Enzyme inhibitors are molecules that bind to enzymes and decrease
their activity. Since blocking an enzyme's activity can kill a
pathogen or correct a metabolic imbalance, many drugs are enzyme
inhibitors. Inhibitor binding is either reversible or irreversible.
Irreversible inhibitors usually react with the enzyme and change it
chemically. These inhibitors modify key amino acid residues needed for
enzymatic activity. In contrast, reversible inhibitors bind
non-covalently and different types of inhibition are produced
depending on whether these inhibitors bind the enzyme, the
enzyme-substrate complex, or both. Their discovery and improvement is
an active area of research in biochemistry and pharmacology. A
medicinal enzyme inhibitor is often judged by its specificity (its
lack of binding to other proteins) and its potency (its dissociation
constant, which indicates the concentration needed to inhibit the
enzyme). A high specificity and potency ensure that a drug will have
few side effects and thus low toxicity. Enzyme inhibitors also occur
naturally and are involved in the regulation of metabolism.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyme_inhibitor
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1791:
The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution,
collectively known as the United States Bill of Rights, were ratified.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bill_of_Rights)
1891:
James Naismith introduced the first version of basketball, with
thirteen rules and nine players on each team.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Naismith)
1961:
Former Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann was sentenced to death after being
found guilty on fifteen criminal charges, including war crimes and
crimes against humanity.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Eichmann)
1994:
The web browser Netscape Navigator 1.0 was first released.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netscape_Navigator)
1995:
The European Court of Justice passes the Bosman ruling, allowing
footballers in the European Union to freely transfer from one UEFA
Federation to another at the end of their contracts.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosman_ruling)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
To talk about the end of science is just as foolish as to talk about
the end of religion. Science and religion are both still close to
their beginnings, with no ends in sight. -- Freeman Dyson
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Freeman_Dyson)
The Mormon handcart pioneers were participants in the migration of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Salt Lake City, Utah
who used handcarts to transport their belongings. The Mormon handcart
movement began in 1856 and lasted until 1860. Motivated to join their
fellow Church members but lacking funds for full ox or horse teams,
nearly 3,000 Mormon pioneers from England, Wales, and Scandinavia made
the journey to Utah in 10 handcart companies. Although fewer than ten
percent of the 1847–68 Latter-day Saint emigrants made the journey
west using handcarts, the handcart pioneers have become an important
symbol in LDS culture, representing the faithfulness and sacrifice of
the pioneer generation. The handcart pioneers continue to be
recognized and honored in events such as Pioneer Day, Church pageants,
and similar commemorations. The handcart treks were a familiar theme
in 19th century Mormon folk music and have been a theme in LDS
fiction, such as Gerald Lund's historical novel, Fire of the Covenant,
and Orson Scott Card's science-fiction short story, "West."
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_handcart_pioneers
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1545:
Counter-Reformation: The Council of Trent, an ecumenical council
convoked by Pope Paul III in response to the growth of Protestantism,
opened in Trento, Italy.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Trent)
1862:
American Civil War: Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside were
decisively defeated in the Battle of Fredericksburg.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fredericksburg)
1981:
Prime Minister Wojciech Jaruzelski declared martial law in Poland,
suspended Solidarity and imprisoned many union leaders.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojciech_Jaruzelski)
2003:
Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was found hiding in a spider
hole during Operation Red Dawn and captured.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Red_Dawn)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
My deepest impulses are optimistic; an attitude that seems to me as
spiritually necessary and proper as it is intellectually suspect. --
Ellen Willis
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ellen_Willis)
The Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties of
India are sections of the Constitution of India that prescribe the
fundamental obligations of the State to the citizens, and the duties
of the citizens with respect to the State. These sections comprise a
constitutional bill of rights, guidelines for government
policy-making, and the behaviour and conduct of citizens. These
sections are considered vital elements of the constitution, which was
developed between 1947 and 1949 by the Constituent Assembly of India.
The Fundamental Rights are defined as the basic human rights of all
citizens. The Directive Principles of State Policy are guidelines for
the framing of laws by the government. The Fundamental Duties are
defined as the moral obligations of all citizens to help to promote a
spirit of patriotism and to uphold the unity of India. Like the
Directive Principles, they are not legally enforceable.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_Rights%2C_Directive_Principles_and…
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1531:
The Apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin
saw the Blessed Virgin Mary outside of modern-day Mexico City.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Guadalupe)
1897:
Belo Horizonte, the first planned city of Brazil, was inaugurated.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belo_Horizonte)
1901:
Guglielmo Marconi received the first trans-Atlantic radio signal, from
Poldhu Wireless Station in Cornwall, England to Cabot Tower in St.
