Chlorination and oxidation of heparin and hyaluronan by hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite anions: effect of sulfate groups on reaction pathways and kinetics.

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), produced in inflammatory conditions by the enzyme myeloperoxidase, and its anion hypochlorite (OCl(-)) exist in vivo at almost equal concentrations. Their reactions with hyaluronan and heparin (as a model for sulfated glycosaminoglycans in the extracellular matrix) have been studied as a function of pH. The major product in these reactions is the chloramide derivative of the glycosaminoglycans. Spectral, chloramide yield, and kinetic measurements show sharply contrasting behavior of heparin and hyaluronan and the data allow the calculation of second-order rate constants for the reactions of both HOCl and OCl(-) for all reaction pathways leading to the formation of chloramides and also oxidation products. By comparison with hyaluronan, it can be demonstrated that both N-sulfate and O-sulfate groups in heparin influence the proportions of these pathways in this glycosaminoglycan. Evidence is also given for further oxidation pathways involving a reaction of HOCl with the chloramide product of hyaluronan but not with heparin. The significance of these results for the mechanisms of inflammation, particularly for fragmentation of extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycans, is discussed

On pairwise distances and median score of three genomes under DCJ

In comparative genomics, the rearrangement distance between two genomes (equal the minimal number of genome rearrangements required to transform them into a single genome) is often used for measuring their evolutionary remoteness. Generalization of this measure to three genomes is known as the median score (while a resulting genome is called median genome). In contrast to the rearrangement distance between two genomes which can be computed in linear time, computing the median score for three genomes is NP-hard. This inspires a quest for simpler and faster approximations for the median score, the most natural of which appears to be the halved sum of pairwise distances which in fact represents a lower bound for the median score. In this work, we study relationship and interplay of pairwise distances between three genomes and their median score under the model of Double-Cut-and-Join (DCJ) rearrangements. Most remarkably we show that while a rearrangement may change the sum of pairwise distances by at most 2 (and thus change the lower bound by at most 1), even the most "powerful" rearrangements in this respect that increase the lower bound by 1 (by moving one genome farther away from each of the other two genomes), which we call strong, do not necessarily affect the median score. This observation implies that the two measures are not as well-correlated as one's intuition may suggest. We further prove that the median score attains the lower bound exactly on the triples of genomes that can be obtained from a single genome with strong rearrangements. While the sum of pairwise distances with the factor 2/3 represents an upper bound for the median score, its tightness remains unclear. Nonetheless, we show that the difference of the median score and its lower bound is not bounded by a constant.Comment: Proceedings of the 10-th Annual RECOMB Satellite Workshop on Comparative Genomics (RECOMB-CG), 2012. (to appear

Peran Lembaga Pendidlkan dalam Pembinaan Budaya Bangsa Menghadapi Era Pasar Bebas

Datangnya era pasar bebas, baik dalam kerangka Kawasan Perdagangan BebasASEAN (AFfA tahun 2(03), maupun Asia Pasifik (APEC tahun 2020), di sampingdisambut dengan sikap optimis, ada pula kekhawatiran. Sikap optimis itu muncul karenaera pasar bebas akan mempermudah peredaran barang, jasa dan informasi. Namunberbagai kemudahan yang tercipta, dikhawatirkan berdampak pada masyarakat,khususnya berkaitan dengan persoalan ketahanan budaya bangsa.Vntuk menghadapi pengaruh nilai-nilai budaya asing, lembaga pendidikanmemiliki posisi peranan yang strategis, yakni sebagai wahana membina ketahananbudaya sehingga bangsa kita lebih siap memasuki era pasar bebas dimana interaksibudaya berlangsung pesat. Lembaga pendidikan membina sikap budaya yang positifbersamaan upaya membentuk manusia yang cerdas dan terampil. Vpaya ini sesuaistrategi pembangunan pendidikan yang bertujuan membentuk dan menciptakan sosokmanusia Indonesia yang utuh. Jadi, orientasi keilmuan dan pembinaan budayadilaksanakan seimbang. Pembinaan budaya dapat ditempuh dengan dua pendekatan,yami monolitik dan integratif

Integrasi Pendidikan Karakter Dalam Pembelajaran Mata Kuliah Komunikasi Interpersonal

