Structure-guided product determination of the bacterial type II diterpene synthase Tpn2.

A grand challenge in terpene synthase (TS) enzymology is the ability to predict function from protein sequence. Given the limited number of characterized bacterial TSs and significant sequence diversities between them and their eukaryotic counterparts, this is currently impossible. To contribute towards understanding the sequence-structure-function relationships of type II bacterial TSs, we determined the structure of the terpentedienyl diphosphate synthase Tpn2 from Kitasatospora sp.

Go&Grow: An Evaluation of a Pervasive Social Exergame for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Dementia.

Caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) experience higher rates of stress, social isolation, and poor mental and physical health compared to non-caregiving populations. There is a vital need for engaging, sustainable, and scalable resources to support social, physical, and emotional wellbeing amongst caregivers of PWD. To explore this open design space, we designed and conducted a 6-week mixed-method evaluation of Go&Grow, a pervasive social exergame in which flowers grow as users increase physical activity and interact with other caregivers of PWD.

Informing the Design of Direct-to-Consumer Interactive Personal Genomics Reports.

Background: In recent years, people who sought direct-to-consumer genetic testing services have been increasingly confronted with an unprecedented amount of personal genomic information, which influences their decisions, emotional state, and well-being. However, these users of direct-to-consumer genetic services, who vary in their education and interests, frequently have little relevant experience or tools for understanding, reasoning about, and interacting with their personal genomic data. Online interactive techniques can play a central role in making personal genomic data useful for these users.

Ulnar palmar cutaneous nerve and hypothenar sensory conduction studies.

The ulnar palmar cutaneous nerve (UPCN) is potentially useful to the electrodiagnostician. However, no definitive nerve conduction study techniques for the UPCN have been reported. The UPCN supplies sensory innervation to the hypothenar palm.

Effects of polyphosphates on the solubility and mineralization of HA: relevance to a rationale for anticaries activity.

Preexposure of hydroxyapatite (HA) to polyphosphate reduced the near-equilibrium acid solubility of HA, the mineralization of HA, and the exchange of PO4 between medium and HA. Appreciably longer exposure times were required for maximal effects of trimetaphosphate (TMP) than of pyrophosphate (PP), tripolyphosphate (TPP), and hexametaphosphate (HMP). Calcifying solution solubilized small amounts of the HA-bound polyphosphates.

Effects of adenosine and guanosine cyclic phosphates and their corresponding nucleotides and nucleosides on vitamin A-induced epidermal tumor promotion and growth in hamster cheek pouch.

Adenosine and guanosine cyclic monophosphates (cAMP and cGMP) exerted opposite effects at similar concentration and similar effects at markedly different concentrations on the yields of tumors promoted by vitamin A in hamster cheek pouch. Increasing the concentration of cAMP between 10(-5) M and 10(-3) M was associated with increases in tumor yield and diameter which partially or completely overcame the net tumor promotion inhibitory effects which were sometimes seen at 10(-5) M cAMP. In contrast, increasing the concentration of cGMP between 10(-5) M and 10(-3) M caused the net effects to change from increases to decreases in tumor yield without much change in diameter.

Relations between early dental calculus production and calcium and phosphate parameters of salivary fractions.

A pilot study was carried out to obtain an idea of the strength of the relations between early mandibular calculus production in humans and amounts and concentrations of bound calcium and phosphate in three salivary fractions. The salivary fractions were: (1) the spontaneous precipitate from incubated whole saliva, (2) the spontaneous precipitate from incubated centrifugal (20,000 X g) saliva supernatant and (3) the fresh centrifugal saliva sediment. Strong and highly significant correlations were found for the amount and concentration of calcium in the fresh sediment and whole saliva precipitate fractions.