John's, Newfoundland.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guglielmo_Marconi)
1915:
President Yuan Shikai of the Republic of China reinstated the monarchy
and declared himself Emperor.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuan_Shikai)
1964:
Jomo Kenyatta became the first President of the Republic of Kenya.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jomo_Kenyatta)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
The most glorious moments in your life are not the so-called days of
success, but rather those days when out of dejection and despair you
feel rise in you a challenge to life, and the promise of future
accomplishments. -- Gustave Flaubert
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Gustave_Flaubert)
The Green and Golden Bell Frog is a ground-dwelling tree frog native
to eastern Australia. Measuring 11 centimetres (4.3 in) in length, the
Green and Golden Bell Frog is one of the largest Australian frogs.
Many populations, particularly in the Sydney region, are in areas of
frequent disturbance, including golf courses, disused industrial land,
brick pits and landfill areas. Once one of the most common frogs in
south-east Australia, the Green and Golden Bell Frog has undergone
major population declines, leading to its current classification as
globally vulnerable. Population numbers have continued to decline and
major threats include habitat loss and degradation, pollution,
introduced species, and parasites and pathogens, such as the amphibian
chytrid fungus.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_and_Golden_Bell_Frog
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1282:
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the last independent Prince of Wales to rule in
Wales, was killed in an ambush.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llywelyn_the_Last)
1602:
Geneva successfully repelled a late night attack by the combined
forces of Duke Charles Emmanuel of Savoy and King Philip III of Spain,
an event commemorated annually during the Fête de l'Escalade.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L'Escalade)
1931:
The Statute of Westminster gave complete legislative independence to
the Irish Free State, Newfoundland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and
South Africa.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_of_Westminster_1931)
1946:
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was established.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Children's_Fund)
1981:
About 900 civilians in El Salvador were killed in the El Mozote
massacre.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Mozote_massacre)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
In all our associations; in all our agreements let us never lose sight
of this fundamental maxim — that all power was originally lodged in,
and consequently is derived from, the people. -- George Mason
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_Mason)
The definition of Macedonia is a major source of confusion due to the
overlapping use of the term to describe geographical, political and
historical areas, languages and peoples. Ethnic groups inhabiting the
area use different terminology for the same entity, or the same
terminology for different entities. Geographically, no single
definition of its borders or the names of its subdivisions is accepted
by all scholars and ethnic groups. Demographically, it is mainly
inhabited by four ethnic groups, three of which self-identify as
Macedonians: One Slavic group does so at a national level, while
another, Bulgarians, as well as a Greek one do so at a regional level.
Linguistically, the names and origins of the languages and dialects
spoken in the region are a source of controversy. Politically, the use
of the name Macedonia has led to a diplomatic dispute between Greece
and the Republic of Macedonia. Despite intervention from the United
Nations, the dispute is still pending full resolution.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonia_%28terminology%29
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1732:
The Royal Opera House opened at Covent Garden in London.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Opera_House)
1815:
Michel Ney, Marshal of France, was executed by a firing squad near
Paris' Jardin du Luxembourg for supporting Napoleon Bonaparte.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Ney)
1941:
World War II: The Imperial Japanese Navy made its attack on Pearl
Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor)
1949:
Chinese Civil War: The government of the Republic of China relocated
from Mainland China to Taipei on the island of Taiwan.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei)
1995:
The Galileo spacecraft arrived at Jupiter, a little more than six
years after it was launched by Space Shuttle Atlantis during Mission
STS-34.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_spacecraft)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
May memory restore again and again The smallest color of the smallest
day: Time is the school in which we learn, Time is the fire in which
we burn. -- Delmore Schwartz
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Delmore_Schwartz)
Mount Rushmore is a United States presidential memorial that
represents the first 150 years of the history of the United States of
America with the 60-foot (18 m) sculptures of former U.S. Presidents
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham
Lincoln. The entire memorial covers 1,278 acres (5.17 km²), and is
5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level. It is managed by the National
Park Service, a bureau of the United States Department of the
Interior. The memorial attracts around 2 million people annually. The
mountain known to the Lakota Sioux as Six Grandfathers, was renamed
after Charles E. Rushmore, a prominent New York lawyer, in 1885. The
project of carving Mount Rushmore originally started with the purpose
of increasing tourism in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. After
long negotiations involving a Congressional delegation and President
Calvin Coolidge, the project received Congressional approval. Under
the direction of sculptor Gutzon Borglum, the carving started in 1927
and ended in 1941.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rushmore
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1768:
The first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica was published.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclopædia_Britannica)
1917:
Halifax Explosion: A ship in Halifax Harbour carrying trinitrotoluene
(TNT) and picric acid caught fire after a collision with another ship
and exploded, devastating Halifax, Canada.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion)
1922:
The Irish Free State came into existence, one year after the signing
of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Free_State)
1957:
Project Vanguard: An attempt to launch the first American satellite
failed with an explosion on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Vanguard)
1989:
Marc Lépine killed 14 women in the École Polytechnique Massacre in
Montreal.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/École_Polytechnique_massacre)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
Never think that you're not good enough. A man should never think
that. People will take you very much at your own reckoning.
