196,038 research outputs found

    Mechanism of interaction of betanin and indicaxanthin with human myeloperoxidase and hypochlorous acid

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    Production of nitrogen dioxide by the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the presence of nitrite is now considered a key step in the pathophysiology of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. This study shows that betanin, a phytochemical of the betalain class, inhibits the production of lipid hydroperoxides in human LDL submitted to a MPO/nitrite-induced oxidation. Kinetic measurements including time-course of particle oxidation and betanin consumption, either in the presence or in the absence of nitrite, suggest that the antioxidant effect is possibly the result of various actions. Betanin scavenges the initiator radical nitrogen dioxide and can also act as a lipoperoxyl radical-scavenger. In addition, unidentified oxidation product(s) of betanin by MPO/nitrite inhibit(s) the MPO/nitrite-induced LDL oxidation as effectively as the parent compound. In the light of betanin bioavailability and post-absorbtion distribution in humans, present findings may suggest favourable in vivo activity of this phytochemical

    Kinetics and thermodynamics of halide and nitrite oxidation by mammalian heme peroxidases

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    The human heme peroxidases myeloperoxidase (MPO), eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) and lactoperoxidase (LPO) are able to oxidise (pseudo)halides and nitrite to reactive species that participate in host defence against foreign microorganisms as well as in immunomodulation and tissue degradation in certain pathologies. The heme in EPO and LPO is covalently linked to the apoprotein by two ester bonds, whereas in MPO it is additionally linked by a unique sulfonium ion bond to a methionine residue. As a consequence, the prosthetic group in MPO is significantly distorted from a planar conformation. These structural differences are reflected by distinct spectral and redox properties as well as reactivities toward chloride, bromide, iodide, thiocyanate and nitrite, which function as endogenous two- and one-electron donors for these enzymes in vivo. Standard reduction potentials at pH 7 have been determined for all redox couples involved in the halogenation and peroxidase cycle of MPO and LPO and partially of EPO. A detailed thermodynamic analysis of the formation of reactive halide species by MPO and EPO was also performed. Thus, for the first time, a comprehensive analysis of reactions catalysed by human heme peroxidases is presented that allows a better understanding of their role in physiological and pathophysiological processes

    Redox thermodynamics of the Fe(III)/Fe(II) couple of human myeloperoxidase in its high-spin and low-spin forms

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    Myeloperoxidase (MPO) (donor, hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7) is the most abundant neutrophil enzyme and catalyzes predominantly the two-electron oxidation of ubiquitous chloride (Cl-), to generate the potent bleaching oxidant hypochlorous acid (HOCl), thus contributing to bacterial killing and inflammatory reactions of neutrophils. Here, the thermodynamics of the one-electron reduction of the ferric heme in its ferric high-spin and cyanide-bound low-spin forms were determined through spectroelectrochemical experiments. The E degrees' values for free and cyanide-bound MPO (5 and -37 mV, respectively, at 25 degrees C and pH 7.0) are significantly higher than those of other heme peroxidases. Variable-temperature experiments revealed that the enthalpic stabilization of ferric high-spin MPO is much weaker than in other heme peroxidases and is exactly compensated by the entropic change upon reduction. In contrast to those of other heme peroxidases, the stabilization of the ferric cyanide-bound MPO is also very weak and fully entropic. This peculiar behavior is discussed with respect to the MPO-typical covalent heme to protein linkages as well as to the published structures of ferric MPO and its cyanide complex and the recently published structure of lactoperoxidase as well as the physiological role of MPO in bacterial killing

    Dr. Duane M. Jackson, Morehouse College, July 2011

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    This video is a conversation with Dr. Duane M. Jackson. Dr. Jackson talks about his paper, "Recall and the Serial Position Effect: The Role of Primacy and Recency on Accounting Students' Performance." Jackie Daniel, AUC Woodruff Library, is the interviewer

    "Reflections on the subject of Emigration from Europe with a view to Settlement in the United States" By M. Carey.

