Drug-resistant HIV-1 protease regains functional dynamics through cleavage site coevolution

Drug resistance is caused by mutations that change the balance of recognition favoring substrate cleavage over inhibitor binding. Here, a structural dynamics perspective of the regained wild-type functioning in mutant HIV-1 proteases with coevolution of the natural substrates is provided. The collective dynamics of mutant structures of the protease bound to p1-p6 and NC-p1 substrates are assessed using the Anisotropic Network Model (ANM). The drug-induced protease mutations perturb the mechanistically crucial hinge axes that involve key sites for substrate binding and dimerization and mainly coordinate the intrinsic dynamics. Yet with substrate coevolution, while the wild-type dynamic behavior is restored in both p1-p6 ((LP) (1\u27F)p1-p6D30N/N88D) and NC-p1 ((AP) (2) (V)NC-p1V82A) bound proteases, the dynamic behavior of the NC-p1 bound protease variants (NC-p1V82A and (AP) (2) (V)NC-p1V82A) rather resemble those of the proteases bound to the other substrates, which is consistent with experimental studies. The orientational variations of residue fluctuations along the hinge axes in mutant structures justify the existence of coevolution in p1-p6 and NC-p1 substrates, that is, the dynamic behavior of hinge residues should contribute to the interdependent nature of substrate recognition. Overall, this study aids in the understanding of the structural dynamics basis of drug resistance and evolutionary optimization in the HIV-1 protease system

Architectural design communication (ADC) in online education during COVID-19 pandemic: a comparison of Turkish and Spanish universities

[EN] Purpose The paper aims to examine the concept of architectural design communication (ADC) for updating design studio dynamics in architectural education during the Covid-19 pandemic. Within this perspective, the changing and transforming contents of architectural education, the thinking, representation and production mediums are examined through the determined components of ADC. There are five components in the study, which are (1) Effective Language Use, (2) Effective use of Handcrafts, (3) Effective Technical Drawing Knowledge, (4) Effective Architectural Software Knowledge and (5) Outputs. Design/methodology/approach The research method is based on qualitative and quantitative methods; a survey study is applied and the comparative results are evaluated with the path analysis method. The students in the Department of Architecture of two universities have been selected as the target audience. Case study 1 survey is applied to Altinbas University (AU) and Case study 2 survey is applied to Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (UPV) students during the COVID-19 pandemic; '19-'20 spring term, online education. Findings As a result, two-path analysis diagrams are produced for two universities, and a comparative analysis is presented to reveal the relationships of the selected ADC components. Originality/value This paper fulfills an identified need to study how ADC can be developed in online education platforms.Akçay Kavakoglu, A.; Guleç Ozer, D.; Domingo Calabuig, D.; Bilen, O. (2022). Architectural design communication (ADC) in online education during COVID-19 pandemic: a comparison of Turkish and Spanish universities. Open House International. 47(2):361-384. https://doi.org/10.1108/OHI-07-2021-014436138447

A significant issue faced by Cancer Patients: Unemployment Concern

Background: As the cancer prevalence rate increases, physical, psychological, and socio-economic problems caused by cancer increase, and the patients’ quality of life is negatively affected. Objective: This study was conducted to determine unemployment concerns faced by cancer patients and the reasons for these concerns. Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted in a tertiary care hospital between March 2016 and May 2017. The study population included all the patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy at a chemotherapy unit in a research hospital at Erzurum. The sample consisted of 405 patients who met the inclusion criteria. A form that was prepared by the researcher based on the literature was used to collect data. The data was analyzed using SPSS 16 and a p<0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: Of the participants, 56% were concerned about losing their jobs. The reasons for this concern were introversion and a decrease in self-confidence during the illness, health insurance not meeting treatment expenses, concerns that the salaries and income level will change during the treatment period, changes in a retirement plan, and facing situations hindering the return to work during the post-treatment period. Conclusion: This study clearly indicates the fear and concern of cancer patients regarding job loss. Occupational organizations and healthcare staff should cooperate to improve the care service

Cloning, expression and characterization of L-arabinose isomerise from thermophilic Anoxybacillus kestanbolensis AC26Sari strain: Bioconversation of L-arabinose to L-ribulose

343-350L-Arabinose isomerase (L-AI) is a pivotal enzyme in the microbial pentose phosphate pathway. It is considered as a significant biological catalyst in rare sugar production. This enzyme can isomerize L-arabinose into L-ribulose and also D-galactose into D-tagatose. Here, we cloned the araA gene encoding L-arabinose isomerase from Anoxybacillus kestanbolensis AC26Sari strain, sequenced and over-expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3): pLysS. This gene is involved in L-arabinose operon in A. kestanbolensis AC26Sari. DNA sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 1,506 bp, capable of encoding a polypeptide of 502 amino acid residues with calculated molecular weight of 55.6776 kDa. The recombinant was purified by heat treatment and Ni-HisTaq chromatography. The purified enzyme showed maximal activity at pH 8.5 and 65ºC and required divalent cations such as Co2+ and Mn2+ for its activity and thermostability. The apparent Km value of the enzyme for L-arabinose was 6.5 mM (Vmax, 140.1002 U/mg) as determined in the precence of both 1 mM Co2+ and Mn2+

Seroprevalence rates of Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus among first trimester pregnant women in Istanbul

