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The article argues that, linguistically speaking, there is no uniform class of personal taste predicate. There is an F(un)‐type PPT that takes infinitive complements expressing events. In effect, these PPTs are predicates of events involving participants. There is also a T(asty)‐type that cannot take an infinitive complement and does not enter into the alternation pattern of the F‐type predicates. These predicates express dispositions of objects to generate experiences or responses. Some experiencer/judge is involved in the truth of the respective kinds of claims, but for different reasons, and in neither case is such a role encoded linguistically as an index for the predicate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selectively remembering more valuable information can improve memory efficiency. Such value effects have been observed on long-term memory for item-colour binding, but the possible contributory factors are unclear. The current study explored contributions from attention (Experiment 1) and verbal rehearsal (Experiment 2). Across two experiments, memory was superior for item-colour bindings that were associated with high (relative to low) point values at encoding, both in an immediate test and a delayed re-test. When availability of attentional resources was reduced during encoding, value only influenced immediate and not delayed memory (Experiment 1). This indicates that a transient value effect can be obtained with little attentional resources, but attentional resources are involved in creating a longer lasting effect. When articulatory suppression was implemented during encoding (Experiment 2), value effects were somewhat reduced in the immediate test and abolished in the delayed re-test, suggesting a role for verbal rehearsal in value effects on item-colour binding memory. These patterns of value effects did not interact with encoding presentation format (i.e., sequential vs. simultaneous presentation of objects). Together, these results suggest that attentional resources and verbal rehearsal both contribute to value effects on item-colour binding memory, with varying impacts on the durability of these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Bodleian Library hosts one of the most important collections of Arabic manuscripts in Europe but most of them are unpublished or remain widely understudied. This article discusses the Arabic illuminated manuscripts produced in 14th- and 15th-century Egypt and Bilād al-Shām identified in this institution and aims to highlight their production context and material characteristics. The study of these manuscripts also gives an insight into the main phases and codicological features of the arts of the book during the Mamluk period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxamic acids represent a group of weak organic acids, both naturally occurring and synthetically derived, characterized by the general formula RC(= O)N(R'OH). In this study, we investigated the binding behavior of N-m-tolyl-4-chlorophenoxyaceto hydroxamic acid with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) and torula yeast RNA (t-RNA) through a combination of techniques including UV–visible spectroscopy, fluorescence emission analysis, viscometry, and computational simulations using AutoDock4 software. Our findings reveal that the mode of binding between the compound and the nucleic acids is consistent with intercalation. Competitive binding experiments demonstrated that the complex competes effectively with ethidium bromide (EB) for binding to ct-DNA/t-RNA, displacing EB from its binding sites. Additionally, the introduction of the compound into the DNA-EB system resulted in a quenching of fluorescence emission peaks. Analysis of absorption spectra indicated a red shift and hypochromic shift when the compound interacted with DNA, further supporting the intercalative binding mode. The calculated binding constant (Kb) value for the compound is 6.62 × 104 M−1 and 5.40 × 103 M−1 indicating a strong interaction with ct-DNA and t-RNA respectively. We determined the Stern–Volmer constants for ct-DNA and t-RNA as 9.96 × 104 M−1 and 8.13 × 105 M−1, respectively. The binding free energy values for ct-DNA/t-RNA were calculated to be − 3.741 × 107 and − 5.425 × 108 kcal/mol, respectively. Viscometric studies corroborated the UV results, showing a continuous increase in relative viscosity of ct-DNA/t-RNA solutions with the addition of the optimal hydroxamic acid concentration. Furthermore, we assessed the antioxidant activity of the compound using DPPH-radical scavenging and β-carotene linoleic acid assays. Gel electrophoresis results demonstrated the compound's remarkable efficacy in preventing DNA damage. Collectively, all experimental evidence supports the conclusion that N-m-tolyl-4-chlorophenoxyaceto hydroxamic acid binds to ct-DNA/t-RNA through an intercalative mechanism, which is consistent with our molecular docking simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) have knowledge of binding principles (i.e., linking pronouns to their structurally licensed antecedent) during real-time sentence processing (cross-modal priming, real-time) and overt comprehension (sentence-picture matching, interpretative) and whether rate of speech impacted access to that knowledge. Fourteen children with DLD participated in two experiments, with sentences presented auditorily at either a regular or slow speech rate. Sentences were matched except to contain a pronoun, reflexive, or noun phrase (control) in the same syntactic position. Experiment (1) used a cross-modal picture priming paradigm to test real-time pronoun-antecedent linking abilities at both rates of speech. Children were instructed to make a binary decision during the uninterrupted auditory presentation of a sentence to a visually presented image (of the antecedent) at the offset of a pronoun, a reflexive, or a control noun. Response times between conditions (e.g., pronoun vs. control noun) were compared to determine whether participants showed evidence of facilitative priming (faster response times in the pronoun than control noun condition) at either speech rate. Experiment (2) used an auditory sentence-picture-matching task to test final comprehension of similar sentences containing a pronoun or reflexive. Accuracy was compared across both speech rates. For Experiment (1), children with DLD did not show evidence of real-time pronoun-antecedent priming at the regular speech rate. However, when sentences were slowed, they showed facilitative priming for the pronoun condition. For experiment (2), children with DLD performed at-chance when interpreting sentences with pronouns regardless of speech rate. While children with DLD have been shown to have difficulty processing sentences containing anaphors (such as pronouns), results suggest that this is not due to loss of intrinsic knowledge of binding principles. By slowing the rate of speech input, we showed that children with DLD do have access to that knowledge and can make the correct link during real-time processing between a pronoun and its structurally licensed antecedent (Experiment 1) but need more time to do so. However, the effect of slowed speech input does not extend to final comprehension (Experiment 2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymes play key roles in the biological functions of living organisms, which serve as catalysts to and regulate biochemical reaction pathways. Recent studies suggest that peptides are promising molecules for modulating enzyme function due to their advantages in large chemical diversity and well-established methods for library synthesis. Experimental approaches to identify protein-binding peptides are time-consuming and costly. Hence, there is a demand to develop a fast and accurate computational approach to tackle this problem. Another challenge in developing a computational approach is the lack of a large and reliable dataset. In this study, we develop a new machine learning approach called PepBind-SVM to predict protein-binding peptides. To build this model, we extract different sequential and physicochemical features from