Fiber optic reference frequency distribution to remote beam waveguide antennas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calhoun, Malcolm; Kuhnle, Paul; Law, Julius

1995-05-01

In the NASA/JPL Deep Space Network (DSN), radio science experiments (probing outer planet atmospheres, rings, gravitational waves, etc.) and very long-base interferometry (VLBI) require ultra-stable, low phase noise reference frequency signals at the user locations. Typical locations for radio science/VLBI exciters and down-converters are the cone areas of the 34 m high efficiency antennas or the 70 m antennas, located several hundred meters from the reference frequency standards. Over the past three years, fiber optic distribution links have replaced coaxial cable distribution for reference frequencies to these antenna sites. Optical fibers are the preferred medium for distribution because of their low attenuation, immunity to EMI/IWI, and temperature stability. A new network of Beam Waveguide (BWG) antennas presently under construction in the DSN requires hydrogen maser stability at tens of kilometers distance from the frequency standards central location. The topic of this paper is the design and implementation of an optical fiber distribution link which provides ultra-stable reference frequencies to users at a remote BWG antenna. The temperature profile from the earth's surface to a depth of six feet over a time period of six months was used to optimize the placement of the fiber optic cables. In-situ evaluation of the fiber optic link performance indicates Allan deviation on the order of parts in 10(exp -15) at 1000 and 10,000 seconds averaging time; thus, the link stability degradation due to environmental conditions still preserves hydrogen maser stability at the user locations. This paper reports on the implementation of optical fibers and electro-optic devices for distributing very stable, low phase noise reference signals to remote BWG antenna locations. Allan deviation and phase noise test results for a 16 km fiber optic distribution link are presented in the paper.

Arp2/3 Complex from Acanthamoeba Binds Profilin and Cross-links Actin Filaments

PubMed Central

Mullins, R. Dyche; Kelleher, Joseph F.; Xu, James; Pollard, Thomas D.

1998-01-01

The Arp2/3 complex was first purified from Acanthamoeba castellanii by profilin affinity chromatography. The mechanism of interaction with profilin was unknown but was hypothesized to be mediated by either Arp2 or Arp3. Here we show that the Arp2 subunit of the complex can be chemically cross-linked to the actin-binding site of profilin. By analytical ultracentrifugation, rhodamine-labeled profilin binds Arp2/3 complex with a Kd of 7 μM, an affinity intermediate between the low affinity of profilin for barbed ends of actin filaments and its high affinity for actin monomers. These data suggest the barbed end of Arp2 is exposed, but Arp2 and Arp3 are not packed together in the complex exactly like two actin monomers in a filament. Arp2/3 complex also cross-links actin filaments into small bundles and isotropic networks, which are mechanically stiffer than solutions of actin filaments alone. Arp2/3 complex is concentrated at the leading edge of motile Acanthamoeba, and its localization is distinct from that of α-actinin, another filament cross-linking protein. Based on localization and actin filament nucleation and cross-linking activities, we propose a role for Arp2/3 in determining the structure of the actin filament network at the leading edge of motile cells. PMID:9529382

Multiport Circular Polarized RFID-Tag Antenna for UHF Sensor Applications

PubMed Central

Zaid, Jamal; Abdulhadi, Abdulhadi; Kesavan, Arun; Belaizi, Yassin; Denidni, Tayeb A.

2017-01-01

A circular polarized patch antenna for UHF RFID tag-based sensor applications is presented, with the circular polarization (CP) generated by a new antenna shape, an asymmetric stars shaped slotted microstrip patch antenna (CP-ASSSMP). Four stars etched on the patch allow the antenna’s size to be reduced by close to 20%. The proposed antenna is matched with two RFID chips via inductive-loop matching. The first chip is connected to a resistive sensor and acts as a sensor node, and the second is used as a reference node. The proposed antenna is used for two targets, serving as both reference and sensor simultaneously, thereby eliminating the need for a second antenna. Its reader can read the RFID chips at any orientation of the tag due to the CP. The measured reading range is about 25 m with mismatch polarization. The operating frequency band is 902–929 MHz for the two ports, which is covered by the US RFID band, and the axial-ratio bandwidth is about 7 MHz. In addition, the reader can also detect temperature, based on the minimum difference in the power required by the reference and sensor. PMID:28678178

Method of steering the gain of a multiple antenna global positioning system receiver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, Alan G.; Hermann, Bruce R.

1992-06-01

A method for steering the gain of a multiple antenna Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver toward a plurality of a GPS satellites simultaneously is provided. The GPS signals of a known wavelength are processed digitally for a particular instant in time. A range difference or propagation delay between each antenna for GPS signals received from each satellite is first resolved. The range difference consists of a fractional wavelength difference and an integer wavelength difference. The fractional wavelength difference is determined by each antenna's tracking loop. The integer wavelength difference is based upon the known wavelength and separation between each antenna with respect to each satellite position. The range difference is then used to digitally delay the GPS signals at each antenna with respect to a reference antenna. The signal at the reference antenna is then summed with the digitally delayed signals to generate a composite antenna gain. The method searches for the correct number of integer wavelengths to maximize the composite gain. The range differences are also used to determine the attitude of the array.

Broadband Circularly Polarized Patch Antenna and Method

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-16

300152 1 of 14 BROADBAND CIRCULARLY POLARIZED PATCH ANTENNA AND METHOD STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST [0001] The invention described herein may...present invention provides a method and apparatus for a broadband circularly polarized patch antenna . (2) Description of the Prior Art [0004] A...patch antenna , also referred to as a microstrip antenna , is a type of radio antenna with a low profile that can be mounted on a flat surface. The

Arp2/3 complex–dependent actin networks constrain myosin II function in driving retrograde actin flow

PubMed Central

Yang, Qing; Zhang, Xiao-Feng; Pollard, Thomas D.

2012-01-01

The Arp2/3 complex nucleates actin filaments to generate networks at the leading edge of motile cells. Nonmuscle myosin II produces contractile forces involved in driving actin network translocation. We inhibited the Arp2/3 complex and/or myosin II with small molecules to investigate their respective functions in neuronal growth cone actin dynamics. Inhibition of the Arp2/3 complex with CK666 reduced barbed end actin assembly site density at the leading edge, disrupted actin veils, and resulted in veil retraction. Strikingly, retrograde actin flow rates increased with Arp2/3 complex inhibition; however, when myosin II activity was blocked, Arp2/3 complex inhibition now resulted in slowing of retrograde actin flow and veils no longer retracted. Retrograde flow rate increases induced by Arp2/3 complex inhibition were independent of Rho kinase activity. These results provide evidence that, although the Arp2/3 complex and myosin II are spatially segregated, actin networks assembled by the Arp2/3 complex can restrict myosin II–dependent contractility with consequent effects on growth cone motility. PMID:22711700

32 CFR 1900.44 - Action by appeals authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... complete record of the request consisting of the request, the document(s) (sanitized and full text) at... Panel. (c) Decision by the Historical Records Policy Board. In any cases of divided vote by the ARP, any member of that body is authorized to refer the request to the CIA Historical Records Policy Board which...

32 CFR 1908.35 - Action by appeals authority.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... consisting of the request, the document(s) (sanitized and full text) at issue, and the findings of the... of the Panel. (b) Action by Historical Records Policy Board. In any cases of divided vote by the ARP, any member of that body is authorized to refer the request to the CIA Historical Records Policy Board...

77 FR 5691 - Amendment of Class C Airspace; Springfield, MO; Lincoln, NE; Grand Rapids, MI

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-06

...This action modifies the Springfield, MO; Lincoln, NE; and Grand Rapids, MI, Class C airspace areas by amending the legal descriptions to contain the current airport names and updated airport reference point (ARP) information. This action does not change the boundaries of the controlled airspace areas.

14 CFR 36.6 - Incorporation by reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

...,” edition 2.0, dated 1997. (2) Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Publications. (i) SAE ARP 866A... of the Federal Register under 5 U.S.C. 552 (a) and 1 CFR Part 51. (b) Incorporated matter. (1) Each...”, edition 1.0, dated 1995. (vii) IEC Publication 61094-4, entitled “Measurement Microphones—Part 4...

14 CFR 36.6 - Incorporation by reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

...,” edition 2.0, dated 1997. (2) Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Publications. (i) SAE ARP 866A... of the Federal Register under 5 U.S.C. 552 (a) and 1 CFR part 51. (b) Incorporated matter. (1) Each...”, edition 1.0, dated 1995. (vii) IEC Publication 61094-4, entitled “Measurement Microphones—Part 4...

14 CFR 36.6 - Incorporation by reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

...,” edition 2.0, dated 1997. (2) Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Publications. (i) SAE ARP 866A... of the Federal Register under 5 U.S.C. 552 (a) and 1 CFR Part 51. (b) Incorporated matter. (1) Each...”, edition 1.0, dated 1995. (vii) IEC Publication 61094-4, entitled “Measurement Microphones—Part 4...

MST Filterability Tests

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

Poirier, M. R.; Burket, P. R.; Duignan, M. R.

2015-03-12

The Savannah River Site (SRS) is currently treating radioactive liquid waste with the Actinide Removal Process (ARP) and the Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Unit (MCU). The low filter flux through the ARP has limited the rate at which radioactive liquid waste can be treated. Recent filter flux has averaged approximately 5 gallons per minute (gpm). Salt Batch 6 has had a lower processing rate and required frequent filter cleaning. Savannah River Remediation (SRR) has a desire to understand the causes of the low filter flux and to increase ARP/MCU throughput. In addition, at the time the testing started, SRRmore » was assessing the impact of replacing the 0.1 micron filter with a 0.5 micron filter. This report describes testing of MST filterability to investigate the impact of filter pore size and MST particle size on filter flux and testing of filter enhancers to attempt to increase filter flux. The authors constructed a laboratory-scale crossflow filter apparatus with two crossflow filters operating in parallel. One filter was a 0.1 micron Mott sintered SS filter and the other was a 0.5 micron Mott sintered SS filter. The authors also constructed a dead-end filtration apparatus to conduct screening tests with potential filter aids and body feeds, referred to as filter enhancers. The original baseline for ARP was 5.6 M sodium salt solution with a free hydroxide concentration of approximately 1.7 M.3 ARP has been operating with a sodium concentration of approximately 6.4 M and a free hydroxide concentration of approximately 2.5 M. SRNL conducted tests varying the concentration of sodium and free hydroxide to determine whether those changes had a significant effect on filter flux. The feed slurries for the MST filterability tests were composed of simple salts (NaOH, NaNO 2, and NaNO 3) and MST (0.2 – 4.8 g/L). The feed slurry for the filter enhancer tests contained simulated salt batch 6 supernate, MST, and filter enhancers.« less

Apparatus and Method for Improving the Gain and Bandwidth of a Microstrip Patch Antenna

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-30

improving both the gain and the bandwidth of a microstrip patch antenna . (2) Description of the Prior Art [0004] A patch antenna , also referred to as a...rectangular microstrip antenna , is a type of radio antenna with a low profile that can be mounted on a flat surface. The patch antenna includes a...patch antenna form a Attorney Docket No. 101925 2 of 11 resonant piece of microstrip transmission line. The patch is designed to have a length of

Arp2/3 promotes junction formation and maintenance in the Caenorhabditis elegans intestine by regulating membrane association of apical proteins

PubMed Central

Bernadskaya, Yelena Y.; Patel, Falshruti B.; Hsu, Hsiao-Ting; Soto, Martha C.

2011-01-01

It has been proposed that Arp2/3, which promotes nucleation of branched actin, is needed for epithelial junction initiation but is less important as junctions mature. We focus here on how Arp2/3 contributes to the Caenorhabditis elegans intestinal epithelium and find important roles for Arp2/3 in the maturation and maintenance of junctions in embryos and adults. Electron microscope studies show that embryos depleted of Arp2/3 form apical actin-rich microvilli and electron-dense apical junctions. However, whereas apical/basal polarity initiates, apical maturation is defective, including decreased apical F-actin enrichment, aberrant lumen morphology, and reduced accumulation of some apical junctional proteins, including DLG-1. Depletion of Arp2/3 in adult animals leads to similar intestinal defects. The DLG-1/AJM-1 apical junction proteins, and the ezrin–radixin–moesin homologue ERM-1, a protein that connects F-actin to membranes, are required along with Arp2/3 for apical F-actin enrichment in embryos, whereas cadherin junction proteins are not. Arp2/3 affects the subcellular distribution of DLG-1 and ERM-1. Loss of Arp2/3 shifts both ERM-1 and DLG-1 from pellet fractions to supernatant fractions, suggesting a role for Arp2/3 in the distribution of membrane-associated proteins. Thus, Arp2/3 is required as junctions mature to maintain apical proteins associated with the correct membranes. PMID:21697505

ARP2/3 localization in Arabidopsis leaf pavement cells: a diversity of intracellular pools and cytoskeletal interactions.

PubMed

Zhang, Chunhua; Mallery, Eileen L; Szymanski, Daniel B

2013-01-01

In plant cells the actin cytoskeleton adopts many configurations, but is best understood as an unstable, interconnected track that rearranges to define the patterns of long distance transport of organelles during growth. Actin filaments do not form spontaneously; instead filament nucleators, such as the evolutionarily conserved actin-related protein (ARP) 2/3 complex, can efficiently generate new actin filament networks when in a fully activated state. A growing number of genetic experiments have shown that ARP2/3 is necessary for morphogenesis in processes that range from tip growth during root nodule formation to the diffuse polarized growth of leaf trichomes and pavement cells. Although progress has been rapid in the identification of proteins that function in series to positively regulate ARP2/3, less has been learned about the actual function of ARP2/3 in cells. In this paper, we analyze the localization of ARP2/3 in Arabidopsis leaf pavement cells. We detect a pool of ARP2/3 in the nucleus, and also find that ARP2/3 is efficiently and specifically clustered on multiple organelle surfaces and associates with both the actin filament and microtubule cytoskeletons. Our mutant analyses and ARP2/3 and actin double labeling experiments indicate that the clustering of ARP2/3 on organelle surfaces and an association with actin bundles does not necessarily reflect an active pool of ARP2/3, and instead most of the complex appears to exist as a latent organelle-associated pool.

Role and structural mechanism of WASP-triggered conformational changes in branched actin filament nucleation by Arp2/3 complex.

PubMed

Rodnick-Smith, Max; Luan, Qing; Liu, Su-Ling; Nolen, Brad J

2016-07-05

The Arp2/3 (Actin-related proteins 2/3) complex is activated by WASP (Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein) family proteins to nucleate branched actin filaments that are important for cellular motility. WASP recruits actin monomers to the complex and stimulates movement of Arp2 and Arp3 into a "short-pitch" conformation that mimics the arrangement of actin subunits within filaments. The relative contribution of these functions in Arp2/3 complex activation and the mechanism by which WASP stimulates the conformational change have been unknown. We purified budding yeast Arp2/3 complex held in or near the short-pitch conformation by an engineered covalent cross-link to determine if the WASP-induced conformational change is sufficient for activity. Remarkably, cross-linked Arp2/3 complex bypasses the need for WASP in activation and is more active than WASP-activated Arp2/3 complex. These data indicate that stimulation of the short-pitch conformation is the critical activating function of WASP and that monomer delivery is not a fundamental requirement for nucleation but is a specific requirement for WASP-mediated activation. During activation, WASP limits nucleation rates by releasing slowly from nascent branches. The cross-linked complex is inhibited by WASP's CA region, even though CA potently stimulates cross-linking, suggesting that slow WASP detachment masks the activating potential of the short-pitch conformational switch. We use structure-based mutations and WASP-Arp fusion chimeras to determine how WASP stimulates movement toward the short-pitch conformation. Our data indicate that WASP displaces the autoinhibitory Arp3 C-terminal tail from a hydrophobic groove at Arp3's barbed end to destabilize the inactive state, providing a mechanism by which WASP stimulates the short-pitch conformation and activates Arp2/3 complex.

LAN attack detection using Discrete Event Systems.

PubMed

Hubballi, Neminath; Biswas, Santosh; Roopa, S; Ratti, Ritesh; Nandi, Sukumar

2011-01-01

Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is used for determining the link layer or Medium Access Control (MAC) address of a network host, given its Internet Layer (IP) or Network Layer address. ARP is a stateless protocol and any IP-MAC pairing sent by a host is accepted without verification. This weakness in the ARP may be exploited by malicious hosts in a Local Area Network (LAN) by spoofing IP-MAC pairs. Several schemes have been proposed in the literature to circumvent these attacks; however, these techniques either make IP-MAC pairing static, modify the existing ARP, patch operating systems of all the hosts etc. In this paper we propose a Discrete Event System (DES) approach for Intrusion Detection System (IDS) for LAN specific attacks which do not require any extra constraint like static IP-MAC, changing the ARP etc. A DES model is built for the LAN under both a normal and compromised (i.e., spoofed request/response) situation based on the sequences of ARP related packets. Sequences of ARP events in normal and spoofed scenarios are similar thereby rendering the same DES models for both the cases. To create different ARP events under normal and spoofed conditions the proposed technique uses active ARP probing. However, this probing adds extra ARP traffic in the LAN. Following that a DES detector is built to determine from observed ARP related events, whether the LAN is operating under a normal or compromised situation. The scheme also minimizes extra ARP traffic by probing the source IP-MAC pair of only those ARP packets which are yet to be determined as genuine/spoofed by the detector. Also, spoofed IP-MAC pairs determined by the detector are stored in tables to detect other LAN attacks triggered by spoofing namely, man-in-the-middle (MiTM), denial of service etc. The scheme is successfully validated in a test bed. Copyright © 2010 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Small molecules CK-666 and CK-869 inhibit actin-related protein 2/3 complex by blocking an activating conformational change.

PubMed

Hetrick, Byron; Han, Min Suk; Helgeson, Luke A; Nolen, Brad J

2013-05-23

Actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex is a seven-subunit assembly that nucleates branched actin filaments. Small molecule inhibitors CK-666 and CK-869 bind to Arp2/3 complex and inhibit nucleation, but their modes of action are unknown. Here, we use biochemical and structural methods to determine the mechanism of each inhibitor. Our data indicate that CK-666 stabilizes the inactive state of the complex, blocking movement of the Arp2 and Arp3 subunits into the activated filament-like (short pitch) conformation, while CK-869 binds to a serendipitous pocket on Arp3 and allosterically destabilizes the short pitch Arp3-Arp2 interface. These results provide key insights into the relationship between conformation and activity in Arp2/3 complex and will be critical for interpreting the influence of the inhibitors on actin filament networks in vivo. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Correlation study of physical and biologic parameters to acute radiation pneumonitis].

PubMed

Zhao, Yan-hai; Li, Zhi-ping; Chen, Xiao-mei; Liu, Xiao-jing; Wu, Wen-chao; Xu, Yong; Li, Ping; Zhang, Jin-tao; Zeng, Hui

2008-09-01

To study the relationship between the level of plasma transform growth factor-betal (TGF-betal), interleukin-6 (IL-6), thrombomodulin (TM) dose-volume factors and acute radiation pneumonitis (ARP). Three dimensional conformal radiation therapy and chemotherapy were applied to 27 lung cancer patients, 15 esophageal carcinoma, and 1 thymoma patients. 19 patients received adjuvant radiochemotherapy, and 25 patients received concurrent radio-chemotherapy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the serum IL-6, TGF-betal and TM levels of patients before radiotherapy (B-RT) and at 30 Gy(M-RT). ARP was graded according to NCI common toxicity criteria (CTCAE v 3.0), Grade 2 or more ARP was taken as the main end point. The relationship between the levels of serum TGF-betal, IL-6, TM, parameters of lung function and dose-volume factors, and the incidence rate of ARP were analyzed. Mean lung dose (MLD) and the Vx were considered as the dose-volume factors. Among 44 patients, 15 of them had ARP. 9 got grade 2 ARP and 6 had grade 3. After received a dose of 30 Gy, TGF-betal value in M-RT was (396 +/- 338) and (866 +/- 270) pg/mL in non-ARP and ARP group (P = 0.000). The ARP incidence rate in <60 and > or =60 age group were 46.15% (12/26) and 16.67% (3/18) (P = 0.042), and 45.45% (15/33), 0% (0/11) (P = 0.017) in had smoking history and nonsmoking history group, respectively. 1 out of 13 patients (7.69%) who had increased M-RT TM value suffered of ARP, while 14 out of 31 patients (45.16%) whose M-RT TM value lower than pr-RT suffered of ARP (P = 0.044). The results of multivariate analysis implied that the MLD and the value of TGF-betal in M-RT were associated with severe ARP. TGF-beta1 and MLD are significant indicators of ARP. FEV1 actual value/predicted value% might have predicting effect for the severity of ARP.

Analysis of the interactions between GMF and Arp2/3 complex in two binding sites by molecular dynamics simulation.

PubMed

Popinako, A; Antonov, M; Dibrova, D; Chemeris, A; Sokolova, O S

2018-02-05

The Arp2/3 complex plays a key role in nucleating actin filaments branching. The glia maturation factor (GMF) competes with activators for interacting with the Arp2/3 complex and initiates the debranching of actin filaments. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of interactions between GMF and the Arp2/3 complex and identified new amino acid residues involved in GMF binding to the Arp2/3 complex at two separate sites, revealed by X-ray and single particle EM techniques. Using molecular dynamics simulations we demonstrated the quantitative and qualitative changes in hydrogen bonds upon binding with GMF. We identified the specific amino acid residues in GMF and Arp2/3 complex that stabilize the interactions and estimated the mean force profile for the GMF using umbrella sampling. Phylogenetic and structural analyses of the recently defined GMF binding site on the Arp3 subunit indicate a new mechanism for Arp2/3 complex inactivation that involves interactions between the Arp2/3 complex and GMF at two binding sites. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Actin-related proteins regulate the RSC chromatin remodeler by weakening intramolecular interactions of the Sth1 ATPase.

PubMed

Turegun, Bengi; Baker, Richard W; Leschziner, Andres E; Dominguez, Roberto

2018-01-01

The catalytic subunits of SWI/SNF-family and INO80-family chromatin remodelers bind actin and actin-related proteins (Arps) through an N-terminal helicase/SANT-associated (HSA) domain. Between the HSA and ATPase domains lies a conserved post-HSA (pHSA) domain. The HSA domain of Sth1, the catalytic subunit of the yeast SWI/SNF-family remodeler RSC, recruits the Rtt102-Arp7/9 heterotrimer. Rtt102-Arp7/9 regulates RSC function, but the mechanism is unclear. We show that the pHSA domain interacts directly with another conserved region of the catalytic subunit, protrusion-1. Rtt102-Arp7/9 binding to the HSA domain weakens this interaction and promotes the formation of stable, monodisperse complexes with DNA and nucleosomes. A crystal structure of Rtt102-Arp7/9 shows that ATP binds to Arp7 but not Arp9. However, Arp7 does not hydrolyze ATP. Together, the results suggest that Rtt102 and ATP stabilize a conformation of Arp7/9 that potentiates binding to the HSA domain, which releases intramolecular interactions within Sth1 and controls DNA and nucleosome binding.

Nucleation promoting factors regulate the expression and localization of Arp2/3 complex during meiosis of mouse oocytes.

PubMed

Liu, Jun; Wang, Qiao-Chu; Wang, Fei; Duan, Xing; Dai, Xiao-Xin; Wang, Teng; Liu, Hong-Lin; Cui, Xiang-Shun; Kim, Nam-Hyung; Sun, Shao-Chen

2012-01-01

The actin nucleation factor Arp2/3 complex is a main regulator of actin assembly and is involved in multiple processes like cell migration and adhesion, endocytosis, and the establishment of cell polarity in mitosis. Our previous work showed that the Arp2/3 complex was involved in the actin-mediated mammalian oocyte asymmetric division. However, the regulatory mechanisms and signaling pathway of Arp2/3 complex in meiosis is still unclear. In the present work, we identified that the nucleation promoting factors (NPFs) JMY and WAVE2 were necessary for the expression and localization of Arp2/3 complex in mouse oocytes. RNAi of both caused the degradation of actin cap intensity, indicating the roles of NPFs in the formation of actin cap. Moreover, JMY and WAVE2 RNAi decreased the expression of ARP2, a key component of Arp2/3 complex. However, knock down of Arp2/3 complex by Arpc2 and Arpc3 siRNA microinjection did not affect the expression and localization of JMY and WAVE2. Our results indicate that the NPFs, JMY and WAVE2, are upstream regulators of Arp2/3 complex in mammalian oocyte asymmetric division.

Arp2 depletion inhibits sheet-like protrusions but not linear protrusions of fibroblasts and lymphocytes

PubMed Central

Nicholson-Dykstra, Susan M.; Higgs, Henry N.

2009-01-01

The Arp2/3 complex-mediated assembly and protrusion of a branched actin network at the leading edge occurs during cell migration, although some studies suggest it is not essential. In order to test the role of Arp2/3 complex in leading edge protrusion, Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts and Jurkat T cells were depleted of Arp2 and evaluated for defects in cell morphology and spreading efficiency. Arp2-depleted fibroblasts exhibit severe defects in formation of sheet-like protrusions at early time points of cell spreading, with sheet-like protrusions limited to regions along the length of linear protrusions. However, Arp2-depleted cells are able to spread fully after extended times. Similarly, Arp2-depleted Jurkat T lymphocytes exhibit defects in spreading on anti-CD3. Interphase Jurkats in suspension are covered with large ruffle structures, whereas mitotic Jurkats are covered by finger-like linear protrusions. Arp2-depleted Jurkats exhibit defects in ruffle assembly but not in assembly of mitotic linear protrusions. Similarly, Arp2-depletion has no effect on the highly dynamic linear protrusion of another suspended lymphocyte line. We conclude that Arp2/3 complex plays a significant role in assembly of sheet-like protrusions, especially during early stages of cell spreading, but is not required for assembly of a variety of linear actin-based protrusions. PMID:18720401

ARP2/3 localization in Arabidopsis leaf pavement cells: a diversity of intracellular pools and cytoskeletal interactions

PubMed Central

Zhang, Chunhua; Mallery, Eileen L.; Szymanski, Daniel B.

2013-01-01

In plant cells the actin cytoskeleton adopts many configurations, but is best understood as an unstable, interconnected track that rearranges to define the patterns of long distance transport of organelles during growth. Actin filaments do not form spontaneously; instead filament nucleators, such as the evolutionarily conserved actin-related protein (ARP) 2/3 complex, can efficiently generate new actin filament networks when in a fully activated state. A growing number of genetic experiments have shown that ARP2/3 is necessary for morphogenesis in processes that range from tip growth during root nodule formation to the diffuse polarized growth of leaf trichomes and pavement cells. Although progress has been rapid in the identification of proteins that function in series to positively regulate ARP2/3, less has been learned about the actual function of ARP2/3 in cells. In this paper, we analyze the localization of ARP2/3 in Arabidopsis leaf pavement cells. We detect a pool of ARP2/3 in the nucleus, and also find that ARP2/3 is efficiently and specifically clustered on multiple organelle surfaces and associates with both the actin filament and microtubule cytoskeletons. Our mutant analyses and ARP2/3 and actin double labeling experiments indicate that the clustering of ARP2/3 on organelle surfaces and an association with actin bundles does not necessarily reflect an active pool of ARP2/3, and instead most of the complex appears to exist as a latent organelle-associated pool. PMID:23874346

Three Averaging Techniques for Reduction of Antenna Temperature Variance Measured by a Dicke Mode, C-Band Radiometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mackenzie, Anne I.; Lawrence, Roland W.

2000-01-01

As new radiometer technologies provide the possibility of greatly improved spatial resolution, their performance must also be evaluated in terms of expected sensitivity and absolute accuracy. As aperture size increases, the sensitivity of a Dicke mode radiometer can be maintained or improved by application of any or all of three digital averaging techniques: antenna data averaging with a greater than 50% antenna duty cycle, reference data averaging, and gain averaging. An experimental, noise-injection, benchtop radiometer at C-band showed a 68.5% reduction in Delta-T after all three averaging methods had been applied simultaneously. For any one antenna integration time, the optimum 34.8% reduction in Delta-T was realized by using an 83.3% antenna/reference duty cycle.

78 FR 5153 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Reno, NV

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-24

... Compass Locator at the Instrument Landing System Middle Marker (LMM) and the Middle Marker (MM) has made... necessary due to the decommissioning of the LMM and the MM navigation aids. The Airport Reference Point (ARP) would be used to describe the airspace instead of the LMM and the MM navigational aids. There would be...

New developments in laser-based photoemission spectroscopy and its scientific applications: a key issues review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Xingjiang; He, Shaolong; Liu, Guodong; Zhao, Lin; Yu, Li; Zhang, Wentao

2018-06-01

The significant progress in angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) in last three decades has elevated it from a traditional band mapping tool to a precise probe of many-body interactions and dynamics of quasiparticles in complex quantum systems. The recent developments of deep ultraviolet (DUV, including ultraviolet and vacuum ultraviolet) laser-based ARPES have further pushed this technique to a new level. In this paper, we review some latest developments in DUV laser-based photoemission systems, including the super-high energy and momentum resolution ARPES, the spin-resolved ARPES, the time-of-flight ARPES, and the time-resolved ARPES. We also highlight some scientific applications in the study of electronic structure in unconventional superconductors and topological materials using these state-of-the-art DUV laser-based ARPES. Finally we provide our perspectives on the future directions in the development of laser-based photoemission systems.

Protective effect of Anoectochilus roxburghii polysaccharide against CCl4-induced oxidative liver damage in mice.

PubMed

Yang, Zhenguo; Zhang, Xiaohui; Yang, Lawei; Pan, Qunwen; Li, Juan; Wu, Yongfu; Chen, Meizhen; Cui, Shichao; Yu, Jie

2017-03-01

This study investigated the isolation and characterization of Anoectochilus roxburghii polysaccharides (ARP), and further evaluated whether ARP possessed hepatoprotective activities against CCl 4 -induced oxidative liver damage in mice. ARP is comprised of glucose and galactose in a 1.9:1 molar ratio, and the molecular weight is 19.5kDa. ARP displayed significant scavenging effects against hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion radical, DPPH radical and a strong reducing power. In vivo experiment demonstrated ARP (150mg/kg) administrated to mice for 7days prior to carbon tetrachloride treatment, attenuated the elevated expression levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglyceride (TG) in serum and inhibited the formation of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA). ARP pretreatment also increased antioxidant enzyme activities such as glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the liver of CCl 4 -induced mice. Furthermore, hepatic histopathological changes induced by CCl 4 were significantly normalized by ARP pretreatment. These findings demonstrated that ARP possessed hepatoprotective effect against acute CCl 4 -induced liver damage by reducing lipid oxidation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The actin family protein ARP6 contributes to the structure and the function of the nucleolus.

PubMed

Kitamura, Hiroshi; Matsumori, Haruka; Kalendova, Alzbeta; Hozak, Pavel; Goldberg, Ilya G; Nakao, Mitsuyoshi; Saitoh, Noriko; Harata, Masahiko

2015-08-21

The actin family members, consisting of actin and actin-related proteins (ARPs), are essential components of chromatin remodeling complexes. ARP6, one of the nuclear ARPs, is part of the Snf-2-related CREB-binding protein activator protein (SRCAP) chromatin remodeling complex, which promotes the deposition of the histone variant H2A.Z into the chromatin. In this study, we showed that ARP6 influences the structure and the function of the nucleolus. ARP6 is localized in the central region of the nucleolus, and its knockdown induced a morphological change in the nucleolus. We also found that in the presence of high concentrations of glucose ARP6 contributed to the maintenance of active ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription by placing H2A.Z into the chromatin. In contrast, under starvation, ARP6 was required for cell survival through the repression of rDNA transcription independently of H2A.Z. These findings reveal novel pleiotropic roles for the actin family in nuclear organization and metabolic homeostasis. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The actin family protein ARP6 contributes to the structure and the function of the nucleolus

PubMed Central

Kitamura, Hiroshi; Matsumori, Haruka; Kalendova, Alzbeta; Hozak, Pavel; Goldberg, Ilya G.; Nakao, Mitsuyoshi; Saitoh, Noriko; Harata, Masahiko

2018-01-01

The actin family members, consisting of actin and actin-related proteins (ARPs), are essential components of chromatin remodeling complexes. ARP6, one of the nuclear ARPs, is part of the Snf-2-related CREB-binding protein activator protein (SRCAP) chromatin remodeling complex, which promotes the deposition of the histone variant H2A.Z into the chromatin. In this study, we showed that ARP6 influences the structure and the function of the nucleolus. ARP6 is localized in the central region of the nucleolus, and its knockdown induced a morphological change in the nucleolus. We also found that in the presence of high concentrations of glucose ARP6 contributed to the maintenance of active ribosomal DNA (rDNA) transcription by placing H2A.Z into the chromatin. In contrast, under starvation, ARP6 was required for cell survival through the repression of rDNA transcription independently of H2A.Z. These findings reveal novel pleiotropic roles for the actin family in nuclear organization and metabolic homeostasis. PMID:26164235

Broadband standard dipole antenna for antenna calibration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koike, Kunimasa; Sugiura, Akira; Morikawa, Takao

1995-06-01

Antenna calibration of EMI antennas is mostly performed by the standard antenna method at an open-field test site using a specially designed dipole antenna as a reference. In order to develop broadband standard antennas, the antenna factors of shortened dipples are theoretically investigated. First, the effects of the dipole length are analyzed using the induced emf method. Then, baluns and loads are examined to determine their influence on the antenna factors. It is found that transformer-type baluns are very effective for improving the height dependence of the antenna factors. Resistive loads are also useful for flattening the frequency dependence. Based on these studies, a specification is developed for a broadband standard antenna operating in the 30 to 150 MHz frequency range.

Nucleation Promoting Factors Regulate the Expression and Localization of Arp2/3 Complex during Meiosis of Mouse Oocytes

PubMed Central

Liu, Jun; Wang, Qiao-Chu; Wang, Fei; Duan, Xing; Dai, Xiao-Xin; Wang, Teng; Liu, Hong-Lin; Cui, Xiang-Shun; Kim, Nam-Hyung; Sun, Shao-Chen

2012-01-01

The actin nucleation factor Arp2/3 complex is a main regulator of actin assembly and is involved in multiple processes like cell migration and adhesion, endocytosis, and the establishment of cell polarity in mitosis. Our previous work showed that the Arp2/3 complex was involved in the actin-mediated mammalian oocyte asymmetric division. However, the regulatory mechanisms and signaling pathway of Arp2/3 complex in meiosis is still unclear. In the present work, we identified that the nucleation promoting factors (NPFs) JMY and WAVE2 were necessary for the expression and localization of Arp2/3 complex in mouse oocytes. RNAi of both caused the degradation of actin cap intensity, indicating the roles of NPFs in the formation of actin cap. Moreover, JMY and WAVE2 RNAi decreased the expression of ARP2, a key component of Arp2/3 complex. However, knock down of Arp2/3 complex by Arpc2 and Arpc3 siRNA microinjection did not affect the expression and localization of JMY and WAVE2. Our results indicate that the NPFs, JMY and WAVE2, are upstream regulators of Arp2/3 complex in mammalian oocyte asymmetric division. PMID:23272233

Molecular recognition of the Tes LIM2-3 domains by the actin-related protein Arp7A.

PubMed

Boëda, Batiste; Knowles, Phillip P; Briggs, David C; Murray-Rust, Judith; Soriano, Erika; Garvalov, Boyan K; McDonald, Neil Q; Way, Michael

2011-04-01

Actin-related proteins (Arps) are a highly conserved family of proteins that have extensive sequence and structural similarity to actin. All characterized Arps are components of large multimeric complexes associated with chromatin or the cytoskeleton. In addition, the human genome encodes five conserved but largely uncharacterized "orphan" Arps, which appear to be mostly testis-specific. Here we show that Arp7A, which has 43% sequence identity with β-actin, forms a complex with the cytoskeletal proteins Tes and Mena in the subacrosomal layer of round spermatids. The N-terminal 65-residue extension to the actin-like fold of Arp7A interacts directly with Tes. The crystal structure of the 1-65(Arp7A)·LIM2-3(Tes)·EVH1(Mena) complex reveals that residues 28-49 of Arp7A contact the LIM2-3 domains of Tes. Two alanine residues from Arp7A that occupy equivalent apolar pockets in both LIM domains as well as an intervening GPAK linker that binds the LIM2-3 junction are critical for the Arp7A-Tes interaction. Equivalent occupied apolar pockets are also seen in the tandem LIM domain structures of LMO4 and Lhx3 bound to unrelated ligands. Our results indicate that apolar pocket interactions are a common feature of tandem LIM domain interactions, but ligand specificity is principally determined by the linker sequence.

Broadband Pillbox Antennas.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-09-21

Identify by block number) - FIELD GROUP SUB-GROUP Double layer pillbox antennas Triple layer pillbox antenna The possibility of designing very broadband... Design .................... 1 Broadband Feed De gn ........................................... 2 Ex mental Simulation of Double Layer Pillbox...5 REFERENCES ................................................... 6 APPENDIX - COAXIAL TO WAVEGUIDE JUNCTION DESIGN

Role and structural mechanism of WASP-triggered conformational changes in branched actin filament nucleation by Arp2/3 complex

PubMed Central

Rodnick-Smith, Max; Luan, Qing; Liu, Su-Ling; Nolen, Brad J.

2016-01-01

The Arp2/3 (Actin-related proteins 2/3) complex is activated by WASP (Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein) family proteins to nucleate branched actin filaments that are important for cellular motility. WASP recruits actin monomers to the complex and stimulates movement of Arp2 and Arp3 into a “short-pitch” conformation that mimics the arrangement of actin subunits within filaments. The relative contribution of these functions in Arp2/3 complex activation and the mechanism by which WASP stimulates the conformational change have been unknown. We purified budding yeast Arp2/3 complex held in or near the short-pitch conformation by an engineered covalent cross-link to determine if the WASP-induced conformational change is sufficient for activity. Remarkably, cross-linked Arp2/3 complex bypasses the need for WASP in activation and is more active than WASP-activated Arp2/3 complex. These data indicate that stimulation of the short-pitch conformation is the critical activating function of WASP and that monomer delivery is not a fundamental requirement for nucleation but is a specific requirement for WASP-mediated activation. During activation, WASP limits nucleation rates by releasing slowly from nascent branches. The cross-linked complex is inhibited by WASP’s CA region, even though CA potently stimulates cross-linking, suggesting that slow WASP detachment masks the activating potential of the short-pitch conformational switch. We use structure-based mutations and WASP–Arp fusion chimeras to determine how WASP stimulates movement toward the short-pitch conformation. Our data indicate that WASP displaces the autoinhibitory Arp3 C-terminal tail from a hydrophobic groove at Arp3′s barbed end to destabilize the inactive state, providing a mechanism by which WASP stimulates the short-pitch conformation and activates Arp2/3 complex. PMID:27325766

Absolute IGS antenna phase center model igs08.atx: status and potential improvements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmid, R.; Dach, R.; Collilieux, X.; Jäggi, A.; Schmitz, M.; Dilssner, F.

2016-04-01

On 17 April 2011, all analysis centers (ACs) of the International GNSS Service (IGS) adopted the reference frame realization IGS08 and the corresponding absolute antenna phase center model igs08.atx for their routine analyses. The latter consists of an updated set of receiver and satellite antenna phase center offsets and variations (PCOs and PCVs). An update of the model was necessary due to the difference of about 1 ppb in the terrestrial scale between two consecutive realizations of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF2008 vs. ITRF2005), as that parameter is highly correlated with the GNSS satellite antenna PCO components in the radial direction.

Validating and comparing GNSS antenna calibrations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kallio, Ulla; Koivula, Hannu; Lahtinen, Sonja; Nikkonen, Ville; Poutanen, Markku

2018-03-01

GNSS antennas have no fixed electrical reference point. The variation of the phase centre is modelled and tabulated in antenna calibration tables, which include the offset vector (PCO) and phase centre variation (PCV) for each frequency according to the elevations and azimuths of the incoming signal. Used together, PCV and PCO reduce the phase observations to the antenna reference point. The remaining biases, called the residual offsets, can be revealed by circulating and rotating the antennas on pillars. The residual offsets are estimated as additional parameters when combining the daily GNSS network solutions with full covariance matrix. We present a procedure for validating the antenna calibration tables. The dedicated test field, called Revolver, was constructed at Metsähovi. We used the procedure to validate the calibration tables of 17 antennas. Tables from the IGS and three different calibration institutions were used. The tests show that we were able to separate the residual offsets at the millimetre level. We also investigated the influence of the calibration tables from the different institutions on site coordinates by performing kinematic double-difference baseline processing of the data from one site with different antenna tables. We found small but significant differences between the tables.

