Verbena officinalis L.

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/herbarium_specimens_byname/19311/thumbnail.jp

Forestiera angustifolia Torr.

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/herbarium_specimens_byname/21084/thumbnail.jp

Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/herbarium_specimens_byname/19062/thumbnail.jp

Aloysia macrostachya Moldenke

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/herbarium_specimens_byname/18933/thumbnail.jp

Forestiera pubescens Nutt.

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/herbarium_specimens_byname/21087/thumbnail.jp

Forestiera pubescens Nutt.

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/herbarium_specimens_byname/21086/thumbnail.jp

Mutations of the BRAF gene in human cancer

Cancers arise owing to the accumulation of mutations in critical genes that alter normal programmes of cell proliferation, differentiation and death. As the first stage of a systematic genome-wide screen for these genes, we have prioritized for analysis signalling pathways in which at least one gene is mutated in human cancer. The RAS RAF MEK ERK MAP kinase pathway mediates cellular responses to growth signals. RAS is mutated to an oncogenic form in about 15% of human cancer. The three RAF genes code for cytoplasmic serine/threonine kinases that are regulated by binding RAS. Here we report BRAF somatic missense mutations in 66% of malignant melanomas and at lower frequency in a wide range of human cancers. All mutations are within the kinase domain, with a single substitution (V599E) accounting for 80%. Mutated BRAF proteins have elevated kinase activity and are transforming in NIH3T3 cells. Furthermore, RAS function is not required for the growth of cancer cell lines with the V599E mutation. As BRAF is a serine/threonine kinase that is commonly activated by somatic point mutation in human cancer, it may provide new therapeutic opportunities in malignant melanoma

Analysis and Purification of Bioactive Natural Products: The AnaPurNa Study

Based on a meta-analysis of data mined from almost 2000 publications on bioactive natural products (NPs) from >80 000 pages of 13 different journals published in 1998−1999, 2004−2005, and 2009−2010, the aim of this systematic review is to provide both a survey of the status quo and a perspective for analytical methodology used for isolation and purity assessment of bioactive NPs. The study provides numerical measures of the common means of sourcing NPs, the chromatographic methodology employed for NP purification, and the role of spectroscopy and purity assessment in NP characterization. A link is proposed between the observed use of various analytical methodologies, the challenges posed by the complexity of metabolomes, and the inescapable residual complexity of purified NPs and their biological assessment. The data provide inspiration for the development of innovative methods for NP analysis as a means of advancing the role of naturally occurring compounds as a viable source of biologically active agents with relevance for human health and global benefit

Current induced magnetization dynamics in current perpendicular to the plane spin valves

We observe magnetization dynamics induced by spin momentum transfer in the noise spectra of current perpendicular to the plane giant magnetoresistance spin valves. The dynamics are observable only for those combinations of current direction and magnetic configuration in which spin transfer acts to reorient the free layer magnetization away from the direction set by the net magnetic field. Detailed measurements as a function of magnetic configuration reveal an evolution of the noise spectra, going from a spectrum with a well-defined noise peak when the free layer is roughly collinear with the pinned layer to a spectrum dominated by 1/f noise when the free layer is in an orthogonal configuration. Finally, the amplitude of the corresponding resistance noise increases rapidly with increasing current until it saturates at a value that is a substantial fraction of the magnetoresistance between parallel and antiparallel states.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figures, minor revisions in response to Phys. Rev. B referee