Sample records for accompanying k-complex simultaneous

  1. Kinetics and its accompanying thermodynamics studies on simultaneous complexation of heterobimetallic neodymium (III) with zinc (II) and L-tryptophan in aquated DMF using 4f-4f absorption spectra.

    PubMed

    Huidrom, Bimola; Singh, N Rajmuhon

    2014-01-24

    The 4f-4f absorption spectra of the simultaneous heterobimetallic complexation of trivalent neodymium ion with l-tryptophan and divalent zinc ion in aquated DMF (50%, v/v) at pH 6.0 was recorded at the time interval of 1h. From the observed absorption spectra, the values of intensity parameters such as oscillator strength (P) and Judd-Ofelt intensity (Tλ) parameters, kinetics and thermodynamics parameters were evaluated. The rate constant increases with an increase in the temperature along with the oscillator strengths and Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters. The positive values of the change in the standard enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) indicate that the complexation is endothermic. The negative values of the change in the standard free energy (ΔG°) in the range from 293.15 K to 308.15 K, indicate that the reaction occurs spontaneously and hence the formation of heterobimetallic complex in the solution is favored kinetically and thermodynamically. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Kinetics and its accompanying thermodynamics studies on simultaneous complexation of heterobimetallic neodymium (III) with zinc (II) and L-tryptophan in aquated DMF using 4f-4f absorption spectra

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huidrom, Bimola; Rajmuhon Singh, N.

    2014-01-01

    The 4f-4f absorption spectra of the simultaneous heterobimetallic complexation of trivalent neodymium ion with L-tryptophan and divalent zinc ion in aquated DMF (50%, v/v) at pH 6.0 was recorded at the time interval of 1 h. From the observed absorption spectra, the values of intensity parameters such as oscillator strength (P) and Judd-Ofelt intensity (Tλ) parameters, kinetics and thermodynamics parameters were evaluated. The rate constant increases with an increase in the temperature along with the oscillator strengths and Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters. The positive values of the change in the standard enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) indicate that the complexation is endothermic. The negative values of the change in the standard free energy (ΔG°) in the range from 293.15 K to 308.15 K, indicate that the reaction occurs spontaneously and hence the formation of heterobimetallic complex in the solution is favored kinetically and thermodynamically.

  3. Spectral and kinetic effects accompanying the assembly of core complexes of Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

    PubMed

    Freiberg, Arvi; Chenchiliyan, Manoop; Rätsep, Margus; Timpmann, Kõu

    2016-11-01

    In the present work, spectral and kinetic changes accompanying the assembly of the light-harvesting 1 (LH1) complex with the reaction center (RC) complex into monomeric RC-LH1 and dimeric RC-LH1-PufX core complexes of the photosynthetic purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides are systematically studied over the temperature range of 4.5-300K. The samples were interrogated with a combination of optical absorption, hole burning, fluorescence excitation, steady state and picosecond time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Fair additivity of the LH1 and RC absorption spectra suggests rather weak electronic coupling between them. A low-energy tail revealed at cryogenic temperatures in the absorption spectra of both monomeric and dimeric core complexes is proved to be due to the special pair of the RC. At selected excitation intensity and temperature, the fluorescence decay time of core complexes is shown to be a function of multiple factors, most importantly of the presence/absence of RCs, the supramolecular architecture (monomeric or dimeric) of the complexes, and whether the complexes were studied in a native membrane environment or in a detergent - purified state. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. RVxK2: Simultaneous PRV Program with Kepler/K2 Campaign 16

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xuesong Wang, Sharon; RVxK2 team

    2018-01-01

    Introducing the RVxK2 program: simultaneous precise radial velocity (PRV) observations with Kepler/K2 Campaign 16, from Dec 7 2017 through Feb 26 2018 (website: rvxk2.com). K2 will provide short cadence photometric data on five carefully selected stars, including the brightest M dwarf in C16 field, a solar analog, and three bright G/K subgiants. K2 will also provide long cadence data on the next three brightest K or M dwarfs in the C16 field. Our campaign includes several precise RV instruments around the globe, including Keck/HIRES, APF, IRTF/iSHELL, SONG, MINERVA, PARAS, representing the first organized, extensive, simultaneous RV campaign with space photometry. Our primary science goal is to characterize and understand stellar jitter and stellar activity. This RV+K2 campaign will provide the community with an unprecedented dataset of RV spectra and precise photometry to study stellar jitter on a broad range of time scales, from minutes to 80 days. We will gather the first ever RV+photometry dataset aiming at characterizing stellar granulation, the most poorly understood term among all astrophysical sources of stellar jitter. This project will also enable the first asteroseismic studies with simultaneous precise RVs and photometry, while searching for planets in the brightest nearby G to M dwarfs in the field.

  5. Characterization of known protein complexes using k-connectivity and other topological measures

    PubMed Central

    Gallagher, Suzanne R; Goldberg, Debra S

    2015-01-01

    Many protein complexes are densely packed, so proteins within complexes often interact with several other proteins in the complex. Steric constraints prevent most proteins from simultaneously binding more than a handful of other proteins, regardless of the number of proteins in the complex. Because of this, as complex size increases, several measures of the complex decrease within protein-protein interaction networks. However, k-connectivity, the number of vertices or edges that need to be removed in order to disconnect a graph, may be consistently high for protein complexes. The property of k-connectivity has been little used previously in the investigation of protein-protein interactions. To understand the discriminative power of k-connectivity and other topological measures for identifying unknown protein complexes, we characterized these properties in known Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein complexes in networks generated both from highly accurate X-ray crystallography experiments which give an accurate model of each complex, and also as the complexes appear in high-throughput yeast 2-hybrid studies in which new complexes may be discovered. We also computed these properties for appropriate random subgraphs.We found that clustering coefficient, mutual clustering coefficient, and k-connectivity are better indicators of known protein complexes than edge density, degree, or betweenness. This suggests new directions for future protein complex-finding algorithms. PMID:26913183

  6. Simultaneous observations of Ca II K and Mg II k in T Tauri stars

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Calvet, N.; Basri, G.; Imhoff, C. L.; Giampapa, M. S.

    1985-01-01

    The first simultaneous, calibrated observations of the Ca II K and Mg II k resonance lines in T Tauri stars are presented. It is found that for T Tauri stars with mass greater than 1.5 solar mass, which have radiative cores and tend to be fast rotators, the k line seems to arise in an extended region (probably also responsible for the H-alpha emission), whereas the K line apparently originates closer to the highly inhomogeneous stellar surface. The lower mass stars, which are fully convective and tend to be slow rotators, are more easily described by a largely chromospheric model, consistent with main-sequence activity structures but at greater values of the nonradiative flux. The strongest emission-line stars in the low-mass group, however, are also likely to have extended k line regions.

  7. Relationship Between Ktrans and K1 with Simultaneous Versus Separate MR/PET in Rabbits with VX2 Tumors.

    PubMed

    Lee, Kyung Hee; Kang, Seung Kwan; Goo, Jin Mo; Lee, Jae Sung; Cheon, Gi Jeong; Seo, Seongho; Hwang, Eui Jin

    2017-03-01

    To compare the relationship between K trans from DCE-MRI and K 1 from dynamic 13 N-NH 3 -PET, with simultaneous and separate MR/PET in the VX-2 rabbit carcinoma model. MR/PET was performed simultaneously and separately, 14 and 15 days after VX-2 tumor implantation at the paravertebral muscle. The K trans and K 1 values were estimated using an in-house software program. The relationships between K trans and K 1 were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficients and linear/non-linear regression function. Assuming a linear relationship, K trans and K 1 exhibited a moderate positive correlations with both simultaneous (r=0.54-0.57) and separate (r=0.53-0.69) imaging. However, while the K trans and K 1 from separate imaging were linearly correlated, those from simultaneous imaging exhibited a non-linear relationship. The amount of change in K 1 associated with a unit increase in K trans varied depending on K trans values. The relationship between K trans and K 1 may be mis-interpreted with separate MR and PET acquisition. Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

  8. Simultaneous Inhibition of EGFR and PI3K Enhances Radiosensitivity in Human Breast Cancer

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Li Ping; Zhang Qing; Torossian, Artour

    2012-07-01

    Purpose: Mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling transduction pathway are common in cancer. This pathway is imperative to the radiosensitivity of cancer cells. We aimed to investigate the radiosensitizing effects of the simultaneous inhibition of EGFR and PI3K in breast cancer cells. Methods and Materials: MCF-7 cell lines with low expression of EGFR and wild-type PTEN and MDA-MB-468 cell lines with high expression of EGFR and mutant PTEN were used. The radiosensitizing effects by the inhibition of EGFR with AG1478 and/or PI3K with Ly294002 were determined by colony formation assay, Western blot was used tomore » investigate the effects on downstream signaling. Flow cytometry was used for apoptosis and cell cycle analysis. Mice-bearing xenografts of MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells were also used to observe the radiosensitizing effect. Results: Simultaneous inhibition of EGFR and PI3K greatly enhanced radiosensitizing effect in MDA-MB-468 in terms of apoptosis and mitotic death, either inhibition of EGFR or PI3K alone could enhance radiosensitivity with a dose-modifying factor (DMF{sub SF2}) of 1.311 and 1.437, radiosensitizing effect was further enhanced by simultaneous inhibition of EGFR and PI3K with a DMF{sub SF2} at 2.698. DNA flow cytometric analysis indicated that dual inhibition combined with irradiation significantly induced G0/G1 phase arrest in MDA-MB-468 cells. The expression of phosphor-Akt and phosphor-Erk1/2 (induced by irradiation and PI3K inhibitor) were fully attenuated by simultaneous treatment with both inhibitors in combination with irradiation. In addition, dual inhibition combined with irradiation induced dramatic tumor growth delay in MDA-MB-468 xenografts. Conclusions: Our study indicated that simultaneous inhibition of EGFR and PI3K could further sensitize the cancer cells to irradiation compared to the single inhibitor with irradiation in vitro and in vivo. The approach may

  9. Simultaneous K-edge subtraction tomography for tracing strontium using parametric X-ray radiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hayakawa, Y.; Hayakawa, K.; Kaneda, T.; Nogami, K.; Sakae, T.; Sakai, T.; Sato, I.; Takahashi, Y.; Tanaka, T.

    2017-07-01

    The X-ray source based on parametric X-ray radiation (PXR) has been regularly providing a coherent X-ray beam for application studies at Nihon University. Recently, three dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) has become one of the most important applications of the PXR source. The methodology referred to as K-edge subtraction (KES) imaging is a particularly successful application utilizing the energy selectivity of PXR. In order to demonstrate the applicability of PXR-KES, a simultaneous KES experiment for a specimen containing strontium was performed using a PXR beam having an energy near the Sr K-edge of 16.1 keV. As a result, the 3D distribution of Sr was obtained by subtraction between the two simultaneously acquired tomographic images.

  10. The complex and quaternionic quantum bit from relativity of simultaneity on an interferometer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Garner, Andrew J. P.; Müller, Markus P.; Dahlsten, Oscar C. O.

    2017-12-01

    The patterns of fringes produced by an interferometer have long been important testbeds for our best contemporary theories of physics. Historically, interference has been used to contrast quantum mechanics with classical physics, but recently experiments have been performed that test quantum theory against even more exotic alternatives. A physically motivated family of theories are those where the state space of a two-level system is given by a sphere of arbitrary dimension. This includes classical bits, and real, complex and quaternionic quantum theory. In this paper, we consider relativity of simultaneity (i.e. that observers may disagree about the order of events at different locations) as applied to a two-armed interferometer, and show that this forbids most interference phenomena more complicated than those of complex quantum theory. If interference must depend on some relational property of the setting (such as path difference), then relativity of simultaneity will limit state spaces to standard complex quantum theory, or a subspace thereof. If this relational assumption is relaxed, we find one additional theory compatible with relativity of simultaneity: quaternionic quantum theory. Our results have consequences for current laboratory interference experiments: they have to be designed carefully to avoid rendering beyond-quantum effects invisible by relativity of simultaneity.

  11. The complex and quaternionic quantum bit from relativity of simultaneity on an interferometer.

    PubMed

    Garner, Andrew J P; Müller, Markus P; Dahlsten, Oscar C O

    2017-12-01

    The patterns of fringes produced by an interferometer have long been important testbeds for our best contemporary theories of physics. Historically, interference has been used to contrast quantum mechanics with classical physics, but recently experiments have been performed that test quantum theory against even more exotic alternatives. A physically motivated family of theories are those where the state space of a two-level system is given by a sphere of arbitrary dimension. This includes classical bits, and real, complex and quaternionic quantum theory. In this paper, we consider relativity of simultaneity (i.e. that observers may disagree about the order of events at different locations) as applied to a two-armed interferometer, and show that this forbids most interference phenomena more complicated than those of complex quantum theory. If interference must depend on some relational property of the setting (such as path difference), then relativity of simultaneity will limit state spaces to standard complex quantum theory, or a subspace thereof. If this relational assumption is relaxed, we find one additional theory compatible with relativity of simultaneity: quaternionic quantum theory. Our results have consequences for current laboratory interference experiments: they have to be designed carefully to avoid rendering beyond-quantum effects invisible by relativity of simultaneity.

  12. An experimental setup for the simultaneous measurement of thermoelectric power of two samples from 77 K to 500 K.

    PubMed

    Tripathi, T S; Bala, M; Asokan, K

    2014-08-01

    We report on an experimental setup for the simultaneous measurement of the thermoelectric power (TEP) of two samples in the temperature range from 77 K to 500 K using optimum electronic instruments. The setup consists of two rectangular copper bars in a bridge arrangement for sample mounting, two surface mount (SM) chip resistors for creating alternate temperature gradient, and a type E thermocouple in differential geometry for gradient temperature (ΔT) measurement across the samples. In addition, a diode arrangement has been made for the alternate heating of SM resistors using only one DC current source. The measurement accuracy of ΔT increases with the differential thermocouple arrangement. For the calibration of the setup, measurements of TEP on a high purity (99.99%) platinum wire and type K thermocouple wires Chromel and Alumel have been performed from 77 K to 500 K with respect to copper lead wires. Additionally, this setup can be utilized to calibrate an unknown sample against a sample of known absolute TEP.

  13. Simultaneous Rheoelectric Measurements of Strongly Conductive Complex Fluids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Helal, Ahmed; Divoux, Thibaut; McKinley, Gareth H.

    2016-12-01

    We introduce an modular fixture designed for stress-controlled rheometers to perform simultaneous rheological and electrical measurements on strongly conductive complex fluids under shear. By means of a nontoxic liquid metal at room temperature, the electrical connection to the rotating shaft is completed with minimal additional mechanical friction, allowing for simultaneous stress measurements at values as low as 1 Pa. Motivated by applications such as flow batteries, we use the capabilities of this design to perform an extensive set of rheoelectric experiments on gels formulated from attractive carbon-black particles, at concentrations ranging from 4 to 15 wt %. First, experiments on gels at rest prepared with different shear histories show a robust power-law scaling between the elastic modulus G0' and the conductivity σ0 of the gels—i.e., G0'˜σ0α, with α =1.65 ±0.04 , regardless of the gel concentration. Second, we report conductivity measurements performed simultaneously with creep experiments. Changes in conductivity in the early stage of the experiments, also known as the Andrade-creep regime, reveal for the first time that plastic events take place in the bulk, while the shear rate γ ˙ decreases as a weak power law of time. The subsequent evolution of the conductivity and the shear rate allows us to propose a local yielding scenario that is in agreement with previous velocimetry measurements. Finally, to establish a set of benchmark data, we determine the constitutive rheological and electrical behavior of carbon-black gels. Corrections first introduced for mechanical measurements regarding shear inhomogeneity and wall slip are carefully extended to electrical measurements to accurately distinguish between bulk and surface contributions to the conductivity. As an illustrative example, we examine the constitutive rheoelectric properties of five different grades of carbon-black gels and we demonstrate the relevance of this rheoelectric apparatus as a

  14. An experimental setup for the simultaneous measurement of thermoelectric power of two samples from 77 K to 500 K

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tripathi, T. S.; Bala, M.; Asokan, K.

    2014-08-01

    We report on an experimental setup for the simultaneous measurement of the thermoelectric power (TEP) of two samples in the temperature range from 77 K to 500 K using optimum electronic instruments. The setup consists of two rectangular copper bars in a bridge arrangement for sample mounting, two surface mount (SM) chip resistors for creating alternate temperature gradient, and a type E thermocouple in differential geometry for gradient temperature (ΔT) measurement across the samples. In addition, a diode arrangement has been made for the alternate heating of SM resistors using only one DC current source. The measurement accuracy of ΔTmore » increases with the differential thermocouple arrangement. For the calibration of the setup, measurements of TEP on a high purity (99.99%) platinum wire and type K thermocouple wires Chromel and Alumel have been performed from 77 K to 500 K with respect to copper lead wires. Additionally, this setup can be utilized to calibrate an unknown sample against a sample of known absolute TEP.« less

  15. Redox-switched complexation/decomplexation of K(+) and Cs(+) by molecular cyanometalate boxes.

    PubMed

    Boyer, Julie L; Ramesh, Maya; Yao, Haijun; Rauchfuss, Thomas B; Wilson, Scott R

    2007-02-21

    The reaction of [N(PPh(3))(2)][CpCo(CN)(3)] and [Cb*Co(NCMe)(3)]PF(6) (Cb* = C(4)Me(4)) in the presence of K(+) afforded {K subset[CpCo(CN)(3)](4)[Cb*Co](4)}PF(6), [KCo(8)]PF(6). IR, NMR, ESI-MS indicate that [KCo(8)]PF(6) is a high-symmetry molecular box containing a potassium ion at its interior. The analogous heterometallic cage {K subset[Cp*Rh(CN)(3)](4)[Cb*Co](4)}PF(6) ([KRh(4)Co(4)]PF(6)) was prepared similarly via the condensation of K[Cp*Rh(CN)(3)] and [Cb*Co(NCMe)(3)]PF(6). Crystallographic analysis confirmed the structure of [KCo(8)]PF(6). The cyanide ligands are ordered, implying that no Co-CN bonds are broken upon cage formation and ion complexation. Eight Co-CN-Co edges of the box bow inward toward the encapsulated K(+), and the remaining four mu-CN ligands bow outward. MeCN solutions of [KCo(8)](+) and [KRh(4)Co(4)](+) were found to undergo ion exchange with Cs(+) to give [CsCo(8)](+) and [CsRh(4)Co(4)](+), both in quantitative yields. Labeling experiments involving [(MeC5H4)Co(CN)(3)]- demonstrated that Cs(+)-for-K(+) ion exchange is accompanied by significant fragmentation. Ion exchange of NH(4+) with [KCo(8)](+) proceeds to completion in THF solution, but in MeCN solution, the exclusive products were [Cb*Co(NCMe)(3)]PF(6) and the poorly soluble salt NH(4)CpCo(CN)(3). The lability of the NH(4+)-containing cage was also indicated by the rapid exchange of the acidic protons in [NH(4)Co(8)](+). Oxidation of [MCo(8)](+) with 4 equiv of FcPF(6) produced paramagnetic (S = 4/2) [Co(8)](4+), releasing Cs(+) or K(+). The oxidation-induced dissociation of M(+) from the cages is chemically reversed by treatment of [Co(8)](4+) and CsOTf with 4 equiv of Cp(2)Co. Cation recognition by [Co(8)] and [Rh(4)Co(4)] cages was investigated. Electrochemical measurements indicated that E(1/2)(Cs(+))--E(1/2)(K(+)) approximately 0.08 V for [MCo(8)](+).

  16. Simultaneous and Successive Processes and K-ABC.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Das, J. P.

    1984-01-01

    The article mentions six basic statements about sequential and simultaneous processes which are derived from A. Luria's clinical research. The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children is then judged in terms of these statements. Suggestions for constructing tests which will entail planning as well as simultaneous and successive measures are…

  17. Novel application of simultaneous multi-image display during complex robotic abdominal procedures

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Background The surgical robot offers the potential to integrate multiple views into the surgical console screen, and for the assistant’s monitors to provide real-time views of both fields of operation. This function has the potential to increase patient safety and surgical efficiency during an operation. Herein, we present a novel application of the multi-image display system for simultaneous visualization of endoscopic views during various complex robotic gastrointestinal operations. All operations were performed using the da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) with the assistance of Tilepro, multi-input display software, during employment of the intraoperative scopes. Three robotic operations, left hepatectomy with intraoperative common bile duct exploration, low anterior resection, and radical distal subtotal gastrectomy with intracorporeal gastrojejunostomy, were performed by three different surgeons at a tertiary academic medical center. Results The three complex robotic abdominal operations were successfully completed without difficulty or intraoperative complications. The use of the Tilepro to simultaneously visualize the images from the colonoscope, gastroscope, and choledochoscope made it possible to perform additional intraoperative endoscopic procedures without extra monitors or interference with the operations. Conclusion We present a novel use of the multi-input display program on the da Vinci Surgical System to facilitate the performance of intraoperative endoscopies during complex robotic operations. Our study offers another potentially beneficial application of the robotic surgery platform toward integration and simplification of combining additional procedures with complex minimally invasive operations. PMID:24628761

  18. Extracting Communities from Complex Networks by the k-Dense Method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saito, Kazumi; Yamada, Takeshi; Kazama, Kazuhiro

    To understand the structural and functional properties of large-scale complex networks, it is crucial to efficiently extract a set of cohesive subnetworks as communities. There have been proposed several such community extraction methods in the literature, including the classical k-core decomposition method and, more recently, the k-clique based community extraction method. The k-core method, although computationally efficient, is often not powerful enough for uncovering a detailed community structure and it produces only coarse-grained and loosely connected communities. The k-clique method, on the other hand, can extract fine-grained and tightly connected communities but requires a substantial amount of computational load for large-scale complex networks. In this paper, we present a new notion of a subnetwork called k-dense, and propose an efficient algorithm for extracting k-dense communities. We applied our method to the three different types of networks assembled from real data, namely, from blog trackbacks, word associations and Wikipedia references, and demonstrated that the k-dense method could extract communities almost as efficiently as the k-core method, while the qualities of the extracted communities are comparable to those obtained by the k-clique method.

  19. Implementation of a SPR immunosensor for the simultaneous detection of the 22K and 20K hGH isoforms in human serum samples.

    PubMed

    de Juan-Franco, Elena; Rodríguez-Frade, J M; Mellado, M; Lechuga, Laura M

    2013-09-30

    We have implemented a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) immunosensor based on a sandwich assay for the simultaneous detection of the two main hGH isoforms, of 22 kDa (22K) and 20 kDa (20K). An oriented-antibody sensor surface specific for both hormone isoforms was assembled by using the biotin-streptavidin system. The immunosensor functionality was checked for the direct detection of the 22K hGH isoform in buffer, which gave high specificity and reproducibility (intra and inter-assay mean coefficients of variation of 8.23% and 9% respectively). The selective determination of the 22K and 20K hGH isoforms in human serum samples in a single assay was possible by using two specific anti-hGH monoclonal antibodies. The detection limit for both hormone isoforms was 0.9 ng mL(-1) and the mean coefficient of variation was below 7.2%. The excellent reproducibility and sensitivity obtained indicate the high performance of this immunosensor for implementing an anti-doping test. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. An intra-K-complex oscillation with independent and labile frequency and topography in NREM sleep

    PubMed Central

    Kokkinos, Vasileios; Koupparis, Andreas M.; Kostopoulos, George K.

    2013-01-01

    NREM sleep is characterized by K-complexes (KCs), over the negative phase of which we identified brief activity in the theta range. We recorded high resolution EEG of whole-night sleep from seven healthy volunteers and visually identified 2nd and 3rd stage NREM spontaneous KCs. We identified three major categories: (1) KCs without intra-KC-activity (iKCa), (2) KCs with non-oscillatory iKCa, and (3) KCs with oscillatory iKCa. The latter group of KCs with intra-KC-oscillation (iKCo), was clustered according to the duration of the iKCo. iKCa was observed in most KCs (1150/1522, 75%). iKCos with 2, 3, and 4 waves were observed in 52% (786/1522) of KCs in respective rates of 49% (386/786), 44%, and 7%. Successive waves of iKCos showed on average a shift of their maximal amplitude in the anterio-posterior axis, while the average amplitude of the slow KC showed no spatial shift in time. The iKCo spatial shift was accompanied by transient increases in instantaneous frequency from the theta band toward the alpha band, followed by decreases to upper theta. The study shows that the KC is most often concurrently accompanied by an independent brief iKCo exhibiting topographical relocation of amplitude maxima with every consecutive peak and transient increases in frequency. The iKCo features are potentially reflecting arousing processes taking place during the KC. PMID:23637656

  1. Na/K-ATPase/src complex mediates regulation of CD40 in renal parenchyma.

    PubMed

    Xie, Jeffrey X; Zhang, Shungang; Cui, Xiaoyu; Zhang, Jue; Yu, Hui; Khalaf, Fatimah K; Malhotra, Deepak; Kennedy, David J; Shapiro, Joseph I; Tian, Jiang; Haller, Steven T

    2017-12-22

    Recent studies have highlighted a critical role for CD40 in the pathogenesis of renal injury and fibrosis. However, little is currently understood about the regulation of CD40 in this setting. We use novel Na/K-ATPase cell lines and inhibitors in order to demonstrate the regulatory function of Na/K-ATPase with regards to CD40 expression and function. We utilize 5/6 partial nephrectomy as well as direct infusion of a Na/K-ATPase ligand to demonstrate this mechanism exists in vivo. We demonstrate that knockdown of the α1 isoform of Na/K-ATPase causes a reduction in CD40 while rescue of the α1 but not the α2 isoform restores CD40 expression in renal epithelial cells. Second, because the major functional difference between α1 and α2 is the ability of α1 to form a functional signaling complex with Src, we examined whether the Na/K-ATPase/Src complex is important for CD40 expression. We show that a gain-of-Src binding α2 mutant restores CD40 expression while loss-of-Src binding α1 reduces CD40 expression. Furthermore, loss of a functional Na/K-ATPase/Src complex also disrupts CD40 signaling. Importantly, we show that use of a specific Na/K-ATPase/Src complex antagonist, pNaKtide, can attenuate cardiotonic steroid (CTS)-induced induction of CD40 expression in vitro. Because the Na/K-ATPase/Src complex is also a key player in the pathogenesis of renal injury and fibrosis, our new findings suggest that Na/K-ATPase and CD40 may comprise a pro-fibrotic feed-forward loop in the kidney and that pharmacological inhibition of this loop may be useful in the treatment of renal fibrosis. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of ERA-EDTA. All rights reserved.

  2. Complex Formed between Intramembrane Metalloprotease SpoIVFB and Its Substrate, Pro-σK*

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Yang; Halder, Sabyasachi; Kerr, Richard A.; Parrell, Daniel; Ruotolo, Brandon; Kroos, Lee

    2016-01-01

    Intramembrane metalloproteases (IMMPs) are conserved from bacteria to humans and control many important signaling pathways, but little is known about how IMMPs interact with their substrates. SpoIVFB is an IMMP that cleaves Pro-σK during Bacillus subtilis endospore formation. When catalytically inactive SpoIVFB was coexpressed with C-terminally truncated Pro-σK(1–126) (which can be cleaved by active SpoIVFB) in Escherichia coli, the substrate dramatically improved solubilization of the enzyme from membranes with mild detergents. Both the Pro(1–20) and σK(21–126) parts contributed to improving SpoIVFB solubilization from membranes, but only the σK part was needed to form a stable complex with SpoIVFB in a pulldown assay. The last 10 residues of SpoIVFB were required for improved solubilization from membranes by Pro-σK(1–126) and for normal interaction with the substrate. The inactive SpoIVFB·Pro-σK(1–126)-His6 complex was stable during affinity purification and gel filtration chromatography. Disulfide cross-linking of the purified complex indicated that it resembled the complex formed in vivo. Ion mobility-mass spectrometry analysis resulted in an observed mass consistent with a 4:2 SpoIVFB·Pro-σK(1–126)-His6 complex. Stepwise photobleaching of SpoIVFB fused to a fluorescent protein supported the notion that the enzyme is tetrameric during B. subtilis sporulation. The results provide the first evidence that an IMMP acts as a tetramer, give new insights into how SpoIVFB interacts with its substrate, and lay the foundation for further biochemical analysis of the enzyme·substrate complex and future structural studies. PMID:26953342

  3. Enhanced photoelectrocatalytic decomposition of copper cyanide complexes and simultaneous recovery of copper with a Bi2MoO6 electrode under visible light by EDTA/K4P2O7.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Xu; Zhang, Juanjuan; Qiao, Meng; Liu, Huijuan; Qu, Jiuhui

    2015-04-07

    Simultaneous photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) oxidation of cyanides and recovery of copper in a PEC reactor with a Bi(2)MoO(6) photoanode was investigated at alkaline conditions under visible light irradiation. The surface variation of the Bi(2)MoO(6) photoanode and titanium cathode was characterized. The Cu mass distribution onto the anode, in the solution, and onto the cathode was fully investigated. In the individual PEC oxidation of copper cyanides, the formation of a black copper oxide on the anode occurred. By keeping the initial cyanide concentration at 0.01 mM, the effect of EDTA/K(4)P(2)O(7) was examined at different molar ratios of EDTA/K(4)P(2)O(7) to cyanide. It was indicated that the oxidation of cyanides increased and simultaneous copper electrodeposition with zero value onto the cathode was feasible at pH 11. Under the optimal conditions, the total cyanide concentration was lowered from 250 to 5.0 mg/L, and the Cu recovery efficiency deposited onto the cathode was higher than 90%. Cyanate was the only product. The role of the photogenerated hole in the oxidation of cyanide ions was confirmed.

  4. Solution Structure of the 128 kDa Enzyme I Dimer from Escherichia coli and Its 146 kDa Complex with HPr Using Residual Dipolar Couplings and Small- and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Schwieters, Charles D.; Suh, Jeong-Yong; Grishaev, Alexander

    2010-09-17

    The solution structures of free Enzyme I (EI, {approx}128 kDa, 575 x 2 residues), the first enzyme in the bacterial phosphotransferase system, and its complex with HPr ({approx}146 kDa) have been solved using novel methodology that makes use of prior structural knowledge (namely, the structures of the dimeric EIC domain and the isolated EIN domain both free and complexed to HPr), combined with residual dipolar coupling (RDC), small- (SAXS) and wide- (WAXS) angle X-ray scattering and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) data. The calculational strategy employs conjoined rigid body/torsion/Cartesian simulated annealing, and incorporates improvements in calculating and refining against SAXS/WAXS datamore » that take into account complex molecular shapes in the description of the solvent layer resulting in a better representation of the SAXS/WAXS data. The RDC data orient the symmetrically related EIN domains relative to the C{sub 2} symmetry axis of the EIC dimer, while translational, shape, and size information is provided by SAXS/WAXS. The resulting structures are independently validated by SANS. Comparison of the structures of the free EI and the EI-HPr complex with that of the crystal structure of a trapped phosphorylated EI intermediate reveals large ({approx}70-90{sup o}) hinge body rotations of the two subdomains comprising the EIN domain, as well as of the EIN domain relative to the dimeric EIC domain. These large-scale interdomain motions shed light on the structural transitions that accompany the catalytic cycle of EI.« less

  5. Synthesis and Deprotonation of Aminophosphane Complexes: First K/N(H)R Phosphinidenoid Complexes and Access to a Complex with a P2 N-Ring Ligand.

    PubMed

    Majhi, Paresh Kumar; Kyri, Andreas Wolfgang; Schmer, Alexander; Schnakenburg, Gregor; Streubel, Rainer

    2016-10-17

    Synthesis of 1,1'-bifunctional aminophosphane complexes 3 a-e was achieved by the reaction of Li/Cl phosphinidenoid complex 2 with various primary amines (R=Me, iPr, tBu, Cy, Ph). Deprotonation of complex 3 a (R=Me) with potassium hexamethyldisilazide yielded a mixture of K/NHMe phosphinidenoid complex 4 a and potassium phosphanylamido complex 4 a'. Treatment of complex 3 c (R=tBu) and e (R=Ph) with KHMDS afforded the first examples of K/NHR phosphinidenoid complexes 4 c and e. The reaction of complex 3 c with 2 molar equivalents of KHMDS followed by PhPCl 2 afforded complexes 5 c,c', which possess a P 2 N-ring ligand. All complexes were characterized by NMR, IR, MS, and microanalysis, and additionally, complexes 3 b-e and 5 c' were scrutinized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. © 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  6. β4-Integrin/PI3K Signaling Promotes Tumor Progression through the Galectin-3-N-Glycan Complex.

    PubMed

    Kariya, Yukiko; Oyama, Midori; Hashimoto, Yasuhiro; Gu, Jianguo; Kariya, Yoshinobu

    2018-06-01

    Malignant transformation is associated with aberrant N -glycosylation, but the role of protein N -glycosylation in cancer progression remains poorly defined. β4-integrin is a major carrier of N -glycans and is associated with poor prognosis, tumorigenesis, and metastasis. Here, N -glycosylation of β4-integrin contributes to the activation of signaling pathways that promote β4-dependent tumor development and progression. Increased expression of β1,6GlcNAc-branched N -glycans was found to be colocalized with β4-integrin in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma tissues, and that the β1,6GlcNAc residue was abundant on β4-integrin in transformed keratinocytes. Interruption of β1,6GlcNAc-branching formation on β4-integrin with the introduction of bisecting GlcNAc by N -acetylglucosaminyltransferase III overexpression was correlated with suppression of cancer cell migration and tumorigenesis. N -Glycan deletion on β4-integrin impaired β4-dependent cancer cell migration, invasion, and growth in vitro and diminished tumorigenesis and proliferation in vivo The reduced abilities of β4-integrin were accompanied with decreased phosphoinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt signals and were restored by the overexpression of the constitutively active p110 PI3K subunit. Binding of galectin-3 to β4-integrin via β1,6GlcNAc-branched N -glycans promoted β4-integrin-mediated cancer cell adhesion and migration. In contrast, a neutralizing antibody against galectin-3 attenuated β4-integrin N -glycan-mediated PI3K activation and inhibited the ability of β4-integrin to promote cell motility. Furthermore, galectin-3 knockdown by shRNA suppressed β4-integrin N -glycan-mediated tumorigenesis. These findings provide a novel role for N -glycosylation of β4-integrin in tumor development and progression, and the regulatory mechanism for β4-integrin/PI3K signaling via the galectin-3- N -glycan complex. Implications: N -Glycosylation of β4-integrin plays a functional role in promoting

  7. Laparoscopic ureterolysis with simultaneous ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephroscopy for treating complex ureteral obstruction after failed endoscopic intervention: A technical report.

    PubMed

    Wang, Zhixiang; Liu, Bing; Gao, Xiaofeng; Bao, Yi; Wang, Yang; Ye, Huamao; Sun, Yinghao; Wang, Linhui

    2015-10-01

    Complex ureteral obstruction is refractory to conventional urological intervention. This report describes a case of laparoscopic ureterolysis with simultaneous ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephroscopy for treating complex ureteral obstruction. Right-side multiple ureteral stones and complicating ureteral obstruction failed an initial attempt of ureteroscopy lithotripsy with simultaneous percutaneous nephroscopy in a 23-year-old male. Laparoscopic ureterolysis with ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephroscopy was used simultaneously to dissect the periureteral adhesions with the patient placed in the Galdakao-modified supine Valdivia position. The ureter was incised to allow the insertion of a ureteral catheter through the twisted ureter, and a guide wire was advanced into the pelvis using ureteroscopy. A double-J stent was placed into the right-side ureter using antegrade percutaneous nephroscopy. The laparoendoscopic procedure lasted 330 min with an estimated bleeding volume of 100 mL. The patient underwent an uneventful postoperative course, and postoperative follow-up radiography confirmed good positioning of the double-J stent. The double-J stent was removed 3 months after operation. The patient remained asymptomatic within a 13-month follow-up period. Laparoscopic ureterolysis with simultaneous ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephroscopy is an effective and safe treatment option for complex ureteral obstruction.

  8. Use of the K-ABC with Children in Zaire, Africa: An Evaluation of the Sequential-Simultaneous Processing Distinction within an Intercultural Context.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Giordani, Bruno; And Others

    1996-01-01

    Evaluation of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) with 130 primary school children in Zaire revealed three findings: (1) the distinction between sequential processing and simultaneous processing was valid; (2) the K-ABC discriminated effectively among grade levels, health and family environment variables, and tribal membership; and…

  9. Heterobimetallic Pd–K carbene complexes via one-electron reductions of palladium radical carbenes

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Cui, Peng; Hoffbauer, Melissa R.; Vyushkova, Mariya

    2016-03-24

    Unprecedented sequential substitution/reduction synthetic strategy on the Pd radical carbenes afforded heterobimetallic Pd–K carbene complexes, which features novel Pd–C carbene–K structural moieties.

  10. Heterobimetallic Pd–K carbene complexes via one-electron reductions of palladium radical carbenes

    DOE PAGES

    Cui, Peng; Hoffbauer, Melissa R.; Vyushkova, Mariya; ...

    2016-01-01

    Unprecedented sequential substitution/reduction synthetic strategy on the Pd radical carbenes afforded heterobimetallic Pd–K carbene complexes, which features novel Pd–C carbene–K structural moieties.

  11. Ca K-Edge XAS as a Probe of Calcium Centers in Complex Systems

    DOE PAGES

    Martin-Diaconescu, Vlad; Gennari, Marcello; Gerey, Bertrand; ...

    2014-12-10

    Calcium K-edge pre-edges coupled with TD-DFT theoretical calculation of spectra provide a powerful approach for the characterization of complex calcium centers in inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry. Herein, Ca K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is developed as a means to characterize the local environment of calcium centers. The spectra for six, seven, and eight coordinate inorganic and molecular calcium complexes were analyzed and determined to be primarily influenced by the coordination environment and site symmetry at the calcium center. The experimental results are closely correlated to time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations of the XAS spectra. The applicability of this methodologymore » to complex systems was investigated using structural mimics of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of PSII. It was found that Ca K-edge XAS is a sensitive probe for structural changes occurring in the cubane heterometallic cluster due to Mn oxidation. Future applications to the OEC are discussed.« less

  12. Parameterized Complexity of k-Anonymity: Hardness and Tractability

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bonizzoni, Paola; Della Vedova, Gianluca; Dondi, Riccardo; Pirola, Yuri

    The problem of publishing personal data without giving up privacy is becoming increasingly important. A precise formalization that has been recently proposed is the k-anonymity, where the rows of a table are partitioned in clusters of size at least k and all rows in a cluster become the same tuple after the suppression of some entries. The natural optimization problem, where the goal is to minimize the number of suppressed entries, is hard even when the stored values are over a binary alphabet or the table consists of a bounded number of columns. In this paper we study how the complexity of the problem is influenced by different parameters. First we show that the problem is W[1]-hard when parameterized by the value of the solution (and k). Then we exhibit a fixed-parameter algorithm when the problem is parameterized by the number of columns and the number of different values in any column.

  13. The first naphthosemiquinone complex of K+ with vitamin K3 analog: Experiment and density functional theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kathawate, Laxmi; Gejji, Shridhar P.; Yeole, Sachin D.; Verma, Prakash L.; Puranik, Vedavati G.; Salunke-Gawali, Sunita

    2015-05-01

    Synthesis and characterization of potassium complex of 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (phthiocol), the vitamin K3 analog, has been carried out using FT-IR, UV-Vis, 1H and 13C NMR, EPR, cyclic voltammetry and single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments combined with the density functional theory. It has been observed that naphthosemiquinone binds to two K+ ions extending the polymeric chain through bridging oxygens O(2) and O(3). The crystal network possesses hydrogen bonding interactions from coordinated water molecules showing water channels along the c-axis. 13C NMR spectra revealed that the complexation of phthiocol with potassium ion engenders deshielding of C(2) signals, which appear at δ = ∼14.6 ppm whereas those of C(3) exhibit up-field signals near δ ∼ 6.9 ppm. These inferences are supported by the M06-2x based density functional theory. Electrochemical experiments further suggest that reduction of naphthosemiquinone results in only a cathodic peak from catechol. A triplet state arising from interactions between neighboring phthiocol anion lead to a half field signal at g = 4.1 in the polycrystalline X-band EPR spectra at 133 K.

  14. Mild Airflow Limitation during N2 Sleep Increases K-complex Frequency and Slows Electroencephalographic Activity

    PubMed Central

    Nguyen, Chinh D.; Wellman, Andrew; Jordan, Amy S.; Eckert, Danny J.

    2016-01-01

    Study Objectives: To determine the effects of mild airflow limitation on K-complex frequency and morphology and electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral power. Methods: Transient reductions in continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during stable N2 sleep were performed to induce mild airflow limitation in 20 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and 10 healthy controls aged 44 ± 13 y. EEG at C3 and airflow were measured in 1-min windows to quantify K-complex properties and EEG spectral power immediately before and during transient reductions in CPAP. The frequency and morphology (amplitude and latency of P200, N550 and N900 components) of K-complexes and EEG spectral power were compared between conditions. Results: During mild airflow limitation (18% reduction in peak inspiratory airflow from baseline, 0.38 ± 0.11 versus 0.31 ± 0.1 L/sec) insufficient to cause American Academy of Sleep Medicine-defined cortical arousal, K-complex frequency (9.5 ± 4.5 versus 13.7 ± 6.4 per min, P < 0.01), N550 amplitude (25 ± 3 versus 27 ± 3 μV, P < 0.01) and EEG spectral power (delta: 147 ± 48 versus 230 ± 99 μV2, P < 0.01 and theta bands: 31 ± 14 versus 34 ± 13 μV2, P < 0.01) significantly increased whereas beta band power decreased (14 ± 5 versus 11 ± 4 μV2, P < 0.01) compared to the preceding non flow-limited period on CPAP. K-complex frequency, morphology, and timing did not differ between patients and controls. Conclusion: Mild airflow limitation increases K-complex frequency, N550 amplitude, and spectral power of delta and theta bands. In addition to providing mechanistic insight into the role of mild airflow limitation on K-complex characteristics and EEG activity, these findings may have important implications for respiratory conditions in which airflow limitation during sleep is common (e.g., snoring and OSA). Citation: Nguyen CD, Wellman A, Jordan AS, Eckert DJ. Mild airflow limitation during N2 sleep increases k-complex frequency and slows

  15. [Partitioning of taxifolin-iron ions complexes in octanol-water system].

    PubMed

    Shatalin, Iu V; Shubina, V S

    2014-01-01

    The composition of taxifolin-iron ions complexes in an octanol-water biphasic system was studied using the method of absorption spectrophotometry. It was found that at pH 5.0 in an aqueous biphasic system the complex of [Tf2 x Fe x (OH)k(H2O)8-k] is present, but at pH 7.0 and 9.0 the complexes of [Tf2 x Fe x (OH)k(H2O)2-k] and [Tf x Fe x OH)k(H2O)4-k] are predominantly observed. The formation of a stable [Tf3 x Fe] complex occurred in octanol phase. The charged iron ion of this complex is surrounded by taxifolin molecules, which shield the iron ion from lipophilic solvent. During transition from water to octanol phase the changes of the composition of complexes are accompanied by reciprocal changes in portion of taxifolin and iron ions in these phases. It was shown that the portion of taxifolin in aqueous solution in the presence of iron ions is increased at high pH values, and the portion of iron ions is minimal at pH 7.0. In addition, the parameters of solubility limits of taxifolin-iron ions complexes in an aqueous solution were determined. The data obtained gain a better understanding of the role of complexation of polyphenol with metal of variable valency in passive transport of flavonoids and metal ions across lipid membranes.

  16. On the Hodge-type decomposition and cohomology groups of k-Cauchy-Fueter complexes over domains in the quaternionic space

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chang, Der-Chen; Markina, Irina; Wang, Wei

    2016-09-01

    The k-Cauchy-Fueter operator D0(k) on one dimensional quaternionic space H is the Euclidean version of spin k / 2 massless field operator on the Minkowski space in physics. The k-Cauchy-Fueter equation for k ≥ 2 is overdetermined and its compatibility condition is given by the k-Cauchy-Fueter complex. In quaternionic analysis, these complexes play the role of Dolbeault complex in several complex variables. We prove that a natural boundary value problem associated to this complex is regular. Then by using the theory of regular boundary value problems, we show the Hodge-type orthogonal decomposition, and the fact that the non-homogeneous k-Cauchy-Fueter equation D0(k) u = f on a smooth domain Ω in H is solvable if and only if f satisfies the compatibility condition and is orthogonal to the set ℋ(k)1 (Ω) of Hodge-type elements. This set is isomorphic to the first cohomology group of the k-Cauchy-Fueter complex over Ω, which is finite dimensional, while the second cohomology group is always trivial.

  17. Selenoprotein K Binds Multiprotein Complexes and Is Involved in the Regulation of Endoplasmic Reticulum Homeostasis*

    PubMed Central

    Shchedrina, Valentina A.; Everley, Robert A.; Zhang, Yan; Gygi, Steven P.; Hatfield, Dolph L.; Gladyshev, Vadim N.

    2011-01-01

    Selenoprotein K (SelK) is an 11-kDa endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein of unknown function. Herein, we defined a new eukaryotic protein family that includes SelK, selenoprotein S (SelS), and distantly related proteins. Comparative genomics analyses indicate that this family is the most widespread eukaryotic selenoprotein family. A biochemical search for proteins that interact with SelK revealed ER-associated degradation (ERAD) components (p97 ATPase, Derlins, and SelS). In this complex, SelK showed higher affinity for Derlin-1, whereas SelS had higher affinity for Derlin-2, suggesting that these selenoproteins could determine the nature of the substrate translocated through the Derlin channel. SelK co-precipitated with soluble glycosylated ERAD substrates and was involved in their degradation. Its gene contained a functional ER stress response element, and its expression was up-regulated by conditions that induce the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER. Components of the oligosaccharyltransferase complex (ribophorins, OST48, and STT3A) and an ER chaperone, calnexin, were found to bind SelK. A glycosylated form of SelK was also detected, reflecting its association with the oligosaccharyltransferase complex. These data suggest that SelK is involved in the Derlin-dependent ERAD of glycosylated misfolded proteins and that the function defined by the prototypic SelK is the widespread function of selenium in eukaryotes. PMID:22016385

  18. A novel polydentate ligand chromophore for simultaneously colorimetric detection of trace Ag + and Fe3 +

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yan, Zhengquan; Zhao, Qi; Wen, Meijun; Hu, Lei; Zhang, Xuezhong; You, Jinmao

    2017-11-01

    A novel polydentate ligand chromophore, 3,6-di-(N-ethyl-N-ethoxyl phenylazo) acridine (EEPA), was identified and synthesized. After its structure was characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, mass spectra and element analyses, it was noted to find that there was a simultaneously colorimetric response to Ag+ and Fe3 + accompanying with different color changes, i.e., from brown to light purple for Ag+ and further to purple-red for Fe3 +, respectively. Their different action mechanisms, a 1:2 complex mode for EEPA-Ag+ and 1:1 for EEPA-Fe3 +, were investigated and confirmed by means of Job's plot and theoretical calculation. EEPA would be a potential colorimetric chemo-dosimeter for simultaneous detection of Ag+ and Fe3 + with the detection limits of 1.6 nmol·L- 1 and 69 nmol·L- 1, respectively.

  19. Low-K granophyres of the Stillwater Complex, Montana

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Czamanske, G.K.; Zientek, M.L.; Manning, C.E.

    1991-01-01

    Small bodies of granophyre occur as a volumetrically insignificant but ubiquitous component of the Banded series of the Stillwater Complex. White to pink granophyre typically occurs as veins, 1-12cm thick and as much as 100m long. A geochemically similar body of coalescing alaskite dikes, associated with an occurrence of Pt-group elements in the Banded series of the complex, crops out approximately 2km south-southeast of Picket Pin Mountain over an area 130 by 210m. Considering host rocks and chemistry, these rocks are comparable to the most siliceous examples of oceanic plagiogranite. The Stillwater granophyres, however, are enriched in Si, Th, U, and LREEs, and depleted in K, Fe, and Eu, relative to oceanic granophyres. -from Authors

  20. Mild Airflow Limitation during N2 Sleep Increases K-complex Frequency and Slows Electroencephalographic Activity.

    PubMed

    Nguyen, Chinh D; Wellman, Andrew; Jordan, Amy S; Eckert, Danny J

    2016-03-01

    To determine the effects of mild airflow limitation on K-complex frequency and morphology and electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral power. Transient reductions in continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during stable N2 sleep were performed to induce mild airflow limitation in 20 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and 10 healthy controls aged 44 ± 13 y. EEG at C3 and airflow were measured in 1-min windows to quantify K-complex properties and EEG spectral power immediately before and during transient reductions in CPAP. The frequency and morphology (amplitude and latency of P200, N550 and N900 components) of K-complexes and EEG spectral power were compared between conditions. During mild airflow limitation (18% reduction in peak inspiratory airflow from baseline, 0.38 ± 0.11 versus 0.31 ± 0.1 L/sec) insufficient to cause American Academy of Sleep Medicine-defined cortical arousal, K-complex frequency (9.5 ± 4.5 versus 13.7 ± 6.4 per min, P < 0.01), N550 amplitude (25 ± 3 versus 27 ± 3 μV, P < 0.01) and EEG spectral power (delta: 147 ± 48 versus 230 ± 99 μV(2), P < 0.01 and theta bands: 31 ± 14 versus 34 ± 13 μV(2), P < 0.01) significantly increased whereas beta band power decreased (14 ± 5 versus 11 ± 4 μV(2), P < 0.01) compared to the preceding non flow-limited period on CPAP. K-complex frequency, morphology, and timing did not differ between patients and controls. Mild airflow limitation increases K-complex frequency, N550 amplitude, and spectral power of delta and theta bands. In addition to providing mechanistic insight into the role of mild airflow limitation on K-complex characteristics and EEG activity, these findings may have important implications for respiratory conditions in which airflow limitation during sleep is common (e.g., snoring and OSA). © 2016 Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC.

  1. Activation of the DnaK-ClpB Complex is Regulated by the Properties of the Bound Substrate.

    PubMed

    Fernández-Higuero, Jose Angel; Aguado, Alejandra; Perales-Calvo, Judit; Moro, Fernando; Muga, Arturo

    2018-04-11

    The chaperone ClpB in bacteria is responsible for the reactivation of aggregated proteins in collaboration with the DnaK system. Association of these chaperones at the aggregate surface stimulates ATP hydrolysis, which mediates substrate remodeling. However, a question that remains unanswered is whether the bichaperone complex can be selectively activated by substrates that require remodeling. We find that large aggregates or bulky, native-like substrates activates the complex, whereas a smaller, permanently unfolded protein or extended, short peptides fail to stimulate it. Our data also indicate that ClpB interacts differently with DnaK in the presence of aggregates or small peptides, displaying a higher affinity for aggregate-bound DnaK, and that DnaK-ClpB collaboration requires the coupled ATPase-dependent remodeling activities of both chaperones. Complex stimulation is mediated by residues at the β subdomain of DnaK substrate binding domain, which become accessible to the disaggregase when the lid is allosterically detached from the β subdomain. Complex activation also requires an active NBD2 and the integrity of the M domain-ring of ClpB. Disruption of the M-domain ring allows the unproductive stimulation of the DnaK-ClpB complex in solution. The ability of the DnaK-ClpB complex to discrimínate different substrate proteins might allow its activation when client proteins require remodeling.

  2. Simultaneous expression and transportation of insulin by supramolecular polysaccharide nanocluster

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Yu-Hui; Zhang, Ying-Ming; Zhao, Qi-Hui; Liu, Yu

    2016-03-01

    Drug/gene transportation systems with stimuli-responsive release behaviors are becoming research hotspots in biochemical and biomedical fields. In this work, a glucose-responsive supramolecular nanocluster was successfully constructed by the intermolecular complexation of phenylboronic acid modified β-cyclodextrin with adamantane modified polyethylenimine, which could be used as a biocompatible carrier for insulin and pCMV3-C-GFPSpark-Ins DNA which could express insulin co-delivery. Benefiting from the response capability of phenylboronic acid moiety toward glucose, the encapsulated insulin could be specifically released and the corresponding targeted DNA could efficiently express insulin in HepG2 cell, accompanied by the high-level insulin release in vitro. Our results demonstrate that the simultaneous insulin drug delivery and insulin gene transfection in a controlled mode may have great potential in the clinical diabetes treatments.

  3. Simultaneous lidar observation of peculiar sporadic K and Na layers at São José dos Campos (23.1°S, 45.9°W), Brazil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiao, Jing; Yang, Guotao; Cheng, Xuewu; Liu, Zhengkuan; Wang, Jihong; Yan, Zhenzhong; Wang, Chi; Batista, Paulo; Pimenta, Alexandre; Andrioli, Vânia; Denardini, C. M.

    2018-04-01

    We present the first simultaneous observation of mesopause sodium (Na) and potassium (K) layer by a lidar which has Na and K channel simultaneously at the South Hemisphere site, São José dos Campos (23.1°S, 45.9°W). Measurements reported here were conducted on two nights with 3.5 and 8 h of observations in November 2016. On 20 November 2016, sporadic layers in both Na and K layer occurred above 100 km, and the higher layers corresponded well with sporadic E (Es) layer. And the density of Na at 100-105 km is higher than that at main layer around 90 km, but K density around 100 km is at least 3 times smaller compared with the K density around 90 km for the similar period. On 21 November 2016, both sporadic layers occurred in main layer height with obvious descending variations with time, which seems like tidal induced. Notably, the peak K/Na ratio slowly increased with time. And Na layer and K layer showed different processes along with time with K density reaching its maximum 1 h later than that of Na. Correlations of Na/K density, Es, and winds were also discussed.

  4. Subtle spectral effects accompanying the assembly of bacteriochlorophylls into cyclic light harvesting complexes revealed by high-resolution fluorescence spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rätsep, Margus; Pajusalu, Mihkel; Linnanto, Juha Matti; Freiberg, Arvi

    2014-10-01

    We have observed that an assembly of the bacteriochloropyll a molecules into B850 and B875 groups of cyclic bacterial light-harvesting complexes LH2 and LH1, respectively, results an almost total loss of the intra-molecular vibronic structure in the fluorescence spectrum, and simultaneously, an essential enhancement of its phonon sideband due to electron-phonon coupling. While the suppression of the vibronic coupling in delocalized (excitonic) molecular systems is predictable, as also confirmed by our model calculations, a boost of the electron-phonon coupling is rather unexpected. The latter phenomenon is explained by exciton self-trapping, promoted by mixing the molecular exciton states with charge transfer states between the adjacent chromophores in the tightly packed B850 and B875 arrangements. Similar, although less dramatic trends were noted for the light-harvesting complexes containing chlorophyll pigments.

  5. The H,K-ATPase beta-subunit can act as a surrogate for the beta-subunit of Na,K-pumps.

    PubMed

    Horisberger, J D; Jaunin, P; Reuben, M A; Lasater, L S; Chow, D C; Forte, J G; Sachs, G; Rossier, B C; Geering, K

    1991-10-15

    Na,K-ATPase and H,K-ATPase are the only members of the P-type ATPases in which a glycosylated beta-subunit is part of the purified active enzyme. In this study, we have followed the synthesis and the posttranslational processing of the beta-subunit of H,K-ATPase (beta HK) in Xenopus oocytes injected with beta HK cRNA and have tested whether it can act as a surrogate for the beta-subunit of Na,K-ATPase (beta NaK) to support the functional expression of Na,K-pumps. In Xenopus oocytes, beta HK is processed from an Endo H-sensitive 51-kDa coreglycosylated form to an Endo H-resistant 71-kDa fully glycosylated form. Similar to beta NaK, beta HK can stabilize and increase the trypsin resistance of alpha-subunits of Na,K-ATPase (alpha NaK). Finally, expression of beta HK together with alpha NaK leads to an increased number of ouabain binding sites at the plasma membrane accompanied by an increased Rb+ uptake and Na,K-pump current. Our data suggest that beta HK, similar to beta NaK, can assemble to alpha NaK, support the structural maturation and the intracellular transport of catalytic alpha NaK, and ultimately form active alpha NaK-beta HK complexes with Na,K-pump transport properties.

  6. A fiducial detection algorithm for real-time image guided IMRT based on simultaneous MV and kV imaging

    PubMed Central

    Mao, Weihua; Riaz, Nadeem; Lee, Louis; Wiersma, Rodney; Xing, Lei

    2008-01-01

    The advantage of highly conformal dose techniques such as 3DCRT and IMRT is limited by intrafraction organ motion. A new approach to gain near real-time 3D positions of internally implanted fiducial markers is to analyze simultaneous onboard kV beam and treatment MV beam images (from fluoroscopic or electronic portal image devices). Before we can use this real-time image guidance for clinical 3DCRT and IMRT treatments, four outstanding issues need to be addressed. (1) How will fiducial motion blur the image and hinder tracking fiducials? kV and MV images are acquired while the tumor is moving at various speeds. We find that a fiducial can be successfully detected at a maximum linear speed of 1.6 cm∕s. (2) How does MV beam scattering affect kV imaging? We investigate this by varying MV field size and kV source to imager distance, and find that common treatment MV beams do not hinder fiducial detection in simultaneous kV images. (3) How can one detect fiducials on images from 3DCRT and IMRT treatment beams when the MV fields are modified by a multileaf collimator (MLC)? The presented analysis is capable of segmenting a MV field from the blocking MLC and detecting visible fiducials. This enables the calculation of nearly real-time 3D positions of markers during a real treatment. (4) Is the analysis fast enough to track fiducials in nearly real time? Multiple methods are adopted to predict marker positions and reduce search regions. The average detection time per frame for three markers in a 1024×768 image was reduced to 0.1 s or less. Solving these four issues paves the way to tracking moving fiducial markers throughout a 3DCRT or IMRT treatment. Altogether, these four studies demonstrate that our algorithm can track fiducials in real time, on degraded kV images (MV scatter), in rapidly moving tumors (fiducial blurring), and even provide useful information in the case when some fiducials are blocked from view by the MLC. This technique can provide a gating signal

  7. Evaluation of various processes for simultaneous complexation and granulation to incorporate drug-cyclodextrin complexes into solid dosage forms.

    PubMed

    Gyanani, Vijay; Siddalingappa, Basavaraj; Betageri, Guru V

    2015-01-01

    Insoluble drugs often formulated with various excipients to enhance the dissolution. Cyclodextrins (CDs) are widely used excipients to improve dissolution profile of poorly soluble drugs. Drug-CD complexation process is complex and often requires multiple processes to produce solid dosage form. Hence, this study explored commonly used granulation processes for simultaneous complexation and granulation. Poorly soluble drugs ibuprofen and glyburide were selected as experimental drugs. Co-evaporation of drug:CD mixture from a solvent followed by wet granulation with water was considered as standard process for comparison. Spray granulation and fluid bed processing (FBP) using drug:CD solution in ethanol were evaluated as an alternative processes. The dissolution data of glyburide tablets indicated that tablets produced by spray granulation, FBP and co-evaporation-granulation have almost identical dissolution profile in water and 0.1% SLS (>70% in water and >60% in SLS versus 30 and 34%, respectively for plain tablet, in 120 min). Similarly, ibuprofen:CD tablets produced by co-evaporation-granulation and FBP displayed similar dissolution profile in 0.01 M HCl (pH 2.0) and buffer pH 5.5 (>90 and 100% versus 44 and 80% respectively for plain tablets, 120 min). Results of this study demonstrated that spray granulation is simple and cost effective process for low dose poorly soluble drugs to incorporate drug:CD complex into solid dosage form, whereas FBP is suitable for poorly soluble drugs with moderate dose.

  8. Simultaneous breaking of lattice symmetry and spin frustration in triangular lattice antiferromagnet CuFeO2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ren, Y.; Ye, F.; Huang, Q.; Fernandez-Baca, J. A.; Dai, Pengcheng; Lynn, J. W.; Kimura, T.

    2006-03-01

    We use high resolution synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction to study the geometrically frustrated triangular lattice antiferromagnet (TLA) CuFeO2. We show that the occurrence of the two magnetic transitions, at 14 K and 11 K, respectively is accompanied simultaneously by a second-and first- order structural phase transitions from a hexagonal structure to a monoclinic form. This is the first observation of two successive spin-driven structural transitions directly coupled with incommensurate and commensurate magnetic orderings in frustrated TLA systems. This work is supported by the U. S. NSF DMR-0453804 and DOE Nos. DE-FG02-05ER46202 and DE-AC05-00OR22725 with UT/Battelle LLC. Use of the Advanced Photon Source was supported by the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Contract No. W-31-109-Eng-38.

  9. Development of a Hydrogen Uptake-Release Mg-Based Alloy by Adding a Polymer CMC (Carboxymethylcellulose, Sodium Salt) via Reaction-Accompanying Milling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kwak, Young Jun; Choi, Eunho; Song, Myoung Youp

    2018-03-01

    The addition of carboxymethylcellulose, sodium salt (CMC) might improve the hydrogen uptake and release properties of Mg since it has a relatively low melting point and the melting of CMC during milling in hydrogen (reaction-accompanying milling) may make the milled samples be in good states to absorb and release hydrogen rapidly and to have a large hydrogen-storage capacity. Samples with compositions of 95 w/o Mg + 5 w/o CMC (named Mg-5CMC) and 90 w/o Mg + 10 w/o CMC (named Mg-10CMC) were prepared by adding CMC via reaction-accompanying milling. Activation of Mg-10CMC was completed after about 3 hydrogen uptake-release cycles. Mg-10CMC had a higher initial hydrogen uptake rate and a larger amount of hydrogen absorbed in 60 min, U (60 min), than Mg-5CMC before and after activation. At the cycle number of three (CN = 3), Mg-10CMC had a very high initial hydrogen uptake rate (1.56 w/o H/min) and a large U (60 min) (5.57 w/o H) at 593 K in hydrogen of 12 bar, showing that the activated Mg-10CMC has an effective hydrogen-storage capacity of about 5.6 w/o at 593 K in hydrogen of 12 bar at CN = 3. At CN = 2, Mg-10CMC released 1.00 w/o H in 2.5 min, 4.67 w/o H in 10 min, and 4.76 w/o H in 60 min at 648 K in hydrogen of 1.0 bar. The milling in hydrogen of Mg with CMC is believed to generate imperfections and cracks and reduce the particle size. The addition of 10 w/o CMC was more effective on the initial hydrogen uptake rate and U (60 min) compared with the 10 w/o additions of NbF5, TaF5, Fe2O3, and MnO, and the 10 w/o simultaneous addition of Ni, Fe, and Ti. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first in which a polymer CMC is added to Mg by reaction-accompanying milling to improve the hydrogen storage properties of Mg.

  10. Simultaneous and Sequential MS/MS Scan Combinations and Permutations in a Linear Quadrupole Ion Trap.

    PubMed

    Snyder, Dalton T; Szalwinski, Lucas J; Cooks, R Graham

    2017-10-17

    Methods of performing precursor ion scans as well as neutral loss scans in a single linear quadrupole ion trap have recently been described. In this paper we report methodology for performing permutations of MS/MS scan modes, that is, ordered combinations of precursor, product, and neutral loss scans following a single ion injection event. Only particular permutations are allowed; the sequences demonstrated here are (1) multiple precursor ion scans, (2) precursor ion scans followed by a single neutral loss scan, (3) precursor ion scans followed by product ion scans, and (4) segmented neutral loss scans. (5) The common product ion scan can be performed earlier in these sequences, under certain conditions. Simultaneous scans can also be performed. These include multiple precursor ion scans, precursor ion scans with an accompanying neutral loss scan, and multiple neutral loss scans. We argue that the new capability to perform complex simultaneous and sequential MS n operations on single ion populations represents a significant step in increasing the selectivity of mass spectrometry.

  11. Simultaneous antegrade/retrograde upper urinary tract access: Bart's modified lateral position for complex upper tract endourologic pathologic features.

    PubMed

    Moraitis, Konstantinos; Philippou, Prodromos; El-Husseiny, Tamer; Wazait, Hassan; Masood, Junaid; Buchholz, Noor

    2012-02-01

    To determine whether the Bart's modified lateral position is safe and effective for achieving simultaneous anterograde and retrograde access in complex upper urinary tract pathologic features. From November 2006 to September 2010, 45 procedures were performed, with the patients in the modified lateral position. The indication for these procedures was the presence of complex unilateral upper urinary tract pathologic features. The patients with muscular and/or skeletal abnormalities were excluded. All procedures were performed using simultaneous anterograde and retrograde access with the patient under general anesthesia. The preoperative investigation protocol included assessment of the stone burden and location using enhanced abdominal computed tomography. The patients were routinely examined 6 weeks after the procedure with a combination of plain abdominal radiography and renal ultrasonography. For patients treated for conditions causing upper urinary tract obstruction (pelviureteral junction obstruction and/or ureteral strictures), a mercaptoacetyltriglycine renography was performed at 4, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. The mean patient age was 51.2 years (range 17-79). Stone clearance was achieved by a single combined procedure in 36 patients (80%). Successful recanalization was achieved in all patients with pelviureteral junction obstruction and ureteral strictures. In 4 patients (8.8%), persistent hematuria was noted, and 2 patients (4.4%) developed postoperative urinary sepsis and were treated conservatively. Modification to the lateral position compares equally with contemporary percutaneous nephrolithotomy series. It provides wide exposure of the flank, allowing the choice of multiple access sites, enhanced control, and a wide angle for handling of the antegrade instruments. Two surgeons can work simultaneously, addressing complex endourologic pathologic features in high-risk patients. Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  12. Rapid and simultaneous detection of ricin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B and saxitoxin by chemiluminescence-based microarray immunoassay.

    PubMed

    Szkola, A; Linares, E M; Worbs, S; Dorner, B G; Dietrich, R; Märtlbauer, E; Niessner, R; Seidel, M

    2014-11-21

    Simultaneous detection of small and large molecules on microarray immunoassays is a challenge that limits some applications in multiplex analysis. This is the case for biosecurity, where fast, cheap and reliable simultaneous detection of proteotoxins and small toxins is needed. Two highly relevant proteotoxins, ricin (60 kDa) and bacterial toxin staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB, 30 kDa) and the small phycotoxin saxitoxin (STX, 0.3 kDa) are potential biological warfare agents and require an analytical tool for simultaneous detection. Proteotoxins are successfully detected by sandwich immunoassays, whereas competitive immunoassays are more suitable for small toxins (<1 kDa). Based on this need, this work provides a novel and efficient solution based on anti-idiotypic antibodies for small molecules to combine both assay principles on one microarray. The biotoxin measurements are performed on a flow-through chemiluminescence microarray platform MCR3 in 18 minutes. The chemiluminescence signal was amplified by using a poly-horseradish peroxidase complex (polyHRP), resulting in low detection limits: 2.9 ± 3.1 μg L(-1) for ricin, 0.1 ± 0.1 μg L(-1) for SEB and 2.3 ± 1.7 μg L(-1) for STX. The developed multiplex system for the three biotoxins is completely novel, relevant in the context of biosecurity and establishes the basis for research on anti-idiotypic antibodies for microarray immunoassays.

  13. Prothrombin Complex Concentrate for Intracerebral Hemorrhage Secondary to Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding in a 6-Week-Old Child.

    PubMed

    Rech, Megan A; Wittekindt, Lindsay; Friedman, Samantha D; Kling, Kendall; Ubogy, David

    2015-12-01

    Four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate is approved for use of life-threatening bleeding secondary to vitamin K antagonism in adults. We describe the use of four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for hemostasis in a 6-week-old child with life-threatening vitamin K dependent-bleeding who never received vitamin K prophylaxis at birth. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. Molecular structure of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from Escherichia coli K-12.

    PubMed

    Vogel, O; Hoehn, B; Henning, U

    1972-06-01

    The pyruvate dehydrogenase core complex from E. coli K-12, defined as the multienzyme complex that can be obtained with a unique polypeptide chain composition, has a molecular weight of 3.75 x 10(6). All results obtained agree with the following numerology. The core complex consists of 48 polypeptide chains. There are 16 chains (molecular weight = 100,000) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component, 16 chains (molecular weight = 80,000) of the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase component, and 16 chains (molecular weight = 56,000) of the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase component. Usually, but not always, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is produced in vivo containing at least 2-3 mol more of dimers of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component than the stoichiometric ratio with respect to the core complex. This "excess" component is bound differently than are the eight dimers in the core complex.

  15. Molecular Structure of the Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex from Escherichia coli K-12

    PubMed Central

    Vogel, Otto; Hoehn, Barbara; Henning, Ulf

    1972-01-01

    The pyruvate dehydrogenase core complex from E. coli K-12, defined as the multienzyme complex that can be obtained with a unique polypeptide chain composition, has a molecular weight of 3.75 × 106. All results obtained agree with the following numerology. The core complex consists of 48 polypeptide chains. There are 16 chains (molecular weight = 100,000) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component, 16 chains (molecular weight = 80,000) of the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase component, and 16 chains (molecular weight = 56,000) of the dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase component. Usually, but not always, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is produced in vivo containing at least 2-3 mol more of dimers of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component than the stoichiometric ratio with respect to the core complex. This “excess” component is bound differently than are the eight dimers in the core complex. Images PMID:4556465

  16. Sleep spindle and K-complex detection using tunable Q-factor wavelet transform and morphological component analysis

    PubMed Central

    Lajnef, Tarek; Chaibi, Sahbi; Eichenlaub, Jean-Baptiste; Ruby, Perrine M.; Aguera, Pierre-Emmanuel; Samet, Mounir; Kachouri, Abdennaceur; Jerbi, Karim

    2015-01-01

    A novel framework for joint detection of sleep spindles and K-complex events, two hallmarks of sleep stage S2, is proposed. Sleep electroencephalography (EEG) signals are split into oscillatory (spindles) and transient (K-complex) components. This decomposition is conveniently achieved by applying morphological component analysis (MCA) to a sparse representation of EEG segments obtained by the recently introduced discrete tunable Q-factor wavelet transform (TQWT). Tuning the Q-factor provides a convenient and elegant tool to naturally decompose the signal into an oscillatory and a transient component. The actual detection step relies on thresholding (i) the transient component to reveal K-complexes and (ii) the time-frequency representation of the oscillatory component to identify sleep spindles. Optimal thresholds are derived from ROC-like curves (sensitivity vs. FDR) on training sets and the performance of the method is assessed on test data sets. We assessed the performance of our method using full-night sleep EEG data we collected from 14 participants. In comparison to visual scoring (Expert 1), the proposed method detected spindles with a sensitivity of 83.18% and false discovery rate (FDR) of 39%, while K-complexes were detected with a sensitivity of 81.57% and an FDR of 29.54%. Similar performances were obtained when using a second expert as benchmark. In addition, when the TQWT and MCA steps were excluded from the pipeline the detection sensitivities dropped down to 70% for spindles and to 76.97% for K-complexes, while the FDR rose up to 43.62 and 49.09%, respectively. Finally, we also evaluated the performance of the proposed method on a set of publicly available sleep EEG recordings. Overall, the results we obtained suggest that the TQWT-MCA method may be a valuable alternative to existing spindle and K-complex detection methods. Paths for improvements and further validations with large-scale standard open-access benchmarking data sets are discussed. PMID

  17. Cyclic-RGD penta-peptides cRGDyK derivatized with cyclopentadienyl complexes of technetium and rhenium as radiopharmaceutical probes.