Improvement of forecast skill for severe weather by merging radar-based extrapolation and storm-scale NWP corrected forecast

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Gaili; Wong, Wai-Kin; Hong, Yang; Liu, Liping; Dong, Jili; Xue, Ming

2015-03-01

The primary objective of this study is to improve the performance of deterministic high resolution rainfall forecasts caused by severe storms by merging an extrapolation radar-based scheme with a storm-scale Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model. Effectiveness of Multi-scale Tracking and Forecasting Radar Echoes (MTaRE) model was compared with that of a storm-scale NWP model named Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) for forecasting a violent tornado event that developed over parts of western and much of central Oklahoma on May 24, 2011. Then the bias corrections were performed to improve the forecast accuracy of ARPS forecasts. Finally, the corrected ARPS forecast and radar-based extrapolation were optimally merged by using a hyperbolic tangent weight scheme. The comparison of forecast skill between MTaRE and ARPS in high spatial resolution of 0.01° × 0.01° and high temporal resolution of 5 min showed that MTaRE outperformed ARPS in terms of index of agreement and mean absolute error (MAE). MTaRE had a better Critical Success Index (CSI) for less than 20-min lead times and was comparable to ARPS for 20- to 50-min lead times, while ARPS had a better CSI for more than 50-min lead times. Bias correction significantly improved ARPS forecasts in terms of MAE and index of agreement, although the CSI of corrected ARPS forecasts was similar to that of the uncorrected ARPS forecasts. Moreover, optimally merging results using hyperbolic tangent weight scheme further improved the forecast accuracy and became more stable.

Technique for Radiometer and Antenna Array Calibration - TRAAC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meyer, Paul; Sims, William; Varnavas, Kosta; McCracken, Jeff; Srinivasan, Karthik; Limaye, Ashutosh; Laymon, Charles; Richeson. James

2012-01-01

Highly sensitive receivers are used to detect minute amounts of emitted electromagnetic energy. Calibration of these receivers is vital to the accuracy of the measurements. Traditional calibration techniques depend on calibration reference internal to the receivers as reference for the calibration of the observed electromagnetic energy. Such methods can only calibrate errors in measurement introduced by the receiver only. The disadvantage of these existing methods is that they cannot account for errors introduced by devices, such as antennas, used for capturing electromagnetic radiation. This severely limits the types of antennas that can be used to make measurements with a high degree of accuracy. Complex antenna systems, such as electronically steerable antennas (also known as phased arrays), while offering potentially significant advantages, suffer from a lack of a reliable and accurate calibration technique. The proximity of antenna elements in an array results in interaction between the electromagnetic fields radiated (or received) by the individual elements. This phenomenon is called mutual coupling. The new calibration method uses a known noise source as a calibration load to determine the instantaneous characteristics of the antenna. The noise source is emitted from one element of the antenna array and received by all the other elements due to mutual coupling. This received noise is used as a calibration standard to monitor the stability of the antenna electronics.

DS-ARP: a new detection scheme for ARP spoofing attacks based on routing trace for ubiquitous environments.

PubMed

Song, Min Su; Lee, Jae Dong; Jeong, Young-Sik; Jeong, Hwa-Young; Park, Jong Hyuk

2014-01-01

Despite the convenience, ubiquitous computing suffers from many threats and security risks. Security considerations in the ubiquitous network are required to create enriched and more secure ubiquitous environments. The address resolution protocol (ARP) is a protocol used to identify the IP address and the physical address of the associated network card. ARP is designed to work without problems in general environments. However, since it does not include security measures against malicious attacks, in its design, an attacker can impersonate another host using ARP spoofing or access important information. In this paper, we propose a new detection scheme for ARP spoofing attacks using a routing trace, which can be used to protect the internal network. Tracing routing can find the change of network movement path. The proposed scheme provides high constancy and compatibility because it does not alter the ARP protocol. In addition, it is simple and stable, as it does not use a complex algorithm or impose extra load on the computer system.

DS-ARP: A New Detection Scheme for ARP Spoofing Attacks Based on Routing Trace for Ubiquitous Environments

PubMed Central

Song, Min Su; Lee, Jae Dong; Jeong, Hwa-Young; Park, Jong Hyuk

2014-01-01

Despite the convenience, ubiquitous computing suffers from many threats and security risks. Security considerations in the ubiquitous network are required to create enriched and more secure ubiquitous environments. The address resolution protocol (ARP) is a protocol used to identify the IP address and the physical address of the associated network card. ARP is designed to work without problems in general environments. However, since it does not include security measures against malicious attacks, in its design, an attacker can impersonate another host using ARP spoofing or access important information. In this paper, we propose a new detection scheme for ARP spoofing attacks using a routing trace, which can be used to protect the internal network. Tracing routing can find the change of network movement path. The proposed scheme provides high constancy and compatibility because it does not alter the ARP protocol. In addition, it is simple and stable, as it does not use a complex algorithm or impose extra load on the computer system. PMID:25243205

Modeling of flexible surfaces: A preliminary study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, H. T.; Majda, G.

1983-01-01

The one-dimensional classical scalar string equation which involves linearization about a horizontal reference or equilibrium position is derived. We then derive a model for small motion about a nonhorizontal reference. The implications of our findings to modeling of flexible antenna surfaces such as that in the Maypole Hoop/Column antenna are discussed.

Risk Factors Associated With Pediatric Acute Recurrent and Chronic Pancreatitis: Lessons From INSPPIRE.

PubMed

Kumar, Soma; Ooi, Chee Y; Werlin, Steven; Abu-El-Haija, Maisam; Barth, Bradley; Bellin, Melena D; Durie, Peter R; Fishman, Douglas S; Freedman, Steven D; Gariepy, Cheryl; Giefer, Matthew J; Gonska, Tanja; Heyman, Melvin B; Himes, Ryan; Husain, Sohail Z; Lin, Tom K; Lowe, Mark E; Morinville, Veronique; Palermo, Joseph J; Pohl, John F; Schwarzenberg, Sarah Jane; Troendle, David; Wilschanski, Michael; Zimmerman, M Bridget; Uc, Aliye

2016-06-01

Pediatric acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) are poorly understood. To characterize and identify risk factors associated with ARP and CP in childhood. A multinational cross-sectional study of children with ARP or CP at the time of enrollment to the INSPPIRE (International Study Group of Pediatric Pancreatitis: In Search for a Cure) study at participant institutions of the INSPPIRE Consortium. From August 22, 2012, to February 8, 2015, 155 children with ARP and 146 with CP (aged ≤19 years) were enrolled. Their demographic and clinical information was entered into the REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) database at the 15 centers. Differences were analyzed using 2-sample t test or Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables and Pearson χ2 test or Fisher exact test for categorical variables. Disease burden variables (pain variables, hospital/emergency department visits, missed school days) were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum test. Demographic characteristics, risk factors, abdominal pain, and disease burden. A total of 301 children were enrolled (mean [SD] age, 11.9 [4.5] years; 172 [57%] female); 155 had ARP and 146 had CP. The majority of children with CP (123 of 146 [84%]) reported prior recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis. Sex distribution was similar between the groups (57% female in both). Hispanic children were less likely to have CP than ARP (17% vs 28%, respectively; odds ratio [OR] = 0.51; 95% CI, 0.29-0.92; P = .02). At least 1 gene mutation in pancreatitis-related genes was found in 48% of patients with ARP vs 73% of patients with CP (P < .001). Children with PRSS1 or SPINK1 mutations were more likely to present with CP compared with ARP (PRSS1: OR = 4.20; 95% CI, 2.14-8.22; P < .001; and SPINK1: OR = 2.30; 95% CI, 1.03-5.13; P = .04). Obstructive risk factors did not differ between children with ARP or CP (33% in both the ARP and CP groups), but toxic/metabolic risk factors were more common in children with ARP (21% overall; 26% in the ARP group and 15% in the CP group; OR = 0.55; 95% CI, 0.31-0.99; P = .046). Pancreatitis-related abdominal pain was a major symptom in 81% of children with ARP or CP within the last year. The disease burden was greater in the CP group compared with the ARP group (more emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and medical, endoscopic, and surgical interventions). Genetic mutations are common in both ARP and CP. Ethnicity and mutations in PRSS1 or SPINK1 may influence the development of CP. The high disease burden in pediatric CP underscores the importance of identifying predisposing factors for progression of ARP to CP in children.

The evolution of extreme precipitations in high resolution scenarios over France

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colin, J.; Déqué, M.; Somot, S.

2009-09-01

Over the past years, improving the modelling of extreme events and their variability at climatic time scales has become one of the challenging issue raised in the regional climate research field. This study shows the results of a high resolution (12 km) scenario run over France with the limited area model (LAM) ALADIN-Climat, regarding the representation of extreme precipitations. The runs were conducted in the framework of the ANR-SCAMPEI national project on high resolution scenarios over French mountains. As a first step, we attempt to quantify one of the uncertainties implied by the use of LAM : the size of the area on which the model is run. In particular, we address the issue of whether a relatively small domain allows the model to create its small scale process. Indeed, high resolution scenarios cannot be run on large domains because of the computation time. Therefore one needs to answer this preliminary question before producing and analyzing such scenarios. To do so, we worked in the framework of a « big brother » experiment. We performed a 23-year long global simulation in present-day climate (1979-2001) with the ARPEGE-Climat GCM, at a resolution of approximately 50 km over Europe (stretched grid). This first simulation, named ARP50, constitutes the « big brother » reference of our experiment. It has been validated in comparison with the CRU climatology. Then we filtered the short waves (up to 200 km) from ARP50 in order to obtain the equivalent of coarse resolution lateral boundary conditions (LBC). We have carried out three ALADIN-Climat simulations at a 50 km resolution with these LBC, using different configurations of the model : * FRA50, run over a small domain (2000 x 2000 km, centered over France), * EUR50, run over a larger domain (5000 x 5000 km, centered over France as well), * EUR50-SN, run over the large domain (using spectral nudging). Considering the facts that ARPEGE-Climat and ALADIN-Climat models share the same physics and dynamics and that both regional and global simulations were run at the same resolution, ARP50 can be regarded as a reference with which FRA50, EUR50 and EUR50-SN should each be compared. After an analysis of the differences between the regional simulations and ARP50 in annual and seasonal mean, we focus on the representation of rainfall extremes comparing two dimensional fields of various index inspired from STARDEX and quantile-quantile plots. The results show a good agreement with the ARP50 reference for all three regional simulations and little differences are found between them. This result indicates that the use of small domains is not significantly detrimental to the modelling of extreme precipitation events. It also shows that the spectral nudging technique has no detrimental effect on the extreme precipitation. Therefore, high resolution scenarios performed on a relatively small domain such as the ones run for SCAMPEI, can be regarded as good tools to explore their possible evolution in the future climate. Preliminary results on the response of precipitation extremes over South-East France are given.

Structure, Subunit Topology, and Actin-binding Activity of the Arp2/3 Complex from Acanthamoeba

PubMed Central

Mullins, R. Dyche; Stafford, Walter F.; Pollard, Thomas D.

1997-01-01

The Arp2/3 complex, first isolated from Acanthamoeba castellani by affinity chromatography on profilin, consists of seven polypeptides; two actinrelated proteins, Arp2 and Arp3; and five apparently novel proteins, p40, p35, p19, p18, and p14 (Machesky et al., 1994). The complex is homogeneous by hydrodynamic criteria with a Stokes' radius of 5.3 nm by gel filtration, sedimentation coefficient of 8.7 S, and molecular mass of 197 kD by analytical ultracentrifugation. The stoichiometry of the subunits is 1:1:1:1:1:1:1, indicating the purified complex contains one copy each of seven polypeptides. In electron micrographs, the complex has a bilobed or horseshoe shape with outer dimensions of ∼13 × 10 nm, and mathematical models of such a shape and size are consistent with the measured hydrodynamic properties. Chemical cross-linking with a battery of cross-linkers of different spacer arm lengths and chemical reactivities identify the following nearest neighbors within the complex: Arp2 and p40; Arp2 and p35; Arp3 and p35; Arp3 and either p18 or p19; and p19 and p14. By fluorescent antibody staining with anti-p40 and -p35, the complex is concentrated in the cortex of the ameba, especially in linear structures, possibly actin filament bundles, that lie perpendicular to the leading edge. Purified Arp2/3 complex binds actin filaments with a K d of 2.3 μM and a stoichiometry of approximately one complex molecule per actin monomer. In electron micrographs of negatively stained samples, Arp2/3 complex decorates the sides of actin filaments. EDC/NHS cross-links actin to Arp3, p35, and a low molecular weight subunit, p19, p18, or p14. We propose structural and topological models for the Arp2/3 complex and suggest that affinity for actin filaments accounts for the localization of complex subunits to actinrich regions of Acanthamoeba. PMID:9015304

Assembly of the Arp5 (Actin-related Protein) Subunit Involved in Distinct INO80 Chromatin Remodeling Activities*

PubMed Central

Yao, Wei; Beckwith, Sean L.; Zheng, Tina; Young, Thomas; Dinh, Van T.; Ranjan, Anand; Morrison, Ashby J.

2015-01-01

ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling, which repositions and restructures nucleosomes, is essential to all DNA-templated processes. The INO80 chromatin remodeling complex is an evolutionarily conserved complex involved in diverse cellular processes, including transcription, DNA repair, and replication. The functional diversity of the INO80 complex can, in part, be attributed to specialized activities of distinct subunits that compose the complex. Furthermore, structural analyses have identified biochemically discrete subunit modules that assemble along the Ino80 ATPase scaffold. Of particular interest is the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Arp5-Ies6 module located proximal to the Ino80 ATPase and the Rvb1-Rvb2 helicase module needed for INO80-mediated in vitro activity. In this study we demonstrate that the previously uncharacterized Ies2 subunit is required for Arp5-Ies6 association with the catalytic components of the INO80 complex. In addition, Arp5-Ies6 module assembly with the INO80 complex is dependent on distinct conserved domains within Arp5, Ies6, and Ino80, including the spacer region within the Ino80 ATPase domain. Arp5-Ies6 interacts with chromatin via assembly with the INO80 complex, as IES2 and INO80 deletion results in loss of Arp5-Ies6 chromatin association. Interestingly, ectopic addition of the wild-type Arp5-Ies6 module stimulates INO80-mediated ATP hydrolysis and nucleosome sliding in vitro. However, the addition of mutant Arp5 lacking unique insertion domains facilitates ATP hydrolysis in the absence of nucleosome sliding. Collectively, these results define the requirements of Arp5-Ies6 assembly, which are needed to couple ATP hydrolysis to productive nucleosome movement. PMID:26306040

Technique for Radiometer and Antenna Array Calibration with Two Antenna Noise Diodes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Srinivasan, Karthik; Limaye, Ashutosh; Laymon, Charles; Meyer, Paul

2011-01-01

This paper presents a new technique to calibrate a microwave radiometer and phased array antenna system. This calibration technique uses a radiated noise source in addition to an injected noise sources for calibration. The plane of reference for this calibration technique is the face of the antenna and therefore can effectively calibration the gain fluctuations in the active phased array antennas. This paper gives the mathematical formulation for the technique and discusses the improvements brought by the method over the existing calibration techniques.

Optical Links and RF Distribution for Antenna Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huang, Shouhua; Calhoun, Malcolm; Tjoelker, Robert

2006-01-01

An array of three antennas has recently been developed at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory capable of detecting signals at X and Ka band. The array requires a common frequency reference and high precision phase alignment to correlate received signals. Frequency and timing references are presently provided from a remotely located hydrogen maser and clock through a combination of commercially and custom developed optical links. The selected laser, photodetector, and fiber components have been tested under anticipated thermal and simulated antenna rotation conditions. The resulting stability limitations due to thermal perturbations or induced stress on the optical fiber have been characterized. Distribution of the X band local oscillator includes a loop back and precision phase monitor to enable correlation of signals received from each antenna.

Assessment of automatic ligand building in ARP/wARP.

PubMed

Evrard, Guillaume X; Langer, Gerrit G; Perrakis, Anastassis; Lamzin, Victor S

2007-01-01

The efficiency of the ligand-building module of ARP/wARP version 6.1 has been assessed through extensive tests on a large variety of protein-ligand complexes from the PDB, as available from the Uppsala Electron Density Server. Ligand building in ARP/wARP involves two main steps: automatic identification of the location of the ligand and the actual construction of its atomic model. The first step is most successful for large ligands. The second step, ligand construction, is more powerful with X-ray data at high resolution and ligands of small to medium size. Both steps are successful for ligands with low to moderate atomic displacement parameters. The results highlight the strengths and weaknesses of both the method of ligand building and the large-scale validation procedure and help to identify means of further improvement.

Purification of Arp2/3 complex from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

PubMed Central

Doolittle, Lynda K.; Rosen, Michael K.; Padrick, Shae B.

2014-01-01

Summary Much of cellular control over actin dynamics comes through regulation of actin filament initiation. At the molecular level, this is accomplished through a collection of cellular protein machines, called actin nucleation factors, which position actin monomers to initiate a new actin filament. The Arp2/3 complex is a principal actin nucleation factor used throughout the eukaryotic family tree. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven to be not only an excellent genetic platform for the study of the Arp2/3 complex, but also an excellent source for the purification of endogenous Arp2/3 complex. Here we describe a protocol for the preparation of endogenous Arp2/3 complex from wild type Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This protocol produces material suitable for biochemical study, and yields milligram quantities of purified Arp2/3 complex. PMID:23868593

Pathway of actin filament branch formation by Arp2/3 complex revealed by single-molecule imaging

PubMed Central

Smith, Benjamin A.; Daugherty-Clarke, Karen; Goode, Bruce L.; Gelles, Jeff

2013-01-01

Actin filament nucleation by actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex is a critical process in cell motility and endocytosis, yet key aspects of its mechanism are unknown due to a lack of real-time observations of Arp2/3 complex through the nucleation process. Triggered by the verprolin homology, central, and acidic (VCA) region of proteins in the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) family, Arp2/3 complex produces new (daughter) filaments as branches from the sides of preexisting (mother) filaments. We visualized individual fluorescently labeled Arp2/3 complexes dynamically interacting with and producing branches on growing actin filaments in vitro. Branch formation was strikingly inefficient, even in the presence of VCA: only ∼1% of filament-bound Arp2/3 complexes yielded a daughter filament. VCA acted at multiple steps, increasing both the association rate of Arp2/3 complexes with mother filament and the fraction of filament-bound complexes that nucleated a daughter. The results lead to a quantitative kinetic mechanism for branched actin assembly, revealing the steps that can be stimulated by additional cellular factors. PMID:23292935

Buoyant Helical Twin-Axial Wire Antenna

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-11-15

300169 1 of 9 BUOYANT HELICAL TWIN-AXIAL WIRE ANTENNA CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER PATENT APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional...Wire Antenna ” by the inventor, David A. Tonn. STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST [0002] The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by...BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention is directed to a linear antenna for dual frequencies and a method for

Associations between self-referral and health behavior responses to genetic risk information.

PubMed

Christensen, Kurt D; Roberts, J Scott; Zikmund-Fisher, Brian J; Kardia, Sharon Lr; McBride, Colleen M; Linnenbringer, Erin; Green, Robert C

2015-01-01

Studies examining whether genetic risk information about common, complex diseases can motivate individuals to improve health behaviors and advance planning have shown mixed results. Examining the influence of different study recruitment strategies may help reconcile inconsistencies. Secondary analyses were conducted on data from the REVEAL study, a series of randomized clinical trials examining the impact of genetic susceptibility testing for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We tested whether self-referred participants (SRPs) were more likely than actively recruited participants (ARPs) to report health behavior and advance planning changes after AD risk and APOE genotype disclosure. Of 795 participants with known recruitment status, 546 (69%) were self-referred and 249 (31%) had been actively recruited. SRPs were younger, less likely to identify as African American, had higher household incomes, and were more attentive to AD than ARPs (all P < 0.01). They also dropped out of the study before genetic risk disclosure less frequently (26% versus 41%, P < 0.001). Cohorts did not differ in their likelihood of reporting a change to at least one health behavior 6 weeks and 12 months after genetic risk disclosure, nor in intentions to change at least one behavior in the future. However, interaction effects were observed where ε4-positive SRPs were more likely than ε4-negative SRPs to report changes specifically to mental activities (38% vs 19%, p < 0.001) and diets (21% vs 12%, p = 0.016) six weeks post-disclosure, whereas differences between ε4-positive and ε4-negative ARPs were not evident for mental activities (15% vs 21%, p = 0.413) or diets (8% versus 16%, P = 0.190). Similarly, ε4-positive participants were more likely than ε4-negative participants to report intentions to change long-term care insurance among SRPs (20% vs 5%, p < 0.001), but not ARPs (5% versus 9%, P = 0.365). Individuals who proactively seek AD genetic risk assessment are more likely to undergo testing and use results to inform behavior changes than those who respond to genetic testing offers. These results demonstrate how the behavioral impact of genetic risk information may vary according to the models by which services are provided, and suggest that how participants are recruited into translational genomics research can influence findings. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00089882 and NCT00462917.

The impact of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on stream periphyton: An eleven-year study

USGS Publications Warehouse

Burton, T.M.; Uzarski, D.G.; Stelzer, R.S.; Eggert, S.L.; Sobczak, W.V.; Mullen, D.M.

2000-01-01

Potential effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields on periphyton were studied from 1983 to 1993 using a Before, After, Control and Impact design. The study was conducted at two sites on the Ford River, a fourth-order brown water trout stream in Dickinson County, Michigan. The Reference site received 4.9-6.5 times less exposure to ground electric fields and from 300 to 334 times less exposure to magnetic flux from 1989 to 1993 when the antenna was operational at 76 Hz than did the Antenna site. The objective of the study was to determine if ELF electromagnetic fields had caused changes in structure and/or function of algal communities in the Ford River. Significant differences in chlorophyll a standing crop and daily accumulation rate (a surrogate for primary productivity), and organic matter standing crop and daily accumulation rate were observed between the Reference and Antenna site after the antenna became operational. These four related community function variables all increased at the Antenna site with largest and most consistent increases occurring for chlorophyll measures. Compared to pre-operational data, the increase in chlorophyll at the Antenna site also occurred during a period of low amperage testing in 1986-1988, and did not increase further when the antenna became fully operational in 1989, indicating a low threshold for response. There was no significant differences between the Antenna and Reference sites in community structure variables such as diversity, evenness and the relative abundance of dominant diatoms. Thus, 76 Hz ELF electromagnetic radiation apparently did not change the basic makeup of the diatom community but did increase accumulation rates and standing crops of chlorophyll a and organic matter.

A Tidal Disruption Event in Arp299B

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-06-15

An image of the galaxy Arp299B, which is undergoing a merging process with Arp299A (the galaxy to the left), captured by NASA's Hubble space telescope. The inset features an artist's illustration of a tidal disruption event (TDE), which occurs when a star passes fatally close to a supermassive black hole. A TDE was recently observed near the center of Arp299B. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA22356

Different pathways explain alcohol related problems in female and male college students

PubMed Central

Pedrelli, P.; Collado, A.; Shapero, B. G.; Brill, C.; MacPherson, L.

2016-01-01

Objectives Comprehensive models elucidating the intricate associations of depressive symptoms, coping motives, alcohol use, alcohol-related problems (ARP) and gender among young adults have been scarcely examined. This study investigated relationships among these variables and the effect of gender on these pathways. Methods College students (N = 163; 49.7% female) completed self-report measures on alcohol consumption, depressive symptoms, coping motives, and ARPs. Results Structural equation modeling showed that the association between depressive symptoms and ARPs was mediated by coping motives in both females and males. However, frequency of heavy alcohol use mediated the association between depressive symptoms and ARPs in females but not in males. Conclusions Different models explain the association between depressive symptoms and ARPs in male and female college students. Prevention programs aimed at reducing ARPs should focus on increasing alcohol screening among students with depressive symptoms, teaching coping skills, and emphasizing moderation in alcohol consumption. PMID:27219280

Surface wave excitation study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burke, G. J.; King, R. J.; Miller, E. K.

1984-09-01

Relative communication efficiency (RCE) as defined by Fenwick and Weeks compares the field of a test antenna to that of a reference antenna at the same location for equal input plower to each antenna. Thus, RCE is similar to power gain but is definable in the presence of ground. The effectiveness of antennas in launching TM surface waves was compared. Antennas considered included the vertical dipole, monople on a ground stake, monopole on a radial-wire ground screen, Beverage antenna and vertical half rhombic. Since the performance of these antennas is strongly dependent on parameters such as the number wires in a ground screen or the length of a Beverage antenna, results are presented with parameters varying over a reasonable range. Thus, antenna performance can be weighed against the effort and limitations of construction.

Mode Matching for Optical Antennas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feichtner, Thorsten; Christiansen, Silke; Hecht, Bert

2017-11-01

The emission rate of a point dipole can be strongly increased in the presence of a well-designed optical antenna. Yet, optical antenna design is largely based on radio-frequency rules, ignoring, e.g., Ohmic losses and non-negligible field penetration in metals at optical frequencies. Here, we combine reciprocity and Poynting's theorem to derive a set of optical-frequency antenna design rules for benchmarking and optimizing the performance of optical antennas driven by single quantum emitters. Based on these findings a novel plasmonic cavity antenna design is presented exhibiting a considerably improved performance compared to a reference two-wire antenna. Our work will be useful for the design of high-performance optical antennas and nanoresonators for diverse applications ranging from quantum optics to antenna-enhanced single-emitter spectroscopy and sensing.

Radio frequency coupling apparatus and method for measuring minority carrier lifetimes in semiconductor materials

DOEpatents

Johnston, Steven W.; Ahrenkiel, Richard K.

2002-01-01

An apparatus for measuring the minority carrier lifetime of a semiconductor sample using radio-frequency coupling. The measuring apparatus includes an antenna that is positioned a coupling distance from a semiconductor sample which is exposed to light pulses from a laser during sampling operations. A signal generator is included to generate high frequency, such as 900 MHz or higher, sinusoidal waveform signals that are split into a reference signal and a sample signal. The sample signal is transmitted into a sample branch circuit where it passes through a tuning capacitor and a coaxial cable prior to reaching the antenna. The antenna is radio-frequency coupled with the adjacent sample and transmits the sample signal, or electromagnetic radiation corresponding to the sample signal, to the sample and receives reflected power or a sample-coupled-photoconductivity signal back. To lower impedance and speed system response, the impedance is controlled by limiting impedance in the coaxial cable and the antenna reactance. In one embodiment, the antenna is a waveguide/aperture hybrid antenna having a central transmission line and an adjacent ground flange. The sample-coupled-photoconductivity signal is then transmitted to a mixer which also receives the reference signal. To enhance the sensitivity of the measuring apparatus, the mixer is operated to phase match the reference signal and the sample-coupled-photoconductivity signal.

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

At-risk/problematic shopping and gambling in adolescence

PubMed Central

Pilver, Corey E.; Steinberg, Marvin A.; Rugle, Loreen J.; Krishnan-Sarin, Suchitra; Hoff, Rani A.; Potenza, Marc N.

2016-01-01

Elevated levels of both pathological gambling (PG) and problem shopping (PS) have been reported among adolescents, and each is associated with a range of other negative health/functioning measures. However, relationships between PS and PG, particularly during adolescence, are not well understood. In this study, we explored the relationship between different levels of problem-gambling severity and health/functioning characteristics, gambling-related social experiences, gambling behaviors and motivations among adolescents with and without at-risk/problematic shopping (ARPS). Survey data from Connecticut high school students (n=2,100) were analyzed using bivariate analyses and logistic regression modeling. Although at-risk/problematic gambling (ARPG) was not increased among adolescents with ARPS, adolescents with ARPG (versus non-gamblers) were more likely to report having experienced a growing tension or anxiety that could only be relieved by shopping and missing other obligations due to shopping. In comparison to the non-ARPS group, a smaller proportion of respondents in the ARPS group reported paid part-time employment, whereas a greater proportion of respondents reported excessive gambling by peers and feeling concerned over the gambling of a close family member. In general, similar associations between problem-gambling severity and measures of health/functioning and gambling-related behaviors and motivations were observed across ARPS and non-ARPS adolescents. However, associations were weaker among ARPS adolescents for several variables: engagement in extracurricular activities, alcohol and caffeine use and gambling for financial reasons. These findings suggest a complex relationship between problem-gambling severity and ARPS. They highlight the importance of considering co-occurring risk behaviors such as ARPS when treating adolescents with at-risk/problem gambling. PMID:25117852

At-Risk/Problematic Shopping and Gambling in Adolescence.

PubMed

Yip, Sarah W; Mei, Songli; Pilver, Corey E; Steinberg, Marvin A; Rugle, Loreen J; Krishnan-Sarin, Suchitra; Hoff, Rani A; Potenza, Marc N

2015-12-01

Elevated levels of both pathological gambling (PG) and problem shopping (PS) have been reported among adolescents, and each is associated with a range of other negative health/functioning measures. However, relationships between PS and PG, particularly during adolescence, are not well understood. In this study, we explored the relationship between different levels of problem-gambling severity and health/functioning characteristics, gambling-related social experiences, gambling behaviors and motivations among adolescents with and without at-risk/problematic shopping (ARPS). Survey data from Connecticut high school students (n = 2,100) were analyzed using bivariate analyses and logistic regression modeling. Although at-risk/problematic gambling (ARPG) was not increased among adolescents with ARPS, adolescents with ARPG (vs non-gamblers) were more likely to report having experienced a growing tension or anxiety that could only be relieved by shopping and missing other obligations due to shopping. In comparison to the non-ARPS group, a smaller proportion of respondents in the ARPS group reported paid part-time employment, whereas a greater proportion of respondents reported excessive gambling by peers and feeling concerned over the gambling of a close family member. In general, similar associations between problem-gambling severity and measures of health/functioning and gambling-related behaviors and motivations were observed across ARPS and non-ARPS adolescents. However, associations were weaker among ARPS adolescents for several variables: engagement in extracurricular activities, alcohol and caffeine use and gambling for financial reasons. These findings suggest a complex relationship between problem-gambling severity and ARPS. They highlight the importance of considering co-occurring risk behaviors such as ARPS when treating adolescents with at-risk/problem gambling.

PEDIATRIC ACUTE RECURRENT AND CHRONIC PANCREATITIS: LESSONS FROM INSPPIRE

PubMed Central

Kumar, Soma; Ooi, Chee Y.; Werlin, Steven; Abu-El-Haija, Maisam; Barth, Bradley; Bellin, Melena D.; Durie, Peter R.; Fishman, Douglas S.; Freedman, Steven D.; Gariepy, Cheryl; Giefer, Matthew J.; Gonska, Tanja; Heyman, Melvin B.; Himes, Ryan; Husain, Sohail Z.; Lin, Tom K.; Lowe, Mark E.; Morinville, Veronique; Palermo, Joseph J.; Pohl, John F.; Schwarzenberg, Sarah Jane; Troendle, David; Wilschanski, Michael; Zimmerman, M. Bridget; Uc, Aliye

2017-01-01

Importance Pediatric acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) are poorly understood. Objective To characterize and identify risk factors associated with ARP and CP in childhood. Design A multinational cross-sectional study of children with ARP or CP at the time of enrollment to INSPPIRE (International Study Group of Pediatric Pancreatitis: In Search for a CuRE) study. Setting Participant institutions of the INSPPIRE Consortium. Participants From September 2012 to February 2015, 155 children with ARP and 146 with CP (≤ 19 years of age) were enrolled. Their demographic and clinical information were entered into the REDCap database at fifteen centers. Interventions None. Main Outcomes and Measures A cross-sectional study of the cohort was performed to assess demographics, risk factors, abdominal pain and disease burden. Differences were analyzed using two-sample t-test or Wilcoxon-rank sum test for the continuous variables, and Pearson Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. Disease burden variables (pain variables, hospital/ER visits, missed school days) were compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results The majority of children with CP reported prior recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis. Gender distribution was similar between the groups. ARP was more common in Hispanics, CP in non-Hispanics. Forty-eight percent of patients with ARP versus 73% of patients with CP had at least one gene mutation in pancreatitis-related genes (p=0.0002). Children with PRSS1 or SPINK1 mutations were more likely to present with CP compared with ARP (p<0.0001 and p<0.05 respectively). Obstructive (~30% of patients) and toxic/metabolic risk factors (~20% of patients) did not differ between children with ARP or CP. Pancreatitis-related abdominal pain was a major complaint in 81% of children with ARP or CP within the last year. The disease burden was higher in CP compared with ARP (more ER visits, hospitalizations, missed school days, medical, endoscopic and surgical interventions). Conclusions and Relevance Genetic mutations are common in both ARP and CP. Ethnicity and mutations in PRSS1 or SPINK1 genes may influence the development of CP. The high disease burden in pediatric CP underlines the importance of identifying predisposing factors for progression of ARP to CP in children. PMID:27064572

On the safety assessment of human exposure in the proximity of cellular communications base-station antennas at 900, 1800 and 2170 MHz.

PubMed

Martínez-Búrdalo, M; Martín, A; Anguiano, M; Villar, R

2005-09-07

In this work, the procedures for safety assessment in the close proximity of cellular communications base-station antennas at three different frequencies (900, 1800 and 2170 MHz) are analysed. For each operating frequency, we have obtained and compared the distances to the antenna from the exposure places where electromagnetic fields are below reference levels and the distances where the specific absorption rate (SAR) values in an exposed person are below the basic restrictions, according to the European safety guidelines. A high-resolution human body model has been located, in front of each base-station antenna as a worst case, at different distances, to compute whole body averaged SAR and maximum 10 g averaged SAR inside the exposed body. The finite-difference time-domain method has been used for both electromagnetic fields and SAR calculations. This paper shows that, for antenna-body distances in the near zone of the antenna, the fact that averaged field values be below the reference levels could, at certain frequencies, not guarantee guidelines compliance based on basic restrictions.

Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells partially rescue mitomycin C treated ARPE19 cells from death in co-culture condition.

PubMed

Singh, Amar K; Srivastava, Girish K; García-Gutiérrez, María T; Pastor, J Carlos

2013-12-01

Age-related macular degeneration is a retinal disease with important damage at the RPE layer. This layer is considered a target for therapeutical approaches. Stem cell transplantation is a promising option for retinal diseases. Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells secret growth factors which might play a significant role in RPE maintenance. This study aimed to evaluate human AD-MSCs ability to rescue mitomycin C treated dying ARPE19 cells in co-culture condition. ARPE19 cells were treated with MMC (50 μg/ml, 100 μg/ml and 200 μg/ml) for 2 hours to induce cell death. These treated cells were co-cultured with hAD-MSCs in indirect co-culture system for 3 days and 3 weeks. Then the viability, growth and proliferation of these ARPE19 cells were evaluated by a cell viability/cytotoxicity assay kit and Alamar Blue (AB) assay. Untreated ARPE19 cells and human skin fibroblasts (HSF) were used as controls. MMC blocked ARPE19 cell proliferation significantly in 3 days and cells were almost completely dead after 3 weeks. Cell toxicity of MMC increased significantly with concentration. When these cells were co-cultured with hAD-MSCs, a significant growth difference was observed in treated cells compared to untreated cells. hAD-MSCs rescue capacity was also significantly higher than HSF for treated ARPE19 cells. This study showed that hAD-MSCs rescued MMC treated ARPE19 cells from death. It probably occurred due to undefined growth factors secreted by hAD-MSCs in the medium, shared by treated ARPE19 cells in co-culture conditions. This study supports further evaluation of the effect of hAD-MSCs subretinal transplantation over the RPE degeneration process in AMD patients.

The antagonistic modulation of Arp2/3 activity by N-WASP, WAVE2 and PICK1 defines dynamic changes in astrocyte morphology.

PubMed

Murk, Kai; Blanco Suarez, Elena M; Cockbill, Louisa M R; Banks, Paul; Hanley, Jonathan G

2013-09-01

Astrocytes exhibit a complex, branched morphology, allowing them to functionally interact with numerous blood vessels, neighboring glial processes and neuronal elements, including synapses. They also respond to central nervous system (CNS) injury by a process known as astrogliosis, which involves morphological changes, including cell body hypertrophy and thickening of major processes. Following severe injury, astrocytes exhibit drastically reduced morphological complexity and collectively form a glial scar. The mechanistic details behind these morphological changes are unknown. Here, we investigate the regulation of the actin-nucleating Arp2/3 complex in controlling dynamic changes in astrocyte morphology. In contrast to other cell types, Arp2/3 inhibition drives the rapid expansion of astrocyte cell bodies and major processes. This intervention results in a reduced morphological complexity of astrocytes in both dissociated culture and in brain slices. We show that this expansion requires functional myosin II downstream of ROCK and RhoA. Knockdown of the Arp2/3 subunit Arp3 or the Arp2/3 activator N-WASP by siRNA also results in cell body expansion and reduced morphological complexity, whereas depleting WAVE2 specifically reduces the branching complexity of astrocyte processes. By contrast, knockdown of the Arp2/3 inhibitor PICK1 increases astrocyte branching complexity. Furthermore, astrocyte expansion induced by ischemic conditions is delayed by PICK1 knockdown or N-WASP overexpression. Our findings identify a new morphological outcome for Arp2/3 activation in restricting rather than promoting outwards movement of the plasma membrane in astrocytes. The Arp2/3 regulators PICK1, and N-WASP and WAVE2 function antagonistically to control the complexity of astrocyte branched morphology, and this mechanism underlies the morphological changes seen in astrocytes during their response to pathological insult.

Modified Reference SPS with Solid State Transmitting Antenna

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woodcock, G. R.; Sperber, B. R.

1980-01-01

The development of solid state microwave power amplifiers for a solar power satellite transmitting antenna is discussed. State-of-the-art power-added efficiency, gain, and single device power of various microwave solid state devices are compared. The GaAs field effect transistors and the Si-bipolar transistors appear potentially feasible for solar power satellite use. The integration of solid state devices into antenna array elements is examined and issues concerning antenna integration and consequent satellite configurations are examined.

Estimating Transmitted-Signal Phase Variations for Uplink Array Antennas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paal, Leslie; Mukai, Ryan; Vilntrotter, Victor; Cornish, Timothy; Lee, Dennis

2009-01-01

A method of estimating phase drifts of microwave signals distributed to, and transmitted by, antennas in an array involves the use of the signals themselves as phase references. The method was conceived as part of the solution of the problem of maintaining precise phase calibration required for proper operation of an array of Deep Space Network (DSN) antennas on Earth used for communicating with distant spacecraft at frequencies between 7 and 8 GHz. The method could also be applied to purely terrestrial phased-array radar and other radio antenna array systems. In the DSN application, the electrical lengths (effective signal-propagation path lengths) of the various branches of the system for distributing the transmitted signals to the antennas are not precisely known, and they vary with time. The variations are attributable mostly to thermal expansion and contraction of fiber-optic and electrical signal cables and to a variety of causes associated with aging of signal-handling components. The variations are large enough to introduce large phase drifts at the signal frequency. It is necessary to measure and correct for these phase drifts in order to maintain phase calibration of the antennas. A prior method of measuring phase drifts involves the use of reference-frequency signals separate from the transmitted signals. A major impediment to accurate measurement of phase drifts over time by the prior method is the fact that although DSN reference-frequency sources separate from the transmitting signal sources are stable and accurate enough for most DSN purposes, they are not stable enough for use in maintaining phase calibrations, as required, to within a few degrees over times as long as days or possibly even weeks. By eliminating reliance on the reference-frequency subsystem, the present method overcomes this impediment. In a DSN array to which the present method applies (see figure), the microwave signals to be transmitted are generated by exciters in a signal-processing center, then distributed to the antennas via optical fibers. At each antenna, the signals are used to drive a microwave power-amplifier train, the output of which is coupled to the antenna for transmission. A small fraction of the power-amplifier-train output is sent back to the signal-processing center along another optical fiber that is part of the same fiber-optic cable used to distribute the transmitted signal to the antenna. In the signal-processing center, the signal thus returned from each antenna is detected and its phase is compared with the phase of the signal sampled directly from the corresponding exciter. It is known, from other measurements, that the signal-propagation path length from the power-amplifier-train output port to the phase center of each antenna is sufficiently stable and, hence, that sampling the signal at the power-amplifier-train output port suffices for the purpose of characterizing the phase drift of the transmitted signal at the phase center of the antenna

Final report on APMP.RF-S21.F

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishii, Masanori; Kim, Jeong Hwan; Ji, Yu; Cho, Chi Hyun; Zhang, Tim

2018-01-01

The supplementary comparison report APMP.RF-S21.F describes the comparison of loop antennas, which was conducted between April 2013 and January 2014. The two comparison artefacts were well-characterised active loop antennas of diameter 30 cm and 60 cm respectively, which typically operate in a frequency range from 9 kHz to 30 MHz. These antennas represent the main groups of antennas which are used around the world for EMC measurements in the frequency range below 30 MHz. There are several well-known methods for calibrating the antenna factor of these devices. The calibration systems used in this comparison for the loop antennas employed the standard magnetic field method or the three-antenna method. Despite the limitations of the algorithm, which we used to derive the reference value for each case (particularly for small samples), the actual calculated reference values seem to be reasonable. As a result, the agreement between each participant was very good in all cases. 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 CCEM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

32 CFR 1909.12 - Designation of authority to grant requests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) and these regulations. (b) ARP Membership. The ARP is chaired by the Chief, Information Review and Release Group, Information Management Services, and composed of the Information Review Officers from the... and offices. The Information and Privacy Coordinator also serves as Executive Secretary of the ARP...

32 CFR 1909.12 - Designation of authority to grant requests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...) and these regulations. (b) ARP Membership. The ARP is chaired by the Chief, Information Review and Release Group, Information Management Services, and composed of the Information Review Officers from the... and offices. The Information and Privacy Coordinator also serves as Executive Secretary of the ARP...

