59 research outputs found
Conserved and variable correlated mutations in the plant MADS protein network
No full textAbstract Background Plant MADS domain proteins are involved in a variety of developmental processes for which their ability to form various interactions is a key requisite. However, not much is known about the structure of these proteins or their complexes, whereas such knowledge would be valuable for a better understanding of their function. Here, we analyze those proteins and the complexes they form using a correlated mutation approach in combination with available structural, bioinformatics and experimental data. Results Correlated mutations are affected by several types of noise, which is difficult to disentangle from the real signal. In our analysis of the MADS domain proteins, we apply for the first time a correlated mutation analysis to a family of interacting proteins. This provides a unique way to investigate the amount of signal that is present in correlated mutations because it allows direct comparison of mutations in various family members and assessing their conservation. We show that correlated mutations in general are conserved within the various family members, and if not, the variability at the respective positions is less in the proteins in which the correlated mutation does not occur. Also, intermolecular correlated mutation signals for interacting pairs of proteins display clear overlap with other bioinformatics data, which is not the case for non-interacting protein pairs, an observation which validates the intermolecular correlated mutations. Having validated the correlated mutation results, we apply them to infer the structural organization of the MADS domain proteins. Conclusion Our analysis enables understanding of the structural organization of the MADS domain proteins, including support for predicted helices based on correlated mutation patterns, and evidence for a specific interaction site in those proteins.</p
Increased susceptibility to cardiovascular effects of dihydrocapcaicin in resuscitated rats. Cardiovascular effects of dihydrocapsaicin
No full textAbstract Background Survivors of a cardiac arrest often have persistent cardiovascular derangements following cardiopulmonary resuscitation including decreased cardiac output, arrhythmias and morphological myocardial damage. These cardiovascular derangements may lead to an increased susceptibility towards the external and internal environment of the cardiovascular system as compared to the healthy situation. Methods Here we tested the hypothesis that the cardiovascular system in healthy rats and rats resuscitated from a cardiac arrest may be differentially affected by a transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 agonist, by continuous intravenous infusion of dihydrocapsaicin (DHC). Results Compared to baseline, infusion of DHC caused an initial increase in mean arterial blood pressure in both healthy and resuscitated rats of 25% and 10%, respectively. Also, we observed an initial response of tachycardia in both healthy and resuscitated rats of 30% and 20%, respectively. Then, at high levels of DHC infusion (> 2.0 mg/kg/hr) we observed two single episodes of transient bradycardia and hypotension in 33% of the healthy rats, which was consistent with a TRPV1 agonist induced Bezold-Jarisch reflex. In contrast, in resuscitated rats we observed multiple episodes of bradycardia/hypotension in 100% of the rats and at a dose of DHC of 0.65 mg/kg/hr. Notably, this DHC effect could be completely blocked in the resuscitated rats by pre-treatment with atropine, a muscarinic acetylcholine antagonist. Conclusions Our results indicate that the susceptibility of the rats towards TRPV1 agonist induced Bezold-Jarisch reflex is increased in those resuscitated from cardiac arrest compared to the healthy situation.</p
A preliminary investigation of welfare migration induced by time limits
No full textStudies on welfare programs in the United States have identified three types of welfare migration (employment, benefit, and amenity-related). This paper introduces a fourth type of migration induced by welfare time limits. After a welfare-dependent family runs out of benefits, it is possible for them to reset the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families time clock by crossing state lines to extend their benefits. Our theoretical results suggest that the likelihood of migration increases if the migration distance is small or the gain from the move is large. We hypothesize that, ceteris paribus, families migrating in order to extend their benefits will minimize the distance they migrate, and will be likely to move into the nearest state, especially into counties just across the state border. We utilize macro data at the county level to look for evidence of time-limit induced migration. Estimates indicate that time limits may be associated with an increase in welfare migration.welfare reform; migration
Implementing Climate Change Adaptation for European Road Administrations
No full textAbstractInternational cooperation between national road owners can aid structuring and implementing climate change adaptation strategies throughout the European network. Climate change adaptation on roads can be defined as the concrete measures implemented to reduce vulnerability to more extreme weather phenomena in the future in order to increase resilience and robustness for continuous road safety and mobility. As evident in multiple scientific papers and authorities, such as the IPCC, climate change adaptation is gaining more general interest and political focus since actions of mitigation to climate change no longer seem to singlehandedly provide sufficient effect to future sustainable transportation on roads.As with actions related to mitigating climate change, allocating resources to climate change adaptation and successfully anchoring this subject in an organization, e.g. a national road authority (NRA), can be a highly demanding task which oftentimes