peptides and use a Support Vector Machine (SVM) as the classification technique. We train this model on the dataset that we also introduce in this study. PepBind-SVM achieves 92.1% prediction accuracy, outperforming other classifiers at predicting protein-binding peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Action planning can be construed as the temporary binding of action features to form a representation known as an action file. This file is distinct from other possible, but currently not required actions of the behavioral repertoire. To further this action file approach, we investigated what happens with an initially planned action, which however, is discarded before execution. In two experiments we found consistent evidence for a quick unbinding of action features with discarding. Other possible mechanisms that action discarding might invoke, be it the paradox strengthening of a discarded action plan, the selective suppression of the otherwise intact plan, or the global suppression of all subsequent action, were not or at least less consistently supported. These findings provide a novel perspective on inhibitory action control, which we discuss with respect to its applications to other instances of such inhibitory control as studied in multitasking, stop-signal, directed forgetting, or response-reprogramming paradigms. Public Significance Statement: Humans are capable of planning actions for future execution instead of directly carrying them out. What we do not exactly know is what happens if people do not follow through with such a plan. We found that refraining from carrying out an initially planned action means to disconnect the mental pieces which the plan consisted of. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wafers (wafer-feed) are an effective processing technology and are expected to maintain the continuous availability of animal feed during the dry season. The purpose of this study was to determine the best type of adhesive on the physical quality of sugarcane tops and Tithonia based wafers. This study used the Split Split Plot Design (SSPD). The main plot as factor A was the type of adhesive, consisting of: Tapioca flour (A1), Pathi flour (A2), Gaplek flour (A3), Karagenan flour (A4), palm sugar (A5). The subplots as Factor B are temperature which consists of: 100℃ (B1), 110℃ (B2), and 120℃ (B3), while the sub-plots as factor C are oven time consisting of: 10 minutes (C1), 15 minutes (C2), and 20 minutes (C3). The forage used was Sugarcane tops (Saccharum officinarum) and Tithonia (Tithonia diversifolia) in the ratio of 60:40. The best adhesive in making sugarcane tops and Tithonia based wafers is tapiovca flour with a temperature of 120℃ for 20 minutes, with physical properties such as colour, aroma, and excellent texture with a range (3.73, 3.70, and 3.63), density with a value of 5.68 g/cm3, and water binding capacity with a value of 104.22%. From the research it can be concluded that there are interactions on the physical properties of wafers (colour, aroma, and smell), density and water binding capacity. For further research, the best wafers obtained were continued to the in vitro digestibility stage to see the digestibility of wafers as ruminant feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Museums are multimodal environments where semiotic resources including objects, space, sound, light, movement, language and the body converge. Our case study of a Taiwanese ceramics exhibition draws on the concept of 'affective affordances', meaning the socially and contextually informed ways that semiotic resources invite felt and embodied responses. We use this concept to investigate the ways in which texts and space co-construct affective meanings. We discuss texts and space as physical entities within the affective exhibition, each possessing intrinsic properties which can potentially stimulate certain embodied responses from visitors. Specifically, the case study addresses two questions: (1) how written texts within an exhibition interact with space to afford affective meaning potential; and (2) how museum visitors as active participants respond to space and text as affective stimuli. The study adopts a novel composite theoretical framework that combines spatial discourse analysis using the Binding framework, linguistic analysis using the Appraisal framework, and walking interviews. Our analysis provides rich empirical evidence of how space and written texts interact to create a felt sense of place for visitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides a detailed review of recent studies examining the role of probiotics in the degradation of aflatoxins, highly toxic compounds in food that pose significant health risks. Regulatory standards for aflatoxin levels in foodstuffs have been established to protect public health. Various methods--chemical, physical, and biological--have been developed for decontaminating and detoxifying aflatoxins. Among biological methods, probiotics have shown substantial potential in decontaminating aflatoxins. Studies indicate that probiotics can reduce the bioavailability of aflatoxins through adsorption or binding to their cell walls, facilitating their excretion from the body. The extent of aflatoxin absorption by probiotics is influenced by several factor s, including the complexity of the food matrix. Emerging food processing technologies also offer promising results in aflatoxin degradation. Combining these emerging technologies with probiotics can enhance the overall effectiveness of decontamination efforts. In addition, environmental factors influenced by climate change could affect aflatoxin production, necessitating advanced decontamination techniques. The reviewed studies underscore the importance of optimizing probiotic strains and their conditions of use to maximize their effectiveness in aflatoxin degradation, as well as exploring the potential of combining these biological methods with novel technological approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hydroxamic acids represent a group of weak organic acids, both naturally occurring and synthetically derived, characterized by the general formula RC(= O)N(R’OH). In this study, we investigated the binding behavior of N-m-tolyl-4-chlorophenoxyaceto hydroxamic acid with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) and torula yeast RNA (t-RNA) through a combination of techniques including UV–visible spectroscopy, fluorescence emission analysis, viscometry, and computational simulations using AutoDock4 software. Our findings reveal that the mode of binding between the compound and the nucleic acids is consistent with intercalation. Competitive binding experiments demonstrated that the complex competes effectively with ethidium bromide (EB) for binding to ct-DNA/t-RNA, displacing EB from its binding sites. Additionally, the introduction of the compound into the DNA-EB system resulted in a quenching of fluorescence emission peaks. Analysis of absorption spectra indicated a red shift and hypochromic shift when the compound interacted with DNA, further supporting the intercalative binding mode. The calculated binding constant (Kb) value for the compound is 6.62 × 104 M−1 and 5.40 × 103 M−1 indicating a strong interaction with ct-DNA and t-RNA respectively. We determined the Stern–Volmer constants for ct-DNA and t-RNA as 9.96 × 104 M−1 and 8.13 × 105 M−1, respectively. The binding free energy values for ct-DNA/t-RNA were calculated to be − 3.741 × 107 and − 5.425 × 108 kcal/mol, respectively. Viscometric studies corroborated the UV results, showing a continuous increase in relative viscosity of ct-DNA/t-RNA solutions with the addition of the optimal hydroxamic acid concentration. Furthermore, we assessed the antioxidant activity of the compound using DPPH-radical scavenging and β-carotene linoleic acid assays. Gel electrophoresis results demonstrated the compound's remarkable efficacy in preventing DNA damage. Collectively, all experimental evidence supports the conclusion that N-m-tolyl-4-chlorophenoxyaceto hydroxamic acid binds to ct-DNA/t-RNA through an intercalative mechanism, which is consistent with our molecular docking simulations.