Background: Toxoplasma Gondii, Rubella, and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) are the most common causes of congenital infections worldwide. There is not a consensus on these infectious agents should be screened during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of toxoplasma, rubella, and CMV infections in order to know the need for antenatal screening.Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on 1309 ambulatory pregnant patients who applied to the obstetric clinic of a university hospital between October 2016 and April 2018. Documents of patients in the first trimester were reviewed and serologic data of Toxoplasma gondii, CMV, Rubella infections were retrieved from the computer database.Results: Of 1309 pregnant women, positivity for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody was 352(26.9%), while 17(1.3%) of the subjects tested were positive for the anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibody. These positivities of the pregnant women for anti-Rubella IgG and IgM were 1147(87.6%) and (0.1%), respectively. These positivities of the pregnant women for anti-CMV IgG and IgM were 1163(88.8%) and 17(1.3%), respectively.Conclusions: We detected high rates of immunity against Rubella and CMV but low rates of immunity against Toxoplasma in this retrospective cohort of pregnant women. Due to high rates of seropositivity against Rubella and CMV, routine nationwide screening may not be necessary

Distinctive delignification with consecutive application of Geobacillus sp. 71 xylanase and Rhodococcus jostii rha1 lignin peroxidase

In present study, single and consecutive applications of xylanase and lignin peroxidase were performed in an XOQP TCF sequence to bleach pine and eucalypts kraft pulp. The consecutive use of Geobacillus sp. strain 71 xylanase and Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 lignin peroxidase was more effective than the single uses. XyzGeo71 treatment (X) indicates a 9.76% and 28.52% reduction in kappa number for pine and eucalypts kraft pulps, respectively. LiPRHA1 treatment (X) showed a 7.88% and 20.9% reduction a in kappa number for pine and eucalypts kraft pulps, respectively. The consecutive treatment of XyzGeo71 and LiPRHA1  (X), however, indicated a 13.67% and 37.2% reduction in kappa number for pine and eucalypts kraft pulps, respectively. The results showed that delignification with the consecutive xylanase and lignin peroxidase treatment was very significant

Syrian Students’ Participation in Higher Education in Turkey: An Institutional Perspective

PublishedSince the onset of the Syrian civil war, which triggered one of the biggest human tragedies in recent history, more than six million people have fled the country seeking asylum in neighboring countries and beyond (UNHCR, 2020a). While many governments and the international community in general have failed to respond to this emerging humanitarian crisis, millions of Syrian refugees are being hosted in neighboring countries without future prospects as the unrest continues well into its ninth year. In the face of the rising and unprecedented challenge of mass exodus and protracted displacement, each country has been confronted with growing needs of the affected populations within its particular political, economic and social contexts. As children and youth are among the displaced majority, the need for education has attracted public attention. Efforts to ensure a ‘no lost generation’ climbed high on the international agenda in a very short time span. Education has emerged as a top priority in this context as an important tool of sustainable development, and therefore refugee protection, integration and empowerment. By framing this humanitarian crisis as an education crisis, the needs and challenges of Syrian students (e.g. low enrolment rates, inclusion in education systems struggling under ever increasing pressure) have been central concerns. Higher education has only recently become part of the discussion. Considering the estimated 100-200,000 Syrian youths (EU, 2016), who have had their higher education disrupted, and the upcoming generation providing access to higher education is one of the greatest challenges of displacement, both for the host countries and the refugees themselves. Despite being a fundamental human right, access to and participation in higher education among asylum seekers and refugees remain very low and strictly dependent on national contexts and priorities. Global average higher education enrolment rates of 3% compared with 37% for non-refugees clearly indicates the unmet demand for higher education in refugee contexts (UNHCR, 2019d). Furthermore, in the face of documented aspirations among refugee populations, knowledge and research related to higher education in refugee studies continue to be limited. As the biggest refugee host country since 2015, Turkey has faced enormous challenges with the arrival of millions of displaced people in a relatively short period. The total number of Syrians currently under the country’s temporary protection scheme has reached 3.6 million. This figure does not take account of unregistered people nor the 110,000 who have been naturalized (Mültecider, 2020). A high proportion of this population (more than 1.6 million) is registered Syrian children under 18. Almost half a million, however, are youths aged 19-25 who are considered as university age (DGMM, 2020). Taking into consideration the relatively young Syrian population, although provision for education has long been among the priorities of the Turkish Government, meeting the demand of ever-increasing numbers has, and still does, weigh heavy on the government

N-acetylcysteine in patients with COPD exacerbations associated with increased sputum

WOS: 000354549100004PubMed ID: 25595117Background N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been shown not to alter the clinical outcome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. However, NAC may improve symptoms through its mucolytic effect in the subgroup of patients with increased sputum production. The aims of this study were to determine whether NAC improves symptoms and pulmonary function in patients with COPD exacerbation and increased sputum production. Methods This was a placebo-controlled study, where patients with severe COPD and increased sputum production, who were hospitalized for an exacerbation, were included. They were randomized to receive either NAC 200 mg tid or placebo in addition to the usual treatment. Results Forty-two patients were included and were equally distributed to NAC and placebo groups. The symptoms, namely, ease of sputum production and dyspnea at rest and on exertion significantly improved in both groups; but there was no difference in improvement between NAC and placebo groups (p = 0.96, 0.62, 0.31, respectively). Similarly, forced expiratory volume-one second (FEV1) and PaO2 levels improved significantly in NAC (964 +/- 599-1239 +/- 543 ml, p < 0.001, and 57.5 +/- 14.5-70.5 +/- 16.0 mmHg, p < 0.001, respectively) and placebo groups (981 +/- 514-1180 +/- 535 ml, p < 0.001 and 57.9 +/- 14.3-68.7 +/- 19.0 mmHg, p < 0.001, respectively), without any difference between the two groups (p = 0.52 and 0.57). There was no difference in the number of exacerbations during the 6-month follow-up period. Conclusion NAC does not have any beneficial effect on clinical outcomes in patients with severe COPD exacerbation associated with increased and/or viscous mucus production

Effects of Carvacrol on Erythrocyte Deformability in Lower Extremity Ischemia Reperfusion Induced Rats

Arslan, Mustafa/0000-0003-4882-5063WOS: 000453220100047