Cysteine proteases are implicated in proteolysis events favoring cancer cell growth, spread, and death by apoptosis. Herein, we have studied whether the net growth and survival of the leukemic cell lines Jurkat, U937, and HL-60 are affected by external addition of five proteins acting as natural cysteine protease inhibitors. None of the cystatins examined (A, C, D, and E/M) or chagasin showed cons

The sulfation of gas-phase KOH and KCl was investigated in both oxidizing and reducing atmospheres at temperatures of 1120 K, 1260 K, 1390 K, and 1550 K. Well-defined gas environments were generated in a laminar flame burner fuelled with CH4/air/O2/N2. Atomized K2CO3 and KCl water solution fog and SO2 were introduced into the hot gas as sources of potassium, chlorine, and sulfur, respectively. The

Pandemics such as Covid-19 have posed a set of questions concerning safe space usage given the risk of virus transmission in confined and open spaces. In this context, this report presents a risk analysis methodology for the use of crowd modelling tools as an aid to assess safety in confined and open spaces. Crowd models can be used to investigate people movement in the built environment, thus the

An algorithm is said to be certifying if it outputs, together with a solution to the problem it solves, a proof that this solution is correct. We explain how state of the art maximum clique, maximum weighted clique, maximal clique enumeration and maximum common (connected) induced subgraph algorithms can be turned into certifying solvers by using pseudo-Boolean models and cutting planes proofs, an

Neuro-electronic interfaces, which can be used for stable communication between neurons-computers over long periods of time, would be valuable for understanding and interacting with the nervous system. A major challenge has been to overcome the tissue reactions towards implanted electrodes. Flexible microelectrodes that cause less implantation injury and which can follow the micromotions of the br

PurposeSleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is a relatively common disorder, but many patients with SAS are still undiagnosed. Using Japanese annual health check and medical claims data, we analyzed the association between hemoglobin upswing, defined as an increase in hemoglobin level within the reference range, and the incidence of SAS.MethodsIn this study, we used the Japan Medical Database Center (JMDC)

The Papuan language Kalamang has an adnominal demonstrativeopa, which marksreferents that are cognitively accessible either because they are common ground orbecause they are previously mentioned in the discourse. It is mainly an endophoricdemonstrative which has tracking and recognitional uses, but it can be used ex-ophorically as well. It can be used for both maintaining and reintroducing refer-e

Social media companies have resorted to censorship to suppress misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic. This is not the most prudent solution though given the uncertainties about the disease.

The potential for using germline genome editing (GGE) in humans has garnered a lot of attention, both for its scientific possibilities as well as for the ethical, legal, and social challenges it ignites. The ethical debate has focused primarily on the suggestions of using GGE to establish a pregnancy (i.e., to offer it in a clinical setting), which is, to date, illegal in many jurisdictions. The u

In this paper we address the question of how firms hedge in financial distress. Using hand-collected data from oil and gas producers, we show thatthe uniquecharacteristic of derivative portfolios in distressed firms is a strategythat involvessold put options. This is puzzling, considering that selling put options amounts to selling insurance, which creates a new liability that distressed firms seeIn this paper we address the question of how firms hedge in financial distress.Using hand-collected data from oil and gas producers, we show that the uniquecharacteristic of derivative portfolios in distressed firms is a strategy thatinvolves sold put options. This is puzzling, considering that selling put optionsamounts to selling insurance, which creates a new liability that distressed firmsseem

The microstructure of cortical bone is key for the tissue's high toughness and strength and efficient toughening mechanisms have been identified at the microscale, for example when propagating cracks interact with the osteonal microstructure. Finite element models have been proposed as suitable tools for analyzing the complex link between the local tissue structure and the fracture resistance of c