Topography Study of FIXa: Generation of a Lipid Anchored Molecular Ruler with Attached Inhibitor

Blood coagulation, an important hemostatic property, is directed through activation of proteolytic enzymes known as serine proteases to generate a fibrin plug. Using multiple proteases allows for localized and precise regulation of blood coagulation within the circulatory system. Factor IX, a serine protease, is a key activator in the coagulation cascade by activating Factor X. For activation of FX to occur, FIXa must be in proper conformation on the platelet surface with cofactor FVIIIa to increase enzymatic abilities of FIXa a billion-fold. Current research looks at structure and function of FIXa yet neglects structural plasticity on the membrane, with function of FIX clearly being related to conformation on the platelet. The role of this investigation was to study the optimal reactive topography of FIXa by generating AMRI, Adjustable height Molecular Ruler with attached Inhibitor. AMRI composed of three primary regions contains an Anchor region, Linker region, and Inhibitor. AMRI was generated using the protein anchoring sequence LAGC to fixate to a lipid surface. A height adjustable linker area was then required between the anchor and inhibitor regions of AMRI to ensure proper vertical height of inhibitor. The linker sequence EAAAK forms a rigid structure with a vertical height of 7.5A above the membrane surface, thus we repeated this sequence to achieve a specific desired height. Completing the protein’s linker region is a flexible linker at end of the rigid set. That flexible linker ensures the inhibitor will fit in FIXa active site. Finishing the AMRI complex is a PN2-KPI inhibitor, which has been demonstrated to fit and inhibit the catalytic site of FIXa. Therefore, AMRI should allow for determination of optimal reactive height of the FIXa active site without affecting structural conformation. Through the generation of AMRI, a greater insight into blood coagulation will be gained, along with potential for site specific anticoagulant clinical applications

Efficiency in Midwest US Corn Ethanol Plants: A Plant Survey

Continuation of policy support for the US corn ethanol industry is being debated due to doubts about the greenhouse gas effects of the industry and the effects of the industry on food prices. Yet there is no publicly available data on the economic and technical performance of the current generation of plants, which constitute the overwhelming majority of the industry. This study helps to fill that gap. Seven recently constructed ethanol plants in seven Midwest US states provided details on input requirements and operating costs during 2006 and 2007. Results show that technical performance is substantially better than current estimates available in the literature. Average net operating returns exceeded capital costs during the survey period, but price changes by mid-2008 reduced these margins to near zero. While the economic performance of the industry is currently viable, this study demonstrates that it can be threatened by current price trends, and certainly would be in the absence of current subsidies

Vitamin K effects in human health: new insights beyond bone and cardiovascular health

Vitamin K is a cofactor for the function of the enzyme \u3b3-glutamyl carboxylase, necessary for the activation of multiple vitamin K dependent-proteins. Vitamin K dependent-proteins (VKDPs) have important roles in bone health, vascular health, metabolism, reproduction as well as in cancer progression. Vitamin K deficiency is common in different conditions, including kidney disease, and it may influence the activity of VKDPs. This review discusses vitamin K status in human health and the physiologic and pathologic roles of VKDPs, beyond the established effects in skeletal and cardiovascular health

Transplantation of pediatric renal allografts from donors less than 10 kg

Few transplant programs use kidneys from donors with body weight (BW) BW \u3c 10 kg would provide similar transplant outcomes to larger grafts. All pediatric en bloc renal transplants performed at our center between 2001 and 2017 were reviewed (N = 28). Data were stratified by smaller (donor BW \u3c 10 kg; n = 11) or larger donors (BW \u3e 10 kg; n = 17). Renal volume was assessed during follow-up with ultrasound. Demographic characteristics were similar between the 2 groups of recipients. After mean follow-up of 44 months (smaller donors) and 124 months (larger donors), graft and patient outcomes were similar between groups. Serum creatinine at 1, 3, and 5 years was no different between groups. At 1 day posttransplant, mean total renal volume in the smaller donors was 28 +/- 9 mm(3) vs 45 +/- 12 mm(3) (P \u3c .01). By 3 weeks, it was 53 +/- 19 mm(3) (smaller donors) versus 73 +/- 19 mm(3) (larger donors) (P = NS). Complication rates were similar between both groups with 1 case of venous thrombosis in the smaller group. With experience, outcomes are equivalent to those from larger pediatric donors

Electronic and Optical Materials and Applications

Contains research objectives and reports on five research projects.Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAG29-78-C-0020)United States Air Force (Contract F19628-79-C-0047

Stellar Encounters with Massive Star-Disk Systems

The dense, clustered environment in which massive stars form can lead to interactions with neighboring stars. It has been hypothesized that collisions and mergers may contribute to the growth of the most massive stars. In this paper we extend the study of star-disk interactions to explore encounters between a massive protostar and a less massive cluster sibling using the publicly available SPH code GADGET-2. Collisions do not occur in the parameter space studied, but the end state of many encounters is an eccentric binary with a semi-major axis ~ 100 AU. Disk material is sometimes captured by the impactor. Most encounters result in disruption and destruction of the initial disk, and periodic torquing of the remnant disk. We consider the effect of the changing orientation of the disk on an accretion driven jet, and the evolution of the systems in the presence of on-going accretion from the parent core.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures, accepted to Ap

Microwave and Quantum Magnetics

Contains research objectives and reports on five research projects.Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAG29-83-K-0003)National Institutes of Health (Grant 1 P01 CA3 1303-01

Microwave and Quantum Magnetics

Contains research objectives and reports on six research projects.Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAG29-78-C-0020)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAG29-80-C-0104)United States Air Force (Contract F19628-79-C-0047