32 CFR 1909.12 - Designation of authority to grant requests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...) and these regulations. (b) ARP Membership. The ARP is chaired by the Chief, Information Review and Release Group, Information Management Services, and composed of the Information Review Officers from the... and offices. The Information and Privacy Coordinator also serves as Executive Secretary of the ARP...

The First Geodetic VLBI Field Test of LIFT: A 550-km-long Optical Fiber Link for Remote Antenna Synchronization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perini, Federico; Bortolotti, Claudio; Roma, Mauro; Ambrosini, Roberto; Negusini, Monia; Maccaferri, Giuseppe; Stagni, Matteo; Nanni, Mauro; Clivati, Cecilia; Frittelli, Matteo; Mura, Alberto; Levi, Filippo; Zucco, Massimo; Calonico, Davide; Bertarini, Alessandra; Artz, Thomas

2016-12-01

We present the first field test of the implementation of a coherent optical fiber link for remote antenna synchronization realized in Italy between the Italian Metrological Institute (INRIM) and the Medicina radio observatory of the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF). The Medicina VLBI antenna participated in the EUR137 experiment carried out in September 2015 using, as reference systems, both the local H-maser and a remote H-maser hosted at the INRIM labs in Turin, separated by about 550 km. In order to assess the quality of the remote clock, the observed radio sources were split into two sets, using either the local or the remote H-maser. A system to switch automatically between the two references was integrated into the antenna field system. The observations were correlated in Bonn and preliminary results are encouraging since fringes were detected with both time references along the full 24 hours of the session. The experimental set-up, the results, and the perspectives for future radio astronomical and geodetic experiments are presented.

Comment on "Irreversible sorption of trace concentrations of perfluorocarboxylic acids to fiber filters used for air sampling" by Arp and Goss (Atmospheric Environment 42, 6869-6872, 2008)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barton, Catherine A.; Kaiser, Mary A.; Butler, Larry E.; Botelho, Miguel A.

This discussion paper reflects concerns as to the technical arguments set forth in the Arp and Goss paper. The authors of the paper, Arp and Goss, hypothesize that vapor phase perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFAs) are irreversibly sorbed to the surface of air sampling filters, and that this sorption erroneously biases vapor/particle speciation measurements toward the particle phase. These authors also suggest a surface treatment of the filters is necessary. As authors of some of the experimental data used in the Arp paper, we believe Arp and Goss have misstated the case for irreversible adsorption, and that untreated filters provide adequate vapor/particle speciation results for PFAs. Additional field data are offered to help prove the point.

Actin filament curvature biases branching direction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Evan; Risca, Viviana; Chaudhuri, Ovijit; Chia, Jia-Jun; Geissler, Phillip; Fletcher, Daniel

2012-02-01

Actin filaments are key components of the cellular machinery, vital for a wide range of processes ranging from cell motility to endocytosis. Actin filaments can branch, and essential in this process is a protein complex known as the Arp2/3 complex, which nucleate new ``daughter'' filaments from pre-existing ``mother'' filaments by attaching itself to the mother filament. Though much progress has been made in understanding the Arp2/3-actin junction, some very interesting questions remain. In particular, F-actin is a dynamic polymer that undergoes a wide range of fluctuations. Prior studies of the Arp2/3-actin junction provides a very static notion of Arp2/3 binding. The question we ask is how differently does the Arp2/3 complex interact with a straight filament compared to a bent filament? In this study, we used Monte Carlo simulations of a surface-tethered worm-like chain to explore possible mechanisms underlying the experimental observation that there exists preferential branch formation by the Arp2/3 complex on the convex face of a curved filament. We show that a fluctuation gating model in which Arp2/3 binding to the actin filament is dependent upon a rare high-local-curvature shape fluctuation of the filament is consistent with the experimental data.

A Practical Guide to the Design and Construction of a Single Wire Beverage Antenna.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-09-01

THEORETICAL PATTERNS 5 5 DESIGN PARAMETERS 7 6 ANTENNA CONSTRUCTION 8 7 ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE 9 8 CONCLUSIONS 9 Tables 1-4 11 References 14...on the main RAE 1906S computer. > The results show the effect at two frequencies of varying the main parameters of antenna height, antenna length...programmes are stored on the main RAE 1906S computer and can be edited prior to running to take into account desired changes in parameters , principally

Coexpression of Arp2 and WAVE2 predicts poor outcome in invasive breast carcinoma.

PubMed

Iwaya, Keiichi; Norio, Kohno; Mukai, Kiyoshi

2007-03-01

Breast carcinoma with a high histologic grade is highly invasive and metastatic. One reason for its irregular morphology is the formation of excessive protrusions due to assemblages of branched actin filament networks. In mammalian cells, the actin-related protein 2 and 3 (Arp2/3) complex initiates actin assembly to form lamellipodial protrusions by binding to the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WASP)/WASP family verproline-homologous protein2 (WAVE2), a member of the WASP protein family. In this study, the localization Arp2 and WAVE2 in breast carcinoma was investigated to clarify whether coexpression of the two proteins is associated with histologic grade or patient outcome. Immunohistochemical staining of Arp2 and WAVE2 was performed on mirror specimens of 197 breast carcinomas, and the association between coexpression of the two proteins and clinicopathologic factors was examined. Kaplan-Meier disease-free survival and overall survival curves were analyzed to determine the prognostic significance of Arp2 and WAVE2 coexpression in breast carcinoma. Coexpression of Arp2 and WAVE2 was detected in 64 (36%) of 179 invasive ductal carcinomas and in 2 (11%) of 18 ductal carcinomas in situ, but was not detected in any adjacent non-cancerous tissue. The proportion of cancer cells expressing both Arp2 and WAVE2 was significantly higher in cases with high histologic grade (P<0.0001), and cases with lymph node metastasis (P=0.0150). The patients whose cancer cells showed such coexpression had shorter disease-free (P=0.0002) and overall survival (P=0.0122) than patients whose cancer cells expressed only one or none of Arp2 and WAVE2. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that coexpression of Arp2 and WAVE2 is an independent factor for both tumor recurrence (P=0.0308) and death (P=0.0455). These results indicate that coexpression of Arp2 and WAVE2 is a significant prognostic factor that is closely associated with aggressive morphology of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Comparative genome analysis reveals a conserved family of actin-like proteins in apicomplexan parasites

PubMed Central

Gordon, Jennifer L; Sibley, L David

2005-01-01

Background The phylum Apicomplexa is an early-branching eukaryotic lineage that contains a number of important human and animal pathogens. Their complex life cycles and unique cytoskeletal features distinguish them from other model eukaryotes. Apicomplexans rely on actin-based motility for cell invasion, yet the regulation of this system remains largely unknown. Consequently, we focused our efforts on identifying actin-related proteins in the recently completed genomes of Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium spp., Cryptosporidium spp., and Theileria spp. Results Comparative genomic and phylogenetic studies of apicomplexan genomes reveals that most contain only a single conventional actin and yet they each have 8–10 additional actin-related proteins. Among these are a highly conserved Arp1 protein (likely part of a conserved dynactin complex), and Arp4 and Arp6 homologues (subunits of the chromatin-remodeling machinery). In contrast, apicomplexans lack canonical Arp2 or Arp3 proteins, suggesting they lost the Arp2/3 actin polymerization complex on their evolutionary path towards intracellular parasitism. Seven of these actin-like proteins (ALPs) are novel to apicomplexans. They show no phylogenetic associations to the known Arp groups and likely serve functions specific to this important group of intracellular parasites. Conclusion The large diversity of actin-like proteins in apicomplexans suggests that the actin protein family has diverged to fulfill various roles in the unique biology of intracellular parasites. Conserved Arps likely participate in vesicular transport and gene expression, while apicomplexan-specific ALPs may control unique biological traits such as actin-based gliding motility. PMID:16343347

HIV-1 Triggers WAVE2 Phosphorylation in Primary CD4 T Cells and Macrophages, Mediating Arp2/3-dependent Nuclear Migration*

PubMed Central

Spear, Mark; Guo, Jia; Turner, Amy; Yu, Dongyang; Wang, Weifeng; Meltzer, Beatrix; He, Sijia; Hu, Xiaohua; Shang, Hong; Kuhn, Jeffrey; Wu, Yuntao

2014-01-01

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) initiates receptor signaling and early actin dynamics during viral entry. This process is required for viral infection of primary targets such as resting CD4 T cells. WAVE2 is a component of a multiprotein complex linking receptor signaling to dynamic remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. WAVE2 directly activates Arp2/3, leading to actin nucleation and filament branching. Although several bacterial and viral pathogens target Arp2/3 for intracellular mobility, it remains unknown whether HIV-1 actively modulates the Arp2/3 complex through virus-mediated receptor signal transduction. Here we report that HIV-1 triggers WAVE2 phosphorylation at serine 351 through gp120 binding to the chemokine coreceptor CXCR4 or CCR5 during entry. This phosphorylation event involves both Gαi-dependent and -independent pathways, and is conserved both in X4 and R5 viral infection of resting CD4 T cells and primary macrophages. We further demonstrate that inhibition of WAVE2-mediated Arp2/3 activity through stable shRNA knockdown of Arp3 dramatically diminished HIV-1 infection of CD4 T cells, preventing viral nuclear migration. Inhibition of Arp2/3 through a specific inhibitor, CK548, also drastically inhibited HIV-1 nuclear migration and infection of CD4 T cells. Our results suggest that Arp2/3 and the upstream regulator, WAVE2, are essential co-factors hijacked by HIV for intracellular migration, and may serve as novel targets to prevent HIV transmission. PMID:24415754

HIV-1 triggers WAVE2 phosphorylation in primary CD4 T cells and macrophages, mediating Arp2/3-dependent nuclear migration.

PubMed

Spear, Mark; Guo, Jia; Turner, Amy; Yu, Dongyang; Wang, Weifeng; Meltzer, Beatrix; He, Sijia; Hu, Xiaohua; Shang, Hong; Kuhn, Jeffrey; Wu, Yuntao

2014-03-07

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) initiates receptor signaling and early actin dynamics during viral entry. This process is required for viral infection of primary targets such as resting CD4 T cells. WAVE2 is a component of a multiprotein complex linking receptor signaling to dynamic remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton. WAVE2 directly activates Arp2/3, leading to actin nucleation and filament branching. Although several bacterial and viral pathogens target Arp2/3 for intracellular mobility, it remains unknown whether HIV-1 actively modulates the Arp2/3 complex through virus-mediated receptor signal transduction. Here we report that HIV-1 triggers WAVE2 phosphorylation at serine 351 through gp120 binding to the chemokine coreceptor CXCR4 or CCR5 during entry. This phosphorylation event involves both Gαi-dependent and -independent pathways, and is conserved both in X4 and R5 viral infection of resting CD4 T cells and primary macrophages. We further demonstrate that inhibition of WAVE2-mediated Arp2/3 activity through stable shRNA knockdown of Arp3 dramatically diminished HIV-1 infection of CD4 T cells, preventing viral nuclear migration. Inhibition of Arp2/3 through a specific inhibitor, CK548, also drastically inhibited HIV-1 nuclear migration and infection of CD4 T cells. Our results suggest that Arp2/3 and the upstream regulator, WAVE2, are essential co-factors hijacked by HIV for intracellular migration, and may serve as novel targets to prevent HIV transmission.

Coexpression of actin-related protein 2 and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome family verproline-homologous protein 2 in adenocarcinoma of the lung.

PubMed

Semba, Seitaro; Iwaya, Keiichi; Matsubayashi, Jun; Serizawa, Hiromi; Kataba, Hiroaki; Hirano, Takashi; Kato, Harubumi; Matsuoka, Takeshi; Mukai, Kiyoshi

2006-04-15

Highly invasive and metastatic cancer cells, such as adenocarcinoma of the lung cells, form irregular protrusions by assembling a branched network of actin filaments. In mammalian cells, the actin-related protein 2 and 3 (Arp2/3) complex initiates actin assembly to form lamellipodial protrusions by binding to Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WASP)/WASP family verproline-homologous protein 2 (WAVE2). In this study, colocalization of Arp2 and WAVE2 in adenocarcinoma of the lung was investigated to elucidate its prognostic value. Immunohistochemical staining of Arp2 and WAVE2 was done on mirror sections of 115 adenocarcinomas of the lung from pathologic stage IA to IIIA classes. Kaplan-Meier disease-free survival and overall survival curves were analyzed to determine the prognostic significance of the coexpression of Arp2 and WAVE2. Immunoreactivity for both Arp2 and WAVE2 was detected in the same cancer cells in 78 (67.8%) of the 115 lung cancer specimens. The proportion of cancer cells expressing both Arp2 and WAVE2 was significantly higher in cases with lymph-node metastasis (P = 0.0046), and significantly lower in bronchioloalveolar carcinomas (P < 0.0001). The patients whose cancer cells coexpressed them had a shorter disease-free survival time (P < 0.0001) and overall survival time (P < 0.0001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that coexpression of Arp2 and WAVE2 is an independent risk factor for tumor recurrence. Coexpression of Arp2 and WAVE2 is correlated with poorer patient outcome, and may be involved in the mechanism of cancer metastasis.

Development and Deployment of an Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) Compliant Measurement System for nvPM Certification Measurements of Aircraft Engines - Current Status.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whitefield, P. D.; Hagen, D. E.; Lobo, P.; Miake-Lye, R. C.

2015-12-01

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aircraft Exhaust Emissions Measurement Committee (E-31) has published an Aerospace Information Report (AIR) 6241 detailing the sampling system for the measurement of non-volatile particulate matter (nvPM) from aircraft engines (SAE 2013). The system is designed to operate in parallel with existing International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 16 compliant combustion gas sampling systems used for emissions certification from aircraft engines captured by conventional (Annex 16) gas sampling rakes (ICAO, 2008). The SAE E-31 committee is also working to ballot an Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) that will provide the methodology and system specification to measure nvPM from aircraft engines. The ARP is currently in preparation and is expected to be ready for ballot in 2015. A prototype AIR-compliant nvPM measurement system - The North American Reference System (NARS) has been built and evaluated at the MSTCOE under the joint sponsorship of the FAA, EPA and Transport Canada. It has been used to validate the performance characteristics of OEM AIR-compliant systems and is being used in engine certification type testing at OEM facilities to obtain data from a set of representative engines in the fleet. The data collected during these tests will be used by ICAO/CAEP/WG3/PMTG to develop a metric on which on the regulation for nvPM emissions will be based. This paper will review the salient features of the NARS including: (1) emissions sample transport from probe tip to the key diagnostic tools, (2) the mass and number-based diagnostic tools for nvPM mass and number concentration measurement and (3) methods employed to assess the extent of nvPM loss throughout the sampling system. This paper will conclude with a discussion of the recent results from inter-comparison studies conducted with other US - based systems that gives credence to the ARP's readiness for ballot.

Fascin-mediated propulsion of Listeria monocytogenes independent of frequent nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex.

PubMed

Brieher, William M; Coughlin, Margaret; Mitchison, Timothy J

2004-04-26

Actin-dependent propulsion of Listeria monocytogenes is thought to require frequent nucleation of actin polymerization by the Arp2/3 complex. We demonstrate that L. monocytogenes motility can be separated into an Arp2/3-dependent nucleation phase and an Arp2/3-independent elongation phase. Elongation-based propulsion requires a unique set of biochemical factors in addition to those required for Arp2/3-dependent motility. We isolated fascin from brain extracts as the only soluble factor required in addition to actin during the elongation phase for this type of movement. The nucleation reaction assembles a comet tail of branched actin filaments directly behind the bacterium. The elongation-based reaction generates a hollow cylinder of parallel bundles that attach along the sides of the bacterium. Bacteria move faster in the elongation reaction than in the presence of Arp2/3, and the rate is limited by the concentration of G-actin. The biochemical and structural differences between the two motility reactions imply that each operates through distinct biochemical and biophysical mechanisms.

The radial distribution of supernovae in nuclear starbursts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herrero-Illana, R.; Pérez-Torres, M. A.; Alberdi, A.

2013-05-01

Galaxy-galaxy interactions are expected to be responsible for triggering massive star formation and possibly accretion onto a supermassive black hole, by providing large amounts of dense molecular gas down to the central kiloparsec region. Several scenarios to drive the gas further down to the central ˜100 pc, have been proposed, including the formation of a nuclear disk around the black hole, where massive stars would produce supernovae. Here, we probe the radial distribution of supernovae and supernova remnants in the nuclear regions of the starburst galaxies M82, Arp 299-A, and Arp 220, by using high-angular resolution (≲ 0.''1) radio observations. We derived scale-length values for the putative nuclear disks, which range from ˜20-30 pc for Arp 299-A and Arp 220, up to ˜140 pc for M82. The radial distribution of SNe for the nuclear disks in Arp 299-A and Arp 220 is also consistent with a power-law surface density profile of exponent γ = 1, as expected from detailed hydrodynamical simulations of nuclear disks. This study is detailed in te{herrero-illana12}.

H I in Arp 72 and similarities with M51-type systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sengupta, Chandreyee; Saikia, D. J.; Dwarakanath, K. S.

2012-02-01

We present neutral hydrogen (H I) observations with the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) of the interacting galaxies NGC 5996 and 5994, which make up the Arp 72 system. Arp 72 is an M51-type system and shows a complex distribution of H I tails and a bridge due to tidal interactions. H I column densities ranging from 0.8-1.8 × 1020 atoms cm-2 in the eastern tidal tail to 1.7-2 × 1021 atoms cm-2 in the bridge connecting the two galaxies are seen to be associated with star-forming regions. We discuss the morphological and kinematic similarities of Arp 72 with M51, the archetypal example of the M51-type systems, and Arp 86, another M51-type system studied with the GMRT, and suggest that a multiple passage model of Salo & Laurikainen may be preferred over the classical single passage model of Toomre & Toomre to reproduce the H I features in Arp 72 as well as in other M-51 systems depicting similar optical and H I features.

The antagonistic modulation of Arp2/3 activity by N-WASP, WAVE2 and PICK1 defines dynamic changes in astrocyte morphology

PubMed Central

Murk, Kai; Blanco Suarez, Elena M.; Cockbill, Louisa M. R.; Banks, Paul; Hanley, Jonathan G.

2013-01-01

Summary Astrocytes exhibit a complex, branched morphology, allowing them to functionally interact with numerous blood vessels, neighboring glial processes and neuronal elements, including synapses. They also respond to central nervous system (CNS) injury by a process known as astrogliosis, which involves morphological changes, including cell body hypertrophy and thickening of major processes. Following severe injury, astrocytes exhibit drastically reduced morphological complexity and collectively form a glial scar. The mechanistic details behind these morphological changes are unknown. Here, we investigate the regulation of the actin-nucleating Arp2/3 complex in controlling dynamic changes in astrocyte morphology. In contrast to other cell types, Arp2/3 inhibition drives the rapid expansion of astrocyte cell bodies and major processes. This intervention results in a reduced morphological complexity of astrocytes in both dissociated culture and in brain slices. We show that this expansion requires functional myosin II downstream of ROCK and RhoA. Knockdown of the Arp2/3 subunit Arp3 or the Arp2/3 activator N-WASP by siRNA also results in cell body expansion and reduced morphological complexity, whereas depleting WAVE2 specifically reduces the branching complexity of astrocyte processes. By contrast, knockdown of the Arp2/3 inhibitor PICK1 increases astrocyte branching complexity. Furthermore, astrocyte expansion induced by ischemic conditions is delayed by PICK1 knockdown or N-WASP overexpression. Our findings identify a new morphological outcome for Arp2/3 activation in restricting rather than promoting outwards movement of the plasma membrane in astrocytes. The Arp2/3 regulators PICK1, and N-WASP and WAVE2 function antagonistically to control the complexity of astrocyte branched morphology, and this mechanism underlies the morphological changes seen in astrocytes during their response to pathological insult. PMID:23843614

Evaluation of Fuel Character Effects on the F101 Engine Combustion System

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-06-01

inner liner. The dome, outer liner, and outer cowl are a single welded assembly. Provisions for differential expansion between the fuel injectors and...Electric smoke measurement console shown in Figure 20 contains standard test equipment which fully conforms to SAE ARP 1179 (Reference 5). Smoke spot...spot samples are later delivered to the data processing area, where the reflectances are measured and the SAE Smoke Number is calculated. The gaseous

Forward genetics in Candida albicans that reveals the Arp2/3 complex is required for hyphal formation, but not endocytosis

PubMed Central

Epp, Elias; Walther, Andrea; Guylaine, Lépine; Leon, Zully; Mullick, Alaka; Raymond, Martine; Wendland, Jürgen; Whiteway, Malcolm

2014-01-01

Summary Candida albicans is a diploid fungal pathogen lacking a defined complete sexual cycle, and thus has been refractory to standard forward genetic analysis. Instead, transcription profiling and reverse genetic strategies based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae have typically been used to link genes to functions. To overcome restrictions inherent in such indirect approaches, we have investigated a forward genetic mutagenesis strategy based on the UAU1 technology. We screened 4700 random insertion mutants for defects in hyphal development and linked two new genes (ARP2 and VPS52) to hyphal growth. Deleting ARP2 abolished hyphal formation, generated round and swollen yeast phase cells, disrupted cortical actin patches and blocked virulence in mice. The mutants also showed a global lack of induction of hyphae-specific genes upon the yeast-to-hyphae switch. Surprisingly, both arp2Δ/Δ and arp2Δ/Δarp3Δ/Δ mutants were still able to endocytose FM4-64 and Lucifer Yellow, although as shown by time-lapse movies internalization of FM4-64 was somewhat delayed in mutant cells. Thus the non-essential role of the Arp2/3 complex discovered by forward genetic screening in C. albicans showed that uptake of membrane components from the plasma membrane to vacuolar structures is not dependent on this actin nucleating machinery. PMID:20141603

GPS antenna designs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Laube, Samuel J. P.

1987-01-01

Application of the current GPS NAVSTAR system to civilian service requires that a right hand, circularly polarized, -160 dBW spread spectrum signal be received from an orbiting satellite, where the antenna environment is also moving. This presents a design challenge when inexpensive antennas are desired. The intent of this survey is to provide information on the antennas mentioned and to construct and test prototypes to determine whether the choice made by the industry, the quadrifilar helix, is the best. The helix antenna is currently the low cost standard for GPS. Prototype versions were constructed using 12 gauge wire and subminiature coaxial hardline. The constructed antennas were tested using a signal generator and a reference turnstile. A spectrum analyzer was used to measure the level of the received signal.

A technique for measurement of earth station antenna G/T by radio stars and Applications Technology Satellites.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kochevar, H. J.

1972-01-01

A new technique has been developed to accurately measure the G/T of a small aperture antenna using geostationary satellites and the well established radio star method. A large aperture antenna having the capability of accurately measuring its G/T by using a radio star of known power density is used to obtain an accurate G/T to use as a reference. The CNR of both the large and small aperture antennas are then measured using an Applications Technology Satellite (ATS). After normalizing the two C/N ratios to the large antenna system noise temperature the G/T or the gain G of the small aperture antenna can then be determined.

Tropomyosin Promotes Lamellipodial Persistence by Collaborating with Arp2/3 at the Leading Edge.

PubMed

Brayford, Simon; Bryce, Nicole S; Schevzov, Galina; Haynes, Elizabeth M; Bear, James E; Hardeman, Edna C; Gunning, Peter W

2016-05-23

At the leading edge of migrating cells, protrusion of the lamellipodium is driven by Arp2/3-mediated polymerization of actin filaments [1]. This dense, branched actin network is promoted and stabilized by cortactin [2, 3]. In order to drive filament turnover, Arp2/3 networks are remodeled by proteins such as GMF, which blocks the actin-Arp2/3 interaction [4, 5], and coronin 1B, which acts by directing SSH1L to the lamellipodium where it activates the actin-severing protein cofilin [6, 7]. It has been shown in vitro that cofilin-mediated severing of Arp2/3 actin networks results in the generation of new pointed ends to which the actin-stabilizing protein tropomyosin (Tpm) can bind [8]. The presence of Tpm in lamellipodia, however, is disputed in the literature [9-19]. Here, we report that the Tpm isoforms 1.8/9 are enriched in the lamellipodium of fibroblasts as detected with a novel isoform-specific monoclonal antibody. RNAi-mediated silencing of Tpm1.8/9 led to an increase of Arp2/3 accumulation at the cell periphery and a decrease in the persistence of lamellipodia and cell motility, a phenotype consistent with cortactin- and coronin 1B-deficient cells [2, 7]. In the absence of coronin 1B or cofilin, Tpm1.8/9 protein levels are reduced while, conversely, inhibition of Arp2/3 with CK666 leads to an increase in Tpm1.8/9 protein. These findings establish a novel regulatory mechanism within the lamellipodium whereby Tpm collaborates with Arp2/3 to promote lamellipodial-based cell migration. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Laboratory-scale integrated ARP filter test

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

Poirier, M.; Burket, P.

2016-03-01

The Savannah River Site (SRS) is currently treating radioactive liquid waste with the Actinide Removal Process (ARP) and the Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Unit (MCU). Recently, the low filter flux through the ARP of approximately 5 gallons per minute has limited the rate at which radioactive liquid waste can be treated. Salt Batch 6 had a lower processing rate and required frequent filter cleaning. There is a desire to understand the causes of the low filter flux and to increase ARP/MCU throughput. This task attempted to simulate the entire ARP process, including multiple batches (5), washing, chemical cleaning, andmore » blending the feed with heels and recycle streams. The objective of the tests was to determine whether one of these processes is causing excessive fouling of the crossflow or secondary filter. The authors conducted the tests with feed solutions containing 6.6 M sodium Salt Batch 6 simulant supernate with no MST.« less

12om Methodology: Process v1.1

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-31

in support of the Applied Research Project (ARP) 12om entitled “Collaborative Understanding of Complex Situations”. The overall purpose of this...Definition ARP Applied Research Project CF Canadian Forces CFOPP Canadian Forces Operational Planning Process CIDA Canadian International... Research Project (ARP) 12om entitled “Collaborative Understanding of Complex Situations”. The overall purpose of this project is to develop a

Multiscale simulation of a prescribed fire event in the New Jersey Pine Barrens using ARPS-CANOPY

Treesearch

Michael T. Kiefer; Warren E. Heilman; Shiyuan Zhong; Joseph J. Charney; Xindi Bian; Nicholas S. Skowronski; John L. Hom; Kenneth L. Clark; Matthew Patterson; Michael R. Gallagher

2014-01-01

Smoke prediction products are one of the tools used by land management personnel for decision making regarding prescribed fires. This study documents the application to a prescribed fire of a smoke prediction system that employs ARPS-CANOPY, a modified version of the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) model containing a canopy submodel, as the meteorological...

The U.S. Department of Energy advanced radioisotope power system program

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

Herrera, L.

1998-07-01

Radioisotope power systems for spacecraft are and will continue to be an enabling power technology for deep space exploration. The US Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for the Nation's development of Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems (ARPS) to meet harsh environments and long life requirements. The DOE has provided radioisotope power systems for space missions since 1961. The radioisotope power system used for the recent Cassini mission included three Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) which provided a total of 888 Watts electric at 6.7% conversion efficiency. The DOE's goal is to develop a higher efficiency and lower mass ARPS for futuremore » deep space missions. The ARPS program involves the design, development, fabrication, and qualification, and safety analysis of the ARPS units. Organizations that support the development, fabrication and testing of the ARPS include the Lockheed Martin Astronautics (LMA), Advanced Modular Power Systems (AMPS), Mound, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The Europa Orbiter and Pluto/Kuiper Express missions represent the near term programs targeted for the application of ARPS in addressing the issues and questions existing for deep space exploration.« less

Evidence of Nuclear Disks from the Radial Distribution of CCSNe in Starburst Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herrero-Illana, Rubén; Pérez-Torres, Miguel Ángel; Alberdi, Antxon

Galaxy-galaxy interactions are expected to be responsible for triggering massive star formation and possibly accretion onto a supermassive black hole, by providing large amounts of dense molecular gas down to the central kiloparsec region. Several scenarios to drive the gas further down to the central ˜ 100 pc, have been proposed, including the formation of a nuclear disk around the black hole, where massive stars would produce supernovae. Here, we probe the radial distribution of supernovae and supernova remnants in the nuclear regions of the starburst galaxies M82, Arp 299-A, and Arp 220, by using high-angular resolution (≲ 0.'1) radio observations. We derived scale-length values for the putative nuclear disks, which range from ˜ 20-30 pc for Arp 299-A and Arp 220, up to ˜ 140 pc for M82. The radial distribution of SNe for the nuclear disks in Arp 299-A and Arp 220 is also consistent with a power-law surface density profile of exponent γ = 1, as expected from detailed hydrodynamical simulations of nuclear disks. This study is detailed in Herrero-Illana, Perez-Torres, and Alberdi [11].

Distinct roles for Arp2/3 regulators in actin assembly and endocytosis.

PubMed

Galletta, Brian J; Chuang, Dennis Y; Cooper, John A

2008-01-01

The Arp2/3 complex is essential for actin assembly and motility in many cell processes, and a large number of proteins have been found to bind and regulate it in vitro. A critical challenge is to understand the actions of these proteins in cells, especially in settings where multiple regulators are present. In a systematic study of the sequential multicomponent actin assembly processes that accompany endocytosis in yeast, we examined and compared the roles of WASp, two type-I myosins, and two other Arp2/3 activators, along with that of coronin, which is a proposed inhibitor of Arp2/3. Quantitative analysis of high-speed fluorescence imaging revealed individual functions for the regulators, manifested in part by novel phenotypes. We conclude that Arp2/3 regulators have distinct and overlapping roles in the processes of actin assembly that drive endocytosis in yeast. The formation of the endocytic actin patch, the creation of the endocytic vesicle, and the movement of the vesicle into the cytoplasm display distinct dependencies on different Arp2/3 regulators. Knowledge of these roles provides insight into the in vivo relevance of the dendritic nucleation model for actin assembly.

Actin-related protein 2/3 complex-based actin polymerization is critical for male fertility.

PubMed

Lee, J S; Kwon, W S; Rahman, M S; Yoon, S J; Park, Y J; Pang, M G

2015-09-01

The actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex is critical for regulation of actin polymerization, which is associated with sperm motility and capacitation status. However, the function of the Arp2/3 complex in male fertility has not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the role of the Arp2/3 complex in different processes in spermatozoa and its consequences on fertilization and early embryonic development. In this in vitro study, mouse spermatozoa were incubated with different concentrations (10, 100, and 500 μm) of CK-636, an Arp2/3 complex antagonist. Our results demonstrated that inhibition of the Arp2/3 complex by high concentrations (100 and 500 μm) of CK-636 induced hyper-activated motility and acrosomal reaction, whereas intracellular calcium and tyrosine phosphorylation levels in spermatozoa were inhibited. Moreover, exposure of spermatozoa to the highest concentration of CK-636 reduced fertilization and embryo development. Interestingly, fertilization was significantly increased after treatment with 100 μm CK-636, whereas embryonic development was significantly decreased. Therefore, we conclude that the Arp2/3 complex plays a decisive role in regulation of sperm function and male fertility via actin polymerization. We anticipate that the Arp2/3 complex may have clinical application as marker for male fertility and male contraceptive targeting. © 2015 American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology.

Dynamic maintenance of asymmetric meiotic spindle position through Arp2/3 complex-driven cytoplasmic streaming in mouse oocytes

PubMed Central

Yi, Kexi; Unruh, Jay R.; Deng, Manqi; Slaughter, Brian D.; Rubinstein, Boris; Li, Rong

2012-01-01

Mature mammalian oocytes are poised for the completion of second polar body extrusion upon fertilization by positioning the metaphase spindle in close proximity to an actomyosin-rich cortical cap. Loss of this spindle position asymmetry is often associated with poor oocyte quality and infertility 1–3. Here, we report a novel role for the Arp2/3 actin nucleation complex in the maintenance of asymmetric spindle position in mature mouse oocytes. The Arp2/3 complex localizes to the cortical cap in a Ran GTPase-dependent manner and accounts for the nucleation of the majority of actin filaments in both the cortical cap and a cytoplasmic actin network. Inhibition of Arp2/3 complex activity or localization leads to rapid dissociation of the spindle from the cortex. High resolution live imaging and spatiotemporal image correlation spectroscopy (STICS) analysis reveal that in normal oocytes actin filaments flow continuously away from the Arp2/3-rich cortex, generating a cytoplamic streaming that results in a net pushing force on the spindle toward the actomyosin cap. Arp2/3 inhibition not only diminishes this actin flow and cytoplamic streaming but also enables a reverse streaming driven by myosin-II-based cortical contraction, leading to spindle movement away from the cortex. We conclude that the Arp2/3 complex maintains asymmetric meiotic spindle position by generating an actin polymerization-driven cytoplamic streaming and by suppressing a counteracting force from myosin-II-based contractility. PMID:21874009

Silibinin Inhibits ICAM-1 Expression via Regulation of N-Linked and O-Linked Glycosylation in ARPE-19 Cells

PubMed Central

Chen, Yi-Hao; Chen, Ching-Long; Liang, Chang-Min; Liang, Jy-Been; Tai, Ming-Cheng; Chang, Yun-Hsiang; Lu, Da-Wen; Chen, Jiann-Torng

2014-01-01

To evaluate the effects of silibinin on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression, we used ARPE-19 cells as a model in which tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interferon (IFN-γ) enhanced ICAM-1 expression. This upregulation was inhibited by silibinin. In an adherence assay using ARPE-19 and THP-1 cells, silibinin inhibited the cell adhesion function of ICAM-1. The inhibitory effects of silibinin on ICAM-1 expression were mediated via the blockage of nuclear translocation of p65 proteins in TNF-α and phosphorylation of STAT1 in IFN-γ-stimulated cells. In addition, silibinin altered the degree of N-linked glycosylation posttranslationally in ARPE-19 cells by significantly enhancing MGAT3 gene expression. Silibinin can increase the O-GlcNAc levels of glycoproteins in ARPE-19 cells. In a reporter gene assay, PUGNAc, which can also increase O-GlcNAc levels, inhibited NF-κB reporter activity in TNF-α-induced ARPE-19 cells and this process was augmented by silibinin treatment. Overexpression of OGT gene was associated with reduced TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 levels, which is consistent with that induced by silibinin treatment. Taken together, silibinin inhibits ICAM-1 expression and its function through altered O-linked glycosylation in NF-κB and STAT1 signaling pathways and decreases the N-linked glycosylation of ICAM-1 transmembrane protein in proinflammatory cytokine-stimulated ARPE-19 cells. PMID:25032222

Diffusion, capture and recycling of SCAR/WAVE and Arp2/3 complexes observed in cells by single-molecule imaging.

PubMed

Millius, Arthur; Watanabe, Naoki; Weiner, Orion D

2012-03-01

The SCAR/WAVE complex drives lamellipodium formation by enhancing actin nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex. Phosphoinositides and Rac activate the SCAR/WAVE complex, but how SCAR/WAVE and Arp2/3 complexes converge at sites of nucleation is unknown. We analyzed the single-molecule dynamics of WAVE2 and p40 (subunits of the SCAR/WAVE and Arp2/3 complexes, respectively) in XTC cells. We observed lateral diffusion of both proteins and captured the transition of p40 from diffusion to network incorporation. These results suggest that a diffusive 2D search facilitates binding of the Arp2/3 complex to actin filaments necessary for nucleation. After nucleation, the Arp2/3 complex integrates into the actin network and undergoes retrograde flow, which results in its broad distribution throughout the lamellipodium. By contrast, the SCAR/WAVE complex is more restricted to the cell periphery. However, with single-molecule imaging, we also observed WAVE2 molecules undergoing retrograde motion. WAVE2 and p40 have nearly identical speeds, lifetimes and sites of network incorporation. Inhibition of actin retrograde flow does not prevent WAVE2 association and disassociation with the membrane but does inhibit WAVE2 removal from the actin cortex. Our results suggest that membrane binding and diffusion expedites the recruitment of nucleation factors to a nucleation site independent of actin assembly, but after network incorporation, ongoing actin polymerization facilitates recycling of SCAR/WAVE and Arp2/3 complexes.

Arabidopsis thaliana plants lacking the ARP2/3 complex show defects in cell wall assembly and auxin distribution.

PubMed

Pratap Sahi, Vaidurya; Cifrová, Petra; García-González, Judith; Kotannal Baby, Innu; Mouillé, Gregory; Gineau, Emilie; Müller, Karel; Baluška, František; Soukup, Aleš; Petrášek, Jan; Schwarzerová, Katerina

2017-12-25

The cytoskeleton plays an important role in the synthesis of plant cell walls. Both microtubules and actin cytoskeleton are known to be involved in the morphogenesis of plant cells through their role in cell wall building. The role of ARP2/3-nucleated actin cytoskeleton in the morphogenesis of cotyledon pavement cells has been described before. Seedlings of Arabidopsis mutants lacking a functional ARP2/3 complex display specific cell wall-associated defects. In three independent Arabidopsis mutant lines lacking subunits of the ARP2/3 complex, phenotypes associated with the loss of the complex were analysed throughout plant development. Organ size and anatomy, cell wall composition, and auxin distribution were investigated. ARP2/3-related phenotype is associated with changes in cell wall composition, and the phenotype is manifested especially in mature tissues. Cell walls of mature plants contain less cellulose and a higher amount of homogalacturonan, and display changes in cell wall lignification. Vascular bundles of mutant inflorescence stems show a changed pattern of AUX1-YFP expression. Plants lacking a functional ARP2/3 complex have decreased basipetal auxin transport. The results suggest that the ARP2/3 complex has a morphogenetic function related to cell wall synthesis and auxin transport. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Diffusion, capture and recycling of SCAR/WAVE and Arp2/3 complexes observed in cells by single-molecule imaging

PubMed Central

Millius, Arthur; Watanabe, Naoki; Weiner, Orion D.

2012-01-01

The SCAR/WAVE complex drives lamellipodium formation by enhancing actin nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex. Phosphoinositides and Rac activate the SCAR/WAVE complex, but how SCAR/WAVE and Arp2/3 complexes converge at sites of nucleation is unknown. We analyzed the single-molecule dynamics of WAVE2 and p40 (subunits of the SCAR/WAVE and Arp2/3 complexes, respectively) in XTC cells. We observed lateral diffusion of both proteins and captured the transition of p40 from diffusion to network incorporation. These results suggest that a diffusive 2D search facilitates binding of the Arp2/3 complex to actin filaments necessary for nucleation. After nucleation, the Arp2/3 complex integrates into the actin network and undergoes retrograde flow, which results in its broad distribution throughout the lamellipodium. By contrast, the SCAR/WAVE complex is more restricted to the cell periphery. However, with single-molecule imaging, we also observed WAVE2 molecules undergoing retrograde motion. WAVE2 and p40 have nearly identical speeds, lifetimes and sites of network incorporation. Inhibition of actin retrograde flow does not prevent WAVE2 association and disassociation with the membrane but does inhibit WAVE2 removal from the actin cortex. Our results suggest that membrane binding and diffusion expedites the recruitment of nucleation factors to a nucleation site independent of actin assembly, but after network incorporation, ongoing actin polymerization facilitates recycling of SCAR/WAVE and Arp2/3 complexes. PMID:22349699

Optimization of wearable microwave antenna with simplified electromagnetic model of the human body

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Januszkiewicz, Łukasz; Barba, Paolo Di; Hausman, Sławomir

2017-12-01

In this paper the problem of optimization design of a microwave wearable antenna is investigated. Reference is made to a specific antenna design that is a wideband Vee antenna the geometry of which is characterized by 6 parameters. These parameters were automatically adjusted with an evolution strategy based algorithm EStra to obtain the impedance matching of the antenna located in the proximity of the human body. The antenna was designed to operate in the ISM (industrial, scientific, medical) band which covers the frequency range of 2.4 GHz up to 2.5 GHz. The optimization procedure used the finite-difference time-domain method based full-wave simulator with a simplified human body model. In the optimization procedure small movements of antenna towards or away of the human body that are likely to happen during real use were considered. The stability of the antenna parameters irrespective of the movements of the user's body is an important factor in wearable antenna design. The optimization procedure allowed obtaining good impedance matching for a given range of antenna distances with respect to the human body.

Comparing the Roles of EUS, ERCP and MRCP in Idiopathic Acute Recurrent Pancreatitis

PubMed Central

Safari, Mohammad Taghi; Miri, Mohammad Bager; Ebadi, Shahram; Shahrokh, Shabnam; Alizadeh, Amir Houshang Mohammad

2016-01-01

Acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) is defined as more than two attacks of acute pancreatitis with complete or almost complete resolution of symptoms and signs of pancreatitis between episodes. The initial evaluation fails to detect the cause of ARP in 10%–30% of patients, whose condition is classified as idiopathic ARP. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has gained increasing attention as a useful imaging modality for the pancreas and the extrahepatic biliary tree. The close proximity of the pancreas to the digestive tract allows EUS to obtain detailed images of this organ. This review aims to record pancreaticobiliary endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and other imaging modalities in the clinical management of patients with idiopathic ARP. PMID:27375362

Comparing the Roles of EUS, ERCP and MRCP in Idiopathic Acute Recurrent Pancreatitis.