    PubMed

    Nadeem, Qaisar; Shen, Yunjun; Warsi, Muhammad Farooq; Nasar, Gulfam; Qadir, Muhammad Abdul; Alberto, Roger

    2017-07-01

    The present study reports the syntheses of half-sandwich complexes of the type [M(η 5 -C 5 H 4 CONH-R)(CO) 3 ] (M═Re, 99m Tc;R═cyclic RGD peptide (cRGDyK) for potential imaging of α v β 3 integrin expression. The 99m Tc complex was prepared directly from the reaction of [ 99m Tc(OH 2 ) 3 (CO) 3 ] + with cRGDyK, doubly conjugated to Thiele's acid [(C 5 H 5 COOH) 2 ] in water. This approach extends the viability of metal-mediated retro Diels-Alder reactions for the preparation of small molecules such as linear tripeptides to a more complex cyclic peptide carrying a [(η 5 -C 5 H 4 ) 99m Tc(CO) 3 ] tag. The Diels-Alder product [(C 5 H 5 CONH-cRGDyK) 2 ] was prepared from Thiele's acid via double peptide coupling. The Re-complex [Re(η 5 -C 5 H 4 CONH-cRGDyK)(CO) 3 ] was obtained by attaching [Re(η 5 -C 5 H 4 COOH)(CO) 3 ] directly to the N-terminus of cRGDyK. The identity of the 99m Tc-complex is confirmed by chromatographic comparison with the corresponding rhenium complex, fully characterized by spectroscopic techniques. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  18. Interaction Mode between Inclusion Complex of Vitamin K3 with γ- Cyclodextrin and Herring-Sperm DNA.

    PubMed

    Tang, Yan; Cai, Li; Xue, Kang; Wang, Chunling; Xiong, Xiaoli

    2016-05-03

    Methods including spectroscopy, electronic chemistry and thermodynamics were used to study the inclusion effect between γ-cyclodextrin (CD) and vitamin K3(K3), as well as the interaction mode between herring-sperm DNA (hsDNA) and γ-CD-K3 inclusion complex. The results from ultraviolet spectroscopic method indicated that VK3 and γ-CD formed 1:1 inclusion complex, with the inclusion constant Kf = 1.02 × 10(4) L/mol, which is based on Benesi-Hildebrand's viewpoint. The outcomes from the probe method and Scatchard methods suggested that the interaction mode between γ-CD-K3 and DNA was a mixture mode, which included intercalation and electrostatic binding effects. The binding constants were K (θ)25°C = 2.16 × 10(4) L/mol, and K(θ)37°C = 1.06 × 10(4) L/mol. The thermodynamic functions of the interaction between γ-CD-K3 and DNA were ΔrHm(θ) = -2.74 × 10(4) J/mol, ΔrSm(θ) = 174.74 J·mol(-1)K(-1), therefore, both ΔrHm(θ) (enthalpy) and ΔrSm(θ) (entropy) worked as driven forces in this action.

  19. Simultaneous electrical transport and Raman spectroscopic measurements on individual nanowires of WxV1 - xO2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Tai-Lung; Whittaker, Luisa; Patridge, C. J.; Banerjee, S.; Sambandamurthy, G.

    2011-03-01

    Vanadium oxide is a well-know material to study the metal-insulator transition (MIT) in correlated electron systems. Upon heating to about 340 K, VO2 undergoes orders of magnitude drop in resistance from an insulating phase (I) to a metallic phase (M) and accompanies a lattice structural phase transition from a low-temperature monoclinical phase (M1) to a high-temperature tetragonal phase (R). We present results from combined electrical transport and Raman spectroscopic measurements to discern the effects of doping in controllably tuning the MIT in individual nanowires of single crystal WxV1 - xO2 . The MIT temperature (Tc) in our WxV1 - xO2 nanowires can be tuned through a wide range from 280 to 330 K by controlling the dopant concentration. The M-I transition can also driven electrically in these nanowires. Our simultaneous measurement of electrical transport and Raman spectroscopic measurement help us understand the role of structural transition in affecting the macroscopic electrical transition in individual wires.

  20. Focal complex formation in adult cardiomyocytes is accompanied by the activation of beta3 integrin and c-Src.

    PubMed

    Willey, Christopher D; Balasubramanian, Sundaravadivel; Rodríguez Rosas, María C; Ross, Robert S; Kuppuswamy, Dhandapani

    2003-06-01

    In pressure-overloaded myocardium, our recent study demonstrated cytoskeletal assembly of c-Src and other signaling proteins which was partially mimicked in vitro using adult feline cardiomyocytes embedded in three-dimensional (3D) collagen matrix and stimulated with an integrin-binding Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide. In the present study, we improved this model further to activate c-Src and obtain a full assembly of the focal adhesion complex (FAC), and characterized c-Src localization and integrin subtype(s) involved. RGD dose response experiments revealed that c-Src activation occurs subsequent to its cytoskeletal recruitment and is accompanied by p130Cas cytoskeletal binding and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) Tyr925 phosphorylation. When cardiomyocytes expressing hexahistidine-tagged c-Src via adenoviral gene delivery were used for RGD stimulation, the expressed c-Src exhibited relocation: (i) biochemical analysis revealed c-Src movement from the detergent-soluble to the -insoluble cytoskeletal fraction and (ii) confocal microscopic analysis showed c-Src movement from a nuclear/perinuclear to a sarcolemmal region. RGD treatment also caused sarcolemmal co-localization of FAK and vinculin. Characterization of integrin subtypes revealed that beta3, but not beta1, integrin plays a predominant role: (i) expression of cytoplasmic domain of beta1A integrin did not affect the RGD-stimulated FAC formation and (ii) both pressure-overloaded myocardium and RGD-stimulated cardiomyocytes exhibited phosphorylation of beta3 integrin at Tyr773/785 sites but not beta1 integrin at Thr788/789 sites. Together these data indicate that RGD treatment in cardiomyocytes causes beta3 integrin activation and c-Src sarcolemmal localization, that subsequent c-Src activation is accompanied by p130Cas binding and FAK Tyr925 phosphorylation, and that these events might be crucial for growth and remodeling of hypertrophying adult cardiomyocytes.

  1. The auditory scene: an fMRI study on melody and accompaniment in professional pianists.

    PubMed

    Spada, Danilo; Verga, Laura; Iadanza, Antonella; Tettamanti, Marco; Perani, Daniela

    2014-11-15

    The auditory scene is a mental representation of individual sounds extracted from the summed sound waveform reaching the ears of the listeners. Musical contexts represent particularly complex cases of auditory scenes. In such a scenario, melody may be seen as the main object moving on a background represented by the accompaniment. Both melody and accompaniment vary in time according to harmonic rules, forming a typical texture with melody in the most prominent, salient voice. In the present sparse acquisition functional magnetic resonance imaging study, we investigated the interplay between melody and accompaniment in trained pianists, by observing the activation responses elicited by processing: (1) melody placed in the upper and lower texture voices, leading to, respectively, a higher and lower auditory salience; (2) harmonic violations occurring in either the melody, the accompaniment, or both. The results indicated that the neural activation elicited by the processing of polyphonic compositions in expert musicians depends upon the upper versus lower position of the melodic line in the texture, and showed an overall greater activation for the harmonic processing of melody over accompaniment. Both these two predominant effects were characterized by the involvement of the posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus, among other associative brain regions. We discuss the prominent role of the posterior medial cortex in the processing of melodic and harmonic information in the auditory stream, and propose to frame this processing in relation to the cognitive construction of complex multimodal sensory imagery scenes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Simultaneous S- and X-band uplink-downlink performance at DSS 13

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Freiley, A. J.

    1988-01-01

    The Deep Space Station 13 26-meter antenna with the second generation S/X feedcone was tested to determine the dual S- and X-band (2.1 to 2.3 GHz and 7.1 to 8.5 GHz) transmit and receive performance. Measurements were conducted using the 20 kW transmitters at S- and X-band while simultaneously receiving S- and X-band. This system proved to be very quiet compared with the other DSN antennas. Under normal tracking configurations, no noise burst or intermodulation product (IMP) activity was detectable to the -175 dBm level. To prove the instrumentation's ability to detect such phenomena, an IMP generator was introduced onto the system with positive, verifiable results. The IMP occurred at the -162 dBm level, accompanied by moderate noise burst activity, and was readily repeatable. The measurement also showed the possible need for additional fourth channel filtering in the system to reduce the effect of the transmitter power on the low noise amplifiers.

  3. Quantifying Na(I)-insulin and K(I)-insulin non-covalent complexes by ESI-MS method and calculation of their equilibrium constants.

    PubMed

    Gülfen, Mustafa; Özdemir, Abdil; Lin, Jung-Lee; Chen, Chung-Hsuan

    2017-10-01

    In this study, the dissociation and formation equilibrium constants of Na(I)-insulin and K(I)-insulin complexes have been calculated after the quantifying them on ESI mass spectrometer. The ESI-MS spectra of the complexes were measured by using the solvents as 50% MeOH in water and 100% water. The effect of pH on the Na(I)-insulin and K(I)-insulin complex formation were examined. Serial binding of Na(I) and K(I) ions to the insulin molecule were observed in the ESI-MS measurements. The first formation equilibrium constants were calculated as K f1 : 5.48×10 3 1/M for Na(I)-insulin complex and K f1 : 4.87×10 3 1/M for K(I)-insulin in water. The binding capability of Na(I) ions to insulin molecule is higher than the capability of K(I) ions. In case of a comparison together with Ca(II)-insulin and Mg(II)-insulin, the formation equilibrium constants (K f1 ) are in order of Ca(II)-insulin>Mg(II)-insulin>Na(I)-insulin>K(I)-insulin in water. The results showed that Na(I) and K(I) ions are involved in the formation of the non-covalent complexes with insulin molecule, since high extracellular and intracellular concentrations of them in the body. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Kinetics of Adsorption of Diethylene-triaminomethylated Polyacrylamide on Dispersed Kaolin Accompanied by Flocculation.

    PubMed

    Kislenko; Verlinskaya

    1999-08-01

    The kinetics of the adsorption of diethylene-triaminomethylated polyacrylamide on kaolin dispersed in water has been investigated. An influence of the flocculation of kaolin dispersion on polymer adsorption has been found. The kinetics of particle aggregation under the influence of dissolved polymer has been studied. Polymer adsorption and particle aggregation proceed simultaneously, accompanied by a steady decrease in the amount of adsorbed polymer per unit mass of kaolin. A mathematical model of the adsorption process, consistent with the experimental data, is described. The rate constants and their ratios have been determined. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

  5. The Comparison of the Effect of Block Flute Accompanied Song Teaching with Multi-Sound Notation and Vocalization Program Accompanied Song Teaching on the Success of Students' Song Learning Behavior

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Saktanli, S. Cem

    2011-01-01

    This experimental study was done to see if using computer supported notation and vocalization program for teaching songs instead of using block flute accompanied song teaching has any significant effect on students' singing behavior. The study group is composed of the 5th, 6th and 7th graders of 2008-2009 educational term in T.O.K.I. Yahya Kemal…

  6. 19 CFR 148.4 - Accompanying articles.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 19 Customs Duties 2 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Accompanying articles. 148.4 Section 148.4 Customs... (CONTINUED) PERSONAL DECLARATIONS AND EXEMPTIONS General Provisions § 148.4 Accompanying articles. (a) Generally. Articles shall be considered as accompanying a passenger or brought in by him if the articles...

  7. 19 CFR 148.4 - Accompanying articles.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 19 Customs Duties 2 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Accompanying articles. 148.4 Section 148.4 Customs... (CONTINUED) PERSONAL DECLARATIONS AND EXEMPTIONS General Provisions § 148.4 Accompanying articles. (a) Generally. Articles shall be considered as accompanying a passenger or brought in by him if the articles...

  8. 19 CFR 148.4 - Accompanying articles.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... 19 Customs Duties 2 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Accompanying articles. 148.4 Section 148.4 Customs... (CONTINUED) PERSONAL DECLARATIONS AND EXEMPTIONS General Provisions § 148.4 Accompanying articles. (a) Generally. Articles shall be considered as accompanying a passenger or brought in by him if the articles...

  9. 19 CFR 148.4 - Accompanying articles.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 19 Customs Duties 2 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Accompanying articles. 148.4 Section 148.4 Customs... (CONTINUED) PERSONAL DECLARATIONS AND EXEMPTIONS General Provisions § 148.4 Accompanying articles. (a) Generally. Articles shall be considered as accompanying a passenger or brought in by him if the articles...

  10. 19 CFR 148.4 - Accompanying articles.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 19 Customs Duties 2 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Accompanying articles. 148.4 Section 148.4 Customs... (CONTINUED) PERSONAL DECLARATIONS AND EXEMPTIONS General Provisions § 148.4 Accompanying articles. (a) Generally. Articles shall be considered as accompanying a passenger or brought in by him if the articles...

  11. Mössbauer study of novel iron(II) complexes synthesized with Schiff bases

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Várhelyi, Cs.; Lengyel, A.; Homonnay, Z.; Szalay, R.; Pokol, Gy.; Szilágyi, I.-M.; Huszthy, P.; Papp, J.; Goga, F.; Golban, L.-M.; Várhelyi, M.; Tomoaia-Cotisel, M.; Szőke, Á.; Kuzmann, E.

    2017-11-01

    Novel [Fe(4-benzyl-2-hydroxyphenyl-propylidene)2ethylene-diamine], and [Fe (2,4,6-trihydroxy-benzyl-4-metoxiphenyl-methylidene)2ethylene-diamine] complexes were synthesized by reacting FeII salt with the indicated Schiff-base ligands. The compounds were characterized by57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, FTIR, UV-VIS, TG-DTA-DTG, MS, AFM, XRD, cyclic voltammetry and biological activity measurements. 295 K and 78 K Mössbauer spectra revealed that iron is dominantly in high spin FeII state in both complexes while simultaneously a minor low spin FeII was also present in both complexes, furthermore a minor high spin FeIII was observed in [Fe(2,4,6-trihydroxy-benzyl-4-metoxiphenyl- methylidene) 2ethylene-diamine], too.

  12. Mulberry hypertrophy and accompanying sinonasal pathologies: A review of 68 cases.

    PubMed

    Akduman, Davut; Haksever, Mehmet; Yanilmaz, Muhammed; Solmaz, Fevzi

    2016-08-01

    Mulberry hypertrophy occasionally coexists with sinonasal pathologies. There are very few reports in the literature on this clinical entity. We conducted a retrospective study to draw attention to this condition in the context of accompanying sinonasal pathologies. Our study group was made up of 68 patients-51 males and 17 females, aged 13 to 57 years (mean: 34.9)-who had been diagnosed with mulberry hypertrophy and at least one accompanying sinonasal pathology. All patients had a long-standing chronic discharge. Forty-nine of these patients (72.1%) had unilateral mulberry hypertrophy. The most common concomitant pathologies were chronic rhinosinusitis and ostiomeatal complex disease; others included septal deviation, nasal polyposis, allergic rhinitis, and concha bullosa. Thirty-six patients (52.9%) with varying degrees of choanal/nasal obstruction were operated on with endoscopic excision to treat the mulberry hypertrophy. In all, most patients underwent some sort of surgery to treat either the mulberry hypertrophy or the accompanying sinonasal pathology. Based on our findings, we suggest a clinical staging system to serve as a way to standardize management and guide future basic and clinical research.

  13. AquaSMART: Water & Boating Safety, Grades K-2. Teacher's Guide.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Texas State Dept. of Parks and Wildlife, Austin.

    This teacher's guide accompanies a program designed to teach water and boating safety to students in grades K-2. The written curriculum accompanies a video, AquaSMART K-2. The theme of the curriculum is AquaSMART. To become AquaSMART, students must learn 10 basic lessons for water and boating safety. The teacher's guide begins with an overview of…

  14. Novel inclusion complex of ibuprofen tromethamine with cyclodextrins: physico-chemical characterization.

    PubMed

    Al Omari, Mahmoud M; Daraghmeh, Nidal H; El-Barghouthi, Musa I; Zughul, Mohammad B; Chowdhry, Babur Z; Leharne, Stephen A; Badwan, Adnan A

    2009-10-15

    Guest-host interactions of ibuprofen tromethamine salt (Ibu.T) with native and modified cyclodextrins (CyDs) have been investigated using several techniques, namely phase solubility diagrams (PSDs), proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD), scanning-electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular mechanics (MM). From the analysis of PSD data (A(L)-type) it is concluded that the anionic tromethamine salt of ibuprofen (pK(a)=4.55) forms 1:1 soluble complexes with all CyDs investigated in buffered water at pH 7.0, while the neutral form of Ibu forms an insoluble complex with beta-CyD (B(S)-type) in buffered water at pH 2.0. Ibu.T has a lower tendency to complex with beta-CyD (K(11)=58 M(-1) at pH 7.0) compared with the neutral Ibu (K(11)=4200 M(-1)) in water. Complex formation of Ibu.T with beta-CyD (DeltaG(o)=-20.4 kJ/mol) is enthalpy driven (DeltaH(o)=-22.9 kJ/mol) and is accompanied by a small unfavorable entropy (DeltaS(o)=-8.4 J/mol K) change. (1)H NMR studies and MM computations revealed that, on complexation, the hydrophobic central benzene ring of Ibu.T and part of the isobutyl group reside within the beta-CyD cavity leaving the peripheral groups (carboxylate, tromethamine and methyl groups) located near the hydroxyl group networks at either rim of beta-CyD. PSD, (1)H NMR, DSC, FT-IR, XRPD, SEM and MM studies confirmed the formation of Ibu.T/beta-CyD inclusion complex in solution and the solid state.

  15. Mechanisms of apoptosis induction by simultaneous inhibition of PI3K and FLT3-ITD in AML cells in the hypoxic bone marrow microenvironment

    PubMed Central

    Jin, Linhua; Tabe, Yoko; Lu, Hongbo; Borthakur, Gautam; Miida, Takashi; Kantarjian, Hagop; Andreeff, Michael; Konopleva, Marina

    2013-01-01

    We investigated the antileukemia effects and molecular mechanisms of apoptosis induction by simultaneous blockade of PI3K and mutant FLT3 in AML cells grown under hypoxia in co-cultures with bone marrow stromal cells. Combined treatment with selective class I PI3K inhibitor GDC-0941 and sorafenib reversed the protective effects of bone marrow stromal cells on FLT3-mutant AML cells in hypoxia, which was associated with downregulation of Pim-1 and Mcl-1 expression levels. These findings suggest that combined inhibition of PI3K and FLT3-ITD may constitute a targeted approach to eradicating chemoresistant AML cells sequestered in hypoxic bone marrow niches. PMID:23036488

  16. Mechanisms of apoptosis induction by simultaneous inhibition of PI3K and FLT3-ITD in AML cells in the hypoxic bone marrow microenvironment.

    PubMed

    Jin, Linhua; Tabe, Yoko; Lu, Hongbo; Borthakur, Gautam; Miida, Takashi; Kantarjian, Hagop; Andreeff, Michael; Konopleva, Marina

    2013-02-01

    We investigated the antileukemia effects and molecular mechanisms of apoptosis induction by simultaneous blockade of PI3K and mutant FLT3 in AML cells grown under hypoxia in co-cultures with bone marrow stromal cells. Combined treatment with selective class I PI3K inhibitor GDC-0941 and sorafenib reversed the protective effects of bone marrow stromal cells on FLT3-mutant AML cells in hypoxia, which was associated with downregulation of Pim-1 and Mcl-1 expression levels. These findings suggest that combined inhibition of PI3K and FLT3-ITD may constitute a targeted approach to eradicating chemoresistant AML cells sequestered in hypoxic bone marrow niches. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. 23Na and 39K NMR studies of ion transport in human erythrocytes.

    PubMed

    Ogino, T; Shulman, G I; Avison, M J; Gullans, S R; den Hollander, J A; Shulman, R G

    1985-02-01

    Ion transport in human erythrocytes was studied by 23Na and 39K NMR with an anionic paramagnetic shift reagent, Dy(P3O10)2(7-). The intra- and extracellular 23Na and 39K NMR signals were well separated (over 10 ppm) at 5 mM concentration of the shift reagent. The NMR visibility of the intracellular Na+ and K+ was determined to be 100% in human and duck erythrocytes. The intracellular ion concentrations were 8.1 +/- 0.8 mM Na+ (n = 7) and 110 +/- 12 mM K+ (n = 4) for fresh human erythrocytes. The ouabain-sensitive net Na+ efflux was 1.75 +/- 0.08 mmol/hr per liter of cells at 37 degrees C (n = 3). The gramicidin-induced ion transport in human erythrocytes was also studied by 23Na and 39K NMR or by simultaneous measurements of 23Na NMR and a K+-selective electrode. The time courses of the Na+ and K+ transport induced by the ionophore were biphasic. The initial rapid fluxes were due to an exchange of Na+ for K+, which were found to occur with a 1:1 stoichiometry. The subsequent slow components were the net Na+ and K+ effluxes rate-limited by the Cl- permeability and accompanied by a reduction in cell volume. The Cl- permeability determined from the NMR measurements of these slow fluxes was 3.2 +/- 0.5 X 10(-8) cm/sec at 25 degrees C (n = 4).

  18. 23Na and 39K NMR studies of ion transport in human erythrocytes.

    PubMed Central

    Ogino, T; Shulman, G I; Avison, M J; Gullans, S R; den Hollander, J A; Shulman, R G

    1985-01-01

    Ion transport in human erythrocytes was studied by 23Na and 39K NMR with an anionic paramagnetic shift reagent, Dy(P3O10)2(7-). The intra- and extracellular 23Na and 39K NMR signals were well separated (over 10 ppm) at 5 mM concentration of the shift reagent. The NMR visibility of the intracellular Na+ and K+ was determined to be 100% in human and duck erythrocytes. The intracellular ion concentrations were 8.1 +/- 0.8 mM Na+ (n = 7) and 110 +/- 12 mM K+ (n = 4) for fresh human erythrocytes. The ouabain-sensitive net Na+ efflux was 1.75 +/- 0.08 mmol/hr per liter of cells at 37 degrees C (n = 3). The gramicidin-induced ion transport in human erythrocytes was also studied by 23Na and 39K NMR or by simultaneous measurements of 23Na NMR and a K+-selective electrode. The time courses of the Na+ and K+ transport induced by the ionophore were biphasic. The initial rapid fluxes were due to an exchange of Na+ for K+, which were found to occur with a 1:1 stoichiometry. The subsequent slow components were the net Na+ and K+ effluxes rate-limited by the Cl- permeability and accompanied by a reduction in cell volume. The Cl- permeability determined from the NMR measurements of these slow fluxes was 3.2 +/- 0.5 X 10(-8) cm/sec at 25 degrees C (n = 4). PMID:2579385

  19. Reducing the Risk of Damage to Power Transformers of 110 kV and Above Accompanying Internal Short Circuits

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    L’vova, M. M.; L’vov, S. Yu.; Komarov, V. B.

    Methods of increasing the operating reliability of power transformers, autotransformers and shunting reactors in order to reduce the risk of damage, which accompany internal short circuits and equipment fires and explosions, are considered.

  20. Stability of nickel(II) glycylglycinate complexes in aqueous solutions of dimethylsulfoxide at 298.15 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Naumov, V. V.; Isaeva, V. A.; Kovaleva, Yu. A.; Sharnin, V. A.

    2013-07-01

    Stability constants of nickel(II) glycylglycinate complexes in aqueous solutions of dimethylsulfoxide of variable composition (from 0.00 to 0.60 mole fractions DMSO) are determined according to potentiometry at 298.15 K and an ionic strength of 0.1 M (NaClO4). It is determined that with a rise in the concentration of an organic cosolvent in solution, the stability of nickel(II) complexes with glycylglycinate ion on the whole increases, but the log K stability = f( X DMSO) dependences are of a critical character with a maximum of 0.3 mole fractions DMSO. It is demonstrated that the rise in the stability of complexes is related to the destabilization of ligands in the low concentration range of the organic component, while the presence of a maximum is due to the different dynamics of the solvation contributions from reagents during changes in the Gibbs energy of reaction.

  1. KGCAK: a K-mer based database for genome-wide phylogeny and complexity evaluation.

    PubMed

    Wang, Dapeng; Xu, Jiayue; Yu, Jun

    2015-09-16

    The K-mer approach, treating genomic sequences as simple characters and counting the relative abundance of each string upon a fixed K, has been extensively applied to phylogeny inference for genome assembly, annotation, and comparison. To meet increasing demands for comparing large genome sequences and to promote the use of the K-mer approach, we develop a versatile database, KGCAK ( http://kgcak.big.ac.cn/KGCAK/ ), containing ~8,000 genomes that include genome sequences of diverse life forms (viruses, prokaryotes, protists, animals, and plants) and cellular organelles of eukaryotic lineages. It builds phylogeny based on genomic elements in an alignment-free fashion and provides in-depth data processing enabling users to compare the complexity of genome sequences based on K-mer distribution. We hope that KGCAK becomes a powerful tool for exploring relationship within and among groups of species in a tree of life based on genomic data.

  2. A Multiplex PCR for the Simultaneous Detection and Genotyping of the Echinococcus granulosus Complex

    PubMed Central

    Boubaker, Ghalia; Macchiaroli, Natalia; Prada, Laura; Cucher, Marcela A.; Rosenzvit, Mara C.; Ziadinov, Iskender; Deplazes, Peter; Saarma, Urmas; Babba, Hamouda; Gottstein, Bruno; Spiliotis, Markus

    2013-01-01

    Echinococcus granulosus is characterized by high intra-specific variability (genotypes G1–G10) and according to the new molecular phylogeny of the genus Echinococcus, the E. granulosus complex has been divided into E. granulosus sensu stricto (G1–G3), E. equinus (G4), E. ortleppi (G5), and E. canadensis (G6–G10). The molecular characterization of E. granulosus isolates is fundamental to understand the spatio-temporal epidemiology of this complex in many endemic areas with the simultaneous occurrence of different Echinococcus species and genotypes. To simplify the genotyping of the E. granulosus complex we developed a single-tube multiplex PCR (mPCR) allowing three levels of discrimination: (i) Echinococcus genus, (ii) E. granulosus complex in common, and (iii) the specific genotype within the E. granulosus complex. The methodology was established with known DNA samples of the different strains/genotypes, confirmed on 42 already genotyped samples (Spain: 22 and Bulgaria: 20) and then successfully applied on 153 unknown samples (Tunisia: 114, Algeria: 26 and Argentina: 13). The sensitivity threshold of the mPCR was found to be 5 ng Echinoccoccus DNA in a mixture of up to 1 µg of foreign DNA and the specificity was 100% when template DNA from closely related members of the genus Taenia was used. Additionally to DNA samples, the mPCR can be carried out directly on boiled hydatid fluid or on alkaline-lysed frozen or fixed protoscoleces, thus avoiding classical DNA extractions. However, when using Echinococcus eggs obtained from fecal samples of infected dogs, the sensitivity of the mPCR was low (<40%). Thus, except for copro analysis, the mPCR described here has a high potential for a worldwide application in large-scale molecular epidemiological studies on the Echinococcus genus. PMID:23350011

  3. A multiplex PCR for the simultaneous detection and genotyping of the Echinococcus granulosus complex.

    PubMed

    Boubaker, Ghalia; Macchiaroli, Natalia; Prada, Laura; Cucher, Marcela A; Rosenzvit, Mara C; Ziadinov, Iskender; Deplazes, Peter; Saarma, Urmas; Babba, Hamouda; Gottstein, Bruno; Spiliotis, Markus

    2013-01-01

    Echinococcus granulosus is characterized by high intra-specific variability (genotypes G1-G10) and according to the new molecular phylogeny of the genus Echinococcus, the E. granulosus complex has been divided into E. granulosus sensu stricto (G1-G3), E. equinus (G4), E. ortleppi (G5), and E. canadensis (G6-G10). The molecular characterization of E. granulosus isolates is fundamental to understand the spatio-temporal epidemiology of this complex in many endemic areas with the simultaneous occurrence of different Echinococcus species and genotypes. To simplify the genotyping of the E. granulosus complex we developed a single-tube multiplex PCR (mPCR) allowing three levels of discrimination: (i) Echinococcus genus, (ii) E. granulosus complex in common, and (iii) the specific genotype within the E. granulosus complex. The methodology was established with known DNA samples of the different strains/genotypes, confirmed on 42 already genotyped samples (Spain: 22 and Bulgaria: 20) and then successfully applied on 153 unknown samples (Tunisia: 114, Algeria: 26 and Argentina: 13). The sensitivity threshold of the mPCR was found to be 5 ng Echinoccoccus DNA in a mixture of up to 1 µg of foreign DNA and the specificity was 100% when template DNA from closely related members of the genus Taenia was used. Additionally to DNA samples, the mPCR can be carried out directly on boiled hydatid fluid or on alkaline-lysed frozen or fixed protoscoleces, thus avoiding classical DNA extractions. However, when using Echinococcus eggs obtained from fecal samples of infected dogs, the sensitivity of the mPCR was low (<40%). Thus, except for copro analysis, the mPCR described here has a high potential for a worldwide application in large-scale molecular epidemiological studies on the Echinococcus genus.

  4. Recent experience in simultaneous control-structure optimization

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Salama, M.; Ramaker, R.; Milman, M.

    1989-01-01

    To show the feasibility of simultaneous optimization as design procedure, low order problems were used in conjunction with simple control formulations. The numerical results indicate that simultaneous optimization is not only feasible, but also advantageous. Such advantages come at the expense of introducing complexities beyond those encountered in structure optimization alone, or control optimization alone. Examples include: larger design parameter space, optimization may combine continuous and combinatoric variables, and the combined objective function may be nonconvex. Future extensions to include large order problems, more complex objective functions and constraints, and more sophisticated control formulations will require further research to ensure that the additional complexities do not outweigh the advantages of simultaneous optimization. Some areas requiring more efficient tools than currently available include: multiobjective criteria and nonconvex optimization. Efficient techniques to deal with optimization over combinatoric and continuous variables, and with truncation issues for structure and control parameters of both the model space as well as the design space need to be developed.

  5. A survey of simultaneous localization and mapping on unstructured lunar complex environment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Yiqiao; Zhang, Wei; An, Pei

    2017-10-01

    Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology is the key to realizing lunar rover's intelligent perception and autonomous navigation. It embodies the autonomous ability of mobile robot, and has attracted plenty of concerns of researchers in the past thirty years. Visual sensors are meaningful to SLAM research because they can provide a wealth of information. Visual SLAM uses merely images as external information to estimate the location of the robot and construct the environment map. Nowadays, SLAM technology still has problems when applied in large-scale, unstructured and complex environment. Based on the latest technology in the field of visual SLAM, this paper investigates and summarizes the SLAM technology using in the unstructured complex environment of lunar surface. In particular, we focus on summarizing and comparing the detection and matching of features of SIFT, SURF and ORB, in the meanwhile discussing their advantages and disadvantages. We have analyzed the three main methods: SLAM Based on Extended Kalman Filter, SLAM Based on Particle Filter and SLAM Based on Graph Optimization (EKF-SLAM, PF-SLAM and Graph-based SLAM). Finally, this article summarizes and discusses the key scientific and technical difficulties in the lunar context that Visual SLAM faces. At the same time, we have explored the frontier issues such as multi-sensor fusion SLAM and multi-robot cooperative SLAM technology. We also predict and prospect the development trend of lunar rover SLAM technology, and put forward some ideas of further research.

  6. The Incidence of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Simultaneous Surgical Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Dupuytren Contracture.

    PubMed

    Buller, Mitchell; Schulz, Steven; Kasdan, Morton; Wilhelmi, Bradon J

    2017-07-01

    To determine the incidence of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) in the concurrent surgical treatment of Dupuytren contracture (DC) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) through a thorough review of evidence available in the literature. The indices of 260 hand surgery books and PubMed were searched for concomitant references to DC and CTS. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they evaluated the outcome of patients treated with simultaneous fasciectomy or fasciotomy for DC and carpal tunnel release using CRPS as a complication of treatment. Of the literature reviewed, only 4 studies met the defined criteria for use in the study. Data from the 4 studies were pooled, and the incidence of recurrence and complications, specifically CRPS, was noted. The rate of CRPS was found to be 10.4% in the simultaneous treatment group versus 4.1% in the fasciectomy-only group. This rate is nearly half the 8.3% rate of CRPS found in a randomized trial of patients undergoing carpal tunnel release. Our analysis demonstrates a marginal increase in the occurrence of CRPS by adding the carpal tunnel release to patients in need of fasciectomy, contradicting the original reports demonstrating a much higher rate of CRPS. This indicates that no clear clinical risk is associated with simultaneous surgical treatment of DC and CTS. In some patients, simultaneous surgical management of DC and CTS can be accomplished safely with minimal increased risk of CRPS type 1.

  7. Simultaneous removal of nitrogen oxide/nitrogen dioxide/sulfur dioxide from gas streams by combined plasma scrubbing technology.

    PubMed

    Chang, Moo Been; Lee, How Ming; Wu, Feeling; Lai, Chi Ren

    2004-08-01

    Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) [nitrogen oxide (NO) + nitrogen dioxide (NO2)] and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are removed individually in traditional air pollution control technologies. This study proposes a combined plasma scrubbing (CPS) system for simultaneous removal of SO2 and NOx. CPS consists of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and wet scrubbing in series. DBD is used to generate nonthermal plasmas for converting NO to NO2. The water-soluble NO2 then can be removed by wet scrubbing accompanied with SO2 removal. In this work, CPS was tested with simulated exhausts in the laboratory and with diesel-generator exhausts in the field. Experimental results indicate that DBD is very efficient in converting NO to NO2. More than 90% removal of NO, NOx, and SO2 can be simultaneously achieved with CPS. Both sodium sulfide (Na2S) and sodium sulfite (Na2SO3) scrubbing solutions are good for NO2 and SO2 absorption. Energy efficiencies for NOx and SO2 removal are 17 and 18 g/kWh, respectively. The technical feasibility of CPS for simultaneous removal of NO, NO2, and SO2 from gas streams is successfully demonstrated in this study. However, production of carbon monoxide as a side-product (approximately 100 ppm) is found and should be considered.

  8. A microfluidic device for simultaneous measurement of viscosity and flow rate of blood in a complex fluidic network

    PubMed Central

    Jun Kang, Yang; Yeom, Eunseop; Lee, Sang-Joon

    2013-01-01

    Blood viscosity has been considered as one of important biophysical parameters for effectively monitoring variations in physiological and pathological conditions of circulatory disorders. Standard previous methods make it difficult to evaluate variations of blood viscosity under cardiopulmonary bypass procedures or hemodialysis. In this study, we proposed a unique microfluidic device for simultaneously measuring viscosity and flow rate of whole blood circulating in a complex fluidic network including a rat, a reservoir, a pinch valve, and a peristaltic pump. To demonstrate the proposed method, a twin-shaped microfluidic device, which is composed of two half-circular chambers, two side channels with multiple indicating channels, and one bridge channel, was carefully designed. Based on the microfluidic device, three sequential flow controls were applied to identify viscosity and flow rate of blood, with label-free and sensorless detection. The half-circular chamber was employed to achieve mechanical membrane compliance for flow stabilization in the microfluidic device. To quantify the effect of flow stabilization on flow fluctuations, a formula of pulsation index (PI) was analytically derived using a discrete fluidic circuit model. Using the PI formula, the time constant contributed by the half-circular chamber is estimated to be 8 s. Furthermore, flow fluctuations resulting from the peristaltic pumps are completely removed, especially under periodic flow conditions within short periods (T < 10 s). For performance demonstrations, the proposed method was applied to evaluate blood viscosity with respect to varying flow rate conditions [(a) known blood flow rate via a syringe pump, (b) unknown blood flow rate via a peristaltic pump]. As a result, the flow rate and viscosity of blood can be simultaneously measured with satisfactory accuracy. In addition, the proposed method was successfully applied to identify the viscosity of rat blood, which circulates in a

  9. A microfluidic device for simultaneous measurement of viscosity and flow rate of blood in a complex fluidic network.

    PubMed

    Jun Kang, Yang; Yeom, Eunseop; Lee, Sang-Joon

    2013-01-01

    Blood viscosity has been considered as one of important biophysical parameters for effectively monitoring variations in physiological and pathological conditions of circulatory disorders. Standard previous methods make it difficult to evaluate variations of blood viscosity under cardiopulmonary bypass procedures or hemodialysis. In this study, we proposed a unique microfluidic device for simultaneously measuring viscosity and flow rate of whole blood circulating in a complex fluidic network including a rat, a reservoir, a pinch valve, and a peristaltic pump. To demonstrate the proposed method, a twin-shaped microfluidic device, which is composed of two half-circular chambers, two side channels with multiple indicating channels, and one bridge channel, was carefully designed. Based on the microfluidic device, three sequential flow controls were applied to identify viscosity and flow rate of blood, with label-free and sensorless detection. The half-circular chamber was employed to achieve mechanical membrane compliance for flow stabilization in the microfluidic device. To quantify the effect of flow stabilization on flow fluctuations, a formula of pulsation index (PI) was analytically derived using a discrete fluidic circuit model. Using the PI formula, the time constant contributed by the half-circular chamber is estimated to be 8 s. Furthermore, flow fluctuations resulting from the peristaltic pumps are completely removed, especially under periodic flow conditions within short periods (T < 10 s). For performance demonstrations, the proposed method was applied to evaluate blood viscosity with respect to varying flow rate conditions [(a) known blood flow rate via a syringe pump, (b) unknown blood flow rate via a peristaltic pump]. As a result, the flow rate and viscosity of blood can be simultaneously measured with satisfactory accuracy. In addition, the proposed method was successfully applied to identify the viscosity of rat blood, which circulates in a

  10. Synthesis, characterization and serum albumin binding studies of vitamin K3 derivatives.

    PubMed

    Suganthi, Murugesan; Elango, Kuppanagounder P

    2017-01-01

    Synthesis, characterization and bovine serum albumin (BSA) binding properties of three derivatives of vitamin K3 have been described. Results of UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra indicate complexation between BSA and the ligands with conformational changes in protein, which is strongly supported by synchronous and three dimensional fluorescence studies. Addition of the ligands quenches the fluorescence of BSA which is accompanied by reduction in quantum yield (Ф) from 0.1010 to 0.0775-0.0986 range. Thermodynamic investigations reveal that hydrophobic interaction is the major binding force in the spontaneous binding of these ligands with BSA. The binding constants obtained depend on the substituent present in the quinone ring, which correlates linearly with the Taft's field substituent constant (σ F ). The results show that compound with strong electron withdrawing nitro-group forms relatively stronger complex with BSA than amino and thioglycolate substituted ones. Circular dichroism studies show that the α-helical content of the protein, upon complexation with the ligands, decreases in the case of amino and nitro substituted vitamin K3 while increases in thioglycolate substituted compound. Molecular docking studies indicated that the vitamin K3 derivatives are surrounded by hydrophobic residues of the BSA molecule, which is in good agreement with the results of fluorescence spectral and thermodynamic studies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Laboratory experiments on simultaneous removal of K and P from synthetic and real urine for nutrient recycle by crystallization of magnesium-potassium-phosphate-hexahydrate in a draft tube and baffle reactor.

    PubMed

    Xu, Kangning; Wang, Chengwen; Wang, Xiaoxue; Qian, Yi

    2012-06-01

    The simultaneous removal of K and P from urine for nutrient recycling by crystallization of magnesium potassium phosphate hexahydrate (MPP) in a laboratory-scale draft tube and baffle reactor (DTBR) is investigated. Results show that mixing speed and hydraulic retention time are important operating factors that influence crystallization and crystal settlement. Slurry should be discharged at a crystal retention time of 11 h to maintain fluidity in the reactor. Further applications of the DTBR using real urine (pretreated by ammonia stripping and diluted five times) showed that 76% K and 68% P were recycled to multi-nutrient products. The crystals collected were characterized and confirmed mainly as a mixture of magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate, MPP, and magnesium sodium phosphate heptahydrate. Results indicate that the DTBR effectively achieved the simultaneous recycling of K and P from urine to multi-nutrient products through MPP crystallization. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Introducing a Null Mutation in the Mouse K6α and K6β Genes Reveals Their Essential Structural Role in the Oral Mucosa

    PubMed Central

    Wong, Pauline; Colucci-Guyon, Emma; Takahashi, Kenzo; Gu, Changhong; Babinet, Charles; Coulombe, Pierre A.

    2000-01-01

    Mammalian genomes feature multiple genes encoding highly related keratin 6 (K6) isoforms. These type II keratins show a complex regulation with constitutive and inducible components in several stratified epithelia, including the oral mucosa and skin. Two functional genes, K6α and K6β, exist in a head-to-tail tandem array in mouse genomes. We inactivated these two genes simultaneously via targeting and homologous recombination. K6 null mice are viable and initially indistinguishable from their littermates. Starting at two to three days after birth, they show a growth delay associated with reduced milk intake and the presence of white plaques in the posterior region of dorsal tongue and upper palate. These regions are subjected to greater mechanical stress during suckling. Morphological analyses implicate the filiform papillae as being particularly sensitive to trauma in K6α/K6β null mice, and establish the complete absence of keratin filaments in their anterior compartment. All null mice die about a week after birth. These studies demonstrate an essential structural role for K6 isoforms in the oral mucosa, and implicate filiform papillae as being the major stress bearing structures in dorsal tongue epithelium. PMID:10953016

  13. Brain neuroplastic changes accompany anxiety and memory deficits in a model of complex regional pain syndrome.

    PubMed

    Tajerian, Maral; Leu, David; Zou, Yani; Sahbaie, Peyman; Li, Wenwu; Khan, Hamda; Hsu, Vivian; Kingery, Wade; Huang, Ting Ting; Becerra, Lino; Clark, J David

    2014-10-01

    Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a painful condition with approximately 50,000 annual new cases in the United States. It is a major cause of work-related disability, chronic pain after limb fractures, and persistent pain after extremity surgery. Additionally, CRPS patients often experience cognitive changes, anxiety, and depression. The supraspinal mechanisms linked to these CRPS-related comorbidities remain poorly understood. The authors used a previously characterized mouse model of tibia fracture/cast immobilization showing the principal stigmata of CRPS (n = 8 to 20 per group) observed in humans. The central hypothesis was that fracture/cast mice manifest changes in measures of thigmotaxis (indicative of anxiety) and working memory reflected in neuroplastic changes in amygdala, perirhinal cortex, and hippocampus. The authors demonstrate that nociceptive sensitization in these mice is accompanied by altered thigmotactic behaviors in the zero maze but not open field assay, and working memory dysfunction in novel object recognition and social memory but not in novel location recognition. Furthermore, the authors found evidence of structural changes and synaptic plasticity including changes in dendritic architecture and decreased levels of synaptophysin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in specific brain regions. The study findings provide novel observations regarding behavioral changes and brain plasticity in a mouse model of CRPS. In addition to elucidating some of the supraspinal correlates of the syndrome, this work supports the potential use of therapeutic interventions that not only directly target sensory input and other peripheral mechanisms, but also attempt to ameliorate the broader pain experience by modifying its associated cognitive and emotional comorbidities.

  14. Knee point search using cascading top-k sorting with minimized time complexity.

    PubMed

    Wang, Zheng; Tseng, Shian-Shyong

    2013-01-01

    Anomaly detection systems and many other applications are frequently confronted with the problem of finding the largest knee point in the sorted curve for a set of unsorted points. This paper proposes an efficient knee point search algorithm with minimized time complexity using the cascading top-k sorting when a priori probability distribution of the knee point is known. First, a top-k sort algorithm is proposed based on a quicksort variation. We divide the knee point search problem into multiple steps. And in each step an optimization problem of the selection number k is solved, where the objective function is defined as the expected time cost. Because the expected time cost in one step is dependent on that of the afterwards steps, we simplify the optimization problem by minimizing the maximum expected time cost. The posterior probability of the largest knee point distribution and the other parameters are updated before solving the optimization problem in each step. An example of source detection of DNS DoS flooding attacks is provided to illustrate the applications of the proposed algorithm.

  15. Isolation of (CO)1- and (CO2)1- radical complexes of rare earths via Ln(NR2)3/K reduction and [K2(18-crown-6)2]2+ oligomerization.

    PubMed

    Fang, Ming; Farnaby, Joy H; Ziller, Joseph W; Bates, Jefferson E; Furche, Filipp; Evans, William J

    2012-04-11

    Deep-blue solutions of Y(2+) formed from Y(NR(2))(3) (R = SiMe(3)) and excess potassium in the presence of 18-crown-6 at -45 °C under vacuum in diethyl ether react with CO at -78 °C to form colorless crystals of the (CO)(1-) radical complex, {[(R(2)N)(3)Y(μ-CO)(2)][K(2)(18-crown-6)(2)]}(n), 1. The polymeric structure contains trigonal bipyramidal [(R(2)N)(3)Y(μ-CO)(2)](2-) units with axial (CO)(1-) ligands linked by [K(2)(18-crown-6)(2)](2+) dications. Byproducts such as the ynediolate, [(R(2)N)(3)Y](2)(μ-OC≡CO){[K(18-crown-6)](2)(18-crown-6)}, 2, in which two (CO)(1-) anions are coupled to form (OC≡CO)(2-), and the insertion/rearrangement product, {(R(2)N)(2)Y[OC(═CH(2))Si(Me(2))NSiMe(3)]}[K(18-crown-6)], 3, are common in these reactions that give variable results depending on the specific reaction conditions. The CO reduction in the presence of THF forms a solvated variant of 2, the ynediolate [(R(2)N)(3)Y](2)(μ-OC≡CO)[K(18-crown-6)(THF)(2)](2), 2a. CO(2) reacts analogously with Y(2+) to form the (CO(2))(1-) radical complex, {[(R(2)N)(3)Y(μ-CO(2))(2)][K(2)(18-crown-6)(2)]}(n), 4, that has a structure similar to that of 1. Analogous (CO)(1-) and (OC≡CO)(2-) complexes of lutetium were isolated using Lu(NR(2))(3)/K/18-crown-6: {[(R(2)N)(3)Lu(μ-CO)(2)][K(2)(18-crown-6)(2)]}(n), 5, [(R(2)N)(3)Lu](2)(μ-OC≡CO){[K(18-crown-6)](2)(18-crown-6)}, 6, and [(R(2)N)(3)Lu](2)(μ-OC≡CO)[K(18-crown-6)(Et(2)O)(2)](2), 6a. © 2012 American Chemical Society

  16. Investigating the Complexity of NGC 2992 with HETG

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Canizares, Claude

    2009-09-01

    NGC 2992 is a nearby (z = 0.00771) Seyfert galaxy with a variable 1.5-2 classification. Over the past 30 years, the 2-10 keV continuum flux has varied by a factor of ~20. This was accompanied by complex variability in the multi-component Fe K line emission, which may indicate violent flaring activity in the innermost regions of the accretion disk. By observing NGC 2992 with the HETG, we will obtain the best constraint to date on the FWHM of the narrow, distant-matter Fe K line emission, along with precision measurement of its centroid energy, thereby enabling more accurate modeling of the variable broad component. We will also test models of the soft excess through measurement of narrow absorption lines attributable to a warm absorber and narrow emission lines arising from photoexcitation.

  17. Direct interaction of beta-amyloid with Na,K-ATPase as a putative regulator of the enzyme function

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Petrushanko, Irina Yu.; Mitkevich, Vladimir A.; Anashkina, Anastasia A.; Adzhubei, Alexei A.; Burnysheva, Ksenia M.; Lakunina, Valentina A.; Kamanina, Yulia V.; Dergousova, Elena A.; Lopina, Olga D.; Ogunshola, Omolara O.; Bogdanova, Anna Yu.; Makarov, Alexander A.

    2016-06-01

    By maintaining the Na+ and K+ transmembrane gradient mammalian Na,K-ATPase acts as a key regulator of neuronal electrotonic properties. Na,K-ATPase has an important role in synaptic transmission and memory formation. Accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) at the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease is accompanied by reduction of Na,K-ATPase functional activity. The molecular mechanism behind this phenomenon is not known. Here we show that the monomeric Aβ(1-42) forms a tight (Kd of 3 μM), enthalpy-driven equimolar complex with α1β1 Na,K-ATPase. The complex formation results in dose-dependent inhibition of the enzyme hydrolytic activity. The binding site of Aβ(1-42) is localized in the “gap” between the alpha- and beta-subunits of Na,K-ATPase, disrupting the enzyme functionality by preventing the subunits from shifting towards each other. Interaction of Na,K-ATPase with exogenous Aβ(1-42) leads to a pronounced decrease of the enzyme transport and hydrolytic activity and Src-kinase activation in neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y. This interaction allows regulation of Na,K-ATPase activity by short-term increase of the Aβ(1-42) level. However prolonged increase of Aβ(1-42) level under pathological conditions could lead to chronical inhibition of Na,K-ATPase and disruption of neuronal function. Taken together, our data suggest the role of beta-amyloid as a novel physiological regulator of Na,K-ATPase.

  18. The Effects of Simultaneous Use of Careful Online Planning and Task Repetition on Accuracy, Complexity, and Fluency in EFL Learners' Oral Production

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ahmadian, Mohammad Javad; Tavakoli, Mansoor

    2011-01-01

    This article reports on a study that was primarily aimed at investigating the effects of simultaneous use of careful online planning and task repetition on accuracy, complexity, and fluency in the oral production of learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). The effects of four planning and task repetition conditions (i.e. careful online…

  19. Iconic gestures prime words: comparison of priming effects when gestures are presented alone and when they are accompanying speech

    PubMed Central

    So, Wing-Chee; Yi-Feng, Alvan Low; Yap, De-Fu; Kheng, Eugene; Yap, Ju-Min Melvin

    2013-01-01

    Previous studies have shown that iconic gestures presented in an isolated manner prime visually presented semantically related words. Since gestures and speech are almost always produced together, this study examined whether iconic gestures accompanying speech would prime words and compared the priming effect of iconic gestures with speech to that of iconic gestures presented alone. Adult participants (N = 180) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions in a lexical decision task: Gestures-Only (the primes were iconic gestures presented alone); Speech-Only (the primes were auditory tokens conveying the same meaning as the iconic gestures); Gestures-Accompanying-Speech (the primes were the simultaneous coupling of iconic gestures and their corresponding auditory tokens). Our findings revealed significant priming effects in all three conditions. However, the priming effect in the Gestures-Accompanying-Speech condition was comparable to that in the Speech-Only condition and was significantly weaker than that in the Gestures-Only condition, suggesting that the facilitatory effect of iconic gestures accompanying speech may be constrained by the level of language processing required in the lexical decision task where linguistic processing of words forms is more dominant than semantic processing. Hence, the priming effect afforded by the co-speech iconic gestures was weakened. PMID:24155738

  20. Absorption spectrometric and thermodynamic study of charge transfer complexes of menadione (Vitamin K 3) with a series of phenols

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pal, Purnendu; Bhattacharya, Sumanta; Mukherjee, Asok K.; Mukherjee, Dulal C.

    2005-03-01

    The electron donor-acceptor (EDA) interactions between menadione (i.e., 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, which is also called 'Vitamin K 3') and a series of phenols (viz., phenol, resorcinol and p-quinol) have been studied in CCl 4 medium. In all the cases, charge transfer (CT) bands have been located. The CT transition energies ( hνCT) of the complexes are found to change systematically with change in the number and position of the -OH groups in the aromatic ring of the phenol moiety. From the trends in the hνCT values, the Hückel parameters ( hÖ and kC-Ö) for the -OH group have been obtained. The CT transition energies are well correlated with the ionisation potentials of the phenols. From an analysis of this variation the electron affinity of Vitamin K 3 has been found to be 2.28 eV. The stoichiometry of the complexes in each case has been found to be 1(menadione):2 (phenol). Formation constants of the complexes have been determined at four different temperatures from which the enthalpies and entropies of formation of the complexes have been estimated.

  1. Absorption spectrometric and thermodynamic study of charge transfer complexes of menadione (Vitamin K3) with a series of phenols.

    PubMed

    Pal, Purnendu; Bhattacharya, Sumanta; Mukherjee, Asok K; Mukherjee, Dulal C

    2005-03-01

    The electron donor-acceptor (EDA) interactions between menadione (i.e., 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, which is also called 'Vitamin K3') and a series of phenols (viz., phenol, resorcinol and p-quinol) have been studied in CCl4 medium. In all the cases, charge transfer (CT) bands have been located. The CT transition energies (h nu(CT)) of the complexes are found to change systematically with change in the number and position of the -OH groups in the aromatic ring of the phenol moiety. From the trends in the h nu(CT) values, the Hückel parameters (h(O) and k(C-O)) for the -OH group have been obtained. The CT transition energies are well correlated with the ionisation potentials of the phenols. From an analysis of this variation the electron affinity of Vitamin K3 has been found to be 2.28 eV. The stoichiometry of the complexes in each case has been found to be 1(menadione):2 (phenol). Formation constants of the complexes have been determined at four different temperatures from which the enthalpies and entropies of formation of the complexes have been estimated.

  2. Two Years of Simultaneous K(sub a)-Band Measurements: Goldstone, CA; White Sands, NM; and Guam, USA

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Acosta, Roberto J.; Zemba, M.; Morse, J.; Nessel, J.

    2012-01-01

    In order to statistically characterize the effect of the Earth's atmosphere on Ka-Band links, site test interferometers (STIs) have been deployed at three of NASA s operational sites to directly measure each site's tropospheric phase stability and rain attenuation. These STIs are composed of two antennas on a short baseline (less than 1km) that observe the same unmodulated beacon signal broadcast from a geostationary satellite (e.g., Anik F2). The STIs are used to measure the differential phase between the two received signals as well as the individual signal attenuation at each terminal. There are currently three NASA sites utilizing STIs; the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex near Barstow, California; the White Sands Complex in Las Cruces, New Mexico; and the Guam Remote Ground Terminal on the island of Guam. The first two sites are both located in desert regions that have highly similar climates in terms of their seasonal temperatures, average humidity, and annual rain fall (the primary factors in determining phase stability). In contrast, Guam is in a tropical region with drastically higher annual rainfall and humidity. Five station years of data have been collected in Goldstone, three in White Sands, and two in Guam, yielding two years of simultaneous data collection across all three sites. During this period of simultaneous data collection, the root-mean-square (RMS) of the time delay fluctuations stayed under 2.40 picoseconds for 90% of the time in Goldstone, under 2.07 picoseconds for 90% of the time in White Sands, and under 10.13 picoseconds for 90% of the time in Guam. For the 99th percentile, the statistics were 6.32 ps, 6.03 ps, and 24.85 ps, respectively. These values, as well as various other site quality characteristics, will be used to determine the suitability of these sites for NASA s future communication services at Ka-Band.

  3. Nearly simultaneous observations of chromospheric and coronal radiative losses of cool stars

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Schrijver, C. J.; Dobson, A. K.; Radick, R. R.

    1992-01-01

    The flux-flux relationships of cool stars are studied on the basis of nearly simultaneous measurements of Ca II H+K, Mg II h+k, and soft X-ray fluxes. A linear relationship is derived between IUE Mg II h+k fluxes and Mount Wilson Ca II H+K fluxes which were obtained within 36 hr of each other for a sample of 26 F5-K3 main-sequence stars. Nearly simultaneous EXOSAT soft X-ray fluxes are compared with Ca II H+K fluxes for a sample of 20 dwarfs and gaints with spectral types ranging from F6 to K2, and 72 additional cool stars for which noncontemporaneous Ca II H+K and EINSTEIN soft X-ray fluxes are available are compared. It is confirmed that a nonradiatively heated chromosphere exists on even the least active main-sequence stars. This basal chromosphere is probably independent of stellar magnetic activity.

  4. Thermodynamic studies of aqueous solutions of 2,2,2-cryptand at 298.15 K: enthalpy-entropy compensation, partial entropies, and complexation with K+ ions.

    PubMed

    Shaikh, Vasim R; Terdale, Santosh S; Ahamad, Abdul; Gupta, Gaurav R; Dagade, Dilip H; Hundiwale, Dilip G; Patil, Kesharsingh J

    2013-12-19

    The osmotic coefficient measurements for binary aqueous solutions of 2,2,2-cryptand (4,7,13,16,21,24-hexaoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.8.8] hexacosane) in the concentration range of ~0.009 to ~0.24 mol·kg(-1) and in ternary aqueous solutions containing a fixed concentration of 2,2,2-cryptand of ~0.1 mol·kg(-1) with varying concentration of KBr (~0.06 to ~0.16 mol·kg(-1)) have been reported at 298.15 K. The diamine gets hydrolyzed in aqueous solutions and needs proper approach to obtain meaningful thermodynamic properties. The measured osmotic coefficient values are corrected for hydrolysis and are used to determine the solvent activity and mean ionic activity coefficients of solute as a function of concentration. Strong ion-pair formation is observed, and the ion-pair dissociation constant for the species [CrptH](+)[OH(-)] is reported. The excess and mixing thermodynamic properties (Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy changes) have been obtained using the activity data from this study and the heat data reported in the literature. Further, the data are utilized to compute the partial molal entropies of solvent and solute at finite as well as infinite dilution of 2,2,2-cryptand in water. The concentration dependent non-linear enthalpy-entropy compensation effect has been observed for the studied system, and the compensation temperature along with entropic parameter are reported. Using solute activity coefficient data in ternary solutions, the transfer Gibbs free energies for transfer of the cryptand from water to aqueous KBr as well as transfer of KBr from water to aqueous cryptand were obtained and utilized to obtain the salting constant (ks) and thermodynamic equilibrium constant (log K) values for the complex (2,2,2-cryptand:K(+)) at 298.15 K. The value of log K = 5.8 ± 0.1 obtained in this work is found to be in good agreement with that reported by Lehn and Sauvage. The standard molar entropy for complexation is also estimated for the 2,2,2-cryptand

  5. Absorption spectrometric study of charge transfer complex formation between 4-acetamidophenol (paracetamol) and a series of quinones including Vitamin K 3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saha, Avijit; Mukherjee, Asok K.

    2004-07-01

    The formation of charge transfer (CT) complexes of 4-acetamidophenol (commonly called 'paracetamol') and a series of quinones (including Vitamin K 3) has been studied spectrophotometrically in ethanol medium. The vertical ionisation potential of paracetamol and the degrees of charge transfer of the complexes in their ground state has been estimated from the trends in the charge transfer bands. The oscillator and transition dipole strengths of the complexes have been determined from the CT absorption spectra at 298 K. The complexes have been found by Job's method of continuous variation to have the uncommon 2:1 (paracetamol:quinone) stoichiometry in each case. The enthalpies and entropies of formation of the complexes have been obtained by determining their formation constants at five different temperatures.

  6. Volcanism and erosion during the past 930 k.y. at the Tatara-San Pedro complex, Chilean Andes

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Singer, B.S.; Thompson, R.A.; Dungan, M.A.; Feeley, T.C.; Nelson, S.T.; Pickens, J.C.; Brown, L.L.; Wulff, A.W.; Davidson, J.P.; Metzger, J.

    1997-01-01

    Geologic mapping, together with 73 new K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar age determinations of 45 samples from 17 different volcanic units, plus paleomagnetic orientations, geochemical compositions, and terrestrial photogrammetry are used to define the chronostratigraphy of the Tatara-San Pedro complex, an eruptive center at 36??S on the volcanic front of the Andean southern volcanic zone. The Tatara-San Pedro complex preserves ???55 km3 of lavas that erupted from at least three central vent regions. Remnant, unconformity-bound sequences of lavas are separated by lacunae that include significant periods of erosion. Quaternary volcanism commenced ca. 930 ka with eruption of voluminous dacitic magma, followed 100 k.y. later by the only major rhyolitic eruption. From 780 ka onward, more than 80% of the preserved volume is basaltic andesite (52%-57% SiO2), but petrographically and geochemically diverse dacitic magmas (63%-69% SiO2) erupted sporadically throughout this younger, dominantly mafic phase of activity. A few basaltic lavas (49%-52% SiO2) are present, mainly in portions of the complex older than 230 ka. The number of vents, the petrologic and geochemical diversity, and the temporal distribution of mafic and silicic lavas are consistent with emplacement of many separate batches of made magma into the shallow crust beneath the Tatara-San Pedro complex over the past million years. Nearly two-thirds of the preserved volume of the Tatara-San Pedro complex comprises the two youngest volcanoes, which were active between ca. 188-83 ka and 90-19 ka. Repeated advances of mountain glaciers punctuated growth of the complex with major erosional episodes that removed much of the pre-200 ka volcanic record, particularly on the south flank of the complex. Dating the inception of a glaciation on the basis of preserved material is difficult, but the age of the oldest lava above a lacuna may be used to estimate the timing of deglaciation. On this basis, the argon ages of basal lavas of

  7. Simultaneous communication supports learning in noise by cochlear implant users.

    PubMed

    Blom, Helen; Marschark, Marc; Machmer, Elizabeth

    2017-01-01

    This study sought to evaluate the potential of using spoken language and signing together (simultaneous communication, SimCom, sign-supported speech) as a means of improving speech recognition, comprehension, and learning by cochlear implant (CI) users in noisy contexts. Forty eight college students who were active CI users, watched videos of three short presentations, the text versions of which were standardized at the 8 th -grade reading level. One passage was presented in spoken language only, one was presented in spoken language with multi-talker babble background noise, and one was presented via simultaneous communication with the same background noise. Following each passage, participants responded to 10 (standardized) open-ended questions designed to assess comprehension. Indicators of participants' spoken language and sign language skills were obtained via self-reports and objective assessments. When spoken materials were accompanied by signs, scores were significantly higher than when materials were spoken in noise without signs. Participants' receptive spoken language skills significantly predicted scores in all three conditions; neither their receptive sign skills nor age of implantation predicted performance. Students who are CI users typically rely solely on spoken language in the classroom. The present results, however, suggest that there are potential benefits of simultaneous communication for such learners in noisy settings. For those CI users who know sign language, the redundancy of speech and signs potentially can offset the reduced fidelity of spoken language in noise. Accompanying spoken language with signs can benefit learners who are CI users in noisy situations such as classroom settings. Factors associated with such benefits, such as receptive skills in signed and spoken modalities, classroom acoustics, and material difficulty need to be empirically examined.

  8. Study of charge transfer complexes of menadione (vitamin K 3) with a series of anilines

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pal, Purnendu; Saha, Avijit; Mukherjee, Asok K.; Mukherjee, Dulal C.

    2004-01-01

    Menadione (vitamin K 3) has been shown to form charge transfer complexes with N, N-dimethyl aniline, N, N-dimethyl p-toluidine and N, N-dimethyl m-toluidine in CCl 4 medium. The CT transition energies are well correlated with the ionisation potentials of the anilines. The formation constants of the complexes have been determined at a number of temperatures from which the enthalpies and entropies of formation have been obtained. The formation constants exhibit a very good linear free energy relationship (Hammett) at all the temperatures studied.

  9. Chemical, petrographic, and K-Ar age data to accompany reconnaissance geologic strip map from Kingman to south of Bill Williams Mountain, Arizona

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Arney, B.; Goff, F.; Eddy, A.C.

    1985-04-01

    As part of a reconnaissance mapping project, 40 chemical analyses and 13 potassium-argon age dates were obtained for Tertiary volcanic and Precambrian granitic rocks between Kingman and Bill Williams Mountain, Arizona. The dated volcanic rocks range in age from 5.5 +- 0.2 Myr for basalt in the East Juniper Mountains to about 25 Myr for a biotite-pyroxene andesite. The date for Picacho Butte, a rhyodacite in the Mt. Floyd volcanic field, was 9.8 +- 0.07 Myr, making it the oldest rhyodacite dome in that volcanic field. Dated rocks in the Fort Rock area range from 20.7 to 24.3 Myr. Nomore » ages were obtained on the Precambrian rocks. Compositionally, the volcanic rocks analyzed range from alkali basalt to rhyolite, but many rocks on the western side of the map area are unusually potassic. The granites chosen for analysis include syenogranite from the Hualapai Mountains, a muscovite granite from the Picacho Butte area, and two other granites. The chemical and K-Ar age data and petrographic descriptions included in this report accompany the reconnaissance geologic strip map published as LA-9202-MAP by Goff, Eddy, and Arney. 9 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.« less

  10. Low temperature investigations of dynamic properties in l-leucine - chloranilic acid complex.

    PubMed

    Hetmańczyk, J; Nowicka-Scheibe, J; Maurin, J K; Pawlukojć, A

    2018-07-05

    Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and infra-red (IR) spectroscopy methods were used for determination of dynamic structure of l-leucine - chloranilic acid complex. A theoretical dynamic pattern calculated by the density functional theory (DFT) method for periodic boundary conditions accompanied the experimental ones. Normal modes in the vibrational spectra were defined and described. The characteristic presence of the Hadži's trio enriched by numerous submaxima is observed in the wavenumber range 3200-800 cm -1 . Bands assigned to CH 3 torsion vibrations in the leucine cation were observed at 231 cm -1 and 258 cm -1 in the INS spectrum. Temperature-dependent far-infrared spectra in the temperature range 9 K-290 K were obtained. Vibrational bands were analyzed as a function of temperature. Activation energies for reorientational motion of CH 3 and CH 2 groups were determined by means of the band shape analysis performed for torsional and twisting vibrations of these groups. The estimated energy is equal to E a  = 2.7 ± 0.2 kJ/mol and E a  = 2.17 ± 0.12 kJ/mol for CH 3 and CH 2 groups, respectively. A phase transition at about 130 K in the l-leucine - chloranilic acid complex was observed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Social norms of accompanied young children and observed crossing behaviors.

    PubMed

    Rosenbloom, Tova; Sapir-Lavid, Yael; Hadari-Carmi, Ofri

    2009-01-01

    Social norms for accompanied young children and crossing behaviors were examined in two studies conducted in an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Israel. In Study 1, road behaviors of young children crossing with and without accompaniment and older children were observed, and the actual social norm for accompanied school children younger than 9-years-old was examined. In Study 2, the perceived norm of accompaniment was tested by questionnaires. Young children who crossed without accompaniment exhibited poorer crossing skills compared to older children and to young children crossing with accompaniment. In the four locations observed, the actual accompaniment rate ranged between 15%-60%. The perceived social norm for child accompaniment was lower than the actual norm. The discussion refers to both theoretical issues and their practical implications.

  12. K(+)-Induced in situ self-assembly of near-infrared luminescent membrane material armored with bigger Yb(III) complex crystallites.

    PubMed

    Chen, Wanmin; Tang, Xiaoliang; Dou, Wei; Ju, Zhenghua; Xu, Benhua; Xu, Wenxuan; Liu, Weisheng

    2016-04-14

    A semi-rigid ligand could capture effectively Yb(3+) ions to form a stable Yb(3+) complex and provide a potential cavity to accommodate alkali metal ions. Only K(+) ions could induce the Yb(3+) complex to form a 1D coordination polymer and promote the in situ formation of an NIR membrane coated with bigger Yb(3+) complex crystallites under mild conditions.

  13. A uniform method for the simultaneous blood group phenotyping of Fya , Fyb , Jka , Jkb , S, s̅, P1, k applying lateral-flow technique.

    PubMed

    Caesar, A; Meyer, S; Trost, N; Neuenschwander, K; Geisen, C; Frey, B M; Gassner, C; Schwind, P

    2018-02-01

    A lateral flow assay for simultaneous blood group typing of ABO, RhD, C, E, c, e, Cw and K with stable end-point and without centrifugation is in routine use since several years (MDmulticard ® ). The typing of extended phenotype parameters belonging to the Duffy, Kidd, MNSs blood group systems and others, however, has not yet been demonstrated for this technique. Reliable detection of Fy x , a weak Fy b phenotype with a pronounced quantitative reduction of the number of Fy b antigens on the erythrocyte surface, remains a weakness of current serological blood grouping techniques. The performance characteristics of the following reagents were evaluated in donor and patient samples in lateral flow technology (MDmulticard ® ): Anti-Fy a , -Fy b , -Jk a , -Jk b , -S, -s̅, -P1 and -k. The sensitivity to detect Fy x was in addition evaluated with Fy x positive samples, which had been preselected by MALDI-TOF MS-based genotyping. All results obtained with the MDmulticard ® were in full accordance with those of the CE-certified reference products for all the eight reagent formulations used: Anti-Fy a , -Fy b , -Jk a , -Jk b , -S, -s̅, -P1 and -k. Also, all Fy x phenotypes of the selected population of 93 positive samples, originally identified by MALDI-TOF MS-based genotyping, were reliably detected by the lateral flow assay. Extended phenotype blood group parameters, including the serologically challenging Fy x phenotype, can be determined simultaneously, rapidly and accurately using the lateral flow (MDmulticard ® ) technology, even in cases when IgG class antibodies are the only source of diagnostic antibodies. © 2017 International Society of Blood Transfusion.

  14. Hypothesized diprotomeric enzyme complex supported by stochastic modelling of palytoxin-induced Na/K pump channels

    PubMed Central

    Vilallonga, Gabriel D.; de Almeida, Antônio-Carlos G.; Ribeiro, Kelison T.; Campos, Sergio V. A.