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    "Reflections on the subject of Emigration from Europe with a view to Settlement in the United States: containing bried sketches of the moral and political character of those states. By M. Carey, member of the American philosophical, and of the American Antiquarian Society, and author of The Olive Branch, Cindiciae Hibernicae, essays on banking, on political economy, and on internal improvement. To which are now added the English editor's comments on the subject; together with Important Advice to Emigrants, and Cautions Against Impositions Practiced in the Outports

    Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts

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    We conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more sophisticated methods

    Dr. Glendon Swarthout

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    Hosted by Roger M. Busfield, MSU Assistant Professor of Speech and Theater, Meet the Author is designed to introduce a general audience to a contemporary author and their work through in-depth interviews. This episode features a conversation between Dr. Glendon Swarthout, prolific author and English professor at MSU, and assistant professors Sam S. Baskett and Theodore B. Strandness

    Disruption of the aspartate to heme ester linkage in human myeloperoxidase: Impact on ligand binding, redox chemistry and interconversion of redox intermediates

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    In human heme peroxidases the prosthetic group is covalentlyattached to the protein via two ester linkages between conservedglutamate and aspartate residues and modified methyl groupson pyrrole rings A and C. Here, monomeric recombinantmyeloperoxidase (MPO) and the variants D94V and D94N wereproduced in Chinese hamster ovary cell lines. Disruption of theAsp94 to heme ester bond decreased the one-electron reductionpotential E0 [Fe(III)/Fe(II)] from 1 to 55 mV at pH 7.0 and25 °C, whereas the kinetics of binding of low spin ligands and ofcompound I formation was unaffected. By contrast, in both variantsrates of compound I reduction by chloride and bromide(but not iodide and thiocyanate) were substantially decreasedcompared with the wild-type protein. Bimolecular rates of compoundII (but not compound I) reduction by ascorbate and tyrosinewere slightly diminished in D94V and D94N. The presentedbiochemical and biophysical data suggest that the Asp94 to hemelinkage is no precondition for the autocatalytic formation of theother two covalent links found in MPO. The findings are discussedwith respect to the known active site structure of MPOand its complexes with ligands

    Simulation of thermal plant optimization and hydraulic aspects of thermal distribution loops for large campuses

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    Following an introduction, the author describes Texas A&M University and its utilities system. After that, the author presents how to construct simulation models for chilled water and heating hot water distribution systems. The simulation model was used in a $2.3 million Ross Street chilled water pipe replacement project at Texas A&M University. A second project conducted at the University of Texas at San Antonio was used as an example to demonstrate how to identify and design an optimal distribution system by using a simulation model. The author found that the minor losses of these closed loop thermal distribution systems are significantly higher than potable water distribution systems. In the second part of the report, the author presents the latest development of software called the Plant Optimization Program, which can simulate cogeneration plant operation, estimate its operation cost and provide optimized operation suggestions. The author also developed detailed simulation models for a gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator and identified significant potential savings. Finally, the author also used a steam turbine as an example to present a multi-regression method on constructing simulation models by using basic statistics and optimization algorithms. This report presents a survey of the author??s working experience at the Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) at Texas A&M University during the period of January 2002 through March 2004. The purpose of the above work was to allow the author to become familiar with the practice of engineering. The result is that the author knows how to complete a project from start to finish and understands how both technical and nontechnical aspects of a project need to be considered in order to ensure a quality deliverable and bring a project to successful completion. This report concludes that the objectives of the internship were successfully accomplished and that the requirements for the degree of Degree of Engineering have been satisfied

    Intern experience at CH���M Hill, Inc.: an internship report

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    Includes author's vita"Submitted to the College of Engineering of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Engineering."Includes bibliographical referencesA review of the author's internship experience with CH���M HILL, Inc. during the period September 1975 through May 1976 is presented. During this nine month internship the author worked as an Engineer II in the Industrial Processes discipline of this large consulting engineering firm... The author's prime responsibility was as one of three lead design engineers on the design of a large wastewater treatment facility for a pulp mill in Hoquiam, Washington owned by ITT Rayonier Inc. The work generally consisted of the design of individual treatment units and associated piping and pumping. The purpose of the project was to provide wastewater treatment capabilities that would satisfy the effluent limitations (standards) imposed upon the mill by the State of Washington Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The author's assignment also entailed necessary interaction with the project manager and other CH���M HILL design engineers and support staff members, the client's representatives, and representatives of two other consulting engineering firms working on the project. Thus, the internship position at CH���M HILL provided considerable experience coordinating the author's work with the work of other engineers, guiding the design and administrative efforts of a support staff, and interacting regularly with the client and other consulting firms. This broad exposure to a variety of engineering and organizational problems provided a valuable educational experience
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