PubMed

Safari, Mohammad Taghi; Miri, Mohammad Bager; Ebadi, Shahram; Shahrokh, Shabnam; Mohammad Alizadeh, Amir Houshang

2016-01-01

Acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) is defined as more than two attacks of acute pancreatitis with complete or almost complete resolution of symptoms and signs of pancreatitis between episodes. The initial evaluation fails to detect the cause of ARP in 10%-30% of patients, whose condition is classified as idiopathic ARP. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has gained increasing attention as a useful imaging modality for the pancreas and the extrahepatic biliary tree. The close proximity of the pancreas to the digestive tract allows EUS to obtain detailed images of this organ. This review aims to record pancreaticobiliary endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and other imaging modalities in the clinical management of patients with idiopathic ARP.

Experimental Observation of Convective Cell Formation due to a Fast Wave Antenna in the Large Plasma Device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, M. J.; Gekelman, W.; Van Compernolle, B.; Pribyl, P.; Carter, T.

2017-11-01

An experiment in a linear device, the Large Plasma Device, is used to study sheaths caused by an actively powered radio frequency (rf) antenna. The rf antenna used in the experiment consists of a single current strap recessed inside a copper box enclosure without a Faraday screen. A large increase in the plasma potential was observed along magnetic field lines that connect to the antenna limiter. The electric field from the spatial variation of the rectified plasma potential generated E →×B→0 flows, often referred to as convective cells. The presence of the flows generated by these potentials is confirmed by Mach probes. The observed convective cell flows are seen to cause the plasma in front of the antenna to flow away and cause a density modification near the antenna edge. These can cause hot spots and damage to the antenna and can result in a decrease in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies antenna coupling.

Experimental Observation of Convective Cell Formation due to a Fast Wave Antenna in the Large Plasma Device.

PubMed

Martin, M J; Gekelman, W; Van Compernolle, B; Pribyl, P; Carter, T

2017-11-17

An experiment in a linear device, the Large Plasma Device, is used to study sheaths caused by an actively powered radio frequency (rf) antenna. The rf antenna used in the experiment consists of a single current strap recessed inside a copper box enclosure without a Faraday screen. A large increase in the plasma potential was observed along magnetic field lines that connect to the antenna limiter. The electric field from the spatial variation of the rectified plasma potential generated E[over →]×B[over →]_{0} flows, often referred to as convective cells. The presence of the flows generated by these potentials is confirmed by Mach probes. The observed convective cell flows are seen to cause the plasma in front of the antenna to flow away and cause a density modification near the antenna edge. These can cause hot spots and damage to the antenna and can result in a decrease in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies antenna coupling.

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

Rameau, J. D.; Freutel, S.; Kemper, A. F.

We report that in complex materials various interactions have important roles in determining electronic properties. Angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES) is used to study these processes by resolving the complex single-particle self-energy and quantifying how quantum interactions modify bare electronic states. However, ambiguities in the measurement of the real part of the self-energy and an intrinsic inability to disentangle various contributions to the imaginary part of the self-energy can leave the implications of such measurements open to debate. Here we employ a combined theoretical and experimental treatment of femtosecond time-resolved ARPES (tr-ARPES) show how population dynamics measured using tr-ARPES can bemore » used to separate electron–boson interactions from electron–electron interactions. In conclusion, we demonstrate a quantitative analysis of a well-defined electron–boson interaction in the unoccupied spectrum of the cuprate Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+x characterized by an excited population decay time that maps directly to a discrete component of the equilibrium self-energy not readily isolated by static ARPES experiments.« less

Three-color single molecule imaging shows WASP detachment from Arp2/3 complex triggers actin filament branch formation.

PubMed

Smith, Benjamin A; Padrick, Shae B; Doolittle, Lynda K; Daugherty-Clarke, Karen; Corrêa, Ivan R; Xu, Ming-Qun; Goode, Bruce L; Rosen, Michael K; Gelles, Jeff

2013-09-03

During cell locomotion and endocytosis, membrane-tethered WASP proteins stimulate actin filament nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex. This process generates highly branched arrays of filaments that grow toward the membrane to which they are tethered, a conflict that seemingly would restrict filament growth. Using three-color single-molecule imaging in vitro we revealed how the dynamic associations of Arp2/3 complex with mother filament and WASP are temporally coordinated with initiation of daughter filament growth. We found that WASP proteins dissociated from filament-bound Arp2/3 complex prior to new filament growth. Further, mutations that accelerated release of WASP from filament-bound Arp2/3 complex proportionally accelerated branch formation. These data suggest that while WASP promotes formation of pre-nucleation complexes, filament growth cannot occur until it is triggered by WASP release. This provides a mechanism by which membrane-bound WASP proteins can stimulate network growth without restraining it. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01008.001.

Distinct roles of ATM and ATR in the regulation of ARP8 phosphorylation to prevent chromosome translocations

PubMed Central

Sun, Jiying; Shi, Lin; Kinomura, Aiko; Fukuto, Atsuhiko; Horikoshi, Yasunori; Oma, Yukako; Harata, Masahiko; Ikura, Masae; Ikura, Tsuyoshi; Kanaar, Roland

2018-01-01

Chromosomal translocations are hallmarks of various types of cancers and leukemias. However, the molecular mechanisms of chromosome translocations remain largely unknown. The ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein, a DNA damage signaling regulator, facilitates DNA repair to prevent chromosome abnormalities. Previously, we showed that ATM deficiency led to the 11q23 chromosome translocation, the most frequent chromosome abnormalities in secondary leukemia. Here, we show that ARP8, a subunit of the INO80 chromatin remodeling complex, is phosphorylated after etoposide treatment. The etoposide-induced phosphorylation of ARP8 is regulated by ATM and ATR, and attenuates its interaction with INO80. The ATM-regulated phosphorylation of ARP8 reduces the excessive loading of INO80 and RAD51 onto the breakpoint cluster region. These findings suggest that the phosphorylation of ARP8, regulated by ATM, plays an important role in maintaining the fidelity of DNA repair to prevent the etoposide-induced 11q23 abnormalities. PMID:29759113

Distinct roles of ATM and ATR in the regulation of ARP8 phosphorylation to prevent chromosome translocations.

PubMed

Sun, Jiying; Shi, Lin; Kinomura, Aiko; Fukuto, Atsuhiko; Horikoshi, Yasunori; Oma, Yukako; Harata, Masahiko; Ikura, Masae; Ikura, Tsuyoshi; Kanaar, Roland; Tashiro, Satoshi

2018-05-08

Chromosomal translocations are hallmarks of various types of cancers and leukemias. However, the molecular mechanisms of chromosome translocations remain largely unknown. The ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein, a DNA damage signaling regulator, facilitates DNA repair to prevent chromosome abnormalities. Previously, we showed that ATM deficiency led to the 11q23 chromosome translocation, the most frequent chromosome abnormalities in secondary leukemia. Here, we show that ARP8, a subunit of the INO80 chromatin remodeling complex, is phosphorylated after etoposide treatment. The etoposide-induced phosphorylation of ARP8 is regulated by ATM and ATR, and attenuates its interaction with INO80. The ATM-regulated phosphorylation of ARP8 reduces the excessive loading of INO80 and RAD51 onto the breakpoint cluster region. These findings suggest that the phosphorylation of ARP8, regulated by ATM, plays an important role in maintaining the fidelity of DNA repair to prevent the etoposide-induced 11q23 abnormalities. © 2018, Sun et al.

Implications of the ISO LWS spectrum of the prototypical ultraluminous galaxy: ARP 220

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fischer, J.; Satyapal, S.; Luhman, M. L.; Melnick, G.; Cox, P.; Cernicharo, J.; Stacey, G. J.; Smith, H. A.; Lord, S. D.; Greenhouse, M. A.

1997-01-01

The low resolution far infrared spectrum of the galaxy Arp 220, obtained with the low wavelength spectrometer (LWS) onboard the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), is presented. The spectrum is dominated by the OH, H2O, CH, NH3 and O I absorption lines. The upper limits on the far infrared fine structure lines indicate a softer radiation in Arp 220 than in starburst galaxies.

Evaluation of an ARPS-based canopy flow modeling system for use in future operational smoke prediction efforts

Treesearch

M. T. Kiefer; S. Zhong; W. E. Heilman; J. J. Charney; X. Bian

2013-01-01

Efforts to develop a canopy flow modeling system based on the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) model are discussed. The standard version of ARPS is modified to account for the effect of drag forces on mean and turbulent flow through a vegetation canopy, via production and sink terms in the momentum and subgrid-scale turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) equations....

A Perspective on the Application of Spatially Resolved ARPES for 2D Materials

PubMed Central

Cattelan, Mattia

2018-01-01

In this paper, a perspective on the application of Spatially- and Angle-Resolved PhotoEmission Spectroscopy (ARPES) for the study of two-dimensional (2D) materials is presented. ARPES allows the direct measurement of the electronic band structure of materials generating extremely useful insights into their electronic properties. The possibility to apply this technique to 2D materials is of paramount importance because these ultrathin layers are considered fundamental for future electronic, photonic and spintronic devices. In this review an overview of the technical aspects of spatially localized ARPES is given along with a description of the most advanced setups for laboratory and synchrotron-based equipment. This technique is sensitive to the lateral dimensions of the sample. Therefore, a discussion on the preparation methods of 2D material is presented. Some of the most interesting results obtained by ARPES are reported in three sections including: graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and 2D heterostructures. Graphene has played a key role in ARPES studies because it inspired the use of this technique with other 2D materials. TMDCs are presented for their peculiar transport, optical and spin properties. Finally, the section featuring heterostructures highlights a future direction for research into 2D material structures. PMID:29702567

A Perspective on the Application of Spatially Resolved ARPES for 2D Materials.

PubMed

Cattelan, Mattia; Fox, Neil A

2018-04-27

In this paper, a perspective on the application of Spatially- and Angle-Resolved PhotoEmission Spectroscopy (ARPES) for the study of two-dimensional (2D) materials is presented. ARPES allows the direct measurement of the electronic band structure of materials generating extremely useful insights into their electronic properties. The possibility to apply this technique to 2D materials is of paramount importance because these ultrathin layers are considered fundamental for future electronic, photonic and spintronic devices. In this review an overview of the technical aspects of spatially localized ARPES is given along with a description of the most advanced setups for laboratory and synchrotron-based equipment. This technique is sensitive to the lateral dimensions of the sample. Therefore, a discussion on the preparation methods of 2D material is presented. Some of the most interesting results obtained by ARPES are reported in three sections including: graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and 2D heterostructures. Graphene has played a key role in ARPES studies because it inspired the use of this technique with other 2D materials. TMDCs are presented for their peculiar transport, optical and spin properties. Finally, the section featuring heterostructures highlights a future direction for research into 2D material structures.

Prediction of acute pancreatitis risk based on PIP score in children with cystic fibrosis.

PubMed

Terlizzi, V; Tosco, A; Tomaiuolo, R; Sepe, A; Amato, N; Casale, A; Mercogliano, C; De Gregorio, F; Improta, F; Elce, A; Castaldo, G; Raia, V

2014-09-01

Currently no tools to predict risk of acute (AP) and recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) are available. We assessed the prevalence of AP/ARP and tested the potential role of Pancreatic Insufficiency Prevalence (PIP) score in a cohort of children with CF. We identified two groups of children, on the basis of presence/absence of AP/ARP, who were compared for age at diagnosis, clinical features, genotypes and sweat chloride level. PIP score was calculated for each patient. 10/167 (5.9%) experienced at least one episode of AP during follow up; 10/10 were pancreatic sufficient (PS). Patients with AP/ARP showed a PIP score ≤0.25 more frequently (6/10) than patients without AP/ARP. The odds ratio (95% CI) of developing pancreatitis was 4.54 (1.22-16.92) for patients with PIP <0.25 when compared with those who have a PIP score >0.25 (p 0.0151). PIP score was correlated with sweat chloride test (p < 0.01). PIP score, PS status and normal/borderline sweat chloride levels could be applied to predict pancreatitis development in children with CF. ARP could lead to pancreatic insufficiency. Copyright © 2014 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Modeling the Synergy of Cofilin and Arp2/3 in Lamellipodial Protrusive Activity

PubMed Central

Tania, Nessy; Condeelis, John; Edelstein-Keshet, Leah

2013-01-01

Rapid polymerization of actin filament barbed ends generates protrusive forces at the cell edge, leading to cell migration. Two important regulators of free barbed ends, cofilin and Arp2/3, have been shown to work in synergy (net effect greater than additive). To explore this synergy, we model the dynamics of F-actin at the leading edge, motivated by data from EGF-stimulated mammary carcinoma cells. We study how synergy depends on the localized rates and relative timing of cofilin and Arp2/3 activation at the cell edge. The model incorporates diffusion of cofilin, membrane protrusion, F-actin capping, aging, and severing by cofilin and branch nucleation by Arp2/3 (but not G-actin recycling). In a well-mixed system, cofilin and Arp2/3 can each generate a large pulse of barbed ends on their own, but have little synergy; high synergy occurs only at low activation rates, when few barbed ends are produced. In the full spatially distributed model, both synergy and barbed-end production are significant over a range of activation rates. Furthermore, barbed-end production is greatest when Arp2/3 activation is delayed relative to cofilin. Our model supports a direct role for cofilin-mediated actin polymerization in stimulated cell migration, including chemotaxis and cancer invasion. PMID:24209839

Involvement of LAT1 and LAT2 in the high- and low-affinity transport of L-leucine in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19 cells).

PubMed

Yamamoto, Atsushi; Akanuma, Shin-Ichi; Tachikawa, Masanori; Hosoya, Ken-Ichi

2010-05-01

System L, which is encoded by LAT1 and LAT2, is an amino acid transport system that transports neutral amino acids, including several essential amino acids in an Na+-independent manner. Due to its broad substrate selectivity, system L has been proposed to mediate the transport of amino-acid-related drugs across the blood-tissue barriers. We characterized L-leucine transport and its corresponding transporter in a human retinal pigment epithelial cell line (ARPE-19 cells) as an in vitro model of the outer blood-retinal barrier. [3H]L-leucine uptake by ARPE-19 cells took place in an Na+-, Cl(-)-independent and saturable manner with K(m) values of 8.71 and 220 microM. This process was more potently cis-inhibited by substrates of LAT1 than those of LAT2. [3H]L-leucine efflux from ARPE-19 cells was trans-stimulated by substrates of LAT1 and LAT2 through the obligatory exchange mechanism of system L. Although RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that LAT1 and LAT2 mRNA are expressed in ARPE-19 cells, the LAT1 mRNA concentration is 42-fold higher than that of LAT2. Moreover, immunoblot analysis demonstrated that LAT1 is expressed in ARPE-19 cells. In conclusion, although the transport function of LAT1 is greater than that of LAT2, LAT1 and LAT2 are involved in L-leucine transport in ARPE-19 cells.

ARP2, a novel pro-apoptotic protein expressed in epithelial prostate cancer LNCaP cells and epithelial ovary CHO transformed cells.

PubMed

Mas-Oliva, Jaime; Navarro-Vidal, Enrique; Tapia-Vieyra, Juana Virginia

2014-01-01

Neoplastic epithelial cells generate the most aggressive types of cancers such as those located in the lung, breast, colon, prostate and ovary. During advanced stages of prostate cancer, epithelial cells are associated to the appearance of androgen-independent tumors, an apoptotic-resistant phenotype that ultimately overgrows and promotes metastatic events. We have previously identified and electrophysiologically characterized a novel Ca(2+)-permeable channel activated during apoptosis in the androgen-independent prostate epithelial cancer cell line, LNCaP. In addition, we reported for the first time the cloning and characterization of this channel-like molecule named apoptosis regulated protein 2 (ARP2) associated to a lethal influx of Ca(2+) in Xenopus oocytes. In the present study, LNCaP cells and Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO cell line) transfected with arp2-cDNA are induced to undergo apoptosis showing an important impact on cell viability and activation of caspases 3 and 7 when compared to serum deprived grown cells and ionomycin treated cells. The subcellular localization of ARP2 in CHO cells undergoing apoptosis was studied using confocal microscopy. While apoptosis progresses, ARP2 initially localized in the peri-nuclear region of cells migrates with time towards the plasma membrane region. Based on the present results and those of our previous studies, the fact that ARP2 constitutes a novel cation channel is supported. Therefore, ARP2 becomes a valuable target to modulate the influx and concentration of calcium in the cytoplasm of epithelial cancer cells showing an apoptotic-resistant phenotype during the onset of an apoptotic event.

Elucidating Key Motifs Required for Arp2/3-Dependent and Independent Actin Nucleation by Las17/WASP

PubMed Central

Urbanek, Agnieszka N.; Smaczynska-de Rooij, Iwona I.

2016-01-01

Actin nucleation is the key rate limiting step in the process of actin polymerization, and tight regulation of this process is critical to ensure actin filaments form only at specific times and at defined regions of the cell. Arp2/3 is a well-characterised protein complex that can promote nucleation of new filaments, though its activity requires additional nucleation promotion factors (NPFs). The best recognized of these factors are the WASP family of proteins that contain binding motifs for both monomeric actin and for Arp2/3. Previously we demonstrated that the yeast WASP homologue, Las17, in addition to activating Arp2/3 can also nucleate actin filaments de novo, independently of Arp2/3. This activity is dependent on its polyproline rich region. Through biochemical and in vivo analysis we have now identified key motifs within the polyproline region that are required for nucleation and elongation of actin filaments, and have addressed the role of the WH2 domain in the context of actin nucleation without Arp2/3. We have also demonstrated that full length Las17 is able to bind liposomes giving rise to the possibility of direct linkage of nascent actin filaments to specific membrane sites to which Las17 has been recruited. Overall, we propose that Las17 functions as the key initiator of de novo actin filament formation at endocytic sites by nucleating, elongating and tethering nascent filaments which then serve as a platform for Arp2/3 recruitment and function. PMID:27637067

Biosorbable poly-L-lactide rib-connecting pins may reduce acute pain after thoracotomy.

PubMed

Iwasaki, A; Hamatake, D; Shirakusa, T

2004-02-01

Conventional thoracotomy is currently used as a standard procedure, and is often required to treat numerous diseases. Additionally, rib resections are occasionally required to maintain an adequate field of view for surgery. The benefits of using rib pins for chest closure following such procedures have not yet been established. This study sought to evaluate the usefulness of rib pins in reducing acute postoperative pain. Thirty-three consecutive patients with lung cancer underwent lobectomies using the posterolateral approach. The patients were rib-resected and reconstructed with two techniques: 21 patients with absorbable rib pins (ARP group) and 12 patients by ligation with absorbable sutures (LAS group). Intensity of pain was assessed during the 3 days immediately following surgery. The two groups were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) as a pain scale, amounts consumed of patient-controlled analgesics (PCA), and additional chest x-rays. On the first day following surgery, the mean VAS intensity of the ARP group for patient motion was 2.71 +/- 2.14, compared to 5.33 +/- 2.99 in the LAS group. After three days, the mean score for the ARP group was 1.98 +/- 1.89, compared to 4.60 +/- 1.97 in the LAS group. Scores in the ARP group were significantly lower than in the LAS group one day and three days following thoracotomy. The LAS group (55.0 +/- 15.9 times) made more frequent requests than the ARP group (16.1 +/- 10.3 times). The PCA requirement was also significantly lower in the ARP group. Excessive derangement of the rib (grade 2) was found in one case (4.7 %) in the ARP group compared to five cases (41.6 %) in the LAS group. Rib shifts were seen in numerous cases in the LAS group compared to the ARP group as measured by chest x-rays. Use of absorbable rib pins reduced postoperative pain and may improve long-term prospects for the post-thoracotomy course.

A survey of various enhancement techniques for square rings antennas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mumin, Abdul Rashid O.; Alias, Rozlan; Abdullah, Jiwa; Abdulhasan, Raed Abdulkareem; Ali, Jawad; Dahlan, Samsul Haimi; Awaleh, Abdisamad A.

2017-09-01

The square ring shape becomes a famous reconfiguration on antenna design. The researchers have been developed the square ring by different configurations. It has high efficiency and simple calculation method. The performance enhancement for an antenna is the main reason to use this setting. Furthermore, the multi-objectives for the antenna also are considered. In this paper, different studies of square ring shape are discussed. This shape is developed in five different techniques, which are the gain enhancement, dual band antenna, reconfigurable antenna, CSRR, and circularly polarization. Moreover, the validation between these configurations also demonstrates for square ring shapes. In particular, the square ring slot improved the gain by 4.3 dB, provide dual band resonance at 1.4 and 2.6 GHz while circular polarization at 1.54 GHz, and multi-mode antenna. However, square ring strip achieved an excellent band rejection on UWB antenna at 5.5 GHz. The square ring slot length is the most influential factor on the antenna performance, which refers to the free space wavelength. Finally, comparisons between these techniques are presented.

A 60 Meter Delay Stabilized Microwave Fiber Optic Link for 5.3 GHz Reference Signal Distribution on the Shuttle Radar Topography Mapper

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lutes, G.; Tu, M.; McWatters, D.

1999-01-01

The Photonic Systems for Antenna Applications Symposium (PSAA) is the primary conference devoted exclusively to the exchange of information on the technology and application of photonics in antenna, phased array, and sensor systems.

Structural parameters and blue stragglers in Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy globular clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salinas, Ricardo; Jílková, Lucie; Carraro, Giovanni; Catelan, Márcio; Amigo, Pía.

2012-04-01

We present BV photometry of four Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy globular clusters: Arp 2, NGC 5634, Palomar 12 and Terzan 8, obtained with the Danish Telescope at ESO La Silla. We measure the structural parameters of the clusters using a King profile fitting, obtaining the first reliable measurements of the tidal radius of Arp 2 and Terzan 8. These two clusters are remarkably extended and with low concentrations; with a concentration of only c= 0.41 ± 0.02, Terzan 8 is less concentrated than any cluster in our Galaxy. Blue stragglers are identified in the four clusters, and their spatial distribution is compared to those of horizontal branch and red giant branch stars. The blue straggler properties do not provide evidence of mass segregation in Terzan 8, while Arp 2 probably shares the same status, although with less confidence. In the case of NGC 5634 and Palomar 12, blue stragglers are significantly less populous, and their analysis suggests that the two clusters have probably undergone mass segregation. References: (1) Peterson (1976); (2) Kron, Hewitt & Wasserman (1984); (3) Chernoff & Djorgovski (1989); (4) Trager, Djorgovski & King (1993); (5) Trager et al. (1995); (6) Rosenberg et al. (1998); (7) Mackey & Gilmore (2003b); (8) McLaughlin & van der Marel (2005) and (9) Carballo-Bello et al. (2012).

Acute recurrent pancreatitis: Etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment

PubMed Central

Testoni, Pier Alberto

2014-01-01

Acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) refers to a clinical entity characterized by episodes of acute pancreatitis which occurs on more than one occasion. Recurrence of pancreatitis generally occurs in a setting of normal morpho-functional gland, however, an established chronic disease may be found either on the occasion of the first episode of pancreatitis or during the follow-up. The aetiology of ARP can be identified in the majority of patients. Most common causes include common bile duct stones or sludge and bile crystals; sphincter of oddi dysfunction; anatomical ductal variants interfering with pancreatic juice outflow; obstruction of the main pancreatic duct or pancreatico-biliary junction; genetic mutations; alcohol consumption. However, despite diagnostic technologies, the aetiology of ARP still remains unknown in up to 30% of cases: in these cases the term “idiopathic” is used. Because occult bile stone disease and sphincter of oddi dysfunction account for the majority of cases, cholecystectomy, and eventually the endoscopic biliary and/or pancreatic sphincterotomy are curative in most of cases. Endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy appeared to be a curative procedure per se in about 80% of patients. Ursodeoxycholic acid oral treatment alone has also been reported effective for treatment of biliary sludge. In uncertain cases toxin botulin injection may help in identifying some sphincter of oddi dysfunction, but this treatment is not widely used. In the last twenty years, pancreatic endotherapy has been proven effective in cases of recurrent pancreatitis depending on pancreatic ductal obstruction, independently from the cause of obstruction, and has been widely used instead of more aggressive approaches. PMID:25493002

Research on calibration error of carrier phase against antenna arraying

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Ke; Hou, Xiaomin

2016-11-01

It is the technical difficulty of uplink antenna arraying that signals from various quarters can not be automatically aligned at the target in deep space. The size of the far-field power combining gain is directly determined by the accuracy of carrier phase calibration. It is necessary to analyze the entire arraying system in order to improve the accuracy of the phase calibration. This paper analyzes the factors affecting the calibration error of carrier phase of uplink antenna arraying system including the error of phase measurement and equipment, the error of the uplink channel phase shift, the position error of ground antenna, calibration receiver and target spacecraft, the error of the atmospheric turbulence disturbance. Discuss the spatial and temporal autocorrelation model of atmospheric disturbances. Each antenna of the uplink antenna arraying is no common reference signal for continuous calibration. So it must be a system of the periodic calibration. Calibration is refered to communication of one or more spacecrafts in a certain period. Because the deep space targets are not automatically aligned to multiplexing received signal. Therefore the aligned signal should be done in advance on the ground. Data is shown that the error can be controlled within the range of demand by the use of existing technology to meet the accuracy of carrier phase calibration. The total error can be controlled within a reasonable range.

AADL Fault Modeling and Analysis Within an ARP4761 Safety Assessment

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-01

Analysis Generator 27 3.2.3 Mapping to OpenFTA Format File 27 3.2.4 Mapping to Generic XML Format 28 3.2.5 AADL and FTA Mapping Rules 28 3.2.6 Issues...PSSA), System Safety Assessment (SSA), Common Cause Analysis (CCA), Fault Tree Analysis ( FTA ), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Failure...Modes and Effects Summary, Mar - kov Analysis (MA), and Dependence Diagrams (DDs), also referred to as Reliability Block Dia- grams (RBDs). The

Application of SAE ARP4754A to Flight Critical Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peterson, Eric M.

2015-01-01

This report documents applications of ARP4754A to the development of modern computer-based (i.e., digital electronics, software and network-based) aircraft systems. This study is to offer insight and provide educational value relative to the guidelines in ARP4754A and provide an assessment of the current state-of-the- practice within industry and regulatory bodies relative to development assurance for complex and safety-critical computer-based aircraft systems.

Electronic structure of polycrystalline CVD-graphene revealed by Nano-ARPES

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chaoyu; Avila, José; Asensio, Maria C.

2017-06-01

The ability to explore electronic structure and their role in determining material’s macroscopic behaviour is essential to explain and engineer functions of material and device. Since its debut in 2004, graphene has attracted global research interest due to its unique properties. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has emerged as an important method for the massive preparation and production of graphene for various applications. Here by employing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with nanoscale spatial resolution ˜ 100 nm (Nano-ARPES), we describe the approach to measure the electronic structure of polycrystalline graphene on copper foils, demonstrating the power of Nano-ARPES to detect the electronic structure of microscopic single crystalline domains, being fully compatible with conventional ARPES. Similar analysis could be employed to other microscopic materials

MicroRNA-29b regulates TGF-β1-mediated epithelial–mesenchymal transition of retinal pigment epithelial cells by targeting AKT2

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

Li, Min; Li, Hui; Liu, Xiaoqiang

2016-07-15

The role of microRNA (miRNA) in proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) progression has not been studied extensively, especially in retinal pigment epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) which is the main reason for formation of PVR. In this study, we first investigated the miRNA expression profile in transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) mediated EMT of ARPE-19 cells. Among the five changed miRNAs, miR-29b showed the most significant downregulation. Enhanced expression of miR-29b could reverse TGF-β1 induced EMT through targeting Akt2. Akt2 downregulation could inhibit TGF-β1-induced EMT. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-29b in ARPE-19 cells directly triggered EMT process, which characterized by the phenotypic transition andmore » the upregulation of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and downregulation of E-cadherin and zona occludin-1 (ZO-1) with increased cell migration. Akt2-shRNA also inhibited miR-29 inhibitor-induced EMT process. These data indicate that miR-29b plays an important role in TGF-β1-mediated EMT in ARPE-19 cells by targeting Akt2. - Highlights: • MiR-29b expression is decreased in TGF-β1-induced EMT of ARPE-19 cells. • MiR-29b inhibits TGF-β1-induced EMT in ARPE-19 cells. • MiR-29b inhibitor induces EMT in ARPE-19 cells. • Akt2 is the target for miR-29b. • Downregulation of Akt2 prevents TGF-β1-induced EMT of ARPE-19 cells.« less

Overexpression of HER2 signaling to WAVE2-Arp2/3 complex activates MMP-independent migration in breast cancer.

PubMed

Yokotsuka, Mayumi; Iwaya, Keiichi; Saito, Tsuyoshi; Pandiella, Atanasio; Tsuboi, Ryoji; Kohno, Norio; Matsubara, Osamu; Mukai, Kiyoshi

2011-04-01

The final signal for triggering the formation of lamellipodia that initiate directional migration of mammalian cells is binding of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WASP)/WASP family verproline-homologous protein 2 (WAVE2) to the actin-related protein 2 and 3 (Arp2/3) complex. This WAVE2-Arp2/3 signal is suggested to be enhanced in some breast cancers, facilitating invasion, and/or metastasis. Here, we demonstrated one cause of the enhanced signal using four breast cancer cell lines (SKBR3, AU565, MCF7, and MDA-MB-231). The WAVE2-Arp2/3 signal was estimated semi-quantitatively by counting the number of lamellipodia expressing both WAVE2 and Arp2 using high-power confocal laser microscopy. Higher expression of the WAVE2-Arp2/3 signal was detected in SKBR3 and AU565, which have HER2 gene amplification, than in the other two cell lines that lack HER2 gene amplification. Trastuzumab suppressed both the formation of lamellipodia and migration in a Boyden chamber experiment in SKBR3 and AU565. When the HER2 gene was transfected into MCF7, the number of both lamellipodia and migrated cells was increased. This enhancement of migration did not occur in the presence of extracellular matrix, and zymographic analysis showed no clear difference between HER2 gene-transfected cells and MCF7 cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of 115 cases of breast cancer revealed that coexpression of WAVE2 and Arp2 was significantly correlated with HER2-overexpression (P < 0.0001). These data indicate that an abnormal signal resulting from HER2 gene amplification activates lamellipodia formation in breast cancer cells, which initiates their metalloproteinase-independent migration.

Correlation between liver metastasis of the colocalization of actin-related protein 2 and 3 complex and WAVE2 in colorectal carcinoma.

PubMed

Iwaya, Keiichi; Oikawa, Kosuke; Semba, Seitaro; Tsuchiya, Benio; Mukai, Yasuo; Otsubo, Toshiya; Nagao, Toshitaka; Izumi, Miki; Kuroda, Masahiko; Domoto, Hideharu; Mukai, Kiyoshi

2007-07-01

Directed movement of normal cells occurs when actin-related protein 2 and 3 complex (Arp2/3 complex) triggers the actin polymerization that forms lamellipodia immediately after binding to WAVE2. In order to determine whether the same mechanism correlates with liver metastasis from colorectal cancer, paired mirror sections of 154 cancer specimens (29 cases with liver metastasis and 125 cases without liver metastasis in which T factor, gender, primary tumor site, and age at operation were matched) were examined immunohistochemically for the localization of Arp2 and WAVE2. Expression of both Arp2 and WAVE2 was detected in the same cancer cells in 55 (35.7%) of the 154 cases, but not detected in the normal colonic epithelial cells. Univariate analysis showed that the colocalization was significantly predictive of liver metastasis (risk ratio [RR] 8.760. Likewise, histological grade (RR 2.46), lymphatic invasion (RR 9.95), and tumor budding (RR 4.00) were significant predictors. Among these, colocalization and lymphatic invasion were shown to be independent risk factors by multivariate analysis. Another 59 colorectal specimens were examined for mRNA expression of Arp2 by real time polymerase chain reaction. High mRNA levels of Arp2, that in situ hybridization revealed to be expressed by the cancer cells, were significantly associated with liver metastasis. However, its effect was absorbed by the influence of risk of the colocalization that is closely related to high expression of Arp2. These results indicate that the colocalization of Arp2 and WAVE2 is an independent risk factor for liver metastasis of colorectal carcinoma.

Compliance boundaries for multiple-frequency base station antennas in three directions.

PubMed

Thielens, Arno; Vermeeren, Günter; Kurup, Divya; Joseph, Wout; Martens, Luc

2013-09-01

In this article, compliance boundaries and allowed output powers are determined for the front, back, and side of multiple-frequency base station antennas, based on the root-mean-squared electric field, the whole-body averaged specific absorption rate (SAR), and the 10 g averaged SAR in both the limbs and the head and trunk. For this purpose, the basic restrictions and reference levels defined by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for both the general public and occupational exposure are used. The antennas are designed for Global System for Mobile Communications around 900 MHz (GSM900), GSM1800, High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), and Long Term Evolution (LTE), and are operated with output powers at the individual frequencies up to 300 W. The compliance boundaries are estimated using finite-difference time-domain simulations with the Virtual Family Male and have been determined for three directions with respect to the antennas for 800, 900, 1800, and 2600 MHz. The reference levels are not always conservative when the radiating part of the antenna is small compared to the length of the body. Combined compliance distances, which ensure compliance with all reference levels and basic restrictions, have also been determined for each frequency. A method to determine a conservative estimation of compliance boundaries for multiple-frequency (cumulative) exposure is introduced. Using the errors on the estimated allowed powers, an uncertainty analysis is carried out for the compliance distances. Uncertainties on the compliance distances are found to be smaller than 122%. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Pediatric Patients With Acute Recurrent and Chronic Pancreatitis: Data From the INSPPIRE (INternational Study group of Pediatric Pancreatitis: In search for a cuRE) Study.

PubMed

Troendle, David M; Fishman, Douglas S; Barth, Bradley A; Giefer, Matthew J; Lin, Tom K; Liu, Quin Y; Abu-El-Haija, Maisam; Bellin, Melena D; Durie, Peter R; Freedman, Steven D; Gariepy, Cheryl; Gonska, Tanja; Heyman, Melvin B; Himes, Ryan; Husain, Sohail Z; Kumar, Soma; Lowe, Mark E; Morinville, Veronique D; Ooi, Chee Y; Palermo, Joseph; Pohl, John F; Schwarzenberg, Sarah Jane; Werlin, Steven; Wilschanski, Michael; Zimmerman, M Bridget; Uc, Aliye

2017-07-01

The aim of this study was to characterize utilization and benefit of therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in children with acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) or chronic pancreatitis (CP). From August 2012 to February 2015, 301 children with ARP or CP were enrolled in the INSPPIRE (INternational Study group of Pediatric Pancreatitis: In search for a cuRE) study. Physicians reported utilization and benefit of therapeutic ERCP at enrollment. Differences were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. One hundred seventeen children (38.9%) underwent at least 1 therapeutic ERCP. The procedure was more commonly performed in children with CP compared with those with ARP (65.8% vs 13.5%, P < 0.0001). Utility of therapeutic ERCP was reported to be similar between ARP and CP (53% vs 56%, P = 0.81) and was found to be helpful for at least 1 indication in both groups (53/99 patients [53.5%]). Predictors for undergoing therapeutic ERCP were presence of obstructive factors in ARP and CP, Hispanic ethnicity, or white race in CP. Therapeutic ERCP is frequently utilized in children with ARP or CP and may offer benefit in selected cases, specifically if ductal obstruction is present. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the efficacy of therapeutic ERCP and to explore subgroups that might have increased benefit from such intervention.

Impact of Cloud Analysis on Numerical Weather Prediction in the Galician Region of Spain.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Souto, M. J.; Balseiro, C. F.; Pérez-Muñuzuri, V.; Xue, M.; Brewster, K.

2003-01-01

The Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) is applied to operational numerical weather prediction in Galicia, northwest Spain. The model is run daily for 72-h forecasts at a 10-km horizontal spacing. Located on the northwest coast of Spain and influenced by the Atlantic weather systems, Galicia has a high percentage (nearly 50%) of rainy days per year. For these reasons, the precipitation processes and the initialization of moisture and cloud fields are very important. Even though the ARPS model has a sophisticated data analysis system (`ADAS') that includes a 3D cloud analysis package, because of operational constraints, the current forecast starts from the 12-h forecast of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Aviation Model (AVN). Still, procedures from the ADAS cloud analysis are being used to construct the cloud fields based on AVN data and then are applied to initialize the microphysical variables in ARPS. Comparisons of the ARPS predictions with local observations show that ARPS can predict very well both the daily total precipitation and its spatial distribution. ARPS also shows skill in predicting heavy rains and high winds, as observed during November 2000, and especially in the prediction of the 5 November 2000 storm that caused widespread wind and rain damage in Galicia. It is demonstrated that the cloud analysis contributes to the success of the precipitation forecasts.

Modeling the synergy of cofilin and Arp2/3 in lamellipodial protrusive activity.

PubMed

Tania, Nessy; Condeelis, John; Edelstein-Keshet, Leah

2013-11-05

Rapid polymerization of actin filament barbed ends generates protrusive forces at the cell edge, leading to cell migration. Two important regulators of free barbed ends, cofilin and Arp2/3, have been shown to work in synergy (net effect greater than additive). To explore this synergy, we model the dynamics of F-actin at the leading edge, motivated by data from EGF-stimulated mammary carcinoma cells. We study how synergy depends on the localized rates and relative timing of cofilin and Arp2/3 activation at the cell edge. The model incorporates diffusion of cofilin, membrane protrusion, F-actin capping, aging, and severing by cofilin and branch nucleation by Arp2/3 (but not G-actin recycling). In a well-mixed system, cofilin and Arp2/3 can each generate a large pulse of barbed ends on their own, but have little synergy; high synergy occurs only at low activation rates, when few barbed ends are produced. In the full spatially distributed model, both synergy and barbed-end production are significant over a range of activation rates. Furthermore, barbed-end production is greatest when Arp2/3 activation is delayed relative to cofilin. Our model supports a direct role for cofilin-mediated actin polymerization in stimulated cell migration, including chemotaxis and cancer invasion. Copyright © 2013 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analysis and Design of a Long Range PTFE Substrate UHF RFID Tag for Cargo Container Identification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrariu, Adrian-Ioan; Popa, Valentin

2016-01-01

In this paper, a high-performances microstrip antenna for UHF (ultra high frequency) RFID (radio frequency identification) tag is designed, prototyped and tested. The antenna consists of two main components: a 1.52 mm RT/duroid 5880 laminate substrate on which the antenna is designed and a 10 mm polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) dielectric material placed as a separator between the antenna and the reference ground plane for the microstrip antenna. With this structure, the RFID tag can reach a maximum reading distance of 19 m, although the antenna has a compact size of 80 mm × 50 mm. The long reading distance is obtained by attaching to the antenna an RFID chip that can provide a reading sensitivity of -20.5 dBm. The high bandwidth from 677 MHz to 947 MHz measured at -10 dB, makes the tag being usable worldwide especially for cargo container identification, the main purpose of this research.

Three-color single molecule imaging shows WASP detachment from Arp2/3 complex triggers actin filament branch formation

PubMed Central

Smith, Benjamin A; Padrick, Shae B; Doolittle, Lynda K; Daugherty-Clarke, Karen; Corrêa, Ivan R; Xu, Ming-Qun; Goode, Bruce L; Rosen, Michael K; Gelles, Jeff

2013-01-01

During cell locomotion and endocytosis, membrane-tethered WASP proteins stimulate actin filament nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex. This process generates highly branched arrays of filaments that grow toward the membrane to which they are tethered, a conflict that seemingly would restrict filament growth. Using three-color single-molecule imaging in vitro we revealed how the dynamic associations of Arp2/3 complex with mother filament and WASP are temporally coordinated with initiation of daughter filament growth. We found that WASP proteins dissociated from filament-bound Arp2/3 complex prior to new filament growth. Further, mutations that accelerated release of WASP from filament-bound Arp2/3 complex proportionally accelerated branch formation. These data suggest that while WASP promotes formation of pre-nucleation complexes, filament growth cannot occur until it is triggered by WASP release. This provides a mechanism by which membrane-bound WASP proteins can stimulate network growth without restraining it. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01008.001 PMID:24015360

WAVE binds Ena/VASP for enhanced Arp2/3 complex–based actin assembly

PubMed Central

Havrylenko, Svitlana; Noguera, Philippe; Abou-Ghali, Majdouline; Manzi, John; Faqir, Fahima; Lamora, Audrey; Guérin, Christophe; Blanchoin, Laurent; Plastino, Julie

2015-01-01

The WAVE complex is the main activator of the Arp2/3 complex for actin filament nucleation and assembly in the lamellipodia of moving cells. Other important players in lamellipodial protrusion are Ena/VASP proteins, which enhance actin filament elongation. Here we examine the molecular coordination between the nucleating activity of the Arp2/3 complex and the elongating activity of Ena/VASP proteins for the formation of actin networks. Using an in vitro bead motility assay, we show that WAVE directly binds VASP, resulting in an increase in Arp2/3 complex–based actin assembly. We show that this interaction is important in vivo as well, for the formation of lamellipodia during the ventral enclosure event of Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis. Ena/VASP's ability to bind F-actin and profilin-complexed G-actin are important for its effect, whereas Ena/VASP tetramerization is not necessary. Our data are consistent with the idea that binding of Ena/VASP to WAVE potentiates Arp2/3 complex activity and lamellipodial actin assembly. PMID:25355952

Mechanism of synergistic activation of Arp2/3 complex by cortactin and N-WASP

PubMed Central

Helgeson, Luke A; Nolen, Brad J

2013-01-01

Nucleation promoting factors (NPFs) initiate branched actin network assembly by activating Arp2/3 complex, a branched actin filament nucleator. Cellular actin networks contain multiple NPFs, but how they coordinately regulate Arp2/3 complex is unclear. Cortactin is an NPF that activates Arp2/3 complex weakly on its own, but with WASP/N-WASP, another class of NPFs, potently activates. We dissect the mechanism of synergy and propose a model in which cortactin displaces N-WASP from nascent branches as a prerequisite for nucleation. Single-molecule imaging revealed that unlike WASP/N-WASP, cortactin remains bound to junctions during nucleation, and specifically targets junctions with a ∼160-fold increased on rate over filament sides. N-WASP must be dimerized for potent synergy, and targeted mutations indicate release of dimeric N-WASP from nascent branches limits nucleation. Mathematical modeling shows cortactin-mediated displacement but not N-WASP recycling or filament recruitment models can explain synergy. Our results provide a molecular basis for coordinate Arp2/3 complex regulation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00884.001 PMID:24015358

Energy dissipation from a correlated system driven out of equilibrium

DOE PAGES

Rameau, J. D.; Freutel, S.; Kemper, A. F.; ...

