Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon causing parent-of-origin specific differential expression of maternally and paternally inherited alleles. While many imprinted genes have been identified in plants, the functional roles of most of them are unknown. In this study, we systematically examine the functional requirement of paternally expressed imprinted genes (PEGs) during seed developm...

In order to solve the immensely difficult protein-folding problem, it will be necessary to characterize the barriers that slow folding and the intermediate structures that promote it. Although protein-folding intermediates are not accessible to the usual structural studies, hydrogen exchange (HX) methods have been able to detect and characterize intermediates in both kinetic and equilibrium mod...

BACKGROUND Few of the many behavioral sexual health interventions in Africa have been rigorously evaluated. Where biological outcomes have been measured, improvements have rarely been found. One of the most rigorous trials was of the multi-component MEMA kwa Vijana adolescent sexual health programme, which showed improvements in knowledge and reported attitudes and behaviour, but none in biolog...

As a preface to an analysis of the ribosomal elongation cycle, we examine the energetics of macromolecular structural transformations. We show that the kinetic barriers and changes of the energetic levels during these transformations are essentially determined by disruption of hydrogen and cation-ligand bonds, and by uncompensated losses of these bonds (ULBs). The disruption of a hydrogen or ca...

BACKGROUND Retention in HIV care improves survival and reduces the risk of HIV transmission to others. Multiple quantitative studies have described demographic and clinical characteristics associated with retention in HIV care. However, qualitative studies are needed to better understand barriers and facilitators. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 51 HIV-infected individu...

Reducing cervical cancer disparities in the United States requires intentional focus on structural barriers such as systems and policy that impact access to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, cervical cancer screening, and treatment. Such changes are difficult and often politicized. State comprehensive cancer control (CCC) plans are vehicles that, if designed well, can help build collectiv...

DNA sequences that form secondary structures or bind protein complexes are known barriers to replication and potential inducers of genome instability. In order to determine which helicases facilitate DNA replication across these barriers, we analyzed fork progression through them in wild-type and mutant yeast cells, using 2-dimensional gel-electrophoretic analysis of the replication intermediat...