Human ACE2 orthologous peptide sequences show better binding affinity to SARS-CoV-2 RBD domain: Implications for drug design.

Computational methods coupled with experimental validation play a critical role in the identification of novel inhibitory peptides that interact with viral antigenic determinants. The interaction between the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the helical peptide of human angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) is a necessity for the initiation of viral infection. Herein, natural orthologs of human ACE2 helical peptide were evaluated for competitive inhibitory binding to the viral RBD by use of a computational approach, which was experimentally validated.

A recombinant Aspergillus oryzae fungus transmitted from larvae to adults of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes inhibits malaria parasite oocyst development.

The control of malaria parasite transmission from mosquitoes to humans is hampered by decreasing efficacies of insecticides, development of drug resistance against the last-resort antimalarials, and the absence of effective vaccines. Herein, the anti-plasmodial transmission blocking activity of a recombinant Aspergillus oryzae (A. oryzae-R) fungus strain, which is used in human food industry, was investigated in laboratory-reared Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes.

Investigation of the variability in the tool marks produced by modified blank firing pistols on fired 7.65 mm projectiles.

Firearms identification has an important place in forensic ballistic investigations since the weapons are widely used in criminal offences. Firearm examiners resolve many case files, through the use of automatic systems or comparison microscopes. Advanced forensic technologies like BALİSTİKA helps to record and analyze non standard ballistic evidence.

Large-Scale Production of Anti-RNase A VHH Expressed in Auxotrophic .

Nanobodies, also referred to as VHH antibodies, are the smallest fragments of naturally produced camelid antibodies and are ideal affinity reagents due to their remarkable properties. They are considered an alternative to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with potential utility in imaging, diagnostic, and other biotechnological applications given the difficulties associated with mAb expression. is a potential system for the large-scale expression and production of functional VHH antibodies that can be used to meet the demand for affinity reagents.

Expression and characterization of recombinant IL-1Ra in Aspergillus oryzae as a system.

Background: The interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is a crucial molecule that counteracts the effects of interleukin-1 (IL-1) by binding to its receptor. A high concentration of IL-1Ra is required for complete inhibition of IL-1 activity. However, the currently available Escherichia coli-expressed IL-1Ra (E.

Development of etching paste for serial number restoration on aluminum engine block.

Engine numbers, which involve information regarding the engine type, production number, and year and place of manufacture, are used for identification purposes. Comprising of unique alphanumeric characters, the engine numbers are fully or partially obliterated especially in auto theft and smuggling cases to conceal the origin, identity, and owner of vehicles. The limitations of the current restoration techniques such as the difficulty of using chemical liquid etching in vertical sites, the restrictions of magnetic and optical methods, and the applicability of several techniques like electron backscatter diffraction only in the laboratory environment prompt the development of new techniques.

The effects of four different solvent vapours on the restoration of obliterated stamp markings from five different wooden surfaces.

The stamp markings on wooden surfaces, which are placed on trees and products including antiques, indicate the status of trees and involve identifying data regarding the products. Such markings are obliterated either to facilitate illegal logging or to conceal product information. Despite the wide literature on the restoration of obliterated characters on metal and polymer surfaces, the recovery of defaced characters on wooden surfaces appears to be understudied.

Direct Pulp Capping of Primary Molars with Calcium Hydroxide or MTA Following Hemorrhage Control with Different Medicaments: Randomized Clinical Trial.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different medicaments (sterile saline [SS]; ferric sulfate [FS]; or sodium hypochlorite [SH]) and pulp capping materials (calcium hydroxide [CH] or mineral trioxide aggregate [MTA]) on the success of direct pulp capping (DPC) in primary molars. The study was conducted with 55 children aged four to eight years. A total of 118 teeth, in which occlusal caries removal resulted in pulp exposure, were treated with DPC across six groups: SS+CH; FS+CH; SH+CH; SS+MTA; FS+MTA; and SH+MTA.

Ferric sulfate pulpotomy in primary teeth with different base materials: a 2-year randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of zinc oxide-eugenol, calcium hydroxide, and mineral trioxide aggregate as base materials on the clinical and radiographic success of ferric sulfate pulpotomies in primary molars.

Method And Materials: Following hemostasis with 15.5% ferric sulfate, 105 teeth were randomly allocated to three groups: Group 1, zinc oxide-eugenol; Group 2, calcium hydroxide; and Group 3, mineral trioxide aggregate.

Evaluation of the temporomandibular joint morphology and condylar position with cone-beam computerized tomography in patients with internal derangement.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between internal derangement and morphological features of the temporomandibular joint by comparing joint morphology between patients with ID and control patients.

Methods: The current study prospectively is evaluated the cone-beam computed images of 106 ID patients and 122 patients with asymptomatic joints; recorded angular and linear measurements. The relationships between these measurements and ID are investigated; the differences between the two groups using paired t tests.

A spectroscopic approach for rapid and simple serial number restoration on polyamide 6 parts of firearms: The use of video spectral comparator 8000.

Serial numbers have forensic value as they help to identify firearms. While the serial numbers are mostly stamped on the metal parts of firearms, the characters on polymer parts involve non-serial number information such as caliber, brand, model, or proof marks, which also serve for identification purposes. The forensic evidence indicates that the polymer frames of firearms bearing non-serial number information are obliterated through heating and scraping.

The influence of voxel size and artifact reduction on the detection of vertical root fracture in endodontically treated teeth.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of voxel size and artefact reduction (AR) on the identification of vertical root fractures (VRFs) in endodontically treated teeth.