2016-12-20

We report that in complex materials various interactions have important roles in determining electronic properties. Angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES) is used to study these processes by resolving the complex single-particle self-energy and quantifying how quantum interactions modify bare electronic states. However, ambiguities in the measurement of the real part of the self-energy and an intrinsic inability to disentangle various contributions to the imaginary part of the self-energy can leave the implications of such measurements open to debate. Here we employ a combined theoretical and experimental treatment of femtosecond time-resolved ARPES (tr-ARPES) show how population dynamics measured using tr-ARPES can bemore » used to separate electron–boson interactions from electron–electron interactions. In conclusion, we demonstrate a quantitative analysis of a well-defined electron–boson interaction in the unoccupied spectrum of the cuprate Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+x characterized by an excited population decay time that maps directly to a discrete component of the equilibrium self-energy not readily isolated by static ARPES experiments.« less

A WAVE2–Arp2/3 actin nucleator apparatus supports junctional tension at the epithelial zonula adherens

PubMed Central

Verma, Suzie; Han, Siew Ping; Michael, Magdalene; Gomez, Guillermo A.; Yang, Zhe; Teasdale, Rohan D.; Ratheesh, Aparna; Kovacs, Eva M.; Ali, Radiya G.; Yap, Alpha S.

2012-01-01

The epithelial zonula adherens (ZA) is a specialized adhesive junction where actin dynamics and myosin-driven contractility coincide. The junctional cytoskeleton is enriched in myosin II, which generates contractile force to support junctional tension. It is also enriched in dynamic actin filaments, which are replenished by ongoing actin assembly. In this study we sought to pursue the relationship between actin assembly and junctional contractility. We demonstrate that WAVE2–Arp2/3 is a major nucleator of actin assembly at the ZA and likely acts in response to junctional Rac signaling. Furthermore, WAVE2–Arp2/3 is necessary for junctional integrity and contractile tension at the ZA. Maneuvers that disrupt the function of either WAVE2 or Arp2/3 reduced junctional tension and compromised the ability of cells to buffer side-to-side forces acting on the ZA. WAVE2–Arp2/3 disruption depleted junctions of both myosin IIA and IIB, suggesting that dynamic actin assembly may support junctional tension by facilitating the local recruitment of myosin. PMID:23051739

A WAVE2-Arp2/3 actin nucleator apparatus supports junctional tension at the epithelial zonula adherens.

PubMed

Verma, Suzie; Han, Siew Ping; Michael, Magdalene; Gomez, Guillermo A; Yang, Zhe; Teasdale, Rohan D; Ratheesh, Aparna; Kovacs, Eva M; Ali, Radiya G; Yap, Alpha S

2012-12-01

The epithelial zonula adherens (ZA) is a specialized adhesive junction where actin dynamics and myosin-driven contractility coincide. The junctional cytoskeleton is enriched in myosin II, which generates contractile force to support junctional tension. It is also enriched in dynamic actin filaments, which are replenished by ongoing actin assembly. In this study we sought to pursue the relationship between actin assembly and junctional contractility. We demonstrate that WAVE2-Arp2/3 is a major nucleator of actin assembly at the ZA and likely acts in response to junctional Rac signaling. Furthermore, WAVE2-Arp2/3 is necessary for junctional integrity and contractile tension at the ZA. Maneuvers that disrupt the function of either WAVE2 or Arp2/3 reduced junctional tension and compromised the ability of cells to buffer side-to-side forces acting on the ZA. WAVE2-Arp2/3 disruption depleted junctions of both myosin IIA and IIB, suggesting that dynamic actin assembly may support junctional tension by facilitating the local recruitment of myosin.

Effect of WAVE2 phosphorylation on activation of the Arp2/3 complex.

PubMed

Nakanishi, Osamu; Suetsugu, Shiro; Yamazaki, Daisuke; Takenawa, Tadaomi

2007-03-01

Members of the family of WASP-family Verprolin homologous proteins (WAVEs) activate the Arp2/3 complex to induce actin polymerization. The WAVE family comprises three proteins, namely, WAVE1, WAVE2 and WAVE3. Among them, WAVE2 is crucial for activation of the Arp2/3 complex for the formation of branched actin filaments in lamellipodia. Activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signalling results in the phosphorylation of the WAVE family proteins; however, which of the three WAVE proteins is phosphorylated is unclear. We found that in vitro WAVE2 is directly phosphorylated by a MAP kinase, i.e. extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 2. The proline-rich region and the verprolin, cofilin and acidic (VCA) region of WAVE2 were phosphorylated. Interestingly, the phosphorylated VCA region had a higher affinity for the Arp2/3 complex. However, the phosphorylation of the VCA region resulted in reduced induction of Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization in vitro. The role of the phosphorylation of the proline-rich region was not determined.

Investigation of L-band shipboard antennas for maritime satellite applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heckert, G. P.

1972-01-01

A basic conceptual investigation of low cost L-band antenna subsystems for shipboard use was conducted by identifying the various pertinent design trade-offs and related performance characteristics peculiar to the civilian maritime application, and by comparing alternate approaches for their simplicity and general suitability. The study was not directed at a single specific proposal, but was intended to be parametric in nature. Antenna system concepts were to be investigated for a range of gain of 3 to 18 dB, with a value of about 10 dB considered as a baseline reference. As the primary source of potential complexity in shipboard antennas, which have beamwidths less than hemispherical as the beam pointing or selecting mechanism, major emphasis was directed at this aspect. Three categories of antenna system concepts were identified: (1) mechanically pointed, single-beam antennas; (2) fixed antennas with switched-beams; and (3) electronically-steered phased arrays. It is recommended that an L-band short backfire antenna subsystem, including a two-axis motor driven gimbal mount, and necessary single channel monopulse tracking receiver portions be developed for demonstration of performance and subsystem simplicity.

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission

PubMed Central

Eggleston, Michael S.; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming; Yablonovitch, Eli; Wu, Ming C.

2015-01-01

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ∼200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35× corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ∼115×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ∼2,500× spontaneous emission speedup at d ∼ 10 nm, proportional to 1/d2. Unfortunately, at d < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, Io = qω|xo|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|xo| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Moreover, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency. PMID:25624503

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission

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

Eggleston, Michael S.; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ~200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35 × corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ~115 ×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ~2,500 × spontaneous emission speedup at d ~10 nm, proportional to 1/d 2. Unfortunately, at dmore » < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, I(o) = qω|x(o)|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|x(o)| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Additionally, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency.« less

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission.

PubMed

Eggleston, Michael S; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming; Yablonovitch, Eli; Wu, Ming C

2015-02-10

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ∼ 200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35 × corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ∼ 115 ×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ∼ 2,500 × spontaneous emission speedup at d ∼ 10 nm, proportional to 1/d(2). Unfortunately, at d < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, I(o) = qω|x(o)|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|x(o)| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Moreover, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency.

Optical antenna enhanced spontaneous emission

DOE PAGES

Eggleston, Michael S.; Messer, Kevin; Zhang, Liming; ...

2015-01-26

Atoms and molecules are too small to act as efficient antennas for their own emission wavelengths. By providing an external optical antenna, the balance can be shifted; spontaneous emission could become faster than stimulated emission, which is handicapped by practically achievable pump intensities. In our experiments, InGaAsP nanorods emitting at ~200 THz optical frequency show a spontaneous emission intensity enhancement of 35 × corresponding to a spontaneous emission rate speedup ~115 ×, for antenna gap spacing, d = 40 nm. Classical antenna theory predicts ~2,500 × spontaneous emission speedup at d ~10 nm, proportional to 1/d 2. Unfortunately, at dmore » < 10 nm, antenna efficiency drops below 50%, owing to optical spreading resistance, exacerbated by the anomalous skin effect (electron surface collisions). Quantum dipole oscillations in the emitter excited state produce an optical ac equivalent circuit current, I(o) = qω|x(o)|/d, feeding the antenna-enhanced spontaneous emission, where q|x(o)| is the dipole matrix element. Despite the quantum-mechanical origin of the drive current, antenna theory makes no reference to the Purcell effect nor to local density of states models. Additionally, plasmonic effects are minor at 200 THz, producing only a small shift of antenna resonance frequency.« less

Integrated GNSS Attitude Determination and Positioning for Direct Geo-Referencing

PubMed Central

Nadarajah, Nandakumaran; Paffenholz, Jens-André; Teunissen, Peter J. G.

2014-01-01

Direct geo-referencing is an efficient methodology for the fast acquisition of 3D spatial data. It requires the fusion of spatial data acquisition sensors with navigation sensors, such as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers. In this contribution, we consider an integrated GNSS navigation system to provide estimates of the position and attitude (orientation) of a 3D laser scanner. The proposed multi-sensor system (MSS) consists of multiple GNSS antennas rigidly mounted on the frame of a rotating laser scanner and a reference GNSS station with known coordinates. Precise GNSS navigation requires the resolution of the carrier phase ambiguities. The proposed method uses the multivariate constrained integer least-squares (MC-LAMBDA) method for the estimation of rotating frame ambiguities and attitude angles. MC-LAMBDA makes use of the known antenna geometry to strengthen the underlying attitude model and, hence, to enhance the reliability of rotating frame ambiguity resolution and attitude determination. The reliable estimation of rotating frame ambiguities is consequently utilized to enhance the relative positioning of the rotating frame with respect to the reference station. This integrated (array-aided) method improves ambiguity resolution, as well as positioning accuracy between the rotating frame and the reference station. Numerical analyses of GNSS data from a real-data campaign confirm the improved performance of the proposed method over the existing method. In particular, the integrated method yields reliable ambiguity resolution and reduces position standard deviation by a factor of about 0.8, matching the theoretical gain of 3/4 for two antennas on the rotating frame and a single antenna at the reference station. PMID:25036330

Integrated GNSS attitude determination and positioning for direct geo-referencing.

PubMed

Nadarajah, Nandakumaran; Paffenholz, Jens-André; Teunissen, Peter J G

2014-07-17

Direct geo-referencing is an efficient methodology for the fast acquisition of 3D spatial data. It requires the fusion of spatial data acquisition sensors with navigation sensors, such as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers. In this contribution, we consider an integrated GNSS navigation system to provide estimates of the position and attitude (orientation) of a 3D laser scanner. The proposed multi-sensor system (MSS) consists of multiple GNSS antennas rigidly mounted on the frame of a rotating laser scanner and a reference GNSS station with known coordinates. Precise GNSS navigation requires the resolution of the carrier phase ambiguities. The proposed method uses the multivariate constrained integer least-squares (MC-LAMBDA) method for the estimation of rotating frame ambiguities and attitude angles. MC-LAMBDA makes use of the known antenna geometry to strengthen the underlying attitude model and, hence, to enhance the reliability of rotating frame ambiguity resolution and attitude determination. The reliable estimation of rotating frame ambiguities is consequently utilized to enhance the relative positioning of the rotating frame with respect to the reference station. This integrated (array-aided) method improves ambiguity resolution, as well as positioning accuracy between the rotating frame and the reference station. Numerical analyses of GNSS data from a real-data campaign confirm the improved performance of the proposed method over the existing method. In particular, the integrated method yields reliable ambiguity resolution and reduces position standard deviation by a factor of about 0:8, matching the theoretical gain of √ 3/4 for two antennas on the rotating frame and a single antenna at the reference station.

Applications of Microwave Photonics in Radio Astronomy and Space Communication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

D'Addario, Larry R.; Shillue, William P.

2006-01-01

An overview of narrow band vs wide band signals is given. Topics discussed included signal transmission, reference distribution and photonic antenna metrology. Examples of VLA, ALMA, ATA and DSN arrays are given. . Arrays of small antennas have become more cost-effective than large antennas for achieving large total aperture or gain, both for astronomy and for communication. It is concluded that emerging applications involving arrays of many antennas require low-cost optical communication of both wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth; development of round-trip correction schemes enables timing precision; and free-space laser beams with microwave modulation allow structural metrology with approx 100 micrometer precision over distances of 200 meters.

Anti-hepatoma activity in mice of a polysaccharide from the rhizome of Anemone raddeana.

PubMed

Liu, Yang; Li, Yiming; Yang, Wenbin; Zhang, Li; Cao, Gang

2012-04-01

A neutral polysaccharide fraction (ARP) prepared from the rhizome of Anemone raddeana was tested for its anticancer activity in H22 tumor-bearing mice by oral administration. ARP could not only significantly inhibit the growth of H22 transplantable tumor, but also remarkably promote splenocytes proliferation, NK cell and CTL activity, as well as serum IL-2 and TNF-α production in tumor-bearing mice. In addition, ARP treatment to tumor bearing mice had no toxicity to body weight, the liver and kidney. Moreover it could reverse the hematological parameters induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to near normal. The above results suggested that the antitumor activity of ARP might be achieved by improving immune response, and they could act as antitumor agent with immunomodulatory activity. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Actin-Related Protein 2 (ARP2) and Virus-Induced Filopodia Facilitate Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Spread

PubMed Central

McCarty, Thomas; Martin, Scott E.; Le Nouën, Cyril; Buehler, Eugen; Chen, Yu-Chi; Smelkinson, Margery; Ganesan, Sundar; Fischer, Elizabeth R.; Brock, Linda G.; Liang, Bo; Munir, Shirin; Collins, Peter L.; Buchholz, Ursula J.

2016-01-01

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an enveloped RNA virus that is the most important viral cause of acute pediatric lower respiratory tract illness worldwide, and lacks a vaccine or effective antiviral drug. The involvement of host factors in the RSV replicative cycle remains poorly characterized. A genome-wide siRNA screen in human lung epithelial A549 cells identified actin-related protein 2 (ARP2) as a host factor involved in RSV infection. ARP2 knockdown did not reduce RSV entry, and did not markedly reduce gene expression during the first 24 hr of infection, but decreased viral gene expression thereafter, an effect that appeared to be due to inhibition of viral spread to neighboring cells. Consistent with reduced spread, there was a 10-fold reduction in the release of infectious progeny virions in ARP2-depleted cells at 72 hr post-infection. In addition, we found that RSV infection induced filopodia formation and increased cell motility in A549 cells and that this phenotype was ARP2 dependent. Filopodia appeared to shuttle RSV to nearby uninfected cells, facilitating virus spread. Expression of the RSV F protein alone from a plasmid or heterologous viral vector in A549 cells induced filopodia, indicating a new role for the RSV F protein, driving filopodia induction and virus spread. Thus, this study identified roles for ARP2 and filopodia in RSV-induced cell motility, RSV production, and RSV cell-to-cell spread. PMID:27926942

Etiology, clinical features and management of acute recurrent pancreatitis.

PubMed

Deng, Yi Yun; Wang, Rui; Wu, Hao; Tang, Cheng Wei; Chen, Xin Zu

2014-10-01

To study the etiology and clinical features of acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) and to determine its optimal management and outcomes. ARP cases among acute pancreatitis patients who were admitted to the West China Hospital, Sichuan University from January 2008 to December 2012 were retrospectively collected. Their etiology, clinical features, treatments and outcomes were analyzed. Of all pancreatitis patients, 8.9% were classified as ARP. The proportions of mild and severe diseases were 85.7% and 14.3%, respectively. The common etiological factors were biliogenic (31.0%), alcohol (26.2%), hyperlipidemia (21.4%) and pancreaticobiliary malformation (15.4%). At first 46 cases were cryptogenic and among them 36 were subsequently confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Among the hyperlipidemic ARP patients, 72.2% failed to routinely monitor and control serum lipids. ERCP was performed in 88 cases, and 48 also required an endoscopic sphincterotomy or calculus removal. Twenty-two patients underwent cholangiopancreatic duct stent placement, and pancreatic necrosectomy was performed on eight severe cases. The overall outcomes indicate that 8.3% of the cases progressed to chronic pancreatitis and 33.3% of the cases receiving etiological treatment were recurrence-free. There were no deaths in this study. The etiological factors of ARP are similar to those of acute pancreatitis at the first attack. The management of ARP should be fully considered based on etiological investigation. © 2014 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Protective effects of melatonin and memantine in human retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE-19) cells against 2-ethylpyridine-induced oxidative stress: implications for age-related macular degeneration.

PubMed

Bardak, Handan; Uğuz, Abdülhadi Cihangir; Bardak, Yavuz

2018-06-01

To investigate the possible protective effects of melatonin and memantine (MMT) against 2-ethylpyridine (2-EP)-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in human RPE (ARPE-19) cells in vitro. The ARPE-19 cells were divided into seven groups. Oxidative stress was triggered by incubating the ARPE-19 cells with 30 μM of 2-EP for 24 h. Then, 200 μM of melatonin was administered over three days and 20 μM of MMT over six hours prior to the experiment. The effects of melatonin and MMT on the intracellular calcium release mechanism, reactive oxygen species production, caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities, as well as vascular endothelial growth factor levels were measured. Melatonin and MMT were found to significantly decrease apoptosis levels. The intracellular calcium release was regulated by both melatonin and MMT. Further, melatonin and MMT significantly decreased both caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities, as well as pro-caspase and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase expression, in ARPE-19 cells. Moreover, melatonin significantly increased the protective effect of MMT. The combination of melatonin and MMT significantly decreased 2-EP-induced oxidative toxicity and apoptosis by inhibiting the intracellular reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial depolarization levels. These notable findings are the first to demonstrate the synergistic protective effects of melatonin and MMT against 2-EP-induced oxidative stress in ARPE-19 cells.

Towards better GNSS observations at the new IGS reference station BRUX: multipath mitigation and individual antenna calibration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aerts, W.; Baire, Q.; Bruyninx, C.; Legrand, J.; Pottiaux, E.

2012-12-01

A new multi-GNSS IGS reference station, BRUX, has been installed at Brussels. It replaces the former IGS reference station BRUS, which had to be dismantled because of construction works. The antenna of BRUX is sited on top of a telescope dome. Although this might be an unfortunate choice from an electromagnetic point of view, the siting is very convenient for other reasons. Being close to the time lab hosting the atomic clocks, the cable length is within acceptable and affordable limits, both for cost and signal loss reasons. Moreover, the site offers open sky view, which can indeed be expected from a former telescope siting. The dome is entirely metal, hence shielding of the dome was required in order to mitigate multipath propagation. This was achieved using a metal shield topped with RF absorbing material and respecting a certain antenna-to-absorber spacing in order not to alter the antenna phase center offset (PCO) and variations (PCVs) too much. This would otherwise render the individual calibration of the antenna, in an anechoic chamber in the case of BRUX, invalid. But even taking all precautions, the PCO and PCVs of the calibration do not exactly equal those after installation. Moreover, different calibrations, in an anechoic chamber and by an outdoor robot, of the same antenna have shown to result in PCO and PCVs that differ up to several mm at certain azimuths and elevations. A test set-up with 6 such redundantly calibrated GNSS antennas revealed that the calibration differences can reach 8 mm on the ionosphere-free frequency, which amplifies the calibration differences by a factor three compared to L1 and L2 only. The use of different receiver antenna calibration models can impact position at almost the centimeter level. In an attempt to align the historical time series for BRUS with the (future) data for BRUX, the tie between the new station BRUX and the old IGS station BRUS was determined using terrestrial measurements as well as GPS. In the case of GPS, several L1, L2 and ionosphere-free baseline measurements were performed using state-of-the-art type-mean receiver antenna calibrations as well as individual calibrations. Differences between the different GPS measurements are several mm, while the differences between the terrestrial tie and the GPS ties reaches almost the cm-level. One contribution to the error budget is the absence of an individual calibration for the BRUS antenna, another one is the difference in PCO and PCVs on site, as opposed to at calibration, as already mentioned.

Tags, wireless communication systems, tag communication methods, and wireless communications methods

DOEpatents

Scott,; Jeff W. , Pratt; Richard, M [Richland, WA

2006-09-12

Tags, wireless communication systems, tag communication methods, and wireless communications methods are described. In one aspect, a tag includes a plurality of antennas configured to receive a plurality of first wireless communication signals comprising data from a reader, a plurality of rectifying circuits coupled with. respective individual ones of the antennas and configured to provide rectified signals corresponding to the first wireless communication signals, wherein the rectified signals are combined to produce a composite signal, an adaptive reference circuit configured to vary a reference signal responsive to the composite signal, a comparator coupled with the adaptive reference circuit and the rectifying circuits and configured to compare the composite signal with respect to the reference signal and to output the data responsive to the comparison, and processing circuitry configured to receive the data from the comparator and to process the data.

Determinants of alveolar ridge preservation differ by anatomic location

PubMed Central

Leblebicioglu, Binnaz; Salas, Mabel; Ort, Yirae; Johnson, Ashley; Yildiz, Vedat O.; Kim, Do-Gyoon; Agarwal, Sudha; Tatakis, Dimitris N.

2016-01-01

Aim To investigate and compare outcomes following alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) in posterior maxilla and mandible. Methods Twenty-four patients (54 ± 3 years) with single posterior tooth extraction were included. ARP was performed with freeze-dried bone allograft and collagen membrane. Clinical parameters were recorded at extraction and re-entry. Harvested bone cores were analysed by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry. Results In both jaws, ARP prevented ridge height loss, but ridge width was significantly reduced by approximately 2.5 mm. Healing time, initial clinical attachment loss and amount of keratinized tissue at extraction site were identified as determinants of ridge height outcome. Buccal plate thickness and tooth root length were identified as determinants of ridge width outcome. In addition, initial ridge width was positively correlated with ridge width loss. Micro-CT revealed greater mineralization per unit volume in new bone compared with existing bone in mandible (p < 0.001). Distributions of residual graft, new cellular bone and immature tissue were similar in both jaws. Conclusion Within the limitations of this study, the results indicate that in different anatomic locations different factors may determine ARP outcomes. Further studies are needed to better understand determinants of ARP outcomes. PMID:23432761

Identification and structural characterization of O-beta-ribosyl-(1"----2')-adenosine-5"-phosphate in yeast methionine initiator tRNA.

PubMed

Keith, G; Glasser, A L; Desgrès, J; Kuo, K C; Gehrke, C W

1990-10-25

We report in this paper on the complete structure determination of the modified nucleotide A*, now called Ar(p), that was previously identified in yeast methionine initiator tRNA as an isomeric form of O-ribosyl-adenosine bearing an additional phosphoryl-monoester group on its ribose2 moiety. By using the chemical procedure of periodate oxidation and subsequent beta-elimination with cyclohexylamine on mono- and dinucleotides containing Ar(p), we characterized the location of the phosphate group on the C-5" of the ribose2 moiety, and the linkage between the two riboses as a (1"----2')-glycosidic bond. Since the structural difference between phosphatase treated Ar(p) and authentic O-alpha-ribosyl-(1"----2')-adenosine from poly(ADP-Ribose) was previously assigned to an isomeric difference in the ribose2-ribose1 linkage, the (1"----2')-glycosidic bond of Ar(p) was deduced to have a beta-spatial configuration. Thus, final chemical structure for Ar(p) at the position 64 in yeast initiator tRNA(Met) has been established as O-beta-ribosyl-(1"----2')-adenosine-5"-phosphate. This nucleotide is linked by a 3',5'-phosphodiester bond to G at the position 65.

Adhesive F-actin Waves: A Novel Integrin-Mediated Adhesion Complex Coupled to Ventral Actin Polymerization

PubMed Central

Case, Lindsay B.; Waterman, Clare M.

2011-01-01

At the leading lamellipodium of migrating cells, protrusion of an Arp2/3-nucleated actin network is coupled to formation of integrin-based adhesions, suggesting that Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization and integrin-dependent adhesion may be mechanistically linked. Arp2/3 also mediates actin polymerization in structures distinct from the lamellipodium, in “ventral F-actin waves” that propagate as spots and wavefronts along the ventral plasma membrane. Here we show that integrins engage the extracellular matrix downstream of ventral F-actin waves in several mammalian cell lines as well as in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts. These “adhesive F-actin waves” require a cycle of integrin engagement and disengagement to the extracellular matrix for their formation and propagation, and exhibit morphometry and a hierarchical assembly and disassembly mechanism distinct from other integrin-containing structures. After Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization, zyxin and VASP are co-recruited to adhesive F-actin waves, followed by paxillin and vinculin, and finally talin and integrin. Adhesive F-actin waves thus represent a previously uncharacterized integrin-based adhesion complex associated with Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization. PMID:22069459

RAIM availability for supplemental GPS navigation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1992-06-29

This paper examines GPS receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) availability for supplemental navigation based on the approximate radial-error protection (ARP) method. This method applies ceiling levels for the ARP figure of merit to screen o...

Application of adaptive antenna techniques to future commercial satellite communication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ersoy, L.; Lee, E. A.; Matthews, E. W.

1987-01-01

The purpose of this contract was to identify the application of adaptive antenna technique in future operational commercial satellite communication systems and to quantify potential benefits. The contract consisted of two major subtasks. Task 1, Assessment of Future Commercial Satellite System Requirements, was generally referred to as the Adaptive section. Task 2 dealt with Pointing Error Compensation Study for a Multiple Scanning/Fixed Spot Beam Reflector Antenna System and was referred to as the reconfigurable system. Each of these tasks was further sub-divided into smaller subtasks. It should also be noted that the reconfigurable system is usually defined as an open-loop system while the adaptive system is a closed-loop system. The differences between the open- and closed-loop systems were defined. Both the adaptive and reconfigurable systems were explained and the potential applications of such systems were presented in the context of commercial communication satellite systems.

Application of adaptive antenna techniques to future commercial satellite communications. Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ersoy, L.; Lee, E. A.; Matthews, E. W.

1987-01-01

The purpose of this contract was to identify the application of adaptive antenna technique in future operational commercial satellite communication systems and to quantify potential benefits. The contract consisted of two major subtasks. Task 1, Assessment of Future Commercial Satellite System Requirements, was generally referred to as the Adaptive section. Task 2 dealt with Pointing Error Compensation Study for a Multiple Scanning/Fixed Spot Beam Reflector Antenna System and was referred to as the reconfigurable system. Each of these tasks was further subdivided into smaller subtasks. It should also be noted that the reconfigurable system is usually defined as an open-loop system while the adaptive system is a closed-loop system. The differences between the open- and closed-loop systems were defined. Both the adaptive and reconfigurable systems were explained and the potential applications of such systems were presented in the context of commercial communication satellite systems.

AR(p) -based detrended fluctuation analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alvarez-Ramirez, J.; Rodriguez, E.

2018-07-01

Autoregressive models are commonly used for modeling time-series from nature, economics and finance. This work explored simple autoregressive AR(p) models to remove long-term trends in detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). Crude oil prices and bitcoin exchange rate were considered, with the former corresponding to a mature market and the latter to an emergent market. Results showed that AR(p) -based DFA performs similar to traditional DFA. However, the former DFA provides information on stability of long-term trends, which is valuable for understanding and quantifying the dynamics of complex time series from financial systems.

LC-MS/MS Based Quantitation of ABC and SLC Transporter Proteins in Plasma Membranes of Cultured Primary Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells and Immortalized ARPE19 Cell Line.

PubMed

Pelkonen, Laura; Sato, Kazuki; Reinisalo, Mika; Kidron, Heidi; Tachikawa, Masanori; Watanabe, Michitoshi; Uchida, Yasuo; Urtti, Arto; Terasaki, Tetsuya

2017-03-06

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) forms the outer blood-retinal barrier between neural retina and choroid. The RPE has several important vision supporting functions, such as transport mechanisms that may also modify pharmacokinetics in the posterior eye segment. Expression of plasma membrane transporters in the RPE cells has not been quantitated. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare transporter protein expression in the ARPE19 cell line and hfRPE (human fetal RPE) cells by using quantitative targeted absolute proteomics (QTAP). Among 41 studied transporters, 16 proteins were expressed in hfRPE and 13 in ARPE19 cells. MRP1, MRP5, GLUT1, 4F2hc, TAUT, CAT1, LAT1, and MATE1 proteins were detected in both cell lines within 4-fold differences. MPR7, OAT2 and RFC1 were detected in the hfRPE cells, but their expression levels were below the limit of quantification in ARPE19 cells. PCFT was detected in both studied cell lines, but the expression was over 4-fold higher in hfRPE cells. MCT1, MCT4, MRP4, and Na + /K + ATPase were upregulated in the ARPE19 cell line showing over 4-fold differences in the quantitative expression values. Expression levels of 25 transporters were below the limit of quantification in both cell models. In conclusion, we present the first systematic and quantitative study on transporter protein expression in the plasma membranes of ARPE19 and hfRPE cells. Overall, transporter expression in the ARPE19 and hfRPE cells correlated well and the absolute expression levels were similar, but not identical. The presented quantitative expression levels could be a useful basis for further studies on drug permeation in the outer blood-retinal barrier.

Inhibition of the Rac1-WAVE2-Arp2/3 signaling pathway promotes radiosensitivity via downregulation of cofilin-1 in U251 human glioma cells.

PubMed

Zhou, Tao; Wang, Chen-Han; Yan, Hua; Zhang, Rui; Zhao, Jin-Bing; Qian, Chun-Fa; Xiao, Hong; Liu, Hong-Yi

2016-05-01

The Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1)-WASP-family verprolin-homologous protein-2 (WAVE2)-actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) signaling pathway has been identified to be involved in cell migration and invasion in various types of cancer cell. Cofilin‑1 (CFL‑1), which is regulated by the Rac1‑WAVE2‑Arp2/3 signaling pathway, may promote radioresistance in glioma. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the potential role of the Rac1‑WAVE2‑Arp2/3 signaling pathway in radioresistance in U251 human glioma cells and elucidate its affect on CFL‑1 expression. Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the protein expression of CFL‑1. In the present study, Rac1 was inhibited by NSC 23766, WAVE2 was inhibited by transfection with short hairpin (sh)RNA‑WAVE2 using Lipofectamine™ 2000 and Arp2/3 was inhibited by CK‑666. Cell viability was measured using the 3‑(4,5‑dimethylthiazol‑2‑yl)-2,5‑diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, the cell migration ability was examined by a wound‑healing assay, and the cell invasion ability was assessed using a Transwell culture chamber system. The results showed that inhibition of the Rac1‑WAVE2‑Arp2/3 signaling pathway using NSC 23766, shRNA‑WAVE2 or CK‑666 reduced the cell viability, migration and invasion abilities in U251 human glioma cells, concordant with a reduced expression of CFL‑1. Furthermore, the expression of CFL‑1 was significantly increased in radioresistant U251 glioma cells when compared with normal U251 human glioma cells. These findings indicate that inhibition of the Rac1‑WAVE2‑Arp2/3 signaling pathway may promote radiosensitivity, which may partially result from the downregulation of CFL‑1 in U251 human glioma cells.

7,8-Dihydroxyflavone ameliorates high-glucose induced diabetic apoptosis in human retinal pigment epithelial cells by activating TrkB.

PubMed

Yu, Xiaoyi; Liu, Qiuhong; Wang, Xiaochuan; Liu, Hong; Wang, Yan

2018-01-01

In diabetic retinopathy, prolonged high-level blood glucose induced significant impairments among various retinal tissues, including retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. In an in vitro model of human RPE cells, we evaluated whether 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (DHF) may effectively prevent high glucose-induced diabetic apoptosis among human RPE cells. ARPE-19 cells, a Human RPE cell line, were treated with d-glucose (50 mM) to induce apoptosis in vitro. Prior to glucose, ARPE-19 cells were pre-incubated with various concentrations of DHF. The effect of DHF on d-glucose-induced apoptosis was examined by TUNEL assay, in a concentration-dependent manner. The biological effects of DHF on Caspase-9 (Casp-9) and TrkB signaling pathways in d-glucose-injured ARPE-19 cells were evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blot (WB) assays. A TrkB antagonist, K252a, was also applied in DHF and d-glucose treated ARPE-19 cells. Possible effect of K252a blocking TrkB signaling pathway, thus reversing DHF-modulated apoptosis prevention was also examined by TUNEL and WB assays. DHF ameliorated d-glucose-induced diabetic apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells. Apoptotic factor Casp-9, at both mRNA and protein levels, were drastically inhibited by DHF in d-glucose-injured ARPE-19 cells. Also, DHF activated TrkB signaling pathway through phosphorylation. K252a dramatically reversed the preventive effect of DHF on d-glucose-induced apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells. Further investigation showed that K252a functioned through de-activating or de-phosphorylating TrkB signaling pathway. This work demonstrates that DHF, through activation of TrkB signaling pathway, has a preventive function in d-glucose-induced apoptosis in PRE cells in diabetic retinopathy. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Electronic anisotropies revealed by detwinned angle-resolved photo-emission spectroscopy measurements of FeSe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watson, Matthew D.; Haghighirad, Amir A.; Rhodes, Luke C.; Hoesch, Moritz; Kim, Timur K.

2017-10-01

We report high resolution angle-resolved photo-emission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements of detwinned FeSe single crystals. The application of a mechanical strain is used to promote the volume fraction of one of the orthorhombic domains in the sample, which we estimate to be 80 % detwinned. While the full structure of the electron pockets consisting of two crossed ellipses may be observed in the tetragonal phase at temperatures above 90 K, we find that remarkably, only one peanut-shaped electron pocket oriented along the longer a axis contributes to the ARPES measurement at low temperatures in the nematic phase, with the expected pocket along b being not observed. Thus the low temperature Fermi surface of FeSe as experimentally determined by ARPES consists of one elliptical hole pocket and one orthogonally-oriented peanut-shaped electron pocket. Our measurements clarify the long-standing controversies over the interpretation of ARPES measurements of FeSe.

Infrared-Bright Interacting Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rojas Ruiz, Sofia; Murphy, Eric Joseph; Armus, Lee; Smith, John-David; Bradford, Charles Matt; Stierwalt, Sabrina

2018-01-01

We present the mid-infrared spectral mapping of eight LIRG-class interacting galaxies: NGC 6670, NGC 7592, IIZw 96, IIIZw 35, Arp 302, Arp 236, Arp 238, Arp 299. The properties of galaxy mergers, which are bright and can be studied at high resolutions at low-z, provide local analogs for sources that may be important contributors to the Far Infrared Background (FIRB.) In order to study star formation and the physical conditions in the gas and dust in our sample galaxies, we used the Spitzer InfraRed Spectrograph (IRS) to map the galaxies over the 5-35 μm window to trace the PAH, molecular hydrogen, and atomic fine structure line emission on scales of 1.4 – 5.3 kpc. Here we present the reduction for low and high-resolution data, and preliminary results in the analysis of fine structure line ratios and dust features in the two nuclei and interacting regions from one of our sample galaxies, NGC 6670.

A Common Platform for Antibiotic Dereplication and Adjuvant Discovery.

PubMed

Cox, Georgina; Sieron, Arthur; King, Andrew M; De Pascale, Gianfranco; Pawlowski, Andrew C; Koteva, Kalinka; Wright, Gerard D

2017-01-19

Solving the antibiotic resistance crisis requires the discovery of new antimicrobial drugs and the preservation of existing ones. The discovery of inhibitors of antibiotic resistance, antibiotic adjuvants, is a proven example of the latter. A major difficulty in identifying new antibiotics is the frequent rediscovery of known compounds, necessitating laborious "dereplication" to identify novel chemical entities. We have developed an antibiotic resistance platform (ARP) that can be used for both the identification of antibiotic adjuvants and for antibiotic dereplication. The ARP is a cell-based array of mechanistically distinct individual resistance elements in an identical genetic background. In dereplication mode, we demonstrate the rapid identification, and thus discrimination, of common antibiotics. In adjuvant discovery mode, we show that the ARP can be harnessed in screens to identify inhibitors of resistance. The ARP is therefore a powerful tool that has broad application in confronting the resistance crisis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PHANTASTICA regulates leaf polarity and petiole identity in Medicago truncatula

PubMed Central

Ge, Liangfa; Chen, Rujin

2014-01-01

Establishment of proper polarities along the adaxial-abaxial, proximodistal, and medial-lateral axes is a critical step for the expansion of leaves from leaf primordia. It has been shown that the MYB domain protein, ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1/ROUGH SHEATH2/PHANTASTICA (collectively named ARP) plays an important role in this process. Loss of function of ARP leads to severe leaf polarity defects, such as abaxialized or needle-like leaves. In addition to its role in leaf polarity establishment, we have recently shown that the Medicago truncatula ARP gene, MtPHAN, also plays a role in leaf petiole identity regulation. We show that a mutation of MtPHAN results in petioles acquiring characteristics of the motor organ, pulvinus, including small epidermal cells with extensive cell surface modifications and altered vascular tissue development. Taken together, our results reveal a previously unidentified function of ARP in leaf development. PMID:24603499

General theoretical description of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy of van der Waals structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amorim, B.

2018-04-01

We develop a general theory to model the angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) of commensurate and incommensurate van der Waals (vdW) structures, formed by lattice mismatched and/or misaligned stacked layers of two-dimensional materials. The present theory is based on a tight-binding description of the structure and the concept of generalized umklapp processes, going beyond previous descriptions of ARPES in incommensurate vdW structures, which are based on continuous, low-energy models, being limited to structures with small lattice mismatch/misalignment. As applications of the general formalism, we study the ARPES bands and constant energy maps for two structures: twisted bilayer graphene and twisted bilayer MoS2. The present theory should be useful in correctly interpreting experimental results of ARPES of vdW structures and other systems displaying competition between different periodicities, such as two-dimensional materials weakly coupled to a substrate and materials with density wave phases.

Genetic Analysis of Japanese Children With Acute Recurrent and Chronic Pancreatitis.

PubMed

Saito, Nobutomo; Suzuki, Mitsuyoshi; Sakurai, Yumiko; Nakano, Satoshi; Naritaka, Nakayuki; Minowa, Kei; Sai, Jin K; Shimizu, Toshiaki

2016-10-01

Causes of acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) or chronic pancreatitis (CP) are sometimes difficult to determine in children. In such patients, genetic analysis may prove helpful. The present study analyzed mutations of cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1), serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1), chymotrypsin C (CTRC), and carboxypeptidase A1 (CPA1) and investigated the clinical features of children with these mutations. Genetic analyses of mutations in these 4 genes were conducted in 128 patients with ARP or CP. Characteristics of the patients showing mutations were investigated using medical records. Fifty of the 128 (39.1%) subjects had at least 1 mutation (median age at onset, 7.6 years). Abdominal pain was the presenting symptom of pancreatitis in 48 of the 50 patients (96%). Fifteen of those 50 patients (30.0%) had a family history of pancreatitis. Gene mutations were present in PRSS1 in 26 patients, SPINK1 in 23, CTRC in 3, and CPA1 in 5. In the 31 patients with mutations in SPINK1, CTRC, or CPA1, 16 (51.6%) had homozygous or heterozygous mutations with other mutations. Three patients underwent surgery and another 4 patients underwent endoscopy to manage ARP or CP. Although 3 of the 7 patients complained of mild abdominal pain, none of those 7 patients experienced any obvious episode of ARP after treatment. In pediatric patients with idiopathic ARP and CP, genetic analysis is useful for identifying the cause of pancreatitis. Early endoscopic or surgical treatment prevents ARP by extending the interval between episodes of pancreatitis in this population.