    2018-01-01

    The sodium–potassium pump (Na+/K+ pump) is crucial for cell physiology. Despite great advances in the understanding of this ionic pumping system, its mechanism is not completely understood. We propose the use of a statistical model checker to investigate palytoxin (PTX)-induced Na+/K+ pump channels. We modelled a system of reactions representing transitions between the conformational substates of the channel with parameters, concentrations of the substates and reaction rates extracted from simulations reported in the literature, based on electrophysiological recordings in a whole-cell configuration. The model was implemented using the UPPAAL-SMC platform. Comparing simulations and probabilistic queries from stochastic system semantics with experimental data, it was possible to propose additional reactions to reproduce the single-channel dynamic. The probabilistic analyses and simulations suggest that the PTX-induced Na+/K+ pump channel functions as a diprotomeric complex in which protein–protein interactions increase the affinity of the Na+/K+ pump for PTX. PMID:29657808

  15. Crystal structures of the archaeal RNase P protein Rpp38 in complex with RNA fragments containing a K-turn motif.

    PubMed

    Oshima, Kosuke; Gao, Xuzhu; Hayashi, Seiichiro; Ueda, Toshifumi; Nakashima, Takashi; Kimura, Makoto

    2018-01-01

    A characteristic feature of archaeal ribonuclease P (RNase P) RNAs is that they have extended helices P12.1 and P12.2 containing kink-turn (K-turn) motifs to which the archaeal RNase P protein Rpp38, a homologue of the human RNase P protein Rpp38, specifically binds. PhoRpp38 from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii is involved in the elevation of the optimum temperature of the reconstituted RNase P by binding the K-turns in P12.1 and P12.2. Previously, the crystal structure of PhoRpp38 in complex with the K-turn in P12.2 was determined at 3.4 Å resolution. In this study, the crystal structure of PhoRpp38 in complex with the K-turn in P12.2 was improved to 2.1 Å resolution and the structure of PhoRpp38 in complex with the K-turn in P12.1 was also determined at a resolution of 3.1 Å. Both structures revealed that Lys35, Asn38 and Glu39 in PhoRpp38 interact with characteristic G·A and A·G pairs in the K-turn, while Thr37, Asp59, Lys84, Glu94, Ala96 and Ala98 in PhoRpp38 interact with the three-nucleotide bulge in the K-turn. Moreover, an extended stem-loop containing P10-P12.2 in complex with PhoRpp38, as well as PhoRpp21 and PhoRpp29, which are the archaeal homologues of the human proteins Rpp21 and Rpp29, respectively, was affinity-purified and crystallized. The crystals thus grown diffracted to a resolution of 6.35 Å. Structure determination of the crystals will demonstrate the previously proposed secondary structure of stem-loops including helices P12.1 and P12.2 and will also provide insight into the structural organization of the specificity domain in P. horikoshii RNase P RNA.

  16. EEG signatures accompanying auditory figure-ground segregation

    PubMed Central

    Tóth, Brigitta; Kocsis, Zsuzsanna; Háden, Gábor P.; Szerafin, Ágnes; Shinn-Cunningham, Barbara; Winkler, István

    2017-01-01

    In everyday acoustic scenes, figure-ground segregation typically requires one to group together sound elements over both time and frequency. Electroencephalogram was recorded while listeners detected repeating tonal complexes composed of a random set of pure tones within stimuli consisting of randomly varying tonal elements. The repeating pattern was perceived as a figure over the randomly changing background. It was found that detection performance improved both as the number of pure tones making up each repeated complex (figure coherence) increased, and as the number of repeated complexes (duration) increased – i.e., detection was easier when either the spectral or temporal structure of the figure was enhanced. Figure detection was accompanied by the elicitation of the object related negativity (ORN) and the P400 event-related potentials (ERPs), which have been previously shown to be evoked by the presence of two concurrent sounds. Both ERP components had generators within and outside of auditory cortex. The amplitudes of the ORN and the P400 increased with both figure coherence and figure duration. However, only the P400 amplitude correlated with detection performance. These results suggest that 1) the ORN and P400 reflect processes involved in detecting the emergence of a new auditory object in the presence of other concurrent auditory objects; 2) the ORN corresponds to the likelihood of the presence of two or more concurrent sound objects, whereas the P400 reflects the perceptual recognition of the presence of multiple auditory objects and/or preparation for reporting the detection of a target object. PMID:27421185

  17. EEG signatures accompanying auditory figure-ground segregation.

    PubMed

    Tóth, Brigitta; Kocsis, Zsuzsanna; Háden, Gábor P; Szerafin, Ágnes; Shinn-Cunningham, Barbara G; Winkler, István

    2016-11-01

    In everyday acoustic scenes, figure-ground segregation typically requires one to group together sound elements over both time and frequency. Electroencephalogram was recorded while listeners detected repeating tonal complexes composed of a random set of pure tones within stimuli consisting of randomly varying tonal elements. The repeating pattern was perceived as a figure over the randomly changing background. It was found that detection performance improved both as the number of pure tones making up each repeated complex (figure coherence) increased, and as the number of repeated complexes (duration) increased - i.e., detection was easier when either the spectral or temporal structure of the figure was enhanced. Figure detection was accompanied by the elicitation of the object related negativity (ORN) and the P400 event-related potentials (ERPs), which have been previously shown to be evoked by the presence of two concurrent sounds. Both ERP components had generators within and outside of auditory cortex. The amplitudes of the ORN and the P400 increased with both figure coherence and figure duration. However, only the P400 amplitude correlated with detection performance. These results suggest that 1) the ORN and P400 reflect processes involved in detecting the emergence of a new auditory object in the presence of other concurrent auditory objects; 2) the ORN corresponds to the likelihood of the presence of two or more concurrent sound objects, whereas the P400 reflects the perceptual recognition of the presence of multiple auditory objects and/or preparation for reporting the detection of a target object. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  18. Teaching and Learning about Complex Systems in K-12 Science Education: A Review of Empirical Studies 1995-2015

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yoon, Susan A.; Goh, Sao-Ee; Park, Miyoung

    2018-01-01

    The study of complex systems has been highlighted in recent science education policy in the United States and has been the subject of important real-world scientific investigation. Because of this, research on complex systems in K-12 science education has shown a marked increase over the past two decades. In this systematic review, we analyzed 75…

  19. 9 CFR 93.409 - Articles accompanying ruminants.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Articles accompanying ruminants. 93.409 Section 93.409 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT...; REQUIREMENTS FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Ruminants § 93.409 Articles accompanying ruminants...

  20. 9 CFR 93.409 - Articles accompanying ruminants.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Articles accompanying ruminants. 93.409 Section 93.409 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT...; REQUIREMENTS FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Ruminants § 93.409 Articles accompanying ruminants...

  1. 9 CFR 93.409 - Articles accompanying ruminants.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Articles accompanying ruminants. 93.409 Section 93.409 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT...; REQUIREMENTS FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Ruminants § 93.409 Articles accompanying ruminants...

  2. 9 CFR 93.409 - Articles accompanying ruminants.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Articles accompanying ruminants. 93.409 Section 93.409 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT...; REQUIREMENTS FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Ruminants § 93.409 Articles accompanying ruminants...

  3. 9 CFR 93.409 - Articles accompanying ruminants.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Articles accompanying ruminants. 93.409 Section 93.409 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT...; REQUIREMENTS FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Ruminants § 93.409 Articles accompanying ruminants...

  4. HIPAA is larger and more complex than Y2K.

    PubMed

    Tempesco, J W

    2000-07-01

    The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a larger and more complex problem than Y2K ever was. According to the author, the costs associated with a project of such unending scope and in support of intrusion into both information and operational systems of every health care transaction will be incalculable. Some estimate that the administrative simplification policies implemented through HIPAA will save billions of dollars annually, but it remains to be seen whether the savings will outweigh implementation and ongoing expenses associated with systemwide application of the regulations. This article addresses the rules established for electronic data interchange, data set standards for diagnostic and procedure codes, unique identifiers, coordination of benefits, privacy of individual health care information, electronic signatures, and security requirements.

  5. H3K9me3 demethylase Kdm4d facilitates the formation of pre-initiative complex and regulates DNA replication

    PubMed Central

    Wu, Rentian; Wang, Zhiquan; Zhang, Honglian; Gan, Haiyun; Zhang, Zhiguo

    2017-01-01

    DNA replication is tightly regulated to occur once and only once per cell cycle. How chromatin, the physiological substrate of DNA replication machinery, regulates DNA replication remains largely unknown. Here we show that histone H3 lysine 9 demethylase Kdm4d regulates DNA replication in eukaryotic cells. Depletion of Kdm4d results in defects in DNA replication, which can be rescued by the expression of H3K9M, a histone H3 mutant transgene that reverses the effect of Kdm4d on H3K9 methylation. Kdm4d interacts with replication proteins, and its recruitment to DNA replication origins depends on the two pre-replicative complex components (origin recognition complex [ORC] and minichromosome maintenance [MCM] complex). Depletion of Kdm4d impairs the recruitment of Cdc45, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and polymerase δ, but not ORC and MCM proteins. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism by which Kdm4d regulates DNA replication by reducing the H3K9me3 level to facilitate formation of pre-initiative complex. PMID:27679476

  6. 16 CFR 1500.125 - Labeling requirements for accompanying literature.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 16 Commercial Practices 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Labeling requirements for accompanying literature. 1500.125 Section 1500.125 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION FEDERAL... REGULATIONS § 1500.125 Labeling requirements for accompanying literature. When any accompanying literature...

  7. 16 CFR 1500.125 - Labeling requirements for accompanying literature.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 16 Commercial Practices 2 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Labeling requirements for accompanying literature. 1500.125 Section 1500.125 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION FEDERAL... REGULATIONS § 1500.125 Labeling requirements for accompanying literature. When any accompanying literature...

  8. 16 CFR 1500.125 - Labeling requirements for accompanying literature.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 16 Commercial Practices 2 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Labeling requirements for accompanying literature. 1500.125 Section 1500.125 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION FEDERAL... REGULATIONS § 1500.125 Labeling requirements for accompanying literature. When any accompanying literature...

  9. 16 CFR 1500.125 - Labeling requirements for accompanying literature.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 16 Commercial Practices 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Labeling requirements for accompanying literature. 1500.125 Section 1500.125 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION FEDERAL... REGULATIONS § 1500.125 Labeling requirements for accompanying literature. When any accompanying literature...

  10. 9 CFR 93.307 - Articles accompanying horses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Articles accompanying horses. 93.307 Section 93.307 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Horses § 93.307 Articles accompanying horses. No...

  11. 9 CFR 93.208 - Articles accompanying poultry.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Articles accompanying poultry. 93.208 Section 93.208 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Poultry § 93.208 Articles accompanying poultry. No...

  12. 9 CFR 93.307 - Articles accompanying horses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Articles accompanying horses. 93.307 Section 93.307 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Horses § 93.307 Articles accompanying horses. No...

  13. 9 CFR 93.208 - Articles accompanying poultry.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Articles accompanying poultry. 93.208 Section 93.208 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Poultry § 93.208 Articles accompanying poultry. No...

  14. 9 CFR 93.307 - Articles accompanying horses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Articles accompanying horses. 93.307 Section 93.307 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Horses § 93.307 Articles accompanying horses. No...

  15. 9 CFR 93.508 - Articles accompanying swine.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Articles accompanying swine. 93.508 Section 93.508 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Swine § 93.508 Articles accompanying swine. No litter...

  16. 9 CFR 93.508 - Articles accompanying swine.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Articles accompanying swine. 93.508 Section 93.508 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Swine § 93.508 Articles accompanying swine. No litter...

  17. 9 CFR 93.508 - Articles accompanying swine.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Articles accompanying swine. 93.508 Section 93.508 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Swine § 93.508 Articles accompanying swine. No litter...

  18. 9 CFR 93.208 - Articles accompanying poultry.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Articles accompanying poultry. 93.208 Section 93.208 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Poultry § 93.208 Articles accompanying poultry. No...

  19. 9 CFR 93.208 - Articles accompanying poultry.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Articles accompanying poultry. 93.208 Section 93.208 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Poultry § 93.208 Articles accompanying poultry. No...

  20. 9 CFR 93.508 - Articles accompanying swine.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Articles accompanying swine. 93.508 Section 93.508 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Swine § 93.508 Articles accompanying swine. No litter...

  1. 9 CFR 93.208 - Articles accompanying poultry.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Articles accompanying poultry. 93.208 Section 93.208 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Poultry § 93.208 Articles accompanying poultry. No...

  2. 9 CFR 93.307 - Articles accompanying horses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Articles accompanying horses. 93.307 Section 93.307 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Horses § 93.307 Articles accompanying horses. No...

  3. 9 CFR 93.307 - Articles accompanying horses.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Articles accompanying horses. 93.307 Section 93.307 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Horses § 93.307 Articles accompanying horses. No...

  4. 9 CFR 93.508 - Articles accompanying swine.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Articles accompanying swine. 93.508 Section 93.508 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF... FOR MEANS OF CONVEYANCE AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS Swine § 93.508 Articles accompanying swine. No litter...

  5. ATP forms a stable complex with the essential histidine kinase WalK (YycG) domain

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Celikel, Reha; Veldore, Vidya Harini; Mathews, Irimpan

    The histidine WalK (YycG) plays a crucial role in coordinating murein synthesis with cell division and the crystal structure of its ATP binding domain has been determined. Interestingly the bound ATP was not hydrolyzed during crystallization and remains intact in the crystal lattice. In Bacillus subtilis, the WalRK (YycFG) two-component system coordinates murein synthesis with cell division. It regulates the expression of autolysins that function in cell-wall remodeling and of proteins that modulate autolysin activity. The transcription factor WalR is activated upon phosphorylation by the histidine kinase WalK, a multi-domain homodimer. It autophosphorylates one of its histidine residues by transferringmore » the γ-phosphate from ATP bound to its ATP-binding domain. Here, the high-resolution crystal structure of the ATP-binding domain of WalK in complex with ATP is presented at 1.61 Å resolution. The bound ATP remains intact in the crystal lattice. It appears that the strong binding interactions and the nature of the binding pocket contribute to its stability. The triphosphate moiety of ATP wraps around an Mg{sup 2+} ion, providing three O atoms for coordination in a near-ideal octahedral geometry. The ATP molecule also makes strong interactions with the protein. In addition, there is a short contact between the exocyclic O3′ of the sugar ring and O2B of the β-phosphate, implying an internal hydrogen bond. The stability of the WalK–ATP complex in the crystal lattice suggests that such a complex may exist in vivo poised for initiation of signal transmission. This feature may therefore be part of the sensing mechanism by which the WalRK two-component system is so rapidly activated when cells encounter conditions conducive for growth.« less

  6. Interaction of alkanes with an amorphous methanol film at 15-180 K

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Souda, Ryutaro

    2005-09-15

    The hydrogen-bond imperfections and glass-liquid transition of the amorphous methanol film have been investigated on the basis of the film dewetting and the incorporation/desorption of alkane molecules adsorbed on the surface. The butane is incorporated completely in the bulk of the porous methanol film up to 70 K. At least two distinct states exist for the incorporated butane; one is assignable to solvated molecules in the bulk and the other is weakly bound species at the surface or in the subsurface site. For the nonporous methanol film, the uptake of butane in the bulk is quenched but butane forms amore » surface complex with methanol above 80 K. The butane incorporated in the bulk of the glassy methanol film is released at 120 K, where dewetting of the methanol film occurs simultaneously due to evolution of the supercooled liquid phase.« less

  7. Simultaneous Communication Supports Learning in Noise by Cochlear Implant Users

    PubMed Central

    Blom, Helen C.; Marschark, Marc; Machmer, Elizabeth

    2017-01-01

    Objectives This study sought to evaluate the potential of using spoken language and signing together (simultaneous communication, SimCom, sign-supported speech) as a means of improving speech recognition, comprehension, and learning by cochlear implant users in noisy contexts. Methods Forty eight college students who were active cochlear implant users, watched videos of three short presentations, the text versions of which were standardized at the 8th grade reading level. One passage was presented in spoken language only, one was presented in spoken language with multi-talker babble background noise, and one was presented via simultaneous communication with the same background noise. Following each passage, participants responded to 10 (standardized) open-ended questions designed to assess comprehension. Indicators of participants’ spoken language and sign language skills were obtained via self-reports and objective assessments. Results When spoken materials were accompanied by signs, scores were significantly higher than when materials were spoken in noise without signs. Participants’ receptive spoken language skills significantly predicted scores in all three conditions; neither their receptive sign skills nor age of implantation predicted performance. Discussion Students who are cochlear implant users typically rely solely on spoken language in the classroom. The present results, however, suggest that there are potential benefits of simultaneous communication for such learners in noisy settings. For those cochlear implant users who know sign language, the redundancy of speech and signs potentially can offset the reduced fidelity of spoken language in noise. Conclusion Accompanying spoken language with signs can benefit learners who are cochlear implant users in noisy situations such as classroom settings. Factors associated with such benefits, such as receptive skills in signed and spoken modalities, classroom acoustics, and material difficulty need to be

  8. Direct observation of keyhole characteristics in deep penetration laser welding with a 10 kW fiber laser.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Mingjun; Chen, Genyu; Zhou, Yu; Li, Shichun

    2013-08-26

    Keyhole formation is a prerequisite for deep penetration laser welding. Understanding of the keyhole dynamics is essential to improve the stability of the keyhole. Direct observation of the keyhole during deep penetration laser welding of a modified "sandwich" specimen with a 10 kW fiber laser is presented. A distinct keyhole wall and liquid motion along the wall are observed directly for the first time. The moving liquid "shelf" on the front keyhole wall and the accompanying hydrodynamic and vapor phenomena are observed simultaneously. Micro-droplets torn off the keyhole wall and the resultant bursts of vapor are also visualized. The hydrodynamics on the keyhole wall has a dominant effect on the weld defects. The emission spectrum inside the keyhole is captured accurately using a spectrometer to calculate the characteristics of the keyhole plasma plume.

  9. Complex Fuzzy Set-Valued Complex Fuzzy Measures and Their Properties

    PubMed Central

    Ma, Shengquan; Li, Shenggang

    2014-01-01

    Let F*(K) be the set of all fuzzy complex numbers. In this paper some classical and measure-theoretical notions are extended to the case of complex fuzzy sets. They are fuzzy complex number-valued distance on F*(K), fuzzy complex number-valued measure on F*(K), and some related notions, such as null-additivity, pseudo-null-additivity, null-subtraction, pseudo-null-subtraction, autocontionuous from above, autocontionuous from below, and autocontinuity of the defined fuzzy complex number-valued measures. Properties of fuzzy complex number-valued measures are studied in detail. PMID:25093202

  10. Vitamin K2 promotes mesenchymal stem cell differentiation by inhibiting miR‑133a expression.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Yuelei; Weng, Shiyang; Yin, Junhui; Ding, Hao; Zhang, Changqing; Gao, Youshui

    2017-05-01

    Vitamin K2 has been demonstrated to promote the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells; however, the mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. As microRNA (miR)‑133a has been identified as a negative regulator of osteogenic differentiation, the present study hypothesized that vitamin K2 promoted osteogenesis by inhibiting miR‑133a. Using human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) overexpressing miR‑133a, or a control, the expression levels of osteogenesis‑associated proteins, including runt‑related transcription factor 2, alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, were analyzed. miR‑133a significantly suppressed the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs. To determine the effect of vitamin K2 on miR‑133a expression and osteogenesis, hBMSCs were treated with vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 inhibited miR‑133a expression, which was accompanied by enhanced osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, the expression levels of vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1, the key protein in γ‑carboxylation, were downregulated by miR‑133a overexpression and upregulated by vitamin K2 treatment, indicating a positive feedback on γ‑carboxylation. The results of the present study suggested that vitamin K2 targets miR‑133a to regulate osteogenesis.

  11. Simultaneous Exposure to Heavy Metals among Residents in the Industrial Complex: Korean National Cohort Study

    PubMed Central

    Park, Heejin; Lee, Kyoungho; Moon, Chan-Seok; Woo, Kyungsook; Kang, Tack-Shin; Chung, Eun-Kyung; Son, Bu-Soon

    2015-01-01

    A survey was conducted to evaluate the multi-exposure level and correlation among toxic metal biomarkers (Cd, Pb, and Hg). A total of 592 individuals who participated in the survey were residents near an industrial complex in Gwangyang and Yeosu (exposed group) and of Hadong and Namhae (control group) in southern Korea from May 2007 to November 2010. The Gwangyang and Yeosu area exposed groups had slightly higher blood Pb (2.21 and 1.90 µg/dL), urinary Cd observed values (2.20 and 1.46 µg/L), urinary Cd with a urinary creatinine correction (1.43 and 1.25 µg/g Cr), and urinary Hg observed values (2.26 and 0.98 µg/L) in women participants than those in the Hadong and Namhae area (control group). Blood Pb (3.18 and 2.55 µg/dL), urinary Hg observed values (1.14 and 0.92 µg/L), and urinary Hg with a urinary creatinine correction (1.06 and 0.96 µg/L) for male participants were also slightly higher than those in the Hadong and Namhae area (control group). The correlation among urinary Cd, Hg and Pb concentrations in the blood was significant. We suggest that the exposed group of residents were simultaneously exposed to Pb, Cd, and Hg from contaminated ambient air originating from the iron manufacturing industrial complex. PMID:26024361

  12. Testing for independence in J×K contingency tables with complex sample survey data.

    PubMed

    Lipsitz, Stuart R; Fitzmaurice, Garrett M; Sinha, Debajyoti; Hevelone, Nathanael; Giovannucci, Edward; Hu, Jim C

    2015-09-01

    The test of independence of row and column variables in a (J×K) contingency table is a widely used statistical test in many areas of application. For complex survey samples, use of the standard Pearson chi-squared test is inappropriate due to correlation among units within the same cluster. Rao and Scott (1981, Journal of the American Statistical Association 76, 221-230) proposed an approach in which the standard Pearson chi-squared statistic is multiplied by a design effect to adjust for the complex survey design. Unfortunately, this test fails to exist when one of the observed cell counts equals zero. Even with the large samples typical of many complex surveys, zero cell counts can occur for rare events, small domains, or contingency tables with a large number of cells. Here, we propose Wald and score test statistics for independence based on weighted least squares estimating equations. In contrast to the Rao-Scott test statistic, the proposed Wald and score test statistics always exist. In simulations, the score test is found to perform best with respect to type I error. The proposed method is motivated by, and applied to, post surgical complications data from the United States' Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) complex survey of hospitals in 2008. © 2015, The International Biometric Society.

  13. Separation of an associated 90K heat shock protein from the glucocorticoid receptor complex

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Miller-Diener, A.; Kirsch, T.; Grove, B.

    1986-05-01

    A 90K heat shock protein(HSP), observed to copurify with the glucocorticoid receptor(GR), can be separated from the complex by 2 methods, allowing investigation of the role of HSP on kinase activity that was previously reported to be inherent to purified activated GR. Na/sub 2/MoO/sub 4/ stabilized unactivated rat hepatic GR complexes have been purified to >10,000-fold using a purification scheme that involves batchwise treatment of cytosol with phosphocellulose/DNAcellulose, elution from an affinity resin, gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. Samples were subjected to 10-20% gradient SDS-PAGE. Proteins were transferred to nitrocellulose and blotted against monoclonal antibodies to GR(3A6), HSP ormore » nonspecific IgM/G. Immunoblots indicated that HSP was separated from unactivated GR complexes at the affinity step prior to elution of GR with active steroid. GR eluted from the resin with /sup 3/H Triamcinolone acetonide or /sup 3/H Dexamethasone mesylate had an apparent M/sub r/ = 94-96,000 for the steroid binding subunit and is recognized by 3A6. Purification of GR minus the affinity step resulted in copurification of HSP throughout the procedure. However, after Sephadex G75 filtration and subsequent incubation at 25/sup 0/C, 30 min., HSP was separated from activated (DNA binding) GR on DEAE cellulose-52. HSP did not enhance or inhibit /sup 32/P incorporation of the 94K steroid binding subunit nor did it affect phosphorylation of histones by GR.« less

  14. Simultaneous determination of five tetracycline and macrolide antibiotics in feeds using HPCE.

    PubMed

    Tong, Jing; Rao, Qinxiong; Zhu, Kui; Jiang, Zhigang; Ding, Shuangyang

    2009-12-01

    This work demonstrates the potential of HPCE in the analysis of antibiotics in a complex matrix such as feedstuffs. Using 20 mM citric acid-40 mM Na(2)HPO(4) buffer (pH 2.65), the five antibiotics, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, doxycycline, tilmicosin, and tylosin were successfully separated at 30 kV in a 64.5 cm x 75 microm id capillary. Good repeatability, stability, and reliability of the method were supported by <10% CV with mean recoveries of >70%, and the limit of detection of the five analytes was 0.5-1 mg/kg. It was for the first time that a capillary electrophoretic method was employed to simultaneously detect five tetracycline and macrolide antibiotics in animal feeds.

  15. Identifying the most influential spreaders in complex networks by an Extended Local K-Shell Sum

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Fan; Zhang, Ruisheng; Yang, Zhao; Hu, Rongjing; Li, Mengtian; Yuan, Yongna; Li, Keqin

    Identifying influential spreaders is crucial for developing strategies to control the spreading process on complex networks. Following the well-known K-Shell (KS) decomposition, several improved measures are proposed. However, these measures cannot identify the most influential spreaders accurately. In this paper, we define a Local K-Shell Sum (LKSS) by calculating the sum of the K-Shell indices of the neighbors within 2-hops of a given node. Based on the LKSS, we propose an Extended Local K-Shell Sum (ELKSS) centrality to rank spreaders. The ELKSS is defined as the sum of the LKSS of the nearest neighbors of a given node. By assuming that the spreading process on networks follows the Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered (SIR) model, we perform extensive simulations on a series of real networks to compare the performance between the ELKSS centrality and other six measures. The results show that the ELKSS centrality has a better performance than the six measures to distinguish the spreading ability of nodes and to identify the most influential spreaders accurately.

  16. A Cross-Cultural Validation of the Sequential-Simultaneous Theory of Intelligence in Children.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Moon, Soo-Back; McLean, James E.; Kaufman, Alan S.

    2003-01-01

    The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children - Korean (K-ABC-K) was developed to assess the intelligence and achievement of preschool and school-aged Korean children. This study examined the validity of the Sequential Processing, Simultaneous Processing and Achievement scales of the K-ABC-K. The factor analyses provided strong support for the…

  17. Multi-target QSPR modeling for simultaneous prediction of multiple gas-phase kinetic rate constants of diverse chemicals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Basant, Nikita; Gupta, Shikha

    2018-03-01

    The reactions of molecular ozone (O3), hydroxyl (•OH) and nitrate (NO3) radicals are among the major pathways of removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmospheric environment. The gas-phase kinetic rate constants (kO3, kOH, kNO3) are thus, important in assessing the ultimate fate and exposure risk of atmospheric VOCs. Experimental data for rate constants are not available for many emerging VOCs and the computational methods reported so far address a single target modeling only. In this study, we have developed a multi-target (mt) QSPR model for simultaneous prediction of multiple kinetic rate constants (kO3, kOH, kNO3) of diverse organic chemicals considering an experimental data set of VOCs for which values of all the three rate constants are available. The mt-QSPR model identified and used five descriptors related to the molecular size, degree of saturation and electron density in a molecule, which were mechanistically interpretable. These descriptors successfully predicted three rate constants simultaneously. The model yielded high correlations (R2 = 0.874-0.924) between the experimental and simultaneously predicted endpoint rate constant (kO3, kOH, kNO3) values in test arrays for all the three systems. The model also passed all the stringent statistical validation tests for external predictivity. The proposed multi-target QSPR model can be successfully used for predicting reactivity of new VOCs simultaneously for their exposure risk assessment.

  18. Estimation of beech pyrolysis kinetic parameters by Shuffled Complex Evolution.

    PubMed

    Ding, Yanming; Wang, Changjian; Chaos, Marcos; Chen, Ruiyu; Lu, Shouxiang

    2016-01-01

    The pyrolysis kinetics of a typical biomass energy feedstock, beech, was investigated based on thermogravimetric analysis over a wide heating rate range from 5K/min to 80K/min. A three-component (corresponding to hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin) parallel decomposition reaction scheme was applied to describe the experimental data. The resulting kinetic reaction model was coupled to an evolutionary optimization algorithm (Shuffled Complex Evolution, SCE) to obtain model parameters. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study in which SCE has been used in the context of thermogravimetry. The kinetic parameters were simultaneously optimized against data for 10, 20 and 60K/min heating rates, providing excellent fits to experimental data. Furthermore, it was shown that the optimized parameters were applicable to heating rates (5 and 80K/min) beyond those used to generate them. Finally, the predicted results based on optimized parameters were contrasted with those based on the literature. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. H3K9me3 demethylase Kdm4d facilitates the formation of pre-initiative complex and regulates DNA replication.

    PubMed

    Wu, Rentian; Wang, Zhiquan; Zhang, Honglian; Gan, Haiyun; Zhang, Zhiguo

    2017-01-09

    DNA replication is tightly regulated to occur once and only once per cell cycle. How chromatin, the physiological substrate of DNA replication machinery, regulates DNA replication remains largely unknown. Here we show that histone H3 lysine 9 demethylase Kdm4d regulates DNA replication in eukaryotic cells. Depletion of Kdm4d results in defects in DNA replication, which can be rescued by the expression of H3K9M, a histone H3 mutant transgene that reverses the effect of Kdm4d on H3K9 methylation. Kdm4d interacts with replication proteins, and its recruitment to DNA replication origins depends on the two pre-replicative complex components (origin recognition complex [ORC] and minichromosome maintenance [MCM] complex). Depletion of Kdm4d impairs the recruitment of Cdc45, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and polymerase δ, but not ORC and MCM proteins. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism by which Kdm4d regulates DNA replication by reducing the H3K9me3 level to facilitate formation of pre-initiative complex. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

  20. Simultaneous identification of the low-field-induced tiny variation of complex refractive index for anisotropic and opaque magnetic-fluid thin film by a stable heterodyne Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

    PubMed

    Hong, Chin-Yih; Chieh, Jen-Jie; Yang, Shieh-Yueh; Yang, Hong-Chang; Horng, Herng-Er

    2009-10-10

    We use a heterodyne Mach-Zehnder interferometer to simultaneously and simply measure the complex refractive index by only normal incidence on the specimen, instead of using a complicated measurement procedure or instrument that only measures the real or imaginary part of the complex refractive index. To study the tiny variation of the complex refractive index, the small complex refractive-index variation of a rare-concentration magnetic-fluid thin film, due to a weak field of less than 200 Oe, was processed by this interferometer. We also present the wavelength trend of the complex refractive index of magnetic fluids to verify the appearance of the slight change in a small wavelength range.

  1. Sequential-Simultaneous Analysis of Japanese Children's Performance on the Japanese McCarthy.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ishikuma, Toshinori; And Others

    This study explored the hypothesis that Japanese children perform significantly better on simultaneous processing than on sequential processing. The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) served as the criterion of the two types of mental processing. Regression equations to predict Sequential and Simultaneous processing from McCarthy…

  2. Dalitz plot analysis of Ds+→K+K-π+

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Del Amo Sanchez, P.; Lees, J. P.; Poireau, V.; Prencipe, E.; Tisserand, V.; Garra Tico, J.; Grauges, E.; Martinelli, M.; Milanes, D. A.; Palano, A.; Pappagallo, M.; Eigen, G.; Stugu, B.; Sun, L.; Brown, D. N.; Kerth, L. T.; Kolomensky, Yu. G.; Lynch, G.; Osipenkov, I. L.; Koch, H.; Schroeder, T.; Asgeirsson, D. J.; Hearty, C.; Mattison, T. S.; McKenna, J. A.; Khan, A.; Blinov, V. E.; Buzykaev, A. R.; Druzhinin, V. P.; Golubev, V. B.; Kravchenko, E. A.; Onuchin, A. P.; Serednyakov, S. I.; Skovpen, Yu. I.; Solodov, E. P.; Todyshev, K. Yu.; Yushkov, A. N.; Bondioli, M.; Curry, S.; Kirkby, D.; Lankford, A. J.; Mandelkern, M.; Martin, E. C.; Stoker, D. P.; Atmacan, H.; Gary, J. W.; Liu, F.; Long, O.; Vitug, G. M.; Campagnari, C.; Hong, T. M.; Kovalskyi, D.; Richman, J. D.; West, C.; Eisner, A. M.; Heusch, C. A.; Kroseberg, J.; Lockman, W. S.; Martinez, A. J.; Schalk, T.; Schumm, B. A.; Seiden, A.; Winstrom, L. O.; Cheng, C. H.; Doll, D. A.; Echenard, B.; Hitlin, D. G.; Ongmongkolkul, P.; Porter, F. C.; Rakitin, A. Y.; Andreassen, R.; Dubrovin, M. S.; Mancinelli, G.; Meadows, B. T.; Sokoloff, M. D.; Bloom, P. C.; Ford, W. T.; Gaz, A.; Nagel, M.; Nauenberg, U.; Smith, J. G.; Wagner, S. R.; Ayad, R.; Toki, W. H.; Jasper, H.; Karbach, T. M.; Petzold, A.; Spaan, B.; Kobel, M. J.; Schubert, K. R.; Schwierz, R.; Bernard, D.; Verderi, M.; Clark, P. J.; Playfer, S.; Watson, J. E.; Andreotti, M.; Bettoni, D.; Bozzi, C.; Calabrese, R.; Cecchi, A.; Cibinetto, G.; Fioravanti, E.; Franchini, P.; Garzia, I.; Luppi, E.; Munerato, M.; Negrini, M.; Petrella, A.; Piemontese, L.; Baldini-Ferroli, R.; Calcaterra, A.; de Sangro, R.; Finocchiaro, G.; Nicolaci, M.; Pacetti, S.; Patteri, P.; Peruzzi, I. M.; Piccolo, M.; Rama, M.; Zallo, A.; Contri, R.; Guido, E.; Lo Vetere, M.; Monge, M. R.; Passaggio, S.; Patrignani, C.; Robutti, E.; Tosi, S.; Bhuyan, B.; Prasad, V.; Lee, C. L.; Morii, M.; Edwards, A. J.; Adametz, A.; Marks, J.; Uwer, U.; Bernlochner, F. U.; Ebert, M.; Lacker, H. M.; Lueck, T.; Volk, A.; Dauncey, P. D.; Tibbetts, M.; Behera, P. K.; Mallik, U.; Chen, C.; Cochran, J.; Crawley, H. B.; Dong, L.; Meyer, W. T.; Prell, S.; Rosenberg, E. I.; Rubin, A. E.; Gritsan, A. V.; Guo, Z. J.; Arnaud, N.; Davier, M.; Derkach, D.; Firmino da Costa, J.; Grosdidier, G.; Le Diberder, F.; Lutz, A. M.; Malaescu, B.; Perez, A.; Roudeau, P.; Schune, M. H.; Serrano, J.; Sordini, V.; Stocchi, A.; Wang, L.; Wormser, G.; Lange, D. J.; Wright, D. M.; Bingham, I.; Chavez, C. A.; Coleman, J. P.; Fry, J. R.; Gabathuler, E.; Gamet, R.; Hutchcroft, D. E.; Payne, D. J.; Touramanis, C.; Bevan, A. J.; di Lodovico, F.; Sacco, R.; Sigamani, M.; Cowan, G.; Paramesvaran, S.; Wren, A. C.; Brown, D. N.; Davis, C. L.; Denig, A. G.; Fritsch, M.; Gradl, W.; Hafner, A.; Alwyn, K. E.; Bailey, D.; Barlow, R. J.; Jackson, G.; Lafferty, G. D.; Anderson, J.; Cenci, R.; Jawahery, A.; Roberts, D. A.; Simi, G.; Tuggle, J. M.; Dallapiccola, C.; Salvati, E.; Cowan, R.; Dujmic, D.; Sciolla, G.; Zhao, M.; Lindemann, D.; Patel, P. M.; Robertson, S. H.; Schram, M.; Biassoni, P.; Lazzaro, A.; Lombardo, V.; Palombo, F.; Stracka, S.; Cremaldi, L.; Godang, R.; Kroeger, R.; Sonnek, P.; Summers, D. J.; Nguyen, X.; Simard, M.; Taras, P.; de Nardo, G.; Monorchio, D.; Onorato, G.; Sciacca, C.; Raven, G.; Snoek, H. L.; Jessop, C. P.; Knoepfel, K. J.; Losecco, J. M.; Wang, W. F.; Corwin, L. A.; Honscheid, K.; Kass, R.; Morris, J. P.; Blount, N. L.; Brau, J.; Frey, R.; Igonkina, O.; Kolb, J. A.; Rahmat, R.; Sinev, N. B.; Strom, D.; Strube, J.; Torrence, E.; Castelli, G.; Feltresi, E.; Gagliardi, N.; Margoni, M.; Morandin, M.; Posocco, M.; Rotondo, M.; Simonetto, F.; Stroili, R.; Ben-Haim, E.; Bonneaud, G. R.; Briand, H.; Calderini, G.; Chauveau, J.; Hamon, O.; Leruste, Ph.; Marchiori, G.; Ocariz, J.; Prendki, J.; Sitt, S.; Biasini, M.; Manoni, E.; Rossi, A.; Angelini, C.; Batignani, G.; Bettarini, S.; Carpinelli, M.; Casarosa, G.; Cervelli, A.; Forti, F.; Giorgi, M. A.; Lusiani, A.; Neri, N.; Paoloni, E.; Rizzo, G.; Walsh, J. J.; Lopes Pegna, D.; Lu, C.; Olsen, J.; Smith, A. J. S.; Telnov, A. V.; Anulli, F.; Baracchini, E.; Cavoto, G.; Faccini, R.; Ferrarotto, F.; Ferroni, F.; Gaspero, M.; Li Gioi, L.; Mazzoni, M. A.; Piredda, G.; Renga, F.; Hartmann, T.; Leddig, T.; Schröder, H.; Waldi, R.; Adye, T.; Franek, B.; Olaiya, E. O.; Wilson, F. F.; Emery, S.; Hamel de Monchenault, G.; Vasseur, G.; Yèche, Ch.; Zito, M.; Allen, M. T.; Aston, D.; Bard, D. J.; Bartoldus, R.; Benitez, J. F.; Cartaro, C.; Convery, M. R.; Dorfan, J.; Dubois-Felsmann, G. P.; Dunwoodie, W.; Field, R. C.; Franco Sevilla, M.; Fulsom, B. G.; Gabareen, A. M.; Graham, M. T.; Grenier, P.; Hast, C.; Innes, W. R.; Kelsey, M. H.; Kim, H.; Kim, P.; Kocian, M. L.; Leith, D. W. G. S.; Li, S.; Lindquist, B.; Luitz, S.; Luth, V.; Lynch, H. L.; Macfarlane, D. B.; Marsiske, H.; Muller, D. R.; Neal, H.; Nelson, S.; O'Grady, C. P.; Ofte, I.; Perl, M.; Pulliam, T.; Ratcliff, B. N.; Roodman, A.; Salnikov, A. A.; Santoro, V.; Schindler, R. H.; Schwiening, J.; Snyder, A.; Su, D.; Sullivan, M. K.; Sun, S.; Suzuki, K.; Thompson, J. M.; Va'Vra, J.; Wagner, A. P.; Weaver, M.; Wisniewski, W. J.; Wittgen, M.; Wright, D. H.; Wulsin, H. W.; Yarritu, A. K.; Young, C. C.; Ziegler, V.; Chen, X. R.; Park, W.; Purohit, M. V.; White, R. M.; Wilson, J. R.; Randle-Conde, A.; Sekula, S. J.; Bellis, M.; Burchat, P. R.; Miyashita, T. S.; Ahmed, S.; Alam, M. S.; Ernst, J. A.; Pan, B.; Saeed, M. A.; Zain, S. B.; Guttman, N.; Soffer, A.; Lund, P.; Spanier, S. M.; Eckmann, R.; Ritchie, J. L.; Ruland, A. M.; Schilling, C. J.; Schwitters, R. F.; Wray, B. C.; Izen, J. M.; Lou, X. C.; Bianchi, F.; Gamba, D.; Pelliccioni, M.; Bomben, M.; Lanceri, L.; Vitale, L.; Lopez-March, N.; Martinez-Vidal, F.; Oyanguren, A.; Albert, J.; Banerjee, Sw.; Choi, H. H. F.; Hamano, K.; King, G. J.; Kowalewski, R.; Lewczuk, M. J.; Lindsay, C.; Nugent, I. M.; Roney, J. M.; Sobie, R. J.; Gershon, T. J.; Harrison, P. F.; Latham, T. E.; Pennington, M. R.; Puccio, E. M. T.; Band, H. R.; Dasu, S.; Flood, K. T.; Pan, Y.; Prepost, R.; Vuosalo, C. O.; Wu, S. L.

    2011-03-01

    We perform a Dalitz plot analysis of about 100 000 Ds+ decays to K+K-π+ and measure the complex amplitudes of the intermediate resonances which contribute to this decay mode. We also measure the relative branching fractions of Ds+→K+K+π- and Ds+→K+K+K-. For this analysis we use a 384 fb-1 data sample, recorded by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+e- collider running at center-of-mass energies near 10.58 GeV.

  3. Geologic and Geochronologic Studies of the Early Proterozoic Kanektok Metamorphic Complex of Southwestern Alaska

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Turner, Donald L.; Forbes, Robert B.; Aleinikoff, John N.; McDougall, Ian; Hedge, Carl E.; Wilson, Frederic H.; Layer, Paul W.; Hults, Chad P.

    2009-01-01

    The Kanektok complex of southwestern Alaska appears to be a rootless terrane of early Proterozoic sedimentary, volcanic, and intrusive rocks which were metamorphosed to amphibolite and granulite facies and later underwent a pervasive late Mesozoic thermal event accompanied by granitic plutonism and greenschist facies metamorphism of overlying sediments. The terrane is structurally complex and exhibits characteristics generally attributed to mantled gneiss domes. U-Th-Pb analyses of zircon and sphene from a core zone granitic orthogneiss indicate that the orthogneiss protolith crystallized about 2.05 b.y. ago and that the protolithic sedimentary, volcanic and granitic intrusive rocks of the core zone were metamorphosed to granulite and amphibolite facies about 1.77 b.y. ago. A Rb-Sr study of 13 whole-rock samples also suggests metamorphism of an early Proterozoic [Paleoproterozoic] protolith at 1.77 Ga, although the data are scattered and difficult to interpret. Seventy-seven conventional 40K/40Ar mineral ages were determined for 58 rocks distributed throughout the outcrop area of the complex. Analysis of the K-Ar data indicate that nearly all of these ages have been totally or partially reset by a pervasive late Mesozoic thermal event accompanied by granitic plutonism and greenschist facies metamorphism. Several biotites gave apparent K-Ar ages over 2 Ga. These ages appear to be controlled by excess radiogenic 40Ar produced by the degassing protolith during the 1.77 Ga metamorphism and incorporated by the biotites when they were at temperatures at which Ar could diffuse through the lattice. Five amphibolites yielded apparent Precambrian 40K/40Ar hornblende ages. There is no evidence that these hornblende ages have been increased by excess argon. The oldest 40K/40Ar hornblende age of 1.77 Ga is identical to the sphene 207Pb/206Pb orthogneiss age and to the Rb-Sr 'isochron' age for six of the 13 whole-rock samples. The younger hornblende ages are interpreted as

  4. Ultraviolet Photodissociation Spectroscopy of the Cold K⁺·Calix[4]arene Complex in the Gas Phase.

    PubMed

    Inokuchi, Yoshiya; Soga, Kazuki; Hirai, Kenta; Kida, Motoki; Morishima, Fumiya; Ebata, Takayuki

    2015-08-06

    The cooling of ionic species in the gas phase greatly simplifies the UV spectrum, which is of special importance when studying the electronic and geometric structures of large systems, such as biorelated molecules and host-guest complexes. Many efforts have been devoted to achieving ion cooling with a cold, quadrupole Paul ion trap (QIT), but one problem was the insufficient cooling of ions (up to ∼30 K) in the QIT. In this study, we construct a mass spectrometer for the ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) spectroscopy of gas-phase cold ions. The instrument consists of an electrospray ion source, a QIT cooled with a He cryostat, and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. With great care given to the cooling condition, we can achieve ∼10 K for the vibrational temperature of ions in the QIT, which is estimated from UVPD spectra of the benzo-18-crown-6 (B18C6) complex with a potassium ion, K(+)·B18C6. Using this setup, we measure a UVPD spectrum of cold calix[4]arene (C4A) complex with potassium ion, K(+)·C4A. The spectrum shows a very weak band and a strong one at 36018 and 36156 cm(-1), respectively, accompanied by many sharp vibronic bands in the 36000-36600 cm(-1) region. In the geometry optimization of the K(+)·C4A complex, we obtain three stable isomers: one endo and two exo forms. On the basis of the total energy and UV spectral patterns predicted by density functional theory calculations, we attribute the structure of the K(+)·C4A complex to the endo isomer (C2 symmetry), in which the K(+) ion is located inside the cup of C4A. The vibronic bands of K(+)·C4A at 36 018 and 36 156 cm(-1) are assigned to the S1(A)-S0(A) and S2(B)-S0(A) transitions of the endo isomer, respectively.

  5. K6 linked polyubiquitylation of FADD by CHIP prevents death inducing signaling complex formation suppressing cell death.

    PubMed

    Seo, Jinho; Lee, Eun-Woo; Shin, Jihye; Seong, Daehyeon; Nam, Young Woo; Jeong, Manhyung; Lee, Seon-Hyeong; Lee, Cheolju; Song, Jaewhan

    2018-05-23

    Fas-associated death domain (FADD) is an adaptor protein recruiting complexes of caspase 8 to death ligand receptors to induce extrinsic apoptotic cell death in response to a TNF superfamily member. Although, formation of the complex of FADD and caspase 8 upon death stimuli has been studied in detail, posttranslational modifications fine-tuning these processes have yet to be identified. Here we revealed that K6-linked polyubiquitylation of FADD on lysines 149 and 153 mediated by C terminus HSC70-interacting protein (CHIP) plays an important role in preventing formation of the death inducing signaling complex (DISC), thus leading to the suppression of cell death. Cells depleted of CHIP showed higher sensitivity toward death ligands such as FasL and TRAIL, leading to upregulation of DISC formation composed of a death receptor, FADD, and caspase 8. CHIP was able to bind to FADD, induce K6-linked polyubiquitylation of FADD, and suppress DISC formation. By mass spectrometry, lysines 149 and 153 of FADD were found to be responsible for CHIP-mediated FADD ubiquitylation. FADD mutated at these sites was capable of more potent cell death induction as compared with the wild type and was no longer suppressed by CHIP. On the other hand, CHIP deficient in E3 ligase activity was not capable of suppressing FADD function and of FADD ubiquitylation. CHIP depletion in ME-180 cells induced significant sensitization of these cells toward TRAIL in xenograft analyses. These results imply that K6-linked ubiquitylation of FADD by CHIP is a crucial checkpoint in cytokine-dependent extrinsic apoptosis.

  6. Simultaneous Precipitation of Solar Protons and Relativistic Electrons as a New Factor Affecting the Earth's Atmosphere

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shirochkov, A. V.; Sokolov, S. N.

    In the field of solar - terrestrial physics during the last decade there has been renewed interest in the effects produced in the Earth atmosphere and ionosphere by fluxes of precipitated highly relativistic electrons. A series of investigation on the subject (preferably by means of satellite measurements) was performed recently, which discussed different aspects of these phenomena called HRE events. More careful study of the HRE events revealed previously unnoticed geophysical phenomenon: a great majority of the solar proton events (SPE) were accompanied by simultaneous precipitation of relativistic electron fluxes. The studies of previous SPE events attributed their atmospheric and ionospheric effects entirely to the solar proton fluxes. It turned out that such an assumption is wrong. Therefore we have actually a new class of geophysical phenomena when the Earth's atmosphere and ionosphere experience combined impact of simultaneously precipitating fluxes of solar protons and relativistic electrons. If one takes into accounts effect of enhanced density of the solar wind during the SPEs (i.e. its dynamic pressure) the real situation during these combined events became more complicated. In this paper the effects during the storm of May 1992 are analyzed as an example of such unusual combination. The methods of separation of the effects produced by different precipitation particles are presented. Other similar events are considered to demonstrate that such complex events are not unique geophysical phenomena.

  7. A Complex Inoculant of N2-Fixing, P- and K-Solubilizing Bacteria from a Purple Soil Improves the Growth of Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) Plantlets

    PubMed Central

    Shen, Hong; He, Xinhua; Liu, Yiqing; Chen, Yi; Tang, Jianming; Guo, Tao

    2016-01-01

    Limited information is available if plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) can promote the growth of fruit crops through improvements in soil fertility. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of PGPB, identified by phenotypic and 16S rRNA sequencing from a vegetable purple soil in Chongqing, China, to increase soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) availability and growth of kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis). In doing so, three out of 17 bacterial isolates with a high capacity of N2-fixation (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, XD-N-3), P-solubilization (B. pumilus, XD-P-1) or K-solubilization (B. circulans, XD-K-2) were mixed as a complex bacterial inoculant. A pot experiment then examined its effects of this complex inoculant on soil microflora, soil N2-fixation, P- and K-solubility and kiwifruit growth under four treatments. These treatments were (1) no-fertilizer and no-bacterial inoculant (Control), (2) no-bacterial inoculant and a full-rate of chemical NPK fertilizer (CF), (3) the complex inoculant (CI), and (4) a half-rate CF and full CI (1/2CF+CI). Results indicated that significantly greater growth of N2-fixing, P- and K-solubilizing bacteria among treatments ranked from greatest to least as under 1/2CF+CI ≈ CI > CF ≈ Control. Though generally without significant treatment differences in soil total N, P, or K, significantly greater soil available N, P, or K among treatments was, respectively, patterned as under 1/2CF+CI ≈ CI > CF ≈ Control, under 1/2CF+CI > CF > CI > Control or under 1/2CF+CI > CF ≈ CI > Control, indicating an improvement of soil fertility by this complex inoculant. In regards to plant growth, significantly greater total plant biomass and total N, P, and K accumulation among treatments were ranked as 1/2CF+CI ≈ CI > CF > Control. Additionally, significantly greater leaf polyphenol oxidase activity ranked as under CF > 1/2CF+CI ≈ Control ≈ CI, while leaf malondialdehyde contents as under Control > CI ≈ CF > 1/2CF

  8. A Complex Inoculant of N2-Fixing, P- and K-Solubilizing Bacteria from a Purple Soil Improves the Growth of Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) Plantlets.

    PubMed

    Shen, Hong; He, Xinhua; Liu, Yiqing; Chen, Yi; Tang, Jianming; Guo, Tao

    2016-01-01

    Limited information is available if plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) can promote the growth of fruit crops through improvements in soil fertility. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of PGPB, identified by phenotypic and 16S rRNA sequencing from a vegetable purple soil in Chongqing, China, to increase soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) availability and growth of kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis). In doing so, three out of 17 bacterial isolates with a high capacity of N2-fixation (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, XD-N-3), P-solubilization (B. pumilus, XD-P-1) or K-solubilization (B. circulans, XD-K-2) were mixed as a complex bacterial inoculant. A pot experiment then examined its effects of this complex inoculant on soil microflora, soil N2-fixation, P- and K-solubility and kiwifruit growth under four treatments. These treatments were (1) no-fertilizer and no-bacterial inoculant (Control), (2) no-bacterial inoculant and a full-rate of chemical NPK fertilizer (CF), (3) the complex inoculant (CI), and (4) a half-rate CF and full CI (1/2CF+CI). Results indicated that significantly greater growth of N2-fixing, P- and K-solubilizing bacteria among treatments ranked from greatest to least as under 1/2CF+CI ≈ CI > CF ≈ Control. Though generally without significant treatment differences in soil total N, P, or K, significantly greater soil available N, P, or K among treatments was, respectively, patterned as under 1/2CF+CI ≈ CI > CF ≈ Control, under 1/2CF+CI > CF > CI > Control or under 1/2CF+CI > CF ≈ CI > Control, indicating an improvement of soil fertility by this complex inoculant. In regards to plant growth, significantly greater total plant biomass and total N, P, and K accumulation among treatments were ranked as 1/2CF+CI ≈ CI > CF > Control. Additionally, significantly greater leaf polyphenol oxidase activity ranked as under CF > 1/2CF+CI ≈ Control ≈ CI, while leaf malondialdehyde contents as under Control > CI ≈ CF > 1/2CF

  9. Simultaneous planar measurements of soot structure and velocity fields in a turbulent lifted jet flame at 3 kHz

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Köhler, M.; Boxx, I.; Geigle, K. P.; Meier, W.

    2011-05-01

    We describe a newly developed combustion diagnostic for the simultaneous planar imaging of soot structure and velocity fields in a highly sooting, lifted turbulent jet flame at 3000 frames per second, or two orders of magnitude faster than "conventional" laser imaging systems. This diagnostic uses short pulse duration (8 ns), frequency-doubled, diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) lasers to excite laser-induced incandescence (LII) at 3 kHz, which is then imaged onto a high framerate CMOS camera. A second (dual-cavity) DPSS laser and CMOS camera form the basis of a particle image velocity (PIV) system used to acquire 2-component velocity field in the flame. The LII response curve (measured in a laminar propane diffusion flame) is presented and the combined diagnostics then applied in a heavily sooting lifted turbulent jet flame. The potential challenges and rewards of application of this combined imaging technique at high speeds are discussed.

  10. Anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography of water-soluble chromium (VI) and chromium (III) complexes in biological materials.

    PubMed

    Suzuki, Y

    1987-04-10

    A high-performance anion-exchange liquid chromatograph coupled to visible-range (370 nm) and UV (280 nm) detectors and an atomic-absorption spectrometer allowed the rapid determination of CrVI and/or complexes of CrIII in rat plasma, erythrocyte lysate and liver supernatant treated with CrVI or CrIII in vitro. CrVI in the eluates was determined using both the visible-range detector and atomic-absorption spectrometer (AAS). The detection limits of CrVI in standard solutions using these methods were 2 and 5 ng (signal-to-noise ratio = 2), respectively. Separations of the biological components and of CrIII complexes were monitored by UV and AAS analyses, respectively. Time-related decreases of CrVI accompanied by increases in CrIII complexes were observed, indicating the reduction of CrVI by some of the biological components. The reduction rates were considerably higher in the liver supernatant and erythrocyte lysate than in the plasma. These results indicate that the anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatographic system is useful for simultaneous determination of CrVI and CrIII complexes in biological materials.

  11. Speciation in the Fe(III)-Cl(I)-H2O System at 298.15 K, 313.15 K, and 333.15 K (25 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jamett, Nathalie E.; Hernández, Pía C.; Casas, Jesús M.; Taboada, María E.

    2018-02-01

    This article presents the results on speciation of ferric iron generated by the dissolution of chemical reagent hydromolysite (ferric chloride hexahydrate, FeCl3:6H2O) in water at 298.15 K, 313.15 K, and 333.15 K (25 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C). Experiments were performed with a thermoregulated system up to the equilibrium point, as manifested by solution pH. Solution samples were analyzed in terms of concentration, pH, and electrical conductivity. Measurements of density and refractive index were obtained at different temperatures and iron concentrations. A decrease of pH was observed with the increase in the amount of dissolved iron, indicating that ferric chloride is a strong electrolyte that reacts readily with water. Experimental results were modeled using the hydrogeochemical code PHREEQC in order to obtain solution speciation. Cations and neutral and anion complexes were simultaneously present in the system at the studied conditions according to model simulations, where dominant species included Cl-, FeCl2+, FeCl2 +, FeOHCl 2 0 , and H+. A decrease in the concentration of Cl- and Fe3+ ions took place with increasing temperature due to the association of Fe-Cl species. Standard equilibrium constants for the formation of FeOHCl 2 0 obtained in this study were log Kf0 = -0.8 ± 0.01 at 298.15 K (25 °C), -0.94 ± 0.02 at 313.15 K (40 °C), and -1.03 ± 0.01 at 333.15 K (60 °C).

  12. Modulation of nociceptive dural input to the trigeminocervical complex through GluK1 kainate receptors.

    PubMed

    Andreou, Anna P; Holland, Philip R; Lasalandra, Michele P; Goadsby, Peter J

    2015-03-01

    Migraine is a common and disabling neurologic disorder, with important psychiatric comorbidities. Its pathophysiology involves activation of neurons in the trigeminocervical complex (TCC). Kainate receptors carrying the glutamate receptor subunit 5 (GluK1) are present in key brain areas involved in migraine pathophysiology. To study the influence of kainate receptors on trigeminovascular neurotransmission, we determined the presence of GluK1 receptors within the trigeminal ganglion and TCC with immunohistochemistry. We performed in vivo electrophysiologic recordings from TCC neurons and investigated whether local or systemic application of GluK1 receptor antagonists modulated trigeminovascular transmission. Microiontophoretic application of a selective GluK1 receptor antagonist, but not of a nonspecific ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonist, markedly attenuated cell firing in a subpopulation of neurons activated in response to dural stimulation, consistent with selective inhibition of postsynaptic GluK1 receptor-evoked firing seen in all recorded neurons. In contrast, trigeminovascular activation was significantly facilitated in a different neuronal population. The clinically active kainate receptor antagonist LY466195 attenuated trigeminovascular activation in all neurons. In addition, LY466195 demonstrated an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-mediated effect. This study demonstrates a differential role of GluK1 receptors in the TCC, antagonism of which can inhibit trigeminovascular activation through postsynaptic mechanisms. Furthermore, the data suggest a novel, possibly presynaptic, modulatory role of trigeminocervical kainate receptors in vivo. Differential activation of kainate receptors suggests unique roles for this receptor in pro- and antinociceptive mechanisms in migraine pathophysiology.

  13. Individual differences in simultaneous color constancy are related to working memory.

    PubMed

    Allen, Elizabeth C; Beilock, Sian L; Shevell, Steven K

    2012-02-01

    Few studies have investigated the possible role of higher-level cognitive mechanisms in color constancy. Following up on previous work with successive color constancy [J. Exper. Psychol. Learn. Mem. Cogn. 37, 1014 (2011)], the current study examined the relation between simultaneous color constancy and working memory-the ability to maintain a desired representation while suppressing irrelevant information. Higher working memory was associated with poorer simultaneous color constancy of a chromatically complex stimulus. Ways in which the executive attention mechanism of working memory may account for this are discussed. This finding supports a role for higher-level cognitive mechanisms in color constancy and is the first to demonstrate a relation between simultaneous color constancy and a complex cognitive ability. © 2012 Optical Society of America

  14. The accompanying adult: authority to give consent in the UK.

    PubMed

    Lal, Seema Madhur Lata; Parekh, Susan; Mason, Carol; Roberts, Graham

    2007-05-01

    Children may be accompanied by various people when attending for dental treatment. Before treatment is started, there is a legal requirement that the operator obtain informed consent for the proposed procedure. In the case of minors, the person authorized to give consent (parental responsibility) is usually a parent. To ascertain if accompanying persons of children attending the Department of Paediatric Dentistry at the Eastman Dental Hospital, London were empowered to give consent for the child's dental treatment. A total of 250 accompanying persons of children attending were selected, over a 6-month period. A questionnaire was used to establish whether the accompanying person(s) were authorized to give consent. The study showed that 12% of accompanying persons had no legal authority to give consent for the child's dental treatment. Clinicians need to be aware of the status of persons accompanying children to ensure valid consent is obtained.

  15. Thermodynamics of formation for the 18-crown-6-triglycine molecular complex in water-dimethylsulfoxide solvents

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Usacheva, T. R.; Lan, Pham Thi; Sharnin, V. A.

    2014-06-01

    The effect of a water-dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solvent on the formation of a molecular complex of 18-crown-6 (18C6) with triglycine (diglycylglycine, 3Gly) is studied via calorimetric titration. It is found that switching from water to an H2O-DMSO mixture with DMSO mole fraction of 0.30 is accompanied by a monotonic increase in the stability of [3Gly18C6] complex, from log K ∘ = 1.10 to log K ∘ = 2.44, and an increase in the exothermicity of the reaction of its formation, from -5.9 to -16.9 kJ/mol. It is shown that the [3Gly18C6] complex exhibits enthalpy stabilization with negative values of enthalpy and entropy over the investigated range of H2O-DMSO solvents. Analysis of the reagents' solvation characteristics reveals that the increase in the reaction's exothermicity of transfer is due to differences in the solvation of [3Gly18C6] and 18C6 with a small solvation contribution from 3Gly. It is concluded that the change in the Gibbs energy of the reaction 3Glysolv + 18C6solv ↔ [3Gly18C6]solv is due to differences in the change in the solvation state of the complex and the peptide (Δtr G ∘([3Gly18C6])-Δtr G ∘(3Gly)).

  16. Microfluidic Leaching of Soil Minerals: Release of K+ from K Feldspar

    PubMed Central

    Ciceri, Davide; Allanore, Antoine

    2015-01-01

    The rate of K+ leaching from soil minerals such as K-feldspar is believed to be too slow to provide agronomic benefit. Currently, theories and methods available to interpret kinetics of mineral processes in soil fail to consider its microfluidic nature. In this study, we measure the leaching rate of K+ ions from a K-feldspar-bearing rock (syenite) in a microfluidic environment, and demonstrate that at the spatial and temporal scales experienced by crop roots, K+ is available at a faster rate than that measured with conventional apparatuses. We present a device to investigate kinetics of mineral leaching at an unprecedented simultaneous resolution of space (~101-102 μm), time (~101-102 min) and fluid volume (~100-101 mL). Results obtained from such a device challenge the notion that silicate minerals cannot be used as alternative fertilizers for tropical soils. PMID:26485160

  17. Ground roll attenuation using polarization analysis in the t-f-k domain

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, C.; Wang, Y.

    2017-07-01

    S waves travel slower than P waves and have a lower dominant frequency. Therefore, applying common techniques such as time-frequency filtering and f-k filtering to separate S waves from ground roll is difficult because ground roll is also characterized by slow velocity and low frequency. In this study, we present a method for attenuating ground roll using a polarization filtering method based on the t-f-k transform. We describe the particle motion of the waves by complex vector signals. Each pair of frequency components, whose frequencies have the same absolute value but different signs, of the complex signal indicate an elliptical or linear motion. The polarization parameters of the elliptical or linear motion are explicitly related to the two Fourier coefficients. We then extend these concepts to the t-f-k domain and propose a polarization filtering method for ground roll attenuation based on the t-f-k transform. The proposed approach can define automatically the time-varying reject zones on the f-k panel at different times as a function of the reciprocal ellipticity. Four attributes, time, frequency, apparent velocity and polarization are used to identify and extract the ground roll simultaneously. Thus, the ground roll and body waves can be separated as long as they are dissimilar in one of these attributes. We compare our method with commonly used filtering techniques by applying the methods to synthetic and real seismic data. The results indicate that our method can attenuate ground roll while preserving body waves more effectively than the other methods.

  18. 16 CFR § 1500.125 - Labeling requirements for accompanying literature.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 16 Commercial Practices 2 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Labeling requirements for accompanying literature. § 1500.125 Section § 1500.125 Commercial Practices CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION FEDERAL... REGULATIONS § 1500.125 Labeling requirements for accompanying literature. When any accompanying literature...

  19. Better dual-task processing in simultaneous interpreters

    PubMed Central

    Strobach, Tilo; Becker, Maxi; Schubert, Torsten; Kühn, Simone

    2015-01-01

    Simultaneous interpreting (SI) is a highly complex activity and requires the performance and coordination of multiple, simultaneous tasks: analysis and understanding of the discourse in a first language, reformulating linguistic material, storing of intermediate processing steps, and language production in a second language among others. It is, however, an open issue whether persons with experience in SI possess superior skills in coordination of multiple tasks and whether they are able to transfer these skills to lab-based dual-task situations. Within the present study, we set out to explore whether interpreting experience is associated with related higher-order executive functioning in the context of dual-task situations of the Psychological Refractory Period (PRP) type. In this PRP situation, we found faster reactions times in participants with experience in simultaneous interpretation in contrast to control participants without such experience. Thus, simultaneous interpreters possess superior skills in coordination of multiple tasks in lab-based dual-task situations. PMID:26528232

  20. N* resonances from K $$\\Lambda$$ Λ amplitudes in sliced bins in energy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Anisovich, A. V.; Burkert, V.; Hadžimehmedović, M.

    The two reactionsmore » $$\\gamma p\\to K^+\\Lambda$$ and $$\\pi^-p\\to K^0\\Lambda$$ are analyzed to determine the leading photoproduction multipoles and the pion-induced partial wave amplitudes in slices of the invariant mass. The multipoles and the partial-wave amplitudes are simultaneously fitted in a multichannel Laurent+Pietarinen model (L+P model), which determines the poles in the complex energy plane on the second Riemann sheet close to the physical axes. The results from the L+P fit are compared with the results of an energy-dependent fit based on the Bonn-Gatchina (BnGa) approach. The study confirms the existence of several poles due to nucleon resonances in the region at about 1.9\\,GeV with quantum numbers $J^P = 1/2^+$, $3/2^+, 1/2^-, 3/2^-, 5/2^-$.« less

  1. N* resonances from K $$\\Lambda$$ Λ amplitudes in sliced bins in energy

    DOE PAGES

    Anisovich, A. V.; Burkert, V.; Hadžimehmedović, M.; ...

    2017-12-22

    The two reactionsmore » $$\\gamma p\\to K^+\\Lambda$$ and $$\\pi^-p\\to K^0\\Lambda$$ are analyzed to determine the leading photoproduction multipoles and the pion-induced partial wave amplitudes in slices of the invariant mass. The multipoles and the partial-wave amplitudes are simultaneously fitted in a multichannel Laurent+Pietarinen model (L+P model), which determines the poles in the complex energy plane on the second Riemann sheet close to the physical axes. The results from the L+P fit are compared with the results of an energy-dependent fit based on the Bonn-Gatchina (BnGa) approach. The study confirms the existence of several poles due to nucleon resonances in the region at about 1.9\\,GeV with quantum numbers $J^P = 1/2^+$, $3/2^+, 1/2^-, 3/2^-, 5/2^-$.« less

  2. Theoretical study of mixed MLaX(4) (M = Na, K, Cs; X = F, Cl, Br, I) rare earth/alkali metal halide complexes.

    PubMed

    Groen, Cornelis Petrus; Oskam, Ad; Kovács, Attila

    2003-02-10

    The structure, bonding, and vibrational properties of the mixed MLaX(4) (M = Na, K, Cs; X = F, Cl, Br, I) rare earth/alkali metal halide complexes have been studied using the MP2 method in conjunction with polarized triple-zeta valence basis sets and quasi-relativistic effective core potentials for the heavy atoms. From the three characteristic structures, possessing 1- (C(3)(v)), 2- (C(2)(v)), or 3-fold coordination (C(3)(v)) between the alkali metal and the bridging halide atoms, the bi- and tridentate forms are stable isomers with close dissociation energies. In general, for the complexes existing of lighter alkali metals and halogens, the bidentate structure corresponds to the global minimum of the potential energy surface, while the heavier analogues favor the tridentate structure. At experimentally relevant temperatures (T > 800 K), however, the isomerization entropy leads to a domination of the bidentate structures over the tridentate forms for all complexes. An important effect of the size of the alkali metal is manifested in the larger stabilities of the K and Cs complexes. The natural atomic charges are in agreement with strong electrostatic interactions in the title complexes. The marginal covalent contributions show a slight increasing trend in the heavier analogues. The calculated vibrational data indicate that infrared spectroscopy may be an effective tool for experimental investigation and characterization of MLaX(4) molecules.

  3. Simultaneous Treatment with Subcutaneous Injection of Golimumab and Intra-articular Injection of Triamcinolone Acetonide (K-Method) in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Undergoing Switching of Biologics: Retrospective Case–Control Study

    PubMed Central

    Kanbe, Katsuaki; Chiba, Junji; Inoue, Yasuo; Taguchi, Masashi; Yabuki, Akiko; Deguchi, Tomohiko

    2016-01-01

    BACKGROUND Tight control of severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients with high disease activity, even when using biologics, is sometimes difficult using a treat-to-target strategy. Switching from one biologic to another is associated with lower efficacy than that in treatment-naive cases. We developed the K-method that involves simultaneous treatment with golimumab and intra-articular joint injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in patients undergoing switching of biologics. We performed this retrospective case–control study to investigate the efficacy of achieving an immediate treatment response using the K-method. METHODS This study involved 20 patients with RA (control group, 10 patients; K-method group, 10 patients). Patients in the control group were switched to golimumab from other biologics without intra-articular injection of TA. The K-method involved injection of 1 mL of TA (40 mg/mL) and 2 mL of 1% lidocaine hydrochloride into swollen or painful joints on the same day as golimumab treatment. A quick response one day after treatment was compared between the two groups according to the disease activity score 28 based on C-reactive protein (DAS28 CRP), clinical disease activity index (CDAI), simplified disease activity index (SDAI), European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response, and remission rate. These parameters were investigated for 24 weeks. RESULTS The K-method group showed significant improvements in DAS28 CRP, CDAI, and SDAI at one day, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks compared with the control group. The number of swollen and tender joints and the patient and doctor global visual analog scale scores were also significantly different between the two groups. The remission rates based on DAS28 CRP were 30% at one day, 50% at 12 weeks, and 60% at 24 weeks in the K-method group. The EULAR good/moderate response rates were 80% at one day, 90% at 12 weeks, and 90% at 24 weeks in the K-method group; however, these rates were only 10%, 40%, and 40

  4. A primary method for the complex calibration of a hydrophone from 1 Hz to 2 kHz

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Slater, W. H.; E Crocker, S.; Baker, S. R.

    2018-02-01

    A primary calibration method is demonstrated to obtain the magnitude and phase of the complex sensitivity for a hydrophone at frequencies between 1 Hz and 2 kHz. The measurement is performed in a coupler reciprocity chamber (‘coupler’) a closed test chamber where time harmonic oscillations in pressure can be achieved and the reciprocity conditions required for a primary calibration can be realized. Relevant theory is reviewed and the reciprocity parameter updated for the complex measurement. Systematic errors and corrections for magnitude are reviewed and more added for phase. The combined expanded uncertainties of the magnitude and phase of the complex sensitivity at 1 Hz were 0.1 dB re 1 V μ Pa-1 and  ± 1\\circ , respectively. Complex sensitivity, sensitivity magnitude, and phase measurements are presented on an example primary reference hydrophone.

  5. Study on feasibility of laser reflective tomography with satellite-accompany

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gu, Yu; Hu, Yi-hua; Hao, Shi-qi; Gu, You-lin; Zhao, Nan-xiang; Wang, Yang-yang

    2015-10-01

    Laser reflective tomography is a long-range, high-resolution active detection technology, whose advantage is that the spatial resolution is unrelated with the imaging distance. Accompany satellite is a specific satellite around the target spacecraft with encircling movement. When using the accompany satellite to detect the target aircraft, multi-angle echo data can be obtained with the application of reflective tomography imaging. The feasibility of such detection working mode was studied in this article. Accompany orbit model was established with horizontal circular fleet and the parameters of accompany flight was defined. The simulation of satellite-to-satellite reflective tomography imaging with satellite-accompany was carried out. The operating mode of reflective tomographic data acquisition from monostatic laser radar was discussed and designed. The flight period, which equals to the all direction received data consuming time, is one of the important accompany flight parameters. The azimuth angle determines the plane of image formation while the elevation angle determines the projection direction. Both of the azimuth and elevation angles guide the satellite attitude stability controller in order to point the laser radar spot on the target. The influences of distance between accompany satellite and target satellite on tomographic imaging consuming time was analyzed. The influences of flight period, azimuth angle and elevation angle on tomographic imaging were analyzed as well. Simulation results showed that the satellite-accompany laser reflective tomography is a feasible and effective method to the satellite-to-satellite detection.

