Physicochemical characterization (i.e., solubility, stability, UV–vis, IR,
1
H and
13
C NMR, and thermogravimetric and elemental analysis) and biological activities (antioxidant and immunomodulatory) ...of purified melanins from the fruit flesh of
Vitex mollis
(VM) and
Randia echinocarpa
(RE) were investigated. The melanins showed low solubility, light stability, oxidation by chemicals, metal chelation, degradation temperature at 350 °C, % nitrogen (VM 3.725 and RE 4.485), characteristic spectroscopic signals, high antioxidant activity (µmol TE/g) (ABTS, VM 1333.5 and RE 835.7; FRAP, VM 1098.41 and RE 709.64), protective effect against H
2
O
2
-stress in
Saccharomyces
, and an induction of splenocyte proliferation. The chemical and biological data support that melanins of VM and RE are biosynthesized from tyrosine and have potential as photoprotective agents and could be considered for the prevention/treatment of chronic degenerative diseases. The fruits of VM and RE could be used to develop high added-value products favoring their preservation and sustainable exploitation.
Non-volatile memory process development time is constantly decreasing and therefore it is necessary to anticipate any useful information both for design optimisation and for reliability assessment. ...We describe the select transistor modulated cell array structure test (STM-CAST), based on a simple test structure consisting of a not addressable EEPROM cell array with parallel connection of all the memory transistors. The measurement methodology is very simple, too: from the transfer characteristic measured under select transistor clamping bias it is possible to obtain accurate information on the complete threshold voltage distribution of the cells in the array. The select transistor modulation allows to eliminate all the undesired resistive loads always present in the cell array structure, so that the contribution of cells with higher threshold voltage to the total measured current is measurable, and the total threshold voltage distribution is measured. We discuss in detail the structure working principle and different levels of approximation for the data analysis. The simplest estimation of the threshold voltage distribution can be obtained assuming a step-like current voltage characteristic for each EEPROM element, consequence of the select transistor clamping effect. A more accurate approximation, especially useful in case of normal threshold voltage distributions, can be obtained by a Gaussian fit of the single cell transconductance. The threshold voltage distribution is obtained by the analytical solution of the convolution integral fitting the CAST transconductance. In the general case, valid for any distribution, a numerical approach is necessary. The threshold voltage distribution can be obtained thanks to the select transistor clamping action; all its effects are discussed in detail. We present several applications of this structure and methodology in real studies at early process development, including process/design reliability evaluation, bake retention, control gate stress, programming pulse optimisation.
Transcription factors belonging to the ets family regulate gene expression and share a conserved ETS DNA-binding domain that binds to the core sequence 5'-(C/A)GGA(A/T)-3'. The domain is similar to ...alpha+beta ("winged") helix-turn-helix DNA-binding proteins. The crystal structure of the PU.1 ETS domain complexed to a 16-base pair oligonucleotide revealed a pattern for DNA recognition from a novel loop-helix-loop architecture (Kodandapani, R., Pio, F., Ni. C.-Z., Piccialli, G., Klemsz, M., McKercher, S., Maki, R. A., and Ely, K. R. (1996) Nature 380, 456-460). Correlation of this model with mutational analyses and chemical shift data on other ets proteins confirms this complex as a paradigm for ets DNA recognition. The second helix in the helix-turn-helix motif lies deep in the major groove with specific contacts with bases in both strands in the core sequence made by conserved residues in alpha3. On either side of this helix, two loops contact the phosphate backbone. The DNA is bent (8 degrees) but uniformly curved without distinct kinks. ETS domains bind DNA as a monomer yet make extensive DNA contacts over 30 A. DNA bending likely results from phosphate neutralization of the phosphate backbone in the minor groove by both loops in the loop-helix-loop motif. Contacts from these loops stabilize DNA bending and may mediate specific base interactions by inducing a bend toward the protein.
We reviewed, at a mean follow-up of 8.2 years, clinical and radiographic results after 93 Bristow-Latarjet procedures for anterior instability of the shoulder.