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

Zhu, Xue; Wang, Ke, E-mail: wangke@jsinm.org; Zhang, Kai

Delayed clearance of free form all-trans-retinal (atRAL) is estimated be the key cause of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells injury during the pathogenesis of retinopathies such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are far from clear. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity effect and underlying molecular mechanism of atRAL on human retinal pigment epithelium ARPE-19 cells. The results indicated that atRAL could cause cell dysfunction by inducing oxidative and nitrosative stresses in ARPE-19 cells. The oxidative stress induced by atRAL was mediated through up-regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, activating mitochondrial-dependent and MAPKs signalingmore » pathways, and finally resulting in apoptosis of ARPE-19 cells. The NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin could partly attenuated ROS generation, indicating that NADPH oxidase activity was involved in atRAL-induced oxidative stress in ARPE-19 cells. The nitrosative stress induced by atRAL was mainly reflected in increasing nitric oxide (NO) production, enhancing iNOS, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expressions, and promoting monocyte adhesion. Furthermore, above effects could be dramatically blocked by using a nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) inhibitor SN50, indicated that atRAL-induced oxidative and nitrosative stresses were mediated by NF-κB. The results provide better understanding of atRAL-induced toxicity in human RPE cells. - Highlights: • atRAL induces oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells. • atRAL induces oxidative stress-mediated inflammation in ARPE-19 cells. • NF-κB is involved in atRAL-induced oxidative and nitrosative stresses.« less

MRP-1/CD9 gene transduction regulates the actin cytoskeleton through the downregulation of WAVE2.

PubMed

Huang, C-L; Ueno, M; Liu, D; Masuya, D; Nakano, J; Yokomise, H; Nakagawa, T; Miyake, M

2006-10-19

Motility-related protein-1 (MRP-1/CD9) is involved in cell motility. We studied the change in the actin cytoskeleton, and the expression of actin-related protein (Arp) 2 and Arp3 and the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family according to MRP-1/CD9 gene transduction into HT1080 cells. The frequency of cells with lamellipodia was significantly lower in MRP-1/CD9-transfected HT1080 cells than in control HT1080 cells (P<0.0001). MRP-1/CD9 gene transduction affected the subcellular localization of Arp2 and Arp3 proteins. Furthermore, MRP-1/CD9 gene transduction induced a downregulation of WAVE2 expression (P<0.0001). However, no difference was observed in the expression of Arp2, Arp3 or other WASPs. A neutralizing anti-MRP-1/CD9 monoclonal antibody inhibited downregulation of WAVE2 in MRP-1/CD9-transfected HT1080 cells (P<0.0001), and reversed the morphological effects of MRP-1/CD9 gene transduction. Furthermore, downregulation of WAVE2 by transfection of WAVE2-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) mimicked the morphological effects of MRP-1/CD9 gene transduction and suppressed cell motility. However, transfection of each siRNA for Wnt1, Wnt2b1 or Wnt5a did not affect WAVE2 expression. Transfection of WAVE2-specific siRNA also did not affect expressions of these Wnts. These results indicate that MRP-1/CD9 regulates the actin cytoskeleton by downregulating of the WAVE2, through the Wnt-independent signal pathway.

Enhancement of branching efficiency by the actin filament-binding activity of N-WASP/WAVE2.

PubMed

Suetsugu, S; Miki, H; Yamaguchi, H; Obinata, T; Takenawa, T

2001-12-01

The actin-related protein (Arp) 2/3 complex is an essential regulator of de novo actin filament formation. Arp2/3 nucleates the polymerization of actin and creates branched actin filaments when activated by Arp2/3-complex activating domain (VCA) of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome proteins (WASP family proteins). We found that the branching of actin filaments on pre-existing ADP filaments mediated by the Arp2/3 complex is twice as efficient when Arp2/3 was activated by wild-type neural WASP (N-WASP) or WASP-family verprolin-homologous protein (WAVE) 2 than when activated by the VCA domain alone. By contrast, there was no difference between wild-type N-WASP or WAVE2 and VCA in the branching efficiency on de novo filaments, which are thought to consist mainly of ADP-phosphate filaments. This increased branching efficiency on ADP filaments is due to the basic region located in the center of N-WASP and WAVE2, which was found to associate with ADP actin filaments. Actin filaments and phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2) associate with N-WASP at different sites. This association of N-WASP and WAVE2 with actin filaments enhanced recruitment of Arp2/3 to the pre-existing filaments, presumably leading to efficient nucleation and branch formation on pre-existing filaments. These data together suggest that the actin filament binding activity of N-WASP and WAVE2 in the basic region increases the number of barbed ends created on pre-existing filaments. Efficient branching on ADP filaments may be important for initiation of actin-based motility.

The design, development, and flight test results of the Boeing 737 aircraft antennas for the ICAO demonstration of the TRSB microwave landing system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, T. G.; White, W. E.; Gilreath, M. C.

1976-01-01

The Research Support Flight System, a modified Boeing 737, was used to evaluate the performance of several aircraft antennas and locations for the Time Reference Scanning Beam (TRSB) Microwave Landing System (MLS). These tests were conducted at the National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center (NAFEC), Atlantic City, New Jersey on December 18, 1975. The flight tests measured the signal strength and all pertinent MLS data during a straight-in approach, a racetrack approach, and ICAO approach profiles using the independent antenna-receiver combinations simultaneously on the aircraft. Signal drop-outs were experienced during the various approaches but only a small percentage could be attributed to antenna pattern effects.

Arp 148& - Mayall Object

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-04-24

Arp 148 is nicknamed Mayall object and is located in the constellation of Ursa Major, the Great Bear, about 500 million light-years away. This image is part of a large collection of images of merging galaxies taken by NASA Hubble Space Telescope.

Expression of cathepsin S antisense transcripts by adenovirus in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

PubMed

Rakoczy, P E; Lai, M C; Baines, M G; Spilsbury, K; Constable, I J

1998-10-01

To show the production of sense or antisense transcripts by recombinant adenoviruses, to investigate whether the transcripts produced were suitable for downregulating the expression of the targeted gene, cathepsin S (CatS), and to examine the effect of antisense transcript production on the biologic function of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, including the regulation of endogenous aspartic protease expression. Ad.MLP.CatSAS, Ad.RSV.CatSAS, and Ad.MLP.CatSS recombinant viruses were produced by homologous recombination. The recombinant viruses were tested by restriction enzyme digestion to confirm the orientation of the inserts. The expression of antisense transcripts was tested by northern blot analysis. Western blot analysis was used to study the regulation of the endogenous CatS protein in ARPE19 cells. The biologic effect of CatS downregulation in ARPE19 cells was tested by proliferation and phagocytosis assays, de novo cathepsin D (CatD) synthesis, and measurement of aspartic protease activity. After characterization of the recombinant adenovirus constructs, the production of antisense and sense CatS transcripts was shown in ARPE19 cells. The transcripts appeared at approximately 1.9 kb 48 hours after transduction, and the expression of the antisense transcripts was similar in constructs carrying either the MLP or the RSV promoter. Western blot analysis showed that ARPE19 cells transduced with Ad.MLP.CatSAS and Ad.RSV.CatSAS had no detectable CatS. In contrast, there was a strong signal appearing at 24 kDa in ARPE19 cells transduced with Ad.MLP.CatSS. ARPE19 cells were transduced to a high level. The transduction of ARPE19 cells with the recombinant adenoviruses did not affect the morphologic appearance of the cells, their proliferation, or their phagocytosing ability. However, ARPE19 cells transduced by Ad.MLP.CatSAS recombinant adenovirus showed a significant downregulation of de novo CatD synthesis and a twofold decrease in aspartic protease activity. Recombinant adenoviruses were shown to be suitable for producing antisense CatS transcripts to modulate endogenous CatS expression in RPE cells. It is proposed that CatS may play an important role, directly or indirectly, in the lysosomal digestion of outer segments through the regulation of other lysosomal enzyme activity, such as the expression of CatD.

V-V compact group of galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bahcall, N.

1984-01-01

A search for X-ray emission from five compact groups of galaxies with the Einstein Observatory revealed detections from three groups. Soft, extended X-ray emission was observed in Stephan's Quintet which is most likely caused by hot intracluster gas. This provides evidence for dynamical interaction among the group galaxies. X-ray emission from the group Arp 330 may also originate in hot intracluster gas. Stephan's Quintet and Arp 330 have the largest velocity dispersions among the groups studied suggesting a correlation between high velocity and the release (or properties) of hot gas. X-ray emission from Arp 318 may originate in its member galaxies.

Impact of axial velocity and transmembrane pressure (TMP) on ARP filter performance

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

Poirier, M.; Burket, P.

2016-02-29

The Savannah River Site (SRS) is currently treating radioactive liquid waste with the Actinide Removal Process (ARP) and the Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Unit (MCU). Recently, the low filter flux through the ARP of approximately 5 gallons per minute has limited the rate at which radioactive liquid waste can be treated. Salt Batch 6 had a lower processing rate and required frequent filter cleaning. Savannah River Remediation (SRR) has a desire to understand the causes of the low filter flux and to increase ARP/MCU throughput. One potential method for increasing filter flux is to adjust the axial velocity andmore » transmembrane pressure (TMP). SRR requested SRNL to conduct bench-scale filter tests to evaluate the effects of axial velocity and transmembrane pressure on crossflow filter flux. The objective of the testing was to determine whether increasing the axial velocity at the ARP could produce a significant increase in filter flux. The authors conducted the tests by preparing slurries containing 6.6 M sodium Salt Batch 6 supernate and 2.5 g MST/L, processing the slurry through a bench-scale crossflow filter unit at varying axial velocity and TMP, and measuring filter flux as a function of time.« less

The Sharpin interactome reveals a role for Sharpin in lamellipodium formation via the Arp2/3 complex.

PubMed

Khan, Meraj H; Salomaa, Siiri I; Jacquemet, Guillaume; Butt, Umar; Miihkinen, Mitro; Deguchi, Takahiro; Kremneva, Elena; Lappalainen, Pekka; Humphries, Martin J; Pouwels, Jeroen

2017-09-15

Sharpin, a multifunctional adaptor protein, regulates several signalling pathways. For example, Sharpin enhances signal-induced NF-κB signalling as part of the linear ubiquitin assembly complex (LUBAC) and inhibits integrins, the T cell receptor, caspase 1 and PTEN. However, despite recent insights into Sharpin and LUBAC function, a systematic approach to identify the signalling pathways regulated by Sharpin has not been reported. Here, we present the first 'Sharpin interactome', which identifies a large number of novel potential Sharpin interactors in addition to several known ones. These data suggest that Sharpin and LUBAC might regulate a larger number of biological processes than previously identified, such as endosomal trafficking, RNA processing, metabolism and cytoskeleton regulation. Importantly, using the Sharpin interactome, we have identified a novel role for Sharpin in lamellipodium formation. We demonstrate that Sharpin interacts with Arp2/3, a protein complex that catalyses actin filament branching. We have identified the Arp2/3-binding site in Sharpin and demonstrate using a specific Arp2/3-binding deficient mutant that the Sharpin-Arp2/3 interaction promotes lamellipodium formation in a LUBAC-independent fashion.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Identification of the PAK4 interactome reveals PAK4 phosphorylation of N-WASP and promotion of Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization.

PubMed

Zhao, Miao; Spiess, Matthias; Johansson, Henrik J; Olofsson, Helene; Hu, Jianjiang; Lehtiö, Janne; Strömblad, Staffan

2017-09-29

p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell motility and F-actin remodeling, but the PAK4 interactome has not been systematically analyzed. Here, we comprehensively characterized the human PAK4 interactome by iTRAQ quantitative mass spectrometry of PAK4-immunoprecipitations. Consistent with its multiple reported functions, the PAK4 interactome was enriched in diverse protein networks, including the 14-3-3, proteasome, replication fork, CCT and Arp2/3 complexes. Because PAK4 co-immunoprecipitated most subunits of the Arp2/3 complex, we hypothesized that PAK4 may play a role in Arp2/3 dependent actin regulation. Indeed, we found that PAK4 interacts with and phosphorylates the nucleation promoting factor N-WASP at Ser484/Ser485 and promotes Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization in vitro. Also, PAK4 ablation in vivo reduced N-WASP Ser484/Ser485 phosphorylation and altered the cellular balance between G- and F-actin as well as the actin organization. By presenting the PAK4 interactome, we here provide a powerful resource for further investigations and as proof of principle, we also indicate a novel mechanism by which PAK4 regulates actin cytoskeleton remodeling.

Research and application of ARP protocol vulnerability attack and defense technology based on trusted network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xi, Huixing

2017-03-01

With the continuous development of network technology and the rapid spread of the Internet, computer networks have been around the world every corner. However, the network attacks frequently occur. The ARP protocol vulnerability is one of the most common vulnerabilities in the TCP / IP four-layer architecture. The network protocol vulnerabilities can lead to the intrusion and attack of the information system, and disable or disable the normal defense function of the system [1]. At present, ARP spoofing Trojans spread widely in the LAN, the network security to run a huge hidden danger, is the primary threat to LAN security. In this paper, the author summarizes the research status and the key technologies involved in ARP protocol, analyzes the formation mechanism of ARP protocol vulnerability, and analyzes the feasibility of the attack technique. Based on the summary of the common defensive methods, the advantages and disadvantages of each defense method. At the same time, the current defense method is improved, and the advantage of the improved defense algorithm is given. At the end of this paper, the appropriate test method is selected and the test environment is set up. Experiment and test are carried out for each proposed improved defense algorithm.

Identification and structural characterization of O-beta-ribosyl-(1"----2')-adenosine-5"-phosphate in yeast methionine initiator tRNA.

PubMed Central

Keith, G; Glasser, A L; Desgrès, J; Kuo, K C; Gehrke, C W

1990-01-01

We report in this paper on the complete structure determination of the modified nucleotide A*, now called Ar(p), that was previously identified in yeast methionine initiator tRNA as an isomeric form of O-ribosyl-adenosine bearing an additional phosphoryl-monoester group on its ribose2 moiety. By using the chemical procedure of periodate oxidation and subsequent beta-elimination with cyclohexylamine on mono- and dinucleotides containing Ar(p), we characterized the location of the phosphate group on the C-5" of the ribose2 moiety, and the linkage between the two riboses as a (1"----2')-glycosidic bond. Since the structural difference between phosphatase treated Ar(p) and authentic O-alpha-ribosyl-(1"----2')-adenosine from poly(ADP-Ribose) was previously assigned to an isomeric difference in the ribose2-ribose1 linkage, the (1"----2')-glycosidic bond of Ar(p) was deduced to have a beta-spatial configuration. Thus, final chemical structure for Ar(p) at the position 64 in yeast initiator tRNA(Met) has been established as O-beta-ribosyl-(1"----2')-adenosine-5"-phosphate. This nucleotide is linked by a 3',5'-phosphodiester bond to G at the position 65. PMID:2235481

Tobacco Arp3 is localized to actin-nucleating sites in vivo

PubMed Central

Maisch, Jan; Fišerová, Jindřiška; Fischer, Lukáš; Nick, Peter

2009-01-01

The polarity of actin is a central determinant of intracellular transport in plant cells. To visualize actin polarity in living plant cells, the tobacco homologue of the actin-related protein 3 (ARP3) was cloned and a fusion with the red fluorescent protein (RFP) was generated. Upon transient expression of these fusions in the tobacco cell line BY-2 (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Bright Yellow 2), punctate structures were observed near the nuclear envelope and in the cortical plasma. These dots could be shown to decorate actin filaments by expressing RFP–ARP3 in a marker line, where actin was tagged by GFP (green fluorescent protein)–FABD (fimbrin actin-binding domain 2). When actin filaments were disrupted by latrunculin B or by prolonged cold treatment, and subsequently allowed to recover, the actin filaments reformed from the RFP–ARP3 structures, that therefore represented actin nucleation sites. The intracellular distribution of these sites was followed during the formation of pluricellular files, and it was observed that the density of RFP–ARP3 increased in the apex of the polarized, terminal cells of a file, whereas it was equally distributed in the central cells of a file. These findings are interpreted in terms of position-dependent differences of actin organization. PMID:19129161

SCAR Mediates Light-Induced Root Elongation in Arabidopsis through Photoreceptors and Proteasomes[W][OA

PubMed Central

Dyachok, Julia; Zhu, Ling; Liao, Fuqi; He, Ji; Huq, Enamul; Blancaflor, Elison B.

2011-01-01

The ARP2/3 complex, a highly conserved nucleator of F-actin, and its activator, the SCAR complex, are essential for growth in plants and animals. In this article, we present a pathway through which roots of Arabidopsis thaliana directly perceive light to promote their elongation. The ARP2/3-SCAR complex and the maintenance of longitudinally aligned F-actin arrays are crucial components of this pathway. The involvement of the ARP2/3-SCAR complex in light-regulated root growth is supported by our finding that mutants of the SCAR complex subunit BRK1/HSPC300, or other individual subunits of the ARP2/3-SCAR complex, showed a dramatic inhibition of root elongation in the light, which mirrored reduced growth of wild-type roots in the dark. SCAR1 degradation in dark-grown wild-type roots by constitutive photomorphogenic 1 (COP1) E3 ligase and 26S proteasome accompanied the loss of longitudinal F-actin and reduced root growth. Light perceived by the root photoreceptors, cryptochrome and phytochrome, suppressed COP1-mediated SCAR1 degradation. Taken together, our data provide a biochemical explanation for light-induced promotion of root elongation by the ARP2/3-SCAR complex. PMID:21972261

WHAMM links actin assembly via the Arp2/3 complex to autophagy.

PubMed

Kast, David J; Dominguez, Roberto

2015-01-01

Macroautophagy (hereafter autophagy) is the process by which cytosolic material destined for degradation is enclosed inside a double-membrane cisterna known as the autophagosome and processed for secretion and/or recycling. This process requires a large collection of proteins that converge on certain sites of the ER membrane to generate the autophagosome membrane. Recently, it was shown that actin accumulates around autophagosome precursors and could play a role in this process, but the mechanism and role of actin polymerization in autophagy were unknown. Here, we discuss our recent finding that the nucleation-promoting factor (NPF) WHAMM recruits and activates the Arp2/3 complex for actin assembly at sites of autophagosome formation on the ER. Using high-resolution, live-cell imaging, we showed that WHAMM forms dynamic puncta on the ER that comigrate with several autophagy markers, and propels the spiral movement of these puncta by an Arp2/3 complex-dependent actin comet tail mechanism. In starved cells, WHAMM accumulates at the interface between neighboring autophagosomes, whose number and size increases with WHAMM expression. Conversely, knocking down WHAMM, inhibiting the Arp2/3 complex or interfering with actin polymerization reduces the size and number of autophagosomes. These findings establish a link between Arp2/3 complex-mediated actin assembly and autophagy.

Arp2/3 complex inhibition radically alters lamellipodial actin architecture, suspended cell shape, and the cell spreading process

PubMed Central

Henson, John H.; Yeterian, Mesrob; Weeks, Richard M.; Medrano, Angela E.; Brown, Briana L.; Geist, Heather L.; Pais, Mollyann D.; Oldenbourg, Rudolf; Shuster, Charles B.

2015-01-01

Recent studies have investigated the dendritic actin cytoskeleton of the cell edge's lamellipodial (LP) region by experimentally decreasing the activity of the actin filament nucleator and branch former, the Arp2/3 complex. Here we extend these studies via pharmacological inhibition of the Arp2/3 complex in sea urchin coelomocytes, cells that possess an unusually broad LP region and display correspondingly exaggerated centripetal flow. Using light and electron microscopy, we demonstrate that Arp2/3 complex inhibition via the drug CK666 dramatically altered LP actin architecture, slowed centripetal flow, drove a lamellipodial-to-filopodial shape change in suspended cells, and induced a novel actin structural organization during cell spreading. A general feature of the CK666 phenotype in coelomocytes was transverse actin arcs, and arc generation was arrested by a formin inhibitor. We also demonstrate that CK666 treatment produces actin arcs in other cells with broad LP regions, namely fish keratocytes and Drosophila S2 cells. We hypothesize that the actin arcs made visible by Arp2/3 complex inhibition in coelomocytes may represent an exaggerated manifestation of the elongate mother filaments that could possibly serve as the scaffold for the production of the dendritic actin network. PMID:25568343

A generic set of HF antennas for use with spherical model expansions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katal, Nedim

1990-03-01

An antenna engineering handbook and database program has been constructed by engineers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) using the Numerical Electromagnetics Code (NEC) antenna modeling program to prepare data performance on tactical field communication antennas used by the Army. It is desirable to have this information installed on a personnel computer (PC), using relational database techniques to select antennas based on performance criteria. This thesis obtains and analyses current distributions and radiation pattern data by using NEC for the following set of four (4) high frequency (HF) tactical generic antennas to be used in future spherical mode expansion work: a quarter wavelength basic whip, a one-wavelength horizontal quad Loop, a 564-foot longwire, and a sloping vee beam dipole. The results of this study show that the basic whip antenna provides good groundwave communication, but it has poor near vertical incident skywave (NVIS) performance. The current distribution has the characteristics of standing waves. The horizontal quad loop antenna is good for night vision imaging systems (NVIS) and medium range skywave communications. The current distribution is sinusoidal and continuous around the loop. The long wire antenna allows short, medium and long range communications and a standing wave current distribution occurs along the antenna axis due to non-termination. The sloping vee beam antenna favors long range communication and the current distribution is mainly that of travelling sinusoidal waves. Because of their well-known efficiency, the basic whip and quad loop can be used as reference standards for the spherical mode expansion work. The longwire and sloping vee beam antenna are unwieldy, but they are effective as base station antennas.

DORIS Starec ground antenna characterization and impact on positioning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tourain, C.; Moreaux, G.; Auriol, A.; Saunier, J.

2016-12-01

In a geodetic radio frequency observing system the phase center offsets and phase center variations of ground antennae are a fundamental component of mathematical models of the system observables. In this paper we describe work aimed at improving the DORIS Starec ground antenna phase center definition model. Seven antennas were analyzed in the Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR), a dedicated CNES facility. With respect to the manufacturer specified phase center offset, the measured antennae varied between -6 mm and +4 mm due to manufacturing variations. To solve this problem, discussions were held with the manufacturer, leading to an improvement of the manufacturing process. This work results in a reduction in the scatter to ±1 mm. The phase center position has been kept unchanged and associated phase law has been updated and provided to users of the International DORIS Service (IDS). This phase law is applicable to all Starec antennas (before and after manufacturing process consolidation) and is azimuth independent. An error budget taking into account these updated characteristics has been established for the antenna alone: ±2 mm on the horizontal plane and ±3 mm on the up component, maximum error values for antennas named type C (Saunier et al., 2016) produced with consolidated manufacturing process. Finally the impact of this updated characterization on positioning results has been analyzed and shows a scale offset only of the order of +12 mm for the Terrestrial Reference Frame.

Hubble's View of the Polar Ring of Arp 230

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-01-30

This Picture of the Week shows Arp 230, also known as IC 51, observed by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Arp 230 is a galaxy of an uncommon or peculiar shape, and is therefore part of the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies produced by Halton Arp. Its irregular shape is thought to be the result of a violent collision with another galaxy sometime in the past. The collision could also be held responsible for the formation of the galaxy’s polar ring. The outer ring surrounding the galaxy consists of gas and stars and rotates over the poles of the galaxy. It is thought that the orbit of the smaller of the two galaxies that created Arp 230 was perpendicular to the disk of the second, larger galaxy when they collided. In the process of merging the smaller galaxy would have been ripped apart and may have formed the polar ring structure astronomers can observe today. Arp 230 is quite small for a lenticular galaxy, so the two original galaxies forming it must both have been smaller than the Milky Way. A lenticular galaxy is a galaxy with a prominent central bulge and a disk, but no clear spiral arms. They are classified as intermediate between an elliptical galaxy and a spiral galaxy. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Flickr user Det58 NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

Identification and evaluation of a new entomopathogenic fungal strain against Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) and its two egg parasitoids

PubMed Central

Lim, Un Taek

2018-01-01

A strain (ARP14) of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin was isolated from field-collected Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Alydidae). The lethal median concentration of the ARP14 strain was compared with that of a commercialized strain (GHA) of the same fungus against R. pedestris and its two egg parasitoids, Ooencyrtus nezarae Ishii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Gryon japonicum (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). Mortality and mycosis rates were evaluated after exposure to five concentrations of the fungus, i.e., 1×109, 1×108, 1×107, 1×106, and 1×105 conidia/mL, using a glass scintillation vial as an exposure arena in 25.0 ± 0.5°C and 93.7 ± 2.9% RH. The lethal median concentrations (LC50) for 2nd and 4th instar nymphs, and adults of R. pedestris were not significantly different between the two strains of B. bassiana. However, the mycosis rate of ARP14 was 1.3 and 1.8 times higher than that of the GHA strain in 4th instar nymphs and adult females of R. pedestris, respectively, at the 1×108 conidia/mL concentration. More interestingly, the mycosis rates at 1×108 conidia/mL concentration in the parasitoids G. japonicum and O. nezarae were much lower in the ARP14 strain (15.0 and 0%) than in the GHA strain (73.3 and 66.0%), respectively, suggesting that the B. bassiana strain ARP14 is less virulent to these parasitoids than the commercially available strain. Our results suggest that B. bassiana ARP14 may be a potential new biopesticide against R. pedestris with fewer negative effects on beneficial parasitoids than currently available options. PMID:29664929

Identification and evaluation of a new entomopathogenic fungal strain against Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) and its two egg parasitoids.

PubMed

Dangi, Naresh; Lim, Un Taek

2018-01-01

A strain (ARP14) of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin was isolated from field-collected Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Alydidae). The lethal median concentration of the ARP14 strain was compared with that of a commercialized strain (GHA) of the same fungus against R. pedestris and its two egg parasitoids, Ooencyrtus nezarae Ishii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Gryon japonicum (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). Mortality and mycosis rates were evaluated after exposure to five concentrations of the fungus, i.e., 1×109, 1×108, 1×107, 1×106, and 1×105 conidia/mL, using a glass scintillation vial as an exposure arena in 25.0 ± 0.5°C and 93.7 ± 2.9% RH. The lethal median concentrations (LC50) for 2nd and 4th instar nymphs, and adults of R. pedestris were not significantly different between the two strains of B. bassiana. However, the mycosis rate of ARP14 was 1.3 and 1.8 times higher than that of the GHA strain in 4th instar nymphs and adult females of R. pedestris, respectively, at the 1×108 conidia/mL concentration. More interestingly, the mycosis rates at 1×108 conidia/mL concentration in the parasitoids G. japonicum and O. nezarae were much lower in the ARP14 strain (15.0 and 0%) than in the GHA strain (73.3 and 66.0%), respectively, suggesting that the B. bassiana strain ARP14 is less virulent to these parasitoids than the commercially available strain. Our results suggest that B. bassiana ARP14 may be a potential new biopesticide against R. pedestris with fewer negative effects on beneficial parasitoids than currently available options.

Brick tunnel randomization and the momentum of the probability mass.

PubMed

Kuznetsova, Olga M

2015-12-30

The allocation space of an unequal-allocation permuted block randomization can be quite wide. The development of unequal-allocation procedures with a narrower allocation space, however, is complicated by the need to preserve the unconditional allocation ratio at every step (the allocation ratio preserving (ARP) property). When the allocation paths are depicted on the K-dimensional unitary grid, where allocation to the l-th treatment is represented by a step along the l-th axis, l = 1 to K, the ARP property can be expressed in terms of the center of the probability mass after i allocations. Specifically, for an ARP allocation procedure that randomizes subjects to K treatment groups in w1 :⋯:wK ratio, w1 +⋯+wK =1, the coordinates of the center of the mass are (w1 i,…,wK i). In this paper, the momentum with respect to the center of the probability mass (expected imbalance in treatment assignments) is used to compare ARP procedures in how closely they approximate the target allocation ratio. It is shown that the two-arm and three-arm brick tunnel randomizations (BTR) are the ARP allocation procedures with the tightest allocation space among all allocation procedures with the same allocation ratio; the two-arm BTR is the minimum-momentum two-arm ARP allocation procedure. Resident probabilities of two-arm and three-arm BTR are analytically derived from the coordinates of the center of the probability mass; the existence of the respective transition probabilities is proven. Probability of deterministic assignments with BTR is found generally acceptable. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

VEGF Triggers the Activation of Cofilin and the Arp2/3 Complex within the Growth Cone

PubMed Central

Schlau, Matthias; Terheyden-Keighley, Daniel; Theis, Verena; Mannherz, Hans Georg; Theiss, Carsten

2018-01-01

A crucial neuronal structure for the development and regeneration of neuronal networks is the axonal growth cone. Affected by different guidance cues, it grows in a predetermined direction to reach its final destination. One of those cues is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which was identified as a positive effector for growth cone movement. These positive effects are mainly mediated by a reorganization of the actin network. This study shows that VEGF triggers a tight colocalization of cofilin and the Arp2/3 complex to the actin cytoskeleton within chicken dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Live cell imaging after microinjection of GFP (green fluorescent protein)-cofilin and RFP (red fluorescent protein)-LifeAct revealed that both labeled proteins rapidly redistributed within growth cones, and showed a congruent distribution pattern after VEGF supplementation. Disruption of signaling upstream of cofilin via blocking LIM-kinase (LIMK) activity resulted in growth cones displaying regressive growth behavior. Microinjection of GFP-p16b (a subunit of the Arp2/3 complex) and RFP-LifeAct revealed that both proteins redistributed into lamellipodia of the growth cone within minutes after VEGF stimulation. Disruption of the signaling to the Arp2/3 complex in the presence of VEGF by inhibition of N-WASP (neuronal Wiskott–Aldrich–Scott protein) caused retraction of growth cones. Hence, cofilin and the Arp2/3 complex appear to be downstream effector proteins of VEGF signaling to the actin cytoskeleton of DRG growth cones. Our data suggest that VEGF simultaneously affects different pathways for signaling to the actin cytoskeleton, since activation of cofilin occurs via inhibition of LIMK, whereas activation of Arp2/3 is achieved by stimulation of N-WASP. PMID:29382077

WHAMM Directs the Arp2/3 Complex to the ER for Autophagosome Biogenesis through an Actin Comet Tail Mechanism.

PubMed

Kast, David J; Zajac, Allison L; Holzbaur, Erika L F; Ostap, E Michael; Dominguez, Roberto

2015-06-29

Nucleation-promoting factors (NPFs) control the spatio-temporal activity of Arp2/3 complex in cells]. Thus, WASP and the WAVE complex direct the formation of branched actin networks at the leading edge during cell motility and endo/exocytosis, whereas the WASH complex is involved in endosomal transport. Less understood are WHAMM and JMY, two NPFs with similar domain architecture. JMY is found in the nucleus and the cytosol and is involved in transcriptional regulation, cell motility, and trans-Golgi transport. WHAMM was reported to bind microtubules and to be involved in ER to cis-Golgi transport. Here, we show that WHAMM directs the activity of Arp2/3 complex for autophagosome biogenesis through an actin-comet tail motility mechanism. Macroautophagy--the process by which cytosolic material is engulfed into autophagosomes for degradation and/or recycling--was recently shown to involve actin, but the mechanism is unknown. We found that WHAMM forms puncta that colocalize and comigrate with the autophagy markers LC3, DFCP1, and p62 through a WHAMM-dependent actin-comet tail mechanism. Under starvation, WHAMM and actin are observed at the interface between neighboring autophagosomes, whose number and size increase with WHAMM expression. Interfering with actin polymerization, inhibiting Arp2/3 complex, knocking down WHAMM, or blocking its interaction with Arp2/3 complex through mutagenesis all inhibit comet tail formation and reduce the size and number of autophagosomes. Finally, JMY shows similar localization to WHAMM and could be involved in similar processes. These results reveal a link between Arp2/3-complex-dependent actin assembly and autophagy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

SCAR/WAVE and Arp2/3 are critical for cytoskeletal remodeling at the site of myoblast fusion

PubMed Central

Richardson, Brian E.; Beckett, Karen; Nowak, Scott J.; Baylies, Mary K.

2010-01-01

Summary Myoblast fusion is critical for formation and repair of skeletal muscle. Here we show that active remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton is essential for fusion in Drosophila. Using live imaging, we have identified a dynamic F-actin accumulation (actin focus) at the site of fusion. Dissolution of the actin focus directly precedes a fusion event. Whereas several known fusion components regulate these actin foci, others target additional behaviors required for fusion. Mutations in kette/Nap1, an actin polymerization regulator, lead to enlarged foci that do not dissolve, consistent with the observed block in fusion. Kette is required to positively regulate SCAR/WAVE, which in turn activates the Arp2/3 complex. Mutants in SCAR and Arp2/3 have a fusion block and foci phenotype, suggesting that Kette-SCAR-Arp2/3 participate in an actin polymerization event required for focus dissolution. Our data identify a new paradigm for understanding the mechanisms underlying fusion in myoblasts and other tissues. PMID:18003739

Exploring the Electronic Structure and Chemical Homogeneity of Individual Bi2Te3 Nanowires by Nano-Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Krieg, Janina; Chen, Chaoyu; Avila, José; Zhang, Zeying; Sigle, Wilfried; Zhang, Hongbin; Trautmann, Christina; Asensio, Maria Carmen; Toimil-Molares, Maria Eugenia

2016-07-13

Due to their high surface-to-volume ratio, cylindrical Bi2Te3 nanowires are employed as model systems to investigate the chemistry and the unique conductive surface states of topological insulator nanomaterials. We report on nanoangle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (nano-ARPES) characterization of individual cylindrical Bi2Te3 nanowires with a diameter of 100 nm. The nanowires are synthesized by electrochemical deposition inside channels of ion-track etched polymer membranes. Core level spectra recorded with submicron resolution indicate a homogeneous chemical composition along individual nanowires, while nano-ARPES intensity maps reveal the valence band structure at the single nanowire level. First-principles electronic structure calculations for chosen crystallographic orientations are in good agreement with those revealed by nano-ARPES. The successful application of nano-ARPES on single one-dimensional nanostructures constitutes a new avenue to achieve a better understanding of the electronic structure of topological insulator nanomaterials.

Perinuclear Arp2/3-driven actin polymerization enables nuclear deformation to facilitate cell migration through complex environments

PubMed Central

Thiam, Hawa-Racine; Vargas, Pablo; Carpi, Nicolas; Crespo, Carolina Lage; Raab, Matthew; Terriac, Emmanuel; King, Megan C.; Jacobelli, Jordan; Alberts, Arthur S.; Stradal, Theresia; Lennon-Dumenil, Ana-Maria; Piel, Matthieu

2016-01-01

Cell migration has two opposite faces: although necessary for physiological processes such as immune responses, it can also have detrimental effects by enabling metastatic cells to invade new organs. In vivo, migration occurs in complex environments and often requires a high cellular deformability, a property limited by the cell nucleus. Here we show that dendritic cells, the sentinels of the immune system, possess a mechanism to pass through micrometric constrictions. This mechanism is based on a rapid Arp2/3-dependent actin nucleation around the nucleus that disrupts the nuclear lamina, the main structure limiting nuclear deformability. The cells' requirement for Arp2/3 to pass through constrictions can be relieved when nuclear stiffness is decreased by suppressing lamin A/C expression. We propose a new role for Arp2/3 in three-dimensional cell migration, allowing fast-moving cells such as leukocytes to rapidly and efficiently migrate through narrow gaps, a process probably important for their function. PMID:26975831

Simultaneous formation of 3-deoxy-d-threo-hexo-2-ulose and 3-deoxy-d-erythro-hexo-2-ulose during the degradation of d-glucose derived Amadori rearrangement products: Mechanistic considerations.

PubMed

Kaufmann, Martin; Krüger, Sophie; Mügge, Clemens; Kroh, Lothar W

2018-03-22

Analyzing classical model reaction systems of Amadori rearrangement products (ARP) it became apparent that the formation of 3-deoxy-d-threo-hexo-2-ulose (3-deoxygalactosone, 3-DGal) during the degradation of ARPs is highly dependent on pH and the amino acid residue of the respective ARP. Based on a detailed analysis of the NMR chemical shifts of the sugar moieties of different ARPs, it could be derived that the formation of 3-DGal is sensitive to the stability of a co-operative hydrogen bond network which involves HO-C3, the deprotonated carboxyl functionality and the protonated amino nitrogen of the amino acid substituent. Participating in this bond network, HO-C3 is partially protonated which facilitates the elimination of water at C3. Based on that, a new mechanism of 3-deoxyglycosone formation is proposed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Simulation of Spiral Slot Antennas on Composite Platforms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Volakis, John L.

1996-01-01

The project goals, plan and accomplishments up to this point are summarized in the viewgraphs. Among the various accomplishments, the most important have been: the development of the prismatic finite element code for doubly curved platforms and its validation with many different antenna configurations; the design and fabrication of a new slot spiral antennas suitable for automobile cellular, GPS and PCs communications; the investigation and development of various mesh truncation schemes, including the perfectly matched absorber and various fast integral equation methods; and the introduction of a frequency domain extrapolation technique (AWE) for predicting broadband responses using only a few samples of the response. This report contains several individual reports most of which have been submitted for publication to referred journals. For a report on the frequency extrapolation technique, the reader is referred to the UM Radiation Laboratory report A total of 14 papers have been published or accepted for publication with the full or partial support of this grant. Several more papers are in preparation.

X-ray emission from Stephan's Quintet and other compact groups

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bahcall, N. A.; Harris, D. E.; Rood, H. J.

1984-01-01

A search for X-ray emission from five compact groups of galaxies with the Einstein Observatory revealed detections from three groups. Soft, extended X-ray emission was observed in Stephan's Quintet, which is most likely caused by hot intracluster gas. This provides evidence for dynamical interaction among the group galaxies. X-ray emission from the group Arp 330 may also originate in hot intracluster gas. Stephan's Quintet and Arp 330 have the largest velocity dispersions among the groups studied, suggesting a correlation between high velocity and the release (or properties) of hot gas. X-ray emission from Arp 318 may originate in its member galaxies.

The remarkable infrared galaxy Arp 220 = IC 4553

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Soifer, B. T.; Neugebauer, G.; Helou, G.; Lonsdale, C. J.; Hacking, P.; Rice, W.; Houck, J. R.; Low, F. J.; Rowan-Robinson, M.

1984-01-01

IRAS observations of the peculiar galaxy Arp 220 = IC 4553 show that it is extremely luminous in the far-infrared, with a total luminosity of 2 x 10 to the 12th solar luminosities. The infrared-to-blue luminosity ratio of this galaxy is about 80, which is the largest value of the ratio for galaxies in the UGC catalog, and places it in the range of the 'unidentified' infrared sources recently reported by Houck et al. in the IRAS all-sky survey. Other observations of Arp 220, combined with the luminosity in the infrared, allow either a Seyfert-like or starburst origin for this luminosity.

ARPES investigations of parent compounds of 122 Fe-based superconductors and their 3d transition metal cousins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richard, Pierre; Zhang, W.-L.; Wu, S.-F.; van Roekeghem, A.; Zhang, P.; Miao, H.; Qian, T.; Nie, S.-M.; Chen, G.-F.; Ding, H.; Xu, N.; Biermann, S.; Capan, C.; Fisk, Z.; Saparov, B. I.; Sefat, A. S.

2015-03-01

It is widely believed that the key ingredients for high-temperature superconductivity are already present in the non-superconducting parent compounds. With its ability to probe the single-particle electronic structure directly in the momentum space, ARPES is a very powerful tool to determine which parameters of the electronic structure are possibly relevant for promoting superconductivity. Here we report ARPES studies on the parent compounds of the 122 family of Fe-based superconductors and their 3 d transition metal pnictide cousins. In particular, we show that the Fe-compound exhibits the largest electronic correlations, possibly a determining factor for unconventional superconductivity.

Effects of Shield1 on the viral replication of varicella-zoster virus containing FKBP-tagged ORF4 and 48

PubMed Central

Li, Shuying; Liu, Zhanjun; Li, Ji; Liu, Aihua; Zhu, Lihua; Yu, Kui; Zhang, Ke

2018-01-01

The present study aimed to explore the effects of a stabilizing ligand, Shield-1, on the replication of recombinant varicella-zoster virus (VZV) containing FK506 binding protein (FKPB) tags in essential open reading frames (ORF) 4 and 48. A specific galactokinase (galK) selection method was conducted, following the addition of galK labels to VZV ORF4 and 48, using a SW102 VZV bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) system. Subsequently, recombinant VZV containing FKPB tags in ORF4 and 48 was constructed by counterselection and homologous recombination. Recombinant viral plasmids containing FKPB-tagged VZV ORF4 and 48 were extracted and transfected into human acute retinal pigment epithelial ARPE-19 cells. The results demonstrated that the FKPB-tagged viral protein was rapidly degraded by proteases in recombinant virus-infected ARPE-19 cells. In addition, the recombinant VZVORF4-FKBP-ORF48-FKBP virus could not grow if a synthetic ligand of FKBP, Shield1, was not added to the ARPE-19 cell culture medium; however, the degradation of FKPB-tagged viral protein was prevented if Shield1 was added to the ARPE-19 cell culture medium, thereby allowing viral replication in ARPE-19 cells. These results indicated that Shield1 may regulate replication of recombinant VZVORF4-FKBP-ORF48-FKBP following transfection into human epithelial cells. PMID:29115621

Cortactin binding to F-actin revealed by electron microscopy and 3D reconstruction.