Leptospirosis is a significant zoonosis worldwide, with disease severity ranging from a mild non-specific illness to multi-organ dysfunction and hemorrhage. The disease is caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira, which are classified into pathogenic and saprophytic clades. Bacterial binding to host molecules and cells, coordinated by adhesin proteins, is an important step in pathogenesis. While many leptospiral adhesins have been identified, the vast majority have not been characterized in vivo. Herein, we present an overview of the current methodologies and successes in identifying adhesins in Leptospira, including known biological roles in vivo. We will also identify and discuss potential areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modular nanotransporters (MNTs) are drug delivery systems for targeted cancer treatment. As MNTs are composed of several modules, they offer the advantage of high specificity and biocompatibility in delivering drugs to the target compartment of cancer cells. The large carrier module brings together functioning MNT modules and serves as a platform for drug attachment. The development of smaller-sized MNTs via truncation of the carrier module appears advantageous in facilitating tissue penetration. In this study, two new MNTs with a truncated carrier module containing either an N-terminal (MNTN) or a C-terminal (MNTC) part were developed by genetic engineering. Both new MNTs demonstrated a high affinity for target receptors, as revealed by fluorescent-labeled ligand-competitive binding. The liposome leakage assay proved the endosomolytic activity of MNTs. Binding to the importin heterodimer of each truncated MNT was revealed by a thermophoresis assay, while only MNTN possessed binding to Keap1. Finally, the photodynamic efficacy of the photosensitizer attached to MNTN was significantly higher than when attached to either MNTC or the original MNTs. Thus, this work reveals that MNT's carrier module can be truncated without losing MNT functionality, favoring the N-terminal part of the carrier module due to its ability to bind Keap1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binding theories claim that features of an episode are bound to each other and can be retrieved once these features are re-encountered. Binding effects have been shown in task-switching studies with a strong focus on bindings of observable features such as responses. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether task rules, translating stimulus information into motor output can be bound and subsequently retrieved even if they act independently from specific response codes. To address this question, we utilized a task-switching paradigm with varying visual context features. Unlike previous studies, tasks in the present study did not differ in their response options, and sequential response repetitions were eliminated by design. In three experiments, we observed larger task-switch costs on trials repeating the context of the previous trial than on context-change trials. According to binding accounts, this suggests that response-independent task rules adopted in the previous trial became bound to the context feature and were retrieved upon re-encountering the context feature in the current trial. The results of this study generalize previous findings indicating that binding processes can include response-independent control to task-switching situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusions Commercial products currently available for sperm selection utilizing hyaluronic acid (HA) binding prior to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are widely used but have some disadvantages. To potentially circumvent these limitations, we compared ICSI using a self‐made hyaluronic acid (smHA) reagent with ICSI using SpermSlow.The binding of the reagents to spermatozoa on plastic‐ or glass‐bottom dishes was quantitated using spermatozoa that were isolated by density‐gradient centrifugation and swim‐up procedures (N = 10/group). Additionally, we investigated the relationship between the HA reagent used prior to ICSI and clinical outcomes after assisted reproduction with HA‐ICSI (N = 81).The smHA reagent exhibited extremely stable binding to human spermatozoa. The binding time of spermatozoa was significantly longer in the smHA reagent than in SpermSlow on both plastic and glass dishes (plastic: 60.0 ± 0.0 min vs. 2.7 ± 5.9 min, P < 0.001; glass: 60.0 ± 0.0 min vs. 2.5 ± 1.8 min, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the normal fertilization rate between HA‐ICSI with the smHA reagent (128/160, 80.0%) and HA‐ICSI with SpermSlow (171/231, 74.0%, P = 0.184). The frequency of the blastocyst development from the HA‐ICSI‐derived zygote was significantly higher with the smHA reagent (74/101, 73.3%) than with SpermSlow (76/131, 58.0%, P = 0.019). The rates of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, fetal heart movement, live birth, and miscarriage were not significantly different between HA‐ICSI with the smHA reagent and HA‐ICSI with SpermSlow.The blastulation rate was higher for HA‐ICSI with the smHA reagent as compared with SpermSlow. Clinical outcomes, excluding blastulation, after HA‐ICSI were the same using smHA reagent and using SpermSlow. Spermatozoa binding to the smHA reagent was not attenuated over a 60‐min time course. In conclusion, this reagent may shorten and simplify HA‐ICSI procedures because smHA can be used with any dish material, making it easier to observe the spindle or assess intracytoplasmic morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study included the extraction of Chitin (Ch) from shrimp shells and preparation of Chitin nanoparticles (NCh) using acid hydrolysis and ultrasound method. In addition, the preparation of chitosan (Chs) and Chitosan nanoparticles (NChs) by Deacetylation method, then we study some of the characteristics, including yield, diameter by Size Analyzer, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, XRay Diffractometer (X-RD), Viscosity, Water Binding Capacity (WBC) and Fat Binding Capacity (FBC). The results showed, (a) decreased the percentage of yield of NChs to 8.20%, (b) the effective diameter of the natural chitosan using a Size Analyzer and was 28121.5 nm, (c) FESEM analysis revealed that the NChs displayed a nanoscale structure with diameters ranged from 20.93 - 30.20 nm (d) the degree of deacetylation (DD%) using FT-IR spectroscopy device, of NChs was (80.21%) compared to Chs 71.45%, and in addition, from the X-ray spectrum, two peaks in spectra of (Ch, NCh) and (Chs, NChs) were observed at the diffraction angles (2θ) which are (10.70-10.99) and (19.99-20.37). Results show increasing the crystallization coefficient of NCh and NChs, while viscosity, WBC and FBC of NChs decreased compared to Chs. The NChs did not show any toxic effect on human blood