: This research aims at finding out whether integrating character education in the teaching and learning of Interpersonal Communication class can promote the understanding of noble character values which include politeness, openness, empathy, and equality. The subjects of the research were Semester VI students of Office of Administration Education Study Program taking the Interpersonal Communication class. This is an action research study lasting within two cycles. The research steps include planning, implementation, monitoring, and reflection. The data were obtained through (1) observation, (2) documentation – collecting documents pertaining to the students' works and tasks, and (3) quesionnaire for the students. The data analysis in this study took the form of reflection on the qualitative and quantative data obtained. The result of the study shows that, through the integration of character education in the Interpersonal Communication class, the students' understanding of the noble character values improved. The implementation of the action is considered successful because there have been changes and improvement in the students' understanding of the noble character values which include politeness, openness, empathy, and equality

Is it time for integration of surgical skills simulation into the United Kingdom undergraduate medical curriculum? A perspective from King’s College London School of Medicine

PURPOSE: Changes in undergraduate medical curricula, combined with reforms in postgraduate education, have training implications for surgical skills acquisition in a climate of reduced clinical exposure. Confidence and prior experience influences the educational impact of learning. Currently there is no basic surgical skills (BSS) programme integrated into undergraduate curricula in the United Kingdom. We explored the role of a dedicated BSS programme for undergraduates in improving confidence and influencing careers in King's College London School of Medicine, and the programme was evaluated. METHODS: A programme was designed in-line with the established Royal College of Surgeons course. Undergraduates were taught four key skills over four weeks: knot-tying, basic-suturing, tying-at-depth and chest-drain insertion, using low-fidelity bench-top models. A Likert-style questionnaire was designed to determine educational value and influence on career choice. Qualitative data was collected. RESULTS: Only 29% and 42% of students had undertaken previous practice in knot-tying and basic suturing, respectively. 96% agreed that skills exposure prior to starting surgical rotations was essential and felt a dedicated course would augment undergraduate training. There was a significant increase in confidence in the practice and knowledge of all skills taught (p<0.01), with a greater motivation to be actively involved in the surgical firm and theatres. CONCLUSION: A simple, structured BSS programme can increase the confidence and motivation of students. Early surgical skills targeting is valuable for students entering surgical, related allied, and even traditionally non-surgical specialties such as general practice. Such experience can increase the confidence of future junior doctors and trainees. We advocate the introduction of a BSS programme into United Kingdom undergraduate curricula

Stress dependent thermal pressurization of a fluid-saturated rock

Temperature increase in saturated porous materials under undrained conditions leads to thermal pressurization of the pore fluid due to the discrepancy between the thermal expansion coefficients of the pore fluid and of the solid matrix. This increase in the pore fluid pressure induces a reduction of the effective mean stress and can lead to shear failure or hydraulic fracturing. The equations governing the phenomenon of thermal pressurization are presented and this phenomenon is studied experimentally for a saturated granular rock in an undrained heating test under constant isotropic stress. Careful analysis of the effect of mechanical and thermal deformation of the drainage and pressure measurement system is performed and a correction of the measured pore pressure is introduced. The test results are modelled using a non-linear thermo-poro-elastic constitutive model of the granular rock with emphasis on the stress-dependent character of the rock compressibility. The effects of stress and temperature on thermal pressurization observed in the tests are correctly reproduced by the model

Nilai-nilai Pendidikan Karakter Yang Terkandung Dalam Tayangan ”Mario Teguh Golden Ways”

: The purpose of this study is to describe: (1) profile of the program Mario Teguh Golden Ways; (2) coverage of the character education values contained in the program Mario Teguh Golden Ways; and (4) the approach used in the learning process of character education through the program Mario Teguh Golden Ways. This study is a content analysis. The analysis unit in this study is the episode "Pancing Cinta" which aired 13 September 2015. The results of the study are as follows. (1) The profile of the program Mario Teguh Golden Ways broadcasted by Metro TV, showed that this program is one of the real form of television media\u27s concern to carry out the education function in character building in society; (3) The character education values contained in the program MTGW episode "Pancing Cinta" includes: (a) Discipline, obey norms and regulations; (b) Polite, respectful, kind and humble; (c) Love God and grateful for His gifts; (d) Independence, responsive (sensitive), Tatag (resilient), tanggon (reliable), good intentions and responsibility; (e) Honesty; (f) Generous, mutual help, cooperation, bring happiness; (4) The approach used in the character education process through the program MTGW is a holistic approach