There were 84 men and nine female. The ...average age was 23 years at the time of operative intervention. Forty-four shoulders were on the dominant side. Eighty patients practiced sports activities, with 74 patients a risk sport. Seventy-seven patients have had five or more recurrent of dislocation of the shoulder. The operations were performed by a senior surgeon. Evaluation was done by a clinician, who did not perform the operation. Clinical outcome was assessed with the Duplay score, and the satisfaction of the patients. Radiographic evaluation was done using the standard radiography of the shoulder.
According to the Duplay scoring system, we have had 30.1% of excellent results, 43% of good results, 16.1% of fair results, and 10.8% of poor results. The mean Duplay score was 84.7 points with 19 points for the return in sports, 23 points for the stability, 21 points for the pain, and 22 points for the movement. The loss of rotation was less than 13 degrees (mean). Among the patients, 57.4% returned to their former sports activities at the same level, with 59.8% a risk sports. Five patients reported redislocation and eleven patients reported apprehension. The patients were painless in 75.8%. Forty-four patients were very satisfied or satisfied at follow-up. At review, there were radiological degenerative changes in nine shoulders: six in Samilson grade I, one grade II, and two grade III. There was no radiological evidence of loosing, migration or fracture of the coracoid screws, and no nonunion. We have had six cases of resorption of the coracoid tip.
We are aware of the limitation of the study. It is a retrospective study and there is no control group. However, we believe that, in regard of our result, the Bristow-Latarjet procedure for anterior glenohumeral instability is safe and effective with good objective and subjective result, and a high degree of patient satisfaction. Radiological findings do not always correlate with the functional outcome and patient satisfaction.
Although it is a non-anatomical repair, the Bristow-Latarjet procedure provides desirable functional results.
Fibronectin is a large cell adhesion molecule that is composed of several functional domains. The cell‐binding domain that binds to cell surface integrins consists of repeated homologous type III ...modules. In this study, recombinant fragments from the cell‐binding domain of human fibronectin that participate in a newly characterized fibronectin‐fibronectin interaction with FNIII, were crystallized. In each case, the crystals had more than one fibronectin fragment in the asymmetric unit. Crystals of FNIII10–11 grew in the space group C2 with a = 117.1 Å, b = 38.6 Å, c = 80.6 Å, β = 97.2°, and two molecules in the asymmetric unit. These crystals diffracted to 2.5 Å resolution. Fragment FNIII8–11 and a shorter fragment, FNIII8–10, crystallized in hexagonal space groups with large unit cells and two to four molecules per asymmetric unit. Even very large crystals of these fragments did not diffract beyond 4 Å. The crystal packing for this collection of fibronectin fragments suggests conformational flexibility between linked type III modules. The functional relevance of this flexibility for elongated versus compact models of the cell‐binding domain of fibronectin is discussed.
The project Retreating-trench, extension, and accretion tectonics, RETREAT, is a multidisciplinary study of the Northern Apennines (earth.geology.yale.edu/RETREAT/), funded by the United States ...National Science Foundation (NSF) in collaboration with the Italian Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) and the Grant Agency of the Czech Academy of Sciences (GAAV). The main goal of RETREAT is to develop a self-consistent dynamic model of syn-convergent extension, using the Northern Apennines as a natural laboratory. In the context of this project a passive seismological experiment was deployed in the fall of 2003 for a period of three years. RETREAT seismologists aim to develop a comprehensive understanding of the deep structure beneath the Northern Apennines, with particular attention on inferring likely patterns of mantle flow. Specific objectives of the project are the crustal and lithospheric thicknesses, the location and geometry of the Adriatic slab, and the distribution of seismic anisotropy laterally and vertically in the lithosphere and asthenosphere. The project is collecting teleseismic and regional earthquake data for 3 years. This contribution describes the RETREAT seismic deployment and reports on key results from the first year of the deployment. We confirm some prior findings regarding the seismic structure of Central Italy, but our observations also highlight the complexity of the Northern Apennines subduction system.
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