cells at concentrations of 100-1000 µg. ml-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responses are slower in two-choice tasks when either a previous stimulus feature or the previous response repeats than when all features repeat or all features change. Current views of action control posit that such partial repetition costs (PRCs) index the time to update a prior "binding" between a stimulus feature and the response or to resolve processing conflicts between retrieved and current features. However, violating a heuristic that stimulus feature repetitions and changes "signal" repetitions or changes of the previous response, respectively, may also contribute to such costs. To determine whether such relational codes affect performance, we compared PRCs in two- and four-choice tasks. While a stimulus feature repetition signals a response repetition in both tasks, a stimulus feature change signals a specific alternative response only in a two-choice task. Consistent with the signaling hypothesis, we observed similar complete repetition benefits in the two- and four-choice tasks but smaller complete change benefits in the four-choice task. We also investigated whether the smaller complete change benefit in the four-choice task—that is, the signaling effect—varies with the validity of the signal in the previous trial. In all four experiments, we observed a larger signaling effect after trials in which stimulus changes or repetitions corresponded to response changes or repetitions, respectively, than after trials in which stimulus changes did not correspond with response changes. We conclude that signaling contributes to PRCs, which indicates that bindings include relational codes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how poly(carboxylate)s of chemical admixtures interact with calcium ions in cement pore solutions in the presence of silica fume is fundamental to developing better chemical admixtures for concrete production. In this work, the intermolecular interactions of calcium ions with a poly(carboxylate) superplasticizer type of chemical admixture was investigated via classical all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation methods in the presence of silica fume. The classical all-atom MD simulation and DFT calculation results indicate that calcium ions are interacting with oxygen atoms of the carboxylate group of PCE. The better interaction energy could mean an improved adsorption of the PCE segment with calcium ions. In this regard, it can be noted that the ester-based PCE segment could have a better adsorption onto calcium ions in comparison with the ether-based PCE segment. Moreover, the presence of silicon dioxide could improve the adsorption of the PCE segment onto calcium ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aimed to discuss the approval of the 'National Framework on Human Rights and Business' law in Brazil, which takes a binding approach to establish the foundations for effective corporate responsibility regarding activities that violate human rights. The research employed the historical-dialectical method and the theoretical framework of Gonzalo Berrón's architecture of impunity studies. The article was structured into three sections corresponding to the pillars of shifting from a voluntary to a binding approach: subjective, objective, and substantive. The conclusions pointed out that the approval of Bill No. 572/2022 represents a milestone in ending the architecture of corporate impunity, positioning Brazil and Latin America in a leadership role, without waiting for wealthy countries to capitalize on and monopolize the discourse on human rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphorus are typically hazardous chemicals used in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and other industries. They pose a serious risk to human life and can be fatal upon direct exposure. Hence, studying the interaction between such compounds with proteins is crucial for environmental, health, and food safety. In this study, we investigated the interaction mechanism between azinphos‐methyl (AZM) and β‐lactoglobulin (BLG) at pH 7.4 using a combination of biophysical techniques. Intrinsic fluorescence investigations revealed that BLG fluorescence was quenched in the presence of increasing AZM concentrations. The quenching mechanism was identified as static, as evidenced by a decrease in the fluorescence quenching constant (1.25 × 104, 1.18 × 104, and 0.86 × 104 M−1) with an increase in temperatures. Thermodynamic calculations (ΔH > 0; ΔS > 0) affirmed the formation of a complex between AZM and BLG through hydrophobic interactions. The BLG's secondary structure was found to be increased due to AZM interaction. Ultraviolet –visible spectroscopy data showed alterations in BLG conformation in the presence of AZM. Molecular docking highlighted the significant role of hydrophobic interactions involving residues such as Val43, Ile56, Ile71, Val92, Phe105, and Met107 in the binding between BLG and AZM. A docking energy of −6.9 kcal mol−1, and binding affinity of 1.15 × 105 M−1 suggest spontaneous interaction between AZM and BLG with moderate to high affinity. These findings underscore the potential health risks associated with the entry of AZM into the food chain, emphasizing the need for further consideration of its impact on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide the first detailed description and analysis of the syntax of the understudied Greek split reciprocal reconstruction. As in other languages, the reciprocal appears to be bipartite consisting of a quantificational distributor (‘the one’) and a reciprocator (‘the other’). We show that, in Greek, this bipartiteness runs deep: the two parts are syntactically independent, with the reciprocator having the syntax of a Condition A anaphor, and the distributor behaving as a floating quantifier. Once we turn to how these elements establish relations between themselves and their antecedent, we find that Greek reciprocals resist a movement‐ or Agree‐based analysis, since both elements can occur in positions inaccessible to movement/Agree. Given that the reciprocator can occur in embedded subject position, the Greek data also argue against recent attempts to reduce the binding domain to phases, instead supporting a more traditional definition of the binding domain in terms of the smallest XP containing the anaphor and a subject. Finally, we show that the morphosyntactic properties of the bipartite construction can be connected to independent properties of its two component parts and that these can, in turn, be related to interpretive aspects of reciprocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The opioid crisis in the United States is a significant public health issue, with a nearly threefold increase in opioid-related fatalities between 1999 and 2014. In response to