The Mechanism of Peptide Hydrolysis Catalysed by Dipeptidyl Peptidase III from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron

Dipeptidyl peptidase III (DPP III) is a zinc- dependent peptidase that cleaves dipeptides off of N-termini of its substrates. Previous studies on human DPP III reveal a reaction mechanism similar to that of thermolysin. Since the active site is conserved within the DPP III family, it is not surprising that the mechanism determined for Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron DPP III (BtDPP III) closely resembles that of hDPP III. However, the hydrogen bond network within the model differs slightly from that in the human ortholog, which results in two proposed pathways. The calculated Gibbs activation energy of 90.1 kJ mol–1 is larger than the one calculated from kinetic data for the preferred substrate Arg2-2-naphthylamide at room temperature (69 kJ mol–1), suggesting the importance of treating the whole DPP III enzyme in the calculations

ANALYTICAL SOLUTION OF STEADY-STATE BEHAVIOR OF BERNOULLI PRODUCTION LINE WITH TWO FINITE BUFFERS

Production system engineering is strongly relied on mathematical models of systems under consideration and analytical solution of the problem has an important role in development and validation of more complex numerical tools. Analytical solution of steady-state behavior of serial Bernoulli production line with three machines and two buffers is considered in this paper based on Markov chain approach. Transition matrices in general case, including three machines with different probabilities of failure and arbitrary occupancy of two buffers, are formulated along with equations for performance measures. The developed theory is illustrated using four different serial Bernoulli lines and the obtained results are compared to those determined using semi-analytical approach via aggregation procedure. Finally, the existing discrepancies are analyzed and pointed out for five different levels of buffers occupancy. From general perspective, good agreement has been found for most of the results within the examined space of system states

Polu-spregnuta analiza dinamičkog odziva plutajućeg tijela i sidrenih linija pritegnutih pučinskih platformi

Matematički model nespregnutog dinamičkog odziva plutajućeg tijela i sidrenih linija pritegnutih pučinskih platformi (pritegnute plutajuće platforme, plutajuće pučinske vjetroturbine) unaprijeđen je uzimajući u obzir nelinearnu povratnu krutost kao posljedicu utjecaja sidrenih linija na dinamiku plutajućeg tijela. Osim nelinearne povratne krutosti model na jednostavan način uzima u obzir i inerciju i viskozno prigušenje prednapregnutih sidrenih linija što rezultira računalno efikasnim poluspregnutim matematičkim modelom. Točnost modela ocjenjena je na primjeru ISSC TLP-s usidrenog u moru srednje dubine usporedbom s potpuno spregnutim modelom konačnih elementa (teorija štapa) koji uzima u obzir deformacije prednapregnutih sidrenih linija. Analiza točnosti modela uključuje analizu statičkih pomaka i slobodnog njihanja plutajućeg tijela. Simulacija u vremenskoj domeni provedena je preslikavanjem linearnih hidrodinamičkih sila iz frekvencijske u vremensku domenu pomoću Cumminsovog konvolucijskog integrala, pri čemu je hidrodinamička reakcija određena programom HYDROSTAR. Neki važniji rezultati i zaključci navedeni su u radu

Pathological pregnancy and psychological symptoms in women [Patološka trudnoća i psihički simptomi u žena]