  6. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of Agave tequilana fructans by Kluyveromyces marxianus yeasts for bioethanol and tequila production.

    PubMed

    Flores, Jose-Axel; Gschaedler, Anne; Amaya-Delgado, Lorena; Herrera-López, Enrique J; Arellano, Melchor; Arrizon, Javier

    2013-10-01

    Agave tequilana fructans (ATF) constitute a substrate for bioethanol and tequila industries. As Kluyveromyces marxianus produces specific fructanases for ATF hydrolysis, as well as ethanol, it can perform simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. In this work, fifteen K. marxianus yeasts were evaluated to develop inoculums with fructanase activity on ATF. These inoculums were added to an ATF medium for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. All the yeasts, showed exo-fructanhydrolase activity with different substrate specificities. The yeast with highest fructanase activity in the inoculums showed the lowest ethanol production level (20 g/l). Five K. marxianus strains were the most suitable for the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of ATF. The volatile compounds composition was evaluated at the end of fermentation, and a high diversity was observed between yeasts, nevertheless all of them produced high levels of isobutyl alcohol. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of ATF with K. marxianus strains has potential for industrial application. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Sequential and Simultaneous Processing in Children with Learning Disabilities: An Attempted Replication.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bain, Sherry K.

    1993-01-01

    Analysis of Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) Sequential and Simultaneous Processing scores of 94 children (ages 6-12) with learning disabilities produced factor patterns generally supportive of the traditional K-ABC Mental Processing structure with the exception of Spatial Memory. The sample exhibited relative processing strengths…

  8. An ultrahigh-vacuum cryostat for simultaneous scanning tunneling microscopy and magneto-transport measurements down to 400 mK.

    PubMed

    Liebmann, Marcus; Bindel, Jan Raphael; Pezzotta, Mike; Becker, Stefan; Muckel, Florian; Johnsen, Tjorven; Saunus, Christian; Ast, Christian R; Morgenstern, Markus

    2017-12-01

    We present the design and calibration measurements of a scanning tunneling microscope setup in a 3 He ultrahigh-vacuum cryostat operating at 400 mK with a hold time of 10 days. With 2.70 m in height and 4.70 m free space needed for assembly, the cryostat fits in a one-story lab building. The microscope features optical access, an xy table, in situ tip and sample exchange, and enough contacts to facilitate atomic force microscopy in tuning fork operation and simultaneous magneto-transport measurements on the sample. Hence, it enables scanning tunneling spectroscopy on microstructured samples which are tuned into preselected transport regimes. A superconducting magnet provides a perpendicular field of up to 14 T. The vertical noise of the scanning tunneling microscope amounts to 1 pm rms within a 700 Hz bandwidth. Tunneling spectroscopy using one superconducting electrode revealed an energy resolution of 120 μeV. Data on tip-sample Josephson contacts yield an even smaller feature size of 60 μeV, implying that the system operates close to the physical noise limit.

  9. An ultrahigh-vacuum cryostat for simultaneous scanning tunneling microscopy and magneto-transport measurements down to 400 mK

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liebmann, Marcus; Bindel, Jan Raphael; Pezzotta, Mike; Becker, Stefan; Muckel, Florian; Johnsen, Tjorven; Saunus, Christian; Ast, Christian R.; Morgenstern, Markus

    2017-12-01

    We present the design and calibration measurements of a scanning tunneling microscope setup in a 3He ultrahigh-vacuum cryostat operating at 400 mK with a hold time of 10 days. With 2.70 m in height and 4.70 m free space needed for assembly, the cryostat fits in a one-story lab building. The microscope features optical access, an xy table, in situ tip and sample exchange, and enough contacts to facilitate atomic force microscopy in tuning fork operation and simultaneous magneto-transport measurements on the sample. Hence, it enables scanning tunneling spectroscopy on microstructured samples which are tuned into preselected transport regimes. A superconducting magnet provides a perpendicular field of up to 14 T. The vertical noise of the scanning tunneling microscope amounts to 1 pmrms within a 700 Hz bandwidth. Tunneling spectroscopy using one superconducting electrode revealed an energy resolution of 120 μeV. Data on tip-sample Josephson contacts yield an even smaller feature size of 60 μeV, implying that the system operates close to the physical noise limit.

  10. Simultaneous multi-component seismic denoising and reconstruction via K-SVD

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hou, Sian; Zhang, Feng; Li, Xiangyang; Zhao, Qiang; Dai, Hengchang

    2018-06-01

    Data denoising and reconstruction play an increasingly significant role in seismic prospecting for their value in enhancing effective signals, dealing with surface obstacles and reducing acquisition costs. In this paper, we propose a novel method to denoise and reconstruct multicomponent seismic data simultaneously. This method lies within the framework of machine learning and the key points are defining a suitable weight function and a modified inner product operator. The purpose of these two processes are to perform missing data machine learning when the random noise deviation is unknown, and building a mathematical relationship for each component to incorporate all the information of multi-component data. Two examples, using synthetic and real multicomponent data, demonstrate that the new method is a feasible alternative for multi-component seismic data processing.

  11. Vitamin K

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    A wide range of analytical techniques are available for the detection, quantitation, and evaluation of vitamin K in foods. The methods vary from simple to complex depending on extraction, separation, identification and detection of the analyte. Among the extraction methods applied for vitamin K anal...

  12. Who accompanies children to a dental hospital appointment?

    PubMed

    Virdee, P K; Rodd, H D

    2007-06-01

    To determine who accompanies paediatric dental patients to their appointments, in a teaching hospital setting. Data were recorded prospectively for children attending the Paediatric Dentistry clinic of the Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, Sheffield, England, over 4 months which included two school holiday periods. The data were recorded on a standardised data collection sheet, which included age and gender of the patient; number/s of accompanying adults and children and their relationship to the patient; the appointment session and appointment type. A total of 394 paediatric dental visits were recorded. Patients were of a mean age of 10 (range 1-17 years). Most visits were for treatment (44.7%) and review (39.8%), with a much smaller proportion being new patient assessments (8.9%) and emergency appointments (6.6%). The numbers of afternoon and morning sessions recorded were approximately similar and 35% of the visits were recorded in a school holiday day. The majority of patients attended with at least one parent (91.6%). A parent was most likely to attend a new patient assessment (97.1%) or review visit (94.3%). Parental presence was less likely for treatment (89%) and least likely for emergency visits (84%). Most patients attended with their mother (62.1%). Patients were less frequently accompanied by parents (13.1%), their father (12.1%) and one or both grandparents (4.3%). Smaller proportions were accompanied by older siblings, a step parent, other relatives or foster carers. Two patients attended unaccompanied. The time of day, or whether it was a school holiday period or not, did not influence parental presence or the numbers of adults accompanying patients. However the additional presence of other children (non patients) was more likely on morning sessions and during school holidays. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA), an independent sample t-test or chi-squared tests were undertaken as appropriate to determine whether there were any significant

  13. Gene expression changes in male accessory glands during ageing are accompanied by reproductive decline in Drosophila melanogaster.

    PubMed

    Koppik, Mareike; Fricke, Claudia

    2017-12-01

    Senescence is accompanied by loss of reproductive functions. Here, we studied reproductive ageing in Drosophila melanogaster males and asked whether the expected decline in male reproductive success is due to diminished functionality of the male accessory gland (AG). The male AG produces the majority of seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) transferred to the female at mating. SFPs induce female postmating changes and are key to male reproductive success. We measured age-dependent gene expression changes for five representative SFP genes in males from four different age groups ranging from 1 to 6 weeks after eclosion. Simultaneously, we also measured male reproductive success in postmating traits mediated by transfer of these five SFPs. We found a decreased in male SFP gene expression with advancing age and an accompanying decline in male postmating success. Hence, male reproductive senescence is associated with a decline in functionality of the male AG. While overall individual SFP genes decreased in expression, our results point towards the idea that the composition of an ejaculate might change with male age as the rate of change was variable for those five genes. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  14. Dielectric RheoSANS - Simultaneous Interrogation of Impedance, Rheology and Small Angle Neutron Scattering of Complex Fluids.

    PubMed

    Richards, Jeffrey J; Gagnon, Cedric V L; Krzywon, Jeffery R; Wagner, Norman J; Butler, Paul D

    2017-04-10

    A procedure for the operation of a new dielectric RheoSANS instrument capable of simultaneous interrogation of the electrical, mechanical and microstructural properties of complex fluids is presented. The instrument consists of a Couette geometry contained within a modified forced convection oven mounted on a commercial rheometer. This instrument is available for use on the small angle neutron scattering (SANS) beamlines at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research (NCNR). The Couette geometry is machined to be transparent to neutrons and provides for measurement of the electrical properties and microstructural properties of a sample confined between titanium cylinders while the sample undergoes arbitrary deformation. Synchronization of these measurements is enabled through the use of a customizable program that monitors and controls the execution of predetermined experimental protocols. Described here is a protocol to perform a flow sweep experiment where the shear rate is logarithmically stepped from a maximum value to a minimum value holding at each step for a specified period of time while frequency dependent dielectric measurements are made. Representative results are shown from a sample consisting of a gel composed of carbon black aggregates dispersed in propylene carbonate. As the gel undergoes steady shear, the carbon black network is mechanically deformed, which causes an initial decrease in conductivity associated with the breaking of bonds comprising the carbon black network. However, at higher shear rates, the conductivity recovers associated with the onset of shear thickening. Overall, these results demonstrate the utility of the simultaneous measurement of the rheo-electro-microstructural properties of these suspensions using the dielectric RheoSANS geometry.

  15. Simultaneous biosynthesis of putrebactin, avaroferrin and bisucaberin by Shewanella putrefaciens and characterisation of complexes with iron(III), molybdenum(VI) or chromium(V).

    PubMed

    Soe, Cho Zin; Telfer, Thomas J; Levina, Aviva; Lay, Peter A; Codd, Rachel

    2016-09-01

    Cultures of Shewanella putrefaciens grown in medium containing 10mM 1,4-diamino-2-butanone (DBO) as an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase and 10mM 1,5-diaminopentane (cadaverine) showed the simultaneous biosynthesis of the macrocyclic dihydroxamic acids: putrebactin (pbH 2 ), avaroferrin (avH 2 ) and bisucaberin (bsH 2 ). The level of DBO did not completely repress the production of endogenous 1,4-diaminobutane (putrescine) as the native diamine substrate of pbH 2 . The relative concentration of pbH 2 :avH 2 :bsH 2 was 1:2:1, which correlated with the substrate selection of putrescine:cadaverine in a ratio of 1:1. The macrocycles were characterised using LC-MS as free ligands and as 1:1 complexes with Fe(III) of the form [Fe(pb)] + , [Fe(av)] + or [Fe(bs)] + , with labile ancillary ligands in six-coordinate complexes displaced during ESI-MS acquisition; or with Mo(VI) of the form [Mo(O) 2 (pb)], [Mo(O) 2 (av)] or [Mo(O) 2 (bs)]. Chromium(V) complexes of the form [CrO(pb)] + were detected from solutions of Cr(VI) and pbH 2 in DMF using X-band EPR spectroscopy. Supplementation of S. putrefaciens medium with DBO and 1,3-diaminopropane, 1,6-diaminohexane or 1,4-diamino-2(Z)-butene (Z-DBE) resulted only in the biosynthesis of pbH 2 . The work has identified a native system for the simultaneous biosynthesis of a suite of three macrocyclic dihydroxamic acid siderophores and highlights both the utility of precursor-directed biosynthesis for expanding the structural diversity of siderophores, and the breadth of their coordination chemistry. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Short-Term Neural Adaptation to Simultaneous Bifocal Images

    PubMed Central

    Radhakrishnan, Aiswaryah; Dorronsoro, Carlos; Sawides, Lucie; Marcos, Susana

    2014-01-01

    Simultaneous vision is an increasingly used solution for the correction of presbyopia (the age-related loss of ability to focus near images). Simultaneous Vision corrections, normally delivered in the form of contact or intraocular lenses, project on the patient's retina a focused image for near vision superimposed with a degraded image for far vision, or a focused image for far vision superimposed with the defocused image of the near scene. It is expected that patients with these corrections are able to adapt to the complex Simultaneous Vision retinal images, although the mechanisms or the extent to which this happens is not known. We studied the neural adaptation to simultaneous vision by studying changes in the Natural Perceived Focus and in the Perceptual Score of image quality in subjects after exposure to Simultaneous Vision. We show that Natural Perceived Focus shifts after a brief period of adaptation to a Simultaneous Vision blur, similar to adaptation to Pure Defocus. This shift strongly correlates with the magnitude and proportion of defocus in the adapting image. The magnitude of defocus affects perceived quality of Simultaneous Vision images, with 0.5 D defocus scored lowest and beyond 1.5 D scored “sharp”. Adaptation to Simultaneous Vision shifts the Perceptual Score of these images towards higher rankings. Larger improvements occurred when testing simultaneous images with the same magnitude of defocus as the adapting images, indicating that wearing a particular bifocal correction improves the perception of images provided by that correction. PMID:24664087

  17. Reversible Modification of Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) with K63-linked Polyubiquitin Regulates the Assembly and Activity of the β-Catenin Destruction Complex

    PubMed Central

    Tran, Hoanh; Polakis, Paul

    2012-01-01

    The adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor forms a complex with Axin and GSK3β to promote the phosphorylation and degradation of β-catenin, a key co-activator of Wnt-induced transcription. Here, we establish that APC is modified predominantly with K63-linked ubiquitin chains when it is bound to Axin in unstimulated HEK293 cells. Wnt3a stimulation induced a time-dependent loss of K63-polyubiquitin adducts from APC, an effect synchronous with the dissociation of Axin from APC and the stabilization of cytosolic β-catenin. RNAi-mediated depletion of Axin or β-catenin, which negated the association between APC and Axin, resulted in the absence of K63-adducts on APC. Overexpression of wild-type and phosphodegron-mutant β-catenin, combined with analysis of thirteen human cancer cell lines that harbor oncogenic mutations in APC, Axin, or β-catenin, support the hypothesis that a fully assembled APC-Axin-GSK3β-phospho-β-catenin complex is necessary for the K63-polyubiquitylation of APC. Intriguingly, the degree of this modification on APC appears to correlate inversely with the levels of β-catenin in cells. Together, our results indicate that K63-linked polyubiquitin adducts on APC regulate the assembly and/or efficiency of the β-catenin destruction complex. PMID:22761442

  18. DNA/nickel oxide nanoparticles/osmium(III)-complex modified electrode toward selective oxidation of l-cysteine and simultaneous detection of l-cysteine and homocysteine.

    PubMed

    Sharifi, Ensiyeh; Salimi, Abdollah; Shams, Esmaeil

    2012-08-01

    The modification of glassy carbon (GC) electrode with electrodeposited nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiOxNPs) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is utilized as a new efficient platform for entrapment of osmium (III) complex. Surface morphology and electrochemical properties of the prepared nanocomposite modified electrode (GC/DNA/NiOxNPs/Os(III)-complex) were investigated by FESEM, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. Cyclic voltammetric results indicated the excellent electrocatalytic activity of the resulting electrode toward oxidation of l-cysteine (CySH) at reduced overpotential (0.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl). Using chronoamperometry to CySH detection, the sensitivity and detection limit of the biosensor are obtained as 44 μA mM(-1) and 0.07 μM with a concentration range up to 1000 μM. The electrocatalytic activity of the modified electrode not only for oxidation of low molecular-mass biothiols derivatives such as, glutathione, l-cystine, l-methionine and electroactive biological species ( dopamine, uric acid, glucose) is negligible but also for very similar biothiol compound (homocysteine) no recognizable response is observed at the applied potential window. Furthermore, the simultaneous voltammetric determination of l-cysteine and homocysteine compounds without any separation or pretreatment process was reported for the first time in this work. Finally, the applicability of sensor for the analysis of CySH concentration in complex serum samples was successfully demonstrated. Highly selectivity, excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability, remarkable antifouling property toward thiols and their oxidation products, as well as the ability for simultaneous detection of l-cysteine and homocysteine are remarkably advantageous of the proposed DNA based biosensor. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. k(+)-buffer: An Efficient, Memory-Friendly and Dynamic k-buffer Framework.

    PubMed

    Vasilakis, Andreas-Alexandros; Papaioannou, Georgios; Fudos, Ioannis

    2015-06-01

    Depth-sorted fragment determination is fundamental for a host of image-based techniques which simulates complex rendering effects. It is also a challenging task in terms of time and space required when rasterizing scenes with high depth complexity. When low graphics memory requirements are of utmost importance, k-buffer can objectively be considered as the most preferred framework which advantageously ensures the correct depth order on a subset of all generated fragments. Although various alternatives have been introduced to partially or completely alleviate the noticeable quality artifacts produced by the initial k-buffer algorithm in the expense of memory increase or performance downgrade, appropriate tools to automatically and dynamically compute the most suitable value of k are still missing. To this end, we introduce k(+)-buffer, a fast framework that accurately simulates the behavior of k-buffer in a single rendering pass. Two memory-bounded data structures: (i) the max-array and (ii) the max-heap are developed on the GPU to concurrently maintain the k-foremost fragments per pixel by exploring pixel synchronization and fragment culling. Memory-friendly strategies are further introduced to dynamically (a) lessen the wasteful memory allocation of individual pixels with low depth complexity frequencies, (b) minimize the allocated size of k-buffer according to different application goals and hardware limitations via a straightforward depth histogram analysis and (c) manage local GPU cache with a fixed-memory depth-sorting mechanism. Finally, an extensive experimental evaluation is provided demonstrating the advantages of our work over all prior k-buffer variants in terms of memory usage, performance cost and image quality.

  20. Simultaneous determination of thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of aminopolycarbonate complexes of cobalt(II) and nickel(II) based on isothermal titration calorimetry data.

    PubMed

    Tesmar, Aleksandra; Wyrzykowski, Dariusz; Muñoz, Eva; Pilarski, Bogusław; Pranczk, Joanna; Jacewicz, Dagmara; Chmurzyński, Lech

    2017-04-01

    The influence of the different side chain residues on the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for complexation reactions of the Co 2 + and Ni 2 + ions has been investigated by using the isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) technique supported by potentiometric titration data. The study was concerned with the 2 common tripodal aminocarboxylate ligands, namely, nitrilotriacetic acid and N-(2-hydroxyethyl) iminodiacetic acid. Calorimetric measurements (ITC) were run in the 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid hydrate (2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid), piperazine-N,N'-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid), and dimethylarsenic acid buffers (0.1 mol L -1 , pH 6) at 298.15 K. The quantification of the metal-buffer interactions and their incorporation into the ITC data analysis enabled to obtain the pH-independent and buffer-independent thermodynamic parameters (K, ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS) for the reactions under study. Furthermore, the kinITC method was applied to obtain kinetic information on complexation reactions from the ITC data. Correlations, based on kinetic and thermodynamic data, between the kinetics of formation of Co 2 + and Ni 2 + complexes and their thermodynamic stabilities are discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  1. Thermodynamics of the formation of Cu2+-glycyl-glycyl-glycine complex in water-ethanol solutions at 298 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pham Thi, L.; Usacheva, T. R.; Tukumova, N. V.; Koryshev, N. E.; Khrenova, T. M.; Sharnin, V. A.

    2016-10-01

    The stability constants of monoligand complexes of copper(II) ions with glycyl-glycyl-glycine zwitterions (triglycine, HL±) and triglycinate ions (L-) in a water-ethanol solvent with 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mole fractions of ethanol at an ionic strength of 0.1 created by sodium perchlorate and temperature T = 298.15 K are determined by means of potentiometric titration. It is found that an increase of ethanol content improves the stability of the investigated complexes, due mainly to the resolvation of ligands.

  2. Directional RNA-seq reveals highly complex condition-dependent transcriptomes in E. coli K12 through accurate full-length transcripts assembling.

    PubMed

    Li, Shan; Dong, Xia; Su, Zhengchang

    2013-07-30

    Although prokaryotic gene transcription has been studied over decades, many aspects of the process remain poorly understood. Particularly, recent studies have revealed that transcriptomes in many prokaryotes are far more complex than previously thought. Genes in an operon are often alternatively and dynamically transcribed under different conditions, and a large portion of genes and intergenic regions have antisense RNA (asRNA) and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) transcripts, respectively. Ironically, similar studies have not been conducted in the model bacterium E coli K12, thus it is unknown whether or not the bacterium possesses similar complex transcriptomes. Furthermore, although RNA-seq becomes the major method for analyzing the complexity of prokaryotic transcriptome, it is still a challenging task to accurately assemble full length transcripts using short RNA-seq reads. To fill these gaps, we have profiled the transcriptomes of E. coli K12 under different culture conditions and growth phases using a highly specific directional RNA-seq technique that can capture various types of transcripts in the bacterial cells, combined with a highly accurate and robust algorithm and tool TruHMM (http://bioinfolab.uncc.edu/TruHmm_package/) for assembling full length transcripts. We found that 46.9 ~ 63.4% of expressed operons were utilized in their putative alternative forms, 72.23 ~ 89.54% genes had putative asRNA transcripts and 51.37 ~ 72.74% intergenic regions had putative ncRNA transcripts under different culture conditions and growth phases. As has been demonstrated in many other prokaryotes, E. coli K12 also has a highly complex and dynamic transcriptomes under different culture conditions and growth phases. Such complex and dynamic transcriptomes might play important roles in the physiology of the bacterium. TruHMM is a highly accurate and robust algorithm for assembling full-length transcripts in prokaryotes using directional RNA-seq short reads.

  3. Simultaneous Inference Using Finite Intersection Tests: A Better Mousetrap.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Timm, Neil H.

    1995-01-01

    The finite intersection test (FIT) developed by P. K. Krishnaiah (1964, 1965) is discussed and compared with more familiar methods for simultaneous inference. How the FIT can be used to analyze differences among all means for both univariate and multivariate experimental designs is explained. (SLD)

  4. Magnetic blocking at 10 K and a dipolar-mediated avalanche in salts of the bis(η8-cyclooctatetraenide) complex [Er(COT)2]-.

    PubMed

    Meihaus, Katie R; Long, Jeffrey R

    2013-11-27

    The structures and magnetic properties of [K(18-crown-6)](+) (1) and [K(18-crown-6)(THF)2](+) (2) salts of the η(8)-cyclooctatetraenide sandwich complex [Er(COT)2](-) (COT(2-) = cyclooctatetraene dianion) are reported. Despite slight differences in symmetry, both compounds exhibit slow magnetic relaxation under zero applied dc field with relaxation barriers of ∼150 cm(-1) and waist-restricted magnetic hysteresis. Dc relaxation and dilution studies suggest that the drop in the magnetic hysteresis near zero field is influenced by a bulk magnetic avalanche effect coupled with tunneling of the magnetization. Through dilution with [K(18-crown-6)(THF)2][Y(COT)2] (3), these phenomena are substantially quenched, resulting in an open hysteresis loop to 10 K. Importantly, this represents the highest blocking temperature yet observed for a mononuclear complex and the second highest for any single-molecule magnet. A comprehensive comparative analysis of the magnetism of [K(18-crown-6)][Ln(COT)2] (Ln = Sm, Tb, Dy, Ho, Yb) reveals slow relaxation only for [K(18-crown-6)][Dy(COT)2] (4) with weak temperature dependence. Collectively, these results highlight the utility of an equatorial ligand field for facilitating slow magnetic relaxation in the prolate Er(III) ion.

  5. Simultaneous and coordinated rotational switching of all molecular rotors in a network

    DOE PAGES

    Zhang, Y.; Kersell, H.; Stefak, R.; ...

    2016-05-09

    A range of artificial molecular systems have been created that can exhibit controlled linear and rotational motion. In the development of such systems, a key step is the addition of communication between molecules in a network. Here, we show that a two-dimensional array of dipolar molecular rotors can undergo simultaneous rotational switching by applying an electric field from the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope. Several hundred rotors made from porphyrin-based double-decker complexes can be simultaneously rotated when in a hexagonal rotor network on a Cu(111) surface by applying biases above ±1 V at 80 K. The phenomenon is observedmore » only in a hexagonal rotor network due to the degeneracy of the ground state dipole rotational energy barrier of the system. Defects are essential to increase electric torque on the rotor network and to stabilize the switched rotor domains. At low biases and low initial rotator angles, slight reorientations of individual rotors can occur resulting in the rotator arms pointing in different directions. In conclusion, analysis reveals that the rotator arm directions here are not random, but are coordinated to minimize energy via cross talk among the rotors through dipolar interactions.« less

  6. Explaining the R_K and R_{K^*} anomalies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ghosh, Diptimoy

    2017-10-01

    Recent LHCb results on R_{K^*}, the ratio of the branching fractions of B → K^* μ ^+ μ ^- to that of B → K^* e^+ e^-, for the dilepton invariant mass bins q^2 ≡ m_{ℓ ℓ }^2 = [0.045-1.1] GeV^2 and [1.1-6] GeV^2 show approximately 2.5 σ deviations from the corresponding Standard Model prediction in each of the bins. This, when combined with the measurement of R_K (q^2=[1-6] GeV^2), a similar ratio for the decay to a pseudo-scalar meson, highly suggests lepton non-universal new physics in semi-leptonic B meson decays. In this work, we perform a model independent analysis of these potential new physics signals and identify the operators that do the best job in satisfying all these measurements. We show that heavy new physics, giving rise to q^2 independent local 4-Fermi operators of scalar, pseudo-scalar, vector or axial-vector type, is unable to explain all the three measurements simultaneously, in particular R_{K^*} in the bin [0.045-1.1], within their experimental 1σ regions. We point out the possibility to explain R_{K^*} in the low bin by an additional light (≲ 20 {MeV}) vector boson with appropriate coupling strengths to (\\bar{b} s) and (\\bar{e} e).

  7. Study on vitamin K 3-cyclodextrin inclusion complex and analytical application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhenming, Dong; Xiuping, Liu; Guomei, Zhang; Shaomin, Shuang; Jinghao, Pan

    2003-07-01

    The inclusion interaction of the complexes between Vitamin K3 (VK3) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) were studied by using steady-state fluorescence measurements. The various factors affecting the inclusion process were examined in detail. The formation constants and inclusion stoichiometry for VK3-CDs were determined. The results showed that the inclusion ability of β-CD and its derivatives was the order: SBE-β-CD>HP-β-CD>β-CD. The related inclusion mechanism is proposed to explain the inclusion process. A method of determining VK3 was established with the linear range was 2.5×10-6-5.0×10-4 M, and was used to determine the VK3 tablets. The recoveries were in the range of 97.52-103.5%. The results were satisfactory.

  8. Complexation in two-component chlortetracycline-melanin solutions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lapina, V. A.; Pershukevich, P. P.; Dontsov, A. E.; Bel'Kov, M. V.

    2008-01-01

    The spectra and kinetics of fluorescence of two-component solutions of the chlortetracycline (CHTC)-DOPA-melanin (melanin or ME) system in water have been investigated. The data obtained have been compared to similar data for solutions of CHTC-melanosome from bull eye (MB), which contains natural melanin, in K-phosphate buffer at pH 7.4. The overall results indicate the occurrence of complexation between molecules of CHTC and ME as they are being excited. The studies of complexation in the solution of CHTC-MB in the buffer are complicated by the formation of a CHTC-buffer complex. The effect of optical radiation in the range 330-750 nm on the CHTC-ME complex shows selectivity: the greatest change in the spectrum occurs when the wavelength of the exciting radiation coincides with the long-wavelength band maximum of the fluorescence excitation spectrum of the CHTC-ME complex in aqueous solution. In this range, CHTC and especially ME show high photochemical stability. The nature of the radiation effect on the studied compounds in the hard UV range (λ < 330 nm) differs greatly from that in the range 330-750 nm. It is apparently accompanied by significant photochemical transmutations of all system components. By comparing the characteristics of the CHTC-ME systems with those of the related drug doxycycline (DC-ME), the conclusion has been made that the chlorine atom plays a vital role in formation of the short-wavelength band in the fluorescence spectrum of the CHTC-ME complex.

  9. Pigmentary glaucoma accompanied by Usher syndrome.

    PubMed

    Koucheki, Behrooz; Jalali, Kamran Hodjat

    2012-08-01

    To report a case of pigmentary glaucoma (PG) accompanied by Usher syndrome. Case report. The results were presented after standard ocular examination, visual field test, anterior segment and fundus photography, electroretinography, and otolaryngology consultation were conducted. Typical retinitis pigmentosa, flat electroretinography, congenital sensorineural hearing loss, high intraocular pressure, Krukenberg spindle, iris concavity, radial iris transillumination defect, severe pigment deposition on the trabecular meshwork, and glaucomatous optic nerve damage were indicative of PG accompanied by Usher syndrome. In some rare cases, PG may coexist with Usher syndrome. Common findings of Usher syndrome, including night blindness, impaired vision, visual field defects, and retinal changes may distract the clinician from considering the diagnosis of glaucoma. Such association should be borne in mind to make a timely diagnosis and treatment possible.

  10. A case presentation of bilateral simultaneous Bell's palsy.

    PubMed

    Kilic, Rahmi; Ozdek, Ali; Felek, Sevim; Safak, M Asim; Samim, Erdal

    2003-01-01

    Bilateral simultaneous facial paralysis is an extremely rare clinical entity. Unlike the unilateral form, bilateral facial paralysis seldom falls into Bell's category. It is most often a special finding in a symptom complex of a systemic disease; many of them are potentially life-threatening, and therefore the condition warrants urgent medical intervention. Lyme disease, Guillian-Barre syndrome, Bell's palsy, leukemia, sarcoidosis, bacterial meningitis, syphilis, leprosy, Moebius syndrome, infectious mononucleosis, and skull fracture are the most common cause of bilateral facial paralysis. Here we present a 16-year-old patient with bilateral simultaneous Bell's palsy.

  11. Incorporation of DPP6a and DPP6K variants in ternary Kv4 channel complex reconstitutes properties of A-type K current in rat cerebellar granule cells.

    PubMed

    Jerng, Henry H; Pfaffinger, Paul J

    2012-01-01

    Dipeptidyl peptidase-like protein 6 (DPP6) proteins co-assemble with Kv4 channel α-subunits and Kv channel-interacting proteins (KChIPs) to form channel protein complexes underlying neuronal somatodendritic A-type potassium current (I(SA)). DPP6 proteins are expressed as N-terminal variants (DPP6a, DPP6K, DPP6S, DPP6L) that result from alternative mRNA initiation and exhibit overlapping expression patterns. Here, we study the role DPP6 variants play in shaping the functional properties of I(SA) found in cerebellar granule (CG) cells using quantitative RT-PCR and voltage-clamp recordings of whole-cell currents from reconstituted channel complexes and native I(SA) channels. Differential expression of DPP6 variants was detected in rat CG cells, with DPP6K (41 ± 3%)>DPP6a (33 ± 3%)>DPP6S (18 ± 2%)>DPP6L (8 ± 3%). To better understand how DPP6 variants shape native neuronal I(SA), we focused on studying interactions between the two dominant variants, DPP6K and DPP6a. Although previous studies did not identify unique functional effects of DPP6K, we find that the unique N-terminus of DPP6K modulates the effects of KChIP proteins, slowing recovery and producing a negative shift in the steady-state inactivation curve. By contrast, DPP6a uses its distinct N-terminus to directly confer rapid N-type inactivation independently of KChIP3a. When DPP6a and DPP6K are co-expressed in ratios similar to those found in CG cells, their distinct effects compete in modulating channel function. The more rapid inactivation from DPP6a dominates during strong depolarization; however, DPP6K produces a negative shift in the steady-state inactivation curve and introduces a slow phase of recovery from inactivation. A direct comparison to the native CG cell I(SA) shows that these mixed effects are present in the native channels. Our results support the hypothesis that the precise expression and co-assembly of different auxiliary subunit variants are important factors in shaping the I

  12. Simultaneous equatorial observations of 1- to 30-Hz waves and pitch angle distributions of ring current ions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Taylor, W. W. L.; Lyons, L. R.

    1976-01-01

    Eighteen events of large-amplitude (0.4-6 gammas) waves which may be propagating in the ion cyclotron mode have een observed by Explorer 45. Comparison with simultaneously measured proton distributions has allowed the events to be divided into two categories. The first category consists of waves accompanied by enhanced ion fluxes apparently injected into the plasmasphere with anisotropic pitch-angle distributions. This simultaneity suggests that these waves may be generated by the observed ring-current ions. Waves in the second category were found near or outside the plasmapause and were not correlated with any identifiable changes in the observed proton distribution. The generation mechanism for these waves remains unknown.

  13. 5 CFR 581.203 - Information minimally required to accompany legal process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... accompany legal process. 581.203 Section 581.203 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT... Process § 581.203 Information minimally required to accompany legal process. (a) Sufficient identifying information must accompany the legal process in order to enable processing by the governmental entity named...

  14. 5 CFR 581.203 - Information minimally required to accompany legal process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... accompany legal process. 581.203 Section 581.203 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT... Process § 581.203 Information minimally required to accompany legal process. (a) Sufficient identifying information must accompany the legal process in order to enable processing by the governmental entity named...

  15. 5 CFR 581.203 - Information minimally required to accompany legal process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... accompany legal process. 581.203 Section 581.203 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT... Process § 581.203 Information minimally required to accompany legal process. (a) Sufficient identifying information must accompany the legal process in order to enable processing by the governmental entity named...

  16. 5 CFR 581.203 - Information minimally required to accompany legal process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... accompany legal process. 581.203 Section 581.203 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT... Process § 581.203 Information minimally required to accompany legal process. (a) Sufficient identifying information must accompany the legal process in order to enable processing by the governmental entity named...

  17. 5 CFR 581.203 - Information minimally required to accompany legal process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... accompany legal process. 581.203 Section 581.203 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT... Process § 581.203 Information minimally required to accompany legal process. (a) Sufficient identifying information must accompany the legal process in order to enable processing by the governmental entity named...

  18. The CO-H2 van der Waals complex and complex organic molecules in cold molecular clouds: A TMC-1C survey

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Potapov, A.; Sánchez-Monge, Á.; Schilke, P.; Graf, U. U.; Möller, Th.; Schlemmer, S.

    2016-10-01

    Context. Almost 200 different species have been detected in the interstellar medium (ISM) during the last decades, revealing not only simple species but complex molecules with more than six atoms. Other exotic compounds, like the weakly-bound dimer (H2)2, have also been detected in astronomical sources like Jupiter. Aims: We aim to detect, for the first time, the CO-H2 van der Waals complex in the ISM, which could be a sensitive indicator for low temperatures if detected. Methods: We used the IRAM 30 m telescope, located in Pico Veleta (Spain), to search for the CO-H2 complex in a cold, dense core in TMC-1C (with a temperature of ~10 K). All the brightest CO-H2 transitions in the 3 mm (80-110 GHz) band were observed with a spectral resolution of 0.5-0.7 km s-1, reaching a rms noise level of ~2 mK. The simultaneous observation of a broad frequency band, 16 GHz, allowed us to conduct a serendipitous spectral line survey. Results: We did not detected any lines belonging to the CO-H2 complex. We set up a new, more stringent upper limit for its abundance to be [CO-H2]/[CO] ~ 5 × 10-6, while we expect the abundance of the complex to be in the range ~10-8-10-3. The spectral line survey has allowed us to detect 75 lines associated with 41 different species (including isotopologues). We detect a number of complex organic species, for example methyl cyanide (CH3CN), methanol (CH3OH), propyne (CH3CCH), and ketene (CH2CO), associated with cold gas (excitation temperatures ~7 K), confirming the presence of these complex species not only in warm objects but also in cold regimes. Based on observations carried out with the IRAM 30 m Telescope. IRAM is supported by INSU/CNRS (France), MPG (Germany) and IGN (Spain).Reduced spectra (FITS files) are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (http://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/594/A117

  19. Development of a Multi-Point Quantitation Method to Simultaneously Measure Enzymatic and Structural Components of the Clostridium thermocellum Cellulosome Protein Complex

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dykstra, Andrew B; St. Brice, Lois; Rodriguez, Jr., Miguel

    2014-01-01

    Clostridium thermocellum has emerged as a leading bioenergy-relevant microbe due to its ability to solubilize cellulose into carbohydrates, mediated by multi-component membrane-attached complexes termed cellulosomes. To probe microbial cellulose utilization rates, it is desirable to be able to measure the concentrations of saccharolytic enzymes and estimate the total amount of cellulosome present on a mass basis. Current cellulase determination methodologies involve labor-intensive purification procedures and only allow for indirect determination of abundance. We have developed a method using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM-MS) to simultaneously quantitate both enzymatic and structural components of the cellulosome protein complex in samples ranging in complexitymore » from purified cellulosomes to whole cell lysates, as an alternative to a previously-developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method of cellulosome quantitation. The precision of the cellulosome mass concentration in technical replicates is better than 5% relative standard deviation for all samples, indicating high precision for determination of the mass concentration of cellulosome components.« less

  20. Meet Spinky: An Open-Source Spindle and K-Complex Detection Toolbox Validated on the Open-Access Montreal Archive of Sleep Studies (MASS).

    PubMed

    Lajnef, Tarek; O'Reilly, Christian; Combrisson, Etienne; Chaibi, Sahbi; Eichenlaub, Jean-Baptiste; Ruby, Perrine M; Aguera, Pierre-Emmanuel; Samet, Mounir; Kachouri, Abdennaceur; Frenette, Sonia; Carrier, Julie; Jerbi, Karim

    2017-01-01

    Sleep spindles and K-complexes are among the most prominent micro-events observed in electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings during sleep. These EEG microstructures are thought to be hallmarks of sleep-related cognitive processes. Although tedious and time-consuming, their identification and quantification is important for sleep studies in both healthy subjects and patients with sleep disorders. Therefore, procedures for automatic detection of spindles and K-complexes could provide valuable assistance to researchers and clinicians in the field. Recently, we proposed a framework for joint spindle and K-complex detection (Lajnef et al., 2015a) based on a Tunable Q-factor Wavelet Transform (TQWT; Selesnick, 2011a) and morphological component analysis (MCA). Using a wide range of performance metrics, the present article provides critical validation and benchmarking of the proposed approach by applying it to open-access EEG data from the Montreal Archive of Sleep Studies (MASS; O'Reilly et al., 2014). Importantly, the obtained scores were compared to alternative methods that were previously tested on the same database. With respect to spindle detection, our method achieved higher performance than most of the alternative methods. This was corroborated with statistic tests that took into account both sensitivity and precision (i.e., Matthew's coefficient of correlation (MCC), F1, Cohen κ). Our proposed method has been made available to the community via an open-source tool named Spinky (for spindle and K-complex detection). Thanks to a GUI implementation and access to Matlab and Python resources, Spinky is expected to contribute to an open-science approach that will enhance replicability and reliable comparisons of classifier performances for the detection of sleep EEG microstructure in both healthy and patient populations.

  1. Complex multireference configuration interaction calculations for the K-vacancy Auger states of N{sup q+} (q = 2-5) ions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Peng, Yi-Geng; Data Center for High Energy Density Physics, Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, P.O. Box 8009, Beijing 100088; Wu, Yong, E-mail: wu-yong@iapcm.ac.cn

    2016-02-07

    K-vacancy Auger states of N{sup q+} (q = 2-5) ions are studied by using the complex multireference single- and double-excitation configuration interaction (CMRD-CI) method. The calculated resonance parameters are in good agreement with the available experimental and theoretical data. It shows that the resonance positions and widths converge quickly with the increase of the atomic basis sets in the CMRD-CI calculations; the standard atomic basis set can be employed to describe the atomic K-vacancy Auger states well. The strong correlations between the valence and core electrons play important roles in accurately determining those resonance parameters, Rydberg electrons contribute negligibly inmore » the calculations. Note that it is the first time that the complex scaling method has been successfully applied for the B-like nitrogen. CMRD-CI is readily extended to treat the resonance states of molecules in the near future.« less

  2. Simultaneous Detection of Metalloprotease Activities in Complex Biological Samples Using the PrAMA (Proteolytic Activity Matrix Assay) Method.

    PubMed

    Conrad, Catharina; Miller, Miles A; Bartsch, Jörg W; Schlomann, Uwe; Lauffenburger, Douglas A

    2017-01-01

    Proteolytic Activity Matrix Analysis (PrAMA) is a method for simultaneously determining the activities of specific Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinases (ADAMs) in complex biological samples. In mixtures of unknown proteases, PrAMA infers selective metalloproteinase activities by using a panel of moderately specific FRET-based polypeptide protease substrates in parallel, typically monitored by a plate-reader in a 96-well format. Fluorescence measurements are then quantitatively compared to a standard table of catalytic efficiencies measured from purified mixtures of individual metalloproteinases and FRET substrates. Computational inference of specific activities is performed with an easily used Matlab program, which is provided herein. Thus, we describe PrAMA as a combined experimental and mathematical approach to determine real-time metalloproteinase activities, which has previously been applied to live-cell cultures, cellular lysates, cell culture supernatants, and body fluids from patients.

  3. Critical thinking of student nurses during clinical accompaniment.

    PubMed

    Uys, B Y; Meyer, S M

    2005-08-01

    The purpose of this study was to investigate the methods of clinical accompaniment used by clinical facilitators in practice. The findings of the study also reflected facilitators' perceptions regarding critical thinking and the facilitation thereof. A quantitative research design was used. A literature study was conducted to identify the methods of accompaniment that facilitate critical thinking. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire developed for that purpose. Making a content-related validity judgment, and involving seven clinical facilitators in an academic institution, ensured the validity of the questionnaire. The results of the study indicated that various clinical methods of accompaniment were used. To a large extent, these methods correlated with those discussed in the literature review. The researcher further concluded that the concepts 'critical thinking' and 'facilitation' were not interpreted correctly by the respondents, and would therefore not be implemented in a proper manner in nursing practice. Furthermore, it seemed evident that tutor-driven learning realised more often than student-driven learning. In this regard, the requirement of outcomes-based education was not satisfied. The researcher is therefore of the opinion that a practical programme for the development of critical thinking skills during clinical accompaniment must be developed within the framework of outcomes-based education.

  4. Complex Functions with GeoGebra

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Breda, Ana Maria D'azevedo; Dos Santos, José Manuel Dos Santos

    2016-01-01

    Complex functions, generally feature some interesting peculiarities, seen as extensions of real functions. The visualization of complex functions properties usually requires the simultaneous visualization of two-dimensional spaces. The multiple Windows of GeoGebra, combined with its ability of algebraic computation with complex numbers, allow the…

  5. Super-Enhancers and Broad H3K4me3 Domains Form Complex Gene Regulatory Circuits Involving Chromatin Interactions.

    PubMed

    Cao, Fan; Fang, Yiwen; Tan, Hong Kee; Goh, Yufen; Choy, Jocelyn Yeen Hui; Koh, Bryan Thean Howe; Hao Tan, Jiong; Bertin, Nicolas; Ramadass, Aroul; Hunter, Ewan; Green, Jayne; Salter, Matthew; Akoulitchev, Alexandre; Wang, Wilson; Chng, Wee Joo; Tenen, Daniel G; Fullwood, Melissa J

    2017-05-19

    Stretched histone regions, such as super-enhancers and broad H3K4me3 domains, are associated with maintenance of cell identity and cancer. We connected super-enhancers and broad H3K4me3 domains in the K562 chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line as well as the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line with chromatin interactions. Super-enhancers and broad H3K4me3 domains showed higher association with chromatin interactions than their typical counterparts. Interestingly, we identified a subset of super-enhancers that overlap with broad H3K4me3 domains and show high association with cancer-associated genes including tumor suppressor genes. Besides cell lines, we could observe chromatin interactions by a Chromosome Conformation Capture (3C)-based method, in primary human samples. Several chromatin interactions involving super-enhancers and broad H3K4me3 domains are constitutive and can be found in both cancer and normal samples. Taken together, these results reveal a new layer of complexity in gene regulation by super-enhancers and broad H3K4me3 domains.

  6. Ocular myasthenia gravis accompanied by anosmia.

    PubMed

    Chen, Ying; Wang, Li; Zhou, Li; Gao, Ying

    2016-02-01

    We report a case of ocular myasthenia gravis (MG) accompanied by anosmia. A 76-year-old man had idiopathic anosmia of 2-year duration. Four months before consultation, he began to have drooping in the right upper eyelid along with muscle soreness, distension, and pain in the nape. His tongue was dark-red with a thin and white coating; his pulse was wiry and slippery. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, eyelid drooping and anosmia are the main signs of liver constraint and spleen deficiency. In Western Medicine, the diagnosis was ocular MG and idiopathic anosmia. Our patient, along with the literature, suggests that anosmia may be an early symptom before MG. MG accompanied by anosmia could be a special subtype of MG according to antibody production and symptoms.

  7. Coordination Complexes of Titanium(IV) and Indium(III) Phthalocyanines with Carbonyl-Containing Dyes: The Formation of Singly Bonded Anionic Squarylium Dimers.

    PubMed

    Konarev, Dmitri V; Kuzmin, Alexey V; Khasanov, Salavat S; Fatalov, Alexey M; Yudanova, Evgenia I; Lyubovskaya, Rimma N

    2018-04-14

    Reduction methods for the preparation of coordination complexes of titanium(IV) and indium(III) phthalocyanines (Pc) with organic dyes such as indigo, thioindigo, and squarylium dye III (SQ) have been developed, which allow one to obtain crystalline {cryptand(K + )}{(cis-indigo-O,O) 2- Ti IV (Pc 2- )}(Cl - )⋅C 6 H 4 Cl 2 (1), {cryptand(K + )}{(cis-thioindigo-O,O) 2- In III (Pc 2- )} - ⋅C 6 H 4 Cl 2 (2), and {cryptand(K + )}{[(SQ) 2 -O,O] 2- In III (Pc 2- )} - ⋅3.5 C 6 H 4 Cl 2 (3) complexes. The formation of these complexes is accompanied by the reduction of the starting dyes to the anionic state. Transition of trans-indigo or trans-thioindigo to the cis conformation in 1 and 2 provides coordination of both carbonyl oxygen atoms of the dye to Ti IV Pc or In III Pc. SQ is reduced to the radical anion state and forms unusual diamagnetic singly bonded (SQ - ) 2 dimers in 3. These dimers have two closely positioned carbonyl oxygen atoms coordinated to In III Pc. Dianionic Pc 2- macrocycles have been found in 1-3. The complexes contain two chromophore molecules at one metal center. However, their optical spectra are defined mainly by absorption bands of the metal phthalocyanines. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  8. Simultaneous Dual Species Matter Wave Interferometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schlippert, Dennis; Albers, Henning; Richardson, Logan; Meiners, Christian; Hartwig, Jonas; Ertmer, Wolfgang; Rasel, Ernst

    2014-05-01

    We report on the first realization of a simultaneous 39K-87Rb-dual species matter wave interferometer measuring gravitational acceleration with the aim to test Einstein's Equivalence Principle (EEP). Compared to classical tests such as torsion pendulum experiments and Lunar Laser Ranging, chemical elements suitable for performing matter wave interferometry can provide complementary information. We show the performance of our apparatus and discuss current limitations and future improvements towards highly sensitive matter wave tests of EEP.

  9. Precursor binding to an 880-kDa Toc complex as an early step during active import of protein into chloroplasts.

    PubMed

    Chen, Kuan-Yu; Li, Hsou-min

    2007-01-01

    The import of protein into chloroplasts is mediated by translocon components located in the chloroplast outer (the Toc proteins) and inner (the Tic proteins) envelope membranes. To identify intermediate steps during active import, we used sucrose density gradient centrifugation and blue-native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) to identify complexes of translocon components associated with precursor proteins under active import conditions instead of arrested binding conditions. Importing precursor proteins in solubilized chloroplast membranes formed a two-peak distribution in the sucrose density gradient. The heavier peak was in a similar position as the previously reported Tic/Toc supercomplex and was too large to be analyzed by BN-PAGE. The BN-PAGE analyses of the lighter peak revealed that precursors accumulated in at least two complexes. The first complex migrated at a position close to the ferritin dimer (approximately 880 kDa) and contained only the Toc components. Kinetic analyses suggested that this Toc complex represented an earlier step in the import process than the Tic/Toc supercomplex. The second complex in the lighter peak migrated at the position of the ferritin trimer (approximately 1320 kDa). It contained, in addition to the Toc components, Tic110, Hsp93, and an hsp70 homolog, but not Tic40. Two different precursor proteins were shown to associate with the same complexes. Processed mature proteins first appeared in the membranes at the same fractions as the Tic/Toc supercomplex, suggesting that processing of transit peptides occurs while precursors are still associated with the supercomplex.

  10. Precursor binding to an 880-kDa Toc complex as an early step during active import of protein into chloroplasts

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Kuan-Yu; Li, Hsou-min

    2007-01-01

    The import of protein into chloroplasts is mediated by translocon components located in the chloroplast outer (the Toc proteins) and inner (the Tic proteins) envelope membranes. To identify intermediate steps during active import, we used sucrose density gradient centrifugation and blue-native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) to identify complexes of translocon components associated with precursor proteins under active import conditions instead of arrested binding conditions. Importing precursor proteins in solubilized chloroplast membranes formed a two-peak distribution in the sucrose density gradient. The heavier peak was in a similar position as the previously reported Tic/Toc supercomplex and was too large to be analyzed by BN-PAGE. The BN-PAGE analyses of the lighter peak revealed that precursors accumulated in at least two complexes. The first complex migrated at a position close to the ferritin dimer (approximately 880 kDa) and contained only the Toc components. Kinetic analyses suggested that this Toc complex represented an earlier step in the import process than the Tic/Toc supercomplex. The second complex in the lighter peak migrated at the position of the ferritin trimer (approximately 1320 kDa). It contained, in addition to the Toc components, Tic110, Hsp93, and an hsp70 homolog, but not Tic40. Two different precursor proteins were shown to associate with the same complexes. Processed mature proteins first appeared in the membranes at the same fractions as the Tic/Toc supercomplex, suggesting that processing of transit peptides occurs while precursors are still associated with the supercomplex. PMID:17144891

  11. 9 CFR 93.314 - Horses, certification, and accompanying equipment.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ..., certification, and accompanying equipment. (a) Horses offered for importation from any part of the world shall... region of origin, or if exported from Mexico, shall be accompanied either by such a certificate or by a... were imported from regions affected with CEM. (b) If a horse is presented for importation from a region...

  12. Homoleptic versus Heteroleptic Formation of Mononuclear Fe(II) Complexes with Tris-Imine Ligands

    DOE PAGES

    Barrios, Leoni A.; Bartual-Murgui, Carlos; Peyrecave-Lleixa, Eugenia; ...

    2016-04-13

    In this paper, we show a marked tendency of Fe(II) to form heteroleptic [Fe(L)(L')](ClO 4) 2 complexes from pairs of chelating tris-imine 3bpp, tpy, or 2bbp ligands. New synthetic avenues for spin crossover research become thus available, here illustrated with three new heteroleptic compounds with differing magnetic behaviors: [Fe(H 4L1)(Cl-tpy)](ClO 4) 2 ·C 3H 6O (1), [Fe(H 2L3)(Me3bpp)](ClO 4) 2 ·C 3H 6O (2), [Fe(H 4L1)(2bbp)](ClO 4) 2 ·3C 3H 6O (3). Structural studies demonstrate that 1 is in the low-spin (LS) state up to 350 K, while complexes 2 and 3 are, by contrast, in the high-spin (HS) statemore » down to 2 K, as corroborated through magnetic susceptibility measurements. Upon exposure to the atmosphere, the latter exhibits the release of three molecules of acetone per complex, turning into the solvent-free analogue [Fe(H 4L1)(2bbp)](ClO 4) 2 (3a), through a single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation. Lastly, this guest extrusion process is accompanied by a spin switch, from HS to LS.« less

  13. Thermodynamic Investigation and Mixed Ligand Complex Formation of 1,4-Bis-(3-aminopropyl)-piperazine and Biorelevant Ligands.

    PubMed

    El-Sherif, Ahmed A; Shehata, Mohamed R; Shoukry, Mohamed M; Barakat, Mohammad H

    2012-01-01

    Thermodynamic parameters for protonation of 1,4-bis(3-aminopropyl)-piperazine (BAPP) and its metal complexation with some divalent metal ions were determined in aqueous solution at constant ionic strength (0.1 M NaNO(3)) using a potentiometric technique. The order of -ΔG(0) and -ΔH(0) was found to obey Co(2+) < Ni(2+) < Cu(2+) > Zn(2+), in accordance with the Irving-Williams order. The formation equilibria of zinc (II) complexes and the ternary complexes Zn(BAPP)L, where L = amino acid, amides, or DNA constituents), have been investigated. Ternary complexes are formed by a simultaneous mechanism. The concentration distribution of the complexes in solution was evaluated as a function of pH. Stoichiometry and stability constants for the complexes formed are reported and discussed. The stability of ternary complexes was quantitatively compared with their corresponding binary complexes in terms of the parameter Δlog K.

  14. Thermodynamic Investigation and Mixed Ligand Complex Formation of 1,4-Bis-(3-aminopropyl)-piperazine and Biorelevant Ligands

    PubMed Central

    El-Sherif, Ahmed A.; Shehata, Mohamed R.; Shoukry, Mohamed M.; Barakat, Mohammad H.

    2012-01-01

    Thermodynamic parameters for protonation of 1,4-bis(3-aminopropyl)-piperazine (BAPP) and its metal complexation with some divalent metal ions were determined in aqueous solution at constant ionic strength (0.1 M NaNO3) using a potentiometric technique. The order of –ΔG0 and –ΔH0 was found to obey Co2+ < Ni2+ < Cu2+ > Zn2+, in accordance with the Irving-Williams order. The formation equilibria of zinc (II) complexes and the ternary complexes Zn(BAPP)L, where L = amino acid, amides, or DNA constituents), have been investigated. Ternary complexes are formed by a simultaneous mechanism. The concentration distribution of the complexes in solution was evaluated as a function of pH. Stoichiometry and stability constants for the complexes formed are reported and discussed. The stability of ternary complexes was quantitatively compared with their corresponding binary complexes in terms of the parameter Δlog K. PMID:23226992

  15. Low-temperature interaction of U(IV) and XeO{sub 3} in frozen aqueous H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} solutions accompanied by chemiluminescence

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lotnik, S.V.; Khamidullina, L.A.; Kazakov, V.P.

    Low-temperature (T{ge}180K) oxidation of U(IV) by xenon trioxide accompanied by chemiluminescence is studied in a frozen 0.2 M H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} solution. It is shown that the peak of luminescence at 195-200 K is related to chemiluminescence of the excited uranyl ion (UO{sup 2+}{sub 2}) formed in the oxidation of U(V), an intermediate product of the interaction of U(IV) and XeO{sub 3}.

  16. Metastatic Basal cell carcinoma accompanying gorlin syndrome.

    PubMed

    Bilir, Yeliz; Gokce, Erkan; Ozturk, Banu; Deresoy, Faik Alev; Yuksekkaya, Ruken; Yaman, Emel

    2014-01-01

    Gorlin-Goltz syndrome or basal cell nevus syndrome is an autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by skeletal anomalies, numerous cysts observed in the jaw, and multiple basal cell carcinoma of the skin, which may be accompanied by falx cerebri calcification. Basal cell carcinoma is the most commonly skin tumor with slow clinical course and low metastatic potential. Its concomitance with Gorlin syndrome, resulting from a mutation in a tumor suppressor gene, may substantially change morbidity and mortality. A 66-year-old male patient with a history of recurrent basal cell carcinoma was presented with exophthalmus in the left eye and the lesions localized in the left lateral orbita and left zygomatic area. His physical examination revealed hearing loss, gapped teeth, highly arched palate, and frontal prominence. Left orbital mass, cystic masses at frontal and ethmoidal sinuses, and multiple pulmonary nodules were detected at CT scans. Basal cell carcinoma was diagnosed from biopsy of ethmoid sinus. Based on the clinical and typical radiological characteristics (falx cerebri calcification, bifid costa, and odontogenic cysts), the patient was diagnosed with metastatic skin basal cell carcinoma accompanied by Gorlin syndrome. Our case is a basal cell carcinoma with aggressive course accompanying a rarely seen syndrome.

  17. Brillouin light scattering studies of the mechanical properties of ultrathin low-k dielectric films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Link, A.; Sooryakumar, R.; Bandhu, R. S.; Antonelli, G. A.

    2006-07-01

    In an effort to reduce RC time delays that accompany decreasing feature sizes, low-k dielectric films are rapidly emerging as potential replacements for silicon dioxide (SiO2) at the interconnect level in integrated circuits. The main challenge in low-k materials is their substantially weaker mechanical properties that accompany the increasing pore volume content needed to reduce k. We show that Brillouin light scattering is an excellent nondestructive technique to monitor and characterize the mechanical properties of these porous films at thicknesses well below 200nm that are pertinent to present applications. Observation of longitudinal and transverse standing wave acoustic resonances and the dispersion that accompany their transformation into traveling waves with finite in-plane wave vectors provides for a direct measure of the principal elastic constants that completely characterize the mechanical properties of these ultrathin films. The mode amplitudes of the standing waves, their variation within the film, and the calculated Brillouin intensities account for most aspects of the spectra. We further show that the values obtained by this method agree well with other experimental techniques such as nanoindentation and picosecond laser ultrasonics.

  18. Directional RNA-seq reveals highly complex condition-dependent transcriptomes in E. coli K12 through accurate full-length transcripts assembling

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Although prokaryotic gene transcription has been studied over decades, many aspects of the process remain poorly understood. Particularly, recent studies have revealed that transcriptomes in many prokaryotes are far more complex than previously thought. Genes in an operon are often alternatively and dynamically transcribed under different conditions, and a large portion of genes and intergenic regions have antisense RNA (asRNA) and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) transcripts, respectively. Ironically, similar studies have not been conducted in the model bacterium E coli K12, thus it is unknown whether or not the bacterium possesses similar complex transcriptomes. Furthermore, although RNA-seq becomes the major method for analyzing the complexity of prokaryotic transcriptome, it is still a challenging task to accurately assemble full length transcripts using short RNA-seq reads. Results To fill these gaps, we have profiled the transcriptomes of E. coli K12 under different culture conditions and growth phases using a highly specific directional RNA-seq technique that can capture various types of transcripts in the bacterial cells, combined with a highly accurate and robust algorithm and tool TruHMM (http://bioinfolab.uncc.edu/TruHmm_package/) for assembling full length transcripts. We found that 46.9 ~ 63.4% of expressed operons were utilized in their putative alternative forms, 72.23 ~ 89.54% genes had putative asRNA transcripts and 51.37 ~ 72.74% intergenic regions had putative ncRNA transcripts under different culture conditions and growth phases. Conclusions As has been demonstrated in many other prokaryotes, E. coli K12 also has a highly complex and dynamic transcriptomes under different culture conditions and growth phases. Such complex and dynamic transcriptomes might play important roles in the physiology of the bacterium. TruHMM is a highly accurate and robust algorithm for assembling full-length transcripts in prokaryotes using directional RNA

  19. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K upregulates the kinetochore complex component NUF2 and promotes the tumorigenicity of colon cancer cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sugimasa, Hironobu; Taniue, Kenzui; Kurimoto, Akiko

    2015-03-27

    Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K) is a multi-functional protein involved in transcription, mRNA splicing, mRNA stabilization and translation. Although hnRNP K has been suggested to play a role in the development of many cancers, its molecular function in colorectal cancer has remained elusive. Here we show that hnRNP K plays an important role in the mitotic process in HCT116 colon cancer cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that hnRNP K directly transactivates the NUF2 gene, the product of which is a component of the NDC80 kinetochore complex and which is known to be critical for a stable spindle microtubule-kinetochore attachment. Inmore » addition, knockdown of both hnRNP K and NUF2 caused failure in metaphase chromosome alignment and drastic decrease in the growth of colon cancer cells. These results suggest that the hnRNP K-NUF2 axis is important for the mitotic process and proliferation of colon cancer cells and that this axis could be a target for the therapy of colon cancer. - Highlights: • hnRNP K is required for the tumorigenicity of colon cancer cells. • hnRNP K binds to the promoter region of NUF2 and activates its transcription. • NUF2 expression is correlated with hnRNP K expression in colorectal cancer tissue. • hnRNP K and NUF2 are required for metaphase chromosome alignment. • The hnRNP K-NUF2 axis is important for the proliferation of colon cancer cells.« less

  20. K-edge ratio method for identification of multiple nanoparticulate contrast agents by spectral CT imaging

    PubMed Central

    Ghadiri, H; Ay, M R; Shiran, M B; Soltanian-Zadeh, H

    2013-01-01

    Objective: Recently introduced energy-sensitive X-ray CT makes it feasible to discriminate different nanoparticulate contrast materials. The purpose of this work is to present a K-edge ratio method for differentiating multiple simultaneous contrast agents using spectral CT. Methods: The ratio of two images relevant to energy bins straddling the K-edge of the materials is calculated using an analytic CT simulator. In the resulting parametric map, the selected contrast agent regions can be identified using a thresholding algorithm. The K-edge ratio algorithm is applied to spectral images of simulated phantoms to identify and differentiate up to four simultaneous and targeted CT contrast agents. Results: We show that different combinations of simultaneous CT contrast agents can be identified by the proposed K-edge ratio method when energy-sensitive CT is used. In the K-edge parametric maps, the pixel values for biological tissues and contrast agents reach a maximum of 0.95, whereas for the selected contrast agents, the pixel values are larger than 1.10. The number of contrast agents that can be discriminated is limited owing to photon starvation. For reliable material discrimination, minimum photon counts corresponding to 140 kVp, 100 mAs and 5-mm slice thickness must be used. Conclusion: The proposed K-edge ratio method is a straightforward and fast method for identification and discrimination of multiple simultaneous CT contrast agents. Advances in knowledge: A new spectral CT-based algorithm is proposed which provides a new concept of molecular CT imaging by non-iteratively identifying multiple contrast agents when they are simultaneously targeting different organs. PMID:23934964

  1. Effects of conformational ordering on protein/polyelectrolyte electrostatic complexation: ionic binding and chain stiffening

    PubMed Central

    Cao, Yiping; Fang, Yapeng; Nishinari, Katsuyoshi; Phillips, Glyn O.

    2016-01-01

    Coupling of electrostatic complexation with conformational transition is rather general in protein/polyelectrolyte interaction and has important implications in many biological processes and practical applications. This work studied the electrostatic complexation between κ-carrageenan (κ-car) and type B gelatin, and analyzed the effects of the conformational ordering of κ-car induced upon cooling in the presence of potassium chloride (KCl) or tetramethylammonium iodide (Me4NI). Experimental results showed that the effects of conformational ordering on protein/polyelectrolyte electrostatic complexation can be decomposed into ionic binding and chain stiffening. At the initial stage of conformational ordering, electrostatic complexation can be either suppressed or enhanced due to the ionic bindings of K+ and I− ions, which significantly alter the charge density of κ-car or occupy the binding sites of gelatin. Beyond a certain stage of conformational ordering, i.e., helix content θ > 0.30, the effect of chain stiffening, accompanied with a rapid increase in helix length ζ, becomes dominant and tends to dissociate the electrostatic complexation. The effect of chain stiffening can be theoretically interpreted in terms of double helix association. PMID:27030165

  2. Inhibition of ATPase activity in rat synaptic plasma membranes by simultaneous exposure to metals.

    PubMed

    Carfagna, M A; Ponsler, G D; Muhoberac, B B

    1996-03-08

    Inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities by in vitro exposure to Cd2+, Pb2+ and Mn2+ was investigated in rat brain synaptic plasma membranes (SPMs). Cd2+ and Pb2+ produced a larger maximal inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase than of Mg2+-ATPase activity. Metal concentrations causing 50% inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase activity (IC50 values) were Cd2+ (0.6 microM) < Pb2+ (2.1 microM) < Mn2+ (approximately 3 mM), and the former two metals were substantially more potent in inhibiting SPM versus synaptosomal Na+/K+-ATPase. Dixon plots of SPM data indicated that equilibrium binding of metals occurs at sites causing enzyme inhibition. In addition, IC50 values for SPM K+-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase inhibition followed the same order and were Cd2+ (0.4 microM) < Pb2+ (1.2 microM) < Mn2+ (300 microM). Simultaneous exposure to the combinations Cd2+/Mn2+ or Pb2+/Mn2+ inhibited SPM Na+/K+-ATPase activity synergistically (i.e., greater than the sum of the metal-induced inhibitions assayed separately), while Cd2+/Pb2+ caused additive inhibition. Simultaneous exposure to Cd2+/Pb2+ antagonistically inhibited Mg2+-ATPase activity while Cd2+/Mn2+ or Pb2+/Mn2+ additively inhibited Mg2+-ATPase activity at low Mn2+ concentrations, but inhibited antagonistically at higher concentrations. The similar IC50 values for Cd2+ and Pb2+ versus Mn2+ inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase and the pattern of inhibition/activation upon exposure to two metals simultaneously support similar modes of interaction of Cd2+ and Pb2+ with this enzyme, in agreement with their chemical reactivities.

  3. The Os-AKT1 Channel Is Critical for K+ Uptake in Rice Roots and Is Modulated by the Rice CBL1-CIPK23 Complex[W][OPEN

    PubMed Central

    Li, Juan; Long, Yu; Qi, Guo-Ning; Li, Juan; Xu, Zi-Jian; Wu, Wei-Hua; Wang, Yi

    2014-01-01

    Potassium (K+) is one of the essential nutrient elements for plant growth and development. Plants absorb K+ ions from the environment via root cell K+ channels and/or transporters. In this study, the Shaker K+ channel Os-AKT1 was characterized for its function in K+ uptake in rice (Oryza sativa) roots, and its regulation by Os-CBL1 (Calcineurin B-Like protein1) and Os-CIPK23 (CBL-Interacting Protein Kinase23) was investigated. As an inward K+ channel, Os-AKT1 could carry out K+ uptake and rescue the low-K+-sensitive phenotype of Arabidopsis thaliana akt1 mutant plants. Rice Os-akt1 mutant plants showed decreased K+ uptake and displayed an obvious low-K+-sensitive phenotype. Disruption of Os-AKT1 significantly reduced the K+ content, which resulted in inhibition of plant growth and development. Similar to the AKT1 regulation in Arabidopsis, Os-CBL1 and Os-CIPK23 were identified as the upstream regulators of Os-AKT1 in rice. The Os-CBL1-Os-CIPK23 complex could enhance Os-AKT1-mediated K+ uptake. A phenotype test confirmed that Os-CIPK23 RNAi lines exhibited similar K+-deficient symptoms as the Os-akt1 mutant under low K+ conditions. These findings demonstrate that Os-AKT1-mediated K+ uptake in rice roots is modulated by the Os-CBL1-Os-CIPK23 complex. PMID:25096783

  4. The Legionella Kinase LegK2 Targets the ARP2/3 Complex To Inhibit Actin Nucleation on Phagosomes and Allow Bacterial Evasion of the Late Endocytic Pathway

    PubMed Central

    Michard, Céline; Sperandio, Daniel; Baïlo, Nathalie; Pizarro-Cerdá, Javier; LeClaire, Lawrence; Chadeau-Argaud, Elise; Pombo-Grégoire, Isabel; Hervet, Eva; Vianney, Anne; Gilbert, Christophe; Faure, Mathias; Cossart, Pascale

    2015-01-01

    ABSTRACT Legionella pneumophila, the etiological agent of legionellosis, replicates within phagocytic cells. Crucial to biogenesis of the replicative vacuole is the Dot/Icm type 4 secretion system, which translocates a large number of effectors into the host cell cytosol. Among them is LegK2, a protein kinase that plays a key role in Legionella infection. Here, we identified the actin nucleator ARP2/3 complex as a target of LegK2. LegK2 phosphorylates the ARPC1B and ARP3 subunits of the ARP2/3 complex. LegK2-dependent ARP2/3 phosphorylation triggers global actin cytoskeleton remodeling in cells, and it impairs actin tail formation by Listeria monocytogenes, a well-known ARP2/3-dependent process. During infection, LegK2 is addressed to the Legionella-containing vacuole surface and inhibits actin polymerization on the phagosome, as revealed by legK2 gene inactivation. Consequently, LegK2 prevents late endosome/lysosome association with the phagosome and finally contributes to remodeling of the bacterium-containing phagosome into a replicative niche. The inhibition of actin polymerization by LegK2 and its effect on endosome trafficking are ARP2/3 dependent since it can be phenocopied by a specific chemical inhibitor of the ARP2/3 complex. Thus, LegK2-ARP2/3 interplay highlights an original mechanism of bacterial virulence with an unexpected role in local actin remodeling that allows bacteria to control vesicle trafficking in order to escape host defenses. PMID:25944859

  5. Final report of key comparison AFRIMETS.AUV.A-K5: primary pressure calibration of LS1P microphones according to IEC 61094-2, over the frequency range 2 Hz to 10 kHz.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nel, R.; Avison, J.; Harris, P.; Blabla, M.; Hämäläinen, J.

    2017-01-01

    The degrees of equivalence of the AFRIMETS.AUV.A-K5 regional key comparison are reported here as the final report. The scope of the comparison covered the complex pressure sensitivities of two LS1P microphones over the frequency range 2 Hz to 10 kHz in accordance with IEC 61094-2: 2009. Four national metrology institutes from two different regional metrology organisations participated in the comparison. Two LS1P microphones were circulated simultaneously to all the participants in a circular configuration. One of the microphones sensitivity shifted and all results associated with this microphone were subsequently excluded from further analysis and linking. The AFRIMETS.AUV.A-K5 comparison results were linked to the CCAUV.A-K5 comparison results via dual participation in the CCAUV.A-K5 and AFRIMETS.AUV.A-K5 comparisons. The degrees of equivalence, linked to the CCAUV.A-K5 comparison, were calculated for all participants of this comparison. Main text To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCAUV, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

  6. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with post-column dual-bioactivity assay for simultaneous screening of xanthine oxidase inhibitors and free radical scavengers from complex mixture.

    PubMed

    Li, D Q; Zhao, J; Li, S P

    2014-06-06

    Xanthine oxidase (XO) can catalyze hypoxanthine and xanthine to generate uric acid and reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide anion radical (O₂(•-)) and hydrogen peroxide. XO inhibitors and free radical scavengers are beneficial to the treatment of gout and many related diseases. In the present study, an on-line high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with post-column dual-bioactivity assay was established and successfully applied to simultaneously screening of XO inhibitors and free radical scavengers from a complex mixture, Oroxylum indicum extract. The integrated system of HPLC separation, bioactivity screening and mass spectrometry identification was proved to be simple and effective for rapid and sensitive screening of individual bioactive compounds in complex mixtures. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  7. ABI3, a component of the WAVE2 complex, is potentially regulated by PI3K/AKT pathway

    PubMed Central

    Moraes, Lais; Zanchin, Nilson I.T.; Cerutti, Janete M.