this crisis, society has made numerous efforts to mitigate its impact. Recent advancements in understanding the structural intricacies of the κ opioid receptor (KOR) have improved our knowledge of how opioids interact with their receptors, triggering downstream signaling pathways that lead to pain relief. This review concentrates on the KOR, offering crucial structural insights into the binding mechanisms of both agonists and antagonists to the receptor. Through comparative analysis of the atomic details of the binding site, distinct interactions specific to agonists and antagonists have been identified. These insights not only enhance our understanding of ligand binding mechanisms but also shed light on potential pathways for developing new opioid analgesics with an improved risk-benefit profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representing events in episodic memory in a coherent manner requires that their constituent elements are bound together. So far, only few moderators of these binding processes have been identified. Here we investigate whether the presence of an agentic element in an event facilitates binding. The results from six experiments provided no evidence for a facilitating effect of agency on the binding of event elements. In addition, binding effects were only found when event elements were presented simultaneously, but not when they were presented sequentially pairwise, contrary to previous findings. The results suggest that the presence of an agentic element in an event does not, or only to a very limited extent, contribute to the formation of coherent memory representations and that additional processes may be required when binding event elements across temporarily divided encoding episodes. These findings add to a growing body of research regarding moderators and processes relevant for the binding of event elements in episodic memory. Explanations of these findings and directions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrylamide (AA) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which are potentially carcinogenic to humans, are often produced during the hot processing of foods. This study first used a molecular docking model to simulate the binding behavior of four lactic acid bacteria peptidoglycans (PGNs) to AA/HMF, and the binding rate of LAB-based PGNs to AA/HMF was evaluated in vitro. In silico results show that interaction energy is the driving force responsible for the adsorption of LAB-derived PGNs to AA/HMF. In vitro results showed that the PGN of B. lactis B1-04 bound the most AA (28.7%) and HMF (48.0%), followed by L. acidophilus NCFM, B. breve CICC 6079, and L. plantarum CICC 22135. Moreover, an AA/HMF-bound layer on the cell surface of B. lactis B1-04 was observed via AFM and SEM due to adsorption. XPS analysis indicated the removal rate of AA/HMF by selected strains was positively correlated with the proportion of C-O, C=O, and N-H groups of PGNs. The atoms O1, O2, O3, O4, N1, N2, N3, H1, and H2 are involved in the adsorption of LAB-based PGNs to AA/HMF. Thus, the PGNs derived from these four Lactobacillus strains can be regarded as natural adsorbents for the binding of AA/HMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An oil-resistant liner composition was created on the basis of an unsaturated polyketone and a chlorine-containing epoxy oligomer for binding a highly filled polymer composite containing transformer oil plasticized isoprene rubber with disperse fillers on a rubberized fabric substrate. The rheological properties of the liner composition were studied. For the liner composition, mechanical properties were determined at different temperatures alongside with its vitrification temperature and swelling in transformer oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabichromene (CBC) is a minor cannabinoid within the array of over 120 cannabinoids identified in the Cannabis sativa plant. While CBC does not comprise a significant portion of whole plant material, it is available to the public in a purified and highly concentrated form. As minor cannabinoids become more popular due to their potential therapeutic properties, it becomes crucial to elucidate their metabolism in humans. Therefore, the goal of this was study to identify the major CBC phase I-oxidized metabolite generated in vitro following incubation with human liver microsomes. The novel metabolite structure was identified as 2′-hydroxycannabicitran using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Following the identification, in silico molecular modeling experiments were conducted and predicted 2′-hydroxycannabicitran to fit in the orthosteric site of both the CB1 and CB2 receptors. When tested in vitro utilizing a competitive binding assay, the metabolite did not show significant binding to either the CB1 or CB2 receptors. Further work necessitates the determination of potential activity of CBC and the here-identified phase I metabolite in other non-cannabinoid receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma band synchronization can facilitate local and long-range neural communication. In the primary visual cortex, visual stimulus properties within a specific location determine local synchronization strength, while the match of stimulus properties between distant locations controls long-range synchronization. The neural basis for the differential control of local and global gamma band synchronization is unknown. Combining electrophysiology, optogenetics, and computational modeling, we found that VIP disinhibitory interneurons in mouse cortex linearly scale gamma power locally without changing its stimulus tuning. Conversely, they suppress long-range synchronization when two regions process non-matched stimuli, tuning gamma coherence globally. Modeling shows that like-to-like connectivity across space and specific VIP→SST inhibition capture these opposing effects. VIP neurons thus differentially impact local and global properties of gamma rhythms depending on visual stimulus statistics. They may thereby construct gamma-band filters for spatially extended but continuous image features, such as contours, facilitating the downstream generation of coherent visual percepts.

How does cognition engage with the visual world? I make the case that multiple object tracking tasks isolate an object selection process that also applies to unmoving objects. Among other characteristics, the hemisphere specificity of object selection sets it apart from cognitive processing. Tracking is blind in that cognition generally does not know which tracked object is which. Contrary to a recent suggestion, this means that trackers do not function as the labeled pointers thought to be necessary to comprehend language or compute certain spatial relations. Instead, tracking has more in common with stimulus-driven attention, saliency, and featural attention.

Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels formed by α subunits KCNQ2-5 are important in regulating neuronal excitability. We previously found that GABA directly binds to and activates channels containing KCNQ3, challenging the traditional understanding of inhibitory neurotransmission. To investigate the functional significance and behavioral role of this direct interaction, mice with a mutated KCNQ3 GABA binding site (Kcnq3-W266L) were generated and subjected to behavioral studies. Kcnq3-W266L mice exhibited distinctive behavioral phenotypes, of which reduced nociceptive and stress responses were profound and sex-specific. In female Kcnq3-W266L mice, the phenotype was shifted towards more nociceptive effects, while in male Kcnq3-W266L mice, it was shifted towards the stress response. In addition, female Kcnq3-W266L mice exhibited lower motor activity and reduced working spatial memory. The neuronal activity in the lateral habenula and visual cortex was altered in the female Kcnq3-W266L mice, suggesting that GABAergic activation of KCNQ3 in these regions may play a role in the regulation of the responses. Given the known overlap between the nociceptive and stress brain circuits, our data provide new insights into a sex-dependent role of KCNQ3 in regulating neural circuits involved in nociception and stress, via its GABA binding site. These findings identify new targets for effective treatments for neurological and psychiatric conditions such as pain and anxiety.

• Activated factor VIII (FVIIIa) functions as a cofactor for FIXa in the tenase complex. • Emicizumab is a humanized bispecific monoclonal antibody acts as a FVIIIa-mimetic. • We examined the binding affinity among emicizumab, FIXa and FX by FRET. • Emicizumab orientates FIXa and FX in close proximity on phospholipid membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interaction of neutral and charged lipophilic beta-blocker drug, propranolol (PPL) with biomimicking nanocavities formed by micelles bearing same and opposite charges namely, cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), a surface-active ionic liquid 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (HDMIC) and anionic sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) have been investigated using fluorescence and absorption spectroscopic techniques. Binding of PPL to SDS at pH < pKa is characterised by biphasic interactions with decrease in fluorescence intensity at lower concentrations and subsequent increase post micellization. All the surfactants show significant interactions with the neutral drug molecule at pH > pKa, which is evident from the strongest binding constant ( K b ) values at pH 10.4. Results of quenching studies indicate that the location of drug molecule is determined by its charge, which is influenced by both pH and charge on micelle surface. For PPL-CTAB and PPL-HDMIC systems, quenching was strongest at pH 10.4, moderate at pH 7.4 and was absent at pH 3.5. However, the PPL-SDS system displayed similar K SV values at all pH conditions, suggesting that the probe is at the same position regardless of pH. Non-covalent interactions, which play crucial role in biological systems, are similarly the primary driving force governing the interaction between PPL and surfactant micelles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetramethrin (TMT) is a commonly used insecticide and has a carcinogenic and neurodegenerative effect on humans. The binding mechanism and toxicological implications of TMT to human serum albumin (HSA) were examined in this study employing a combination of biophysical and computational methods indicating moderate binding affinity and potential hepato and renal toxicity. Fluorescence quenching experiments showed that TMT binds to HSA with a moderate affinity, and the binding process was spontaneous and predominantly enthalpy‐driven. Circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed that TMT binding did not induce any significant conformational changes in HSA, resulting in no changes in its alpha‐helix content. The binding site and modalities of TMT interactions with HSA as computed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that it binds to Sudlow site II of HSA via hydrophobic interactions through its dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate methyl propanyl group. The structural dynamics of TMT induce proper fit into the binding site creating increased and stabilizing interactions. Additionally, molecular mechanics–Poisson Boltzmann surface area calculations also indicated that non‐polar and van der Waals were found to be the major contributors to the high binding free energy of the complex. Quantum mechanics (QM) revealed the conformational energies of the binding confirmation and the degree of deviation from the global minimum energy conformation of TMT. The results of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of the binding mechanism of TMT with HSA, which is important for evaluating the toxicity of this insecticide in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether the operation Agree should be taken to underlie anaphoric binding has been the topic of much recent debate. In this paper, we provide a novel empirical argument in favor of the role of ϕ-features and Agree in binding. The argument revolves around the intimate relationship between agreement and anaphora in the Turkish nominal domain, where certain complex pronominals can agree only if they locally bind an anaphor or bound pronoun. We argue that these facts can be readily understood if ϕ-features are crucially implicated in the syntactic derivation of binding. At the same time, we argue that not all binding can be reduced to Agree, based on data from Turkish PPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Slovo a Slovesnost is the property of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Language Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The precise nature of Ā-dependencies that terminate in a pronoun has been a long-standing subject of cross-linguistic research. Traditionally, it has been assumed that there are two derivational strategies to form resumptive Ā-dependencies: movement and base generation. Island configurations have played a crucial role in determining which derivational strategy is employed in a given language, as islands effects are expected to arise from dependencies created by movement but not by base generation. The body of cross-linguistic research on resumption has shown that the situation is more complicated once other diagnostics are taken into account, as languages can have mixed resumption profiles. In this paper, we discuss resumption in Ā-dependencies in Akan, a Kwa language spoken in Ghana, and illustrate that, despite their general insensitivity to islands, resumptive dependencies also show many classic hallmarks of movement. We situate these findings in the broader context of a general understanding of resumption cross-linguistically and discuss how the conflicting diagnostics might be reconciled with a movement-based analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social Sciences Studies is the property of Social Sciences Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The liver is prone to damage induced by xenobiotics, which significantly contributes to the widespread prevalence of liver diseases. To explore potential therapeutic avenues, this in silico study utilizes molecular docking techniques to elucidate interactions between bioactive compounds derived from Flacourtia jangomas and their target proteins, particularly the androgen receptor (AR) and acetyl cholinesterase, both implicated in hepatocellular carcinogenesis. While pharmaceutical drugs for liver diseases exist, their limitations necessitate the exploration of alternative options. Plant-derived compounds have garnered attention for their potential beneficial effects, with Flacourtia jangomas emerging as a promising candidate due to its known pharmacological activities. Through our investigation, we identified several compounds, including catechin, limonin, jangomolide, rutin hydrate, hydnocarpic acid, and chaulmoogric acid, which exhibited notable