1,148 research outputs found
Improvement of polyuria, bladder sensation and bladder capacity following renal transplantation
The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com.ArticleInternational Journal of Urology. 13(5): 616-618 (2006)journal articl
Model for the on-site matrix elements of the tight-binding hamiltonian of a strained crystal: Application to silicon, germanium and their alloys
We discuss a model for the on-site matrix elements of the sp3d5s*
tight-binding hamiltonian of a strained diamond or zinc-blende crystal or
nanostructure. This model features on-site, off-diagonal couplings between the
s, p and d orbitals, and is able to reproduce the effects of arbitrary strains
on the band energies and effective masses in the full Brillouin zone. It
introduces only a few additional parameters and is free from any ambiguities
that might arise from the definition of the macroscopic strains as a function
of the atomic positions. We apply this model to silicon, germanium and their
alloys as an illustration. In particular, we make a detailed comparison of
tight-binding and ab initio data on strained Si, Ge and SiGe.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Driven Dynamics: A Probable Photodriven Frenkel-Kontorova Model
In this study, we examine the dynamics of a one-dimensional Frenkel-Kontorova
chain consisting of nanosize clusters (the ''particles'') and photochromic
molecules (the ''bonds''), and being subjected to a periodic substrate
potential. Whether the whole chain should be running or be locked depends on
both the frequency and the wavelength of the light (keeping the other
parameters fixed), as observed through numerical simulation. In the locked
state, the particles are bound at the bottom of the external potential and
vibrate backwards and forwards at a constant amplitude. In the running state,
the initially fed energy is transformed into directed motion as a whole. It is
of interest to note that the driving energy is introduced to the system by the
irradiation of light, and the driven mechanism is based on the dynamical
competition between the inherent lengths of the moving object (the chain) and
the supporting carrier (the isotropic surface). However, the most important is
that the light-induced conformational changes of the chromophore lead to the
time-and-space dependence of the rest lengths of the bonds.Comment: 4 pages,5 figure
Stability and enzymatic studies with omeprazole: hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin
The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com. A publicação original está disponível em www.springerlink.comOmeprazole (OME) exhibits low stability to light, heat and humidity. In stress conditions OME stability should improve under inclusion complex form with hydroxypropyl-b-cyclodextrin (HPbCD). Stability of OME, its physical mixture (PM) with HPbCD and OME:HPbCD inclusion complex was assessed during 60 days. The inclusion complexes were prepared by kneading and freezedrying techniques and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A molecular modelling was also held to predict the most probable tridimensional conformation of inclusion complex OME:HPbCD. The inhibitory activity of free and complexed OME on selected enzymes, namely, papain (protease model of the proton pump) and acetylcholinesterase (enzyme present in cholinergic neurons and also involved in Alzheimer’s disease) was compared. The results obtained show that HPbCD do not protect against OME degradation, in any prepared powder, in the presence of light, heat and humidity. This may indicate that the reactive group of OME is not included in the HPbCD cavity.
This fact is supported by molecular modelling data, which demonstrated that 2-pyridylmethyl group of OME is not included into the cyclodextrin cavity. In relation to enzymatic assays it was observed that free OME and OME in the binary systems showed identical inhibitory activity on papain and acethylcolinesterase, concluding that HPbCD do not affect OME activity on these two enzymes
Expression and trans-specific polymorphism of self-incompatibility RNases in Coffea (Rubiaceae)
Self-incompatibility (SI) is widespread in the angiosperms, but identifying the biochemical components of SI mechanisms has proven to be difficult in most lineages. Coffea (coffee; Rubiaceae) is a genus of old-world tropical understory trees in which the vast majority of diploid species utilize a mechanism of gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI). The S-RNase GSI system was one of the first SI mechanisms to be biochemically characterized, and likely represents the ancestral Eudicot condition as evidenced by its functional characterization in both asterid (Solanaceae, Plantaginaceae) and rosid (Rosaceae) lineages. The S-RNase GSI mechanism employs the activity of class III RNase T2 proteins to terminate the growth of "self" pollen tubes. Here, we investigate the mechanism of Coffea GSI and specifically examine the potential for homology to S-RNase GSI by sequencing class III RNase T2 genes in populations of 14 African and Madagascan Coffea species and the closely related self-compatible species Psilanthus ebracteolatus. Phylogenetic analyses of these sequences aligned to a diverse sample of plant RNase T2 genes show that the Coffea genome contains at least three class III RNase T2 genes. Patterns of tissue-specific gene expression identify one of these RNase T2 genes as the putative Coffea S-RNase gene. We show that populations of SI Coffea are remarkably polymorphic for putative S-RNase alleles, and exhibit a persistent pattern of trans-specific polymorphism characteristic of all S-RNase genes previously isolated from GSI Eudicot lineages. We thus conclude that Coffea GSI is most likely homologous to the classic Eudicot S-RNase system, which was retained since the divergence of the Rubiaceae lineage from an ancient SI Eudicot ancestor, nearly 90 million years ago.United States National Science Foundation [0849186]; Society of Systematic Biologists; American Society of Plant Taxonomists; Duke University Graduate Schoolinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
A general scaling relation for the critical current density in Nb3Sn
We review the scaling relations for the critical current density (Jc) in
Nb3Sn wires and include recent findings on the variation of the upper critical
field (Hc2) with temperature (T) and A15 composition. We highlight deficiencies
in the Summers/Ekin relations, which are not able to account for the correct
Jc(T) dependence. Available Jc(H) results indicate that the magnetic field
dependence for all wires can be described with Kramer's flux shear model, if
non-linearities in Kramer plots are attributed to A15 inhomogeneities. The
strain (eps) dependence is introduced through a temperature and strain
dependent Hc2*(T,eps) and Ginzburg- Landau parameter kappa1(T,eps) and a strain
dependent critical temperature Tc(eps). This is more consistent than the usual
Ekin unification, which uses two separate and different dependencies on Hc2*(T)
and Hc2*(eps). Using a correct temperature dependence and accounting for the
A15 inhomogeneities leads to a remarkable simple relation for Jc(H,T,eps).