-- Anthony Trollope
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Anthony_Trollope)
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder resulting from the presence of all
or part of an extra 21st chromosome. Down syndrome is characterized by
a combination of major and minor abnormalities of body structure and
function. Among features present in nearly all cases are impairment of
learning and physical growth, and a recognizable facial appearance
usually identified at birth. Individuals with Down syndrome have lower
than average cognitive ability, normally ranging from mild to moderate
retardation. Some individuals may have low intelligence overall, but
will generally have some amount of developmental disability, such as a
tendency toward concrete thinking or naïveté. The incidence of Down
syndrome is estimated at 1 per 800 to 1 per 1000 births. The common
physical features of Down syndrome also appear in people with a
standard set of chromosomes. They include a simian crease, almond
shaped eyes, shorter limbs, speech impairment, and protruding tongue.
Early childhood intervention, screening for common problems, medical
treatment where indicated, a conducive family environment, and
vocational training can improve the overall development of children
with Down syndrome. While some of the genetic limitations of Down
Syndrome cannot be overcome, education and proper care, initiated at
any time, can improve quality of life.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_syndrome
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1492:
Christopher Columbus became the first European to set foot on the
island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic).
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispaniola)
1590:
Niccolò Sfondrati became Pope Gregory XIV, succeeding Pope Urban VII
who died two months earlier.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Gregory_XIV)
1766:
Auctioneer James Christie conducted his first sale in London.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christie%27s)
1933:
Prohibition of alcoholic beverages in the United States officially
ended when the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition)
1936:
The 1936 Soviet Constitution, also known as the "Stalin" constitution,
was adopted.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1936_Soviet_Constitution)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
We have to remember that what we observe is not nature herself, but
nature exposed to our method of questioning. -- Werner Heisenberg
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Werner_Heisenberg)
"Weird Al" Yankovic is an American musician, satirist, parodist,
accordionist, and television producer. Yankovic is known in particular
for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that
parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts. Since receiving
his first accordion lesson a day before his seventh birthday, he has
recorded more than 150 parody and original songs and sold more comedy
albums than any other artist. His works have earned him three Grammy
Awards amongst nine nominations, three gold and five platinum records
in the United States. Yankovic's first Top 10 Billboard album and
single were both released in 2006, nearly three decades into his
career. In addition to recording his albums, Yankovic has written and
starred in his own movie and television show, directed music videos
for himself and other artists including Ben Folds and Hanson, and had
guest appearances in television shows such as The Simpsons and Behind
the Music.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22Weird_Al%22_Yankovic
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1639:
English astronomer Jeremiah Horrocks made the first observation of a
transit of Venus.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit_of_Venus)
1676:
Scanian War: In an area north of Lund, Sweden, forces led by Swedish
Field Marshal Simon Grundel-Helmfelt defeated the invading Danish army
under the command of King Christian V of Denmark.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lund)
1791:
The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, was first published.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Observer)
1829:
The practice of sati was formally abolished in British India after
years of campaigning by Ram Mohan Roy against this Hindu funeral
custom of widows immolating themselves.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sati_(practice))
1977:
The President of the Central African Republic had himself crowned as
Emperor Bokassa I.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokassa_I_of_Central_Africa)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness than
disbelief in great men. -- Thomas Carlyle
(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thomas_Carlyle)