interactions with AR and acetyl cholinesterase. Enzalutamide, an AR inhibitor, demonstrated a docking score lower than catechin but higher than other compounds, indicating its potential therapeutic efficacy. Catechin exhibited the highest binding affinity, supported by more favorable scores, signifying strong interactions with AR. Rutin hydrate displayed superior docking parameters against acetyl cholinesterase compared to neostigmine. Considering various scoring parameters such as lipo, ambig, clash, and rot scores, catechin and rutin hydrate emerged as favorable options over enzalutamide and neostigmine, respectively. However, experimental validation is essential to confirm these findings. The compounds identified in this study hold promise for the development of clinically effective hepatoprotective agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The durability of an antibody (Ab) response is highly important for antiviral vaccines. However, due to the complex compositions of natural virions, the molecular determinants of Ab durability from viral infection or inactivated viral vaccines have been incompletely understood. Here we used a reductionist system of liposome-based virus-like structures to examine the durability of Abs from primary immune responses in mice. This system allowed us to independently vary fundamental viral attributes and to do so without additional adjuvants to model natural viruses. We show that a single injection of protein antigens (Ags) orderly displayed on a virion-sized liposome is sufficient to induce a long-lived neutralizing Ab (nAb) response. The introduction of internal nucleic acids dramatically modulates the magnitude of Ab responses without an alteration of the long-term kinetic trends. These Abs are characterized by very slow off-rates of ~0.0005 s−1, which emerged as early as day 5 after injection and these off-rates are comparable to that of affinity-matured monoclonal Abs. A single injection of these structures at doses as low as 100 ng led to lifelong nAb production in mice. Thus, a minimal virus-like immunogen can give rise to potent and long-lasting antiviral Abs in a primary response in mice without live infection. This has important implications for understanding both live viral infection and for optimizing vaccine design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essay argues that, with the trope of "un/binding," James Baldwin, most notably in "Everybody's Protest Novel" (1949), Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953), and Another Country (1962), thinks through the central ethical idea in his oeuvre: the call for "transformation." Such transformation comes about when the subject yields to the forces of sex and finitude. These forces—which Baldwin also calls "corruption"—have two functions. First, the subject's unbinding, through corruption, enables the emergence of what Baldwin calls "the self." Only with such emergence can we break from the structures that have created the subject, specular identifications that, as Baldwin saw it, entrapped Bigger Thomas (Native Son) and Gabriel Grimes (Go Tell It on the Mountain). Second, the "transformation" demanded by sex and finitude can preempt the "evil" that, writing in the immediate aftermath of World War II and engaging the work of Richard Wright and Albert Camus, Baldwin identifies in fascism. The seductions of fascism are obviated by the "acts of creation" by which "the individual" emerges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to point out a phenomenon in Israeli cinema: a return to the story of the binding of Isaac [the akedah] in its biblical version. Against the background of the traditional casting of the akedah myth in Israeli art, where the miracle of Isaac’s rescue is replaced by his death, and the ram is missing from the picture, recently Israeli documentary films have appeared that deal with combat stress reaction, which shapes the story of the akedah in a way that is faithful to the biblical story. They reinstate within the plot the story of Isaac’s replacement by a ram and describe life after Isaac saw the knife raised over him, where the traumatic memory of the past upsets the routine of the present. At the same time, the films are informed by the Israeli art tradition, with one film adopting the hegemonic view of Abraham, who raises the knife, while the other adopts the critical view of Sarah, the mother, who identifies with the victim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronaviruses (CoVs) have continuously posed a threat to human and animal health. However, existing antiviral drugs are still insufficient in overcoming the challenges caused by multiple strains of CoVs. And methods for developing multi‐target drugs are limited in terms of exploring drug targets with similar functions or structures. In this study, four rounds of structural design and modification on salinomycin were performed for novel antiviral compounds. It was based on the strategy of similar topological structure binding properties of protein targets (STSBPT), resulting in the high‐efficient synthesis of the optimal compound M1, which could bind to aminopeptidase N and 3C‐like protease from hosts and viruses, respectively, and exhibit a broad‐spectrum antiviral effect against severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV 2 pseudovirus, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, transmissible gastroenteritis virus, feline infectious peritonitis virus and mouse hepatitis virus. Furthermore, the drug‐binding domains of these proteins were found to be structurally similar based on the STSBPT strategy. The compounds screened and designed based on this region were expected to have broad‐spectrum and strong antiviral activities. The STSBPT strategy is expected to be a fundamental tool in accelerating the discovery of multiple targets with similar effects and drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) have knowledge of binding principles (i.e., linking pronouns to their structurally licensed antecedent) during real-time sentence processing (cross-modal priming, real-time) and overt comprehension (sentence-picture matching, interpretative) and whether rate of speech impacted access to that knowledge. Fourteen children with DLD participated in two experiments, with sentences presented auditorily at either a regular or slow speech rate. Sentences were matched except to contain a pronoun, reflexive, or noun phrase (control) in the same syntactic position. Experiment (1) used a cross-modal picture priming paradigm to test real-time pronoun-antecedent linking abilities at both rates of speech. Children were instructed to make a binary decision during the uninterrupted auditory presentation of a sentence to a visually presented image (of the antecedent) at the offset of a pronoun, a reflexive, or a control noun. Response times between conditions (e.g., pronoun vs. control noun) were compared to determine whether participants showed evidence of facilitative priming (faster response times in the pronoun than control noun condition) at either speech rate. Experiment (2) used an auditory sentence-picture-matching task to test final comprehension of similar sentences containing a pronoun or reflexive. Accuracy was compared across both speech rates. For Experiment (1), children with DLD did not show evidence of real-time pronoun-antecedent priming at the regular speech rate. However, when sentences were slowed, they showed facilitative priming for the pronoun condition. For experiment (2), children with DLD performed at-chance when interpreting sentences with pronouns regardless of speech rate. While children with DLD have been shown to have difficulty processing sentences containing anaphors (such as pronouns), results suggest that this is not due to loss of intrinsic knowledge of binding principles. By slowing the rate of speech input, we showed that children with DLD do have access to that knowledge and can make the correct link during real-time processing between a pronoun and its structurally licensed antecedent (Experiment 1) but need more time to do so. However, the effect of slowed speech input does not extend to final comprehension (Experiment 2).