    2017-01-01

    We previously reported that ABI3 expression is lost in follicular thyroid carcinomas and its restoration significantly inhibited cell growth, invasiveness, migration, and reduced tumor growth in vivo. The mechanistic basis by which ABI3 exerts its tumor suppressive effects is not fully understood. In this study, we show that ABI3 is a phosphoprotein. Using proteomic array analysis, we showed that ABI3 modulated distinct cancer-related pathways in thyroid cancer cells. The KEA analysis found that PI3K substrates were enriched and forced expression of ABI3 markedly decreased the phosphorylation of AKT and the downstream-targeted protein pGSK3β. We next used immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry to identify ABI3-interacting proteins that may be involved in modulating/integrating signaling pathways. We identified 37 ABI3 partners, including several components of the canonical WAVE regulatory complex (WRC) such as WAVE2/CYF1P1/NAP1, suggesting that ABI3 function might be regulated through WRC. Both, pharmacological inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway and mutation at residue S342 of ABI3, which is predicted to be phosphorylated by AKT, provided evidences that the non-phosphorylated form of ABI3 is preferentially present in the WRC protein complex. Collectively, our findings suggest that ABI3 might be a downstream mediator of the PI3K/AKT pathway that might disrupt WRC via ABI3 phosphorylation. PMID:28978070

  8. ABI3, a component of the WAVE2 complex, is potentially regulated by PI3K/AKT pathway.

    PubMed

    Moraes, Lais; Zanchin, Nilson I T; Cerutti, Janete M

    2017-09-15

    We previously reported that ABI3 expression is lost in follicular thyroid carcinomas and its restoration significantly inhibited cell growth, invasiveness, migration, and reduced tumor growth in vivo . The mechanistic basis by which ABI3 exerts its tumor suppressive effects is not fully understood. In this study, we show that ABI3 is a phosphoprotein. Using proteomic array analysis, we showed that ABI3 modulated distinct cancer-related pathways in thyroid cancer cells. The KEA analysis found that PI3K substrates were enriched and forced expression of ABI3 markedly decreased the phosphorylation of AKT and the downstream-targeted protein pGSK3β. We next used immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry to identify ABI3-interacting proteins that may be involved in modulating/integrating signaling pathways. We identified 37 ABI3 partners, including several components of the canonical WAVE regulatory complex (WRC) such as WAVE2/CYF1P1/NAP1, suggesting that ABI3 function might be regulated through WRC. Both, pharmacological inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway and mutation at residue S342 of ABI3, which is predicted to be phosphorylated by AKT, provided evidences that the non-phosphorylated form of ABI3 is preferentially present in the WRC protein complex. Collectively, our findings suggest that ABI3 might be a downstream mediator of the PI3K/AKT pathway that might disrupt WRC via ABI3 phosphorylation.

  9. Spectrophotometric studies on the complexation equilibria of Ni and Pb with 2-carboxy-2-hydroxy-5'-sulfo-formazylbenzene. Simultaneous determination of trace amounts of Ni and Pb.

    PubMed

    Hashem, Elham Y; Abu-Bakr, Mohamed S; Hussain, Sawsan M

    2004-01-01

    Spectrophotometric studies have been made to investigate the reaction of Nickel and Lead with 2-carboxy-2'-hydroxy-5'-sulfoformazyl-benzene (zincon) in 50%(v/v) ethanol-water at 25 degrees C and an ionic strength of 0.1 M NaClO4. A complete picture of the complexation equilibria in the pH range (4.2-12.0) for nickel and (1.9-11.5) for lead are presented. Simple, rapid, selective and sensitive methods for the spectro-photometric determination of nickel and lead has been developed based on the color reaction of their complexes with zincon. The methods allow the determination of 4.69 microg mL(-1) of nickel at pH = 6.3 (lambdamax = 665 nm) and 10.3 microg ml(-1) of lead at pH = 5.6 (lambdamax = 610 nm). The apparent molar absorptivities were epsilon = 1.3 x 10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1) for nickel and epsilon = 0.6 x 10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1) for lead. The interference of a large number of foreign ions and complexing agents has been studied. Thiosulphate, as masking agent allows the simultaneous determination of nickel and lead in the presence of high concentrations of copper. Ascorbic acid, sodium cyanide and or sodium fluoride provide the elimination of many other interferences. The methods have been applied successfully to the simultaneous determination of nickel and lead in an aluminium and non-ferrous alloy.

  10. Metastatic Basal Cell Carcinoma Accompanying Gorlin Syndrome

    PubMed Central

    Bilir, Yeliz; Gokce, Erkan; Ozturk, Banu; Deresoy, Faik Alev; Yuksekkaya, Ruken; Yaman, Emel

    2014-01-01

    Gorlin-Goltz syndrome or basal cell nevus syndrome is an autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by skeletal anomalies, numerous cysts observed in the jaw, and multiple basal cell carcinoma of the skin, which may be accompanied by falx cerebri calcification. Basal cell carcinoma is the most commonly skin tumor with slow clinical course and low metastatic potential. Its concomitance with Gorlin syndrome, resulting from a mutation in a tumor suppressor gene, may substantially change morbidity and mortality. A 66-year-old male patient with a history of recurrent basal cell carcinoma was presented with exophthalmus in the left eye and the lesions localized in the left lateral orbita and left zygomatic area. His physical examination revealed hearing loss, gapped teeth, highly arched palate, and frontal prominence. Left orbital mass, cystic masses at frontal and ethmoidal sinuses, and multiple pulmonary nodules were detected at CT scans. Basal cell carcinoma was diagnosed from biopsy of ethmoid sinus. Based on the clinical and typical radiological characteristics (falx cerebri calcification, bifid costa, and odontogenic cysts), the patient was diagnosed with metastatic skin basal cell carcinoma accompanied by Gorlin syndrome. Our case is a basal cell carcinoma with aggressive course accompanying a rarely seen syndrome. PMID:25506011

  11. The UbiK protein is an accessory factor necessary for bacterial ubiquinone (UQ) biosynthesis and forms a complex with the UQ biogenesis factor UbiJ.

    PubMed

    Loiseau, Laurent; Fyfe, Cameron; Aussel, Laurent; Hajj Chehade, Mahmoud; Hernández, Sara B; Faivre, Bruno; Hamdane, Djemel; Mellot-Draznieks, Caroline; Rascalou, Bérengère; Pelosi, Ludovic; Velours, Christophe; Cornu, David; Lombard, Murielle; Casadesús, Josep; Pierrel, Fabien; Fontecave, Marc; Barras, Frédéric

    2017-07-14

    Ubiquinone (UQ), also referred to as coenzyme Q, is a widespread lipophilic molecule in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes in which it primarily acts as an electron carrier. Eleven proteins are known to participate in UQ biosynthesis in Escherichia coli , and we recently demonstrated that UQ biosynthesis requires additional, nonenzymatic factors, some of which are still unknown. Here, we report on the identification of a bacterial gene, yqiC , which is required for efficient UQ biosynthesis, and which we have renamed ubiK Using several methods, we demonstrated that the UbiK protein forms a complex with the C-terminal part of UbiJ, another UQ biogenesis factor we previously identified. We found that both proteins are likely to contribute to global UQ biosynthesis rather than to a specific biosynthetic step, because both ubiK and ubiJ mutants accumulated octaprenylphenol, an early intermediate of the UQ biosynthetic pathway. Interestingly, we found that both proteins are dispensable for UQ biosynthesis under anaerobiosis, even though they were expressed in the absence of oxygen. We also provide evidence that the UbiK-UbiJ complex interacts with palmitoleic acid, a major lipid in E. coli Last, in Salmonella enterica , ubiK was required for proliferation in macrophages and virulence in mice. We conclude that although the role of the UbiK-UbiJ complex remains unknown, our results support the hypothesis that UbiK is an accessory factor of Ubi enzymes and facilitates UQ biosynthesis by acting as an assembly factor, a targeting factor, or both. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  12. Simultaneous Inference For The Mean Function Based on Dense Functional Data

    PubMed Central

    Cao, Guanqun; Yang, Lijian; Todem, David

    2012-01-01

    A polynomial spline estimator is proposed for the mean function of dense functional data together with a simultaneous confidence band which is asymptotically correct. In addition, the spline estimator and its accompanying confidence band enjoy oracle efficiency in the sense that they are asymptotically the same as if all random trajectories are observed entirely and without errors. The confidence band is also extended to the difference of mean functions of two populations of functional data. Simulation experiments provide strong evidence that corroborates the asymptotic theory while computing is efficient. The confidence band procedure is illustrated by analyzing the near infrared spectroscopy data. PMID:22665964

  13. Supported black phosphorus nanosheets as hydrogen-evolving photocatalyst achieving 5.4% energy conversion efficiency at 353 K.

    PubMed

    Tian, Bin; Tian, Bining; Smith, Bethany; Scott, M C; Hua, Ruinian; Lei, Qin; Tian, Yue

    2018-04-11

    Solar-driven water splitting using powdered catalysts is considered as the most economical means for hydrogen generation. However, four-electron-driven oxidation half-reaction showing slow kinetics, accompanying with insufficient light absorption and rapid carrier combination in photocatalysts leads to low solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency. Here, we report amorphous cobalt phosphide (Co-P)-supported black phosphorus nanosheets employed as photocatalysts can simultaneously address these issues. The nanosheets exhibit robust hydrogen evolution from pure water (pH = 6.8) without bias and hole scavengers, achieving an apparent quantum efficiency of 42.55% at 430 nm and energy conversion efficiency of over 5.4% at 353 K. This photocatalytic activity is attributed to extremely efficient utilization of solar energy (~75% of solar energy) by black phosphorus nanosheets and high-carrier separation efficiency by amorphous Co-P. The hybrid material design realizes efficient solar-to-chemical energy conversion in suspension, demonstrating the potential of black phosphorus-based materials as catalysts for solar hydrogen production.

  14. A case of peribiliary cysts accompanying bile duct carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Miura, Fumihiko; Takada, Tadahiro; Amano, Hodaka; Yoshida, Masahiro; Isaka, Takahiro; Toyota, Naoyuki; Wada, Keita; Takagi, Kenji; Kato, Kenichiro

    2006-01-01

    A rare case of peribiliary cysts accompanying bile duct carcinoma is presented. A 54-year-old man was diagnosed as having lower bile duct carcinoma and peribiliary cysts by diagnostic imaging. He underwent pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy. As for the peribiliary cysts, a course of observation was taken. Over surgery due to misdiagnosis of patients with biliary malignancy accompanied by peribiliary cysts should be avoided. PMID:16874882

  15. MULTI-K: accurate classification of microarray subtypes using ensemble k-means clustering

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Eun-Youn; Kim, Seon-Young; Ashlock, Daniel; Nam, Dougu

    2009-01-01

    Background Uncovering subtypes of disease from microarray samples has important clinical implications such as survival time and sensitivity of individual patients to specific therapies. Unsupervised clustering methods have been used to classify this type of data. However, most existing methods focus on clusters with compact shapes and do not reflect the geometric complexity of the high dimensional microarray clusters, which limits their performance. Results We present a cluster-number-based ensemble clustering algorithm, called MULTI-K, for microarray sample classification, which demonstrates remarkable accuracy. The method amalgamates multiple k-means runs by varying the number of clusters and identifies clusters that manifest the most robust co-memberships of elements. In addition to the original algorithm, we newly devised the entropy-plot to control the separation of singletons or small clusters. MULTI-K, unlike the simple k-means or other widely used methods, was able to capture clusters with complex and high-dimensional structures accurately. MULTI-K outperformed other methods including a recently developed ensemble clustering algorithm in tests with five simulated and eight real gene-expression data sets. Conclusion The geometric complexity of clusters should be taken into account for accurate classification of microarray data, and ensemble clustering applied to the number of clusters tackles the problem very well. The C++ code and the data sets tested are available from the authors. PMID:19698124

  16. Luminescence of the (O2(a(1)Δ(g)))2 collisional complex in the temperature range of 90-315 K: Experiment and theory.

    PubMed

    Zagidullin, M V; Pershin, A A; Azyazov, V N; Mebel, A M

    2015-12-28

    Experimental and theoretical studies of collision induced emission of singlet oxygen molecules O2(a(1)Δg) in the visible range have been performed. The rate constants, half-widths, and position of peaks for the emission bands of the (O2(a(1)Δg))2 collisional complex centered around 634 nm (2) and 703 nm (3) have been measured in the temperature range of 90-315 K using a flow-tube apparatus that utilized a gas-liquid chemical singlet oxygen generator. The absolute values of the spontaneous emission rate constants k2 and k3 are found to be similar, with the k3/k2 ratio monotonically decreasing from 1.1 at 300 K to 0.96 at 90 K. k2 slowly decreases with decreasing temperature but a sharp increase in its values is measured below 100 K. The experimental results were rationalized in terms of ab initio calculations of the ground and excited potential energy and transition dipole moment surfaces of singlet electronic states of the (O2)2 dimole, which were utilized to compute rate constants k2 and k3 within a statistical model. The best theoretical results reproduced experimental rate constants with the accuracy of under 40% and correctly described the observed temperature dependence. The main contribution to emission process (2), which does not involve vibrational excitation of O2 molecules at the ground electronic level, comes from the spin- and symmetry-allowed 1(1)Ag←(1)B3u transition in the rectangular H configuration of the dimole. Alternatively, emission process (3), in which one of the monomers becomes vibrationally excited in the ground electronic state, is found to be predominantly due to the vibronically allowed 1(1)Ag←2(1)Ag transition induced by the asymmetric O-O stretch vibration in the collisional complex. The strong vibronic coupling between nearly degenerate excited singlet states of the dimole makes the intensities of vibronically and symmetry-allowed transitions comparable and hence the rate constants k2 and k3 close to one another.

  17. Sulfur K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy of homoleptic thiolato complexes with Zn(II) and Cd(II).

    PubMed

    Matsunaga, Yuki; Fujisawa, Kiyoshi; Ibi, Naoko; Fujita, Mitsuharu; Ohashi, Tetuya; Amir, Nagina; Miyashita, Yoshitaro; Aika, Ken-Ichi; Izumi, Yasuo; Okamoto, Ken-Ichi

    2006-02-01

    The sulfur K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy is applied to homoleptic thiolato complexes with Zn(II) and Cd(II), (Et(4)N)[Zn(SAd)(3)] (1), (Et(4)N)(2)[{Zn(ScHex)(2)}(2)(mu-ScHex)(2)] (2), (Et(4)N)(2)[{Cd(ScHex)(2)}(2)(mu-ScHex)(2)] (3), (Et(4)N)(2)[{Cd(ScHex)}(4)(mu-ScHex)(6)] (4), [Zn(mu-SAd)(2)](n) (5), and [Cd(mu-SAd)(2)](n) (6) (HSAd=1-adamantanethiol, HScHex=cyclohexanethiol). The EXAFS results are consistent with the X-ray crystal data of 1-4. The structures of 5 and 6, which have not been determined by X-ray crystallography, are proposed to be polynuclear structures on the basis of the sulfur K-edge EXAFS, far-IR spectra, and elemental analysis. Clear evidences of the S...S interactions (between bridging atoms or neighboring sulfur atoms) and the S...C(far) interactions (in which C(far) atom is next to carbon atom directly bonded to sulfur atom) were observed in the EXAFS data for all complexes and thus lead to the reliable determination of the structures of 5 and 6 in combination with conventional zinc K-edge EXAFS analysis for 5. This new methodology, sulfur K-edge EXAFS, could be applied for the structural determination of in vivo metalloproteins as well as inorganic compounds.

  18. The K-ABC, Coding, and Planning: An Investigation of Cognitive Processes.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Das, J. P.; And Others

    1990-01-01

    Evaluated elementary school students (N=198) using six mental processing subtests of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) and three tests of planning. Results indicated orthogonal simultaneous and sequential factors emerged; the verbal simultaneous test was a good addition; and a "planning" factor identified by three…

  19. 7 CFR 319.37-12 - Prohibited articles accompanying restricted articles.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 5 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Prohibited articles accompanying restricted articles... Stock, Plants, Roots, Bulbs, Seeds, and Other Plant Products 1,2 § 319.37-12 Prohibited articles accompanying restricted articles. A restricted article for importation into the United States shall not be...

  20. 7 CFR 319.37-12 - Prohibited articles accompanying restricted articles.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 5 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Prohibited articles accompanying restricted articles... Stock, Plants, Roots, Bulbs, Seeds, and Other Plant Products 1,2 § 319.37-12 Prohibited articles accompanying restricted articles. A restricted article for importation into the United States shall not be...

  1. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of ground corn stover for the production of fuel ethanol using Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Gloeophyllum trabeum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Escherichia coli K011.

    PubMed

    Vincent, Micky; Pometto, Anthony L; van Leeuwen, J Hans

    2011-07-01

    Enzymatic saccharification of corn stover using Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Gloeophyllum trabeum and subsequent fermentation of the saccharification products to ethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli K011 were achieved. Prior to simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) for ethanol production, solid-state fermentation was performed for four days on ground corn stover using either P. chrysosporium or G. trabeum to induce in situ cellulase production. During SSF with S. cerevisiae or E. coli, ethanol production was the highest on day 4 for all samples. For corn stover treated with P. chrysosporium, the conversion to ethanol was 2.29 g/100 g corn stover with S. cerevisiae as the fermenting organism, whereas for the sample inoculated with E. coli K011, the ethanol production was 4.14 g/100 g corn stover. Corn stover treated with G. trabeum showed a conversion 1.90 and 4.79 g/100 g corn stover with S. cerevisiae and E. coli K011 as the fermenting organisms, respectively. Other fermentation co-products, such as acetic acid and lactic acid, were also monitored. Acetic acid production ranged between 0.45 and 0.78 g/100 g corn stover, while no lactic acid production was detected throughout the 5 days of SSF. The results of our experiment suggest that it is possible to perform SSF of corn stover using P. chrysosporium, G. trabeum, S. cerevisiae and E. coli K011 for the production of fuel ethanol.

  2. Initial characterization of the FlgE hook high molecular weight complex of Borrelia burgdorferi.

    PubMed

    Miller, Kelly A; Motaleb, Md A; Liu, Jun; Hu, Bo; Caimano, Melissa J; Miller, Michael R; Charon, Nyles W

    2014-01-01

    The spirochete periplasmic flagellum has many unique attributes. One unusual characteristic is the flagellar hook. This structure serves as a universal joint coupling rotation of the membrane-bound motor to the flagellar filament. The hook is comprised of about 120 FlgE monomers, and in most bacteria these structures readily dissociate to monomers (∼ 50 kDa) when treated with heat and detergent. However, in spirochetes the FlgE monomers form a large mass of over 250 kDa [referred to as a high molecular weight complex (HMWC)] that is stable to these and other denaturing conditions. In this communication, we examined specific aspects with respect to the formation and structure of this complex. We found that the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi synthesized the HMWC throughout the in vitro growth cycle, and also in vivo when implanted in dialysis membrane chambers in rats. The HMWC was stable to formic acid, which supports the concept that the stability of the HMWC is dependent on covalent cross-linking of individual FlgE subunits. Mass spectrometry analysis of the HMWC from both wild type periplasmic flagella and polyhooks from a newly constructed ΔfliK mutant indicated that other proteins besides FlgE were not covalently joined to the complex, and that FlgE was the sole component of the complex. In addition, mass spectrometry analysis also indicated that the HMWC was composed of a polymer of the FlgE protein with both the N- and C-terminal regions remaining intact. These initial studies set the stage for a detailed characterization of the HMWC. Covalent cross-linking of FlgE with the accompanying formation of the HMWC we propose strengthens the hook structure for optimal spirochete motility.

  3. Initial Characterization of the FlgE Hook High Molecular Weight Complex of Borrelia burgdorferi

    PubMed Central

    Miller, Kelly A.; Motaleb, Md. A.; Liu, Jun; Hu, Bo; Caimano, Melissa J.; Miller, Michael R.; Charon, Nyles W.

    2014-01-01

    The spirochete periplasmic flagellum has many unique attributes. One unusual characteristic is the flagellar hook. This structure serves as a universal joint coupling rotation of the membrane-bound motor to the flagellar filament. The hook is comprised of about 120 FlgE monomers, and in most bacteria these structures readily dissociate to monomers (∼ 50 kDa) when treated with heat and detergent. However, in spirochetes the FlgE monomers form a large mass of over 250 kDa [referred to as a high molecular weight complex (HMWC)] that is stable to these and other denaturing conditions. In this communication, we examined specific aspects with respect to the formation and structure of this complex. We found that the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi synthesized the HMWC throughout the in vitro growth cycle, and also in vivo when implanted in dialysis membrane chambers in rats. The HMWC was stable to formic acid, which supports the concept that the stability of the HMWC is dependent on covalent cross-linking of individual FlgE subunits. Mass spectrometry analysis of the HMWC from both wild type periplasmic flagella and polyhooks from a newly constructed ΔfliK mutant indicated that other proteins besides FlgE were not covalently joined to the complex, and that FlgE was the sole component of the complex. In addition, mass spectrometry analysis also indicated that the HMWC was composed of a polymer of the FlgE protein with both the N- and C-terminal regions remaining intact. These initial studies set the stage for a detailed characterization of the HMWC. Covalent cross-linking of FlgE with the accompanying formation of the HMWC we propose strengthens the hook structure for optimal spirochete motility. PMID:24859001

  4. Procedure for measuring simultaneously the solar and visible properties of glazing with complex internal or external structures.

    PubMed

    Gentle, A R; Smith, G B

    2014-10-20

    Accurate solar and visual transmittances of materials in which surfaces or internal structures are complex are often not easily amenable to standard procedures with laboratory-based spectrophotometers and integrating spheres. Localized "hot spots" of intensity are common in such materials, so data on small samples is unreliable. A novel device and simple protocols have been developed and undergone validation testing. Simultaneous solar and visible transmittance and reflectance data have been acquired for skylight components and multilayer polycarbonate roof panels. The pyranometer and lux sensor setups also directly yield "light coolness" in lumens/watt. Sample areas must be large, and, although mainly in sheet form, some testing has been done on curved panels. The instrument, its operation, and the simple calculations used are described. Results on a subset of diffuse and partially diffuse materials with no hot spots have been cross checked using 150 mm integrating spheres with a spectrophotometer and the Air Mass 1.5 spectrum. Indications are that results are as good or better than with such spheres for transmittance, but reflectance techniques need refinement for some sample types.

  5. Unexpected Effects of K+ and Adenosine Triphosphate on the Thermal Stability of Na+,K+-ATPase.

    PubMed

    Placenti, M Agueda; Kaufman, Sergio B; González Flecha, F Luis; González Lebrero, Rodolfo M

    2017-05-18

    Na + ,K + -ATPase is an integral membrane protein which couples ATP hydrolysis to the transport of three Na + out and two K + into the cell. The aim of this work is to characterize the effect of K + , ATP, and Mg 2+ (essential activator) on the Na + ,K + -ATPase thermal stability. Under all conditions tested, thermal inactivation of the enzyme is concomitant with a structural change involving the ATP binding site and membrane-associated regions. Both ligands exert a clear stabilizing effect due to both enthalpic and entropic contributions. Competition experiments between ATP and K + showed that, when ATP is present, the inactivation rate coefficient exhibits a biphasic dependence on K + concentration. At low [K + ], destabilization of the enzyme is observed, while stabilization occurred at larger cation concentrations. This is not expected for a simple competition between the enzyme and two ligands that individually protect the enzyme. A model that includes enzyme species with none, one, or two K + and/or one molecule of ATP bound explains the experimental data. We concluded that, despite both ligands stabilizing the enzyme, the species with one K + and one ATP simultaneously bound is unstable.

  6. 31 CFR 560.507 - Accompanied baggage authorized.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... the United States directly or indirectly from Iran are authorized to import into the United States... Iran are authorized to export from the United States accompanied baggage normally incident to travel...

  7. 31 CFR 560.507 - Accompanied baggage authorized.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... the United States directly or indirectly from Iran are authorized to import into the United States... Iran are authorized to export from the United States accompanied baggage normally incident to travel...

  8. Structured plant metabolomics for the simultaneous exploration of multiple factors.

    PubMed

    Vasilev, Nikolay; Boccard, Julien; Lang, Gerhard; Grömping, Ulrike; Fischer, Rainer; Goepfert, Simon; Rudaz, Serge; Schillberg, Stefan

    2016-11-17

    Multiple factors act simultaneously on plants to establish complex interaction networks involving nutrients, elicitors and metabolites. Metabolomics offers a better understanding of complex biological systems, but evaluating the simultaneous impact of different parameters on metabolic pathways that have many components is a challenging task. We therefore developed a novel approach that combines experimental design, untargeted metabolic profiling based on multiple chromatography systems and ionization modes, and multiblock data analysis, facilitating the systematic analysis of metabolic changes in plants caused by different factors acting at the same time. Using this method, target geraniol compounds produced in transgenic tobacco cell cultures were grouped into clusters based on their response to different factors. We hypothesized that our novel approach may provide more robust data for process optimization in plant cell cultures producing any target secondary metabolite, based on the simultaneous exploration of multiple factors rather than varying one factor each time. The suitability of our approach was verified by confirming several previously reported examples of elicitor-metabolite crosstalk. However, unravelling all factor-metabolite networks remains challenging because it requires the identification of all biochemically significant metabolites in the metabolomics dataset.

  9. Evidence for simultaneous sound production in the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus).

    PubMed

    Tervo, Outi M; Christoffersen, Mads Fage; Parks, Susan E; Kristensen, Reinhardt Møbjerg; Madsen, Peter Teglberg

    2011-10-01

    Simultaneous production of two harmonically independent sounds, the two-voice phenomenon, is a well-known feature in bird song. Some toothed whales can click and whistle simultaneously, and a few studies have also reported simultaneous sound production by baleen whales. The mechanism for sound production in toothed whales has been largely uncovered within the last three decades, whereas mechanism for sound production in baleen whales remains poorly understood. This study provides three lines of evidence from recordings made in 2008 and 2009 in Disko Bay, Western Greenland, strongly indicating that bowhead whales are capable of simultaneous dual frequency sound production. This capability may function to enable more complex singing in an acoustically mediated reproductive advertisement display, as has been suggested for songbirds, and/or have significance in individual recognition. © 2011 Acoustical Society of America

  10. Gadolinium heteropoly complex K 17[Gd(P 2W 17O 61) 2] as a potential MRI contrast agent

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, Guoying; Feng, Jianghua; Wu, Huifeng; Pei, Fengkui; Fang, Ke; Lei, Hao

    2004-10-01

    Gadolinium heteropoly complex K17[Gd(P2W17O61)2] has been evaluated by in vitro and in vivo experiments as a potential contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The thermal analysis and conductivity study indicate that this complex has good thermal stability and wide pH stability range. The T1 relaxivity is 7.59 mM-1 s-1 in aqueous solution and 7.97 mM-1 s-1 in 0.725 mmol l-1 bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution at 25 °C and 9.39 T, respectively. MR imaging of three male Sprague-Dawley rats showed remarkable enhancement in rat liver after intravenous injection, which persisted longer than with Gd-DTPA. The signal intensity increased by 57.1±16.9% during the whole imaging period at 0.082 mmol kg-1dose. Our preliminary in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that K17[Gd(P2W17O61)2] is a potential liver-specific MRI contrast agent.

  11. 22 CFR 40.102 - Guardian required to accompany excluded alien.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Guardian required to accompany excluded alien. 40.102 Section 40.102 Foreign Relations DEPARTMENT OF STATE VISAS REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO BOTH... Guardian required to accompany excluded alien. INA 212(a)(9)(B) is not applicable at the time of visa...

  12. 22 CFR 40.102 - Guardian required to accompany excluded alien.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Guardian required to accompany excluded alien. 40.102 Section 40.102 Foreign Relations DEPARTMENT OF STATE VISAS REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO BOTH... Guardian required to accompany excluded alien. INA 212(a)(9)(B) is not applicable at the time of visa...

  13. 22 CFR 40.102 - Guardian required to accompany excluded alien.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Guardian required to accompany excluded alien. 40.102 Section 40.102 Foreign Relations DEPARTMENT OF STATE VISAS REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO BOTH... Guardian required to accompany excluded alien. INA 212(a)(9)(B) is not applicable at the time of visa...

  14. 22 CFR 40.102 - Guardian required to accompany excluded alien.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Guardian required to accompany excluded alien. 40.102 Section 40.102 Foreign Relations DEPARTMENT OF STATE VISAS REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO BOTH... Guardian required to accompany excluded alien. INA 212(a)(9)(B) is not applicable at the time of visa...

  15. 22 CFR 40.102 - Guardian required to accompany excluded alien.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 22 Foreign Relations 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Guardian required to accompany excluded alien. 40.102 Section 40.102 Foreign Relations DEPARTMENT OF STATE VISAS REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO BOTH... Guardian required to accompany excluded alien. INA 212(a)(9)(B) is not applicable at the time of visa...

  16. 30 CFR 250.212 - What information must accompany the EP?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... management information required by § 250.226; (o) Environmental impact analysis information required by § 250... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false What information must accompany the EP? 250.212... and Information Contents of Exploration Plans (ep) § 250.212 What information must accompany the EP...

  17. Supercharging Protein Complexes from Aqueous Solution Disrupts their Native Conformations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sterling, Harry J.; Kintzer, Alexander F.; Feld, Geoffrey K.; Cassou, Catherine A.; Krantz, Bryan A.; Williams, Evan R.

    2012-02-01

    The effects of aqueous solution supercharging on the solution- and gas-phase structures of two protein complexes were investigated using traveling-wave ion mobility-mass spectrometry (TWIMS-MS). Low initial concentrations of m-nitrobenzyl alcohol ( m-NBA) in the electrospray ionization (ESI) solution can effectively increase the charge of concanavalin A dimers and tetramers, but at higher m-NBA concentrations, the increases in charge are accompanied by solution-phase dissociation of the dimers and up to a ~22% increase in the collision cross section (CCS) of the tetramers. With just 0.8% m-NBA added to the ESI solution of a ~630 kDa anthrax toxin octamer complex, the average charge is increased by only ~4% compared with the "native" complex, but it is sufficiently destabilized so that extensive gas-phase fragmentation occurs in the relatively high pressure regions of the TWIMS device. Anthrax toxin complexes exist in either a prechannel or a transmembrane channel state. With m-NBA, the prechannel state of the complex has the same CCS/charge ratio in the gas phase as the transmembrane channel state of the same complex formed without m-NBA, yet undergoes extensive dissociation, indicating that destabilization from supercharging occurs in the ESI droplet prior to ion formation and is not a result of Coulombic destabilization in the gas phase as a result of higher charging. These results demonstrate that the supercharging of large protein complexes is the result of conformational changes induced by the reagents in the ESI droplets, where enrichment of the supercharging reagent during droplet evaporation occurs.

  18. Complex oligosaccharides are N-linked to Kv3 voltage-gated K+ channels in rat brain.

    PubMed

    Cartwright, Tara A; Corey, Melissa J; Schwalbe, Ruth A

    2007-04-01

    Neuronal Kv3 voltage-gated K(+) channels have two absolutely conserved N-glycosylation sites. Here, it is shown that Kv3.1, 3.3, and 3.4 channels are N-glycosylated in rat brain. Digestion of total brain membranes with peptide N glycosidase F (PNGase F) produced faster migrating immunobands than those of undigested membranes. Additionally, partial PNGase F digests showed that both sites are occupied by oligosaccharides. Neuraminidase treatment produced a smaller immunoband shift relative to PNGase F treatment. These results indicate that both sites are highly available and occupied by N-linked oligosaccharides for Kv3.1, 3.3, and 3.4 in rat brain, and furthermore that at least one oligosaccharide is of complex type. Additionally, these results point to an extracytoplasmic S1-S2 linker in Kv3 proteins expressed in native membranes. We suggest that N-glycosylation processing of Kv3 channels is critical for the expression of K(+) currents at the surface of neurons, and perhaps contributes to the pathophysiology of congenital disorders of glycosylation.

  19. Polyelectrolyte Complexes of Low Molecular Weight PEI and Citric Acid as Efficient and Nontoxic Vectors for in Vitro and in Vivo Gene Delivery.

    PubMed

    Giron-Gonzalez, M Dolores; Salto-Gonzalez, Rafael; Lopez-Jaramillo, F Javier; Salinas-Castillo, Alfonso; Jodar-Reyes, Ana Belen; Ortega-Muñoz, Mariano; Hernandez-Mateo, Fernando; Santoyo-Gonzalez, Francisco

    2016-03-16

    Gene transfection mediated by the cationic polymer polyethylenimine (PEI) is considered a standard methodology. However, while highly branched PEIs form smaller polyplexes with DNA that exhibit high transfection efficiencies, they have significant cell toxicity. Conversely, low molecular weight PEIs (LMW-PEIs) with favorable cytotoxicity profiles display minimum transfection activities as a result of inadequate DNA complexation and protection. To solve this paradox, a novel polyelectrolyte complex was prepared by the ionic cross-linking of branched 1.8 kDa PEI with citric acid (CA). This system synergistically exploits the good cytotoxicity profile exhibited by LMW-PEI with the high transfection efficiencies shown by highly branched and high molecular weight PEIs. The polyectrolyte complex (1.8 kDa-PEI@CA) was obtained by a simple synthetic protocol based on the microwave irradiation of a solution of 1.8 kDa PEI and CA. Upon complexation with DNA, intrinsic properties of the resulting particles (size and surface charge) were measured and their ability to form stable polyplexes was determined. Compared with unmodified PEIs the new complexes behave as efficient gene vectors and showed enhanced DNA binding capability associated with facilitated intracellular DNA release and enhanced DNA protection from endonuclease degradation. In addition, while transfection values for LMW-PEIs are almost null, transfection efficiencies of the new reagent range from 2.5- to 3.8-fold to those of Lipofectamine 2000 and 25 kDa PEI in several cell lines in culture such as CHO-k1, FTO2B hepatomas, L6 myoblasts, or NRK cells, simultaneously showing a negligible toxicity. Furthermore, the 1.8 kDa-PEI@CA polyelectrolyte complexes retained the capability to transfect eukaryotic cells in the presence of serum and exhibited the capability to promote in vivo transfection in mouse (as an animal model) with an enhanced efficiency compared to 25 kDa PEI. Results support the polyelectrolyte complex

  20. X-ray diffraction and X-ray K absorption near edge studies of copper (II) complexes with amino acids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sharma, P. K.; Mishra, Ashutosh; Malviya, Varsha; Kame, Rashmi; Malviya, P. K.

    2017-05-01

    Synthesis of copper (II) complexes [CuL1L2X].nH2O, where n=1, 2,3 (X=Cl,Br,NO3) (L1is 2,2’-bipyridine and L2 is L-tyrosine) by the chemical root method. The XRD data for the samples have been recorded. EXAFS spectra have also been recorded at the K-edge of Cu using the dispersive beam line BL-8 at 2.5 Gev Indus-2 Synchrotron radiation source at RRCAT, Indore, India. XRD and EXAFS data have been analysed using the computer software. X-ray diffraction studies of all complexes indicate their crystalline nature. Lattice parameter, bond length, particle size have been determined from XRD data.

  1. Assignment of Pre-edge Features in the Ru K-edge X-ray Absorption Spectra of Organometallic Ruthenium Complexes

    PubMed Central

    Getty, Kendra; Delgado-Jaime, Mario Ulises

    2010-01-01

    The nature of the lowest energy bound-state transition in the Ru K-edge X-ray Absorption Spectra for a series of Grubbs-type ruthenium complexes was investigated. The pre-edge feature was unambiguously assigned as resulting from formally electric dipole forbidden Ru 4d←1s transitions. The intensities of these transitions are extremely sensitive to the ligand environment and the symmetry of the metal centre. In centrosymmetric complexes the pre-edge is very weak since it is limited by the weak electric quadrupole intensity mechanism. By contrast, upon breaking centrosymmetry, Ru 5p-4d mixing allows for introduction of electric dipole allowed character resulting in a dramatic increase in the pre-edge intensity. The information content of this approach is explored as it relates to complexes of importance in olefin metathesis and its relevance as a tool for the study of reactive intermediates. PMID:20151030

  2. A role for repressive complexes and H3K9 di-methylation in PRDM5-associated brittle cornea syndrome.

    PubMed

    Porter, Louise F; Galli, Giorgio G; Williamson, Sally; Selley, Julian; Knight, David; Elcioglu, Nursel; Aydin, Ali; Elcioglu, Mustafa; Venselaar, Hanka; Lund, Anders H; Bonshek, Richard; Black, Graeme C; Manson, Forbes D

    2015-12-01

    Type 2 brittle cornea syndrome (BCS2) is an inherited connective tissue disease with a devastating ocular phenotype caused by mutations in the transcription factor PR domain containing 5 (PRDM5) hypothesized to exert epigenetic effects through histone and DNA methylation. Here we investigate clinical samples, including skin fibroblasts and retinal tissue from BCS2 patients, to elucidate the epigenetic role of PRDM5 and mechanisms of its dysregulation in disease. First we report abnormal retinal vascular morphology in the eyes of two cousins with BCS2 (PRDM5 Δ exons 9-14) using immunohistochemistry, and mine data from skin fibroblast expression microarrays from patients with PRDM5 mutations p.Arg590* and Δ exons 9-14, as well as from a PRDM5 ChIP-sequencing experiment. Gene ontology analysis of dysregulated PRDM5-target genes reveals enrichment for extracellular matrix (ECM) genes supporting vascular integrity and development. Q-PCR and ChIP-qPCR confirm upregulation of critical mediators of ECM stability in vascular structures (COL13A1, COL15A1, NTN1, CDH5) in patient fibroblasts. We identify H3K9 di-methylation (H3K9me2) at these PRDM5-target genes in fibroblasts, and demonstrate that the BCS2 mutation p.Arg83Cys diminishes interaction of PRDM5 with repressive complexes, including NuRD complex protein CHD4, and the repressive chromatin interactor HP1BP3, by co-immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry. We observe reduced heterochromatin protein 1 binding protein 3 (HP1BP3) staining in the retinas of two cousins lacking exons 9-14 by immunohistochemistry, and dysregulated H3K9me2 in skin fibroblasts of three patients (p.Arg590*, p.Glu134* and Δ exons 9-14) by western blotting. These findings suggest that defective interaction of PRDM5 with repressive complexes, and dysregulation of H3K9me2, play a role in PRDM5-associated disease. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  3. Group specific internal standard technology (GSIST) for simultaneous identification and quantification of small molecules

    DOEpatents

    Adamec, Jiri; Yang, Wen-Chu; Regnier, Fred E

    2014-01-14

    Reagents and methods are provided that permit simultaneous analysis of multiple diverse small molecule analytes present in a complex mixture. Samples are labeled with chemically identical but isotopically distince forms of the labeling reagent, and analyzed using mass spectrometry. A single reagent simultaneously derivatizes multiple small molecule analytes having different reactive functional groups.

  4. Instrumentation for Epitaxial Growth of Complex Oxides

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-12-17

    synthesis of complex oxide heterostructures. A RF oxygen plasma source was acquired to increase the oxidizing ability of the growth environment, an...improvement that will prove critical in stabilizing materials with high oxidization states. The plasma source and accompanying electronics were purchased...2014 14-Aug-2015 Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited Final Report: Instrumentation for Epitaxial Growth of Complex Oxides The views

  5. Chemical Screens Against A Reconstituted Multi-Protein Complex: Myricetin Blocks DnaJ Regulation of DnaK through an Allosteric Mechanism

    PubMed Central

    Chang, Lyra; Miyata, Yoshinari; Ung, Peter M. U.; Bertelsen, Eric B.; McQuade, Thomas J.; Carlson, Heather A.; Zuiderweg, Erik R. P.; Gestwicki, Jason E.

    2011-01-01

    SUMMARY DnaK is a molecular chaperone responsible for multiple aspects of proteostasis. The intrinsically slow ATPase activity of DnaK is stimulated by its co-chaperone, DnaJ, and these proteins often work in concert. To identify inhibitors, we screened plant-derived extracts against a re-constituted mixture of DnaK and DnaJ. This approach resulted in the identification of flavonoids, including myricetin, which inhibited activity by up to 75%. Interestingly, myricetin prevented DnaJ-mediated stimulation of ATPase activity, with minimal impact on either DnaK’s intrinsic turnover rate or its stimulation by another co-chaperone, GrpE. Using NMR, we found that myricetin binds DnaK at an unanticipated site between the IB and IIB subdomains and that it allosterically blocked binding of DnaJ. Together, these results highlight a “gray box” screening approach, which approximates a limited amount of the complexity expected in physiological, multi-protein systems. PMID:21338918

  6. Development of a Colloidal Gold-Based Immunochromatographic Strip for Rapid Detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae Serotypes K1 and K2

    PubMed Central

    Siu, L. Kristopher; Tsai, Yu-Kuo; Lin, Jung-Chung; Chen, Te-Li; Fung, Chang-Phone

    2016-01-01

    In this study, a novel colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic strip (ICS) containing anti-Klebsiella pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide polyclonal antibodies was developed to specifically detect K. pneumoniae serotypes K1 and K2. Capsular polysaccharide K1 and K2 antigens were first used to produce polyclonal anti-K1 and anti-K2 antibodies. Reference strains with different serotypes, nontypeable K. pneumoniae strains, and other bacterial species were then used to assess the sensitivity and specificity of these test strips. The detection limit was found to be 105 CFU, and the ICSs were stable for 6 months when stored at room temperature. No false-positive or false-negative results were observed, and equivalent results were obtained compared to those of more conventional test methods, such as PCR or serum agglutination. In conclusion, the ICS developed here requires no technical expertise and allows for the specific, rapid, and simultaneous detection of K. pneumoniae serotypes K1 and K2. PMID:27707941

  7. Multisensory temporal function and EEG complexity in patients with epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic events.

    PubMed

    Noel, Jean-Paul; Kurela, LeAnne; Baum, Sarah H; Yu, Hong; Neimat, Joseph S; Gallagher, Martin J; Wallace, Mark

    2017-05-01

    Cognitive and perceptual comorbidities frequently accompany epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic events (PNEE). However, and despite the fact that perceptual function is built upon a multisensory foundation, little knowledge exists concerning multisensory function in these populations. Here, we characterized facets of multisensory processing abilities in patients with epilepsy and PNEE, and probed the relationship between individual resting-state EEG complexity and these psychophysical measures in each patient. We prospectively studied a cohort of patients with epilepsy (N=18) and PNEE (N=20) patients who were admitted to Vanderbilt's Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) and weaned off of anticonvulsant drugs. Unaffected age-matched persons staying with the patients in the EMU (N=15) were also recruited as controls. All participants performed two tests of multisensory function: an audio-visual simultaneity judgment and an audio-visual redundant target task. Further, in the cohort of patients with epilepsy and PNEE we quantified resting state EEG gamma power and complexity. Compared with both patients with epilepsy and control subjects, patients with PNEE exhibited significantly poorer acuity in audiovisual temporal function as evidenced in significantly larger temporal binding windows (i.e., they perceived larger stimulus asynchronies as being presented simultaneously). These differences appeared to be specific for temporal function, as there was no difference among the three groups in a non-temporally based measure of multisensory function - the redundant target task. Further, patients with PNEE exhibited more complex resting state EEG patterns as compared to their patients with epilepsy, and EEG complexity correlated with multisensory temporal performance on a subject-by-subject manner. Taken together, findings seem to indicate that patients with PNEE bind information from audition and vision over larger temporal intervals when compared with control subjects as well

  8. Vaccination directed against the human endogenous retrovirus-K (HERV-K) gag protein slows HERV-K gag expressing cell growth in a murine model system.

    PubMed

    Kraus, Benjamin; Fischer, Katrin; Sliva, Katja; Schnierle, Barbara S

    2014-03-26

    Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are remnants of ancestral infections and chromosomally integrated in all cells of an individual, are transmitted only vertically and are defective in viral replication. However enhanced expression of HERV-K accompanied by the emergence of anti-HERV-K-directed immune responses has been observed inter-alia in HIV-infected individuals and tumor patients. Therefore HERV-K might serve as a tumor-specific antigen or even as a constant target for the development of an HIV vaccine. To verify our hypothesis, we tested the immunogenicity of HERV-K Gag by using a recombinant vaccinia virus (MVA-HKcon) expressing the HERV-K Gag protein and established an animal model to test its vaccination efficacy. Murine renal carcinoma cells (Renca) were genetically altered to express E. coli beta-galactosidase (RLZ cells) and the HERV-K Gag protein (RLZ-HKGag cells). Subcutaneous application of RLZ-HKGag cells into syngenic BALB/c mice resulted in the formation of local tumors in MVA vaccinated mice. MVA-HKcon vaccination reduced the tumor growth. Furthermore, intravenous injection of RLZ-HKGag cells led to the formation of pulmonary metastases. Vaccination of tumor-bearing mice with MVA-HKcon drastically reduced the number of pulmonary RLZ-HKGag tumor nodules compared to vaccination with wild-type MVA. The data demonstrate that HERV-K Gag is a useful target for vaccine development and might offer new treatment opportunities for cancer patients.

  9. [A family with autosomal dominant temporal lobe epilepsy accompanied by motor and sensory neuropathy].

    PubMed

    Matsuoka, Takeshi; Furuya, Hirokazu; Ikezoe, Koji; Murai, Hiroyuki; Ohyagi, Yasumasa; Yoshiura, Takashi; Sasaki, Masayuki; Tobimatsu, Syozo; Kira, Jun-ichi

    2004-01-01

    We report a 20-year-old man with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) accompanied by hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN). He had experienced complex partial seizures (CPS), which started with a nausea-like feeling, followed by loss of consciousness and automatism, since he was 6 years old. The frequency of attacks was at first decreased by phenytoin. However, attacks increased again when he was 18 years old. On admission, neurological examination showed mild weakness of the toes, pes cavus, hammer toe and mildly impaired vibratory sensation in his legs. Ten people in four generations of his family showed a history of epilepsy in the autosomal dominant inheritance form. His younger sister and mother had a history of epilepsy accompanied with pes cavus, hammer toe, weakness of toe and finger extension and mildly impaired vibratory sensation as well. Direct sequencing of the glioma-inactivated leucine-rich gene (LGI1), in which several mutations were reported in patients with familial lateral temporal lobe epilepsy, showed no specific mutation in this family. On consecutive video-EEG monitoring, paroxysmal rhythmic activity was confirmed in his left fronto-temporal region when he showed automatism, and then a generalized slow burst activity was detected when he lost consciousness. For his seizures, TLE with secondary generalization was diagnosed. In the nerve conduction study, delayed nerve conduction, distal motor latency and decreased amplitudes of the compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) of bilateral peroneal nerves were observed, indicating the existence of mild axonal degeneration. Based on these data, we consider that this family to be a new phenotype of autosomal dominant TLE accompanied by motor and sensory neuropathy.

  10. Parallel transformation of K-SVD solar image denoising algorithm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liang, Youwen; Tian, Yu; Li, Mei

    2017-02-01

    The images obtained by observing the sun through a large telescope always suffered with noise due to the low SNR. K-SVD denoising algorithm can effectively remove Gauss white noise. Training dictionaries for sparse representations is a time consuming task, due to the large size of the data involved and to the complexity of the training algorithms. In this paper, an OpenMP parallel programming language is proposed to transform the serial algorithm to the parallel version. Data parallelism model is used to transform the algorithm. Not one atom but multiple atoms updated simultaneously is the biggest change. The denoising effect and acceleration performance are tested after completion of the parallel algorithm. Speedup of the program is 13.563 in condition of using 16 cores. This parallel version can fully utilize the multi-core CPU hardware resources, greatly reduce running time and easily to transplant in multi-core platform.

  11. 5 CFR 582.203 - Information minimally required to accompany legal process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... accompany legal process. 582.203 Section 582.203 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS COMMERCIAL GARNISHMENT OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' PAY Service of Legal Process § 582.203 Information minimally required to accompany legal process. (a) Sufficient identifying...

  12. 5 CFR 582.203 - Information minimally required to accompany legal process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... accompany legal process. 582.203 Section 582.203 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS COMMERCIAL GARNISHMENT OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' PAY Service of Legal Process § 582.203 Information minimally required to accompany legal process. (a) Sufficient identifying...

  13. 5 CFR 582.203 - Information minimally required to accompany legal process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... accompany legal process. 582.203 Section 582.203 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS COMMERCIAL GARNISHMENT OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' PAY Service of Legal Process § 582.203 Information minimally required to accompany legal process. (a) Sufficient identifying...

  14. 5 CFR 582.203 - Information minimally required to accompany legal process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... accompany legal process. 582.203 Section 582.203 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS COMMERCIAL GARNISHMENT OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' PAY Service of Legal Process § 582.203 Information minimally required to accompany legal process. (a) Sufficient identifying...

  15. 5 CFR 582.203 - Information minimally required to accompany legal process.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... accompany legal process. 582.203 Section 582.203 Administrative Personnel OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS COMMERCIAL GARNISHMENT OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' PAY Service of Legal Process § 582.203 Information minimally required to accompany legal process. (a) Sufficient identifying...

  16. Bipedicled Preexpanded Forehead Flaps for Simultaneous Reconstruction of Total Nasal and Upper Lip Subunits: A Novel Approach to Complex Facial Resurfacing.

    PubMed

    Su, Weijie; Min, Peiru; Sadigh, Parviz; Grassetti, Luca; Lazzeri, Davide; Munnee, Krishna; Pu, Zheming; Zhang, Yixin

    2016-06-01

    Background Reconstruction of the central facial subunits is a complex and challenging task. In cases in which both the nasal and upper lip subunits are involved, a technique that can reconstruct both aesthetic units with tissue of similar color and texture from a single donor site will be ideal. In this article we present our experience with the bipedicled preexpanded forehead flap for simultaneous nasal and upper lip resurfacing. Patients and Methods Between January 2012 and January 2015 we used this technique in the simultaneous reconstruction of total nasal and upper lip subunits in five patients. All cases were for burns scar resurfacing. Results Good aesthetic results were achieved in each of our five cases to date and no complications were encountered. All donor sites closed primarily with aesthetically pleasing well-concealed linear scars. In all cases small modifications such as philtral shaping and further flap thinning were performed under local anesthesia between 6 and 12 months postoperatively Conclusion The preexpanded forehead flap provides an unparalleled color and texture match when it comes to facial resurfacing. When both total nasal and upper lip resurfacings are required, it is possible to achieve this in a single sitting from a single donor site by using a bipedicled preexpanded forehead flap. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

  17. Activated Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Versus 4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate for Vitamin K-Antagonist Reversal.

    PubMed

    Rowe, A Shaun; Dietrich, Scott K; Phillips, John W; Foster, Kaci E; Canter, Joshua R

    2018-06-01

    To compare the international normalized ratio normalization efficacy of activated prothrombin complex concentrates and 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrates and to evaluate the thrombotic complications in patients treated with these products for warfarin-associated hemorrhage. Retrospective, Multicenter Cohort. Large, Community, Teaching Hospital. Patients greater than 18 years old and received either activated prothrombin complex concentrate or 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for the treatment of warfarin-associated hemorrhage. We excluded those patients who received either agent for an indication other than warfarin-associated hemorrhage, pregnant, had a baseline international normalized ratio of less than 2, received a massive transfusion as defined by hospital protocol, received plasma for treatment of warfarin-associated hemorrhage, or were treated for an acute warfarin ingestion. Patients in the activated prothrombin complex concentrate group (enrolled from one hospital) with an international normalized ratio of less than 5 received 500 IU and those with an international normalized ratio greater than 5 received 1,000 IU. Patients in the 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (enrolled from a separate hospital) group received the Food and Drug Administration approved dosing algorithm. A total of 158 patients were included in the final analysis (activated prothrombin complex concentrate = 118; 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate = 40). Those in the 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate group had a higher pretreatment international normalized ratio (2.7 ± 1.8 vs 3.5 ± 2.9; p = 0.0164). However, the posttreatment international normalized ratio was similar between the groups. In addition, even when controlling for differences in the pretreatment international normalized ratio, there was no difference in the ability to achieve a posttreatment international normalized ratio of less than 1.4 (odds ratio, 0.753 [95% CI, 0.637-0.890]; p

  18. Rotational study of the NH{sub 3}–CO complex: Millimeter-wave measurements and ab initio calculations

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Surin, L. A., E-mail: surin@ph1.uni-koeln.de; Institute of Spectroscopy, Russian Academy of Sciences, Fizicheskaya Str. 5, 142190 Troitsk, Moscow; Potapov, A.

    2015-03-21

    The rotational spectrum of the van der Waals complex NH{sub 3}–CO has been measured with the intracavity OROTRON jet spectrometer in the frequency range of 112–139 GHz. Newly observed and assigned transitions belong to the K = 0–0, K = 1–1, K = 1–0, and K = 2–1 subbands correlating with the rotationless (j{sub k}){sub NH3} = 0{sub 0} ground state of free ortho-NH{sub 3} and the K = 0–1 and K = 2–1 subbands correlating with the (j{sub k}){sub NH3} = 1{sub 1} ground state of free para-NH{sub 3}. The (approximate) quantum number K is the projection of themore » total angular momentum J on the intermolecular axis. Some of these transitions are continuations to higher J values of transition series observed previously [C. Xia et al., Mol. Phys. 99, 643 (2001)], the other transitions constitute newly detected subbands. The new data were analyzed together with the known millimeter-wave and microwave transitions in order to determine the molecular parameters of the ortho-NH{sub 3}–CO and para-NH{sub 3}–CO complexes. Accompanying ab initio calculations of the intermolecular potential energy surface (PES) of NH{sub 3}–CO has been carried out at the explicitly correlated coupled cluster level of theory with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations and an augmented correlation-consistent triple zeta basis set. The global minimum of the five-dimensional PES corresponds to an approximately T-shaped structure with the N atom closest to the CO subunit and binding energy D{sub e} = 359.21 cm{sup −1}. The bound rovibrational levels of the NH{sub 3}–CO complex were calculated for total angular momentum J = 0–6 on this intermolecular potential surface and compared with the experimental results. The calculated dissociation energies D{sub 0} are 210.43 and 218.66 cm{sup −1} for ortho-NH{sub 3}–CO and para-NH{sub 3}–CO, respectively.« less

  19. Understanding and revisiting the most complex perovskite system via atomistic simulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Yali; Xu, Bin; Xu, Changsong; Ren, Wei; Bellaiche, Laurent

    2018-05-01

    A first-principles-based effective Hamiltonian is developed and used, along with direct ab initio techniques, to investigate finite-temperature properties of the system commonly coined the most complex perovskite, that is NaNbO3. Such simulations successfully reproduce the existence of seven different phases in its phase diagram. The decomposition of the total energy of this effective Hamiltonian into different terms, altogether with the values of the parameters associated with these terms, also allow us to shed some light into puzzling features of such a compound. Examples include revealing the microscopic reasons of why R 3 c is its ground state and why it solely adopts in-phase tiltings at high temperatures versus complex nanotwins for intermediate temperatures. The results of the computations also call for a revisiting of the so-called P ,R , and S states, in the sense that an unexpected and previously overlooked inhomogeneous electrical polarization is numerically found in the P state while complex tiltings associated with the simultaneous condensation of several k points are predicted for the controversial R and S phases.

  20. Histone H3K9 Demethylase JMJD2B Activates Adipogenesis by Regulating H3K9 Methylation on PPARγ and C/EBPα during Adipogenesis

    PubMed Central

    Jang, Min-Kyung; Kim, Ji-Hyun; Jung, Myeong Ho

    2017-01-01

    Previous studies have shown that tri- or di-methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me3/me2) on the promoter of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) contribute to the repression of PPARγ and C/EBPα and inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The balance of histone methylation is regulated by histone methyltransferases and demethylases. However, it is poorly understood which demethylases are responsible for removing H3K9me3/me2 on the promoter of PPARγ and C/EBPα. JMJD2B is a H3K9me3/me2 demethylase that was previously shown to activate adipogenesis by promoting mitotic clonal expansion. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether JMJD2B plays a role in the regulation of adipogenesis by removing H3K9me3/me2 on the promoter of PPARγ and C/EBPα and subsequently activating PPARγ and C/EBPα expression. Here, we showed that JMJD2B decreased H3K9me3/me2 on the promoter of PPARγ and C/EBPα, which in turn stimulated the expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα. JMJD2B knockdown using siRNA in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes repressed the expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα, resulting in inhibition of adipogenesis. This was accompanied by increased enrichment of H3K9me3/me2 on the promoter of PPARγ and C/EBPα. In contrast, overexpression of JMJD2B increased the expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα, which was accompanied by decreased enrichment of H3K9me3/me2 on the promoter and activated adipogenesis. Together, these results indicate that JMJD2B regulates PPARγ and C/EBPα during adipogenesis. PMID:28060835

  1. Managing Complex Medication Regimens.

    PubMed

    Harvath, Theresa A; Lindauer, Allison; Sexson, Kathryn

    2017-05-01

    : This article is the first in a series, Supporting Family Caregivers: No Longer Home Alone, published in collaboration with the AARP Public Policy Institute. Results of focus groups conducted as part of the AARP Public Policy Institute's No Longer Home Alone video project supported evidence that family caregivers aren't being given the information they need to manage the complex care regimens of their family members. This series of articles and accompanying videos aims to help nurses provide caregivers with the tools they need to manage their family member's medications. Each article explains the principles nurses should consider and reinforce with caregivers and is accompanied by a video for the caregiver to watch. The first video can be accessed at http://links.lww.com/AJN/A74.

  2. Managing Complex Medication Regimens.

    PubMed

    Harvath, Theresa A; Lindauer, Allison; Sexson, Kathryn

    2016-11-01

    This article is the first in a series, Supporting Family Caregivers: No Longer Home Alone, published in collaboration with the AARP Foundation. Results of focus groups conducted as part of the AARP Foundation's No Longer Home Alone video project supported evidence that family caregivers aren't being given the information they need to manage the complex care regimens of their family members. This series of articles and accompanying videos aims to help nurses provide caregivers with the tools they need to manage their family member's medications. Each article explains the principles nurses should consider and reinforce with caregivers and is accompanied by a video for the caregiver to watch. The first video can be accessed at http://links.lww.com/AJN/A74.

  3. Loss of Complex I activity in the Escherichia coli enzyme results from truncating the C-terminus of subunit K, but not from cross-linking it to subunits N or L.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Shaotong; Canales, Alejandra; Bedair, Mai; Vik, Steven B

    2016-06-01

    Complex I is a multi-subunit enzyme of the respiratory chain with seven core subunits in its membrane arm (A, H, J, K, L, M, and N). In the enzyme from Escherichia coli the C-terminal ten amino acids of subunit K lie along the lateral helix of subunit L, and contribute to a junction of subunits K, L and N on the cytoplasmic surface. Using double cysteine mutagenesis, the cross-linking of subunit K (R99C) to either subunit L (K581C) or subunit N (T292C) was attempted. A partial yield of cross-linked product had no effect on the activity of the enzyme, or on proton translocation, suggesting that the C-terminus of subunit K has no dynamic role in function. To further elucidate the role of subunit K genetic deletions were constructed at the C-terminus. Upon the serial deletion of the last 4 residues of the C-terminus of subunit K, various results were obtained. Deletion of one amino acid had little effect on the activity of Complex I, but deletions of 2 or more amino acids led to total loss of enzyme activity and diminished levels of subunits L, M, and N in preparations of membrane vesicles. Together these results suggest that while the C-terminus of subunit K has no dynamic role in energy transduction by Complex I, it is vital for the correct assembly of the enzyme.

  4. Effects of Mirror Therapy in Stroke Patients With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1: A Randomized Controlled Study.

    PubMed

    Pervane Vural, Secil; Nakipoglu Yuzer, Guldal Funda; Sezgin Ozcan, Didem; Demir Ozbudak, Sibel; Ozgirgin, Nese

    2016-04-01

    To investigate the effects of mirror therapy on upper limb motor functions, spasticity, and pain intensity in patients with hemiplegia accompanied by complex regional pain syndrome type 1. Randomized controlled trial. Training and research hospital. Adult patients with first-time stroke and simultaneous complex regional pain syndrome type 1 of the upper extremity at the dystrophic stage (N=30). Both groups received a patient-specific conventional stroke rehabilitation program for 4 weeks, 5 d/wk, for 2 to 4 h/d. The mirror therapy group received an additional mirror therapy program for 30 min/d. We evaluated the scores of the Brunnstrom recovery stages of the arm and hand for motor recovery, wrist and hand subsections of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and motor items of the FIM-motor for functional status, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) for spasticity, and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain severity. After 4 weeks of rehabilitation, both groups had significant improvements in the FIM-motor and VAS scores compared with baseline scores. However, the scores improved more in the mirror therapy group than the control group (P<.001 and P=.03, respectively). Besides, the patients in the mirror therapy arm showed significant improvement in the Brunnstrom recovery stages and FMA scores (P<.05). No significant difference was found for MAS scores. In patients with stroke and simultaneous complex regional pain syndrome type 1, addition of mirror therapy to a conventional stroke rehabilitation program provides more improvement in motor functions of the upper limb and pain perception than conventional therapy without mirror therapy. Copyright © 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Brillouin light scattering studies on the mechanical properties of ultrathin, porous low-K dielectric films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhou, Wei; Sooryakumar, R.; King, Sean

    2010-03-01

    Low K dielectrics have predominantly replaced silicon dioxide as the interlayer dielectric material for interconnects in state of the art integrated circuits. To further reduce interconnect resistance-capacitance (RC) delays, additional reductions in the K for these low-K materials is being pursued by the introduction of controlled levels of porosity. The main challenge for porous low-K dielectrics is the substantial reduction in mechanical properties that is accompanied by the increased pore volume content needed to reduce K. We report on the application of the nondestructive Brillouin light scattering technique to monitor and characterize the mechanical properties of these porous films at thicknesses well below 200 nm that are pertinent to present applications. Observation of longitudinal and transverse standing wave acoustic resonances and the dispersion that accompany their transformation into traveling waves with finite in-plane wave vectors provides for the principal elastic constants that completely characterize the mechanical properties of these porous films. The mode amplitudes of the standing waves, their variation within the film, and the calculated Brillouin intensities account for most aspects of the spectra. The resulting elastic constants are compared with corresponding values obtained from other experimental techniques.

  6. Comparative Genomic Analysis Shows That Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolate IMT5155 (O2:K1:H5; ST Complex 95, ST140) Shares Close Relationship with ST95 APEC O1:K1 and Human ExPEC O18:K1 Strains

    PubMed Central

    Pan, Zihao; Hu, Lin; Wang, Shaohui; Wang, Haojin; Leung, Frederick C.; Dai, Jianjun; Fan, Hongjie

    2014-01-01

    Avian pathogenic E. coli and human extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli serotypes O1, O2 and O18 strains isolated from different hosts are generally located in phylogroup B2 and ST complex 95, and they share similar genetic characteristics and pathogenicity, with no or minimal host specificity. They are popular objects for the study of ExPEC genetic characteristics and pathogenesis in recent years. Here, we investigated the evolution and genetic blueprint of APEC pathotype by performing phylogenetic and comparative genome analysis of avian pathogenic E. coli strain IMT5155 (O2:K1:H5; ST complex 95, ST140) with other E. coli pathotypes. Phylogeny analyses indicated that IMT5155 has closest evolutionary relationship with APEC O1, IHE3034, and UTI89. Comparative genomic analysis showed that IMT5155 and APEC O1 shared significant genetic overlap/similarities with human ExPEC dominant O18:K1 strains (IHE3034 and UTI89). Furthermore, the unique PAI I5155 (GI-12) was identified and found to be conserved in APEC O2 serotype isolates. GI-7 and GI-16 encoding two typical T6SSs in IMT5155 might be useful markers for the identification of ExPEC dominant serotypes (O1, O2, and O18) strains. IMT5155 contained a ColV plasmid p1ColV5155, which defined the APEC pathotype. The distribution analysis of 10 sequenced ExPEC pan-genome virulence factors among 47 sequenced E. coli strains provided meaningful information for B2 APEC/ExPEC-specific virulence factors, including several adhesins, invasins, toxins, iron acquisition systems, and so on. The pathogenicity tests of IMT5155 and other APEC O1:K1 and O2:K1 serotypes strains (isolated in China) through four animal models showed that they were highly virulent for avian colisepticemia and able to cause septicemia and meningitis in neonatal rats, suggesting zoonotic potential of these APEC O1:K1 and O2:K1 isolates. PMID:25397580

  7. Comparative genomic analysis shows that avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolate IMT5155 (O2:K1:H5; ST complex 95, ST140) shares close relationship with ST95 APEC O1:K1 and human ExPEC O18:K1 strains.

    PubMed

    Zhu Ge, Xiangkai; Jiang, Jingwei; Pan, Zihao; Hu, Lin; Wang, Shaohui; Wang, Haojin; Leung, Frederick C; Dai, Jianjun; Fan, Hongjie

    2014-01-01

    Avian pathogenic E. coli and human extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli serotypes O1, O2 and O18 strains isolated from different hosts are generally located in phylogroup B2 and ST complex 95, and they share similar genetic characteristics and pathogenicity, with no or minimal host specificity. They are popular objects for the study of ExPEC genetic characteristics and pathogenesis in recent years. Here, we investigated the evolution and genetic blueprint of APEC pathotype by performing phylogenetic and comparative genome analysis of avian pathogenic E. coli strain IMT5155 (O2:K1:H5; ST complex 95, ST140) with other E. coli pathotypes. Phylogeny analyses indicated that IMT5155 has closest evolutionary relationship with APEC O1, IHE3034, and UTI89. Comparative genomic analysis showed that IMT5155 and APEC O1 shared significant genetic overlap/similarities with human ExPEC dominant O18:K1 strains (IHE3034 and UTI89). Furthermore, the unique PAI I5155 (GI-12) was identified and found to be conserved in APEC O2 serotype isolates. GI-7 and GI-16 encoding two typical T6SSs in IMT5155 might be useful markers for the identification of ExPEC dominant serotypes (O1, O2, and O18) strains. IMT5155 contained a ColV plasmid p1ColV5155, which defined the APEC pathotype. The distribution analysis of 10 sequenced ExPEC pan-genome virulence factors among 47 sequenced E. coli strains provided meaningful information for B2 APEC/ExPEC-specific virulence factors, including several adhesins, invasins, toxins, iron acquisition systems, and so on. The pathogenicity tests of IMT5155 and other APEC O1:K1 and O2:K1 serotypes strains (isolated in China) through four animal models showed that they were highly virulent for avian colisepticemia and able to cause septicemia and meningitis in neonatal rats, suggesting zoonotic potential of these APEC O1:K1 and O2:K1 isolates.

  8. Plasminogen fragments K 1-3 and K 5 bind to different sites in fibrin fragment DD.

    PubMed

    Grinenko, T V; Kapustianenko, L G; Yatsenko, T A; Yusova, O I; Rybachuk, V N

    2016-01-01

    Specific plasminogen-binding sites of fibrin molecule are located in Аα148-160 regions of C-terminal domains. Plasminogen interaction with these sites initiates the activation process of proenzyme and subsequent fibrin lysis. In this study we investigated the binding of plasminogen fragments K 1-3 and K 5 with fibrin fragment DD and their effect on Glu-plasminogen interaction with DD. It was shown that the level of Glu-plasminogen binding to fibrin fragment DD is decreased by 50-60% in the presence of K 1-3 and K 5. Fragments K 1-3 and K 5 have high affinity to fibrin fragment DD (Kd is 0.02 for K 1-3 and 0.054 μМ for K 5). K 5 interaction is independent and K 1-3 is partly dependent on C-terminal lysine residues. K 1-3 interacts with complex of fragment DD-immobilized K 5 as well as K 5 with complex of fragment DD-immobilized K 1-3. The plasminogen fragments do not displace each other from binding sites located in fibrin fragment DD, but can compete for the interaction. The results indicate that fibrin fragment DD contains different binding sites for plasminogen kringle fragments K 1-3 and K 5, which can be located close to each other. The role of amino acid residues of fibrin molecule Аα148-160 region in interaction with fragments K 1-3 and K 5 is discussed.

  9. K(+)- and HCO3(-)-dependent acid-base transport in squid giant axons II. Base influx

    PubMed Central

    1995-01-01

    We used microelectrodes to determine whether the K/HCO3 cotransporter tentatively identified in the accompanying paper (Hogan, E. M., M. A. Cohen, and W. F. Boron. 1995. Journal of General Physiology. 106:821- 844) can mediate an increase in the intracellular pH (pHi) of squid giant axons. An 80-min period of internal dialysis increased pHi to 7.7, 8.0, or 8.3; the dialysis fluid was free of K+, Na+, and Cl-. Our standard artificial seawater (ASW), which also lacked Na+, K+, and Cl-, had a pH of 8.0. Halting dialysis unmasked a slow pHi decrease. Subsequently introducing an ASW containing 437 mM K+ and 0.5% CO2/12 mM HCO3- had two effects: (a) it caused membrane potential (Vm) to become very positive, and (b) it caused a rapid pHi decrease, because of CO2 influx, followed by a slower plateau-phase pHi increase, presumably because of inward cotransport of K+ and HCO3- ("base influx"). Only extracellular Rb+ substituted for K+ in producing the plateau-phase pHi increase in the presence of CO2/HCO3-. Mean fluxes with Na+, Li+, and Cs+ were not significantly different from zero, even though Vm shifts were comparable for all monovalent cations tested. Thus, unless K+ or Rb+ (but not Na+, Li+, or Cs+) somehow activates a conductive pathway for H+, HCO3-, or both, it is unlikely that passive transport of H+, HCO3-, or both makes the major contribution to the pHi increase in the presence of K+ (or Rb+) and CO2/HCO3-. Because exposing axons to an ASW containing 437 mM K+, but no CO2/HCO3-, produced at most a slow pHi increase, K-H exchange could not make a major contribution to base influx. Introducing an ASW containing CO2/HCO3-, but no K+ also failed to elicit base influx. Because we observed base influx when the ASW and DF were free of Na+ and Cl-, and because the disulfonic stilbene derivatives SITS and DIDS failed to block base influx, Na(+)-dependent Cl-HCO3 exchange also cannot account for the results. Rather, we suggest that the most straightforward explanation for

  10. Glycerol production by Oenococcus oeni during sequential and simultaneous cultures with wine yeast strains.

    PubMed

    Ale, Cesar E; Farías, Marta E; Strasser de Saad, Ana M; Pasteris, Sergio E

    2014-07-01

    Growth and fermentation patterns of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kloeckera apiculata, and Oenococcus oeni strains cultured in grape juice medium were studied. In pure, sequential and simultaneous cultures, the strains reached the stationary growth phase between 2 and 3 days. Pure and mixed K. apiculata and S. cerevisiae cultures used mainly glucose, producing ethanol, organic acids, and 4.0 and 0.1 mM glycerol, respectively. In sequential cultures, O. oeni achieved about 1 log unit at 3 days using mainly fructose and L-malic acid. Highest sugars consumption was detected in K. apiculata supernatants, lactic acid being the major end-product. 8.0 mM glycerol was found in 6-day culture supernatants. In simultaneous cultures, total sugars and L-malic acid were used at 3 days and 98% of ethanol and glycerol were detected. This study represents the first report of the population dynamics and metabolic behavior of yeasts and O. oeni in sequential and simultaneous cultures and contributes to the selection of indigenous strains to design starter cultures for winemaking, also considering the inclusion of K. apiculata. The sequential inoculation of yeasts and O. oeni would enhance glycerol production, which confers desirable organoleptic characteristics to wines, while organic acids levels would not affect their sensory profile. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  11. Two sources of meaning in infant communication: preceding action contexts and act-accompanying characteristics

    PubMed Central

    Liszkowski, Ulf

    2014-01-01

    How do infants communicate before they have acquired a language? This paper supports the hypothesis that infants possess social–cognitive skills that run deeper than language alone, enabling them to understand others and make themselves understood. I suggested that infants, like adults, use two sources of extralinguistic information to communicate meaningfully and react to and express communicative intentions appropriately. In support, a review of relevant experiments demonstrates, first, that infants use information from preceding shared activities to tailor their comprehension and production of communication. Second, a series of novel findings from our laboratory shows that in the absence of distinguishing information from preceding routines or activities, infants use accompanying characteristics (such as prosody and posture) that mark communicative intentions to extract and transmit meaning. Findings reveal that before infants begin to speak they communicate in meaningful ways by binding preceding and simultaneous multisensory information to a communicative act. These skills are not only a precursor to language, but also an outcome of social–cognitive development and social experience in the first year of life. PMID:25092662

  12. Separation of Singing Voice from Music Accompaniment for Monaural Recordings

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2005-09-01

    Directory: pub/tech-report/2005 File in pdf format: TR61.pdf Separation of Singing Voice from Music Accompaniment for Monaural Recordings Yipeng Li...Abstract Separating singing voice from music accompaniment is very useful in many applications, such as lyrics recognition and alignment, singer...identification, and music information retrieval. Although speech separation has been extensively studied for decades, singing voice separation has been little

  13. Dike Propagation Mechanisms from Seismicity Accompanying the 2014 Bárðarbunga-Holuhraun Fissure Eruption, Iceland

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Woods, J.; Ágústsdóttir, T.; Greenfield, T. S.; Green, R. G.; White, R. S.; Brandsdottir, B.