Methods: A total of a hundred sound, extracted human mandibular single-rooted premolars were decoronated, after which root canal preparation was performed, canals were filled with gutta percha by single cone technique. Randomly selected fifty specimens were fractured, repositioned and glued together.

Evaluation of radiomorphometric indices and bone findings on panoramic images in patients with scleroderma.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to make radiomorphometric measurements on panoramic images and evaluate the radiologic findings of bones and teeth in patients with scleroderma.

Study Design: Panoramic images of 49 patients with scleroderma and 51 healthy controls were assessed. Mandibular radiomorphometric indices, including mandibular cortical index (MCI), mental index (MI), panoramic mandibular index (PMI), gonial index (GI), and antegonial index (AI), were determined.

Partial Pulpotomy in Immature Permanent Molars After Carious Exposures Using Different Hemorrhage Control and Capping Materials.

Purpose: This study compared the outcome of partial pulpotomies with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or calcium hydroxide (CH) following hemorrhage control with 2.5 percent sodium hypochlorite (SH) or 0.9 percent sterile saline (SS) solutions in cariously exposed immature permanent molars.

Facilitators and barriers to referral compliance among dental patients with increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: Our aims were to determine the adherence rate to dentist referrals for sleep apnea evaluation and the barriers and facilitators to referral compliance.

Material And Methods: A sample of 1099 patients was screened with the STOP-Bang questionnaire. Those with elevated risk were referred for a sleep evaluation.

Implant-Site Related and Patient-Based Factors With the Potential to Impact Patients' Satisfaction, Quality of Life Measures and Perceptions Toward Dental Implant Treatment.

Objectives: The present study aimed at evaluating both the implant site-related and patient-based factors with the potential to affect the extent of patients' satisfaction and also their perceptions regarding dental implant treatment. Potential differences between the esthetic evaluations of dental patients and dental specialists were also considered.

Materials And Methods: Implant-supported fixed prosthesis (n = 164) in 264 anterior esthetic implant sites were included.

Randomized Clinical Trial of Composite Restorations in Primary Teeth: Effect of Adhesive System after Three Years.

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical performance of composite restorations placed with different adhesive systems in primary teeth. In 32 patients, 128 composite restorations were placed using a split-mouth design as follows (4 groups/patient): three-step etch-and-rinse (Group 1), two-step etch-and-rinse (Group 2), two-step self-etch (Group 3), and one-step self-etch (Group 4). The restorations were clinically evaluated at baseline and at 6, 18, and 36 months according to the FDI criteria.

Radiographic Fractal and Clinical Resonance Frequency Analyses of Posterior Mandibular Dental Implants: Their Possible Association With Mandibular Cortical Index With 12-Month Follow-up.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the mandibular cortical index (MCI) has a relationship with fractal dimension of bone and/or implant stability, and to justify the possible association between MCI, fractal dimension, and stability.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-two subjects who received dental implants to replace missing mandibular premolar/molar sites were selected. Three months after surgical placement, implants were restored with fixed ceramic fused metal crowns.

The Preserved HTH-Docking Cleft of HIV-1 Integrase Is Functionally Critical.

HIV-1 integrase (IN) catalyzes viral DNA integration into the host genome and facilitates multifunctional steps including virus particle maturation. Competency of IN to form multimeric assemblies is functionally critical, presenting an approach for anti-HIV strategies. Multimerization of IN depends on interactions between the distinct subunit domains and among the flanking protomers.

Management of Limited Vertical Bone Height in the Posterior Mandible: Short Dental Implants Versus Nerve Lateralization With Standard Length Implants.

Inferior alveolar nerve lateralization (IANL) and short dental implants (SDI) are 2 viable implant-based treatment approaches in the presence of atrophied posterior mandible. Despite the risks of dysfunction, infection, and pathologic fractures in IANL, it becomes possible to place standard implants. The purpose of this study was to compare SDI and IANL approaches from clinical and radiographic aspects.

Evaluation of the fungiform papillae number in Behçet's disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the number, area, circumference, and circularity of lingual fungiform papillae and taste sensitivity in Behçet's disease (BD) and the correlation with the disease.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-six Behçet's patients and 78 healthy control subjects were examined. After taking digital photographs from the tongue, the fungiform papillae evaluations were performed for the right and left tongue tip sites separately.

A randomized trial of mineral trioxide aggregate cements in primary tooth pulpotomies.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of primary tooth pulpotomies using two different white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) cements and calcium hydroxide (CH).

Methods: Primary molars (N=139) from three- to nine-year-old children were randomly assigned to be treated using either ProRoot MTA (N=46), MTA Angelus (N=45), or CH paste (N=48) as pulpotomy medicaments. All pulpotomized teeth received a Class I amalgam as a final restoration.

Necessity of keratinized tissues for dental implants: a clinical, immunological, and radiographic study.

Background: Necessity of keratinized tissues (KTs) for maintaining health around dental implants (DIs) remains as a controversial issue.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of KT width (KTW) on peri-implant tissues by evaluating peri-implant clinical and inflammatory parameters.

Materials And Methods: Sixty DIs were included in this 6-month longitudinal study.

Structure of active β-arrestin-1 bound to a G-protein-coupled receptor phosphopeptide.

The functions of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are primarily mediated and modulated by three families of proteins: the heterotrimeric G proteins, the G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) and the arrestins. G proteins mediate activation of second-messenger-generating enzymes and other effectors, GRKs phosphorylate activated receptors, and arrestins subsequently bind phosphorylated receptors and cause receptor desensitization. Arrestins activated by interaction with phosphorylated receptors can also mediate G-protein-independent signalling by serving as adaptors to link receptors to numerous signalling pathways.