Leptospirosis is a significant zoonosis worldwide, with disease severity ranging from a mild non-specific illness to multi-organ dysfunction and hemorrhage. The disease is caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira, which are classified into pathogenic and saprophytic clades. Bacterial binding to host molecules and cells, coordinated by adhesin proteins, is an important step in pathogenesis. While many leptospiral adhesins have been identified, the vast majority have not been characterized in vivo. Herein, we present an overview of the current methodologies and successes in identifying adhesins in Leptospira, including known biological roles in vivo. We will also identify and discuss potential areas for future research.

The biosorption of lead (Pb) ions on Alstonia scholaris fruit biomass was investigated in batch and column experiments in an aqueous solution, emphasising the possible binding mechanism of Pb ions on the fruit biomass. The adsorption process was found to be dependent on parameters like adsorbent dose, initial Pb ion concentration, contact time, and pH. No impact was found on Pb adsorption during competitive adsorption. The results suggested that the fruit biomass could remove more than 97% of Pb ions from the aqueous solution. The Freundlich isotherm model best explained the obtained results. The monolayer adsorption capacity of the A. scholaris fruit biomass was 50 mg g-1. The reaction rate was fast initially with most Pb adsorption taking place during the first 80 minutes, while the equilibrium was attained at 420 minutes. Scanning electron microscopy revealed changes in the surface texture of A. scholaris fruit biomass after adsorption of Pb. The biomass’s surface area was determined using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller technique. Desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and functional group modification revealed that the bonding of Pb ions on Alstonia scholaris fruit biomass involved complex mechanisms.

In this study, we investigated the complexation of bioactive isoflavones, specifically biochanin A (BCA) and genistein (GEN), with hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) and explored their inhibitory effects on HEWL modification using a combination of multi-spectroscopic and computational methods. The observed binding affinity was of a moderate nature (on the order of 104 M−1), and a static quenching mechanism was identified in the fluorescence quenching process. Notably, the binding constant (Kb) for GEN (4.449 ± 0.262 × 104 M−1) was found to be higher than that for BCA (3.707 ± 0.108 × 104 M−1) towards HEWL. Our spectroscopic measurements, complemented by molecular docking calculations, suggested the involvement of Trp62 in the binding site of the isoflavones within the geometry of HEWL. The micro-environment surrounding the Trp-residues exhibited an increase in hydrophilicity, as indicated by Synchronous fluorescence (SFS) and three-dimensional fluorescence (3D) studies. Interestingly, circular dichroism (CD) studies revealed no marked alteration in the secondary structure of HEWL upon binding with the isoflavones. Furthermore, our investigation into the interaction patterns, employing FTIR and molecular docking studies, revealed a predominance of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Beyond the binding study, the isoflavones demonstrated a promising inhibitory effect on the d-ribose-mediated glycation of HEWL, as well as on HEWL fibrillation, as evidenced by fluorescence emission studies. Our findings not only exhibited an excellent correlation with experimental observations but also provided precise insights into the location and dynamics of isoflavones within the binding site through detailed analyses of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation data.

Several non-caloric sweeteners exhibit a delay in sweetness onset and a sweetness linger after sampling. These temporal properties are thought to be the result of non-specific interactions with cell membranes and proteins in the oral cavity. Data and analysis presented in this report also support the potential involvement of receptor affinity and binding kinetics to this phenomenon. In general, affected sweeteners exhibit distinctly higher binding affinity compared to carbohydrate sweeteners, which do not have temporal issues. In addition, binding kinetic simulations illustrate much slower receptor binding association and dissociation kinetics for a set of non-caloric sweeteners presenting temporal issues, in comparison to carbohydrate sweeteners. So, the higher affinity of some non-caloric sweeteners, dictating lower use levels, and affecting binding kinetics, could contribute to their delay and linger in sweetness perception. Simple pharmacology principles could explain, at least in part, some of the temporal issues of sweeteners.

We studied object-location binding in pigeons using a sequence learning procedure. A sequence of four objects was presented, one at a time at one of four locations on a touchscreen. A single peck at the object ended the trial, and food reinforcement was delivered intermittently. In Experiment 1, a between-subjects design was used to present objects, locations, or both in a regular sequence or randomly. Response time costs on nonreinforced probe tests on which object order, location order, or both were disrupted revealed sequence learning effects. Pigeons encoded location order when it was consistent, but not object order when it alone was consistent. When both were consistent, pigeons encoded both, and showed evidence of object-location binding. In Experiment 2, two groups of pigeons received training on sequences where the same object always appeared at the same location. For some pigeons a consistent sequence was used while for others sequence order was randomized. Only when sequence order was consistent was object-location binding found. These experiments are the first demonstrations of strong and lasting feature binding in pigeons and are consistent with a functional account of learning.