can be overwhelming in its nature. Implementation of climate change R&D projects, alone, is a topic where interdisciplinary approaches are of high request, regularly resulting in time-consuming processes with many potential pitfalls, politically and technically.Therefore, the CEDR I4 group on mitigation and adapting to climate change has decided to have the following three topics as a combined objective to generate an outcome which will act as a template for organizations, e.g. NRAs, to initiate, develop, and/or complete climate change adaptation measures:•Strategy and action plan•Awareness•Risk methodology approachThe strategy template will focus on managing, improving, preventing and cooperation, and will provide specific examples on areas to study. These include examples of information to road users, incident management, implementation through planning phases, tools for risk analyses, legislative work, research and information sharing and many others. Likewise, a template for an action plan is provided, giving examples on how to ensure responsibility and anchor climate change adaptation in the organization in order to actually direct the organization towards a more climate-resilient profile. The organizational awareness of climate change adaptation in an interdisciplinary context is considered undeniably crucial in this regard, since this will form the basis on how to act and prioritize resources. Examples of known methodologies of climate change adaptation will be highlighted to act as inspirational examples. As an example, such methodologies include risk mapping, e.g. the Blue Spot model or the Quick Scan approach
Developing compassionate schools and trauma-informed school-based services: an expanded needs assessment and preliminary pilot study
No full textCurrent research developments have focused on the importance of combining two critical factors, compassion and self-regulation, into trauma-informed care in schools; however, many school-based approaches lack comprehensive or universal application of both constructs. Derived from materials developed through the “Compassionate School Initiative” spearheaded by Hertel and colleagues (2009), the current expanded needs assessment was conducted with the school’s leadership team, 18 K-8 teachers, and 18 fifth grade students who participated in workshops and/or consultations in an elementary school in a large northeastern city. The current exploratory study assessed teachers’ perceptions of trauma-related factors, including the nature and impact of trauma reactions in classrooms; teachers’ responses to trauma reactions; student awareness of trauma-related reactions; perceptions of compassion and self-regulation; readiness and “buy-in” for the current approach; and a general review of schoolwide needs. Data analyses included descriptive quantitative summaries of the needs assessment that were categorized to include preexisting and learned knowledge, skills, and attitudes; and qualitative themes from all sources of data emerged. Overall, teachers and students reported utility and applicability of the approach, conveyed interest in future domain-oriented training, and identified needs, such as changes in school policies and curriculum, to improve compassion and self-regulation in classrooms. A majority of teachers and of students reported an increase in awareness of the impact of trauma, compassion, and regulation and an increase in relationship-building skills, respectively, as a result of workshop completion. Half of the teacher sample indicated desire to participate in subsequent consultation sessions and/or in-class student instruction. As reported during the consultation process, teachers used a variety of compassion, behavior management, and discipline strategies that ranged in level of perceived effectiveness. Limitations of the current study included restricted access to a larger sample and restricted available time with the existing sample, which resulted in constraints on program design, methodology, and data analysis. Directions for future research include further assessment of school readiness for change, cultivation of buy-in for a trauma-sensitive schoolwide infrastructure, and development and implementation of trauma-informed curricula in schools using the proposed two factor (compassion and self-regulation) approach.Psy.D.Includes bibliographical referencesby Kristen T. Axelse
Semaglutide improves postprandial glucose and lipid metabolism, and delays first-hour gastric emptying in subjects with obesity
No full text
Effects of semaglutide on beta cell function and glycaemic control in participants with type 2 diabetes: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
No full textEfficacy of Recombinant Human Mannose Binding Lectin Alone and in Combination with Itraconazole Against Murine<i>Candida albicans</i>vaginitis
No full textMaking Use of Research Based Knowledge in Boosting Innovation in the European Roads Sector: A Case Study on Climate Change from the CEDR Transnational Research Collaboration
No full textAbstractThe Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR) has carried out a pilot study examining how well the results of its first transnational research programme on Climate Change have been implemented in member states. The study forms part of a wider initiative to develop a number of key performance indicators for research implementation and to ensure that implementation of CEDR research leads to innovation in the European roads sector. Eleven European countries took part in the study which was carried out using qualitative interviewing techniques. While the overall perceptions of the interviewees were that the research programme successfully met its objectives, the results indicate a varying degree of implementation across countries. The paper reports the key benefits of the research, identifies a number of barriers to implementation and gives recommendations to improve future implementation of research
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