216 research outputs found
Analysis of the value of home automation systems
Full text linkSmart technology involves the integration of a variety of home systems including lighting, climate control, security etc. to enhance the comfort, convenience and economy of the home for its users. It is currently unknown if homebuyers believe that these systems add value to the home. This study used the market value of home sales and an attitudinal survey of homebuyers, to determine the increased value of homes containing smart technology. The results demonstrated that a significant price premium was paid for the incorporation of the technology into new homes. In addition, the research suggests that the use of this technology is not limited to high-income earners or other demographic stereotypes. Instead it has broad market appeal and the potential to save energy for the community at large.<br /
Cap-independent Nrf2 translation is part of a lipoic acid-stimulated detoxification stress response
Get PDFAbstractLittle is known about either the basal or stimulated homeostatic mechanisms regulating nuclear tenure of Nf-e2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that mediates expression of over 200 detoxification genes. Our data show that stress-induced nuclear Nrf2 accumulation is largely from de novo protein synthesis, rather than translocation from a pre-existing cytoplasmic pool. HepG2 cells were used to monitor nuclear Nrf2 24h following treatment with the dithiol micronutrient (R)-α-lipoic acid (LA; 50μM), or vehicle. LA caused a ≥2.5-fold increase in nuclear Nrf2 within 1h. However, pretreating cells with cycloheximide (50μg/ml) inhibited LA-induced Nrf2 nuclear accumulation by 94%. Providing cells with the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, decreased basal Nrf2 levels by 84% after 4h, but LA overcame this inhibition. LA-mediated de novo protein translation was confirmed using HepG2 cells transfected with a bicistronic construct containing an internal ribosome entry sequence (IRES) for Nrf2, with significant (P<0.05) increase in IRES use under LA treatment. These results suggest that a dithiol stimulus mediates Nrf2 nuclear tenure via cap-independent protein translation. Thus, translational control of Nrf2 synthesis, rather than reliance solely on pre-existing protein, may mediate the rapid burst of Nrf2 nuclear accumulation following stress stimuli
Synthetic Protein Biotechnology approaches for the creation of antimicrobial biopolymers
Get PDF[Excerpt] The spread of antimicrobials resistant microorganisms has triggered the search for new ways to treat infections. In the present work we explored the ABP-CM4 peptide properties from Bombyx mori for the creation of biopolymers with broad antimicrobial activity. An antimicrobial recombinant protein-based polymer (rPBP) was designed by cloning the DNA sequence coding for ABP-CM4 in frame with the N-terminus of the elastin-like recombinamer consisting of 200 repetitions of the pentamer VPAVG, here named A200. [...]This work was supported by FEDER through POFC – COMPETE by FCT through the project PEst-OE/BIA/UI4050/2014. By the Spanish Minister of Economy and Competitiveness (MAT2012-38043-C02-01) and Junta de Castilla y León-JCyL (VA152A12-2 and VA155A12-2), Spain. AC and RM, acknowledge FCT for SFRH/BD/75882/2011 and SFRH-BPD/86470/2012 grants, respectively
Mars Atmospheric Conversion to Methane and Water: An Engineering Model of the Sabatier Reactor with Characterization of Ru/Al2O3 for Long Duration Use on Mars
Get PDFThe Atmospheric Processing Module (APM) is a Mars In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technology designed to demonstrate conversion of the Martian atmosphere into methane and water. The Martian atmosphere consists of approximately 95 carbon dioxide (CO2) and residual argon and nitrogen. APM utilizes cryocoolers for CO2 acquisition from a simulated Martian atmosphere and pressure. The captured CO2 is sublimated and pressurized as a feedstock into the Sabatier reactor, which converts CO2 and hydrogen to methane and water. The Sabatier reaction occurs over a packed bed reactor filled with Ru/Al2O3 pellets. The long duration use of the APM system and catalyst was investigated for future scaling and failure limits. Failure of the catalyst was detected by gas chromatography and temperature sensors on the system. Following this, characterization and experimentation with the catalyst was carried out with analysis including x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy with elemental dispersive spectroscopy. This paper will discuss results of the catalyst performance, the overall APM Sabatier approach, as well as intrinsic catalyst considerations of the Sabatier reactor performance incorporated into a chemical model
Dynamic Career Models and Inequality Research: A Reexamination of the Sørensen Model
Get PDFThis article presents a reexamination of the Sørensen model. This model derives the pattern of individual careers from structural considerations. If longitudinal data on individual careers are available, Sørensen's model provides two methods to infer the underlying structural parameter. This structural parameter gives a useful measure for unequal career chances. An implementation of these methods, using firm data, shows, however, that they lead to contradictory conclusions; this is shown to be the result of some unrealistic assumptions Sørensen uses in his derivation. Some more realistic assumptions are suggested that produce reasonable results. Finally, it is shown that despite these modifications, the main conclusions of the Sørensen model are preserved. This seems to be promising for future work with this model
T cell receptor reversed polarity recognition of a self-antigen major histocompatibility complex
Get PDFCentral to adaptive immunity is the interaction between the αβ T cell receptor (TCR) and peptide presented by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule. Presumably reflecting TCR-MHC bias and T cell signaling constraints, the TCR universally adopts a canonical polarity atop the MHC. We report the structures of two TCRs, derived from human induced T regulatory (iTreg) cells, complexed to an MHC class II molecule presenting a proinsulin-derived peptide. The ternary complexes revealed a 180° polarity reversal compared to all other TCR-peptide-MHC complex structures. Namely, the iTreg TCR α-chain and β-chain are overlaid with the α-chain and β-chain of MHC class II, respectively. Nevertheless, this TCR interaction elicited a peptide-reactive, MHC-restricted T cell signal. Thus TCRs are not 'hardwired' to interact with MHC molecules in a stereotypic manner to elicit a T cell signal, a finding that fundamentally challenges our understanding of TCR recognition
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