Finally, a new relation for s(eps) is proposed, based on the first, second and
third strain invariants.Comment: Accepted Topical Review for Superconductor, Science and Technolog
Methamphetamine induces endoplasmic reticulum stress related gene CHOP/Gadd153/ddit3 in dopaminergic cells
We examined the toxicity of methamphetamine and dopamine in CATH.a cells, which were derived from mouse dopamine-producing neural cells in the central nervous system. Use of the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that transcripts of the endoplasmic reticulum stress related gene (CHOP/Gadd153/ddit3) were considerably induced at 24–48 h after methamphetamine administration (but only under apoptotic conditions), whereas dopamine slightly induced CHOP/Gadd153/ddit3 transcripts at an early stage. We also found that dopamine and methamphetamine weakly induced transcripts for the glucose-regulated protein 78 gene (Grp78/Bip) at the early stage. Analysis by immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated an increase of CHOP/Gadd153/ddit3 and Grp78/Bip proteins at 24 h after methamphetamine administration. Treatment of CATH.a cells with methamphetamine caused a re-distribution of dopamine inside the cells, which mimicked the presynaptic activity of neurons with cell bodies located in the ventral tegmental area or the substantia nigra. Thus, we have demonstrated the existence of endoplasmic reticulum stress in a model of presynaptic dopaminergic neurons for the first time. Together with the recent evidence suggesting the importance of presynaptic toxicity, our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of dopamine toxicity, which might represent one of the most important mechanisms of methamphetamine toxicity and addiction
Extraordinary Molecular Evolution in the PRDM9 Fertility Gene
Recent work indicates that allelic incompatibility in the mouse PRDM9 (Meisetz) gene can cause hybrid male sterility, contributing to genetic isolation and potentially speciation. The only phenotype of mouse PRDM9 knockouts is a meiosis I block that causes sterility in both sexes. The PRDM9 gene encodes a protein with histone H3(K4) trimethyltransferase activity, a KRAB domain, and a DNA-binding domain consisting of multiple tandem C2H2 zinc finger (ZF) domains. We have analyzed human coding polymorphism and interspecies evolutionary changes in the PRDM9 gene. The ZF domains of PRDM9 are evolving very rapidly, with compelling evidence of positive selection in primates. Positively selected amino acids are predominantly those known to make nucleotide specific contacts in C2H2 zinc fingers. These results suggest that PRDM9 is subject to recurrent selection to change DNA-binding specificity. The human PRDM9 protein is highly polymorphic in its ZF domains and nearly all polymorphisms affect the same nucleotide contact residues that are subject to positive selection. ZF domain nucleotide sequences are strongly homogenized within species, indicating that interfinger recombination contributes to their evolution. PRDM9 has previously been assumed to be a transcription factor required to induce meiosis specific genes, a role that is inconsistent with its molecular evolution. We suggest instead that PRDM9 is involved in some aspect of centromere segregation conflict and that rapidly evolving centromeric DNA drives changes in PRDM9 DNA-binding domains
Principles of early human development and germ cell program from conserved model systems
Human primordial germ cells (hPGCs), the precursors of sperm and eggs, originate during week 2-3 of early postimplantation development(1). Using in vitro models of hPGC induction(2-4), recent studies suggest striking mechanistic differences in specification of human and mouse PGCs(5). This may partly be due to the divergence in their pluripotency networks, and early postimplantation development(6-8). Since early human embryos are inaccessible for direct studies, we considered alternatives, including porcine embryos that, as in humans, develop as bilaminar embryonic discs. Here we show that porcine PGCs (pPGCs) originate from the posterior pre-primitive streak competent epiblast by sequential upregulation of SOX17 and BLIMP1 in response to WNT and BMP signalling. Together with human and monkey in vitro models simulating peri-gastrulation development, we show conserved principles for epiblast development for competency for PGC fate, followed by initiation of the epigenetic program(9-11), regulated by a balanced SOX17–BLIMP1 gene dosage. Our combinatorial approach using human, porcine and monkey in vivo and in vitro models, provides synthetic insights on early human development
Inhibition of Gap Junction Communication at Ectopic Eph/ephrin Boundaries Underlies Craniofrontonasal Syndrome
Mutations in X-linked ephrin-B1 in humans cause craniofrontonasal syndrome (CFNS), a disease that affects female patients more severely than males. Sorting of ephrin-B1–positive and –negative cells following X-inactivation has been observed in ephrin-B1(+/−) mice; however, the mechanisms by which mosaic ephrin-B1 expression leads to cell sorting and phenotypic defects remain unknown. Here we show that ephrin-B1(+/−) mice exhibit calvarial defects, a phenotype autonomous to neural crest cells that correlates with cell sorting. We have traced the causes of calvarial defects to impaired differentiation of osteogenic precursors. We show that gap junction communication (GJC) is inhibited at ectopic ephrin boundaries and that ephrin-B1 interacts with connexin43 and regulates its distribution. Moreover, we provide genetic evidence that GJC is implicated in the calvarial defects observed in ephrin-B1(+/−) embryos. Our results uncover a novel role for Eph/ephrins in regulating GJC in vivo and suggest that the pleiotropic defects seen in CFNS patients are due to improper regulation of GJC in affected tissues
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