Pregnancy is followed by many physiologic, organic and psychological changes and disorders, which can become more serious in pregnancy followed by complications, especially in women with pathological conditions during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to find out and analyze the prevalence and intensity of psychological disorders in women with pathological conditions during pregnancy and compare it with conditions in pregnant women who had normal development of pregnancy. The research is approved by the Ethical committee of the Mostar University Hospital Center, and it was made in accordance with Helsinki declaration and good clinical practices. The research conducted section for pathology of pregnancy of Department for gynecology and obstetrics of the Mostar University Hospital Center. It included 82 pregnant women with disorders in pregnancy developement and control group consisted of pregnant women who had normal development of pregnancy. The research work was conducted from September 2007 to August 2008 in Mostar University Hospital Center. Pregnant women had Standard and laboratory tests, Ultrasound. CTG examinations were done for all pregnant women and additional tests for those women with complications during pregnancy. Pregnant women completed sociobiographical, obstetrical-clinical and psychological SCL 90-R questionnaire. Pregnant women with pathological pregnancy exibited significantly more psychological symptoms in comparison to pregnant women with normal pregnancy (p < 0.001 to p = 0.004). Frequency and intensity of psychical symptoms and disorders statisticly are more characteristic in pathological pregnancy (61%/40.6%). The statistical data indicate a significantly higher score of psychological disorders in those pregnant women with primary school education (p = 0.050), those who take more than 60% carbohydrates (p = 0.001), those with pathological CTG records (p < 0.001), those with pathological ultrasound results (p < 0.001 to 0.216) and those pregnant women with medium obesity and obesity (p = 0.046). Body mass index (BMI) during normal pregnancy development is lower (p = 0.002) but the levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL and LDL in blood are higher Blood pressure in pregnant women with pathological pregnancy was statistically significantly higher (p < 0.001). Diagnostic criteria for the metabolic syndrome were found in 19 pregnant women with the pathological pregnancy. Statistically, in those women, a significantly higher appearance of psychological symptoms and disorders was observed in comparison to the pregnant women without metabolic syndrome (p < 0.001). The research has shown that 87.8% from all pregnant women included in this study have been hospitalized due to premature birth, hypertensive disorders, and diabetes in pregnancy, and also due to bleeding in the second and third trimester of pregnancy

Abraham – Ancestor of the Faith in Biblical Traditions. Historical – Critical Review on Abraham (Gen 12 - 25)

Abraham je, bez sumnje, jedan od najpoznatijih i najznačajnijih biblijskih likova. Dobivao je na značenju, ovisno o situaciji u kojoj se nalazio židovski narod. Članak obrađuje lik patrijarha Abrahama kako je prikazan u svetopisamskim tekstovima, uvijek vodeći računa o njihovoj povijesnoj uvjetovanosti. Nakon etimološkog tumačenja Abrahamova imena, posebna je pažnja posvećena tzv. ciklusu o Abrahamu, sadržanom u Post 12-25. Raščlanjene su predaje koje sačinjavaju taj ciklus: jahvistička, elohistička i svećenička. Prikazom njihovih specifičnih naglasaka, osvijetljen je lik „praoca naše vjere“ u njegovom povijesnom razvoju i shvaćanju. Podaci i naglasci iz predaja uspoređeni su s podacima koje pružaju povijesno-arheološka istraživanja. Na temelju oskudnih povijesnih podataka i indicija Abrahama je moguće smjestiti u povijesni i zemljopisni kontekst. Kasnožidovska shvaćanja Abrahamova lika i uloge našla su svoj odraz u nekim kasnijim spisima Staroga zavjeta. Tu je vidljiv proces kontinuiranog suočavanja s Božjim obećanjima. Članak završava osvrtom na novozavjetne recepcije i interpretacije Abrahamova lika.Abraham is, without doubt, one of the most famous and most significant biblical characters. His significance depended on the conditions in which Jewish people was found. The article elaborates the character of Abraham – patriarch, the way it was presented in the Holy Scriptures, always bearing in mind the circumstances which were historically conditioned. After the etymological interpretation of Abraham’s name, the emphasis was put on the so called cycle about Abraham, included in Gen 12-25. The cycle was divided into three different traditions: Jahvistic, Elohistic and Priest tradition. The review on their specific characteristics highlights the character of “the ancestor of our faith” within given historical conditions and understandings. Facts and emphasis from different traditions are compared to the facts which are results of historical and archaeological researches. Abraham can be situated into appropriate historical and geographical context on the basis of scarce historical facts and indications. The conception of Abraham’s character and role in the period of late Judaism found its reflection in certain latter texts of the Old Testament. Here we can see the process in which he is continuously faced with God’s promises. The article closes with the review on the receptions and interpretations of Abraham from the New Testament