CaMKII binds both substrates and activators at the active site [preprint]

Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a signaling protein that is required for long-term memory formation. Ca2+/CaM activates CaMKII by binding to its regulatory segment, thereby freeing the substrate binding site. Despite having a large variety of interaction partners, the specificity of CaMKII interactions have not been structurally well-characterized. One exceptional feature of this kinase is that interaction with specific binding partners persistently activates CaMKII. To address the molecular details of this, we solved X-ray crystal structures of the CaMKII kinase domain bound to four different binding partners that modulate CaMKII activity in different ways. We show that all four partners bind in the same manner across the substrate binding site. We generated a sequence alignment based on our structural observations, which revealed conserved interactions. Using biochemistry and molecular dynamics simulations, we propose a mechanistic model that persistent CaMKII activity is facilitated by high affinity binding partners, which compete with the regulatory segment to allow substrate phosphorylation

Special Functions Related to Dedekind Type DC-Sums and their Applications

In this paper we construct trigonometric functions of the sum T_{p}(h,k), which is called Dedekind type DC-(Dahee and Changhee) sums. We establish analytic properties of this sum. We find trigonometric representations of this sum. We prove reciprocity theorem of this sums. Furthermore, we obtain relations between the Clausen functions, Polylogarithm function, Hurwitz zeta function, generalized Lambert series (G-series), Hardy-Berndt sums and the sum T_{p}(h,k). We also give some applications related to these sums and functions

Analysis of Research Productivity of Neurosurgical Residents in Turkey and Publication Rates of Theses

AIM: To analyze the resident's contribution toward research productivity and the publication rates of theses conducted in neurosurgery departments across Turkey

Technological pedagogical content knowledge self-confidence of prospective pre-school teachers for Science Education during the COVID-19period: A Structural Equational Modelling: Prospective pre-school teachers’ technological pedagogical content knowledge

Covid-19, which directly affects all fields of life today, has produced results that require revaluating the perspective on education. In the age of the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of technology and competencies of educators to support the education of early childhood children drew attention to the education that teachers need to receive in the pre-service period. In this context, it is highly essential to examine the relationship between technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge that teachers acquire in the pre-service period. This study aims to identify the relationship between prospective pre-school teachers’ Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) self-confidence for Science Education and TPACK sub-scales. The study utilized the relational screening method based on the quantitative research paradigm. Path analysis was performed for structural equational modeling. The study group of the research consists of 280 pre-school teacher candidates who study at the education faculties of two different state universities located in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. Data were collected through the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Self-confidence Scale developed by Graham, Burgoyne, Cantrell, Smith and Harris (2009) and adapted to Turkish by Timur and Taşar (2011). The theoretical validity of the data collection tool was tested through the validity and reliability performed on the data set from prospective pre-school teachers. The results show that the TPACK variable is affected by the TPK and TCK variables directly and positively. TPK and TCK variables are affected by the TK variable directly and positively

The Effect of Smoking on Functional Parameters of Healthy Individuals

Worldwide, smoking is one of the preventable causes of death. It is a persistent health problem in Turkey and 43.5% of adult population is smoking. The aim was to study the effects of smoking on pulmonary function test, exercise capacity, dyspnea index and life quality. 139 cases, 83.5% of whom were men with mean age of 62 were evaluated; 36 cases (25.9%) were nonsmokers, 46 (33.1%) were smokers and 57 (41.0%) were ex-smokers. Spirometric measurements of smokers were found lower than that of both nonsmokers and ex-smokers. 6MWT distance, dyspnea index and oxygen saturation did not differentiate among nonsmokers, smokers and ex-smokers. Physical component score of SF36 life quality was not associated with smoking. Only mental component score of smokers was found lower than that of ex-smokers. 6MWT distance, dyspnea index, SpO(2) and life quality of cases whose exposure to smoking was = 50 package-year was not different than nonsmokers and cases with = 50 package-year exposure to smoking; however, dyspnea index and SpO2 were found significantly high and significantly low respectively. There were losses in exercise capacity, dyspnea perception and life quality of smokers and these functional losses were associated with the level of exposure to smoking

The superiority of ketofol and etomidate against propofol or thiopental anesthesia for ECT

OBJECTIVES: Most anesthetic drugs used for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have dose-dependent anticonvulsive effects, counter-acting seizure induction, lowering seizure quality. However, a consummate drug for ECT anesthesia has not yet been established. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of etomidate, thiopental, propofol and co-administration of ketamine-propofol (ketofol) on seizure quality and hemodynamic safety. METHODS: Registries of 121 patients (1077 sessions) were retrospectively evaluated. The effects of anesthetics on ECT-related parameters (stimulation charge, central seizure duration, number of failed stimulation trials, mean arterial pressure, and peak heart rate) were analyzed via linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: Overall, the seizure duration decreased, and the stimulation charge increased in time with continuing sessions within a course of ECT. The decrease in seizure duration and the increase in required stimulation charge was significantly lower with etomidate and ketofol. Additionally, ketofol was significantly related to a lower number of failed stimulation trials compared to propofol. Ketofol and propofol use was associated with a significantly lower postictal mean arterial pressure. CONCLUSION: Ketofol and etomidate were equivalently superior in the rate of decrease in seizure duration and the required elevation in stimulus charge, which would interpret into valuable clinical guidance, especially for "seizure resistant" patients, and their use may potentially lower ECT related cognitive side effects