    2015-12-01

    We present data from our dense seismic network which captured in unprecedented detail the micro-seismicity associated with the 2014 dike intrusion from the subglacial Bárðarbunga volcano in central Iceland. Over 30,000 automatically located earthquakes delineate a complex 46 km dike propagation during the days preceding the onset of effusive magmatism at the Holuhraun lava field on 29 August 2014. Approximately 1.5 km3 of lava was erupted, making this the largest eruption in Iceland for over 200 years.Micro-seismicity tracks the lateral migration of the dike, with a concentration of earthquakes in the advancing tip where stresses are greatest, and trailing zones of lesser or no seismicity behind. Onset of an initial 4 hour fissure eruption was accompanied simultaneously by a backward retreat in seismic activity, followed by a gradual re-advance prior to the onset of a second, sustained fissure eruption in the same location on 31 August. Rock fracture mechanisms are determined from fault plane solutions of these seismic events. At the tip of the advancing dike, left-lateral strike-slip faulting parallel to the propagation is dominant, utilising pre-existing lineations and releasing stress accumulated in the brittle layer from rift zone extension. Behind the dike tip, both right-lateral and left-lateral strike-slip earthquakes are found, marking failure of solidifying magma plugs within the dike conduit. Contrary to many models of dike propagation, both normal faulting and failure at high angles to the dike are rare. Furthermore, a distinct lack of seismicity is observed in the 3-4 km region beneath the surface rupture. This suggests that opening is occuring aseismically, with earthquakes focused at the base of the dike near the brittle-ductile boundary.

  14. A dual-learning paradigm can simultaneously train multiple characteristics of walking

    PubMed Central

    Toliver, Alexis; Bastian, Amy J.

    2016-01-01

    Impairments in human motor patterns are complex: what is often observed as a single global deficit (e.g., limping when walking) is actually the sum of several distinct abnormalities. Motor adaptation can be useful to teach patients more normal motor patterns, yet conventional training paradigms focus on individual features of a movement, leaving others unaddressed. It is known that under certain conditions, distinct movement components can be simultaneously adapted without interference. These previous “dual-learning” studies focused solely on short, planar reaching movements, yet it is unknown whether these findings can generalize to a more complex behavior like walking. Here we asked whether a dual-learning paradigm, incorporating two distinct motor adaptation tasks, can be used to simultaneously train multiple components of the walking pattern. We developed a joint-angle learning task that provided biased visual feedback of sagittal joint angles to increase peak knee or hip flexion during the swing phase of walking. Healthy, young participants performed this task independently or concurrently with another locomotor adaptation task, split-belt treadmill adaptation, where subjects adapted their step length symmetry. We found that participants were able to successfully adapt both components of the walking pattern simultaneously, without interference, and at the same rate as adapting either component independently. This leads us to the interesting possibility that combining rehabilitation modalities within a single training session could be used to help alleviate multiple deficits at once in patients with complex gait impairments. PMID:26961100

  15. Investigation of hydrophobic interactions mediating the self-assembly of supramolecular host/guest polymer complexes utilizing Simultaneous Multiple Sample Light Scattering (SMSLS)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Payne, Molly; Jarand, Curtis; Grayson, Scott; Reed, Wayne

    While living systems spontaneously heal injuries, most man made materials cannot recover from damage. Incorporating self-healing properties into synthetic polymers could significantly extend product lifetime, safety, and applications. Most reported approaches to incorporate healing into synthetic materials, however, require external stimuli such as chemical additives, heat, and light exposure. Although dynamic bonds have been explored, particularly using a hydrogen bond motif, this has not been fully investigated in an aqueous environment. To address this, hosts and guests that dynamically associate in water have been investigated to build aqueous self-healing materials. These association values were probed for various host/guest complexes using Simultaneous Multiple Sample Light Scattering (SMSLS), a technique that measures the size of aggregates via light scattering while varying concentration and other environmental factors. NSF EPSCoR IIA1430280.

  16. 30 CFR 250.228 - What administrative information must accompany the EP?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false What administrative information must accompany the EP? 250.228 Section 250.228 Mineral Resources MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE... Contents of Exploration Plans (ep) § 250.228 What administrative information must accompany the EP? The...

  17. Robust k-mer frequency estimation using gapped k-mers

    PubMed Central

    Ghandi, Mahmoud; Mohammad-Noori, Morteza

    2013-01-01

    Oligomers of fixed length, k, commonly known as k-mers, are often used as fundamental elements in the description of DNA sequence features of diverse biological function, or as intermediate elements in the constuction of more complex descriptors of sequence features such as position weight matrices. k-mers are very useful as general sequence features because they constitute a complete and unbiased feature set, and do not require parameterization based on incomplete knowledge of biological mechanisms. However, a fundamental limitation in the use of k-mers as sequence features is that as k is increased, larger spatial correlations in DNA sequence elements can be described, but the frequency of observing any specific k-mer becomes very small, and rapidly approaches a sparse matrix of binary counts. Thus any statistical learning approach using k-mers will be susceptible to noisy estimation of k-mer frequencies once k becomes large. Because all molecular DNA interactions have limited spatial extent, gapped k-mers often carry the relevant biological signal. Here we use gapped k-mer counts to more robustly estimate the ungapped k-mer frequencies, by deriving an equation for the minimum norm estimate of k-mer frequencies given an observed set of gapped k-mer frequencies. We demonstrate that this approach provides a more accurate estimate of the k-mer frequencies in real biological sequences using a sample of CTCF binding sites in the human genome. PMID:23861010

  18. Robust k-mer frequency estimation using gapped k-mers.

    PubMed

    Ghandi, Mahmoud; Mohammad-Noori, Morteza; Beer, Michael A

    2014-08-01

    Oligomers of fixed length, k, commonly known as k-mers, are often used as fundamental elements in the description of DNA sequence features of diverse biological function, or as intermediate elements in the constuction of more complex descriptors of sequence features such as position weight matrices. k-mers are very useful as general sequence features because they constitute a complete and unbiased feature set, and do not require parameterization based on incomplete knowledge of biological mechanisms. However, a fundamental limitation in the use of k-mers as sequence features is that as k is increased, larger spatial correlations in DNA sequence elements can be described, but the frequency of observing any specific k-mer becomes very small, and rapidly approaches a sparse matrix of binary counts. Thus any statistical learning approach using k-mers will be susceptible to noisy estimation of k-mer frequencies once k becomes large. Because all molecular DNA interactions have limited spatial extent, gapped k-mers often carry the relevant biological signal. Here we use gapped k-mer counts to more robustly estimate the ungapped k-mer frequencies, by deriving an equation for the minimum norm estimate of k-mer frequencies given an observed set of gapped k-mer frequencies. We demonstrate that this approach provides a more accurate estimate of the k-mer frequencies in real biological sequences using a sample of CTCF binding sites in the human genome.

  19. Simultaneous bilateral distal biceps tendon repair: case report.

    PubMed

    Storti, Thiago Medeiros; Paniago, Alexandre Firmino; Faria, Rafael Salomon Silva

    2017-01-01

    Simultaneous bilateral rupture of the distal biceps tendon is a rare clinical entity, seldom reported in the literature and with unclear therapeutic setting. The authors report the case of a 39-year-old white man who suffered a simultaneous bilateral rupture while working out. When weightlifting with elbows at 90° of flexion, he suddenly felt pain on the anterior aspect of the arms, coming for evaluation after two days. He presented bulging contour of the biceps muscle belly and ecchymosis in the antecubital fossa, extending distally to the medial aspect of the forearm, as well as a marked decrease of supination strength and pain in active elbow flexion. MRI confirmed the rupture with retraction of the distal biceps bilaterally. The authors opted for performing the tendon repairs simultaneously through the double incision technique and fixation to the bicipital tuberosity with anchors. The patient progressed quite well, with full return to labor and sports activities, being satisfied with the result after two years of surgery. In the literature search, few reports of simultaneous bilateral rupture of the distal biceps were retrieved, with only one treated in the acute phase of injury. Therefore, the authors consider this procedure to be a good option to solve this complex condition.

  20. High-pressure cell for simultaneous dielectric and neutron spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Sanz, Alejandro; Hansen, Henriette Wase; Jakobsen, Bo; Pedersen, Ib H; Capaccioli, Simone; Adrjanowicz, Karolina; Paluch, Marian; Gonthier, Julien; Frick, Bernhard; Lelièvre-Berna, Eddy; Peters, Judith; Niss, Kristine

    2018-02-01

    In this article, we report on the design, manufacture, and testing of a high-pressure cell for simultaneous dielectric and neutron spectroscopy. This cell is a unique tool for studying dynamics on different time scales, from kilo- to picoseconds, covering universal features such as the α relaxation and fast vibrations at the same time. The cell, constructed in cylindrical geometry, is made of a high-strength aluminum alloy and operates up to 500 MPa in a temperature range between roughly 2 and 320 K. In order to measure the scattered neutron intensity and the sample capacitance simultaneously, a cylindrical capacitor is positioned within the bore of the high-pressure container. The capacitor consists of two concentric electrodes separated by insulating spacers. The performance of this setup has been successfully verified by collecting simultaneous dielectric and neutron spectroscopy data on dipropylene glycol, using both backscattering and time-of-flight instruments. We have carried out the experiments at different combinations of temperature and pressure in both the supercooled liquid and glassy state.

  1. High-pressure cell for simultaneous dielectric and neutron spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sanz, Alejandro; Hansen, Henriette Wase; Jakobsen, Bo; Pedersen, Ib H.; Capaccioli, Simone; Adrjanowicz, Karolina; Paluch, Marian; Gonthier, Julien; Frick, Bernhard; Lelièvre-Berna, Eddy; Peters, Judith; Niss, Kristine

    2018-02-01

    In this article, we report on the design, manufacture, and testing of a high-pressure cell for simultaneous dielectric and neutron spectroscopy. This cell is a unique tool for studying dynamics on different time scales, from kilo- to picoseconds, covering universal features such as the α relaxation and fast vibrations at the same time. The cell, constructed in cylindrical geometry, is made of a high-strength aluminum alloy and operates up to 500 MPa in a temperature range between roughly 2 and 320 K. In order to measure the scattered neutron intensity and the sample capacitance simultaneously, a cylindrical capacitor is positioned within the bore of the high-pressure container. The capacitor consists of two concentric electrodes separated by insulating spacers. The performance of this setup has been successfully verified by collecting simultaneous dielectric and neutron spectroscopy data on dipropylene glycol, using both backscattering and time-of-flight instruments. We have carried out the experiments at different combinations of temperature and pressure in both the supercooled liquid and glassy state.

  2. Spectral investigations of multiple charge transfer complex of p-nitrophenol as an electron acceptor with donor p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Naeem, A.; Khan, I. M.; Ahmad, A.

    2011-10-01

    The convincing evidence have been given that both the interactions π-π and π-π* (between p-nitrophenol ( p-NTP) and p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde ( p-DAB)) are simultaneously involved. This has been established by using IR spectrometry. Association constant K evaluated by the method of Foster under the condition [A]0 = [D]0 with apply in this equation, [A]0/ A = 1/ Kɛλ[D]0 + 2/ɛλ, where [A]0 is the initial concentration of acceptor equal to [D]0, A is the absorbance of the complex at λ, K is the association constant, and ɛλ is the molar absorptivity of the complex at λ. In the IR spectral studies of several related organic compounds, one comes to the conclusion that p-NTP shows a broad band centred at 1600 cm-1 and to nitro asymmetric stretching vibrations. In the complex while the 1500 cm-1 band remains without shift, the broad band localized at 1600 cm-1 shift to 1610 cm-1. A shift of 10 cm-1 shows weak interactions. Studies on molecular complexes of organ metallic donors and acceptors are of very recent origin. Though alkyl donors have been extensively studied, very few studies have appeared on aryl donors.

  3. 49 CFR 591.6 - Documents accompanying declarations.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) IMPORTATION OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT SUBJECT TO FEDERAL SAFETY, BUMPER AND THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS § 591.6 Documents accompanying... public roads, or that the equipment item was not manufactured for use on a motor vehicle or is not an...

  4. Triamine chelants, their derivatives, complexes and conjugates

    DOEpatents

    Troutner, D.E.; John, C.S.; Pillai, M.R.A.

    1995-03-07

    A group of functionalized triamine chelants and their derivatives that form complexes with radioactive metal ions are disclosed. The complexes can be covalently attached to a protein or an antibody or antibody fragment and used for therapeutic and/or diagnostic purposes. The chelants are of the formula, as shown in the accompanying diagrams, wherein n, m, R, R{sup 1}, R{sup 2} and L are defined in the specification.

  5. Simultaneous assessment of glomerular filtration and barrier function in live zebrafish

    PubMed Central

    Kotb, Ahmed M.; Müller, Tobias; Xie, Jing; Anand-Apte, Bela; Endlich, Nicole

    2014-01-01

    The zebrafish pronephros is a well-established model to study glomerular development, structure, and function. A few methods have been described to evaluate glomerular barrier function in zebrafish larvae so far. However, there is a need to assess glomerular filtration as well. In the present study, we extended the available methods by simultaneously measuring the intravascular clearances of Alexa fluor 647-conjugated 10-kDa dextran and FITC-conjugated 500-kDa dextran as indicators of glomerular filtration and barrier function, respectively. After intravascular injection of the dextrans, mean fluorescence intensities of both dextrans were measured in the cardinal vein of living zebrafish (4 days postfertilization) by confocal microscopy over time. We demonstrated that injected 10-kDa dextran was rapidly cleared from the circulation, became visible in the lumen of the pronephric tubule, quickly accumulated in tubular cells, and was detectably excreted at the cloaca. In contrast, 500-kDa dextran could not be visualized in the tubule at any time point. To check whether alterations in glomerular function can be quantified by our method, we injected morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs) against zebrafish nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA (zMyh9) or apolipoprotein L1 (zApol1). While glomerular filtration was reduced in zebrafish nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA MO-injected larvae, glomerular barrier function remained intact. In contrast, in zebrafish apolipoprotein L1 MO-injected larvae, glomerular barrier function was compromised as 500-kDa dextran disappeared from the circulation and became visible in tubular cells. In summary, we present a novel method that allows to simultaneously assess glomerular filtration and barrier function in live zebrafish. PMID:25298528

  6. An optogenetics- and imaging-assisted simultaneous multiple patch-clamp recording system for decoding complex neural circuits

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Guangfu; Wyskiel, Daniel R; Yang, Weiguo; Wang, Yiqing; Milbern, Lana C; Lalanne, Txomin; Jiang, Xiaolong; Shen, Ying; Sun, Qian-Quan; Zhu, J Julius

    2015-01-01

    Deciphering neuronal circuitry is central to understanding brain function and dysfunction, yet it remains a daunting task. To facilitate the dissection of neuronal circuits, a process requiring functional analysis of synaptic connections and morphological identification of interconnected neurons, we present here a method for stable simultaneous octuple patch-clamp recordings. This method allows physiological analysis of synaptic interconnections among 4–8 simultaneously recorded neurons and/or 10–30 sequentially recorded neurons, and it allows anatomical identification of >85% of recorded interneurons and >99% of recorded principal neurons. We describe how to apply the method to rodent tissue slices; however, it can be used on other model organisms. We also describe the latest refinements and optimizations of mechanics, electronics, optics and software programs that are central to the realization of a combined single- and two-photon microscopy–based, optogenetics- and imaging-assisted, stable, simultaneous quadruple–viguple patch-clamp recording system. Setting up the system, from the beginning of instrument assembly and software installation to full operation, can be completed in 3–4 d. PMID:25654757

  7. Retrospective Comparison of Visual Outcomes After KAMRA Corneal Inlay Implantation With Simultaneous PRK or LASIK.

    PubMed

    Moshirfar, Majid; Bean, Andrew E; Albarracin, Julio C; Rebenitsch, Ronald L; Wallace, Ryan T; Birdsong, Orry C

    2018-05-01

    To report a retrospective study of simultaneous LASIK versus photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with accompanying small-aperture cornea inlay implantation (KAMRA; AcuFocus, Inc., Irvine, CA) in treating presbyopia. Simultaneous LASIK/inlay and simultaneous PRK/inlay was performed on 79 and 47 patients, respectively. Follow-up examinations were conducted at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. The main outcome measures were safety, efficacy, predictability, and stability with primary emphasis on monocular uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA). Both groups met U.S. Food and Drug Administration criteria for efficacy with 95% and 55% of the LASIK/inlay group and 83% and 52% of the PRK/inlay group having a monocular UNVA of 20/40 (J5) and 20/25 (J2), respectively, at 6-month follow-up. Ninety-two percent of the LASIK/inlay group and 95% of the PRK/inlay group had a UDVA of 20/40 or better at 6 months. Two eyes lost one line of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA). Mild hyperopic shift was noted in both groups at 6 months. Simultaneous PRK/inlay and LASIK/inlay meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards for efficacy and safety based on 6-month preliminary results and have similar outcomes to emmetropic eyes. [J Refract Surg. 2018;34(5):310-315.]. Copyright 2018, SLACK Incorporated.

  8. Different metabolic profiles of K1 serotype and non-serotype K1 and K2 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in oral infection mice model.

    PubMed

    Chen, Nan; Wang, Lin-Lin; Xue, Juan; Ma, Xiang-Bo; Zhao, Sheng; Rong, Rui-Xue; Li, Hong-Quan; Ding, Liang; Zheng, Ming-Zhi; Chen, Ying-Ying; Duan, Fei; Shen, Yue-Liang

    2014-10-01

    K1 or K2 serotype Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate caused clinical pyogenic liver abscess (KLA) infection is prevalent in many areas. It has been identified that K1 or K2 serotype K. pneumoniae isolates caused KLA infection in mice by oral inoculation. In our study, K1 serotype K. pneumoniae isolate Kp1002 with hypermucoviscosity (HV)-positive phenotype caused KLA infection in C57BL/6 mice by oral inoculation. Simultaneously, non-serotype K1 and K2 isolate Kp1014 with HV-negative phenotype failed to cause KLA infection in the same manner. It seems that gastrointestinal tract translocation is the pathway by which K1 or K2 serotype K. pneumoniae caused KLA infection. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to further analyze metabolic profile changes in mice with KLA infection. Data showed that after Kp1002 or Kp1014 oral inoculation, serum Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) levels significantly changed in mice. Some PC and LPC molecules showed changes both in the Kp1002 KLA group and the Kp1014 no-KLA group compared with the control group. The level of 18:1/18:2-PC significantly changed in the Kp1002 KLA group compared with the control group, but showed no change between the Kp1014 no-KLA group and the control group. The level of 18:1/18:2-PC might have been particularly affected by KLA infection caused by K1 serotype K. pneumoniae Kp1002. It may be a potential biomarker for KLA infection. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Systematics of the K X-Ray Multiplicity for Transitional Nuclei with A~=200

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Karwowski, H. J.; Vigdor, S. E.; Jacobs, W. W.; Throwe, T. G.; Wark, D. L.; Kailas, S.; Singh, P. P.; Soga, F.; Ward, T. E.; Wiggins, J.

    1981-11-01

    Measurements of the multiplicity of K x rays accompanying (Li,xn) reactions to residual nuclei with Z~80 exhibit plateaus of high and constant multiplicity for neutron numbers between 110 and 120, with rapid falloff for both smaller and larger N. A proposed explanation for this systematic behavior assumes that strongly coupled, high-K rotational bands are a much more general feature of this transitional mass region than existing data indicate.

  10. Simultaneous DMSP, All-Sky Camera, and IMAGE FUV Observations of the Brightening Arc at a Substorm Pseudo-Breakup

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-03-01

    arc at a substorm pseudo-breakup Sb. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 61102F 6. AUTHORS 5d. PROJECT NUMBER K. Yago ,, K. Shiokawa, K. Yumoto...Distribution Unlimited Simultaneous DMSP, all-sky camera, and IMAGE FUV observations of the brightening arc at a substorm pseudo-breakup K. Yago "•. K. Shiokawa...2003; Mende et al., particles, field-aligned currents, and plasma convection as- 2003: Yago et al., 2005: Shiokawa et al., 2005). These sociated with

  11. Development of a Colloidal Gold-Based Immunochromatographic Strip for Rapid Detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae Serotypes K1 and K2.

    PubMed

    Siu, L Kristopher; Tsai, Yu-Kuo; Lin, Jung-Chung; Chen, Te-Li; Fung, Chang-Phone; Chang, Feng-Yee

    2016-12-01

    In this study, a novel colloidal gold-based immunochromatographic strip (ICS) containing anti-Klebsiella pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide polyclonal antibodies was developed to specifically detect K. pneumoniae serotypes K1 and K2. Capsular polysaccharide K1 and K2 antigens were first used to produce polyclonal anti-K1 and anti-K2 antibodies. Reference strains with different serotypes, nontypeable K. pneumoniae strains, and other bacterial species were then used to assess the sensitivity and specificity of these test strips. The detection limit was found to be 10 5 CFU, and the ICSs were stable for 6 months when stored at room temperature. No false-positive or false-negative results were observed, and equivalent results were obtained compared to those of more conventional test methods, such as PCR or serum agglutination. In conclusion, the ICS developed here requires no technical expertise and allows for the specific, rapid, and simultaneous detection of K. pneumoniae serotypes K1 and K2. Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

  12. A multi-frequency sparse hemispherical ultrasound phased array for microbubble-mediated transcranial therapy and simultaneous cavitation mapping

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Deng, Lulu; O'Reilly, Meaghan A.; Jones, Ryan M.; An, Ran; Hynynen, Kullervo

    2016-12-01

    Focused ultrasound (FUS) phased arrays show promise for non-invasive brain therapy. However, the majority of them are limited to a single transmit/receive frequency and therefore lack the versatility to expose and monitor the treatment volume. Multi-frequency arrays could offer variable transmit focal sizes under a fixed aperture, and detect different spectral content on receive for imaging purposes. Here, a three-frequency (306, 612, and 1224 kHz) sparse hemispherical ultrasound phased array (31.8 cm aperture; 128 transducer modules) was constructed and evaluated for microbubble-mediated transcranial therapy and simultaneous cavitation mapping. The array is able to perform effective electronic beam steering over a volume spanning (-40, 40) and (-30, 50) mm in the lateral and axial directions, respectively. The focal size at the geometric center is approximately 0.9 (2.1) mm, 1.7 (3.9) mm, and 3.1 (6.5) mm in lateral (axial) pressure full width at half maximum (FWHM) at 1224, 612, and 306 kHz, respectively. The array was also found capable of dual-frequency excitation and simultaneous multi-foci sonication, which enables the future exploration of more complex exposure strategies. Passive acoustic mapping of dilute microbubble clouds demonstrated that the point spread function of the receive array has a lateral (axial) intensity FWHM between 0.8-3.5 mm (1.7-11.7 mm) over a volume spanning (-25, 25) mm in both the lateral and axial directions, depending on the transmit/receive frequency combination and the imaging location. The device enabled both half and second harmonic imaging through the intact skull, which may be useful for improving the contrast-to-tissue ratio or imaging resolution, respectively. Preliminary in vivo experiments demonstrated the system’s ability to induce blood-brain barrier opening and simultaneously spatially map microbubble cavitation activity in a rat model. This work presents a tool to investigate optimal strategies for non

  13. A multi-frequency sparse hemispherical ultrasound phased array for microbubble-mediated transcranial therapy and simultaneous cavitation mapping

    PubMed Central

    Deng, Lulu; O'Reilly, Meaghan A.; Jones, Ryan M.; An, Ran; Hynynen, Kullervo

    2016-01-01

    Focused ultrasound (FUS) phased arrays show promise for non-invasive brain therapy. However, the majority of them are limited to a single transmit/receive frequency and therefore lack the versatility to expose and monitor the treatment volume. Multi-frequency arrays could offer variable transmit focal sizes under a fixed aperture, and detect different spectral content on receive for imaging purposes. Here, a three-frequency (306, 612 and 1224 kHz) sparse hemispherical ultrasound phased array (31.8 cm aperture; 128 transducer modules) was constructed and evaluated for microbubble-mediated transcranial therapy and simultaneous cavitation mapping. The array is able to perform effective electronic beam steering over a volume spanning [−40, 40] and [−30, 50] mm in the lateral and axial directions, respectively. The focal size at the geometric center is approximately 0.9 (2.1) mm, 1.7 (3.9) mm, and 3.1 (6.5) mm in lateral (axial) pressure full width at half maximum (FWHM) at 1224, 612, and 306 kHz, respectively. The array was also found capable of dual-frequency excitation and simultaneous multi–foci sonication, which enables the future exploration of more complex exposure strategies. Passive acoustic mapping of dilute microbubble clouds demonstrated that the point spread function of the receive array has a lateral (axial) intensity FWHM between 0.8-3.5 mm (1.7-11.7 mm) over a volume spanning [−25, 25] mm in both the lateral and axial directions, depending on the transmit/receive frequency combination and the imaging location. The device enabled both half and second harmonic imaging through the intact skull, which may be useful for improving the contrast-to-tissue ratio or imaging resolution, respectively. Preliminary in-vivo experiments demonstrated the system's ability to induce blood-brain barrier opening and simultaneously spatially map microbubble cavitation activity in a rat model. This work presents a tool to investigate optimal strategies for non

  14. A multi-frequency sparse hemispherical ultrasound phased array for microbubble-mediated transcranial therapy and simultaneous cavitation mapping.

    PubMed

    Deng, Lulu; O'Reilly, Meaghan A; Jones, Ryan M; An, Ran; Hynynen, Kullervo

    2016-12-21

    Focused ultrasound (FUS) phased arrays show promise for non-invasive brain therapy. However, the majority of them are limited to a single transmit/receive frequency and therefore lack the versatility to expose and monitor the treatment volume. Multi-frequency arrays could offer variable transmit focal sizes under a fixed aperture, and detect different spectral content on receive for imaging purposes. Here, a three-frequency (306, 612, and 1224 kHz) sparse hemispherical ultrasound phased array (31.8 cm aperture; 128 transducer modules) was constructed and evaluated for microbubble-mediated transcranial therapy and simultaneous cavitation mapping. The array is able to perform effective electronic beam steering over a volume spanning (-40, 40) and (-30, 50) mm in the lateral and axial directions, respectively. The focal size at the geometric center is approximately 0.9 (2.1) mm, 1.7 (3.9) mm, and 3.1 (6.5) mm in lateral (axial) pressure full width at half maximum (FWHM) at 1224, 612, and 306 kHz, respectively. The array was also found capable of dual-frequency excitation and simultaneous multi-foci sonication, which enables the future exploration of more complex exposure strategies. Passive acoustic mapping of dilute microbubble clouds demonstrated that the point spread function of the receive array has a lateral (axial) intensity FWHM between 0.8-3.5 mm (1.7-11.7 mm) over a volume spanning (-25, 25) mm in both the lateral and axial directions, depending on the transmit/receive frequency combination and the imaging location. The device enabled both half and second harmonic imaging through the intact skull, which may be useful for improving the contrast-to-tissue ratio or imaging resolution, respectively. Preliminary in vivo experiments demonstrated the system's ability to induce blood-brain barrier opening and simultaneously spatially map microbubble cavitation activity in a rat model. This work presents a tool to investigate optimal strategies for non

  15. Characterization of the 20 kHz transient MHD burst at the fast U-3M confinement modification stage

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dreval, M. B.; Pavlichenko, R. O.; Shapoval, A. M.; Pashnev, V. K.; Sorokovoy, E. L.; Slavnyj, A. S.; Beletskii, A. A.; Mironov, Yu K.; Romanov, V. S.; Kulaga, A. E.; Zamanov, N. V.

    2018-05-01

    In the URAGAN-3M (U-3M) torsatron the low-frequency transient 20–30 kHz mode is observed during the plasma confinement transition that occurs at a plasma current value of about 1 kA. The burst of this mode is always accompanied by the fast jump of the Alfvén eigenmode frequency. The transient 20–30 kHz mode contains two parts. The non-rotating part of the mode has higher amplitude and is localized in the stochastic region of the plasma. It is observed only in the vicinity of the radio-frequency antenna used for plasma production and does not propagate along the torus because of fast losses. Its high amplitude indicates that the major part of the 20–30 kHz mode is excited in the stochastic region near the antenna. In contrast, the second rotating part of the mode is localized everywhere along the torus near the plasma edge (ρ = 0.8–1). This is the n/m = 1/2 mode that rotates in the electron diamagnetic direction. It is observed in different toroidal cross-sections by various diagnostics (magnetic probe array, optics, Langmuir probe). Appearance of the 1/2 rational surface at the stochastic magnetic field line region near the plasma edge at 1 kA plasma current stage can be responsible for the mode generation. Modification of electron component gradients in the mode generation region near the antenna and the drop of the fast ion concentration (above 1 keV) in this region are observed simultaneously with the mode generation. The mode can be exited by the strong transient plasma gradients generated in the vicinity of the rational surface by the antenna.

  16. Methods and compositions for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation

    DOEpatents

    Ingram, Lonnie O'Neal; Zhou, Shengde

    2006-04-11

    The invention provides compositions and methods for the synergistic degradation of oligosaccharides by endoglucanases. The invention further provides recombinant host cells containing one or more genes encoding endoglucanses which are capable of the synergistic degradation of oligosaccharides. Preferred host cells of the invention are ethanologenic and capable of carrying out simultaneous saccharification and fermentation resulting in the production of ethanol from complex cellulose substrates.

  17. Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (Vkorc1) haplotype diversity in mouse priority strains

    PubMed Central

    Song, Ying; Vera, Nicole; Kohn, Michael H

    2008-01-01

    Background Polymorphisms in the vitamin K-epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 gene, Vkorc1, could affect blood coagulation and other vitamin K-dependent proteins, such as osteocalcin (bone Gla protein, BGP). Here we sequenced the Vkorc1 gene in 40 mouse priority strains. We analyzed Vkorc1 haplotypes with respect to prothrombin time (PT) and bone mineral density and composition (BMD and BMC); phenotypes expected to be vitamin K-dependent and represented by data in the Mouse Phenome Database (MPD). Findings In the commonly used laboratory strains of Mus musculus domesticus we identified only four haplotypes differing in the intron or 5' region sequence of the Vkorc1. Six haplotypes differing by coding and non-coding polymorphisms were identified in the other subspecies of Mus. We detected no significant association of Vkorc1 haplotypes with PT, BMD and BMC within each subspecies of Mus. Vkorc1 haplotype sequences divergence between subspecies was associated with PT, BMD and BMC. Conclusion Phenotypic variation in PT, BMD and BMC within subspecies of Mus, while substantial, appears to be dominated by genetic variation in genes other than the Vkorc1. This was particularly evident for M. m. domesticus, where a single haplotype was observed in conjunction with virtually the entire range of PT, BMD and BMC values of all 5 subspecies of Mus included in this study. Differences in these phenotypes between subspecies also should not be attributed to Vkorc1 variants, but should be viewed as a result of genome wide genetic divergence. PMID:19046458

  18. 39 CFR 320.7 - Suspension for advertisements accompanying parcels or periodicals.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 39 Postal Service 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Suspension for advertisements accompanying parcels or periodicals. 320.7 Section 320.7 Postal Service UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE RESTRICTIONS ON PRIVATE CARRIAGE OF LETTERS SUSPENSION OF THE PRIVATE EXPRESS STATUTES § 320.7 Suspension for advertisements accompanying parcels or periodicals. (a) Th...

  19. 41 CFR 101-25.110-3 - Tires accompanying new motor vehicles.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 41 Public Contracts and Property Management 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 true Tires accompanying new...-GENERAL 25.1-General Policies § 101-25.110-3 Tires accompanying new motor vehicles. The tire... vehicle manufacturer or his designee to maintain a record of tires on or in each vehicle shipped by him...

  20. Students' conceptual performance on synthesis physics problems with varying mathematical complexity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ibrahim, Bashirah; Ding, Lin; Heckler, Andrew F.; White, Daniel R.; Badeau, Ryan

    2017-06-01

    A body of research on physics problem solving has focused on single-concept problems. In this study we use "synthesis problems" that involve multiple concepts typically taught in different chapters. We use two types of synthesis problems, sequential and simultaneous synthesis tasks. Sequential problems require a consecutive application of fundamental principles, and simultaneous problems require a concurrent application of pertinent concepts. We explore students' conceptual performance when they solve quantitative synthesis problems with varying mathematical complexity. Conceptual performance refers to the identification, follow-up, and correct application of the pertinent concepts. Mathematical complexity is determined by the type and the number of equations to be manipulated concurrently due to the number of unknowns in each equation. Data were collected from written tasks and individual interviews administered to physics major students (N =179 ) enrolled in a second year mechanics course. The results indicate that mathematical complexity does not impact students' conceptual performance on the sequential tasks. In contrast, for the simultaneous problems, mathematical complexity negatively influences the students' conceptual performance. This difference may be explained by the students' familiarity with and confidence in particular concepts coupled with cognitive load associated with manipulating complex quantitative equations. Another explanation pertains to the type of synthesis problems, either sequential or simultaneous task. The students split the situation presented in the sequential synthesis tasks into segments but treated the situation in the simultaneous synthesis tasks as a single event.

  1. Raman scattering of 2H-MoS2 at simultaneous high temperature and high pressure (up to 600 K and 18.5 GPa)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, JianJun; Li, HePing; Dai, LiDong; Hu, HaiYing; Zhao, ChaoShuai

    2016-03-01

    The Raman spectroscopy of natural molybdenite powder was investigated at simultaneous conditions of high temperature and high pressure in a heatable diamond anvil cell (DAC), to obtain the temperature and pressure dependence of the main Raman vibrational modes (E1g, E2 g 1 ,A1g, and 2LA(M)). Over our experimental temperature and pressure range (300-600 K and 1 atm-18.5 GPa), the Raman modes follow a systematic blue shift with increasing pressure, and red shift with increasing temperature. The results were calculated by three-variable linear fitting. The mutual correlation index of temperature and pressure indicates that the pressure may reduce the temperature dependence of Raman modes. New Raman bands due to structural changes emerged at about 3-4 GPa lower than seen in previous studies; this may be caused by differences in the pressure hydrostaticity and shear stress in the sample cell that promote the interlayer sliding.

  2. Temporal changes of oxidative stress markers in Escherichia coli K1-induced experimental meningitis in a neonatal rat model.

    PubMed

    Giridharan, Vijayasree V; Simões, Lutiana R; Dagostin, Valdemira S; Generoso, Jaqueline S; Rezin, Gislaine T; Florentino, Drielly; Muniz, Jhonata P; Collodel, Allan; Petronilho, Fabricia; Quevedo, Joao; Barichello, Tatiana

    2017-07-13

    Despite advances in antimicrobial therapy and advanced critical care neonatal bacterial meningitis has a mortality rate of over 10% and induces neurological sequelae in 20-50% of cases. Escherichia coli K1 (E. coli K1) is the most common gram-negative organism causing neonatal meningitis and is the second most common cause behind group B streptococcus. We previously reported that an E. coli K1 experimental meningitis infection in neonatal rats resulted in habituation and aversive memory impairment and a significant increase in cytokine levels in adulthood. In this present study, we investigated the oxidative stress profile including malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, carbonyl protein formation, myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and catalase (CAT) activity 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96h after E. coli K1 experimental meningitis infection. In addition, sulfhydryl groups, nitrite and nitrate levels and activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes were also measured in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of neonatal rats. The results from this study demonstrated a significant increase in MDA, protein carbonyls and MPO activity and a simultaneous decrease in SOD activity in the hippocampus of the neonatal meningitis survivors but the same was not observed in frontal cortex. In addition, we also observed a significant increase in complex IV activity in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of meningitis survivor rats. Thus, the results from this study reaffirmed the possible role of oxidative stress, nitric oxide and its related compounds in the complex pathophysiology of E. coli K1-induced bacterial meningitis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. STAR FORMATION ACROSS THE W3 COMPLEX

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Román-Zúñiga, Carlos G.; Ybarra, Jason E.; Tapia, Mauricio

    We present a multi-wavelength analysis of the history of star formation in the W3 complex. Using deep, near-infrared ground-based images combined with images obtained with Spitzer and Chandra observatories, we identified and classified young embedded sources. We identified the principal clusters in the complex and determined their structure and extension. We constructed extinction-limited samples for five principal clusters and constructed K-band luminosity functions that we compare with those of artificial clusters with varying ages. This analysis provided mean ages and possible age spreads for the clusters. We found that IC 1795, the centermost cluster of the complex, still hosts amore » large fraction of young sources with circumstellar disks. This indicates that star formation was active in IC 1795 as recently as 2 Myr ago, simultaneous to the star-forming activity in the flanking embedded clusters, W3-Main and W3(OH). A comparison with carbon monoxide emission maps indicates strong velocity gradients in the gas clumps hosting W3-Main and W3(OH) and shows small receding clumps of gas at IC 1795, suggestive of rapid gas removal (faster than the T Tauri timescale) in the cluster-forming regions. We discuss one possible scenario for the progression of cluster formation in the W3 complex. We propose that early processes of gas collapse in the main structure of the complex could have defined the progression of cluster formation across the complex with relatively small age differences from one group to another. However, triggering effects could act as catalysts for enhanced efficiency of formation at a local level, in agreement with previous studies.« less

  4. RGD-containing peptides activate S6K1 through beta3 integrin in adult cardiac muscle cells.

    PubMed

    Balasubramanian, Sundaravadivel; Kuppuswamy, Dhandapani

    2003-10-24

    The enzyme p70S6 kinase (S6K1) is critical for cell growth, and we have reported its activation during cardiac hypertrophy. Because cardiac hypertrophy also involves integrin activation, we analyzed whether integrins could contribute to S6K1 activation. Using adult feline cardiomyocytes, here we report that integrin-interacting Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptides activate S6K1 as observed by band shifting, kinase activity and phosphorylation at Thr-389 and Thr-421/Ser-424 of S6K1, and S6 protein phosphorylation. Perturbation of specific integrin function with blocking antibodies and by overexpressing the beta1A cytoplasmic tail revealed that beta3 but not beta1 integrin mediates the RGD-induced S6K1 activation. This activation is focal adhesion complex-independent and is accompanied by the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Studies using specific inhibitors and dominant negative c-Raf expression in cardiomyocytes indicate that the S6K1 activation involves mTOR, MEK/ERK, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways and is independent of protein kinase C and c-Raf. Finally, addition of fluorescent-labeled RGD peptide to cardiomyocytes exhibits its internalization and localization to the endocytic vesicles, and pretreatment of cardiomyocytes with endocytic inhibitors reduced the S6K1 activation. These data suggest that RGD interaction with beta3 integrin and its subsequent endocytosis trigger specific signaling pathway(s) for S6K1 activation in cardiomyocytes and that this process may contribute to hypertrophic growth and remodeling of myocardium.

  5. 31 CFR 538.511 - Accompanied baggage authorized.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Accompanied baggage authorized. 538.511 Section 538.511 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued... only articles that are necessary for personal use incident to travel, are not intended for any other...

  6. 31 CFR 538.511 - Accompanied baggage authorized.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Accompanied baggage authorized. 538.511 Section 538.511 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued... only articles that are necessary for personal use incident to travel, are not intended for any other...

  7. 31 CFR 538.511 - Accompanied baggage authorized.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Accompanied baggage authorized. 538.511 Section 538.511 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued... only articles that are necessary for personal use incident to travel, are not intended for any other...

  8. 31 CFR 538.511 - Accompanied baggage authorized.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Accompanied baggage authorized. 538.511 Section 538.511 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued... only articles that are necessary for personal use incident to travel, are not intended for any other...

  9. 31 CFR 538.511 - Accompanied baggage authorized.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Accompanied baggage authorized. 538.511 Section 538.511 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued... only articles that are necessary for personal use incident to travel, are not intended for any other...

  10. Analysis of function-related interactions of ATP, sodium and potassium ions with Na+- and K+-transporting ATPase studied with a thiol reagent as tool.

    PubMed

    Grosse, R; Eckert, K; Malur, J; Repke, K R

    1978-01-01

    protective effect of ATP. The K+ affinity of the enzyme-ATP complex is by more than two orders of magnitude higher than that of free enzyme. Na+ ligandation of the K+-liganded enzyme-ATP complex reverses the effect of K+ ligandation and produces a protective effect which distinctly surpasses that of the complexation of free enzyme with ATP. Hence, the enzyme molecule carries simultaneously ionophoric centres for both Na+ and K+. 5. The findings that per enzyme molecule ionophoric centres for Na+ and K+, and two catalytic centres with anticooperative interaction coexist corroborate the corresponding basic predictions of the flip-flop concept of (NaK)-ATPase pump mechanism, and explain some peculiar kinetic features of transport and enzyme activities of (NaK)-ATPase.

  11. The K-π+ S-wave from the D+→K-π+π+ decay

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    FOCUS Collaboration; Link, J. M.; Yager, P. M.; Anjos, J. C.; Bediaga, I.; Castromonte, C.; Machado, A. A.; Magnin, J.; Massafferri, A.; de Miranda, J. M.; Pepe, I. M.; Polycarpo, E.; Dos Reis, A. C.; Carrillo, S.; Cuautle, E.; Sánchez-Hernández, A.; Uribe, C.; Vázquez, F.; Agostino, L.; Cinquini, L.; Cumalat, J. P.; Frisullo, V.; O'Reilly, B.; Segoni, I.; Stenson, K.; Butler, J. N.; Cheung, H. W. K.; Chiodini, G.; Gaines, I.; Garbincius, P. H.; Garren, L. A.; Gottschalk, E.; Kasper, P. H.; Kreymer, A. E.; Kutschke, R.; Wang, M.; Benussi, L.; Bianco, S.; Fabbri, F. L.; Zallo, A.; Casimiro, E.; Reyes, M.; Cawlfield, C.; Kim, D. Y.; Rahimi, A.; Wiss, J.; Gardner, R.; Kryemadhi, A.; Chung, Y. S.; Kang, J. S.; Ko, B. R.; Kwak, J. W.; Lee, K. B.; Cho, K.; Park, H.; Alimonti, G.; Barberis, S.; Boschini, M.; Cerutti, A.; D'Angelo, P.; Dicorato, M.; Dini, P.; Edera, L.; Erba, S.; Inzani, P.; Leveraro, F.; Malvezzi, S.; Menasce, D.; Mezzadri, M.; Moroni, L.; Pedrini, D.; Pontoglio, C.; Prelz, F.; Rovere, M.; Sala, S.; Davenport, T. F.; Arena, V.; Boca, G.; Bonomi, G.; Gianini, G.; Liguori, G.; Pegna, D. Lopes; Merlo, M. M.; Pantea, D.; Ratti, S. P.; Riccardi, C.; Vitulo, P.; Göbel, C.; Otalora, J.; Hernandez, H.; Lopez, A. M.; Mendez, H.; Paris, A.; Quinones, J.; Ramirez, J. E.; Zhang, Y.; Wilson, J. R.; Handler, T.; Mitchell, R.; Engh, D.; Hosack, M.; Johns, W. E.; Luiggi, E.; Moore, J. E.; Nehring, M.; Sheldon, P. D.; Vaandering, E. W.; Webster, M.; Sheaff, M.

    2009-10-01

    Using data from FOCUS (E831) experiment at Fermilab, we present a model independent partial-wave analysis of the K-π+ S-wave amplitude from the decay D+→K-π+π+. The S-wave is a generic complex function to be determined directly from the data fit. The P- and D-waves are parameterized by a sum of Breit-Wigner amplitudes. The measurement of the S-wave amplitude covers the whole elastic range of the K-π+ system.

  12. Charge displacement in bacteriorhodopsin during the forward and reverse bR-K phototransition.

    PubMed Central

    Groma, G I; Hebling, J; Ludwig, C; Kuhl, J

    1995-01-01

    Dried oriented purple membrane samples of Halobacterium salinarium were excited by 150 fs laser pulses of 620 nm with a 7 kHz repetition rate. An unusual complex picosecond electric response signal consisting of a positive and a negative peak was detected by a sampling oscilloscope. The ratio of the two peaks was changed by 1) reducing the repetition rate, 2) varying the intensity of the excitation beam, and 3) applying background illumination by light of 647 nm or 511 nm. All of these features can be explained by the simultaneous excitation of the bacteriorhodopsin ground form and the K intermediate. The latter was populated by the (quasi)continuous excitation attributable to its prolonged lifetime in a dehydrated state. Least-square analysis resulted in a 5 ps upper and 2.5 ps lower limit for the time constant of the charge displacement process, corresponding to the forward reaction. That is in good agreement with the formation time of K. The charge separation driven by the reverse phototransition was faster, having a time constant of a 3.5 ps upper limit. The difference in the rates indicates the existence of different routes for the forward and the reverse photoreactions. PMID:8580349

  13. The target-to-foils shift in simultaneous and sequential lineups.

    PubMed

    Clark, Steven E; Davey, Sherrie L

    2005-04-01

    A theoretical cornerstone in eyewitness identification research is the proposition that witnesses, in making decisions from standard simultaneous lineups, make relative judgments. The present research considers two sources of support for this proposal. An experiment by G. L. Wells (1993) showed that if the target is removed from a lineup, witnesses shift their responses to pick foils, rather than rejecting the lineups, a result we will term a target-to-foils shift. Additional empirical support is provided by results from sequential lineups which typically show higher accuracy than simultaneous lineups, presumably because of a decrease in the use of relative judgments in making identification decisions. The combination of these two lines of research suggests that the target-to-foils shift should be reduced in sequential lineups relative to simultaneous lineups. Results of two experiments showed an overall advantage for sequential lineups, but also showed a target-to-foils shift equal in size for simultaneous and sequential lineups. Additional analyses indicated that the target-to-foils shift in sequential lineups was moderated in part by an order effect and was produced with (Experiment 2) or without (Experiment 1) a shift in decision criterion. This complex pattern of results suggests that more work is needed to understand the processes which underlie decisions in simultaneous and sequential lineups.

  14. Towards High-Throughput, Simultaneous Characterization of Thermal and Thermoelectric Properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Miers, Collier Stephen

    The extension of thermoelectric generators to more general markets requires that the devices be affordable and practical (low $/Watt) to implement. A key challenge in this pursuit is the quick and accurate characterization of thermoelectric materials, which will allow researchers to tune and modify the material properties quickly. The goal of this thesis is to design and fabricate a high-throughput characterization system for the simultaneous characterization of thermal, electrical, and thermoelectric properties for device scale material samples. The measurement methodology presented in this thesis combines a custom designed measurement system created specifically for high-throughput testing with a novel device structure that permits simultaneous characterization of the material properties. The measurement system is based upon the 3o method for thermal conductivity measurements, with the addition of electrodes and voltage probes to measure the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient. A device designed and optimized to permit the rapid characterization of thermoelectric materials is also presented. This structure is optimized to ensure 1D heat transfer within the sample, thus permitting rapid data analysis and fitting using a MATLAB script. Verification of the thermal portion of the system is presented using fused silica and sapphire materials for benchmarking. The fused silica samples yielded a thermal conductivity of 1.21 W/(m K), while a thermal conductivity of 31.2 W/(m K) was measured for the sapphire samples. The device and measurement system designed and developed in this thesis provide insight and serve as a foundation for the development of high throughput, simultaneous measurement platforms.

  15. 31 CFR 545.507 - Accompanied baggage authorized.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Accompanied baggage authorized. 545.507 Section 545.507 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued... that are necessary for personal use incident to travel, that are not intended for any other person or...

  16. 31 CFR 560.507 - Accompanied baggage authorized.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Accompanied baggage authorized. 560.507 Section 560.507 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued... for personal use incident to travel, not intended for any other person or for sale, and are not...

  17. Simultaneous plate forming and hydriding of La(Fe, Si)13 magnetocaloric powders

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Nannan; You, Caiyin; Tian, Na; Zhang, Yue; Leng, Haiyan; He, Jun

    2018-04-01

    In this work, we propose a way to simultaneously realize the plate forming and hydriding of La(Fe, Si)13 powders by mixing hydride MgNiYHx and solder powders Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu. Under the annealing of the green compact, the hydriding of La(Fe, Si)13 was realized through absorbing the released hydrogen from the metallic hydride MgNiYHx. The Curie temperature of La(Fe, Si)13 alloy increased from 213 K to 333 K and hysteresis reduced from 3.3 J/kg·K to 1.33 J/kg·K. Due to the bonding of Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu powders, the mechanical strength of the composite compact was highly improved in comparison to the compact of La(Fe, Si)13 powders alone.

  18. 30 CFR 250.221 - What environmental monitoring information must accompany the EP?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false What environmental monitoring information must... monitoring information must accompany the EP? The following environmental monitoring information, as applicable, must accompany your EP: (a) Monitoring systems. A description of any existing and planned...

  19. Study of Environmental Data Complexity using Extreme Learning Machine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Leuenberger, Michael; Kanevski, Mikhail

    2017-04-01

    The main goals of environmental data science using machine learning algorithm deal, in a broad sense, around the calibration, the prediction and the visualization of hidden relationship between input and output variables. In order to optimize the models and to understand the phenomenon under study, the characterization of the complexity (at different levels) should be taken into account. Therefore, the identification of the linear or non-linear behavior between input and output variables adds valuable information for the knowledge of the phenomenon complexity. The present research highlights and investigates the different issues that can occur when identifying the complexity (linear/non-linear) of environmental data using machine learning algorithm. In particular, the main attention is paid to the description of a self-consistent methodology for the use of Extreme Learning Machines (ELM, Huang et al., 2006), which recently gained a great popularity. By applying two ELM models (with linear and non-linear activation functions) and by comparing their efficiency, quantification of the linearity can be evaluated. The considered approach is accompanied by simulated and real high dimensional and multivariate data case studies. In conclusion, the current challenges and future development in complexity quantification using environmental data mining are discussed. References - Huang, G.-B., Zhu, Q.-Y., Siew, C.-K., 2006. Extreme learning machine: theory and applications. Neurocomputing 70 (1-3), 489-501. - Kanevski, M., Pozdnoukhov, A., Timonin, V., 2009. Machine Learning for Spatial Environmental Data. EPFL Press; Lausanne, Switzerland, p.392. - Leuenberger, M., Kanevski, M., 2015. Extreme Learning Machines for spatial environmental data. Computers and Geosciences 85, 64-73.

  20. Concept and design philosophy of a person-accompanying robot

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mizoguchi, Hiroshi; Shigehara, Takaomi; Goto, Yoshiyasu; Hidai, Ken-ichi; Mishima, Taketoshi

    1999-01-01

    This paper proposes a person accompanying robot as a novel human collaborative robot. The person accompanying robot is such legged mobile robot that is possible to follow the person utilizing its vision. towards future aging society, human collaboration and human support are required as novel applications of robots. Such human collaborative robots share the same space with humans. But conventional robots are isolated from humans and lack the capability to observe humans. Study on human observing function of robot is crucial to realize novel robot such as service and pet robot. To collaborate and support humans properly human collaborative robot must have capability to observe and recognize humans. Study on human observing function of robot is crucial to realize novel robot such as service and pet robot. The authors are currently implementing a prototype of the proposed accompanying robot.As a base for the human observing function of the prototype robot, we have realized face tracking utilizing skin color extraction and correlation based tracking. We also develop a method for the robot to pick up human voice clearly and remotely by utilizing microphone arrays. Results of these preliminary study suggest feasibility of the proposed robot.

  1. Real-time implementation of an interactive jazz accompaniment system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Deshpande, Nikhil

    Modern computational algorithms and digital signal processing (DSP) are able to combine with human performers without forced or predetermined structure in order to create dynamic and real-time accompaniment systems. With modern computing power and intelligent algorithm layout and design, it is possible to achieve more detailed auditory analysis of live music. Using this information, computer code can follow and predict how a human's musical performance evolves, and use this to react in a musical manner. This project builds a real-time accompaniment system to perform together with live musicians, with a focus on live jazz performance and improvisation. The system utilizes a new polyphonic pitch detector and embeds it in an Ableton Live system - combined with Max for Live - to perform elements of audio analysis, generation, and triggering. The system also relies on tension curves and information rate calculations from the Creative Artificially Intuitive and Reasoning Agent (CAIRA) system to help understand and predict human improvisation. These metrics are vital to the core system and allow for extrapolated audio analysis. The system is able to react dynamically to a human performer, and can successfully accompany the human as an entire rhythm section.

  2. Resonances in Coupled π K - η K Scattering from Quantum Chromodynamics

    DOE PAGES

    Dudek, Jozef J.; Edwards, Robert G.; Thomas, Christopher E.; ...

    2014-10-01

    Using first-principles calculation within Quantum Chromodynamics, we are able to reproduce the pattern of experimental strange resonances which appear as complex singularities within coupled πK, ηK scattering amplitudes. We make use of numerical computation within the lattice discretized approach to QCD, extracting the energy dependence of scattering amplitudes through their relation- ship to the discrete spectrum of the theory in a finite-volume, which we map out in unprecedented detail.

  3. 30 CFR 550.221 - What environmental monitoring information must accompany the EP?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false What environmental monitoring information must... Information Contents of Exploration Plans (ep) § 550.221 What environmental monitoring information must accompany the EP? The following environmental monitoring information, as applicable, must accompany your EP...

  4. 30 CFR 250.221 - What environmental monitoring information must accompany the EP?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false What environmental monitoring information must... Contents of Exploration Plans (ep) § 250.221 What environmental monitoring information must accompany the EP? The following environmental monitoring information, as applicable, must accompany your EP: (a...

  5. 30 CFR 550.221 - What environmental monitoring information must accompany the EP?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false What environmental monitoring information must... Information Contents of Exploration Plans (ep) § 550.221 What environmental monitoring information must accompany the EP? The following environmental monitoring information, as applicable, must accompany your EP...

  6. 30 CFR 550.221 - What environmental monitoring information must accompany the EP?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false What environmental monitoring information must... Information Contents of Exploration Plans (ep) § 550.221 What environmental monitoring information must accompany the EP? The following environmental monitoring information, as applicable, must accompany your EP...

  7. Effects of Potassium loading and thermal aging on K/Pt/Al2O3 high-temperature lean NOx trap catalysts

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Luo, Jinyong; Gao, Feng; Kim, Do Heui

    2014-03-31

    The effects of K loading and thermal aging on the structural properties and high temperature performance of Pt/K/Al2O3 lean NOx trap (LNT) catalysts were investigated using in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed decomposition/desorption of NOx (NOx-TPD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), NO oxidation and NOx storage tests. In situ XRD results demonstrate that KNO3 becomes extremely mobile on the Al2O3 surface, and experiences complex transformations between orthorhombic and rhombohedral structures, accompanied by sintering, melting and thermal decomposition upon heating. NOx storage results show an optimum K loading around 10% for the best performance at high temperatures. At lower K loadings wheremore » the majority of KNO3 stays as a surface layer, the strong interaction between KNO3 and Al2O3 promotes KNO3 decomposition and deteriorates high-temperature performance. At K loadings higher than 10%, the performance drop is not caused by NOx diffusion limitations as for the case of barium-based LNTs, but rather from the blocking of Pt sites by K species, which adversely affects NO oxidation. Thermal aging at 800 ºC severely deactivates the Pt/K/Al2O3 catalysts due to Pt sintering. However, in the presence of potassium, some Pt remains in a dispersed and oxidized form. These Pt species interact strongly with K and, therefore, do not sinter. After a reduction treatment, these Pt species remain finely dispersed, contributing to a partial recovery of NOx storage performance.« less

  8. Order-disorder phase transition in the peroxidovanadium complex NH4[VO(O2)2(NH3)].

    PubMed

    Schwendt, Peter; Gyepes, Róbert; Chrappová, Jana; Němec, Ivan; Vaněk, Přemysl

    2018-07-05

    Complex NH 4 [VO(O 2 ) 2 (NH 3 )] (1) undergoes an order-disorder phase transition at T c ~258K. This transition is accompanied by change in the space group of the orthorhombic lattice and also by significant structural rearrangements of the constituent molecules, which are pertinent mostly to their NH 4 + ions and their ammonia ligands. The low-temperature solid state IR and Raman spectra of 1 were corroborated by solid-state computations that employed Gaussian functions as the basis set. Results of these computations yielded excellent agreement with experimental data. On the curves of temperature dependence of vibrational modes, the phase transition is expressed by an abrupt change of the slope above T c . Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Alternating current scanning electrochemical microscopy with simultaneous fast-scan cyclic voltammetry.

    PubMed

    Koch, Jason A; Baur, Melinda B; Woodall, Erica L; Baur, John E

    2012-11-06

    Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) is combined with alternating current scanning electrochemical microscopy (AC-SECM) for simultaneous measurements of impedance and faradaic current. Scan rates of 10-1000 V s(-1) were used for voltammetry, while a high-frequency (100 kHz), low-amplitude (10 mV rms) sine wave was added to the voltammetric waveform for the ac measurement. Both a lock-in amplifier and an analog circuit were used to measure the amplitude of the resultant ac signal. The effect of the added sine wave on the voltammetry at a carbon fiber electrode was investigated and found to have negligible effect. The combined FSCV and ac measurements were used to provide simultaneous chemical and topographical information about a substrate using a single carbon fiber probe. The technique is demonstrated in living cell culture, where cellular respiration and topography were simultaneously imaged without the addition of a redox mediator. This approach promises to be useful for the topographical and multidimensional chemical imaging of substrates.

  10. Inelastic Rescattering in B Decays to π π , π K, and K bar K, and Extraction of γ

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zenczykowski, P.

    2002-07-01

    We discuss all contributions from inelastic SU(3)-symmetric rescattering in B decays into a final pair of pseudoscalar mesons PP = π π , Kbar {K}, π K. FSI-induced modifications of amplitudes obtained from the quark-line approach are described in terms of a few parameters which take care of all possible SU(3)-symmetric forms relevant for final-state interactions. Although in general it appears impossible to uniquely determine FSI effects from the combined set of all π π , K bar {K}, and π K data, drawing some conclusions is feasible. In particular, it is shown that in leading order the amplitudes of strangeness-changing B decays depend on only one additional complex FSI-related parameter apart from those present in the definitions of penguin and tree amplitudes. It is also shown that joint considerations of U-spin-related Δ S=0 and | Δ S|=1 decay amplitudes are modified when non-negligible SU(3)-symmetric FSI are present. In particular, if rescattering in B+ → K+bar {K}0 is substantial, determination of the CP-violating weak angle γ from B+ → π + K0, B0d → π -K+, B0s → π + K-, and their CP counterparts might be susceptible to important FSI-induced corrections.

  11. Peroneal tendon displacement accompanying intra-articular calcaneal fractures.

    PubMed

    Toussaint, Rull James; Lin, Darius; Ehrlichman, Lauren K; Ellington, J Kent; Strasser, Nicholas; Kwon, John Y

    2014-02-19

    Peroneal tendon displacement (subluxation or dislocation) accompanying an intra-articular calcaneal fracture is often undetected and under-treated. The goals of this study were to determine (1) the prevalence of peroneal tendon displacement accompanying intra-articular calcaneal fractures, (2) the association of tendon displacement with fracture classifications, (3) the association of tendon displacement with heel width, and (4) the rate of missed diagnosis of the tendon displacement on radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans and the resulting treatment rate. A retrospective radiographic review of all calcaneal fractures presenting at three institutions from June 30, 2006, to June 30, 2011, was performed. CT imaging of 421 intra-articular calcaneal fractures involving the posterior facet was available for review. The prevalence of peroneal tendon displacement was noted and its associations with fracture classification and heel width were evaluated. Peroneal tendon displacement was identified in 118 (28.0%) of the 421 calcaneal fracture cases. The presence of tendon displacement was significantly associated with joint-depression fractures compared with tongue-type fractures (p < 0.001). Only twelve (10.2%) of the 118 cases of peroneal tendon displacement had been identified in the radiology reports. Although sixty-five (55.1%) of the fractures with tendon displacement had been treated with internal fixation, the tendon displacement was treated surgically in only seven (10.8%) of these cases. Analysis of CT images showed a 28% prevalence of peroneal tendon displacement accompanying intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Surgeons and radiologists are encouraged to consider this association.

  12. Helium retention behavior in simultaneously He+-H2+ irradiated tungsten

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhou, Qilai; Azuma, Keisuke; Togari, Akihiro; Yajima, Miyuki; Tokitani, Masayuki; Masuzaki, Suguru; Yoshida, Naoaki; Hara, Masanori; Hatano, Yuji; Oya, Yasuhisa

    2018-04-01

    The purpose of this study is to elucidate helium (He) retention behavior in tungsten (W) under simultaneous He and hydrogen (H) irradiation. Polycrystalline-W was irradiated by He+ and H2+ simultaneously with the energy of 1.0 keV and 3.0 keV. He+ fluences were (0.5, 1.0, 10) × 1021 He+ m-2 and H2+ fluence was 1.0 × 1022 H+ m-2,respectively. After irradiation, He desorption behavior was investigated by high temperature thermal desorption spectroscopy (HT-TDS) in the temperature range of R.T.-1773 K. Micro-structure changes of W after irradiation were observed by TEM. It was found that simultaneous irradiation with different H2+ energy significantly changed He retention behavior. 1.0 keV H2+ suppressed the He bubble growth and no bubbles can be observed at room temperature. On the other hand, 3.0 keV H2+ facilitated the formation of He bubbles and increased the He retention due to the additional damage introduction by energetic H2+.

  13. The Suzaku Observation of NGC 3516: Complex Absorption and the Broad and Narrow Fe K Lines

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Markowitz, Alex; Reeves, James N.; Miniutti, Giovanni; Serlemitsos, Peter; Kunieda, Hideyo; Taqoob, Tahir; Fabian, Andrew C.; Fukazawa, Yasushi; Mushotzky, Richard; Okajima, Takashi; hide

    2007-01-01

    We present results from a 150 ksec Suzaku observation of the Seyfert 1 NGC 3516 in October 2005. The source was in a relatively highly absorbed state. Our best-fit model is consistent with partial covering by a lowly-ionized absorber with a column density near 5x10(exp 22) cm(exp -2) and with a covering fraction 96-100 percent. Narrow K-shell absorption features due to He- and H-like Fe confirm the presence of a high-ionization absorbing component as well. A broad Fe K(alpha) diskline is required in all fits, even after the complex absorption is taken into account; an additional partial-covering component is an inadequate substitute for the continuum curvature associated with the broad line. The narrow Fe Ka line at 6.4 keV is resolved, yielding a velocity width commensurate with the optical Broad Line Region. The strength of the Compton reflection hump suggests a contribution mainly from the broad Fe line origin. We include in our model soft band emission lines from He- and H-like ions and radiative recombination lines, consistent with photo-ionization, though a small contribution from collisional ionization is possible.

  14. Differential impact of a complex environment on positive affect in an animal model of individual differences in emotionality.

    PubMed

    Perez-Sepulveda, J A; Flagel, S B; Garcia-Fuster, M J; Slusky, R J; Aldridge, J W; Watson, S; Akil, H

    2013-09-17

    Anhedonia, or the inability to experience positive feelings is a hallmark of depression. However, few animal models have relied on decreased positive affect as an index of susceptibility to depression. Rats emit frequency-modulated ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), designated as "positive" calls in the 50-kHz range. USVs have been associated with pharmacological activation of motivational reward circuits. Here we utilized selectively-bred rats differing in "emotionality" to ask whether there are associated differences in USVs. Rats bred based on locomotor response to novelty and classified as bred High Responders (bHRs) or bred Low Responders (bLRs) exhibit inborn differences in response to environmental cues, stress responsiveness, and depression-like behavior. These animals also exhibit differences in anxiety-like behavior, which are reversed by exposure to environmental complexity (EC). Finally, these animals exhibit unique profiles of responsiveness to rewarding stimuli accompanied with distinct patterns of dopamine regulation. We investigated whether acute and chronic environmental manipulations impacted USVs in bHRs and bLRs. We found that, relative to bLRs, bHRs emitted significantly more 50-kHz USVs. However, if a bLR is accompanied by another bLR, there is a significant increase in 50-kHZ USVs emitted by this phenotype. bHRs emitted increases in 50-kHZ UVSs upon first exposure to EC, whereas bLRs showed a similar increase only after repeated exposure. bLRs' increase in positive affect after chronic EC was coupled with significant positive correlations between corticosterone levels and c-fos mRNA in the accumbens. Conversely, a decline in the rate of positive calls in bHRs after chronic EC was associated with a negative correlation between corticosterone and accumbens c-fos mRNA. These studies demonstrate that inborn differences in emotionality interact with the environment to influence positive affect and underscore the potential interaction between

  15. Stronger net posterior cortical forces and asymmetric microtubule arrays produce simultaneous centration and rotation of the pronuclear complex in the early Caenorhabditis elegans embryo

    PubMed Central

    Coffman, Valerie C.; McDermott, Matthew B. A.; Shtylla, Blerta; Dawes, Adriana T.

    2016-01-01

    Positioning of microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs) incorporates biochemical and mechanical cues for proper alignment of the mitotic spindle and cell division site. Current experimental and theoretical studies in the early Caenorhabditis elegans embryo assume remarkable changes in the origin and polarity of forces acting on the MTOCs. These changes must occur over a few minutes, between initial centration and rotation of the pronuclear complex and entry into mitosis, and the models do not replicate in vivo timing of centration and rotation. Here we propose a model that incorporates asymmetry in the microtubule arrays generated by each MTOC, which we demonstrate with in vivo measurements, and a similar asymmetric force profile to that required for posterior-directed spindle displacement during mitosis. We find that these asymmetries are capable of and important for recapitulating the simultaneous centration and rotation of the pronuclear complex observed in vivo. The combination of theoretical and experimental evidence provided here offers a unified framework for the spatial organization and forces needed for pronuclear centration, rotation, and spindle displacement in the early C. elegans embryo. PMID:27733624

  16. Measuring diversity in Gossypium hirsutum using the CottonSNP63K Array

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    A CottonSNP63K array and accompanying cluster file has been developed and includes 45,104 intra-specific SNPs and 17,954 inter-specific SNPs for automated genotyping of cotton (Gossypium spp.) samples. Development of the cluster file included genotyping of 1,156 samples, a subset of which were iden...

  17. Multichannel waveguides for the simultaneous detection of disease biomarkers

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mukundan, Harshini; Price, Dominique Z; Grace, Wynne K

    2009-01-01

    The sensor team at the Los Alamos National Laboratory has developed a waveguide-based optical biosensor that has previously been used for the detection of biomarkers associated with diseases such as tuberculosis, breast cancer, anthrax and influenza in complex biological samples (e.g., serum and urine). However, no single biomarker can accurately predict disease. To address this issue, we developed a multiplex assay for the detection of components of the Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin on single mode planar optical waveguides with tunable quantum dots as the fluorescence reporter. This limited ability to multiplex is still insufficient for accurate detection of disease ormore » for monitoring prognosis. In this manuscript, we demonstrate for the first time, the design, fabrication and successful evaluation of a multichannel planar optical waveguide for the simultaneous detection of at least three unknown samples in quadruplicate. We demonstrate the simultaneous, rapid (30 min), quantitative (with internal standard) and sensitive (limit of detection of 1 pM) detection of protective antigen and lethal factor of Bacillus anthracis in complex biological samples (serum) using specific monoclonal antibodies labeled with quantum dots as the fluorescence reporter.« less

  18. The activation of human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) is implicated in melanoma cell malignant transformation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Serafino, A.; Balestrieri, E.; Pierimarchi, P.

    2009-03-10

    Melanoma development is a multi-step process arising from a series of genetic and epigenetic events. Although the sequential stages involved in progression from melanocytes to malignant melanoma are clearly defined, our current understanding of the mechanisms leading to melanoma onset is still incomplete. Growing evidence show that the activation of endogenous retroviral sequences might be involved in transformation of melanocytes as well as in the increased ability of melanoma cells to escape immune surveillance. Here we show that human melanoma cells in vitro undergo a transition from adherent to a more malignant, non-adherent phenotype when exposed to stress conditions. Melanoma-derivedmore » non-adherent cells are characterized by an increased proliferative potential and a decreased expression of both HLA class I molecules and Melan-A/MART-1 antigen, similarly to highly malignant cells. These phenotypic and functional modifications are accompanied by the activation of human endogenous retrovirus K expression (HERV-K) and massive production of viral-like particles. Down-regulation of HERV-K expression by RNA interference prevents the transition from the adherent to the non-adherent growth phenotype in low serum. These results implicate HERV-K in at least some critical steps of melanoma progression.« less

  19. 30 CFR 250.223 - What mitigation measures information must accompany the EP?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false What mitigation measures information must accompany the EP? 250.223 Section 250.223 Mineral Resources MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE... Contents of Exploration Plans (ep) § 250.223 What mitigation measures information must accompany the EP? (a...