PubMed

Pant, Kiran; Chereau, David; Hatch, Victoria; Dominguez, Roberto; Lehman, William

2006-06-16

Cortactin and WASP activate Arp2/3-mediated actin filament nucleation and branching. However, different mechanisms underlie activation by the two proteins, which rely on distinct actin-binding modules and modes of binding to actin filaments. It is generally thought that cortactin binds to "mother" actin filaments, while WASP donates actin monomers to Arp2/3-generated "daughter" filament branches. Interestingly, cortactin also binds WASP in addition to F-actin and the Arp2/3 complex. However, the structural basis for the role of cortactin in filament branching remains unknown, making interpretation difficult. Here, electron microscopy and 3D reconstruction were carried out on F-actin decorated with the actin-binding repeating domain of cortactin, revealing conspicuous density on F-actin attributable to cortactin that is located on a consensus-binding site on subdomain-1 of actin subunits. Strikingly, the binding of cortactin widens the gap between the two long-pitch filament strands. Although other proteins have been found to alter the structure of the filament, the cortactin-induced conformational change appears unique. The results are consistent with a mechanism whereby alterations of the F-actin structure may facilitate recruitment of the Arp2/3 complex to the "mother" filament in the cortex of cells. In addition, cortactin may act as a structural adapter protein, stabilizing nascent filament branches while mediating the simultaneous recruitment of Arp2/3 and WASP.

RasGRP3 regulates the migration of glioma cells via interaction with Arp3

PubMed Central

Lee, Hae Kyung; Finniss, Susan; Cazacu, Simona; Xiang, Cunli; Poisson, Laila M.; Blumberg, Peter M.; Brodie, Chaya

2015-01-01

Glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive primary brain tumors, are highly infiltrative. Although GBM express high Ras activity and Ras proteins have been implicated in gliomagenesis, Ras-activating mutations are not frequent in these tumors. RasGRP3, an important signaling protein responsive to diacylglycerol (DAG), increases Ras activation. Here, we examined the expression and functions of RasGRP3 in GBM and glioma cells. RasGRP3 expression was upregulated in GBM specimens and glioma stem cells compared with normal brains and neural stem cells, respectively. RasGRP3 activated Ras and Rap1 in glioma cells and increased cell migration and invasion partially via Ras activation. Using pull-down assay and mass spectroscopy we identified the actin-related protein, Arp3, as a novel interacting protein of RasGRP3. The interaction of RasGRP3 and Arp3 was validated by immunofluorescence staining and co-immunoprecipitation, and PMA, which activates RasGRP3 and induces its translocation to the peri-nuclear region, increased the association of Arp3 and RasGRP3. Arp3 was upregulated in GBM, regulated cell spreading and migration and its silencing partially decreased these effects of RasGRP3 in glioma cells. In summary, RasGRP3 acts as an important integrating signaling protein of the DAG and Ras signaling pathways and actin polymerization and represents an important therapeutic target in GBM. PMID:25682201

The FAK–Arp2/3 interaction promotes leading edge advance and haptosensing by coupling nascent adhesions to lamellipodia actin

PubMed Central

Swaminathan, Vinay; Fischer, R. S.; Waterman, Clare M.

2016-01-01

Cell migration is initiated in response to biochemical or physical cues in the environment that promote actin-mediated lamellipodial protrusion followed by the formation of nascent integrin adhesions (NAs) within the protrusion to drive leading edge advance. Although FAK is known to be required for cell migration through effects on focal adhesions, its role in NA formation and lamellipodial dynamics is unclear. Live-cell microscopy of FAK−/− cells with expression of phosphorylation deficient or a FERM-domain mutant deficient in Arp2/3 binding revealed a requirement for FAK in promoting the dense formation, transient stabilization, and timely turnover of NA within lamellipodia to couple actin-driven protrusion to adhesion and advance of the leading edge. Phosphorylation on Y397 of FAK promotes dense NA formation but is dispensable for transient NA stabilization and leading edge advance. In contrast, transient NA stabilization and advance of the cell edge requires FAK–Arp2/3 interaction, which promotes Arp2/3 localization to NA and reduces FAK activity. Haptosensing of extracellular matrix (ECM) concentration during migration requires the interaction between FAK and Arp2/3, whereas FAK phosphorylation modulates mechanosensing of ECM stiffness during spreading. Taken together, our results show that mechanistically separable functions of FAK in NA are required for cells to distinguish distinct properties of their environment during migration. PMID:26842895

Sub-arcsecond imaging of the water emission in Arp 220.

PubMed

König, S; Martín, S; Muller, S; Cernicharo, J; Sakamoto, K; Zschaechner, L K; Humphreys, E M L; Mroczkowski, T; Krips, M; Galametz, M; Aalto, S; Vlemmings, W H T; Ott, J; Meier, D S; Fuente, A; García-Burillo, S; Neri, R

2017-06-01

Extragalactic observations of water emission can provide valuable insights into the excitation of the interstellar medium. In particular they allow us to investigate the excitation mechanisms in obscured nuclei, i.e. whether an active galactic nucleus or a starburst dominate. We use sub-arcsecond resolution observations to tackle the nature of the water emission in Arp 220. ALMA Band 5 science verification observations of the 183 GHz H 2 O 3 13 -2 20 line, in conjunction with new ALMA Band 7 H 2 O 5 15 -4 22 data at 325 GHz, and supplementary 22 GHz H 2 O 6 16 - 5 23 VLA observations, are used to better constrain the parameter space in the excitation modelling of the water lines. We detect 183 GHz H 2 O and 325 GHz water emission towards the two compact nuclei at the center of Arp 220, being brighter in Arp 220 West. The emission at these two frequencies is compared to previous single-dish data and does not show evidence of variability. The 183 and 325 GHz lines show similar spectra and kinematics, but the 22 GHz profile is significantly different in both nuclei due to a blend with an NH 3 absorption line. Our findings suggest that the most likely scenario to cause the observed water emission in Arp 220 is a large number of independent masers originating from numerous star-forming regions.

A Method to Determine Angular Orientation of a Projectile Using a Polarization Scanning Reference Source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kankipati, Venkata Varun

This thesis presents a method to determine the angular orientation of a projectile in flight, by mechanically scanning a linearly polarized, microwave reference source. In particular, the research focuses on real time measurement of the roll angle. A 10 GHz, linearly polarized electromagnetic wave is radiated toward the projectile by means of a 10 dB horn antenna. The projectile is equipped with a backward facing 10 dB horn antenna, which has orientation, namely roll angle, sensitivity. The response of the received signal follows a cosine law, producing a maximum when the receiver orientation is aligned with the transmitting polarization. As expected, the peak response shifts in response to the roll-angle, however, unambiguous recovery of the angle requires synchronization with the polarization orientation of the source. This has been achieved through the use of a unique transmitter power sequence, which includes a start-of-scan and end-of-scan time stamp. Based on the above concept, a complete system comprising a polarization scanning reference source, the receiving antenna mounted on a vehicle, and pertinent electronic components, has been tested for both line of sight and non-line of sight applications. The transmitter antenna, mounted on a computer controlled stepper motor allowed source polarization to be scanned from -90° to 90° in 0.3 seconds. The receiving antenna continuously samples the received electromagnetic background at the source frequency and uses a RF detector and a data acquisition system to record the subsequent time-varying voltage signal, which is processed to recover the roll-angle. Measurements in an anechoic chamber were used to confirm the efficacy of the system and field trials, using a transmitter power of 2 W, were successfully demonstrated over a distance of 0.15 miles. The distance limit can be extended by increasing the transmitter power, receiver sensitivity and increase source frequency.

A Multipath Mitigation Algorithm for vehicle with Smart Antenna

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Jing; Zhang, Jiantong; Chen, Wei; Su, Deliang

2018-01-01

In this paper, the antenna array adaptive method is used to eliminate the multipath interference in the environment of GPS L1 frequency. Combined with the power inversion (PI) algorithm and the minimum variance no distortion response (MVDR) algorithm, the anti-Simulation and verification of the antenna array, and the program into the FPGA, the actual test on the CBD road, the theoretical analysis of the LCMV criteria and PI and MVDR algorithm principles and characteristics of MVDR algorithm to verify anti-multipath interference performance is better than PI algorithm, The satellite navigation in the field of vehicle engineering practice has some guidance and reference.

The Multi-Lens Array Architecture

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-02-26

slowly with respect to f, numerical integration using Simpson’s 1/3 Rule is a convenient method to evaluate Eq. 11. It can be shown the result can...quality of the paper. The author also has had stimulating discussions with Mr. David Curtis, Dr. Boris Tomasic and Dr. Peter Franchi . 24...REFERENCES [1] W. Rotman, P. Franchi , “Cylindrical Microwave Lens Antenna for Wideband Scanning Application”, Antennas and Prop. Int. Symposium, vol. 18

A Theoretical Investigation of the Input Characteristics of a Rectangular Cavity-Backed Slot Antenna

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cockrell, C. R.

1975-01-01

Equations which represent the magnetic and electric stored energies are derived for an infinite section of rectangular waveguide and a rectangular cavity. These representations which are referred to as being physically observable are obtained by considering the difference in the volume integrals appearing in the complex Poynting theorem. It is shown that the physically observable stored energies are determined by the field components that vanish in a reference plane outside the aperture. These physically observable representations are used to compute the input admittance of a rectangular cavity-backed slot antenna in which a single propagating wave is assumed to exist in the cavity. The slot is excited by a voltage source connected across its center; a sinusoidal distribution is assumed in the slot. Input-admittance calculations are compared with measured data. In addition, input-admittance curves as a function of electrical slot length are presented for several size cavities. For the rectangular cavity backed slot antenna, the quality factor and relative bandwidth were computed independently by using these energy relationships. It is shown that the asymptotic relationship which is usually assumed to exist between the quality bandwidth and the reciprocal of relative bandwidth is equally valid for the rectangular cavity backed slot antenna.

Lecithin:retinol acyltransferase in ARPE-19

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-04-05

analyses. (A) Microarray analysis was performed on RNA extracted from ARPE 19. Both LRAT (white), and housekeeping gene G3PDH (shaded) were detected...about one third of the house keeping gene glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase ( G3PDH ) 663G66. Western analyses with tLRAT antibody showed that LRAT

Color maps of Arp 146

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schultz, A. B.; Spight, L. D.; Colegrove, P. T.; Disanti, M. A.; Fink, U.

1990-01-01

Four color maps of Arp 146 are given. The structure and color of the ring galaxy and its companion show evidence of a bridge of material between the companion and the remnant nucleus of the original galaxy now forming the ring. Broad band spatial coverage clearly defines regions of starburst occurrence.

PRETREATMENT AND FRACTIONATION OF CORN STOVER BY AMMONIA RECYCLE PERCOLATION PROCESS. (R831645)

EPA Science Inventory

Corn stover was pretreated with aqueous ammonia in a flow-through column reactor,
a process termed as Ammonia Recycle Percolation (ARP). The aqueous ammonia causes
swelling and efficient delignification of biomass at high temperatures. The ARP
process solubilizes abou...

Optical Response of Metal Nanoantennas to Femtosecond Pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biswas, Sushmita; Heberle, Albert

2007-03-01

Nanoscale metal antennas are promising devices for focusing light down to dimensions much smaller than the wavelength of light. This focusing can lead to strong optical enhancement of the response of single molecules or quantum dots placed in the antenna gap, as well as strong nonlinearities. The optical response of such antenna, however, is not well understood yet. Here, we will present results of our investigations of the linear and nonlinear optical response of silver nanoscale bowtie antennas to excitation with near-infrared pulses from a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser. The antennas were fabricated with electron beam lithography and a lift-of process on glass substrates and semiconductor materials. They have lengths of a few hundred nanometers and gaps between 10 and 100 nanometers. We will discuss polarization dependence of the excitation sensitivity, second harmonic generation and other nonlinear effects. References: [1] P. Muhlschlegel et al., Science ,1607(2005). [2] J.N. Farahani et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95,017402(2005).

Coupling of RF antennas to large volume helicon plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Lei; Hu, Xinyue; Gao, Lei; Chen, Wei; Wu, Xianming; Sun, Xinfeng; Hu, Ning; Huang, Chongxiang

2018-04-01

Large volume helicon plasma sources are of particular interest for large scale semiconductor processing, high power plasma propulsion and recently plasma-material interaction under fusion conditions. This work is devoted to studying the coupling of four typical RF antennas to helicon plasma with infinite length and diameter of 0.5 m, and exploring its frequency dependence in the range of 13.56-70 MHz for coupling optimization. It is found that loop antenna is more efficient than half helix, Boswell and Nagoya III antennas for power absorption; radially parabolic density profile overwhelms Gaussian density profile in terms of antenna coupling for low-density plasma, but the superiority reverses for high-density plasma. Increasing the driving frequency results in power absorption more near plasma edge, but the overall power absorption increases with frequency. Perpendicular stream plots of wave magnetic field, wave electric field and perturbed current are also presented. This work can serve as an important reference for the experimental design of large volume helicon plasma source with high RF power.

A dual-band reconfigurable Yagi-Uda antenna with diverse radiation patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saurav, Kushmanda; Sarkar, Debdeep; Srivastava, Kumar Vaibhav

2017-07-01

In this paper, a dual-band pattern reconfigurable antenna is proposed. The antenna comprises of a dual-band complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs) loaded dipole as the driven element and two copper strips with varying lengths as parasitic segments on both sides of the driven dipole. PIN diodes are used with the parasitic elements to control their electrical length. The CSRRs loading provide a lower order mode in addition to the reference dipole mode, while the parasitic elements along with the PIN diodes are capable of switching the omni-directional radiation of the dual-band driven element to nine different configurations of radiation patterns which include bi-directional end-fire, broadside, and uni-directional end-fire in both the operating bands. A prototype of the designed antenna together with the PIN diodes and DC bias lines is fabricated to validate the concept of dual-band radiation pattern diversity. The simulation and measurement results are in good agreement. The proposed antenna can be used in wireless access points for PCS and WLAN applications.

Thermal effects of optical antenna under the irradiation of laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yi; Li, Fu; Yang, Wenqiang; Yang, Jianfeng

2017-10-01

The laser communication terminal is a precision optical, mechanical, electrical integration device which operations extremely high accuracy. It is hard to improve the space environment adaptability in the hash vibration, thermal cycling, high vacuum and radiation conditions space environment. Accordingly, the optical antenna will be influenced by space thermal environment. Laser energy will be absorbed when optical antenna under the irradiation of laser. It can contribute to thermal distortion and make the beam quality degradation which affects the performance of laser communications links. This influence will aggravate when the laser power rising.Wavefront aberration is the distance between the ideal reference sphere and the actual distorted wavefront. The smaller the wavefront aberration, the better the optical performance of the optical antenna. On the contrary, the greater the wavefront aberration, the worse the performance of the optical antenna or even affect the normal operation of the optical antenna. The performance index of the optical antenna generally requires the wavefront aberration to be better than λ/20. Due to the different thermal and thermal expansion coefficients of the material, the effect of thermal deformation on the optical antenna can be reduced by matching the appropriate material. While the appropriate support structure and proper heat dissipation design can also reduce the impact. In this paper, the wavefront aberration of the optical antenna is better than λ/50 by the material matching and the appropriate support structure and the secondary design of the diameter of 5mm hole thermal design.

Interferometric CO observations of the ultraluminous IRAS galaxies ARP 220, IC 694/NGC 3690, NGC 6420 and NGC 7469

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sargent, A. I.; Sanders, D. B.; Scoville, N. Z.; Soifer, B. T.

1987-01-01

High resolution CO observations of the IRAS galaxies Arp 220, IC 694/NGC 3690, NGC 6240 and NGC 7469 were made with the Millimeter Wave Interferometer of the Owen Valley Radio Observatory. These yield spatial information on scales of 1 to 5 kpc and allow the separation of compact condensations from the more extended emission in the galaxies. In the case of the obviously interacting system IC 694/NGC 3690 the contributions of each component can be discerned. For that galaxy, and also for Arp 220, the unusually high lumonisities may be produced by nonthermal processes rather than by intense bursts of star formation.

Reconciling STS and ARPES data for the correlated superconductor LiFeAs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Jongbae; Abergel, David

The inconsistency between the density of states revealed by scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) and that given by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) is a substantial problem for understanding the nature of strongly correlated superconductors such as Fe-based LiFeAs and the cuprates. We reveal that the two side peaks commonly appearing in both pnictide and cuprate superconductors are the result of the non-equilibrium behavior associated with singlet cotunneling from the tip to the strongly correlated sample. We accurately reproduce the STS line shape of the Fe-based LiFeAs using a sample density of states which coincides with ARPES data, thereby producing a unified description for these materials.

Predictive spatial modeling of narcotic crop growth patterns

USGS Publications Warehouse

Waltz, Frederick A.; Moore, D.G.

1986-01-01

Spatial models for predicting the geographic distribution of marijuana crops have been developed and are being evaluated for use in law enforcement programs. The models are based on growing condition preferences and on psychological inferences regarding grower behavior. Experiences of local law officials were used to derive the initial model, which was updated and improved as data from crop finds were archived and statistically analyzed. The predictive models are changed as crop locations are moved in response to the pressures of law enforcement. The models use spatial data in a raster geographic information system. The spatial data are derived from the U.S. Geological Survey's US GeoData, standard 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle maps, interpretations of aerial photographs, and thematic maps. Updating of cultural patterns, canopy closure, and other dynamic features is conducted through interpretation of aerial photographs registered to the 7.5-minute quadrangle base. The model is used to numerically weight various data layers that have been processed using spread functions, edge definition, and categorization. The building of the spatial data base, model development, model application, product generation, and use are collectively referred to as the Area Reduction Program (ARP). The goal of ARP is to provide law enforcement officials with tactical maps that show the most likely locations for narcotic crops.

An Approach for Smart Antenna Testbed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawitkar, R. S.; Wakde, D. G.

2003-07-01

The use of wireless, mobile, personal communications services are expanding rapidly. Adaptive or "Smart" antenna arrays can increase channel capacity through spatial division. Adaptive antennas can also track mobile users, improving both signal range and quality. For these reasons, smart antenna systems have attracted widespread interest in the telecommunications industry for applications to third generation wireless systems.This paper aims to design and develop an advanced antennas testbed to serve as a common reference for testing adaptive antenna arrays and signal combining algorithms, as well as complete systems. A flexible suite of off line processing software should be written using matlab to perform system calibration, test bed initialization, data acquisition control, data storage/transfer, off line signal processing and analysis and graph plotting. The goal of this paper is to develop low complexity smart antenna structures for 3G systems. The emphasis will be laid on ease of implementation in a multichannel / multi-user environment. A smart antenna test bed will be developed, and various state-of-the-art DSP structures and algorithms will be investigated.Facing the soaring demand for mobile communications, the use of smart antenna arrays in mobile communications systems to exploit spatial diversity to further improve spectral efficiency has recently received considerable attention. Basically, a smart antenna array comprises a number of antenna elements combined via a beamforming network (amplitude and phase control network). Some of the benefits that can be achieved by using SAS (Smart Antenna System) include lower mobile terminal power consumption, range extension, ISI reduction, higher data rate support, and ease of integration into the existing base station system. In terms of economic benefits, adaptive antenna systems employed at base station, though increases the per base station cost, can increase coverage area of each cell site, thereby reducing the total system cost dramatically - often by more than 50% without compromising the system performance. The testbed can be employed to illustrate enhancement of system capacity and service quality in wireless communications.

32 CFR 1909.16 - Action by Agency Release Panel (ARP).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) for decision. In the event of a disagreement with any decision by D/IMS, Directorate heads may appeal to the Associate Deputy Director, CIA (ADD) for resolution. The final Agency decision shall reflect the vote of the ARP, unless changed by the D/IMS or the ADD. [76 FR 59035, Sept. 23, 2011] ...

32 CFR 1909.16 - Action by Agency Release Panel (ARP).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...) for decision. In the event of a disagreement with any decision by D/IMS, Directorate heads may appeal to the Associate Deputy Director, CIA (ADD) for resolution. The final Agency decision shall reflect the vote of the ARP, unless changed by the D/IMS or the ADD. [76 FR 59035, Sept. 23, 2011] ...

32 CFR 1909.16 - Action by Agency Release Panel (ARP).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...) for decision. In the event of a disagreement with any decision by D/IMS, Directorate heads may appeal to the Associate Deputy Director, CIA (ADD) for resolution. The final Agency decision shall reflect the vote of the ARP, unless changed by the D/IMS or the ADD. [76 FR 59035, Sept. 23, 2011] ...

NIST Photoionization of CO2 (ARPES) Database

National Institute of Standards and Technology Data Gateway

SRD 119 NIST Photoionization of CO2 (ARPES) Database (Web, free access)   CO2 is studied using dispersed synchrotron radiation in the 650 Å to 850 Å spectral region. The vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra are analyzed to generate relative vibrational transition amplitudes and the angular asymmetry parameters describing the various transitions observed.

Sequential actin-based pushing forces drive meiosis I chromosome migration and symmetry breaking in oocytes.

PubMed

Yi, Kexi; Rubinstein, Boris; Unruh, Jay R; Guo, Fengli; Slaughter, Brian D; Li, Rong

2013-03-04

Polar body extrusion during oocyte maturation is critically dependent on asymmetric positioning of the meiotic spindle, which is established through migration of the meiosis I (MI) spindle/chromosomes from the oocyte interior to a subcortical location. In this study, we show that MI chromosome migration is biphasic and driven by consecutive actin-based pushing forces regulated by two actin nucleators, Fmn2, a formin family protein, and the Arp2/3 complex. Fmn2 was recruited to endoplasmic reticulum structures surrounding the MI spindle, where it nucleated actin filaments to initiate an initially slow and poorly directed motion of the spindle away from the cell center. A fast and highly directed second migration phase was driven by actin-mediated cytoplasmic streaming and occurred as the chromosomes reach a sufficient proximity to the cortex to activate the Arp2/3 complex. We propose that decisive symmetry breaking in mouse oocytes results from Fmn2-mediated perturbation of spindle position and the positive feedback loop between chromosome signal-induced Arp2/3 activation and Arp2/3-orchestrated cytoplasmic streaming that transports the chromosomes.

Sequential actin-based pushing forces drive meiosis I chromosome migration and symmetry breaking in oocytes

PubMed Central

Yi, Kexi; Rubinstein, Boris; Unruh, Jay R.; Guo, Fengli; Slaughter, Brian D.

2013-01-01

Polar body extrusion during oocyte maturation is critically dependent on asymmetric positioning of the meiotic spindle, which is established through migration of the meiosis I (MI) spindle/chromosomes from the oocyte interior to a subcortical location. In this study, we show that MI chromosome migration is biphasic and driven by consecutive actin-based pushing forces regulated by two actin nucleators, Fmn2, a formin family protein, and the Arp2/3 complex. Fmn2 was recruited to endoplasmic reticulum structures surrounding the MI spindle, where it nucleated actin filaments to initiate an initially slow and poorly directed motion of the spindle away from the cell center. A fast and highly directed second migration phase was driven by actin-mediated cytoplasmic streaming and occurred as the chromosomes reach a sufficient proximity to the cortex to activate the Arp2/3 complex. We propose that decisive symmetry breaking in mouse oocytes results from Fmn2-mediated perturbation of spindle position and the positive feedback loop between chromosome signal-induced Arp2/3 activation and Arp2/3-orchestrated cytoplasmic streaming that transports the chromosomes. PMID:23439682

Quasiparticle dynamics across the full Brillouin zone of Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+δ traced with ultrafast time and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

DOE PAGES

Dakovski, Georgi L.; Durakiewicz, Tomasz; Zhu, Jian-Xin; ...

2015-10-12

A hallmark in the cuprate family of high-temperature superconductors is the nodal-antinodal dichotomy. In this regard, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) has proven especially powerful, providing band structure information directly in energy-momentum space. Time-resolved ARPES (trARPES) holds great promise of adding ultrafast temporal information, in an attempt to identify different interaction channels in the time domain. Previous studies of the cuprates using trARPES were handicapped by the low probing energy which significantly limits the accessible momentum space. Using 20.15eV, 12 fs pulses we show for the first time the evolution of quasiparticles in the antinodal region of Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2Omore » 8+δ and demonstrate that nonmonotonic relaxation dynamics dominates above a certain fluence threshold. The dynamics is heavily influenced by transient modification of the electron-phonon interaction and phase space restrictions, in severe contrast to the monotonic relaxation in the nodal and off-nodal regions.« less

Cell type–dependent mechanisms for formin-mediated assembly of filopodia

PubMed Central

Young, Lorna E.; Heimsath, Ernest G.; Higgs, Henry N.

2015-01-01

Filopodia are finger-like protrusions from the plasma membrane and are of fundamental importance to cellular physiology, but the mechanisms governing their assembly are still in question. One model, called convergent elongation, proposes that filopodia arise from Arp2/3 complex–nucleated dendritic actin networks, with factors such as formins elongating these filaments into filopodia. We test this model using constitutively active constructs of two formins, FMNL3 and mDia2. Surprisingly, filopodial assembly requirements differ between suspension and adherent cells. In suspension cells, Arp2/3 complex is required for filopodial assembly through either formin. In contrast, a subset of filopodia remains after Arp2/3 complex inhibition in adherent cells. In adherent cells only, mDia1 and VASP also contribute to filopodial assembly, and filopodia are disproportionately associated with focal adhesions. We propose an extension of the existing models for filopodial assembly in which any cluster of actin filament barbed ends in proximity to the plasma membrane, either Arp2/3 complex dependent or independent, can initiate filopodial assembly by specific formins. PMID:26446836

Identification and Characterization of a Cis Antisense RNA of the rpoH Gene of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi.

PubMed

Xiong, Changyan; Li, Xuejiao; Liu, Juanli; Zhao, Xin; Xu, Shungao; Huang, Xinxiang

2018-01-01

Antisense RNAs from complementary strands of protein coding genes regulate the expression of genes involved in many cellular processes. Using deep sequencing analysis of the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi ( S. Typhi) transcriptome, a novel antisense RNA encoded on the strand complementary to the rpoH gene was revealed. In this study, the molecular features of this antisense RNA were assessed using northern blotting and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The 3,508 nt sequence of RNA was identified as the antisense RNA of the rpoH gene and was named ArpH. ArpH was found to attenuate the invasion of HeLa cells by S. Typhi by regulating the expression of SPI-1 genes. In an rpoH mutant strain, the invasive capacity of S. Typhi was increased, whereas overexpression of ArpH positively regulates rpoH mRNA levels. Results of this study suggest that the cis -encoded antisense RNA ArpH is likely to affect the invasive capacity of S. Typhi by regulating the expression of rpoH .

Construction of a plasmid for human brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its effect on retinal pigment epithelial cell viability

PubMed Central

Yan, Bo-jing; Wu, Zhi-zhong; Chong, Wei-hua; Li, Gen-lin

2016-01-01

Several studies have investigated the protective functions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in retinitis pigmentosa. However, a BDNF-based therapy for retinitis pigmentosa is not yet available. To develop an efficient treatment for fundus disease, an eukaryotic expression plasmid was generated and used to transfect human 293T cells to assess the expression and bioactivity of BDNF on acute retinal pigment epithelial-19 (ARPE-19) cells, a human retinal epithelial cell line. After 96 hours of co-culture in a Transwell chamber, ARPE-19 cells exposed to BDNF secreted by 293T cells were more viable than ARPE-19 cells not exposed to secreted BDNF. Western blot assay showed that Bax levels were downregulated and that Bcl-2 levels were upregulated in human ARPE-19 cells exposed to BDNF. Furthermore, 293T cells transfected with the BDNF gene steadily secreted the protein. The powerful anti-apoptotic function of this BDNF may be useful for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa and other retinal degenerative diseases. PMID:28197196

siRNA Screen Identifies Trafficking Host Factors that Modulate Alphavirus Infection

PubMed Central

Radoshitzky, Sheli R.; Pegoraro, Gianluca; Chī, Xiǎolì; Dǒng, Lián; Chiang, Chih-Yuan; Jozwick, Lucas; Clester, Jeremiah C.; Cooper, Christopher L.; Courier, Duane; Langan, David P.; Underwood, Knashka; Kuehl, Kathleen A.; Sun, Mei G.; Caì, Yíngyún; Yú, Shuǐqìng; Burk, Robin; Zamani, Rouzbeh; Kota, Krishna; Kuhn, Jens H.; Bavari, Sina

2016-01-01

Little is known about the repertoire of cellular factors involved in the replication of pathogenic alphaviruses. To uncover molecular regulators of alphavirus infection, and to identify candidate drug targets, we performed a high-content imaging-based siRNA screen. We revealed an actin-remodeling pathway involving Rac1, PIP5K1- α, and Arp3, as essential for infection by pathogenic alphaviruses. Infection causes cellular actin rearrangements into large bundles of actin filaments termed actin foci. Actin foci are generated late in infection concomitantly with alphavirus envelope (E2) expression and are dependent on the activities of Rac1 and Arp3. E2 associates with actin in alphavirus-infected cells and co-localizes with Rac1–PIP5K1-α along actin filaments in the context of actin foci. Finally, Rac1, Arp3, and actin polymerization inhibitors interfere with E2 trafficking from the trans-Golgi network to the cell surface, suggesting a plausible model in which transport of E2 to the cell surface is mediated via Rac1- and Arp3-dependent actin remodeling. PMID:27031835

Comparative study of the Ar and He atmospheric pressure plasmas on E-cadherin protein regulation for plasma-mediated transdermal drug delivery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Hyun Young; Hae Choi, Jeong; Hong, Jin Woo; Kim, Gyoo Cheon; Lee, Hae June

2018-05-01

The effects of argon plasma (ArP) and helium plasma (HeP) jets on E-cadherin protein function have been tested in order to choose the working gas for a better plasma-mediated transdermal drug delivery. The plasma-mediated changes of the E-cadherin function and the skin penetration efficacies of epidermal growth factor (EGF) were monitored in vitro using HaCaT human keratinocytes and in vivo using hairless mice. The ArP showed higher efficacy for E-cadherin regulation and EGF absorption than HeP under the same applied voltage and the same gas flow rate. The ArP generates higher volume power density, higher discharge current peak, and more reactive species than HeP, especially for OH with the same operating parameters. Moreover, the effect of ArP on E-cadherin function was blocked by the use of a grounded metal mesh. Taken together, this study presents the possibility that the synergetic effect of negative charges with radicals plays an important role in plasma-mediated E-cadherin regulation, which leads to enhanced transdermal drug delivery.

Solar power satellite system definition study. Volume 4: Solid State SPS Analysis, Phase 3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

A 2500 megawatt solid ground output Solar Power Satellite (SPS) of conventional configuration was designed and analyzed. Because the power per receiving antenna is halved, as compared with the klystron reference, twice the number of receiving antennas are needed to deliver the same total power. The solid state approach appears feasible with a slightly greater specific mass and slightly higher cost than the klystron SPS design.

GRACE-Based Estimates of GPS Satellite Antenna Phase Variations: Impact on Determining the Scale of the Terrestrial Reference Frame

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haines, B. J.; Bar-Sever, Y. E.; Bertiger, W.; Desai, S.; Owen, S.; Sibois, A.; Webb, F.

2007-12-01

Treating the GRACE tandem mission as an orbiting fiducial laboratory, we have developed new estimates of the phase and group-delay variations of the GPS transmitter antennas. Application of these antenna phase variation (APV) maps have shown great promise in reducing previously unexplained errors in our realization of GPS measurements from the TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P; 1992--2005) and Jason-1 (2001--) missions. In particular, a 56 mm vertical offset in the solved-for position of the T/P receiver antenna is reduced to insignificance (less than 1 mm). For Jason-1, a spurious long-term (4-yr) drift in the daily antenna offset estimates is reduced from +3.7 to +0.1 mm/yr. Prior ground-based results, based on precise point positioning, also hint at the potential of the GRACE-based APV maps for scale determination, reducing the spurious scale rate by one half. In this paper, we report on the latest APV estimates from GRACE, and provide a further assessment of the impact of the APV maps on realizing the scale of the terrestrial reference frame (TRF) from GPS alone. To address this, we re-analyze over five years of data from a global (40+ station) ground network in a fiducial-free approach, using the new APV maps. A specialized multi-day GPS satellite orbit determination (OD) strategy is employed to better capitalize on dynamical constraints. The resulting estimates of TRF scale are compared to ITRF2005 in order to assess the quality of the solutions.

Numerical assessment of the performance of a scalp-implantable antenna: effects of head anatomy and dielectric parameters.

PubMed

Kiourti, Asimina; Nikita, Konstantina S

2013-04-01

We numerically assess the effects of head properties (anatomy and dielectric parameters) on the performance of a scalp-implantable antenna for telemetry in the Medical Implant Communications Service band (402.0-405.0 MHz). Safety issues and performance (resonance, radiation) are analyzed for an experimentally validated implantable antenna (volume of 203.6 mm(3) ), considering five head models (3- and 5-layer spherical, 6-, 10-, and 13-tissue anatomical) and seven scenarios (variations ± 20% in the reference permittivity and conductivity values). Simulations are carried out at 403.5 MHz using the finite-difference time-domain method. Anatomy of the head model around the implantation site is found to mainly affect antenna performance, whereas overall tissue anatomy and dielectric parameters are less significant. Compared to the reference dielectric parameter scenario within the 3-layer spherical head, maximum variations of -19.9%, +3.7%, -55.1%, and -39.2% are computed in the maximum allowable net input power imposed by the IEEE Std C95.1-1999 and Std C95.1-2005 safety guidelines, return loss, and maximum far-field gain, respectively. Compliance with the recent IEEE Std C95.1-2005 is found to be almost insensitive to head properties, in contrast with IEEE Std C95.1-1999. Taking tissue property uncertainties into account is highlighted as crucial for implantable antenna design and performance assessment. Bioelectromagnetics 34:167-179, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of wheat roots infected with the pathogenic fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici on gene expression of the biocontrol bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf29Arp.

PubMed

Barret, Matthieu; Frey-Klett, Pascale; Guillerm-Erckelboudt, Anne-Yvonne; Boutin, Morgane; Guernec, Gregory; Sarniguet, Alain

2009-12-01

Traits contributing to the competence of biocontrol bacteria to colonize plant roots are often induced in the rhizosphere in response to plant components. These interactions have been studied using the two partners in gnotobiotic systems. However, in nature, beneficial or pathogenic fungi often colonize roots. Influence of these plant-fungus interactions on bacterial behavior remains to be investigated. Here, we have examined the influence of colonization of wheat roots by the take-all fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici on gene expression of the biocontrol bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf29Arp. Bacteria were inoculated onto healthy, early G. graminis var. tritici-colonized and necrotic roots and transcriptomes were compared by shotgun DNA microarray. Pf29Arp decreased disease severity when inoculated before the onset of necrosis. Necrotic roots exerted a broader effect on gene expression compared with early G. graminis var. tritici-colonized and healthy roots. A gene encoding a putative type VI secretion system effector was only induced in necrotic conditions. A common pool of Pf29Arp genes differentially expressed on G. graminis var. tritici-colonized roots was related to carbon metabolism and oxidative stress, with a highest fold-change with necrosis. Overall, the data showed that the association of the pathogenic fungus with the roots strongly altered Pf29Arp adaptation with differences between early and late G. graminis var. tritici infection steps.

ALMA Imaging of HCN, CS, and Dust in Arp 220 and NGC 6240

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scoville, Nick; Sheth, Kartik; Walter, Fabian; Manohar, Swarnima; Zschaechner, Laura; Yun, Min; Koda, Jin; Sanders, David; Murchikova, Lena; Thompson, Todd; Robertson, Brant; Genzel, Reinhard; Hernquist, Lars; Tacconi, Linda; Brown, Robert; Narayanan, Desika; Hayward, Christopher C.; Barnes, Joshua; Kartaltepe, Jeyhan; Davies, Richard; van der Werf, Paul; Fomalont, Edward

2015-02-01

We report ALMA Band 7 (350 GHz) imaging at 0.''4-0.''6 resolution and Band 9 (696 GHz) at ~0.''25 resolution of the luminous IR galaxies Arp 220 and NGC 6240. The long wavelength dust continuum is used to estimate interstellar medium masses for Arp 220 east and west and NGC 6240 of 1.9, 4.2, and 1.6 × 109 M ⊙within radii of 69, 65, and 190 pc. The HCN emission was modeled to derive the emissivity distribution as a function of radius and the kinematics of each nuclear disk, yielding dynamical masses consistent with the masses and sizes derived from the dust emission. In Arp 220, the major dust and gas concentrations are at radii less than 50 pc in both counter-rotating nuclear disks. The thickness of the disks in Arp 220 estimated from the velocity dispersion and rotation velocities are 10-20 pc and the mean gas densities are nH_2 ˜ 10^5 cm-3 at R <50 pc. We develop an analytic treatment for the molecular excitation (including photon trapping), yielding volume densities for both the HCN and CS emission with n H2 ~ 2 × 105 cm-3. The agreement of the mean density from the total mass and size with that required for excitation suggests that the volume is essentially filled with dense gas, i.e., it is not cloudy or like swiss cheese.

The Art of Photoelectron Spectroscopy, from Micro to Nano

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rotenberg, Eli

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) was developed for the determination of the electronic bandstructure of solids. In the last 20 years, ARPES has become nearly unlimited with respect to instrumental resolution, and therefore able to illuminate more subtle electronic aspects, such as ground-state symmetry breaking and the many-body interactions (MBIs) that characterize ground states such as superconductivity. These MBIs involve exchange of momentum among electrons or with excitations such as phonons, and can therefore couple to nanoscale structures. By controlling the structure at the nanoscale, we can therefore hope to control or enhance the ground state properties of materials through nanoscale engineering. This dream has motivated the development of nanoscale ARPES (nanoARPES) machines that are now coming online worldwide. After a brief overview, I will show the latest results from the new nanoARPES endstation at the MAESTRO facility (Microscopic and Electronic Structure Observatory), a new user beamline commissioned this year at the Advanced Light Source (ALS). We achieved routine operation at spatial resolution around 120 nm, and expect improvement down to 50 nm or better. Examples will include graphene and 2D-metal-chalcogenide heterostructures. I will also discuss the prospects for dramatic improvements expected as new diffraction-limited light sources such as the ALS-U project are realized. Work performed at the Advanced Light Source is supported by the Director, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231.

Partial regimen replacement with aripiprazole reduces serum prolactin in patients with a long history of schizophrenia: A case series.

PubMed

Naono-Nagatomo, Keiko; Naono, Hisao; Abe, Hiroshi; Takeda, Ryuichiro; Funahashi, Hideki; Uchimura, Daisuke; Ishida, Yasushi

2017-02-01

Aripiprazole (ARP) is a popular antipsychotic drug that has demonstrated ameliorative effects on hyperprolactinemia. However, no study to date has studied the utility of ARP in patients with a long history of schizophrenia and antipsychotic treatment. We therefore examined the effect of partial antipsychotic regimen replacement with ARP on hyperprolactinemia induced by chronic antipsychotic use in patients with schizophrenia. Sixteen patients with a schizophrenia diagnosis (F2) based on the International Classification of Diseases (version 10) were recruited. At months 0, 1, 3, and 6 of the study, serum prolactin, body weight, and blood glucose were measured, and QOL and psychotic symptoms were assessed using Global Assessment of Functioning scores and Clinical Global Impressions of Improvement (CGI-I) scores. Nine patients with an average age of 46.7±9.6 years and mean disease duration of 15.9±10.4 years were included in the final analysis. Serum prolactin levels significantly decreased and GAF and CGI-I scores improved significantly over the 6-month period after partial replacement with ARP. Additionally, no changes were observed in body weight or blood glucose over the 6-month period. Partial antipsychotic regimen replacement with ARP improves hyperprolactinemia, and may improve the QOL of patients with a long history of schizophrenia. Japan Medical Association, Center for clinical trials D: JMA-IIA00245. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Listeria arpJ gene modifies T helper type 2 subset differentiation.

PubMed

Kanoh, Makoto; Maruyama, Saho; Shen, Hua; Matsumoto, Akira; Shinomiya, Hiroto; Przybilla, Karin; Gouin, Edith; Cossart, Pascale; Goebel, Werner; Asano, Yoshihiro

2015-07-15

Although the T-cell subset differentiation pathway has been characterized extensively from the view of host gene regulation, the effects of genes of the pathogen on T-cell subset differentiation during infection have yet to be elucidated. Especially, the bacterial genes that are responsible for this shift have not yet been determined. Utilizing a single-gene-mutation Listeria panel, we investigated genes involved in the host-pathogen interaction that are required for the initiation of T-cell subset differentiation in the early phase of pathogen infection. We demonstrate that the induction of T helper types 1 and 2 (Th1 and Th2) subsets are separate phenomena and are mediated by distinct Listeria genes. We identified several candidate Listeria genes that appear to be involved in the host-Listeria interaction. Among them, arpJ is the strongest candidate gene for inhibiting Th2 subset induction. Furthermore, the analysis utilizing arpJ-deficient Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) revealed that the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily (Tnfsf) 9-TNF receptor superfamily (Tnfrsf) 9 interaction inhibits the Th2 response during Lm infection. arpJ is the candidate gene for inhibiting Th2 T-cell subset induction. The arpJ gene product influences the expression of Tnfsf/Tnfrsf on antigen-presenting cells and inhibits the Th2 T-cell subset differentiation during Listeria infection. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Sub-arcsecond imaging of the water emission in Arp 220⋆ ⋆⋆

PubMed Central

König, S.; Martín, S.; Muller, S.; Cernicharo, J.; Sakamoto, K.; Zschaechner, L. K.; Humphreys, E. M. L.; Mroczkowski, T.; Krips, M.; Galametz, M.; Aalto, S.; Vlemmings, W. H. T.; Ott, J.; Meier, D. S.; Fuente, A.; García-Burillo, S.; Neri, R.

