate. Broader implications of results for MFQ, MFT, and research of morality will be discussed

Paramilitaries, parochialism, and peace: The moral foundations and personality traits of SlovenskíBranci

Paramilitary organizations have increasingly become a cause for concern among policy makers and the media in recent years, in part because the former are often seen as a potential threat to peace (or at least to the status quo of the current political systems) in the countries in which they emerge. Organizations such as the Oathkeepers and 3 Percenters (also known as III%ers) in the United States have grown significantly in the last two decades, while paramilitary organizations playing a key role in both offensive and defensive actions in Crimea and the Donbas Region have become a focus of discussion in the Russian war on Ukraine. Although they have not always garnered as much attention, paramilitary organizations in Central and Eastern Europe have a long history. While most are relatively inactive, others play a wide variety of active roles, sometimes even running operations in parallel with a state’s official armed forces (e.g., the PMO serving the state in Poland, or the Night Wolves helping Russia capture Crimea). Despite the increase in the number and activity of these paramilitary organizations, little is known about the personal, social, moral, and psychological background of the individuals who join them. After reviewing the history and ideology of the largest paramilitary organization in the Slovak Republic, this article presents and discusses the results of a survey administered to the group. This survey used different measures of personality, morality, and identity, as well as information about respondents’ personal background, family history, socio-economic status, and political ideology. We find significant relationships between certain individual personality traits and the importance of certain moral foundations among members of these organizations in relation to their broader social community.publishedVersio

Post-supernatural cultures : There and back again

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A climatological analysis of heatbursts in Oklahoma (1994–2009)

Heatbursts are characterized by a sudden and highly localized increase in air temperature, a simultaneous decrease in relative humidity and dewpoint temperature, and strong gusty winds, typically associated with decaying thunderstorms. The small spatial extent and short duration of most heatbursts makes detailed study of these events difficult using the standard federal observation network (e.g. hourly observations) established in most countries. Thus, many discussions of heatbursts note that they are ‘rare’ phenomena. However, observations from the Oklahoma Mesonet indicate that although heatbursts are meso-alpha scale phenomena, they are not rare. Using multi-criteria analysis, 207 heatburst events of various magnitudes, areal coverage and duration were identified between 1994 and 2009 across Oklahoma. Significantly more heatbursts were detected in the western two-thirds of the state as compared to the eastern third. Heatbursts were primarily nocturnal events, with 70% of heatburst events initiated between 0000 and 0800 UTC (i.e. between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. Central Standard Time). With 62 of the 207 events, June was the most active month for heatbursts. At the other extreme, no heatbursts were detected during February and November, and only one was observed during January and December. Almost all of the heatbursts occurred underneath or adjacent to weak radar echoes at the time of the event. Four basic radar patterns were associated with the events: (1) radar echoes associated with rapidly weakening convection, (2) weak reflectivity not produced by or associated with deep moist convection, (3) weak radar echoes to the rear of a dissipating mesoscale convective system (MCS) and (4) weak reflectivity along the periphery of intense convection that did not appear to be weakening

A Generative Model of the Mutual Escalation of Anxiety Between Religious Groups

We propose a generative agent-based model of the emergence and escalation of xenophobic anxiety in which individuals from two different religious groups encounter various hazards within an artificial society. The architecture of the model is informed by several empirically validated theories about the role of religion in intergroup conflict. Our results identify some of the conditions and mechanisms that engender the intensification of anxiety within and between religious groups. We define mutually escalating xenophobic anxiety as the increase of the average level of anxiety of the agents in both groups overtime. Trace validation techniques show that the most common conditions under which longer periods of mutually escalating xenophobic anxiety occur are those in which the difference in the size of the groups is not too large and the agents experience social and contagion hazards at a level of intensity that meets or exceeds their thresholds for those hazards. Under these conditions agents will encounter out-group members more regularly, and perceive them as threats, generating mutually escalating xenophobic anxiety. The model\u27s capacity to grow the macro-level emergence of this phenomenon from micro-level agent behaviors and interactions provides the foundation for future work in this domain