  20. 30 CFR 250.222 - What lease stipulations information must accompany the EP?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false What lease stipulations information must accompany the EP? 250.222 Section 250.222 Mineral Resources MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE... Contents of Exploration Plans (ep) § 250.222 What lease stipulations information must accompany the EP? A...

  1. Tectono-metamorphic evolution of high-P/T and low-P/T metamorphic rocks in the Tia Complex, southern New England Fold Belt, eastern Australia: Insights from K-Ar chronology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fukui, Shiro; Tsujimori, Tatsuki; Watanabe, Teruo; Itaya, Tetsumaru

    2012-10-01

    The Tia Complex in the southern New England Fold Belt is a poly-metamorphosed Late Paleozoic accretionary complex. It consists mainly of high-P/low-T type pumpellyite-actinolite facies (rare blueschist facies) schists, phyllite and serpentinite (T = 300 °C and P = 5 kbar), and low-P/high-T type amphibolite facies schist and gneiss (T = 600 °C and P < 5 kbar) associated with granodioritic plutons (Tia granodiorite). White mica and biotite K-Ar ages distinguish Carboniferous subduction zone metamorphism and Permian granitic intrusions, respectively. The systematic K-Ar age mapping along a N-S traverse of the Tia Complex exhibits a gradual change. The white mica ages become younger from the lowest-grade zone (339 Ma) to the highest-grade zone (259 Ma). In contrast, Si content of muscovite changes drastically only in the highest-grade zone. The regional changes of white mica K-Ar ages and chemical compositions of micas indicate argon depletion from precursor high-P/low-T type phengitic white mica during the thermal overprinting and recrystallization by granitoids intrusions. Our new K-Ar ages and available geological data postulate a model of the eastward rollback of a subduction zone in Early Permian. The eastward shift of a subduction zone system and subsequent magmatic activities of high-Mg andesite and adakite might explain formation of S-type granitoids (Hillgrove suite) and coeval low-P/high-T type metamorphism in the Tia Complex.

  2. A fit-for-purpose LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantitation of ATP and 2,3-DPG in human K2EDTA whole blood.

    PubMed

    Kim, Hyeryun; Kosinski, Penelope; Kung, Charles; Dang, Lenny; Chen, Yue; Yang, Hua; Chen, Yuan-Shek; Kramer, Jordyn; Liu, Guowen

    2017-09-01

    Many hemolytic anemias results in major metabolic abnormalities: two common metabolite abnormalities include increased levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and decreased levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). To better monitor the concentration changes of these metabolites, the development of a reliable LC-MS/MS method to quantitatively profile the concentrations of 2, 3-DPG and ATP in whole blood is essential to understand the effects of investigational therapeutics. Accurate quantification of both compounds imposes great challenges to bioanalytical scientists due to their polar, ionic and endogenous nature. Here we present an LC-MS/MS method for the reliable quantification of 2,3-DPG and ATP from K 2 EDTA human whole blood (WB) simultaneously. Whole blood samples were spiked with stable isotope labeled internal standards, processed by protein precipitation extraction, and analyzed using zwitterionic ion chromatography-hydrophilic interaction chromatography (ZIC-HILIC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The linear analytical range of the assay was 50-3000μg/mL. The fit-for-purpose method demonstrated excellent accuracy and precision. The overall accuracy was within ±10.5% (%RE) for both analytes and the intra- and inter-assay precision (%CV) were less than 6.7% and 6.2% for both analytes, respectively. ATP and 2,3-DPG were found to be stable in human K 2 EDTA blood for at least 8h at 4°C, 96days when stored at -70°C and after three freeze/thaw cycles. The assay has been successfully applied to K 2 EDTA human whole blood samples to support clinical studies. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Study the effect of Vitamin K on intracellular NAD level in yeast by fluorescence spectrum

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yahong, Chen; Ruxiu, Cai; Ke, Zhang

    2007-05-01

    The intracellular NAD level plays a pivotal role in numerous biological processes such as rhythm, senescence, cancer and death. The study of the intracellular NAD level has been one of the "hotspots" in biomedical research. We investigated the effect of Vitamin K on intracellular NAD level in yeast by fluorescence spectrum in this paper. Plasma membrane redox system of yeast was found to be greatly promoted by the addition of Vitamin K 3 or Vitamin K 1. Ferricyanide reduction catalyzed by Vitamin K was accompanied by the decrease in intracellular NADH concentration and the increase in intracellular NAD level of yeast cells.

  4. Simultaneous junction formation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Campbell, R. B.

    1984-01-01

    High-risk, high-payoff improvements to a baseline process sequence of simultaneous junction formation of silicon solar cells are discussed. The feasibility of simultaneously forming front and back junctions of solar cells using liquid dopants on dendritic web silicon was studied. Simultaneous diffusion was compared to sequential diffusion. A belt furnace for the diffusion process was tested.

  5. Application of an empirical saturation rule to TGLF to unify low-k and high-k turbulence dominated regimes

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Jian, Xiang; Chan, Vincent S.; Chen, Jiale

    Here, we propose a phenomenological turbulence saturation model and apply it to the TGLF turbulence transport model, which captures the physics of interaction between low-k and high-k turbulence consistent with the multi-scale gyro-kinetic simulation result. The new model, TGLF-VX is tested with three discharges from DIII-D and EAST tokamak, which cover both low-k and high-k turbulence dominated regimes. It is found that the profile match can be substantially improved over previous models when evolving Te, Ti and ne simultaneously. Good agreement for all three discharges is obtained with one fixed parameter in the model when taking experimental uncertainties into consideration.more » Finally, TGLF-VX is applied to explore the sensitivity of the predicted CFETR steady-state performance to different transport models. Our result shows that a scenario using only RF auxiliary heating could be significantly affected.« less

  6. Application of an empirical saturation rule to TGLF to unify low-k and high-k turbulence dominated regimes

    DOE PAGES

    Jian, Xiang; Chan, Vincent S.; Chen, Jiale; ...

    2017-09-28

    Here, we propose a phenomenological turbulence saturation model and apply it to the TGLF turbulence transport model, which captures the physics of interaction between low-k and high-k turbulence consistent with the multi-scale gyro-kinetic simulation result. The new model, TGLF-VX is tested with three discharges from DIII-D and EAST tokamak, which cover both low-k and high-k turbulence dominated regimes. It is found that the profile match can be substantially improved over previous models when evolving Te, Ti and ne simultaneously. Good agreement for all three discharges is obtained with one fixed parameter in the model when taking experimental uncertainties into consideration.more » Finally, TGLF-VX is applied to explore the sensitivity of the predicted CFETR steady-state performance to different transport models. Our result shows that a scenario using only RF auxiliary heating could be significantly affected.« less

  7. The organization of LH2 complexes in membranes from Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

    PubMed

    Olsen, John D; Tucker, Jaimey D; Timney, John A; Qian, Pu; Vassilev, Cvetelin; Hunter, C Neil

    2008-11-07

    The mapping of the photosynthetic membrane of Rhodobacter sphaeroides by atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed a unique organization of arrays of dimeric reaction center-light harvesting I-PufX (RC-LH1-PufX) core complexes surrounded and interconnected by light-harvesting LH2 complexes (Bahatyrova, S., Frese, R. N., Siebert, C. A., Olsen, J. D., van der Werf, K. O., van Grondelle, R., Niederman, R. A., Bullough, P. A., Otto, C., and Hunter, C. N. (2004) Nature 430, 1058-1062). However, membrane regions consisting solely of LH2 complexes were under-represented in these images because these small, highly curved areas of membrane rendered them difficult to image even using gentle tapping mode AFM and impossible with contact mode AFM. We report AFM imaging of membranes prepared from a mutant of R. sphaeroides, DPF2G, that synthesizes only the LH2 complexes, which assembles spherical intracytoplasmic membrane vesicles of approximately 53 nm diameter in vivo. By opening these vesicles and adsorbing them onto mica to form small, < or =120 nm, largely flat sheets we have been able to visualize the organization of these LH2-only membranes for the first time. The transition from highly curved vesicle to the planar sheet is accompanied by a change in the packing of the LH2 complexes such that approximately half of the complexes are raised off the mica surface by approximately 1 nm relative to the rest. This vertical displacement produces a very regular corrugated appearance of the planar membrane sheets. Analysis of the topographs was used to measure the distances and angles between the complexes. These data are used to model the organization of LH2 complexes in the original, curved membrane. The implications of this architecture for the light harvesting function and diffusion of quinones in native membranes of R. sphaeroides are discussed.

  8. Reduction of Specimen Size for the Full Simultaneous Characterization of Thermoelectric Performance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vasilevskiy, D.; Simard, J.-M.; Masut, R. A.; Turenne, S.

    2017-05-01

    The successful implementation of thermoelectric (TE) materials for waste heat recovery depends strongly on our ability to increase their performance. This challenge continues to generate a renewed interest in novel high TE performance compounds. The technological difficulties in producing homogeneous ingots of new compounds or alloys with regular shape and a size sufficiently large to prepare several samples that are usually needed for a separate measurement of all TE parameters are well known. It creates a situation whereby material performance could be critically over- or under-evaluated at the first stages of the research process of a new material. Both cases would equally lead to negative consequences. Thus, minimizing the specimen size yet keeping it adequate for accurate material characterization becomes extremely important. In this work we report the experimental validation of reliable simultaneous measurements of the four most relevant TE parameters on a single bismuth telluride alloy based specimen of 4 mm × 4 mm × 1.4 mm in size. This translates in roughly 140 mg in weight for one of the heaviest TE materials, as was used in this study, and <100 mg for most others. Our validation is based on comparative measurements performed by a Harman apparatus (ZT-Scanner) on a series of differently sized specimens of hot extruded bismuth telluride based alloys. The Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity and the figure of merit were simultaneously assessed from 300 K to 440 K with increments of 20 K, 15 K, 10 K, 5 K, and 1 K. Our choice of a well-known homogeneous material has been made to increase measurement reliability and accuracy, but the results are expected to be valid for the full TE characterization of any unknown material. These results show a way to significantly decrease specimen sizes which has the potential to accelerate investigation of novel TE materials for large scale waste heat recovery.

  9. Increased cell membrane permeability to Na+ and K+ induced by thyroid hormone in rat skeletal muscle.

    PubMed

    Asano, Y

    1978-01-01

    Thyroid hormone (T3) increased Na+ dependent respiration accompanied by an increase in NaK-ATPase activity. Administration of T3 increased intracellular K+ concentration and Na/K ratio in thyroidectomized rats, and the Na+ efflux rate constant incubated in oxygenized Na+, K+-Ringers in euthyroid rats. However, the magnitude of the changes in intracellular K+ concentration was modest or invisible in comparison to the changes in QO2(t) and NaK-ATPase activity. The Na+ and K+ efflux rate constants in K+-free +ouabain Ringers were increased by T3 in both thyroidectomized and euthyroid rats. Thus, thyroid hormone stimulates not only Na pump but also the permeability of cell membrane to Na+ and K+. The both effects might contribute to the thyroid thermogenesis.

  10. Early Literacy and Assessment for Learning (K-3) Series: Little Book Insert: Little Honu's Journey

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Noto, Lee

    2005-01-01

    This illustrated children's story accompanies "Exploring Comprehension through Retelling: A Teacher's Story", part of the Early Literacy and Assessment for Learning (K-3) Series (ED490189). It describes a baby turtle's adventures on his journey to the ocean.

  11. 76 FR 44926 - Renewal of Declaration Regarding Emergency Use of Doxycycline Hyclate Tablets Accompanied by...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-07-27

    ... Emergency Use of Doxycycline Hyclate Tablets Accompanied by Emergency Use Information and Amendment To... hyclate tablets accompanied by emergency use information subject to the terms of any authorization issued... authorization of the emergency use of doxycycline hyclate tablets accompanied by emergency use information...

  12. 75 FR 61489 - Renewal of Declaration Regarding Emergency Use of Doxycycline Hyclate Tablets Accompanied by...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-10-05

    ... Emergency Use of Doxycycline Hyclate Tablets Accompanied by Emergency Use Information AGENCY: Office of the... the authorization of emergency use of doxycycline hyclate tablets accompanied by emergency use... authorization of the emergency use of doxycycline hyclate tablets accompanied by emergency use information...

  13. An adsorption-release-biodegradation system for simultaneous biodegradation of phenol and ammonium in phenol-rich wastewater.

    PubMed

    Wang, Ying; Chen, Hu; Liu, Yu-Xiang; Ren, Rui-Peng; Lv, Yong-Kang

    2016-07-01

    The feasibility of simultaneous biodegradation of phenol and ammonium in phenol-rich wastewater was evaluated in a reusable system, which contained macroporous adsorption resin and Alcaligenes faecalis strain WY-01. In the system, up to 6000mg/L phenol could be completely degraded by WY-01; meanwhile, 99.03±3.95% of ammonium was removed from the initial concentration of 384mg/L. This is the first study to show the capability of single strain in simultaneous removal of ammonium and phenol in wastewater containing such high concentrations of phenol. Moreover, the resin was regenerated during the biodegradation process without any additional manipulations, indicating the system was reusable. Furthermore, enzyme assay, gene expression patterns, HPLC-MS and gas chromatography analysis confirmed that phenol biodegradation accompanied with aerobic nitrifier denitrification process. Results imply that the reusable system provides a novel strategy for more efficient biodegradation of phenol and ammonium contained in some particular industrial wastewater. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. A new slip stacking RF system for a twofold power upgrade of Fermilab's Accelerator Complex

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Madrak, Robyn

    2014-05-15

    Fermilab's Accelerator Complex has been recently upgraded, in order to increase the 120 GeV proton beam power on target from about 400 kW to over 700 kW for NOvA and other future intensity frontier experiments. One of the key ingredients of the upgrade is the offloading of some Main Injector synchrotron operations - beam injection and RF manipulation called ''slip stacking'' - to the 8GeV Recycler Ring, which had until recently been used only for low-intensity antiproton storage and cooling. This required construction of two new 53 MHz RF systems for the slip-stacking manipulations. The cavities operate simultaneously at Vmore » peak ≲150 kV, but at slightly different frequencies (Δf=1260 Hz). Their installation was completed in September 2013. This article describes the novel solutions used in the design of the new cavities, their tuning system, and the associated high power RF system. First results showing effective operation of the RF system, beam capture and successful slip-stacking in the Recycler Ring are presented.« less

  15. Plum Pox Virus 6K1 Protein Is Required for Viral Replication and Targets the Viral Replication Complex at the Early Stage of Infection.

    PubMed

    Cui, Hongguang; Wang, Aiming

    2016-05-15

    The potyviral RNA genome encodes two polyproteins that are proteolytically processed by three viral protease domains into 11 mature proteins. Extensive molecular studies have identified functions for the majority of the viral proteins. For example, 6K2, one of the two smallest potyviral proteins, is an integral membrane protein and induces the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-originated replication vesicles that target the chloroplast for robust viral replication. However, the functional role of 6K1, the other smallest protein, remains uncharacterized. In this study, we developed a series of recombinant full-length viral cDNA clones derived from a Canadian Plum pox virus (PPV) isolate. We found that deletion of any of the short motifs of 6K1 (each of which ranged from 5 to 13 amino acids), most of the 6K1 sequence (but with the conserved sequence of the cleavage sites being retained), or all of the 6K1 sequence in the PPV infectious clone abolished viral replication. The trans expression of 6K1 or the cis expression of a dislocated 6K1 failed to rescue the loss-of-replication phenotype, suggesting the temporal and spatial requirement of 6K1 for viral replication. Disruption of the N- or C-terminal cleavage site of 6K1, which prevented the release of 6K1 from the polyprotein, either partially or completely inhibited viral replication, suggesting the functional importance of the mature 6K1. We further found that green fluorescent protein-tagged 6K1 formed punctate inclusions at the viral early infection stage and colocalized with chloroplast-bound viral replicase elements 6K2 and NIb. Taken together, our results suggest that 6K1 is required for viral replication and is an important viral element of the viral replication complex at the early infection stage. Potyviruses account for more than 30% of known plant viruses and consist of many agriculturally important viruses. The genomes of potyviruses encode two polyproteins that are proteolytically processed into 11 mature

  16. Plum Pox Virus 6K1 Protein Is Required for Viral Replication and Targets the Viral Replication Complex at the Early Stage of Infection

    PubMed Central

    Cui, Hongguang

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT The potyviral RNA genome encodes two polyproteins that are proteolytically processed by three viral protease domains into 11 mature proteins. Extensive molecular studies have identified functions for the majority of the viral proteins. For example, 6K2, one of the two smallest potyviral proteins, is an integral membrane protein and induces the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-originated replication vesicles that target the chloroplast for robust viral replication. However, the functional role of 6K1, the other smallest protein, remains uncharacterized. In this study, we developed a series of recombinant full-length viral cDNA clones derived from a Canadian Plum pox virus (PPV) isolate. We found that deletion of any of the short motifs of 6K1 (each of which ranged from 5 to 13 amino acids), most of the 6K1 sequence (but with the conserved sequence of the cleavage sites being retained), or all of the 6K1 sequence in the PPV infectious clone abolished viral replication. The trans expression of 6K1 or the cis expression of a dislocated 6K1 failed to rescue the loss-of-replication phenotype, suggesting the temporal and spatial requirement of 6K1 for viral replication. Disruption of the N- or C-terminal cleavage site of 6K1, which prevented the release of 6K1 from the polyprotein, either partially or completely inhibited viral replication, suggesting the functional importance of the mature 6K1. We further found that green fluorescent protein-tagged 6K1 formed punctate inclusions at the viral early infection stage and colocalized with chloroplast-bound viral replicase elements 6K2 and NIb. Taken together, our results suggest that 6K1 is required for viral replication and is an important viral element of the viral replication complex at the early infection stage. IMPORTANCE Potyviruses account for more than 30% of known plant viruses and consist of many agriculturally important viruses. The genomes of potyviruses encode two polyproteins that are proteolytically

  17. K-ABC Mental Processing Profiles for Gifted Referrals.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Harrison, Patti L.; And Others

    This study sought to extend previous research by investigating performance of intellectucally gifted children on the Mental Processing Composite of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC). A sample of 54 children (aged 6-12) referred for possible gifted placement were administered the Sequential and Simultaneous scales. Average scores…

  18. Georgia's Pre-K Professional Development Evaluation: Technical Appendix. Publication #2015-02B

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Early, Diane M.; Pan, Yi; Maxwell, Kelly L.

    2014-01-01

    The primary purpose of the accompanying final study was to evaluate the impact of two professional development models on teacher-child interactions in Georgia's Pre-K classrooms. Teachers were randomly selected to participate and were randomly assigned to one of the professional development conditions or to a control group. Because of this…

  19. Striatal and Hippocampal Entropy and Recognition Signals in Category Learning: Simultaneous Processes Revealed by Model-Based fMRI

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Davis, Tyler; Love, Bradley C.; Preston, Alison R.

    2012-01-01

    Category learning is a complex phenomenon that engages multiple cognitive processes, many of which occur simultaneously and unfold dynamically over time. For example, as people encounter objects in the world, they simultaneously engage processes to determine their fit with current knowledge structures, gather new information about the objects, and…

  20. S K-edge XAS and DFT Calculations on Square Planar NiII-thiolate Complexes: Effects of Active and Passive H-bonding

    PubMed Central

    Dey, Abhishek; Green, Kayla N.; Jenkins, Roxanne M.; Jeffrey, Stephen P.; Darensbourg, Marcetta; Hodgson, Keith O.; Hedman, Britt; Solomon, Edward I.

    2008-01-01

    S K-edge XAS for a low-spin NiII-thiolate complex shows a 0.2 eV shift to higher pre-edge energy but no change in Ni-S bond covalency upon H-bonding. This is different from the H-bonding effect we observed in high spin FeIII-thiolate complexes where there is a significant decrease in Fe-S bond covalency but no change in energy due to H-bonding (Dey, A.; Okamura, T.-A.; Ueyama, N.; Hedman, B.; Hodgson, K. O.; Solomon, E. I. J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 2005; 127, 12046-12053.). These differences were analyzed using DFT calculations and the results indicate that two different types of H-bonding interactions are possible in metal-thiolate systems. In the high-spin FeIII-thiolate case, the H-bonding involves a thiolate donor orbital which is also involved in bonding with the metal (active), while in the low-spin NiII-thiolate the orbital involved in H-bonding is non-bonding with respect to the M-S bonding (passive). The contributions of active and passive H-bonds to the reduction potential and Lewis acid properties of a metal center are evaluated. PMID:17949080

  1. Self-mixing instrument for simultaneous distance and speed measurement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Norgia, Michele; Melchionni, Dario; Pesatori, Alessandro

    2017-12-01

    A novel instrument based on Self-mixing interferometry is proposed to simultaneously measure absolute distance and velocity. The measurement method is designed for working directly on each kind of surface, in industrial environment, overcoming also problems due to speckle pattern effect. The laser pump current is modulated at quite high frequency (40 kHz) and the estimation of the induced fringes frequency allows an almost instantaneous measurement (measurement time equal to 25 μs). A real time digital elaboration processes the measurement data and discards unreliable measurements. The simultaneous measurement reaches a relative standard deviation of about 4·10-4 in absolute distance, and 5·10-3 in velocity measurement. Three different laser sources are tested and compared. The instrument shows good performances also in harsh environment, for example measuring the movement of an opaque iron tube rotating under a running water flow.

  2. A Rare Entity: Bilateral First Rib Fractures Accompanying Bilateral Scapular Fractures.

    PubMed

    Gulbahar, Gultekin; Kaplan, Tevfik; Turker, Hasan Bozkurt; Gundogdu, Ahmet Gokhan; Han, Serdar

    2015-01-01

    First rib fractures are scarce due to their well-protected anatomic locations. Bilateral first rib fractures accompanying bilateral scapular fractures are very rare, although they may be together with scapular and clavicular fractures. According to our knowledge, no case of bilateral first rib fractures accompanying bilateral scapular fractures has been reported, so we herein discussed the diagnosis, treatment, and complications of bone fractures due to thoracic trauma in bias of this rare entity.

  3. A Rare Entity: Bilateral First Rib Fractures Accompanying Bilateral Scapular Fractures

    PubMed Central

    Gulbahar, Gultekin; Kaplan, Tevfik; Turker, Hasan Bozkurt; Gundogdu, Ahmet Gokhan; Han, Serdar

    2015-01-01

    First rib fractures are scarce due to their well-protected anatomic locations. Bilateral first rib fractures accompanying bilateral scapular fractures are very rare, although they may be together with scapular and clavicular fractures. According to our knowledge, no case of bilateral first rib fractures accompanying bilateral scapular fractures has been reported, so we herein discussed the diagnosis, treatment, and complications of bone fractures due to thoracic trauma in bias of this rare entity. PMID:26175916

  4. Mechanisms of astrocytic K(+) clearance and swelling under high extracellular K(+) concentrations.

    PubMed

    Murakami, Shingo; Kurachi, Yoshihisa

    2016-03-01

    In response to the elevation of extracellular K(+) concentration ([K(+)]out), astrocytes clear excessive K(+) to maintain conditions necessary for neural activity. K(+) clearance in astrocytes occurs via two processes: K(+) uptake and K(+) spatial buffering. High [K(+)]out also induces swelling in astrocytes, leading to edema and cell death in the brain. Despite the importance of astrocytic K(+) clearance and swelling, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report results from a simulation analysis of astrocytic K(+) clearance and swelling. Astrocyte models were constructed by incorporating various mechanisms such as intra/extracellular ion concentrations of Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-), cell volume, and models of Na,K-ATPase, Na-K-Cl cotransporter (NKCC), K-Cl cotransporter, inwardly-rectifying K(+) (KIR) channel, passive Cl(-) current, and aquaporin channel. The simulated response of astrocyte models under the uniform distribution of high [K(+)]out revealed significant contributions of NKCC and Na,K-ATPase to increases of intracellular K(+) and Cl(-) concentrations, and swelling. Moreover, we found that, under the non-uniform distribution of high [K(+)]out, KIR channels localized at synaptic clefts absorbed excess K(+) by depolarizing the equivalent potential of K(+) (E K) above membrane potential, while K(+) released through perivascular KIR channels was enhanced by hyperpolarizing E K and depolarizing membrane potential. Further analysis of simulated drug effects revealed that astrocyte swelling was modulated by blocking each of the ion channels and transporters. Our simulation analysis revealed controversial mechanisms of astrocytic K(+) clearance and swelling resulting from complex interactions among ion channels and transporters.

  5. TASK-2: a K2P K+ channel with complex regulation and diverse physiological functions

    PubMed Central

    Cid, L. Pablo; Roa-Rojas, Hugo A.; Niemeyer, María I.; González, Wendy; Araki, Masatake; Araki, Kimi; Sepúlveda, Francisco V.

    2013-01-01

    TASK-2 (K2P5.1) is a two-pore domain K+ channel belonging to the TALK subgroup of the K2P family of proteins. TASK-2 has been shown to be activated by extra- and intracellular alkalinization. Extra- and intracellular pH-sensors reside at arginine 224 and lysine 245 and might affect separate selectivity filter and inner gates respectively. TASK-2 is modulated by changes in cell volume and a regulation by direct G-protein interaction has also been proposed. Activation by extracellular alkalinization has been associated with a role of TASK-2 in kidney proximal tubule bicarbonate reabsorption, whilst intracellular pH-sensitivity might be the mechanism for its participation in central chemosensitive neurons. In addition to these functions TASK-2 has been proposed to play a part in apoptotic volume decrease in kidney cells and in volume regulation of glial cells and T-lymphocytes. TASK-2 is present in chondrocytes of hyaline cartilage, where it is proposed to play a central role in stabilizing the membrane potential. Additional sites of expression are dorsal root ganglion neurons, endocrine and exocrine pancreas and intestinal smooth muscle cells. TASK-2 has been associated with the regulation of proliferation of breast cancer cells and could become target for breast cancer therapeutics. Further work in native tissues and cells together with genetic modification will no doubt reveal the details of TASK-2 functions that we are only starting to suspect. PMID:23908634

  6. Simultaneous determination of Ca, Cu, Ni, Zn and Cd binding strengths with fulvic acid fractions by Schubert's method

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Brown, G.K.; MacCarthy, P.; Leenheer, J.A.

    1999-01-01

    The equilibrium binding of Ca2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ with unfractionated Suwannee river fulvic acid (SRFA) and an enhanced metal binding subfraction of SRFA was measured using Schubert's ion-exchange method at pH 6.0 and at an ionic strength (??) of 0.1 (NaNO3). The fractionation and subfractionation were directed towards obtaining an isolate with an elevated metal binding capacity or binding strength as estimated by Cu2+ potentiometry (ISE). Fractions were obtained by stepwise eluting an XAD-8 column loaded with SRFA with water eluents of pH 1.0 to pH 12.0. Subfractions were obtained by loading the fraction eluted from XAD-8 at pH 5.0 onto a silica gel column and eluting with solvents of increasing polarity. Schuberts ion exchange method was rigorously tested by measuring simultaneously the conditional stability constants (K) of citric acid complexed with the five metals at pH 3.5 and 6.0. The logK of SRFA with Ca2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ determined simultaneously at pH 6.0 follow the sequence of Cu2+>Cd2+>Ni2+>Zn2+>Ca2+ while all logK values increased for the enhanced metal binding subfraction and followed a different sequence of Cu2+>Cd2+>Ca2+>Ni2+>Zn2+. Both fulvic acid samples and citric acid exhibited a 1:1 metal to ligand stochiometry under the relatively low metal loading conditions used here. Quantitative 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed increases in aromaticity and ketone content and decreases in aliphatic carbon for the elevated metal binding fraction while the carboxyl carbon, and elemental nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur content did not change. The more polar, elevated metal binding fraction did show a significant increase in molecular weight over the unfractionated SRFA. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.

  7. Recombinant hosts suitable for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation

    DOEpatents

    Ingram, Lonnie O'Neal; Zhou, Shengde

    2007-06-05

    The invention provides recombinant host cells containing at least one heterologous polynucleotide encoding a polysaccharase under the transcriptional control of a surrogate promoter capable of increasing the expression of the polysaccharase. In addition, the invention further provides such hosts with genes encoding secretory protein/s to facilitate the secretion of the expressed polysaccharase. Preferred hosts of the invention are ethanologenic and capable of carrying out simultaneous saccharification fermentation resulting in the production of ethanol from complex cellulose substrates.

  8. Modulation of NCC activity by low and high K+ intake: insights into the signaling pathways involved

    PubMed Central

    Castañeda-Bueno, María; Cervantes-Perez, Luz Graciela; Rojas-Vega, Lorena; Arroyo-Garza, Isidora; Vázquez, Norma; Moreno, Erika

    2014-01-01

    Modulation of Na+-Cl− cotransporter (NCC) activity is essential to adjust K+ excretion in the face of changes in dietary K+ intake. We used previously characterized genetic mouse models to assess the role of Ste20-related proline-alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) and with-no-lysine kinase (WNK)4 in the modulation of NCC by K+ diets. SPAK knockin and WNK4 knockout mice were placed on normal-, low-, or high-K+-citrate diets for 4 days. The low-K+ diet decreased and high-K+ diet increased plasma aldosterone levels, but both diets were associated with increased phosphorylation of NCC (phospho-NCC, Thr44/Thr48/Thr53) and phosphorylation of SPAK/oxidative stress responsive kinase 1 (phospho-SPAK/OSR1, Ser383/Ser325). The effect of the low-K+ diet on SPAK phosphorylation persisted in WNK4 knockout and SPAK knockin mice, whereas the effects of ANG II on NCC and SPAK were lost in both mouse colonies. This suggests that for NCC activation by ANG II, integrity of the WNK4/SPAK pathway is required, whereas for the low-K+ diet, SPAK phosphorylation occurred despite the absence of WNK4, suggesting the involvement of another WNK (WNK1 or WNK3). Additionally, because NCC activation also occurred in SPAK knockin mice, it is possible that loss of SPAK was compensated by OSR1. The positive effect of the high-K+ diet was observed when the accompanying anion was citrate, whereas the high-KCl diet reduced NCC phosphorylation. However, the effect of the high-K+-citrate diet was aldosterone dependent, and neither metabolic alkalosis induced by bicarbonate, nor citrate administration in the absence of K+ increased NCC phosphorylation, suggesting that it was not due to citrate-induced metabolic alkalosis. Thus, the accompanying anion might modulate the NCC response to the high-K+ diet. PMID:24761002

  9. K-decompositions and 3d gauge theories

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dimofte, Tudor; Gabella, Maxime; Goncharov, Alexander B.

    2016-11-01

    This paper combines several new constructions in mathematics and physics. Mathematically, we study framed flat PGL( K, ℂ)-connections on a large class of 3-manifolds M with boundary. We introduce a moduli space ℒ K ( M) of framed flat connections on the boundary ∂ M that extend to M. Our goal is to understand an open part of ℒ K ( M) as a Lagrangian subvariety in the symplectic moduli space {{X}}_K^{un}(partial M) of framed flat connections on the boundary — and more so, as a "K2-Lagrangian," meaning that the K2-avatar of the symplectic form restricts to zero. We construct an open part of ℒ K ( M) from elementary data associated with the hypersimplicial K-decomposition of an ideal triangulation of M, in a way that generalizes (and combines) both Thurston's gluing equations in 3d hyperbolic geometry and the cluster coordinates for framed flat PGL( K, ℂ)-connections on surfaces. By using a canonical map from the complex of configurations of decorated flags to the Bloch complex, we prove that any generic component of ℒ K ( M) is K2-isotropic as long as ∂ M satisfies certain topological constraints (theorem 4.2). In some cases this easily implies that ℒ K ( M) is K2-Lagrangian. For general M, we extend a classic result of Neumann and Zagier on symplectic properties of PGL(2) gluing equations to reduce the K2-Lagrangian property to a combinatorial statement.

  10. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as detection tool for coordinated or uncoordinated fluorine atoms demonstrated on fluoride systems NaF, K2TaF7, K3TaF8, K2ZrF6, Na7Zr6F31 and K3ZrF7

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Boča, Miroslav; Barborík, Peter; Mičušík, Matej; Omastová, Mária

    2012-07-01

    While systems K3TaF8 and K3ZrF7 were prepared by modified molten salt method modified wet pathway was used for reproducible preparation of Na7Zr6F31. Its congruently melting character was demonstrated on simultaneous TG/DSC measurements and XRD patterns. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was applied for identification of differently bonded fluorine atoms in series of compounds NaF, K2TaF7, K3TaF8, K2ZrF6, Na7Zr6F31 and K3ZrF7. Three different types of fluorine atoms were described qualitatively and quantitatively. Uncoordinated fluorine atoms (F-) provide signals at lowest binding energies, followed by signals from terminally coordinated fluorine atoms (M-F) and then bridging fluorine atoms (M-F-M) at highest energy. Based on XPS F 1s signals assigned to fluorine atoms in compounds with correctly determined structure it was suggested that fluorine atoms in K3ZrF7 have partially bridging character.

  11. Selection of thermotolerant yeasts for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of cellulose to ethanol.

    PubMed

    Ballesteros, I; Ballesteros, M; Cabañas, A; Carrasco, J; Martín, C; Negro, M J; Saez, F; Saez, R

    1991-01-01

    A total of 27 yeast strains belonging to the groups Candida, Saccharomyces, and Kluyveromyces were screened for their ability to grow and ferment glucose at temperatures ranging 32-45 degrees C. K. marxianus and K. fragilis were found to be the best ethanol producing organisms at the higher temperature tested and, so, were selected for subsequent simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) studies. SSF experiments were performed at 42 and 45 degrees C, utilizing Solkafloc (10%) as cellulose substrate and a cellulase loading of 15 FPU/g substrate. Best results were achieved at 42 degrees C with K. marxianus L. G. and K. fragilis L. G., both of which produced close to 38 g/L ethanol and 0.5 ethanol yield, in 78 h.

  12. Simultaneous Introduction of a Novel High Fat Diet and Wheel Running Induces Anorexia

    PubMed Central

    Scarpace, E. T.; Matheny, M.; Strehler, K. Y. E.; Shapiro, A.; Cheng, K. Y.; Tümer, N.; Scarpace, P. J.

    2011-01-01

    Voluntary wheel running (WR) is a form of physical activity in rodents that influences ingestive behavior. The present report describes an anorexic behavior triggered by the simultaneous introduction of a novel diet and WR. This study examined the sequential, compared with the simultaneous, introduction of a novel high-fat (HF) diet and voluntary WR in rats of three different ages and revealed a surprising finding; the simultaneous introduction of HF food and voluntary WR induced a behavior in which the animals chose not to eat although food was available at all times. This phenomenon was apparently not due to an aversion to the novel HF diet because introduction of the running wheels plus the HF diet, while continuing the availability of the normal chow diet did not prevent the anorexia. Moreover, the anorexia was prevented with prior exposure to the HF diet. In addition, the anorexia was not related to extent of WR but dependent on the act of WR. The introduction a HF diet and locked running wheels did not induce the anorexia. This voluntary anorexia was accompanied by substantial weight loss, and the anorexia was rapidly reversed by removal of the running wheels. Moreover, the HF/WR-induced anorexia is preserved across the age span despite the intrinsic decrease in WR activity and increased consumption of HF food with advancing age. The described phenomenon provides a new model to investigate anorexia behavior in rodents. PMID:22115947

  13. Comparative study of the double-K -shell-vacancy production in single- and double-electron-capture decay

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ratkevich, S. S.; Gangapshev, A. M.; Gavrilyuk, Yu. M.; Karpeshin, F. F.; Kazalov, V. V.; Kuzminov, V. V.; Panasenko, S. I.; Trzhaskovskaya, M. B.; Yakimenko, S. P.

    2017-12-01

    Background: A double-K -electron capture is a rare nuclear-atomic process in which two K electrons are captured simultaneously from the atomic shell. A "hollow atom" is created as a result of this process. In single-K -shell electron-capture decays, there is a small probability that the second electron in the K shell is excited to an unoccupied level or can (mostly) be ejected to the continuum. In either case, a double vacancy is created in the K shell. The relaxation of the double-K -shell vacancy, accompanied by the emission of two K -fluorescence photons, makes it possible to perform experimental studies of such rare processes with the large-volume proportional gas chamber. Purpose: The purpose of the present analysis is to estimate a double-K -shell vacancy creation probability per K -shell electron capture PK K of 81Kr, as well as to measure the half-life of 78Kr relative to 2 ν 2 K capture. Method: Time-resolving current pulse from the large low-background proportional counter (LPC), filled with the krypton sample, was applied to detect triple coincidences of "shaked" electrons and two fluorescence photons. Results: The number of K -shell vacancies per the K -electron capture, produced as a result of the shake-off process, has been measured for the decay of 81Kr. The probability for this decay was found to be PK K=(5.7 ±0.8 ) ×10-5 with a systematic error of (ΔPKK) syst=±0.4 ×10-5 . For the 78Kr(2 ν 2 K ) decay, the comparative study of single- and double-capture decays allowed us to obtain the signal-to-background ratio up to 15/1. The half-life T1/2 2 ν 2 K(g .s .→g .s .) =[1 .9-0.7+1.3(stat) ±0.3 (syst) ] ×1022 y is determined from the analysis of data that have been accumulated over 782 days of live measurements in the experiment that used samples consisted of 170.6 g of 78Kr. Conclusions: The data collected during low background measurements using the LPC were analyzed to search the rare atomic and nuclear processes. We have determined PKK

  14. Simultaneous real-time monitoring of multiple cortical systems.

    PubMed

    Gupta, Disha; Jeremy Hill, N; Brunner, Peter; Gunduz, Aysegul; Ritaccio, Anthony L; Schalk, Gerwin

    2014-10-01

    Real-time monitoring of the brain is potentially valuable for performance monitoring, communication, training or rehabilitation. In natural situations, the brain performs a complex mix of various sensory, motor or cognitive functions. Thus, real-time brain monitoring would be most valuable if (a) it could decode information from multiple brain systems simultaneously, and (b) this decoding of each brain system were robust to variations in the activity of other (unrelated) brain systems. Previous studies showed that it is possible to decode some information from different brain systems in retrospect and/or in isolation. In our study, we set out to determine whether it is possible to simultaneously decode important information about a user from different brain systems in real time, and to evaluate the impact of concurrent activity in different brain systems on decoding performance. We study these questions using electrocorticographic signals recorded in humans. We first document procedures for generating stable decoding models given little training data, and then report their use for offline and for real-time decoding from 12 subjects (six for offline parameter optimization, six for online experimentation). The subjects engage in tasks that involve movement intention, movement execution and auditory functions, separately, and then simultaneously. Main Results: Our real-time results demonstrate that our system can identify intention and movement periods in single trials with an accuracy of 80.4% and 86.8%, respectively (where 50% would be expected by chance). Simultaneously, the decoding of the power envelope of an auditory stimulus resulted in an average correlation coefficient of 0.37 between the actual and decoded power envelopes. These decoders were trained separately and executed simultaneously in real time. This study yielded the first demonstration that it is possible to decode simultaneously the functional activity of multiple independent brain systems. Our

  15. Simultaneous Real-Time Monitoring of Multiple Cortical Systems

    PubMed Central

    Gupta, Disha; Hill, N. Jeremy; Brunner, Peter; Gunduz, Aysegul; Ritaccio, Anthony L.; Schalk, Gerwin

    2014-01-01

    Objective Real-time monitoring of the brain is potentially valuable for performance monitoring, communication, training or rehabilitation. In natural situations, the brain performs a complex mix of various sensory, motor, or cognitive functions. Thus, real-time brain monitoring would be most valuable if (a) it could decode information from multiple brain systems simultaneously, and (b) this decoding of each brain system were robust to variations in the activity of other (unrelated) brain systems. Previous studies showed that it is possible to decode some information from different brain systems in retrospect and/or in isolation. In our study, we set out to determine whether it is possible to simultaneously decode important information about a user from different brain systems in real time, and to evaluate the impact of concurrent activity in different brain systems on decoding performance. Approach We study these questions using electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals recorded in humans. We first document procedures for generating stable decoding models given little training data, and then report their use for offline and for real-time decoding from 12 subjects (6 for offline parameter optimization, 6 for online experimentation). The subjects engage in tasks that involve movement intention, movement execution and auditory functions, separately, and then simultaneously. Main results Our real-time results demonstrate that our system can identify intention and movement periods in single trials with an accuracy of 80.4% and 86.8%, respectively (where 50% would be expected by chance). Simultaneously, the decoding of the power envelope of an auditory stimulus resulted in an average correlation coefficient of 0.37 between the actual and decoded power envelope. These decoders were trained separately and executed simultaneously in real time. Significance This study yielded the first demonstration that it is possible to decode simultaneously the functional activity of multiple

  16. SON and its alternatively spliced isoforms control MLL complex-mediated H3K4me3 and transcription of leukemia-associated genes

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Jung-Hyun; Baddoo, Melody C.; Park, Eun Young; Stone, Joshua K.; Park, Hyeonsoo; Butler, Thomas W.; Huang, Gang; Yan, Xiaomei; Pauli-Behn, Florencia; Myers, Richard M.; Tan, Ming; Flemington, Erik K.; Lim, Ssang-Taek; Erin Ahn, Eun-Young

    2016-01-01

    SUMMARY Dysregulation of MLL complex-mediated histone methylation plays a pivotal role in gene expression associated with diseases, but little is known about cellular factors modulating MLL complex activity. Here, we report that SON, previously known as an RNA splicing factor, controls MLL complex-mediated transcriptional initiation. SON binds to DNA near transcription start sites, interacts with menin, and inhibits MLL complex assembly, resulting in decreased H3K4me3 and transcriptional repression. Importantly, alternatively spliced short isoforms of SON are markedly upregulated in acute myeloid leukemia. The short isoforms compete with full-length SON for chromatin occupancy, but lack the menin-binding ability, thereby antagonizing full-length SON function in transcriptional repression while not impairing full-length SON-mediated RNA splicing. Furthermore, overexpression of a short isoform of SON enhances replating potential of hematopoietic progenitors. Our findings define SON as a fine-tuner of the MLL-menin interaction and reveal short SON overexpression as a marker indicating aberrant transcriptional initiation in leukemia. PMID:26990989

  17. Hydrogen-bonded networks of [Fe(bpp)2]2+ spin crossover complexes and dicarboxylate anions: structural and photomagnetic properties.

    PubMed

    Jornet-Mollá, Verónica; Duan, Yan; Giménez-Saiz, Carlos; Waerenborgh, João C; Romero, Francisco M

    2016-11-28

    The paper reports the syntheses, crystal structures, thermal and (photo)magnetic properties of spin crossover salts of formula [Fe(bpp) 2 ](C 6 H 8 O 4 )·4H 2 O (1·4H 2 O), [Fe(bpp) 2 ](C 8 H 4 O 4 )·2CH 3 OH·H 2 O (2·2MeOH·H 2 O) and [Fe(bpp) 2 ](C 8 H 4 O 4 )·5H 2 O (2·5H 2 O) (bpp = 2,6-bis(pyrazol-3yl)pyridine; C 6 H 8 O 4 = adipate dianion; C 8 H 4 O 4 = terephthalate dianion). The salts exhibit an intricate network of hydrogen bonds between low-spin iron(ii) complexes and carboxylate dianions, with solvent molecules sitting in the voids. Desolvation is accompanied by a low-spin (LS) to high-spin (HS) transformation in the materials. The dehydrated phase 2 undergoes a two-step transition with a second step showing thermal hysteresis (T 1/2 ↑ = 139 K and T 1/2 ↓ = 118 K). 2 displays a quantitative LS to HS photomagnetic conversion, with a T(LIESST) value of 63 K.

  18. Energy options: changing views from India. [Comments on Energy options for the Third World, A. K. N. Reddy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rudolph, L.I.; Lenth, C.S.

    1978-06-01

    In A.K.N. Reddy's article in the bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, April 1978, Energy Options for the Third World, he advocated the application of science and technology to the tasks of Third World development, particularly to the provision of new forms of energy technologies for economic development. Rudolph and Lenth comment on ideas about India's energy strategies as viewed by Reddy in the article. Rudolph and Lenth say the energy situation in India is not as desperate as Reddy indicates, and the solutions he proposes are not as new or unique as he presents them to be. The analytical frameworkmore » presented by Reddy does not take account of the complex motives and objectives or the ambiguous consequences that accompany attempts to achieve social and economic development, the authors say. (MCW)« less

  19. Mucocele in an Onodi cell with simultaneous bilateral visual disturbance.

    PubMed

    Fukuda, Yoichiro; Chikamatsu, Kazuaki; Ninomiya, Hiroshi; Yasuoka, Yoshihito; Miyashita, Motoaki; Furuya, Nobuhiko

    2006-06-01

    The Onodi cell is a large pneumatized posterior ethmoid cell and closely related to optic nerve. We present an extremely rare case of retrobulbar optic neuropathy caused by mucocele in an Onodi cell. A 79-year-old man complained of headaches and simultaneous bilateral visual disturbance. A computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a mucocele in an Onodi cell, which involved bilateral optic nerves. The surgical treatment with a transnasal endoscopic approach was performed, resulting in the improving of visual acuity. The bilateral optic nerves were identified along each lateral wall into an Onodi cell accompanied with bone defect. In an Onodi cell, even if the lesion is isolated and/or small, it may be closely related to ocular symptoms. Imaging studies should be considered for the differential diagnosis because early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment for mucocele are needed for recovery of visual impairment.

  20. Electrolyte Chemistry for Simultaneous Stabilization of Potassium Metal and Superoxide in K-O₂ Batteries.

    PubMed

    Xiao, Neng; Gourdin, Gerald; Wu, Yiying

    2018-05-22

    In the superoxide batteries based on O2/O2- redox chemistry, identifying an electrolyte to stabilize both alkali metal and superoxide remains challenging due to their reactivity towards electrolyte components. Bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI-) has been recognized as a "magical anion" for passivating alkali metals. Herein, we illustrate the chemical reactions between FSI- and superoxide, and the resultant dilemma when considering an anode-compatible electrolyte vs. a cathode-compatible one in K-O2 batteries. On one side, the KFSI-dimethoxyethane (DME) electrolyte passivates the potassium metal anode via the cleavage of S-F bond and formation of a KF-rich solid electrolyte interface (SEI). Nevertheless, the KFSI salt is chemically unstable due to the nucleophilic attack by superoxide and/or hydroxide species. On the other hand, potassium bis(trifluorosulfonyl)imide (KTFSI) is stable for KO2, but results in mossy deposition and irreversible plating and stripping. In order to circumvent this dilemma, we develop an artificial SEI for K metal anode to achieve long cycle-life K-O2 batteries. This work contributes to the understanding of electrolyte chemistry and guides the development of stable electrolytes and artificial SEI in metal-O2 batteries. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  1. Strengthening Local K-12 Accountability: The Role of County Offices of Education. Technical Appendices

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Warren, Paul

    2016-01-01

    This document presents the technical appendices that accompany the full report, "Strengthening Local K-12 Accountability: The Role of County Offices of Education." The appendices include: (1) Data Collection Methods; and (2) PPIC Survey of California County Superintendents of Education. [For the full report, see ED570941.

  2. Quick detection of QRS complexes and R-waves using a wavelet transform and K-means clustering.

    PubMed

    Xia, Yong; Han, Junze; Wang, Kuanquan

    2015-01-01

    Based on the idea of telemedicine, 24-hour uninterrupted monitoring on electrocardiograms (ECG) has started to be implemented. To create an intelligent ECG monitoring system, an efficient and quick detection algorithm for the characteristic waveforms is needed. This paper aims to give a quick and effective method for detecting QRS-complexes and R-waves in ECGs. The real ECG signal from the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database is used for the performance evaluation. The method proposed combined a wavelet transform and the K-means clustering algorithm. A wavelet transform is adopted in the data analysis and preprocessing. Then, based on the slope information of the filtered data, a segmented K-means clustering method is adopted to detect the QRS region. Detection of the R-peak is based on comparing the local amplitudes in each QRS region, which is different from other approaches, and the time cost of R-wave detection is reduced. Of the tested 8 records (total 18201 beats) from the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database, an average R-peak detection sensitivity of 99.72 and a positive predictive value of 99.80% are gained; the average time consumed detecting a 30-min original signal is 5.78s, which is competitive with other methods.

  3. Statistical complexity without explicit reference to underlying probabilities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pennini, F.; Plastino, A.

    2018-06-01

    We show that extremely simple systems of a not too large number of particles can be simultaneously thermally stable and complex. To such an end, we extend the statistical complexity's notion to simple configurations of non-interacting particles, without appeal to probabilities, and discuss configurational properties.

  4. [Minimally invasive reconstruction of the posterolateral corner with simultaneous replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament for complex knee ligament injuries].

    PubMed

    Vega-España, E A; Vilchis-Sámano, H; Ruiz-Mejía, O

    2017-01-01

    To evaluate and describe the results of a simultaneous reconstruction with minimally invasive technique of the posterolateral complex (PLC) and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). ACL and PLC reconstruction was performed in seven patients using the technique described, in the period from March to November 2012. All patients were evaluated at six months after the procedure using IKDC and IKSS subjective tests. Their return to work activities and their level of satisfaction were assessed. Six male and one female patients ranging in age between 26 and 46 years were evaluated. The injuries were mostly caused by sports related accidents. All patients were economically active and required an average period of three months of disability. The assessment and outcomes at six months, according to the IKDC scale, were: one patient with IKDC A, four with IKDC B, one patient with C, and one with D. In the subjective scale IKSS, 80% averaged a knee stability of over 90 points, a patient had a 100-point scale and another, of 70 points.

  5. Accompaniment and Quality in Childcare Services: The Emergence of a Culture of Professionalization

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Pirard, Florence; Barbier, Jean-Marie

    2012-01-01

    This article addresses various educational cultures observed today in a variety of training and professional development contexts in the field of early childhood education. The paper also analyses methods of developing and implementing training or professional "accompaniment". This notion of "accompaniment" has been developed…

  6. Monitoring of the Enzymatic Degradation of Protein Corona and Evaluating the Accompanying Cytotoxicity of Nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Ma, Zhifang; Bai, Jing; Jiang, Xiue

    2015-08-19

    Established nanobio interactions face the challenge that the formation of nanoparticle-protein corona complexes shields the inherent properties of the nanoparticles and alters the manner of the interactions between nanoparticles and biological systems. Therefore, many studies have focused on protein corona-mediated nanoparticle binding, internalization, and intracellular transportation. However, there are a few studies to pay attention to if the corona encounters degradation after internalization and how the degradation of the protein corona affects cytotoxicity. To fill this gap, we prepared three types of off/on complexes based on gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and dye-labeled serum proteins and studied the extracellular and intracellular proteolytic processes of protein coronas as well as their accompanying effects on cytotoxicity through multiple evaluation mechanisms, including cell viability, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The proteolytic process was confirmed by recovery of the fluorescence of the dye-labeled protein molecules that was initially quenched by Au NPs. Our results indicate that the degradation rate of protein corona is dependent on the type of the protein based on systematical evaluation of the extracellular and intracellular degradation processes of the protein coronas formed by human serum albumin (HSA), γ-globulin (HGG), and serum fibrinogen (HSF). Degradation is the fastest for HSA corona and the slowest for HSF corona. Notably, we also find that the Au NP-HSA corona complex induces lower cell viability, slower ATP production, lower MMP, and higher ROS levels. The cytotoxicity of the nanoparticle-protein corona complex may be associated with the protein corona degradation process. All of these results will enrich the database of cytotoxicity induced by nanomaterial-protein corona complexes.

  7. CENP-C/H/I/K/M/T/W/N/L and hMis12 but not CENP-S/X participate in complex formation in the nucleoplasm of living human interphase cells outside centromeres.

    PubMed

    Hoischen, Christian; Yavas, Sibel; Wohland, Thorsten; Diekmann, Stephan

    2018-01-01

    Kinetochore proteins assemble onto centromeric chromatin and regulate DNA segregation during cell division. The inner kinetochore proteins bind centromeres while most outer kinetochore proteins assemble at centromeres during mitosis, connecting the complex to microtubules. Here, we measured the co-migration between protein pairs of the constitutive centromere associated network (CCAN) and hMis12 complexes by fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) in the nucleoplasm outside centromeres in living human interphase cells. FCCS is a method that can tell if in living cells two differently fluorescently labelled molecules migrate independently, or co-migrate and thus are part of one and the same soluble complex. We also determined the apparent dissociation constants (Kd) of the hetero-dimers CENP-T/W and CENP-S/X. We measured co-migration between CENP-K and CENP-T as well as between CENP-M and CENP-T but not between CENP-T/W and CENP-S/X. Furthermore, CENP-C co-migrated with CENP-H, and CENP-K with CENP-N as well as with CENP-L. Thus, in the nucleoplasm outside centromeres, a large fraction of the CENP-H/I/K/M proteins interact with CENP-C, CENP-N/L and CENP-T/W but not with CENP-S/X. Our FCCS analysis of the Mis12 complex showed that hMis12, Nsl1, Dsn1 and Nnf1 also form a complex outside centromeres of which at least hMis12 associated with the CENP-C/H/I/K/M/T/W/N/L complex.

  8. NAP enzyme recruitment in simultaneous bioremediation and nanoparticles synthesis.

    PubMed

    Eltarahony, Marwa; Zaki, Sahar; Kheiralla, Zeinab; Abd-El-Haleem, Desouky

    2018-06-01

    The periplasmic nitrate reductase enzyme (NAP) has become attractive catalyst, whose exploitation has emerged as one of the indispensable strategies toward environmentally benign applications. To achieve them efficiently and overcome the sensitivity of NAP in harsh environmental circumstances, the immobilization for denitrifying bacteria and NAP enzyme for simultaneous bioremediation and bionanoparticles synthesis was studied. NAP catalyzed NO 3 - reduction at V max of 0.811 μM/min and K m of 14.02 mM. Concurrently, the immobilized MMT cells completely removed NO 3 - upon 192 h with AgNPs synthesis ranging from 23.26 to 58.14 nm as indicated by SEM. Wherase, immobilized NAP exhibited lower efficiency with 28.6% of NO 3 - elimination within 288 h and large aggregated AgNPs ranging from 94.44 nm to 172.22 nm. To the best of author knowledge, the immobilization for denitrifying bacteria and NAP enzyme for simultaneous bioremediation and bionanoparticles synthesis was not studied before.

  9. Computer Literacy: Handbook to Accompany VESL Vocabulary Cards.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Siefer, Nancy; Lenhart, Debra

    This manual is one of four self-contained components of a larger handbook designed to assist secondary and postsecondary instructors and support staff in meeting the needs of limited-English-proficiency (LEP) students in vocational training programs. Together with an accompanying set of vocational English as a second language (VESL) vocabulary…

  10. Infrared spectroscopy of solid normal hydrogen doped with CH3F and O2 at 4.2 K: CH3F:O2 complex and CH3F migration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abouaf-Marguin, L.; Vasserot, A.-M.

    2011-04-01

    Double doping of solid normal hydrogen with CH3F and O2 at about 4.2 K gives evidence of (ortho-H2)n:CH3F clusters and of O2:CH3F complex formation. FTIR analysis of the time evolution of the spectra in the region of the v3 C-F stretching mode indicates that these clusters behave very differently from (ortho-H2)n:H2O clusters. The main point is the observed migration of CH3F molecules in solid para-H2 at 4.2 K which differs from that of H2O under identical experimental conditions. This is confirmed by an increase over time of the integrated intensity of the CH3F:O2 complex with a rate constant K = 2.7(2) . 10-4 s-1.

  11. Protein shift and antigenic variation in the S-layer of Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis during bovine infection accompanied by genomic rearrangement of sapA homologs.

    PubMed Central

    Garcia, M M; Lutze-Wallace, C L; Denes, A S; Eaglesome, M D; Holst, E; Blaser, M J

    1995-01-01

    Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis isolated from a case of human vaginosis was inoculated into the uterus of a C. fetus-negative heifer. Isolates obtained weekly from the vaginal mucus exhibited variations in high-molecular-mass-protein profiles from that of the original inoculum, which had a dominant 110-kDa S-layer protein. Immunoblots of the weekly isolates with monoclonal antibody probes against the 110-kDa S-layer protein and other C. fetus S-layer proteins demonstrated antigenic shifts. Genomic digests of the isolates probed with a 75-mer oligonucleotide of the conserved sapA region also indicated that antigenic variation of the S-layer is accompanied by DNA rearrangement. PMID:7721688

  12. Weighing the evidence for a ternary protein complex mediating A-type K+ currents in neurons.

    PubMed

    Maffie, Jonathon; Rudy, Bernardo

    2008-12-01

    The subthreshold-operating A-type K(+) current in neurons (I(SA)) has important roles in the regulation of neuronal excitability, the timing of action potential firing and synaptic integration and plasticity. The channels mediating this current (Kv4 channels) have been implicated in epilepsy, the control of dopamine release, and the regulation of pain plasticity. It has been proposed that Kv4 channels in neurons are ternary complexes of three types of protein: pore forming subunits of the Kv4 subfamily and two types of auxiliary subunits, the Ca(2+) binding proteins KChIPs and the dipeptidyl peptidase-like proteins (DPPLs) DPP6 (also known as DPPX) and DPP10 (4 molecules of each per channel for a total of 12 proteins in the complex). Here we consider the evidence supporting this hypothesis. Kv4 channels in many neurons are likely to be ternary complexes of these three types of protein. KChIPs and DPPLs are required to efficiently traffic Kv4 channels to the plasma membrane and regulate the functional properties of the channels. These proteins may also be important in determining the localization of the channels to specific neuronal compartments, their dynamics, and their response to neuromodulators. A surprisingly large number of additional proteins have been shown to modify Kv4 channels in heterologous expression systems, but their association with native Kv4 channels in neurons has not been properly validated. A critical consideration of the evidence suggests that it is unlikely that association of Kv4 channels with these additional proteins is widespread in the CNS. However, we cannot exclude that some of these proteins may associate with the channels transiently or in specific neurons or neuronal compartments, or that they may associate with the channels in other tissues.

  13. Arabidopsis shaker pollen inward K+ channel SPIK functions in SnRK1 complex-regulated pollen hydration on the stigma.

    PubMed

    Li, Dan-Dan; Guan, Huan; Li, Fei; Liu, Chang-Zhen; Dong, Yu-Xiu; Zhang, Xian-Sheng; Gao, Xin-Qi

    2017-09-01

    Pollen hydration is a critical step that determines pollen germination on the stigma. KINβγ is a plant-specific subunit of the SNF1-related protein kinase 1 complex (SnRK1 complex). In pollen of the Arabidopsis kinβγ mutant, the levels of reactive oxygen species were decreased which lead to compromised hydration of the mutant pollen on the stigma. In this study, we analyzed gene expression in kinβγ mutant pollen by RNA-seq and found the expression of inward shaker K + channel SPIK was down-regulated in the kinβγ pollen. Furthermore, we showed that the pollen hydration of the Arabidopsis spik mutant was defective on the wild-type stigma, although the mutant pollen demonstrated normal hydration in vitro. Additionally, the defective hydration of spik mutant pollen could not be rescued by the wild-type pollen on the stigma, indicating that the spik mutation deprived the capability of pollen absorption on the stigma. Our results suggest that the Arabidopsis SnRK1 complex regulates SPIK expression, which functions in determining pollen hydration on the stigma. © 2017 Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

  14. The selective cleanup of complex matrices and simultaneous separation of benzo[a]pyrene by solid-phase extraction with MgO microspheres as sorbents.

    PubMed

    Jin, Jing; Li, Yun; Zhang, Zhiping; Su, Fan; Qi, Peipei; Lu, Xianbo; Chen, Jiping

    2011-12-23

    A new method for the selective cleanup of complex matrices and simultaneous separation of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) was developed in this study. This method was based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) using magnesium oxide microspheres as sorbents, and it eliminated interferences from various impurities, such as lipids, sulphur, pigments, halobenzenes, polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorodibenzofurans. Several parameters, including the volume of rinsing and eluting solvents, the type of loading solvents and SPE sorbents, were optimized systematically. The capability for impurity removal was verified by gel permeation chromatography, gas chromatography, and liquid chromatography. Compared to commercial sorbents (silica gel, florisil and alumina), MgO microspheres exhibited excellent performance in the selective isolation of BaP and removal of impurities. The proposed method was applied to detect BaP in complex samples (sediments, soils, fish, and porcine liver). The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 1.04 ngL(-1), and the resulting regression coefficient (r(2)) was greater than 0.999 over a broad concentration range (9.5-7600 ngL(-1)). In contrast to traditional methods, the proposed method can give rise to higher recovery (85.1-100.8%) and better selectivity with simpler operation and less consumption of organic solvents (20-40 mL). Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Simultaneous separation of inorganic anions and metal-citrate complexes on a zwitterionic stationary phase with on-column complexation.

    PubMed

    Nesterenko, Ekaterina P; Nesterenko, Pavel N; Paull, Brett

    2008-12-05

    The retention and separation selectivity of inorganic anions and on-column derivatised negatively charged citrate or oxalate metal complexes on reversed-phase stationary phases dynamically coated with N-(dodecyl-N,N-dimethylammonio)undecanoate (DDMAU) has been investigated. The retention mechanism for the metal-citrate complexes was predominantly anion exchange, although the amphoteric/zwitterionic nature of the stationary phase coating undoubtedly also contributed to the unusual separation selectivity shown. A mixture of 10 inorganic anions and metal cations was achieved using a 20 cm monolithic DDMAU modified column and a 1 mM citrate eluent, pH 4.0, flow rate equal to 0.8 mL/min. Selectivity was found to be strongly pH dependent, allowing additional scope for manipulation of solute retention, and thus application to complex samples. This is illustrated with the analysis of an acidic mine drainage sample with a range of inorganic anions and transition metal cations, varying significantly in their concentrations levels.

  16. Biphasic Somatic A-Type K+ Channel Downregulation Mediates Intrinsic Plasticity in Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons

    PubMed Central

    Jung, Sung-Cherl; Hoffman, Dax A.

    2009-01-01

    Since its original description, the induction of synaptic long-term potentiation (LTP) has been known to be accompanied by a lasting increase in the intrinsic excitability (intrinsic plasticity) of hippocampal neurons. Recent evidence shows that dendritic excitability can be enhanced by an activity-dependent decrease in the activity of A-type K+ channels. In the present manuscript, we examined the role of A-type K+ channels in regulating intrinsic excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus after synapse-specific LTP induction. In electrophysiological recordings we found that LTP induced a potentiation of excitability which was accompanied by a two-phased change in A-type K+ channel activity recorded in nucleated patches from organotypic slices of rat hippocampus. Induction of LTP resulted in an immediate but short lasting hyperpolarization of the voltage-dependence of steady-state A-type K+ channel inactivation along with a progressive, long-lasting decrease in peak A-current density. Blocking clathrin-mediated endocytosis prevented the A-current decrease and most measures of intrinsic plasticity. These results suggest that two temporally distinct but overlapping mechanisms of A-channel downregulation together contribute to the plasticity of intrinsic excitability. Finally we show that intrinsic plasticity resulted in a global enhancement of EPSP-spike coupling. PMID:19662093

  17. Na, K, Rb, and Cs Exchange in Heulandite Single-Crystals: X-Ray Structure Refinements at 100 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Ping; Armbruster, Thomas

    1996-04-01

    The crystal structures of Na-, K-, Rb-, and Cs-exchanged varieties of the zeolite heulandite with the simplified compositionM+9Al9Si27O72·nH2O were studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at 100 K. The structure refinements of Na-, K-, and Rb-exchanged heulandite were performed in space groupC2/mwith resultantRvalues of 3.8, 3.0, and 4.9%, respectively. Cs-exchanged heulandite was refined in space groupC[formula], yielding anRvalue of 3.4%. X-ray single-crystal data of the Cs-exchanged variety indicated that many reflections of typeh k lwere not equivalent toh -k las expected for monoclinic symmetry. With increasing radius of the incorporated channel cations, thebaxis increases from 17.93 to 18.09 Å leading to a slight widening of the channels. The number of H2O molecules also decreases with increasing cation radius due to space limitations. Three general cation positions (II-1,C3, andB4) were found in the four exchanged heulandite samples. For Rb- and Cs-exchanged crystals, the additional cation siteA2 occurs. In Cs-exchanged heulandite symmetry lowering is due to partial Si, Al ordering in the framework accompanied with a more asymmetric arrangement of channel Cs. Only if heavy elements in the channels are present the symmetry information of the framework is enforced, thus partial Si, Al ordering can be resolved.

  18. Experimental evidence for simultaneous relaxation processes in super spin glass γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticle system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nikolic, V.; Perovic, M.; Kusigerski, V.; Boskovic, M.; Mrakovic, A.; Blanusa, J.; Spasojevic, V.

    2015-03-01

    Spherical γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with the narrow size distribution of (5 ± 1) nm were synthesized by the method of thermal decomposition from iron acetyl acetonate precursor. The existence of super spin-glass state at low temperatures and in low applied magnetic fields was confirmed by DC magnetization measurements on a SQUID magnetometer. The comprehensive investigation of magnetic relaxation dynamics in low-temperature region was conducted through the measurements of single-stop and multiple stop ZFC memory effects, ZFC magnetization relaxation, and AC susceptibility measurements. The experimental findings revealed the peculiar change of magnetic relaxation dynamics at T ≈ 10 K, which arose as a consequence of simultaneous existence of different relaxation processes in Fe2O3 nanoparticle system. Complementarity of the applied measurements was utilized in order to single out distinct relaxation processes as well as to elucidate complex relaxation mechanisms in the investigated interacting nanoparticle system.

  19. The Multiple Origins of Complex Multicellularity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Knoll, Andrew H.

    2011-05-01

    Simple multicellularity has evolved numerous times within the Eukarya, but complex multicellular organisms belong to only six clades: animals, embryophytic land plants, florideophyte red algae, laminarialean brown algae, and two groups of fungi. Phylogeny and genomics suggest a generalized trajectory for the evolution of complex multicellularity, beginning with the co-optation of existing genes for adhesion. Molecular channels to facilitate cell-cell transfer of nutrients and signaling molecules appear to be critical, as this trait occurs in all complex multicellular organisms but few others. Proliferation of gene families for transcription factors and cell signals accompany the key functional innovation of complex multicellular clades: differentiated cells and tissues for the bulk transport of oxygen, nutrients, and molecular signals that enable organisms to circumvent the physical limitations of diffusion. The fossil records of animals and plants document key stages of this trajectory.

  20. Simultaneous atrazine degradation and E. coli inactivation by simulated solar photo-Fenton-like process using persulfate.

    PubMed

    Garkusheva, Natalya; Matafonova, Galina; Tsenter, Irina; Beck, Sara; Batoev, Valeriy; Linden, Karl

    2017-07-29

    This work evaluated the feasibility of a photo-Fenton-like process using persulfate (PS) and ferrous iron (Fe 2+ ) under simulated solar radiation for degrading the herbicide atrazine (ATZ, 6-Chloro-N-ethyl-N'-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine) and inactivating E. coli. Milli Q water, lake water, and diluted wastewater effluents were spiked both simultaneously and separately with ATZ (4 mg/L) and E. coli (10 5 CFU/mL), and exposed to treatment. A method for determining the average irradiance throughout the water media in the UV(A+B) range of the Xe lamp emission was developed for bench-scale experiments. These values were used to calculate the UV(A+B) fluences and the solar UV(A+B) energy doses per unit of volume (Q UV(A+B) , kJ/L). The obtained kinetic data were presented versus energy dose. Treatment of lake water at near-neutral pH was ineffective via the photo-Fenton-like process, attaining only 20% ATZ removal and 1-log reduction of E. coli. In Milli Q water and wastewater, the complete degradation of ATZ in the absence of bacteria was observed at an average energy dose of 1.5 kJ/L (60 min), while in the presence of cells the degradation efficiency was ∼60%. When ATZ was present, E. coli inactivation was also affected in Milli Q water, with 1.4-log reduction (93%) at a dose of 1.6 kJ/L (60 min), whereas in wastewater complete inactivation was achieved at a lower dose of 1.3 kJ/L (45 min). The energy requirements on a Q UV(A+B) basis for simultaneous 90% ATZ removal and 99.99% E. coli inactivation in Milli Q water and wastewater were shown to be less than 10 kJ/L. This suggests the solar/PS/Fe 2+ system is promising for simultaneous treatment and disinfection of wastewater effluents.

  1. Organization of complex networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kitsak, Maksim

    Many large complex systems can be successfully analyzed using the language of graphs and networks. Interactions between the objects in a network are treated as links connecting nodes. This approach to understanding the structure of networks is an important step toward understanding the way corresponding complex systems function. Using the tools of statistical physics, we analyze the structure of networks as they are found in complex systems such as the Internet, the World Wide Web, and numerous industrial and social networks. In the first chapter we apply the concept of self-similarity to the study of transport properties in complex networks. Self-similar or fractal networks, unlike non-fractal networks, exhibit similarity on a range of scales. We find that these fractal networks have transport properties that differ from those of non-fractal networks. In non-fractal networks, transport flows primarily through the hubs. In fractal networks, the self-similar structure requires any transport to also flow through nodes that have only a few connections. We also study, in models and in real networks, the crossover from fractal to non-fractal networks that occurs when a small number of random interactions are added by means of scaling techniques. In the second chapter we use k-core techniques to study dynamic processes in networks. The k-core of a network is the network's largest component that, within itself, exhibits all nodes with at least k connections. We use this k-core analysis to estimate the relative leadership positions of firms in the Life Science (LS) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sectors of industry. We study the differences in the k-core structure between the LS and the ICT sectors. We find that the lead segment (highest k-core) of the LS sector, unlike that of the ICT sector, is remarkably stable over time: once a particular firm enters the lead segment, it is likely to remain there for many years. In the third chapter we study how

  2. A peroxynitrite complex of copper: formation from a copper-nitrosyl complex, transformation to nitrite and exogenous phenol oxidative coupling or nitration.

    PubMed

    Park, Ga Young; Deepalatha, Subramanian; Puiu, Simona C; Lee, Dong-Heon; Mondal, Biplab; Narducci Sarjeant, Amy A; del Rio, Diego; Pau, Monita Y M; Solomon, Edward I; Karlin, Kenneth D

    2009-11-01

    Reaction of nitrogen monoxide with a copper(I) complex possessing a tridentate alkylamine ligand gives a Cu(I)-(*NO) adduct, which when exposed to dioxygen generates a peroxynitrite (O=NOO(-))-Cu(II) species. This undergoes thermal transformation to produce a copper(II) nitrito (NO(2) (-)) complex and 0.5 mol equiv O(2). In the presence of a substituted phenol, the peroxynitrite complex effects oxidative coupling, whereas addition of chloride ion to dissociate the peroxynitrite moiety instead leads to phenol ortho nitration. Discussions include the structures (including electronic description) of the copper-nitrosyl and copper-peroxynitrite complexes and the formation of the latter, based on density functional theory calculations and accompanying spectroscopic data.

  3. Fibre optic technique for simultaneous measurement of strain and temperature variations in composite materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Michie, W. C.; Culshaw, Brian; Roberts, Scott S. J.; Davidson, Roger

    1991-12-01

    A technique based upon the differential sensitivities of dual mode and polarimetric sensing schemes is shown to be capable of resolving simultaneously temperature and strain variations to within 20 micro-epsilon and 1 K over a strain and temperature excursion of 2 micro-epsilon and 45 K. The technique is evaluated experimentally over an 80 cm sensing length of unembedded optical fiber and in an 8 ply unidirectional carbon/epoxide laminate subject to temperature and strain cycling. A comparative analysis of the performance of the embedded and the unembedded fiber sensors is presented.

  4. The Global Education Practicum: Perspectives from Accompanying Academics

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Lang, Catherine; Cacciattolo, Marcelle; Kidman, Gillian

    2017-01-01

    The benefits of international education experiences for students are well documented. The effect on the individual of international experiences has been researched and theorised by authors for at least the last 20 years. In this paper the experiences of three academics who accompanied pre-service teachers on a 3 week international practicum are…

  5. Simultaneous EEG and MEG source reconstruction in sparse electromagnetic source imaging.

    PubMed

    Ding, Lei; Yuan, Han

    2013-04-01

    Electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) have different sensitivities to differently configured brain activations, making them complimentary in providing independent information for better detection and inverse reconstruction of brain sources. In the present study, we developed an integrative approach, which integrates a novel sparse electromagnetic source imaging method, i.e., variation-based cortical current density (VB-SCCD), together with the combined use of EEG and MEG data in reconstructing complex brain activity. To perform simultaneous analysis of multimodal data, we proposed to normalize EEG and MEG signals according to their individual noise levels to create unit-free measures. Our Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated that this integrative approach is capable of reconstructing complex cortical brain activations (up to 10 simultaneously activated and randomly located sources). Results from experimental data showed that complex brain activations evoked in a face recognition task were successfully reconstructed using the integrative approach, which were consistent with other research findings and validated by independent data from functional magnetic resonance imaging using the same stimulus protocol. Reconstructed cortical brain activations from both simulations and experimental data provided precise source localizations as well as accurate spatial extents of localized sources. In comparison with studies using EEG or MEG alone, the performance of cortical source reconstructions using combined EEG and MEG was significantly improved. We demonstrated that this new sparse ESI methodology with integrated analysis of EEG and MEG data could accurately probe spatiotemporal processes of complex human brain activations. This is promising for noninvasively studying large-scale brain networks of high clinical and scientific significance. Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  6. The Ndc80 complex bridges two Dam1 complex rings

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Jae ook; Zelter, Alex; Umbreit, Neil T; Bollozos, Athena; Riffle, Michael; Johnson, Richard; MacCoss, Michael J; Asbury, Charles L; Davis, Trisha N

    2017-01-01

    Strong kinetochore-microtubule attachments are essential for faithful segregation of sister chromatids during mitosis. The Dam1 and Ndc80 complexes are the main microtubule binding components of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae kinetochore. Cooperation between these two complexes enhances kinetochore-microtubule coupling and is regulated by Aurora B kinase. We show that the Ndc80 complex can simultaneously bind and bridge across two Dam1 complex rings through a tripartite interaction, each component of which is regulated by Aurora B kinase. Mutations in any one of the Ndc80p interaction regions abrogates the Ndc80 complex’s ability to bind two Dam1 rings in vitro, and results in kinetochore biorientation and microtubule attachment defects in vivo. We also show that an extra-long Ndc80 complex, engineered to space the two Dam1 rings further apart, does not support growth. Taken together, our work suggests that each kinetochore in vivo contains two Dam1 rings and that proper spacing between the rings is vital. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.21069.001 PMID:28191870

  7. Human papillomavirus-32-associated focal epithelial hyperplasia accompanying HPV-16-positive papilloma-like lesions in oral mucosa.

    PubMed

    Liu, Na; Wang, Jiayi; Lei, Lei; Li, Yanzhong; Zhou, Min; Dan, Hongxia; Zeng, Xin; Chen, Qianming

    2013-05-01

    Human papillomavirus infection can cause a variety of benign or malignant oral lesions, and the various genotypes can cause distinct types of lesions. To our best knowledge, there has been no report of 2 different human papillomavirus-related oral lesions in different oral sites in the same patient before. This paper reported a patient with 2 different oral lesions which were clinically and histologically in accord with focal epithelial hyperplasia and oral papilloma, respectively. Using DNA extracted from these 2 different lesions, tissue blocks were tested for presence of human papillomavirus followed by specific polymerase chain reaction testing for 6, 11, 13, 16, 18, and 32 subtypes in order to confirm the clinical diagnosis. Finally, human papillomavirus-32-positive focal epithelial hyperplasia accompanying human papillomavirus-16-positive oral papilloma-like lesions were detected in different sites of the oral mucosa. Nucleotide sequence sequencing further confirmed the results. So in our clinical work, if the simultaneous occurrences of different human papillomavirus associated lesions are suspected, the multiple biopsies from different lesions and detection of human papillomavirus genotype are needed to confirm the diagnosis.

  8. Simultaneous Deep-Ocean Operations With Autonomous and Remotely Operated Vehicles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yoerger, D. R.; Bowen, A. D.; Bradley, A. M.

    2005-12-01

    The complimentary capabilities of autonomous and remotely vehicles can be obtained more efficiently if two or more vehicles can be deployed simultaneously from a single vessel. Simultaneous operations make better use of ship time and personnel. However, such operations require specific technical capabilities and careful scheduling. We recently demonstrated several key capabilities on the VISIONS05 cruise to the Juan de Fuca Ridge, where the Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE) and the ROV Jason 2 were operated simultaneously. The cruise featured complex ROV operations ranging from servicing seismic instruments, water sampling, drilling, and installation of in-situ experiments. The AUV provided detailed near-bottom bathymetry of the Endeavour segment while concurrently providing a cable route survey for a primary Canadian Neptune node. To meet these goals, we had to operate both vehicles at the same time. In previous efforts, we have operated ABE in a coordinated fashion with either the submersible Alvin or Jason 2. But the vehicles were either deployed sequentially or they were operated in separate acoustic transponder nets with the restriction that the vessel recover the AUV within a reasonable period after it reached the surface to avoid loss of the AUV. During the VISIONS05 cruise, we operated both vehicles at the same time and demonstrated several key capabilities to make simultaneous operations more efficient. These include the ability of the AUV to anchor to the seafloor after its batteries were expended or if a fault occurred, allowing complex ROV operations to run to completion without the constraint of retrieving the AUV at a specific time. The anchoring system allowed the vehicle to rest near the seafloor on a short mooring in a low power state. The AUV returned to the surface either through an acoustic command from the vessel or when a preassigned time was reached. We also tested an experimental acoustic beacon system that can allow multiple vehicles to

  9. Dual pulse-chase microscopy reveals early divergence in the biosynthetic trafficking of the Na,K-ATPase and E-cadherin

    PubMed Central

    Farr, Glen A.; Hull, Michael; Stoops, Emily H.; Bateson, Rosalie; Caplan, Michael J.

    2015-01-01

    Recent evidence indicates that newly synthesized membrane proteins that share the same distributions in the plasma membranes of polarized epithelial cells can pursue a variety of distinct trafficking routes as they travel from the Golgi complex to their common destination at the cell surface. In most polarized epithelial cells, both the Na,K-ATPase and E-cadherin are localized to the basolateral domains of the plasma membrane. To examine the itineraries pursued by newly synthesized Na,K-ATPase and E-cadherin in polarized MDCK epithelial cells, we used the SNAP and CLIP labeling systems to fluorescently tag temporally defined cohorts of these proteins and observe their behaviors simultaneously as they traverse the secretory pathway. These experiments reveal that E-cadherin is delivered to the cell surface substantially faster than is the Na,K-ATPase. Furthermore, the surface delivery of newly synthesized E-cadherin to the plasma membrane was not prevented by the 19°C temperature block that inhibits the trafficking of most proteins, including the Na,K-ATPase, out of the trans-Golgi network. Consistent with these distinct behaviors, populations of newly synthesized E-cadherin and Na,K-ATPase become separated from one another within the trans-Golgi network, suggesting that they are sorted into different carrier vesicles that mediate their post-Golgi trafficking. PMID:26424804

  10. Focusing on Concepts by Covering Them Simultaneously

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schwartz, Pete

    2017-05-01

    "Parallel" pedagogy covers the four mechanics concepts of momentum, energy, forces, and kinematics simultaneously instead of building each concept on an understanding of the previous one. Course content is delivered through interactive videos, allowing class time for group work and student-centered activities. We start with simple examples, building complexity throughout the course with the introduction of springs, two dimensions, vectors, energy diagrams, universal gravitation, and rotation. Success means that students ponder underlying physics concepts rather than hunt for formulas. Surveys indicate that students accept this learning model well and have considerable improvement in applied conceptual understanding.

  11. 30 CFR 250.261 - What environmental impact analysis (EIA) information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... analysis (EIA) information must accompany the DPP or DOCD? The following EIA information must accompany... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false What environmental impact analysis (EIA) information must accompany the DPP or DOCD? 250.261 Section 250.261 Mineral Resources BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY...

  12. Macrophage triggering by aggregated immunoglobulins. II. Comparison of IgE and IgG aggregates or immune complexes.

    PubMed Central

    Pestel, J; Dessaint, J P; Joseph, M; Bazin, H; Capron, A

    1984-01-01

    Macrophages incubated with complexed or aggregated IgE released beta-glucuronidase (beta-G) within 30 min. In contrast in the presence of aggregated or complexed IgG, macrophages liberated equivalent amount of beta-G only after 6 h incubation. In addition the rapid macrophage stimulation induced by aggregated IgE was also followed by a faster 3H-glucosamine incorporation when compared to the delayed activation caused by aggregated IgG. However, macrophages stimulated either by IgG or by IgE oligomers produced the same percentage of plasminogen activator at 24 h. In contrast, while the interaction between macrophages and aggregated IgE was only followed by a peak of cyclic GMP and a beta-G release during the first 30 min of incubation, the interaction between macrophages and IgG oligomers was accompanied by a simultaneous increase of cyclic GMP and AMP nucleotides and by an absence of beta-G exocytosis. Moreover, the beta-G release induced by aggregated IgE was increased when macrophages were preincubated with aggregated IgG. This additive effect was not observed in the reverse situation. Finally macrophages activated by IgG oligomers were demonstrated to exert a cytotoxic effect on tumour cells and to kill schistosomula in the presence of a low level of complement. Taken together these results underline the peculiar ability of aggregated or complexed IgE to trigger rapidly the macrophage activation compared to aggregated IgG and can explain the important role of complexed IgE in some macrophage dependent cytotoxicity mechanisms (i.e. in parasitic diseases). PMID:6088135

  13. The high-resolution crystal structure of a 24-kDa gyrase B fragment from E. coli complexed with one of the most potent coumarin inhibitors, clorobiocin.

    PubMed

    Tsai, F T; Singh, O M; Skarzynski, T; Wonacott, A J; Weston, S; Tucker, A; Pauptit, R A; Breeze, A L; Poyser, J P; O'Brien, R; Ladbury, J E; Wigley, D B

    1997-05-01

    Coumarin antibiotics, such as clorobiocin, novobiocin, and coumermycin A1, inhibit the supercoiling activity of gyrase by binding to the gyrase B (GyrB) subunit. Previous crystallographic studies of a 24-kDa N-terminal domain of GyrB from E. coli complexed with novobiocin and a cyclothialidine analogue have shown that both ligands act by binding at the ATP-binding site. Clorobiocin is a natural antibiotic isolated from several Streptomyces strains and differs from novobiocin in that the methyl group at the 8 position in the coumarin ring of novobiocin is replaced by a chlorine atom, and the carbamoyl at the 3' position of the noviose sugar is substituted by a 5-methyl-2-pyrrolylcarbonyl group. To understand the difference in affinity, in order that this information might be exploited in rational drug design, the crystal structure of the 24-kDa GyrB fragment in complex with clorobiocin was determined to high resolution. This structure was determined independently in two laboratories, which allowed the validation of equivalent interpretations. The clorobiocin complex structure is compared with the crystal structures of gyrase complexes with novobiocin and 5'-adenylyl-beta, gamma-imidodiphosphate, and with information on the bound conformation of novobiocin in the p24-novobiocin complex obtained by heteronuclear isotope-filtered NMR experiments in solution. Moreover, to understand the differences in energetics of binding of clorobiocin and novobiocin to the protein, the results from isothermal titration calorimetry are also presented.

  14. Simultaneous chromatic dispersion, polarization-mode-dispersion and OSNR monitoring at 40Gbit/s.

    PubMed

    Baker-Meflah, Lamia; Thomsen, Benn; Mitchell, John; Bayvel, Polina

    2008-09-29

    A novel method for independent and simultaneous monitoring of chromatic dispersion (CD), first-order PMD and OSNR in 40Gbit/s systems is proposed and demonstrated. This is performed using in-band tone monitoring of 5GHz, optically down-converted to a low intermediate-frequency (IF) of 10kHz. The measurement provides a large monitoring range with good accuracies for CD (4742+/-100ps/nm), differential group delay (DGD) (200+/-4ps) and OSNR (23+/-1dB), independently of the bit-rate. In addition, the use of electro-absorption modulators (EAM) for the simultaneous down-conversion of all channels and the use of low-speed detectors makes it cost effective for multi-channel operation.

  15. IKKε-mediated tumorigenesis requires K63-linked polyubiquitination by a cIAP1/cIAP2/TRAF2 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex

    PubMed Central

    Zhou, Alicia Y.; Shen, Rhine R.; Kim, Eejung; Lock, Ying J.; Xu, Ming; Chen, Zhijian J.; Hahn, William C.

    2014-01-01

    SUMMARY IκB kinase ε (IKKε, IKBKE) is a key regulator of innate immunity and a breast cancer oncogene, amplified in ~30% of breast cancers, that promotes malignant transformation through NF-κB activation. Here we show that IKKε is modified and regulated by K63-linked polyubiquitination at Lysine 30 and Lysine 401. TNFα and IL-1β stimulation induces IKKε K63-linked polyubiquitination over baseline levels in both macrophages and breast cancer cell lines, and this modification is essential for IKKε kinase activity, IKKε-mediated NF-κB activation and IKKε-induced malignant transformation. Disruption of K63-linked ubiquitination of IKKε does not affect its overall structure but impairs the recruitment of canonical NF-κB proteins. A cIAP1/cIAP2/TRAF2 E3 ligase complex binds to and ubiquitinates IKKε. Together, these observations demonstrate that K63-linked polyubiquitination regulates IKKε activity in both inflammatory and oncogenic contexts and suggests an alterative approach to target this breast cancer oncogene. PMID:23453969

  16. Reduction of Circulating Neutrophils Precedes and Accompanies Type 1 Diabetes

    PubMed Central

    Valle, Andrea; Giamporcaro, Gian Maria; Scavini, Marina; Stabilini, Angela; Grogan, Pauline; Bianconi, Eleonora; Sebastiani, Guido; Masini, Matilde; Maugeri, Norma; Porretti, Laura; Bonfanti, Riccardo; Meschi, Franco; De Pellegrin, Maurizio; Lesma, Arianna; Rossini, Silvano; Piemonti, Lorenzo; Marchetti, Piero; Dotta, Francesco; Bosi, Emanuele; Battaglia, Manuela

    2013-01-01

    Human type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease associated with major histocompatibility complex polymorphisms, β-cell autoantibodies, and autoreactive T cells. However, there is increasing evidence that innate cells may also play critical roles in T1D. We aimed to monitor peripheral immune cells in early stages of T1D (i.e., in healthy autoantibody-positive subjects) and in more advanced phases of the disease (i.e., at disease onset and years after diagnosis). We found a mild but significant and reproducible peripheral neutropenia that both precedes and accompanies the onset of T1D. This reduction was not due to peripheral neutrophil cell death, impaired differentiation, or the presence of anti-neutrophil antibodies. Neutrophils were observed by electron microscopy and immunohistochemical analysis in the exocrine pancreas of multiorgan donors with T1D (both at onset and at later stages of the disease) and not in that of multiorgan donors with type 2 diabetes or nondiabetic donors. These pancreas-infiltrating neutrophils mainly localized at the level of very small blood vessels. Our findings suggest the existence of a hitherto unrecognized clinical phenotype that might reflect unexplored pathogenic pathways underlying T1D. PMID:23349491

  17. Trapping and desorption of complex organic molecules in water at 20 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Burke, Daren J.; Puletti, Fabrizio; Woods, Paul M.; Viti, Serena; Slater, Ben; Brown, Wendy A.

    2015-10-01

    The formation, chemical, and thermal processing of complex organic molecules (COMs) is currently a topic of much interest in interstellar chemistry. The isomers glycolaldehyde, methyl formate, and acetic acid are particularly important because of their role as pre-biotic species. It is becoming increasingly clear that many COMs are formed within interstellar ices which are dominated by water. Hence, the interaction of these species with water ice is crucially important in dictating their behaviour. Here, we present the first detailed comparative study of the adsorption and thermal processing of glycolaldehyde, methyl formate, and acetic acid adsorbed on and in water ices at astrophysically relevant temperatures (20 K). We show that the functional group of the isomer dictates the strength of interaction with water ice, and hence the resulting desorption and trapping behaviour. Furthermore, the strength of this interaction directly affects the crystallization of water, which in turn affects the desorption behaviour. Our detailed coverage and composition dependent data allow us to categorize the desorption behaviour of the three isomers on the basis of the strength of intermolecular and intramolecular interactions, as well as the natural sublimation temperature of the molecule. This categorization is extended to other C, H, and O containing molecules in order to predict and describe the desorption behaviour of COMs from interstellar ices.

  18. Selective complexation of K+ and Na+ in simple polarizable ion-ligating systems.

    PubMed

    Bostick, David L; Brooks, Charles L

    2010-09-29

    An influx of experimental and theoretical studies of ion transport protein structure has inspired efforts to understand underlying determinants of ionic selectivity. Design principles for selective ion binding can be effectively isolated and interrogated using simplified models composed of a single ion surrounded by a set of ion-ligating molecular species. While quantum mechanical treatments of such systems naturally incorporate electronic degrees of freedom, their computational overhead typically prohibits thorough dynamic sampling of configurational space and, thus, requires approximations when determining ion-selective free energy. As an alternative, we employ dynamical simulations with a polarizable force field to probe the structure and K(+)/Na(+) selectivity in simple models composed of one central K(+)/Na(+) ion surrounded by 0-8 identical model compounds: N-methylacetamide, formamide, or water. In the absence of external restraints, these models represent gas-phase clusters displaying relaxed coordination structures with low coordination number. Such systems display Na(+) selectivity when composed of more than ∼3 organic carbonyl-containing compounds and always display K(+) selectivity when composed of water molecules. Upon imposing restraints that solely enforce specific coordination numbers, we find all models are K(+)-selective when ∼7-8-fold ion coordination is achieved. However, when models composed of the organic compounds provide ∼4-6-fold coordination, they retain their Na(+) selectivity. From these trends, design principles emerge that are of basic importance in the behavior of K(+) channel selectivity filters and suggest a basis not only for K(+) selectivity but also for modulation of block and closure by smaller ions.

  19. Study on the inclusion interaction of p-sulfonated calix[ n]arenes with Vitamin K 3 using methylene blue as a spectral probe

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, Qin; Gu, Jiashan; Yu, Huapeng; Liu, Chun; Wang, Lun; Zhou, Yunyou

    2007-09-01

    The characteristics of host-guest complexation between p-sulfonated calix[ n]arene ( SCnA, n = 4, 6) and Vitamin K 3 ( VK3) were investigated by fluorescence spectrometry and absorption spectrometry using methylene blue ( MB) as a probe. Interaction with MB and SCnA led to an obvious decrease in fluorescence intensity of MB, accompanying with shifts of emission peaks. Absorption peaks also showed interesting changes; however, when VK3 was added, fluorescence intensity and absorbance recovered and a slight and slow red shift was observed. The obtained results showed that the inclusion ability of p-sulphonated calix[ n]arenes towards VK3 was the order: p-sulphonated calix[6]arene ( SC6A) > p-sulphonated calix[4]arene ( SC4A). Relative mechanism was proposed to explain the inclusion process.

  20. Study on the inclusion interaction of p-sulfonated calix[n]arenes with Vitamin K3 using methylene blue as a spectral probe.

    PubMed

    Lu, Qin; Gu, Jiashan; Yu, Huapeng; Liu, Chun; Wang, Lun; Zhou, Yunyou

    2007-09-01

    The characteristics of host-guest complexation between p-sulfonated calix[n]arene (SCnA, n = 4, 6) and Vitamin K(3) (VK(3)) were investigated by fluorescence spectrometry and absorption spectrometry using methylene blue (MB) as a probe. Interaction with MB and SCnA led to an obvious decrease in fluorescence intensity of MB, accompanying with shifts of emission peaks. Absorption peaks also showed interesting changes; however, when VK(3) was added, fluorescence intensity and absorbance recovered and a slight and slow red shift was observed. The obtained results showed that the inclusion ability of p-sulphonated calix[n]arenes towards VK(3) was the order: p-sulphonated calix[6]arene (SC6A) >p-sulphonated calix[4]arene (SC4A). Relative mechanism was proposed to explain the inclusion process.

  1. Computed Tomographic Evaluation of K3 Rotary and Stainless Steel K File Instrumentation in Primary Teeth

    PubMed Central

    Kavitha, Swaminathan; Thomas, Eapen; Anadhan, Vasanthakumari; Vijayakumar, Rajendran

    2016-01-01

    Introduction The intention of root canal preparation is to reduce infected content and create a root canal shape allowing for a well condensed root filling. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove excessive dentine for successful root canal preparation and concern must be taken not to over instrument as perforations can occur in the thin dentinal walls of primary molars. Aim This study was done to evaluate the time preparation, the risk of lateral perforation and dentine removal of the stainless steel K file and K3 rotary instrumentation in primary teeth. Materials and Methods Seventy-five primary molars were selected and divided into three groups. Using spiral computed tomography the teeth were scanned before instrumentation. Teeth were prepared using a stainless steel K file for manual technique. All the canals were prepared up to file size 35. In K3 rotary files (.02 taper) instrumentation was done up to 35 size file. In K3 rotary files (.04 taper) the instrumentation was done up to 25 size file and simultaneously the instrumentation time was recorded. The instrumented teeth were once again scanned and the images were compared with the images of the uninstrumented canals. Statistical Analysis Data was statistically analysed using Kruskal Wallis One-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U-Test and Pearson’s Chi-square Test. Results K3 rotary files (.02 taper) removed a significantly less amount of dentine, required less instrumentation time than a stainless steel K file. Conclusion K3 files (.02 taper) generated less dentine removal than the stainless steel K file and K3 files (.04 taper). K3 rotary files (.02 taper) were more effective for root canal instrumentation in primary teeth. PMID:26894166

  2. Multicolor Upconversion Nanoprobes Based on a Dual Luminescence Resonance Energy Transfer Assay for Simultaneous Detection and Bioimaging of [Ca2+ ]i and pHi in Living Cells.

    PubMed

    Song, Xinyue; Yue, Zihong; Zhang, Jiayu; Jiang, Yanxialei; Wang, Zonghua; Zhang, Shusheng

    2018-04-25

    Intracellular [Ca 2+ ] i and pH i have a close relationship, and their abnormal levels can result in cell dysfunction and accompanying diseases. Thus, simultaneous determination of [Ca 2+ ] i and pH i can more accurately investigate complex biological processes in an integrated platform. Herein, multicolor upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) were prepared with the advantages of no spectral overlapping, single NIR excitation wavelengths, and greater tissue penetration depth. The upconversion nanoprobes were easily prepared by the attachment of two fluorescent dyes, Fluo-4 and SNARF-4F. Based on the dual luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) process, the blue and green fluorescence of the UCNPs were specially quenched and selectively recovered after the detachment and/or absorbance change of the attached fluorescent dyes, enabling dual detection. Importantly, the developed nanoprobe could successfully be applied for the detection of [Ca 2+ ] i and pH i change in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) stimulation in living cells. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  3. Finding the optimal dose of vitamin K1 to treat vitamin K deficiency and to avoid anaphylactoid reactions.

    PubMed

    Mi, Yan-Ni; Ping, Na-Na; Li, Bo; Xiao, Xue; Zhu, Yan-Bing; Cao, Lei; Ren, Jian-Kang; Cao, Yong-Xiao

    2017-10-01

    Vitamin K1 injection induces severe dose-related anaphylactoid reactions and overdose for the treatment of vitamin K deficiency. We aimed to find an optimal and small dose of vitamin K1 injection to treat vitamin K deficiency and avoid anaphylactoid reactions in animal. Rats were administered a vitamin K-deficient diet and gentamicin to establish vitamin K deficiency model. Behaviour tests were performed in beagle dogs to observe anaphylactoid reactions. The results showed an increased protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) levels, a prolonging of prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and a decrease in vitamin K-dependent coagulation factor (F) II, VII, IX and X activities in the model group. In vitamin K1 0.01 mg/kg group, the liver vitamin K1 levels increased fivefold and the liver vitamin K2 levels increased to the normal amount. Coagulation markers PT, APTT, FVII and FIX activities returned to normal. Both in the 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg vitamin K1 groups, coagulation functions completely returned to normal. Moreover, the amount of liver vitamin K1 was 40 (0.1 mg/kg) or 100 (1.0 mg/kg) times as in normal. Vitamin K2 was about 4 (0.1 mg/kg) or 5 (1.0 mg/kg) times as the normal amount. There was no obvious anaphylactoid symptom in dogs with the dose of 0.03 mg/kg, which is equivalent to the dose of 0.01 mg/kg in rats. These results demonstrated that a small dose of vitamin K1 is effective to improve vitamin K deficiency and to prevent anaphylactoid reactions, simultaneously. © 2017 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.

  4. Contributions of the Na+/K+-ATPase, NKCC1, and Kir4.1 to hippocampal K+ clearance and volume responses

    PubMed Central

    Larsen, Brian Roland; Assentoft, Mette; Cotrina, Maria L.; Hua, Susan Z.; Nedergaard, Maiken; Kaila, Kai; Voipio, Juha; MacAulay, Nanna

    2015-01-01

    Bursts of network activity in the brain are associated with a transient increase in extracellular K+ concentration. The excess K+ is removed from the extracellular space by mechanisms proposed to involve Kir4.1-mediated spatial buffering, the Na+/K+/2Cl− cotransporter (NKCC1), and/or Na+/K+-ATPase activity. Their individual contribution to [K+]o management has been of extended controversy. The present study aimed, by several complementary approaches, to delineate the transport characteristics of Kir4.1, NKCC1, and Na+/K+-ATPase and to resolve their involvement in clearance of extracellular K+ transients. Primary cultures of rat astrocytes displayed robust NKCC1 activity with [K+]o increases above basal levels. Increased [K+]o produced NKCC1-mediated swelling of cultured astrocytes and NKCC1 could thereby potentially act as a mechanism of K+ clearance while concomitantly mediate the associated shrinkage of the extracellular space. In rat hippocampal slices, inhibition of NKCC1 failed to affect the rate of K+ removal from the extracellular space while Kir4.1 enacted its spatial buffering only during a local [K+]o increase. In contrast, inhibition of the different isoforms of Na+/K+-ATPase reduced post-stimulusclearance of K+ transients. The glia-specific α2/β2 subunit composition of Na+/K+-ATPase, when expressed in Xenopus oocytes, displayed a K+ affinity and voltage-sensitivity that would render this astrocyte-specific subunit composition specifically geared for controlling [K+]o during neuronal activity. In rat hippocampal slices, simultaneous measurements of the extracellular space volume revealed that neither Kir4.1, NKCC1, nor Na+/K+-ATPase accounted for the stimulus-induced shrinkage of the extracellular space. Thus, NKCC1 plays no role in activity-induced extracellular K+ recovery in native hippocampal tissue while Kir4.1 and Na+/K+-ATPase serve temporally distinct roles. PMID:24482245

  5. Tetrahalide complexes of the [U(NR)2]2+ ion: synthesis, theory, and chlorine K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Spencer, Liam P; Yang, Ping; Minasian, Stefan G; Jilek, Robert E; Batista, Enrique R; Boland, Kevin S; Boncella, James M; Conradson, Steven D; Clark, David L; Hayton, Trevor W; Kozimor, Stosh A; Martin, Richard L; MacInnes, Molly M; Olson, Angela C; Scott, Brian L; Shuh, David K; Wilkerson, Marianne P

    2013-02-13

    Synthetic routes to salts containing uranium bis-imido tetrahalide anions [U(NR)(2)X(4)](2-) (X = Cl(-), Br(-)) and non-coordinating NEt(4)(+) and PPh(4)(+) countercations are reported. In general, these compounds can be prepared from U(NR)(2)I(2)(THF)(x) (x = 2 and R = (t)Bu, Ph; x = 3 and R = Me) upon addition of excess halide. In addition to providing stable coordination complexes with Cl(-), the [U(NMe)(2)](2+) cation also reacts with Br(-) to form stable [NEt(4)](2)[U(NMe)(2)Br(4)] complexes. These materials were used as a platform to compare electronic structure and bonding in [U(NR)(2)](2+) with [UO(2)](2+). Specifically, Cl K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and both ground-state and time-dependent hybrid density functional theory (DFT and TDDFT) were used to probe U-Cl bonding interactions in [PPh(4)](2)[U(N(t)Bu)(2)Cl(4)] and [PPh(4)](2)[UO(2)Cl(4)]. The DFT and XAS results show the total amount of Cl 3p character mixed with the U 5f orbitals was roughly 7-10% per U-Cl bond for both compounds, which shows that moving from oxo to imido has little effect on orbital mixing between the U 5f and equatorial Cl 3p orbitals. The results are presented in the context of recent Cl K-edge XAS and DFT studies on other hexavalent uranium chloride systems with fewer oxo or imido ligands.

  6. Chemistry of K in Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 photovoltaic absorbers: Effects of temperature on Cu-K-In-Se films

    DOE PAGES

    Muzzillo, Christopher P.; Tong, Ho Ming; Anderson, Tim

    2017-08-05

    Incorporation of K has led to world record Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 photovoltaic power conversion efficiencies, but there is poor consensus about the role of phase impurities in these advances. This work lays a foundation for identifying and controlling these phase impurities. Films of Cu-K-In-Se were co-evaporated at varied K/(K + Cu) compositions and substrate temperatures (with constant (K + Cu)/In ~ 0.85). Increased Na composition on the substrate's surface and decreased growth temperature were both found to favor Cu 1-xK xInSe 2 alloy formation, relative to two-phase CuInSe 2+KInSe 2 formation. Structures from X-ray diffraction (XRD), band gaps, resistivities, minority carriermore » lifetimes and carrier concentrations from time-resolved photoluminescence were in agreement with previous reports, where low K/(K + Cu) composition films exhibited properties promising for photovoltaic absorbers. Films grown at 400-500 °C were then annealed to 600 degrees C in a controlled Se ambient, which caused K loss by evaporation in proportion to the initial K/(K + Cu) composition. Similar to growth temperature, annealing drove Cu 1-xK xInSe 2 alloy consumption and CuInSe 2+KInSe 2 production, as evidenced by high temperature XRD. Annealing also decomposed KInSe 2 and formed K 2In 12Se 19. At high temperature, the KInSe 2 crystal lattice gradually contracted as temperature and time increased, as well as just time. Evaporative loss of K during annealing could accompany the generation of vacancies on K lattice sites, and may explain the KInSe 2 lattice contraction. As a result, this knowledge of Cu-K-In-Se material chemistry may be used to predict and control minor phase impurities in Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S) 2 photovoltaic absorbers - where impurities below typical detection limits may have played a role in recent world record photovoltaic efficiencies that utilized KF post-deposition treatments.« less

  7. Chemistry of K in Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 photovoltaic absorbers: Effects of temperature on Cu-K-In-Se films

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Muzzillo, Christopher P.; Tong, Ho Ming; Anderson, Tim

    Incorporation of K has led to world record Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 photovoltaic power conversion efficiencies, but there is poor consensus about the role of phase impurities in these advances. This work lays a foundation for identifying and controlling these phase impurities. Films of Cu-K-In-Se were co-evaporated at varied K/(K + Cu) compositions and substrate temperatures (with constant (K + Cu)/In ~ 0.85). Increased Na composition on the substrate's surface and decreased growth temperature were both found to favor Cu 1-xK xInSe 2 alloy formation, relative to two-phase CuInSe 2+KInSe 2 formation. Structures from X-ray diffraction (XRD), band gaps, resistivities, minority carriermore » lifetimes and carrier concentrations from time-resolved photoluminescence were in agreement with previous reports, where low K/(K + Cu) composition films exhibited properties promising for photovoltaic absorbers. Films grown at 400-500 °C were then annealed to 600 degrees C in a controlled Se ambient, which caused K loss by evaporation in proportion to the initial K/(K + Cu) composition. Similar to growth temperature, annealing drove Cu 1-xK xInSe 2 alloy consumption and CuInSe 2+KInSe 2 production, as evidenced by high temperature XRD. Annealing also decomposed KInSe 2 and formed K 2In 12Se 19. At high temperature, the KInSe 2 crystal lattice gradually contracted as temperature and time increased, as well as just time. Evaporative loss of K during annealing could accompany the generation of vacancies on K lattice sites, and may explain the KInSe 2 lattice contraction. As a result, this knowledge of Cu-K-In-Se material chemistry may be used to predict and control minor phase impurities in Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S) 2 photovoltaic absorbers - where impurities below typical detection limits may have played a role in recent world record photovoltaic efficiencies that utilized KF post-deposition treatments.« less

  8. Pinealitis accompanying equine recurrent uveitis.

    PubMed Central

    Kalsow, C M; Dwyer, A E; Smith, A W; Nifong, T P

    1993-01-01

    There is no direct verification of pineal gland involvement in human uveitis. Specimens of pineal tissue are not available during active uveitis in human patients. Naturally occurring uveitis in horses gives us an opportunity to examine tissues during active ocular inflammation. We examined the pineal gland of a horse that was killed because it had become blind during an episode of uveitis. The clinical history and histopathology of the eyes were consistent with post-leptospiral equine recurrent uveitis. The pineal gland of this horse had significant inflammatory infiltration consisting mainly of lymphocytes with some eosinophils. This observation of pinealitis accompanying equine uveitis supports the animal models of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis with associated pinealitis and suggests that the pineal gland may be involved in some human uveitides. Images PMID:8435400

  9. The guitar chord-generating algorithm based on complex network

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ren, Tao; Wang, Yi-fan; Du, Dan; Liu, Miao-miao; Siddiqi, Awais

    2016-02-01

    This paper aims to generate chords for popular songs automatically based on complex network. Firstly, according to the characteristics of guitar tablature, six chord networks of popular songs by six pop singers are constructed and the properties of all networks are concluded. By analyzing the diverse chord networks, the accompaniment regulations and features are shown, with which the chords can be generated automatically. Secondly, in terms of the characteristics of popular songs, a two-tiered network containing a verse network and a chorus network is constructed. With this network, the verse and chorus can be composed respectively with the random walk algorithm. Thirdly, the musical motif is considered for generating chords, with which the bad chord progressions can be revised. This method can make the accompaniments sound more melodious. Finally, a popular song is chosen for generating chords and the new generated accompaniment sounds better than those done by the composers.

  10. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) in the Siilinjärvi carbonatite complex, eastern Finland

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Almqvist, Bjarne; Karell, Fredrik; Högdahl, Karin; Malehmir, Alireza; Heino, Pasi; Salo, Aleksi

    2017-04-01

    We present a set of AMS measurements on samples from the Siilinjärvi alkaline-carbonatite complex in eastern Finland. The complex has a tabular shape (ca. 16 km long, 1.5 km wide) that strikes north-south and is constrained within a steeply dipping N-S oriented deformation zone. It consists of a mixture of lithologies, including carbonatite, fenite and glimmerite (mica-rich rocks), which is hosted within a Precambrian granite and gneiss. After emplacement of the carbonatite, the complex was subsequently intruded by diabase dykes. Deformation has occurred in several episodes after dyke intrusions, and strain is heterogeneously distributed among the different lithologies. Strain localizes mainly within glimmerite and carbonatite, and at the contacts between dykes and glimmerite/carbonatite where shear zones develop locally. Structures provide indications for both simple (strike-slip) and pure shear components in the deformation history of the complex, although the former may dominate. Thirty-six localities were sampled, providing 272 specimens for AMS measurements, within the southern and eastern parts of the Siilinjärvi open-pit mine (within the complex), mainly from diabase dykes, glimmerite and carbonatites; a smaller number of samples were collected from fenite. Sampling was carried out in order to investigate magnetic fabrics in relation to the emplacement of the dykes and their structural relationship to the glimmerite/carbonatite. Structural measurements were made to accompany the magnetic fabric study. The magnetic fabric shows a magnetic foliation plane that is oriented north-south, with sub-horizontal k3-axes oriented nearly east-west. Magnetic lineation (k1) clusters sub-vertically, but does show a tendency to spread along the north-south magnetic foliation great circle. The dataset can be further divided into two sub-sets based on the bulk susceptibility (km) and degree of anisotropy (P). The bulk of the data set ( 70 %), belonging to samples of diabase

  11. Anticancer redox activity of gallium nanoparticles accompanied with low dose of gamma radiation in female mice.

    PubMed

    Kandil, Eman I; El-Sonbaty, Sawsan M; Moawed, Fatma Sm; Khedr, Ola Ms

    2018-03-01

    Guided treatments with nanoparticles and radiotherapy are a new approach in cancer therapy. This study evaluated the beneficial antitumor effects of γ-radiation together with gallium nanoparticles against solid Ehrlich carcinoma in female mice. Gallium nanoparticles were biologically synthesized using Lactobacillus helveticus cells. Transmission electron microscopy showed gallium nanoparticles with size range of 8-20 nm. In vitro study of gallium nanoparticles on MCF-7 revealed IC 50 of 8.0 μg. Gallium nanoparticles (0.1 mg/kg body weight) were injected intraperitoneally daily on the seventh day of Ehrlich carcinoma cells inoculation. Whole-body γ-radiation was carried out at a single dose of 0.25 Gy on eighth day after tumor inoculation. Biochemical analysis showed that solid Ehrlich carcinoma induced a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase activity and creatinine level in serum, calcium, and iron concentrations in liver tissue compared to normal control. Treatment of Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice with gallium nanoparticles and/or low dose of γ-radiation exposure significantly reduced tumor volume, decreased alanine aminotransferase and creatinine levels in serum, increased lipid peroxidation, and decreased glutathione content as well as calcium and iron concentrations in liver and tumor tissues with intense DNA fragmentation accompanied compared to untreated tumor cells. Moreover, mitochondria in the treated groups displayed a significant increase in Na+/K+-ATPase, complexes II and III with significant reduction in CYP450 gene expression, which may indicate a synergistic effect of gallium nanoparticles and/or low dose of γ-radiation combination against Ehrlich carcinoma injury, and this results were well appreciated with the histopathological findings in the tumor tissue. We conclude that combined treatment of gallium nanoparticles and low dose of gamma-radiation resulted in suppressive induction of cytotoxic effects on cancer cells.

  12. 30 CFR 250.252 - What environmental monitoring information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false What environmental monitoring information must... Development Operations Coordination Documents (docd) § 250.252 What environmental monitoring information must accompany the DPP or DOCD? The following environmental monitoring information, as applicable, must accompany...

  13. Modulation of NCC activity by low and high K(+) intake: insights into the signaling pathways involved.

    PubMed

    Castañeda-Bueno, María; Cervantes-Perez, Luz Graciela; Rojas-Vega, Lorena; Arroyo-Garza, Isidora; Vázquez, Norma; Moreno, Erika; Gamba, Gerardo

    2014-06-15

    Modulation of Na(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter (NCC) activity is essential to adjust K(+) excretion in the face of changes in dietary K(+) intake. We used previously characterized genetic mouse models to assess the role of Ste20-related proline-alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) and with-no-lysine kinase (WNK)4 in the modulation of NCC by K(+) diets. SPAK knockin and WNK4 knockout mice were placed on normal-, low-, or high-K(+)-citrate diets for 4 days. The low-K(+) diet decreased and high-K(+) diet increased plasma aldosterone levels, but both diets were associated with increased phosphorylation of NCC (phospho-NCC, Thr(44)/Thr(48)/Thr(53)) and phosphorylation of SPAK/oxidative stress responsive kinase 1 (phospho-SPAK/OSR1, Ser(383)/Ser(325)). The effect of the low-K(+) diet on SPAK phosphorylation persisted in WNK4 knockout and SPAK knockin mice, whereas the effects of ANG II on NCC and SPAK were lost in both mouse colonies. This suggests that for NCC activation by ANG II, integrity of the WNK4/SPAK pathway is required, whereas for the low-K(+) diet, SPAK phosphorylation occurred despite the absence of WNK4, suggesting the involvement of another WNK (WNK1 or WNK3). Additionally, because NCC activation also occurred in SPAK knockin mice, it is possible that loss of SPAK was compensated by OSR1. The positive effect of the high-K(+) diet was observed when the accompanying anion was citrate, whereas the high-KCl diet reduced NCC phosphorylation. However, the effect of the high-K(+)-citrate diet was aldosterone dependent, and neither metabolic alkalosis induced by bicarbonate, nor citrate administration in the absence of K(+) increased NCC phosphorylation, suggesting that it was not due to citrate-induced metabolic alkalosis. Thus, the accompanying anion might modulate the NCC response to the high-K(+) diet. Copyright © 2014 the American Physiological Society.

  14. Hierarchical learning induces two simultaneous, but separable, prediction errors in human basal ganglia.

    PubMed

    Diuk, Carlos; Tsai, Karin; Wallis, Jonathan; Botvinick, Matthew; Niv, Yael

    2013-03-27

    Studies suggest that dopaminergic neurons report a unitary, global reward prediction error signal. However, learning in complex real-life tasks, in particular tasks that show hierarchical structure, requires multiple prediction errors that may coincide in time. We used functional neuroimaging to measure prediction error signals in humans performing such a hierarchical task involving simultaneous, uncorrelated prediction errors. Analysis of signals in a priori anatomical regions of interest in the ventral striatum and the ventral tegmental area indeed evidenced two simultaneous, but separable, prediction error signals corresponding to the two levels of hierarchy in the task. This result suggests that suitably designed tasks may reveal a more intricate pattern of firing in dopaminergic neurons. Moreover, the need for downstream separation of these signals implies possible limitations on the number of different task levels that we can learn about simultaneously.

  15. Hierarchical Learning Induces Two Simultaneous, But Separable, Prediction Errors in Human Basal Ganglia

    PubMed Central

    Tsai, Karin; Wallis, Jonathan; Botvinick, Matthew

    2013-01-01

    Studies suggest that dopaminergic neurons report a unitary, global reward prediction error signal. However, learning in complex real-life tasks, in particular tasks that show hierarchical structure, requires multiple prediction errors that may coincide in time. We used functional neuroimaging to measure prediction error signals in humans performing such a hierarchical task involving simultaneous, uncorrelated prediction errors. Analysis of signals in a priori anatomical regions of interest in the ventral striatum and the ventral tegmental area indeed evidenced two simultaneous, but separable, prediction error signals corresponding to the two levels of hierarchy in the task. This result suggests that suitably designed tasks may reveal a more intricate pattern of firing in dopaminergic neurons. Moreover, the need for downstream separation of these signals implies possible limitations on the number of different task levels that we can learn about simultaneously. PMID:23536092

  16. Bilateral Neuroretinitis and a Unilateral Superior Hemivein Occlusion with Frosted Branch Angiitis Pattern Presenting Simultaneously in Behçet's Disease.

    PubMed

    Schwartz, Roy; Borok, Sara; Goldstein, Michaella; Kesler, Anat; Regev, Keren; Elkayam, Ori; Habot-Wilner, Zohar

    2016-01-01

    To report a unique case of Behçet's disease that presented with atypical ocular manifestations. Case report. A 23-year-old homosexual male presented with bilateral anterior uveitis, vitritis, neuroretinitis and a unilateral superior hemivein occlusion with frosted branch angiitis pattern. These were accompanied by systemic findings of recurrent oral aphthous ulcers, erythema nodosum, and neurological and gastrointestinal involvement. A positive HLA-B51 examination supported the diagnosis of Behçet's disease. Neuroretinitis and frosted branch angiitis may be the clinical manifestations of Behçet's disease and may present simultaneously.

  17. Microglial K+ Channel Expression in Young Adult and Aged Mice

    PubMed Central

    Schilling, Tom; Eder, Claudia

    2015-01-01

    The K+ channel expression pattern of microglia strongly depends on the cells' microenvironment and has been recognized as a sensitive marker of the cells' functional state. While numerous studies have been performed on microglia in vitro, our knowledge about microglial K+ channels and their regulation in vivo is limited. Here, we have investigated K+ currents of microglia in striatum, neocortex and entorhinal cortex of young adult and aged mice. Although almost all microglial cells exhibited inward rectifier K+ currents upon membrane hyperpolarization, their mean current density was significantly enhanced in aged mice compared with that determined in young adult mice. Some microglial cells additionally exhibited outward rectifier K+ currents in response to depolarizing voltage pulses. In aged mice, microglial outward rectifier K+ current density was significantly larger than in young adult mice due to the increased number of aged microglial cells expressing these channels. Aged dystrophic microglia exhibited outward rectifier K+ currents more frequently than aged ramified microglia. The majority of microglial cells expressed functional BK-type, but not IK- or SK-type, Ca2+-activated K+ channels, while no differences were found in their expression levels between microglia of young adult and aged mice. Neither microglial K+ channel pattern nor K+ channel expression levels differed markedly between the three brain regions investigated. It is concluded that age-related changes in microglial phenotype are accompanied by changes in the expression of microglial voltage-activated, but not Ca2+-activated, K+ channels. PMID:25472417

  18. Food pattern modeling shows that the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for sodium and potassium cannot be met simultaneously

    PubMed Central

    Maillot, Matthieu; Monsivais, Pablo; Drewnowski, Adam

    2013-01-01

    The 2010 US Dietary Guidelines recommended limiting intake of sodium to 1500 mg/d for people older than 50 years, African Americans, and those suffering from chronic disease. The guidelines recommended that all other people consume less than 2300 mg sodium and 4700 mg of potassium per day. The theoretical feasibility of meeting the sodium and potassium guidelines while simultaneously maintaining nutritional adequacy of the diet was tested using food pattern modeling based on linear programming. Dietary data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2002 were used to create optimized food patterns for 6 age-sex groups. Linear programming models determined the boundary conditions for the potassium and sodium content of the modeled food patterns that would also be compatible with other nutrient goals. Linear programming models also sought to determine the amounts of sodium and potassium that both would be consistent with the ratio of Na to K of 0.49 and would cause the least deviation from the existing food habits. The 6 sets of food patterns were created before and after an across-the-board 10% reduction in sodium content of all foods in the Food and Nutrition Database for Dietary Studies. Modeling analyses showed that the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for sodium were incompatible with potassium guidelines and with nutritionally adequate diets, even after reducing the sodium content of all US foods by 10%. Feasibility studies should precede or accompany the issuing of dietary guidelines to the public. PMID:23507224

  19. High-K granites of the Rum Jungle Complex, N-Australia: Insights into the Late Archean crustal evolution of the North Australian Craton

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Drüppel, K.; McCready, A. J.; Stumpfl, E. F.

    2009-08-01

    The Late Archean (c. 2.54-2.52 Ga) high-K granitoids of the Rum Jungle Complex, Northern Australia, display the igneous mineral assemblage of K-feldspar, quartz, plagioclase, biotite, and magnetite, and accessories such as zircon, monazite, titanite, allanite, apatite, and ilmenite. The granites underwent a variably severe greenschist facies alteration and associated deformation during the Barramundi Orogeny (1.88-1.85 Ga). The K-rich granitoids have variable compositions, mainly comprising syenogranite and quartz-monzonite. They can be subdivided into two major groups, (1) felsic granites and (2) intermediate to felsic granites, quartz-monzonites, and diorite. The felsic group (69-76 wt.% SiO 2) shares many features with typical Late Archean potassic granites. They are K- and LILE-rich and show marked depletion in Sr and Eu and the high field strength elements (HFSE), particularly Nb and Ti, relative to LILE and LREE. Compared to the average upper crust they have anomalously high Th (up to 123 ppm) and U (up to 40 ppm). The intermediate to felsic group (56-69 wt.% SiO 2) differs from the felsic group in having weakly lower Th and U but higher Mg#, Ti, Ba, Sr, Ni, Cr and REE, with a less pronounced negative Eu anomaly. This group displays well-defined trends in Harker diagrams, involving a negative correlation of Si with Sr, Ca, Na, and P whereas K, Rb, and Ba increase in the same direction, suggesting fractional crystallization of feldspar was more prominent than in the felsic suite. The mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the felsic group are consistent with granite formation by intracrustal melting of plagioclase-rich igneous protoliths, probably of tonaltic to granodioritic composition, at moderate crustal levels. The intermediate to felsic granites, on the other hand, appear to be the products of mantle-crust interaction, possibly by melting of or mixing with more mafic igneous rocks. As evidenced by the presence of older inherited zircons crustal

  20. Luminescence of the (O{sub 2}(a{sup 1}Δ{sub g})){sub 2} collisional complex in the temperature range of 90-315 K: Experiment and theory

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zagidullin, M. V., E-mail: marsel@fian.smr.ru; Pershin, A. A., E-mail: anchizh93@gmail.com; Azyazov, V. N., E-mail: azyazov@ssau.ru

    Experimental and theoretical studies of collision induced emission of singlet oxygen molecules O{sub 2}(a{sup 1}Δ{sub g}) in the visible range have been performed. The rate constants, half-widths, and position of peaks for the emission bands of the (O{sub 2}(a{sup 1}Δ{sub g})){sub 2} collisional complex centered around 634 nm (2) and 703 nm (3) have been measured in the temperature range of 90–315 K using a flow-tube apparatus that utilized a gas-liquid chemical singlet oxygen generator. The absolute values of the spontaneous emission rate constants k{sub 2} and k{sub 3} are found to be similar, with the k{sub 3}/k{sub 2} ratiomore » monotonically decreasing from 1.1 at 300 K to 0.96 at 90 K. k{sub 2} slowly decreases with decreasing temperature but a sharp increase in its values is measured below 100 K. The experimental results were rationalized in terms of ab initio calculations of the ground and excited potential energy and transition dipole moment surfaces of singlet electronic states of the (O{sub 2}){sub 2} dimole, which were utilized to compute rate constants k{sub 2} and k{sub 3} within a statistical model. The best theoretical results reproduced experimental rate constants with the accuracy of under 40% and correctly described the observed temperature dependence. The main contribution to emission process (2), which does not involve vibrational excitation of O{sub 2} molecules at the ground electronic level, comes from the spin- and symmetry-allowed 1{sup 1}A{sub g}←{sup 1}B{sub 3u} transition in the rectangular H configuration of the dimole. Alternatively, emission process (3), in which one of the monomers becomes vibrationally excited in the ground electronic state, is found to be predominantly due to the vibronically allowed 1{sup 1}A{sub g}←2{sup 1}A{sub g} transition induced by the asymmetric O–O stretch vibration in the collisional complex. The strong vibronic coupling between nearly degenerate excited singlet states of the dimole makes

  1. Simultaneous measurement of polymerization stress and curing kinetics for photo-polymerized composites with high filler contents.

    PubMed

    Wang, Zhengzhi; Landis, Forrest A; Giuseppetti, Anthony A M; Lin-Gibson, Sheng; Chiang, Martin Y M

    2014-12-01

    Photopolymerized composites are used in a broad range of applications with their performance largely directed by reaction kinetics and contraction accompanying polymerization. The present study was to demonstrate an instrument capable of simultaneously collecting multiple kinetics parameters for a wide range of photopolymerizable systems: degree of conversion (DC), reaction exotherm, and polymerization stress (PS). Our system consisted of a cantilever beam-based instrument (tensometer) that has been optimized to capture a large range of stress generated by lightly-filled to highly-filled composites. The sample configuration allows the tensometer to be coupled to a fast near infrared (NIR) spectrometer collecting spectra in transmission mode. Using our instrument design, simultaneous measurements of PS and DC are performed, for the first time, on a commercial composite with ≈80% (by mass) silica particle fillers. The in situ NIR spectrometer collects more than 10 spectra per second, allowing for thorough characterization of reaction kinetics. With increased instrument sensitivity coupled with the ability to collect real time reaction kinetics information, we show that the external constraint imposed by the cantilever beam during polymerization could affect the rate of cure and final degree of polymerization. The present simultaneous measurement technique is expected to provide new insights into kinetics and property relationships for photopolymerized composites with high filler content such as dental restorative composites. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  2. Simultaneous Measurement of Polymerization Stress and Curing Kinetics for Photo-polymerized Composites with High Filler Contents

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Zhengzhi; Landis, Forrest A.; Giuseppetti, Anthony A.M.; Lin-Gibson, Sheng; Chiang, Martin Y.M.

    2015-01-01

    Objectives Photopolymerized composites are used in a broad range of applications with their performance largely directed by reaction kinetics and contraction accompanying polymerization. The present study was to demonstrate an instrument capable of simultaneously collecting multiple kinetics parameters for a wide range of photopolymerizable systems: degree of conversion (DC), reaction exotherm, and polymerization stress (PS). Methods Our system consisted of a cantilever beam-based instrument (tensometer) that has been optimized to capture a large range of stress generated by lightly-filled to highly-filled composites. The sample configuration allows the tensometer to be coupled to a fast near infrared (NIR) spectrometer collecting spectra in transmission mode. Results Using our instrument design, simultaneous measurements of PS and DC are performed, for the first time, on a commercial composite with ≈ 80 % (by mass) silica particle fillers. The in situ NIR spectrometer collects more than 10 spectra per second, allowing for thorough characterization of reaction kinetics. With increased instrument sensitivity coupled with the ability to collect real time reaction kinetics information, we show that the external constraint imposed by the cantilever beam during polymerization could affect the rate of cure and final degree of polymerization. Significance The present simultaneous measurement technique is expected to provide new insights into kinetics and property relationships for photopolymerized composites with high filler content such as dental restorative composites. PMID:25443160

  3. 30 CFR 550.252 - What environmental monitoring information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false What environmental monitoring information must... Coordination Documents (docd) § 550.252 What environmental monitoring information must accompany the DPP or DOCD? The following environmental monitoring information, as applicable, must accompany your DPP or...

  4. 30 CFR 550.252 - What environmental monitoring information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false What environmental monitoring information must... Coordination Documents (docd) § 550.252 What environmental monitoring information must accompany the DPP or DOCD? The following environmental monitoring information, as applicable, must accompany your DPP or...

  5. 30 CFR 550.252 - What environmental monitoring information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false What environmental monitoring information must... Coordination Documents (docd) § 550.252 What environmental monitoring information must accompany the DPP or DOCD? The following environmental monitoring information, as applicable, must accompany your DPP or...

  6. 30 CFR 250.252 - What environmental monitoring information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false What environmental monitoring information must... Documents (docd) § 250.252 What environmental monitoring information must accompany the DPP or DOCD? The following environmental monitoring information, as applicable, must accompany your DPP or DOCD: (a...

  7. Fluorescence spectroscopy reveals accompanying occurrence of ammonium with fulvic acid-like organic matter in a fluvio-lacustrine aquifer of Jianhan Plain.

    PubMed

    Huang, Shuangbing; Wang, Yanxin; Ma, Teng; Wang, Yanyan; Zhao, Long

    2016-05-01

    This study is the first to investigate the simultaneous presence of NH4 (+) and fluorescent organic matter components (FOCs) from a fluvio-lacustrine aquifer in Central Jianghan Plain. Sediment, groundwater, and surface water samples were collected for the sediment organic matter extraction, 3D fluorescence spectroscopy characterization, and/or hydrochemical analysis. NH4 (+) and dissolved organic carbon was ubiquitous in the groundwater. The fluorescence spectroscopy revealed good relationships between NH4 (+) and fulvic acid-like components (FALCs) in the groundwater and sediment-extracted organic matter (SEOM) solutions. NH4 (+) also exhibited significant positive correlation with protein-like component (PLC) (p < 0.001), with the stronger in the SEOM solutions than that in groundwater. Comparisons of spectroscopic indices [e.g., humification index (HIX), biological index (BIX), spectra slope (S275-295), and specific UV absorbance (SUVA254)] between the groundwater and SEOM solutions revealed more labile properties of SEOM. This result indicates that the decreasing NH4 (+)-FOCs correlations of groundwater relative to sediments may be attributed to microbial degradation. Factor analysis identifies important factors that cause NH4 (+) occurrence in the groundwater. The accompanying increase of FALC (C1) and NH4-N with the mole concentration of the normalized HCO3 (-)/(Ca(2+)+Mg(2+)) and [H(+)] suggests that couple effects of various biodegradations simultaneously occur in the aquifer, promoting the occurrence of NH4-DOMs.

  8. Complex Chern-Simons Theory at Level k via the 3d-3d Correspondence

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dimofte, Tudor

    2015-10-01

    We use the 3d-3d correspondence together with the DGG construction of theories T n [ M] labelled by 3-manifolds M to define a non-perturbative state-integral model for Chern-Simons theory at any level k, based on ideal triangulations. The resulting partition functions generalize a widely studied k = 1 state-integral, as well as the 3d index, which is k = 0. The Chern-Simons partition functions correspond to partition functions of T n [ M] on squashed lens spaces L( k, 1). At any k, they admit a holomorphic-antiholomorphic factorization, corresponding to the decomposition of L( k, 1) into two solid tori, and the associated holomorphic block decomposition of the partition functions of T n [ M]. A generalization to L( k, p) is also presented. Convergence of the state integrals, for any k, requires triangulations to admit a positive angle structure; we propose that this is also necessary for the DGG gauge theory T n [ M] to flow to a desired IR SCFT.

  9. Dissociation of a Dynamic Protein Complex Studied by All-Atom Molecular Simulations.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Liqun; Borthakur, Susmita; Buck, Matthias

    2016-02-23

    The process of protein complex dissociation remains to be understood at the atomic level of detail. Computers now allow microsecond timescale molecular-dynamics simulations, which make the visualization of such processes possible. Here, we investigated the dissociation process of the EphA2-SHIP2 SAM-SAM domain heterodimer complex using unrestrained all-atom molecular-dynamics simulations. Previous studies on this system have shown that alternate configurations are sampled, that their interconversion can be fast, and that the complex is dynamic by nature. Starting from different NMR-derived structures, mutants were designed to stabilize a subset of configurations by swapping ion pairs across the protein-protein interface. We focused on two mutants, K956D/D1235K and R957D/D1223R, with attenuated binding affinity compared with the wild-type proteins. In contrast to calculations on the wild-type complexes, the majority of simulations of these mutants showed protein dissociation within 2.4 μs. During the separation process, we observed domain rotation and pivoting as well as a translation and simultaneous rolling, typically to alternate and weaker binding interfaces. Several unsuccessful recapturing attempts occurred once the domains were moderately separated. An analysis of protein solvation suggests that the dissociation process correlates with a progressive loss of protein-protein contacts. Furthermore, an evaluation of internal protein dynamics using quasi-harmonic and order parameter analyses indicates that changes in protein internal motions are expected to contribute significantly to the thermodynamics of protein dissociation. Considering protein association as the reverse of the separation process, the initial role of charged/polar interactions is emphasized, followed by changes in protein and solvent dynamics. The trajectories show that protein separation does not follow a single distinct pathway, but suggest that the mechanism of dissociation is common in

  10. TGF-beta1 modulates matrix metalloproteinase-13 expression in hepatic stellate cells by complex mechanisms involving p38MAPK, PI3-kinase, AKT, and p70S6k.

    PubMed

    Lechuga, Carmen G; Hernández-Nazara, Zamira H; Domínguez Rosales, José-Alfredo; Morris, Elena R; Rincón, Ana Rosa; Rivas-Estilla, Ana María; Esteban-Gamboa, Andrés; Rojkind, Marcos

    2004-11-01

    Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), the main cytokine involved in liver fibrogenesis, induces expression of the type I collagen genes in hepatic stellate cells by a transcriptional mechanism, which is hydrogen peroxide and de novo protein synthesis dependent. Our recent studies have revealed that expression of type I collagen and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) mRNAs in hepatic stellate cells is reciprocally modulated. Because TGF-beta1 induces a transient elevation of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA, we investigated whether this cytokine was able to induce the expression of MMP-13 mRNA during the downfall of the alpha1(I) collagen mRNA. In the present study, we report that TGF-beta1 induces a rapid decline in steady-state levels of MMP-13 mRNA at the time that it induces the expression of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA. This change in MMP-13 mRNA expression occurs within the first 6 h postcytokine administration and is accompanied by a twofold increase in gene transcription and a fivefold decrease in mRNA half-life. This is followed by increased expression of MMP-13 mRNA, which reaches maximal values by 48 h. Our results also show that this TGF-beta1-mediated effect is de novo protein synthesis-dependent and requires the activity of p38MAPK, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, AKT, and p70(S6k). Altogether, our data suggest that regulation of MMP-13 by TGF-beta1 is a complex process involving transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms.

  11. Simultaneity, relativity and conventionality

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Janis, Allen I.

    2008-01-01

    The view of simultaneity presented by Max Jammer is almost breathtaking, encompassing, as the book's subtitle suggests, the period from antiquity to the 21st century. Many interesting things are to be found along the way. For example, what Jammer (p. 49) says "may well be regarded as probably the earliest recorded example of an operational definition of distant simultaneity" is due to St. Augustine (in his Confessions, written in 397 A.D.; for a modern translation, see Augustine, 2006). He was arguing against astrology by presenting the story of two women, one rich and one poor, who gave birth simultaneously. Although the two children thus had precisely the same horoscopes, their lives followed quite different courses. And how was it determined that the births were simultaneous? A messenger went from each birth site to the other, leaving the instant the child was born (and, presumably, traveling with equal speeds). Since the messengers met at the midpoint between the locations of the two births, the births must have been simultaneous. This is, of course, quite analogous to Albert Einstein's definition of simultaneity (given more than 1500 years later), which will be discussed in Section 2.1.

  12. Crystal structure of the tyrosine kinase domain of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor c-Met and its complex with the microbial alkaloid K-252a.

    PubMed

    Schiering, Nikolaus; Knapp, Stefan; Marconi, Marina; Flocco, Maria M; Cui, Jean; Perego, Rita; Rusconi, Luisa; Cristiani, Cinzia

    2003-10-28

    The protooncogene c-met codes for the hepatocyte growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase. Binding of its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor, stimulates receptor autophosphorylation, which leads to pleiotropic downstream signaling events in epithelial cells, including cell growth, motility, and invasion. These events are mediated by interaction of cytoplasmic effectors, generally through Src homology 2 (SH2) domains, with two phosphotyrosine-containing sequence motifs in the unique C-terminal tail of c-Met (supersite). There is a strong link between aberrant c-Met activity and oncogenesis, which makes this kinase an important cancer drug target. The furanosylated indolocarbazole K-252a belongs to a family of microbial alkaloids that also includes staurosporine. It was recently shown to be a potent inhibitor of c-Met. Here we report the crystal structures of an unphosphorylated c-Met kinase domain harboring a human cancer mutation and its complex with K-252a at 1.8-A resolution. The structure follows the well established architecture of protein kinases. It adopts a unique, inhibitory conformation of the activation loop, a catalytically noncompetent orientation of helix alphaC, and reveals the complete C-terminal docking site. The first SH2-binding motif (1349YVHV) adopts an extended conformation, whereas the second motif (1356YVNV), a binding site for Grb2-SH2, folds as a type II Beta-turn. The intermediate portion of the supersite (1353NATY) assumes a type I Beta-turn conformation as in an Shc-phosphotyrosine binding domain peptide complex. K-252a is bound in the adenosine pocket with an analogous binding mode to those observed in previously reported structures of protein kinases in complex with staurosporine.

  13. 30 CFR 550.249 - What air emissions information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... and Information Contents of Development and Production Plans (dpp) and Development Operations Coordination Documents (docd) § 550.249 What air emissions information must accompany the DPP or DOCD? The... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false What air emissions information must accompany...

  14. 30 CFR 550.249 - What air emissions information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... and Information Contents of Development and Production Plans (dpp) and Development Operations Coordination Documents (docd) § 550.249 What air emissions information must accompany the DPP or DOCD? The... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false What air emissions information must accompany...

  15. 30 CFR 550.249 - What air emissions information must accompany the DPP or DOCD?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... and Information Contents of Development and Production Plans (dpp) and Development Operations Coordination Documents (docd) § 550.249 What air emissions information must accompany the DPP or DOCD? The... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false What air emissions information must accompany...

  16. 30 CFR 250.227 - What environmental impact analysis (EIA) information must accompany the EP?

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... environmental impact analysis (EIA) information must accompany the EP? The following EIA information must... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false What environmental impact analysis (EIA) information must accompany the EP? 250.227 Section 250.227 Mineral Resources BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT...

  17. Heart rate complexity in sinoaortic-denervated mice.

    PubMed

    Silva, Luiz Eduardo V; Rodrigues, Fernanda Luciano; de Oliveira, Mauro; Salgado, Hélio Cesar; Fazan, Rubens

    2015-02-01

    What is the central question of this study? New measurements for cardiovascular complexity, such as detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) and multiscale entropy (MSE), have been shown to predict cardiovascular outcomes. Given that cardiovascular diseases are accompanied by autonomic imbalance and decreased baroreflex sensitivity, the central question is: do baroreceptors contribute to cardiovascular complexity? What is the main finding and its importance? Sinoaortic denervation altered both DFA scaling exponents and MSE, indicating that both short- and long-term mechanisms of complexity are altered in sinoaortic denervated mice, resulting in a loss of physiological complexity. These results suggest that the baroreflex is a key element in the complex structures involved in heart rate variability regulation. Recently, heart rate (HR) oscillations have been recognized as complex behaviours derived from non-linear processes. Physiological complexity theory is based on the idea that healthy systems present high complexity, i.e. non-linear, fractal variability at multiple scales, with long-range correlations. The loss of complexity in heart rate variability (HRV) has been shown to predict adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Based on the idea that most cardiovascular diseases are accompanied by autonomic imbalance and a decrease in baroreflex sensitivity, we hypothesize that the baroreflex plays an important role in complex cardiovascular behaviour. Mice that had been subjected to sinoaortic denervation (SAD) were implanted with catheters in the femoral artery and jugular vein 5 days prior to the experiment. After recording the baseline arterial pressure (AP), pulse interval time series were generated from the intervals between consecutive values of diastolic pressure. The complexity of the HRV was determined using detrended fluctuation analysis and multiscale entropy. The detrended fluctuation analysis α1 scaling exponent (a short-term index) was remarkably decreased in the

  18. Accompanying Partners of International Students: Reflections on Three Issues

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cui, Dan; Arthur, Nancy; Domene, José F.

    2017-01-01

    This paper reviews and critiques the existing literature on accompanying partners of international students (APIS), who are often an ignored population in programs and services for the internationalization of Canadian higher education. Particularly, we identify three issues. First, we argue that current research on this group overwhelmingly…

  19. Effects of voice timbre and accompaniment on working memory as measured by sequential monosyllabic digit recall performance.

    PubMed

    Silverman, Michael J; Schwartzberg, Edward T

    2014-01-01

    Information is often paired with music in an attempt to facilitate recall and enhance learning. However, there is a lack of basic research investigating how music carrying information might facilitate recall and subsequent learning. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of voice timbre and accompaniment on working memory as measured by recall performance on a sequential digit recall task. Specific research questions were as follows: (a) How might female and male voice timbres affect serial recall? (b) How might piano, guitar, and no accompaniment affect serial recall? (c) Do music majors have enhanced recall accuracy when compared to nonmusic majors? The recall of information paired with six different melodies was tested on 60 university students. Melodies were composed and recorded using female and male voices with three levels of accompaniment: guitar, piano, and no accompaniment. Participants had more accurate recall during the male voice and piano and no accompaniment conditions and least accurate recall during the female voice and guitar accompaniment conditions. As participants had most accurate recall during the male voice and with piano or no accompaniment, clinicians are encouraged to consider using no accompaniment or piano accompaniment when initially teaching social and academic information paired with music for later recall. When possible, vocal timbre (i.e., the potential benefit of male voicing) should also be considered. Implications for clinical practice, limitations of the study, and suggestions for future research are provided. © the American Music Therapy Association 2014. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  20. Distinct pharmacology and metabolism of K2 synthetic cannabinoids compared to Δ9-THC: Mechanism underlying greater toxicity?

    PubMed Central

    Fantegrossi, William E.; Moran, Jeffery H.; Radominska-Pandya, Anna; Prather, Paul L.

    2013-01-01

    K2 or Spice products are emerging drugs of abuse that contain synthetic cannabinoids (SCBs). Although assumed by many teens and first time drug users to be a “safe” and “legal” alternative to marijuana, many recent reports indicate that SCBs present in K2 produce toxicity not associated with the primary psychoactive component of marijuana, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). This mini-review will summarize recent evidence that use of K2 products poses greater health risks relative to marijuana, and suggest that distinct pharmacological properties and metabolism of SCBs relative to Δ9-THC may contribute to the observed toxicity. Studies reviewed will indicate that in contrast to partial agonist properties of Δ9-THC typically observed in vitro, SCBs in K2 products act as full cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) and type 2 (CB2R) agonists in both cellular assays and animal studies. Furthermore, unlike Δ9-THC metabolism, several SCB metabolites retain high affinity for, and exhibit a range of intrinsic activities at, CB1 and CB2Rs. Finally, several reports indicate that although quasi-legal SCBs initially evaded detection and legal consequences, these presumed “advantages” have been limited by new legislation and development of product and human testing capabilities. Collectively, evidence reported in this mini-review suggests that K2 products are neither safe nor legal alternatives to marijuana. Instead, enhanced toxicity of K2 products relative to marijuana, perhaps resulting from the combined actions of a complex mixture of different SCBs present and their active metabolites that retain high affinity for CB1 and CB2Rs, highlights the inherent danger that may accompany use of these substances. PMID:24084047