2017-01-01

Aims Extragalactic observations of water emission can provide valuable insights into the excitation of the interstellar medium. In particular they allow us to investigate the excitation mechanisms in obscured nuclei, i.e. whether an active galactic nucleus or a starburst dominate. Methods We use sub-arcsecond resolution observations to tackle the nature of the water emission in Arp 220. ALMA Band 5 science verification observations of the 183 GHz H2O 313−220 line, in conjunction with new ALMA Band 7 H2O 515−422 data at 325 GHz, and supplementary 22 GHz H2O 616 − 523 VLA observations, are used to better constrain the parameter space in the excitation modelling of the water lines. Results We detect 183 GHz H2O and 325 GHz water emission towards the two compact nuclei at the center of Arp 220, being brighter in Arp 220 West. The emission at these two frequencies is compared to previous single-dish data and does not show evidence of variability. The 183 and 325 GHz lines show similar spectra and kinematics, but the 22 GHz profile is significantly different in both nuclei due to a blend with an NH3 absorption line. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the most likely scenario to cause the observed water emission in Arp 220 is a large number of independent masers originating from numerous star-forming regions. PMID:29151605

Structure and Dynamics of an Arp2/3 Complex-independent Component of the Lamellipodial Actin Network

PubMed Central

Henson, John H.; Cheung, David; Fried, Christopher A.; Shuster, Charles B.; McClellan, Mary K.; Voss, Meagen K.; Sheridan, John T.; Oldenbourg, Rudolf

2010-01-01

Sea urchin coelomocytes contain an unusually broad lamellipodial region and have served as a useful model experimental system for studying the process of actin-based retrograde/centripetal flow. In the current study the small molecule drug 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) was employed as a means of delocalizing the Arp2/3 complex from the cell edge in an effort to investigate the Arp2/3 complex-independent aspects of retrograde flow. Digitally-enhanced phase contrast, fluorescence and polarization light microscopy, along with rotary shadow TEM methods demonstrated that BDM treatment resulted in the centripetal displacement of the Arp2/3 complex and the associated dendritic lamellipodial (LP) actin network from the cell edge. In its wake there remained an array of elongate actin filaments organized into concave arcs that displayed retrograde flow at approximately one quarter the normal rate. Actin polymerization inhibitor experiments indicated that these arcs were generated by polymerization at the cell edge, while active myosin-based contraction in BDM treated cells was demonstrated by localization with anti-phospho-MRLC antibody, the retraction of the cytoskeleton in the presence of BDM, and the response of the BDM arcs to laser-based severing. The results suggest that BDM treatment reveals an Arp2/3 complex-independent actin structure in coelomocytes consisting of elongate filaments integrated into the LP network and that these filaments represent a potential connection between the LP network and the central cytoskeleton. PMID:19530177

Non-invasive evaluation of the effect of metoprolol on the atrioventricular node during permanent atrial fibrillation.

PubMed

Corino, Valentina D A; Sandberg, Frida; Platonov, Pyotr G; Mainardi, Luca T; Ulimoen, Sara R; Enger, Steve; Tveit, Arnljot; Sörnmo, Leif

2014-11-01

During atrial fibrillation (AF), conventional electrophysiological techniques for assessment of refractory period or conduction velocity of the atrioventricular (AV) node cannot be used. We aimed at evaluating changes in AV nodal properties during administration of metoprolol from electrocardiogram data, and to support our findings with simulated data based on results from an electrophysiological study. Sixty patients (age 71 ± 9 years, 42 men) with permanent AF were included in the RATe control in Atrial Fibrillation (RATAF) study. Two 15 min segments, during baseline and metoprolol administration, starting at 2 pm were analysed in this study. Atrial fibrillatory rate (AFR), heart rate (HR), and AV nodal parameters were assessed. The AV nodal parameters account for the probability of an impulse not taking the fast pathway, the absolute refractory periods of the slow and fast pathways (aRPs and aRPf), representing the functional refractory period, and their respective prolongation in refractory period. In addition, simulated RR series were generated that mimic metoprolol administration through prolonged AV conduction interval and AV node effective refractory period. During metoprolol administration, AFR and HR were significantly decreased and aRP was significantly prolonged in both pathways (aRPs: 337 ± 60 vs. 398 ± 79 ms, P < 0.01; aRPf: 430 ± 91 vs. 517 ± 100 ms, P < 0.01). Similar results were found for the simulated RR series, both aRPs and aRPf being prolonged with metoprolol (aRPs: 413 ± 33 vs. 437 ± 43 ms, P = 0.01; aRPf: 465 ± 40 vs. 502 ± 69 ms, P = 0.02). The AV nodal parameters reflect expected changes after metoprolol administration, i.e. a prolongation in functional refractory period. The simulations confirmed that aRPs and aRPf may serve as an estimate of the functional refractory period. Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2014. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

N terminus of Swr1 binds to histone H2AZ and provides a platform for subunit assembly in the chromatin remodeling complex.

PubMed

Wu, Wei-Hua; Wu, Chwen-Huey; Ladurner, Andreas; Mizuguchi, Gaku; Wei, Debbie; Xiao, Hua; Luk, Ed; Ranjan, Anand; Wu, Carl

2009-03-06

Variant histone H2AZ-containing nucleosomes are involved in the regulation of gene expression. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, chromatin deposition of histone H2AZ is mediated by the fourteen-subunit SWR1 complex, which catalyzes ATP-dependent exchange of nucleosomal histone H2A for H2AZ. Previous work defined the role of seven SWR1 subunits (Swr1 ATPase, Swc2, Swc3, Arp6, Swc5, Yaf9, and Swc6) in maintaining complex integrity and H2AZ histone replacement activity. Here we examined the function of three additional SWR1 subunits, bromodomain containing Bdf1, actin-related protein Arp4 and Swc7, by analyzing affinity-purified mutant SWR1 complexes. We observed that depletion of Arp4 (arp4-td) substantially impaired the association of Bdf1, Yaf9, and Swc4. In contrast, loss of either Bdf1 or Swc7 had minimal effects on overall complex integrity. Furthermore, the basic H2AZ histone replacement activity of SWR1 in vitro required Arp4, but not Bdf1 or Swc7. Thus, three out of fourteen SWR1 subunits, Bdf1, Swc7, and previously noted Swc3, appear to have roles auxiliary to the basic histone replacement activity. The N-terminal region of the Swr1 ATPase subunit is necessary and sufficient to direct association of Bdf1 and Swc7, as well as Arp4, Act1, Yaf9 and Swc4. This same region contains an additional H2AZ-H2B specific binding site, distinct from the previously identified Swc2 subunit. These findings suggest that one SWR1 enzyme might be capable of binding two H2AZ-H2B dimers, and provide further insight on the hierarchy and interdependency of molecular interactions within the SWR1 complex.

Reconfirmation of frit 803 based on the January 2016 sludge batch 9 reprojection

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

Johnson, F.; Edwards, T.

2016-02-10

On January 11, 2016, Savannah River Remediation (SRR) provided the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) with a Sludge Batch 9 (SB9) reprojection that was developed from the analyzed composition of a Tank 51 sample. This sample was collected after field washing had been completed in Tank 51 to support the alternate reductant task. Based on this reprojection, Frit 803 is still a viable option for the processing of SB9 under sludge-only operations and coupled (Actinide Removal Process (ARP) product with and without monosodium titanate (MST)) operations. The maximum projected volumes of ARP product that can be transferred from the Precipitatemore » Reactor Feed Tank (PRFT) per Sludge Receipt and Adjustment Tank (SRAT) batch and the resulting Na 2O concentrations in the SRAT for coupled operations were determined. The Na 2O concentrations in the SRAT resulting from the maximum projected ARP product transfer volumes are consistent with those from the previous assessments that were based on the August 2015 projections. Regardless of the presence or absence of MST in the ARP product, the contribution of Na 2O to the resulting glass will be similar at the same waste loading (WL). These projected volumes of ARP product are not anticipated to be an issue for SB9. The actual transfer volumes from the PRFT to the SRAT are determined based upon the analyzed Na 2O concentrations in the PRFT samples, which has resulted in larger transfer volumes than those allowed by the projections for Sludge Batch 8 (SB8). An operating window of 32-40% WL around the nominal WL of 36% is achievable for both sludge-only and coupled operations; however, each of the glass systems studied does become limited by waste form affecting constraints (durability) at higher volumes of ARP product and WLs of 41-42%.« less

Hypoxia and inflammation in the release of VEGF and interleukins from human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

PubMed

Arjamaa, Olli; Aaltonen, Vesa; Piippo, Niina; Csont, Tamás; Petrovski, Goran; Kaarniranta, Kai; Kauppinen, Anu

2017-09-01

Retinal diseases are closely associated with both decreased oxygenation and increased inflammation. It is not known if hypoxia-induced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the retina itself evokes inflammation, or whether inflammation is a prerequisite for the development of neovascularization. Human ARPE-19 cell line and primary human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells were used. ARPE-19 cells were kept either under normoxic (24 h or 48 h) or hypoxic conditions (1% O 2 , 24 h). Part of the cells were re-oxygenated (24 h). Some ARPE-19 cells were additionally pre-treated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, and IL-18 were determined from medium samples by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Primary human RPE cells were exposed to hypoxia for 24 h, and the subsequent release of IL-6 and IL-8 was measured with ELISA. VEGF secretion from ARPE-19 cells was determined up to 24 h. Hypoxia induced significant (P < 0.01) increases in the levels of both IL-6 and IL-8 in ARPE-19 cells, and LPS pre-treatment further enhanced these responses. Hypoxia exposure did not affect the IL-1β or IL-18 release irrespective of LPS pre-treatment. If primary RPE cells were incubated for 4 h in hypoxic conditions, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations were increased by 7 and 8-fold respectively. Hypoxia increased the VEGF secretion from ARPE-19 cells in a similar manner with or without pre-treatment with LPS. Hypoxia causes an inflammatory reaction in RPE cells that is potentiated by pre-treatment with the Toll-like receptor-activating agent, LPS. The secretion of VEGF from these cells is regulated directly by hypoxia and is not mediated by inflammation.

Sub-arcsecond imaging of Arp 299-A at 150 MHz with LOFAR: Evidence for a starburst-driven outflow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramírez-Olivencia, N.; Varenius, E.; Pérez-Torres, M.; Alberdi, A.; Pérez, E.; Alonso-Herrero, A.; Deller, A.; Herrero-Illana, R.; Moldón, J.; Barcos-Muñoz, L.; Martí-Vidal, I.

2018-03-01

We report on the first sub-arcsecond (0.44 × 0.41 arcsec2) angular resolution image at 150 MHz of the A-nucleus in the luminous infrared galaxy Arp 299, from International Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) Telescope observations. The most remarkable finding is that of an intriguing two-sided, filamentary structure emanating from the A-nucleus, which we interpret as an outflow that extends up to at least 14 arcsec from the A-nucleus in the N-S direction ( ≈5 kpc deprojected size) and accounts for almost 40% of the extended emission of the entire galaxy system. We also discuss HST/NICMOS [FeII] 1.64 μm and H2 2.12 μm images of Arp 299-A, which show similar features to those unveiled by our 150 MHz LOFAR observations, providing strong morphological support for the outflow scenario. Finally, we discuss unpublished Na I D spectra that confirm the outflow nature of this structure. From energetic arguments, we rule out the low-luminosity active galactic nucleus in Arp 299-A as a driver for the outflow. On the contrary, the powerful, compact starburst in the central regions of Arp 299-A provides plenty of mechanical energy to sustain an outflow, and we conclude that the intense supernova (SN) activity in the nuclear region of Arp 299-A is driving the observed outflow. We estimate that the starburst wind can support a mass-outflow rate in the range (11-63 M⊙ yr-1) at speeds of up to 370-890 km s-1, and is relatively young, with an estimated kinematic age of 3-7 Myr. Those results open an avenue to the use of low-frequency (150 MHz), sub-arcsecond imaging with LOFAR to detect outflows in the central regions of local luminous infrared galaxies.

Height bias and scale effect induced by antenna gravitational deformations in geodetic VLBI data analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarti, Pierguido; Abbondanza, Claudio; Petrov, Leonid; Negusini, Monia

2011-01-01

The impact of signal path variations (SPVs) caused by antenna gravitational deformations on geodetic very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) results is evaluated for the first time. Elevation-dependent models of SPV for Medicina and Noto (Italy) telescopes were derived from a combination of terrestrial surveying methods to account for gravitational deformations. After applying these models in geodetic VLBI data analysis, estimates of the antenna reference point positions are shifted upward by 8.9 and 6.7 mm, respectively. The impact on other parameters is negligible. To simulate the impact of antenna gravitational deformations on the entire VLBI network, lacking measurements for other telescopes, we rescaled the SPV models of Medicina and Noto for other antennas according to their size. The effects of the simulations are changes in VLBI heights in the range [-3, 73] mm and a net scale increase of 0.3-0.8 ppb. The height bias is larger than random errors of VLBI position estimates, implying the possibility of significant scale distortions related to antenna gravitational deformations. This demonstrates the need to precisely measure gravitational deformations of other VLBI telescopes, to derive their precise SPV models and to apply them in routine geodetic data analysis.

The Dictyostelium Carmil Protein Links Capping Protein and the Arp2/3 Complex to Type I Myosins through Their Sh3 Domains

PubMed Central

Jung, Goeh; Remmert, Kirsten; Wu, Xufeng; Volosky, Joanne M.; III, John A. Hammer

2001-01-01

Fusion proteins containing the Src homology (SH)3 domains of Dictyostelium myosin IB (myoB) and IC (myoC) bind a 116-kD protein (p116), plus nine other proteins identified as the seven member Arp2/3 complex, and the α and β subunits of capping protein. Immunoprecipitation reactions indicate that myoB and myoC form a complex with p116, Arp2/3, and capping protein in vivo, that the myosins bind to p116 through their SH3 domains, and that capping protein and the Arp2/3 complex in turn bind to p116. Cloning of p116 reveals a protein dominated by leucine-rich repeats and proline-rich sequences, and indicates that it is a homologue of Acan 125. Studies using p116 fusion proteins confirm the location of the myosin I SH3 domain binding site, implicate NH2-terminal sequences in binding capping protein, and show that a region containing a short sequence found in several G-actin binding proteins, as well as an acidic stretch, can activate Arp2/3-dependent actin nucleation. p116 localizes along with the Arp2/3 complex, myoB, and myoC in dynamic actin-rich cellular extensions, including the leading edge of cells undergoing chemotactic migration, and dorsal, cup-like, macropinocytic extensions. Cells lacking p116 exhibit a striking defect in the formation of these macropinocytic structures, a concomitant reduction in the rate of fluid phase pinocytosis, a significant decrease in the efficiency of chemotactic aggregation, and a decrease in cellular F-actin content. These results identify a complex that links key players in the nucleation and termination of actin filament assembly with a ubiquitous barbed end–directed motor, indicate that the protein responsible for the formation of this complex is physiologically important, and suggest that previously reported myosin I mutant phenotypes in Dictyostelium may be due, at least in part, to defects in the assembly state of actin. We propose that p116 and Acan 125, along with homologues identified in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, mouse, and man, be named CARMIL proteins, for capping protein, Arp2/3, and myosin I linker. PMID:11425877

VLBI-based Products - Naval Oceanography Portal

Science.gov Websites

section Advanced Search... Sections Home Time Earth Orientation Astronomy Meteorology Oceanography Ice You terrestrial reference frames and to predict the variable orientation of the Earth in three-dimensional space antennas that define a VLBI-based Terrestrial Reference Frame (TRF) and the Earth Orientation Parameters

Antenna modeling considerations for accurate SAR calculations in human phantoms in close proximity to GSM cellular base station antennas.

PubMed

van Wyk, Marnus J; Bingle, Marianne; Meyer, Frans J C

2005-09-01

International bodies such as International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) make provision for human exposure assessment based on SAR calculations (or measurements) and basic restrictions. In the case of base station exposure this is mostly applicable to occupational exposure scenarios in the very near field of these antennas where the conservative reference level criteria could be unnecessarily restrictive. This study presents a variety of critical aspects that need to be considered when calculating SAR in a human body close to a mobile phone base station antenna. A hybrid FEM/MoM technique is proposed as a suitable numerical method to obtain accurate results. The verification of the FEM/MoM implementation has been presented in a previous publication; the focus of this study is an investigation into the detail that must be included in a numerical model of the antenna, to accurately represent the real-world scenario. This is accomplished by comparing numerical results to measurements for a generic GSM base station antenna and appropriate, representative canonical and human phantoms. The results show that it is critical to take the disturbance effect of the human phantom (a large conductive body) on the base station antenna into account when the antenna-phantom spacing is less than 300 mm. For these small spacings, the antenna structure must be modeled in detail. The conclusion is that it is feasible to calculate, using the proposed techniques and methodology, accurate occupational compliance zones around base station antennas based on a SAR profile and basic restriction guidelines. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Time Delay Mechanical-noise Cancellation (TDMC) to Provide Order of Magnitude Improvements in Radio Science Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atkinson, D. H.; Babuscia, A.; Lazio, J.; Asmar, S.

2017-12-01

Many Radio Science investigations, including the determinations of planetary masses, measurements of planetary atmospheres, studies of the solar wind, and solar system tests of relativistic gravity, rely heavily on precision Doppler tracking. Recent and currently proposed missions such as VERITAS, Bepi Colombo, Juno have shown that the largest error source in the precision Doppler tracking data is noise in the Doppler system. This noise is attributed to un-modeled motions of the ground antenna's phase center and is commonly referred to as "antenna mechanical noise." Attempting to reduce this mechanical noise has proven difficult since the deep space communications antennas utilize large steel structures that are already optimized for mechanical stability. Armstrong et al. (2008) have demonstrated the Time Delay Mechanical-noise Cancellation (TDMC) concept using Goldstone DSN antennas (70 m & 34 m) and the Cassinispacecraft to show that the mechanical noise of the 70 m antenna could be suppressed when two-way Doppler tracking from the 70 m antenna and the receive-only Doppler data from the smaller, stiffer 34 m antenna were combined with suitable delays. The proof-of-concept confirmed that the mechanical noise in the final Doppler observable was reduced to that of the stiffer, more stable antenna. Caltech's Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) near Bishop, CA now has six 10.4 m diameter antennas, a consequence of the closure of Combined Array for Research in Millimeter Astronomy (CARMA). In principle, a 10 m antenna can lead to an order-of-magnitude improvement for the mechanical noise correction, as the smaller dish offers better mechanical stability compared to a DSN 34-m antenna. These antennas also have existing Ka-band receiving systems, and preliminary discussions with the OVRO staff suggest that much of the existing signal path could be used for Radio Science observations.

Star formation in infrared bright and infrared faint starburst interacting galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lamb, Susan A.; Bushouse, Howard A.; Towns, John W.

1990-01-01

Short wavelength IUE spectra of Arp 248b and UGC 8315N are combined with optical spectra and interpreted using a combination of spectrum synthesis and spectral diagnostics to place constraints on the massive star populations of the central regions of these galaxies and to deduce information about the star formation histories in the last 10(exp 8) years. The authors find that both galaxies have substantial fractions of their optical light coming from massive stars and that Arp 248b may be dominated in the UV by WR stars. The UV spectra are dominated by radiation from evolved massive stars and the authors place and age on the burst in Arp 248b of a few tens of millions of years.

OSSE observations of the ultraluminous infrared galaxies ARP 220 and MRK 273

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dermer, C. D.; Shier, L. M.; Sturner, S. J.; McNaron-Brown, K.; Bland-Hawthorn, J.

1997-01-01

The results of oriented scintillation spectrometer experiment (OSSE) observations of the ultraluminous infrared galaxies Arp 220 and Mrk 273 are reported. The pointings of Arp 220 and Mrk 273 concentrated on their upper limits. The gamma ray luminosities from these sources were found to be between one and two orders of magnitude smaller than the infrared luminosities. Multiwavelength luminosity spectra are produced from the radio to the gamma ray regime, and are compared with the typical multiwavelength spectra of active galactic nuclei. The lack of measured gamma ray emission provides no evidence for the existence of buried active galactic nuclei in these ultraluminous infrared galaxies, but is consistent with an origin of the infrared luminosity from starburst activity.

A Novel Sensor Based on a Single-Pixel Microwave Radiometer for Warm Object Counting: Concept Validation and IoT Perspectives

PubMed Central

Alimenti, Federico; Bonafoni, Stefania; Roselli, Luca

2017-01-01

Controlled measurements by a low-cost single-pixel microwave radiometer operating at 12.65 GHz were carried out to assess the detection and counting capability for targets warmer than the surroundings. The adopted reference test targets were pre-warmed water and oil; and a hand, both naked and wearing a glove. The results showed the reliability of microwave radiometry for counting operations under controlled conditions, and its effectiveness at detecting even warm targets masked by unheated dielectric layers. An electromagnetic model describing the scenario sensed by the radiometer antenna is proposed, and comparison with the experimental observations shows a good agreement. The measurements prove that reliable counting is enabled by an antenna temperature increment, for each target sample added, of around 1 K. Starting from this value, an analysis of the antenna filling factor was performed to provide an instrument useful for evaluating real applicability in many practical situations. This study also allows the direct people counting problem to be addressed, providing preliminary operational indications, reference numbers and experimental validation. PMID:28613264

The Next Generation of Numerical Modeling in Mergers- Constraining the Star Formation Law

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chien, Li-Hsin

2010-09-01

Spectacular images of colliding galaxies like the "Antennae", taken with the Hubble Space Telescope, have revealed that a burst of star/cluster formation occurs whenever gas-rich galaxies interact. A?The ages and locations of these clusters reveal the interaction history and provide crucial clues to the process of star formation in galaxies. A?We propose to carry out state-of-the-art numerical simulations to model six nearby galaxy mergers {Arp 256, NGC 7469, NGC 4038/39, NGC 520, NGC 2623, NGC 3256}, hence increasing the number with this level of sophistication by a factor of 3. These simulations provide specific predictions for the age and spatial distributions of young star clusters. The comparison between these simulation results and the observations will allow us to answer a number of fundamental questions including: 1} is shock-induced or density-dependent star formation the dominant mechanism; 2} are the demographics {i.e. mass and age distributions} of the clusters in different mergers similar, i.e. "universal", or very different; and 3} will it be necessary to include other mechanisms, e.g., locally triggered star formation, in the models to better match the observations?

Hidden interaction in SBO galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Galletta, G.; Bettoni, D.; Oosterloo, T.; Fasano, G.

1990-01-01

Galaxies, like plants, show a large variety of grafts: an individual of some type connects physically with a neighborhood of same or different type. The effects of these interactions between galaxies have a broad range of morphologies depending, among other quantities, on the distance of the closest approach between systems and the relative size of the two galaxies. A sketch of the possible situations is shown in tabular form. This botanical classification is just indicative, because the effects of interactions can be notable also at relatively large separations, when additional conditions are met, as for example low density of the interacting systems or the presence of intra-cluster gas. In spite of the large variety of encounters and effects, in the literature the same terms are often used to refer to different types of interactions. Analysis indicates that only few of the situations show evident signs of interaction. They appear to be most relevant when the size of the two galaxies is comparable. Bridges and tails, like the well known case of NGC 4038/39, the Antennae, are only observed for a very low percentage of all galaxies (approx. 0.38 percent, Arp and Madore 1977). In most cases of gravitational bond between two galaxies, the effects of interactions are not relevant or evident. For instance, the detection of stellar shells (Malin and Carter 1983), which have been attributed to the accretion of gas stripped from another galaxy or to the capture and disruption of a small stellar system (Quinn 1984), requires particular observing and reduction techniques. Besides these difficulties of detection, time plays an important role in erasing, within a massive galaxy, the effects of interactions with smaller objects. This can happen on a timescale shorter than the Hubble time, so the number of systems now showing signs of interaction suggests lower limits to the true frequency of interactions in the life-time of a stellar system.

Arp2/3 and VASP Are Essential for Fear Memory Formation in Lateral Amygdala.

PubMed

Basu, Sreetama; Kustanovich, Irina; Lamprecht, Raphael

2016-01-01

The actin cytoskeleton is involved in key neuronal functions such as synaptic transmission and morphogenesis. However, the roles and regulation of actin cytoskeleton in memory formation remain to be clarified. In this study, we unveil the mechanism whereby actin cytoskeleton is regulated to form memory by exploring the roles of the major actin-regulatory proteins Arp2/3, VASP, and formins in long-term memory formation. Inhibition of Arp2/3, involved in actin filament branching and neuronal morphogenesis, in lateral amygdala (LA) with the specific inhibitor CK-666 during fear conditioning impaired long-term, but not short-term, fear memory. The inactive isomer CK-689 had no effect on memory formation. We observed that Arp2/3 is colocalized with the actin-regulatory protein profilin in LA neurons of fear-conditioned rats. VASP binding to profilin is needed for profilin-mediated stabilization of actin cytoskeleton and dendritic spine morphology. Microinjection of poly-proline peptide [G(GP 5 ) 3 ] into LA, to interfere with VASP binding to profilin, impaired long-term but not short-term fear memory formation. Control peptide [G(GA 5 ) 3 ] had no effect. Inhibiting formins, which regulate linear actin elongation, in LA during fear conditioning by microinjecting the formin-specific inhibitor SMIFH2 into LA had no effect on long-term fear memory formation. We conclude that Arp2/3 and VASP, through the profilin binding site, are essential for the formation of long-term fear memory in LA and propose a model whereby these proteins subserve cellular events, leading to memory consolidation.

ALMA IMAGING OF HCN, CS, AND DUST IN ARP 220 AND NGC 6240

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

Scoville, Nick; Manohar, Swarnima; Murchikova, Lena

We report ALMA Band 7 (350 GHz) imaging at 0.''4-0.''6 resolution and Band 9 (696 GHz) at ∼0.''25 resolution of the luminous IR galaxies Arp 220 and NGC 6240. The long wavelength dust continuum is used to estimate interstellar medium masses for Arp 220 east and west and NGC 6240 of 1.9, 4.2, and 1.6 × 10{sup 9} M {sub ☉}within radii of 69, 65, and 190 pc. The HCN emission was modeled to derive the emissivity distribution as a function of radius and the kinematics of each nuclear disk, yielding dynamical masses consistent with the masses and sizes derived from the dustmore » emission. In Arp 220, the major dust and gas concentrations are at radii less than 50 pc in both counter-rotating nuclear disks. The thickness of the disks in Arp 220 estimated from the velocity dispersion and rotation velocities are 10-20 pc and the mean gas densities are n{sub H{sub 2}}∼10{sup 5} cm{sup –3} at R <50 pc. We develop an analytic treatment for the molecular excitation (including photon trapping), yielding volume densities for both the HCN and CS emission with n {sub H2} ∼ 2 × 10{sup 5} cm{sup –3}. The agreement of the mean density from the total mass and size with that required for excitation suggests that the volume is essentially filled with dense gas, i.e., it is not cloudy or like swiss cheese.« less

Is acute recurrent pancreatitis in children a precursor of chronic pancreatitis? A long-term follow-up study of 93 cases.

PubMed

Poddar, Ujjal; Yachha, Surender K; Borkar, Vibhor; Srivastava, Anshu

2017-07-01

In view of paucity of literature we analyzed our experience of acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) to study clinical profile and long-term outcome. Over 13 years, 93 consecutive children (≤18 years) diagnosed to have ARP were included in this study. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was done at baseline and on follow-up. Common mutations for serine-protease-inhibitor (SPINK1 N34S), protease inhibitor (PRSS1 R122S) and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR deltaF508, 5T) were studied in 22 idiopathic cases. The median age of the children with ARP was 13 (10-14.5) years, 53 were males. Etiology included biliary in 14 (15%), pancreas divisum in 6 (7%), others in 3 (3.5%) and idiopathic in the remaining 70 (75%). SPINK1 mutation was found in 10/22 (45%) cases. Over a median follow-up of 25.5 (8.25-48) months, 37 (42%) of 88 (5 lost to follow-up) developed chronic pancreatitis (CP). On multivariate analysis idiopathic etiology (p<0.03), presence of SPINK1 mutation (p=0.01), longer follow-up (p<0.001) were associated with progression to CP. Biliopancreatic structural/obstructive causes should always be looked for. It seems ARP is a precursor of CP and progression is associated with idiopathic etiology and presence of genetic mutations. Hence, patients with ARP should be kept on regular follow-up to detect CP. Copyright © 2017 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Teaching Inquiry to High School Teachers through the Use of Mathematics Action Research Projects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Nathaniel

2017-01-01

This paper describes the use of Mathematics Action Research Projects (ARPs) as a capstone experience in lieu of a Master's Thesis in a Master's program for in-service secondary teachers. The ARPs include two primary components: (i) each teacher participant conducts mathematical research that is new to them on a topic that is connected in some way…

Invited Article: High resolution angle resolved photoemission with tabletop 11 eV laser

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

He, Yu; Vishik, Inna M.; Yi, Ming

2016-01-15

We developed a table-top vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser with 113.778 nm wavelength (10.897 eV) and demonstrated its viability as a photon source for high resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). This sub-nanosecond pulsed VUV laser operates at a repetition rate of 10 MHz, provides a flux of 2 × 10{sup 12} photons/s, and enables photoemission with energy and momentum resolutions better than 2 meV and 0.012 Å{sup −1}, respectively. Space-charge induced energy shifts and spectral broadenings can be reduced below 2 meV. The setup reaches electron momenta up to 1.2 Å{sup −1}, granting full access to the first Brillouin zone ofmore » most materials. Control over the linear polarization, repetition rate, and photon flux of the VUV source facilitates ARPES investigations of a broad range of quantum materials, bridging the application gap between contemporary low energy laser-based ARPES and synchrotron-based ARPES. We describe the principles and operational characteristics of this source and showcase its performance for rare earth metal tritellurides, high temperature cuprate superconductors, and iron-based superconductors.« less

Phonon-assisted indirect transitions in angle-resolved photoemission spectra of graphite and graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ayria, Pourya; Tanaka, Shin-ichiro; Nugraha, Ahmad R. T.; Dresselhaus, Mildred S.; Saito, Riichiro

2016-08-01

Indirect transitions of electrons in graphene and graphite are investigated by means of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) with several different incident photon energies and light polarizations. The theoretical calculations of the indirect transition for graphene and for a single crystal of graphite are compared with the experimental measurements for highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite and a single crystal of graphite. The dispersion relations for the transverse optical (TO) and the out-of-plane longitudinal acoustic (ZA) phonon modes of graphite and the TO phonon mode of graphene can be extracted from the inelastic ARPES intensity. We find that the TO phonon mode for k points along the Γ -K and K -M -K' directions in the Brillouin zone can be observed in the ARPES spectra of graphite and graphene by using a photon energy ≈11.1 eV. The relevant mechanism in the ARPES process for this case is the resonant indirect transition. On the other hand, the ZA phonon mode of graphite can be observed by using a photon energy ≈6.3 eV through a nonresonant indirect transition, while the ZA phonon mode of graphene within the same mechanism should not be observed.

Reconstitution of actin-based motility of Listeria and Shigella using pure proteins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loisel, Thomas P.; Boujemaa, Rajaa; Pantaloni, Dominique; Carlier, Marie-France

1999-10-01

Actin polymerization is essential for cell locomotion and is thought to generate the force responsible for cellular protrusions. The Arp2/3 complex is required to stimulate actin assembly at the leading edge in response to signalling. The bacteria Listeria and Shigella bypass the signalling pathway and harness the Arp2/3 complex to induce actin assembly and to propel themselves in living cells. However, the Arp2/3 complex alone is insufficient to promote movement. Here we have used pure components of the actin cytoskeleton to reconstitute sustained movement in Listeria and Shigella in vitro. Actin-based propulsion is driven by the free energy released by ATP hydrolysis linked to actin polymerization, and does not require myosin. In addition to actin and activated Arp2/3 complex, actin depolymerizing factor (ADF, or cofilin) and capping protein are also required for motility as they maintain a high steady-state level of G-actin, which controls the rate of unidirectional growth of actin filaments at the surface of the bacterium. The movement is more effective when profilin, α-actinin and VASP (for Listeria) are also included. These results have implications for our understanding of the mechanism of actin-based motility in cells.

System design impacts on optimization of the advanced radioisotope power system (ARPS) AMTEC cell

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

Hendricks, T.J.; Huang, C.

1998-07-01

Several NASA deep space missions require Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems (ARPS) to supply spacecraft power for various internal functions and mission instruments and experiments. AMTEC (Alkali-Metal Thermal-Electric Conversion) power conversion is the DOE-selected technology for an advanced, next- generation RPS to power these spacecraft. Advanced Modular Power Systems, Inc. (AMPS) has begun investigating the design of an AMTEC-based ARPS using the General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) and the latest PX-5 AMTEC cell technology with refractory materials in critical components. This paper presents and discusses the system design methodology, and results of important system design tradeoffs and system design impacts onmore » the ARPS AMTEC cell design. This work investigated dual 2-GPHS system configurations and 4-GPHS system configurations with 16 side-mounted AMTEC cells operating at beginning-of-mission (BOM) and end-of-mission (EOM) GPHS heat dissipation conditions. Current design studies indicate using a refractory material AMTEC cell with 8-BASE tubes, 5.0 inches long, and 1.75 inches diameter in the 4-GPHS system configuration is the strongest design candidate to satisfy system performance requirements.« less

Traumatic event exposure and gambling: associations with clinical, neurocognitive, and personality variables.

PubMed

Leppink, Eric W; Grant, Jon E

2015-02-01

Epidemiological research has shown high comorbidity rates between at-risk/problem (ARP) gambling and trauma. However, few studies have assessed the neurocognitive implications of this comorbidity, and even fewer have been conducted with young adults. The present study sought to determine the neurocognitive, clinical, personality types associated with trauma in ARP gamblers. The present study analyzed young adult gamblers age 18 to 29 drawn from a study investigating impulsivity. Of the 230 gamblers, 52 (22.6%) reported experiencing a traumatic event during their life to which they responded with intense fear, helplessness, or horror. The remaining participants indicated no experience with trauma. ARP gamblers who had experienced trauma showed significant neurocognitive deficits on tasks related to decision-making, risk adjustment, sustained attention, and spatial working memory. We did not detect significant differences in gambling severity. Trauma was associated with lower perceived quality of life and self-esteem, and higher rates of current comorbid diagnoses, suicidality, substance use disorders, and nicotine use. This study suggests that trauma may not exacerbate the severity of gambling in ARP gamblers. However, significant differences in supplemental clinical and neurocognitive measures may indicate that trauma is an important consideration when assessing problems beyond those related directly to gambling severity.

Cortactin scaffolds Arp2/3 and WAVE2 at the epithelial zonula adherens.

PubMed

Han, Siew Ping; Gambin, Yann; Gomez, Guillermo A; Verma, Suzie; Giles, Nichole; Michael, Magdalene; Wu, Selwin K; Guo, Zhong; Johnston, Wayne; Sierecki, Emma; Parton, Robert G; Alexandrov, Kirill; Yap, Alpha S

2014-03-14

Cadherin junctions arise from the integrated action of cell adhesion, signaling, and the cytoskeleton. At the zonula adherens (ZA), a WAVE2-Arp2/3 actin nucleation apparatus is necessary for junctional tension and integrity. But how this is coordinated with cadherin adhesion is not known. We now identify cortactin as a key scaffold for actin regulation at the ZA, which localizes to the ZA through influences from both E-cadherin and N-WASP. Using cell-free protein expression and fluorescent single molecule coincidence assays, we demonstrate that cortactin binds directly to the cadherin cytoplasmic tail. However, its concentration with cadherin at the apical ZA also requires N-WASP. Cortactin is known to bind Arp2/3 directly (Weed, S. A., Karginov, A. V., Schafer, D. A., Weaver, A. M., Kinley, A. W., Cooper, J. A., and Parsons, J. T. (2000) J. Cell Biol. 151, 29-40). We further show that cortactin can directly bind WAVE2, as well as Arp2/3, and both these interactions are necessary for actin assembly at the ZA. We propose that cortactin serves as a platform that integrates regulators of junctional actin assembly at the ZA.

WAVE2 is regulated by multiple phosphorylation events within its VCA domain

PubMed Central

Pocha, Shirin M; Cory, Giles O

2009-01-01

The (Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein)-family verprolin homologous protein (WAVE) family of proteins occupies a pivotal position in the cell, converting extracellular signals into the formation of branched filamentous (F) actin structures. WAVE proteins contain a verprolin central acidic (VCA) domain at their C-terminus, responsible for binding to and activating the Arp2/3 complex, which in-turn nucleates the formation of new actin filaments. Here we identify five Casein Kinase 2 (CK2) phosphorylation sites within the VCA domain of WAVE2, serines 482, 484, 488, 489, and 497. Phosphorylation of these sites is required for a high affinity interaction with the Arp2/3 complex. Phosphorylation of ser 482 and 484 specifically inhibits the activation of the Arp2/3 complex by the WAVE2 VCA domain, but has no effect on the affinity for the Arp2/3 complex when the other phosphorylation sites are occupied. We demonstrate phosphorylation of all five sites on endogenous WAVE2 and show that their mutation to non-phosphorylatable alanine residues inhibits WAVE2 function in vivo, inhibiting cell ruffling and disrupting the integrity of the leading edge of migrating cells. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. PMID:19012317

Cortactin Scaffolds Arp2/3 and WAVE2 at the Epithelial Zonula Adherens*♦

PubMed Central

Han, Siew Ping; Gambin, Yann; Gomez, Guillermo A.; Verma, Suzie; Giles, Nichole; Michael, Magdalene; Wu, Selwin K.; Guo, Zhong; Johnston, Wayne; Sierecki, Emma; Parton, Robert G.; Alexandrov, Kirill; Yap, Alpha S.

2014-01-01

Cadherin junctions arise from the integrated action of cell adhesion, signaling, and the cytoskeleton. At the zonula adherens (ZA), a WAVE2-Arp2/3 actin nucleation apparatus is necessary for junctional tension and integrity. But how this is coordinated with cadherin adhesion is not known. We now identify cortactin as a key scaffold for actin regulation at the ZA, which localizes to the ZA through influences from both E-cadherin and N-WASP. Using cell-free protein expression and fluorescent single molecule coincidence assays, we demonstrate that cortactin binds directly to the cadherin cytoplasmic tail. However, its concentration with cadherin at the apical ZA also requires N-WASP. Cortactin is known to bind Arp2/3 directly (Weed, S. A., Karginov, A. V., Schafer, D. A., Weaver, A. M., Kinley, A. W., Cooper, J. A., and Parsons, J. T. (2000) J. Cell Biol. 151, 29–40). We further show that cortactin can directly bind WAVE2, as well as Arp2/3, and both these interactions are necessary for actin assembly at the ZA. We propose that cortactin serves as a platform that integrates regulators of junctional actin assembly at the ZA. PMID:24469447

WAVE2 is regulated by multiple phosphorylation events within its VCA domain.

PubMed

Pocha, Shirin M; Cory, Giles O

2009-01-01

The (Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein)-family verprolin homologous protein (WAVE) family of proteins occupies a pivotal position in the cell, converting extracellular signals into the formation of branched filamentous (F) actin structures. WAVE proteins contain a verprolin central acidic (VCA) domain at their C-terminus, responsible for binding to and activating the Arp2/3 complex, which in-turn nucleates the formation of new actin filaments. Here we identify five Casein Kinase 2 (CK2) phosphorylation sites within the VCA domain of WAVE2, serines 482, 484, 488, 489, and 497. Phosphorylation of these sites is required for a high affinity interaction with the Arp2/3 complex. Phosphorylation of ser 482 and 484 specifically inhibits the activation of the Arp2/3 complex by the WAVE2 VCA domain, but has no effect on the affinity for the Arp2/3 complex when the other phosphorylation sites are occupied. We demonstrate phosphorylation of all five sites on endogenous WAVE2 and show that their mutation to non-phosphorylatable alanine residues inhibits WAVE2 function in vivo, inhibiting cell ruffling and disrupting the integrity of the leading edge of migrating cells. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Phase Synchronization for the Mid-Frequency Square Kilometre Array Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schediwy, Sascha; Gozzard, David; Stobie, Simon; Gravestock, Charles; Whitaker, Richard; Alachkar, Bassem; Malan, Sias; Boven, Paul; Grainge, Keith

2018-01-01

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project is an international effort to build the world’s most sensitive radio telescope operating in the 50 MHz to 14 GHz frequency range. Construction of the SKA has been divided into phases, with the first phase (SKA1) accounting for the first 10% of the telescope's receiving capacity. During SKA1, a low-frequency aperture array comprising over a hundred thousand individual dipole antenna elements will be constructed in Western Australia (SKA1-low), while an array of 197 parabolic-dish antennas, incorporating the 64 dishes of MeerKAT, will be constructed in South Africa (SKA1-mid).Radio telescope arrays such as the SKA require phase-coherent reference signals to be transmitted to each antenna site in the array. In the case of the SKA1-mid, these reference signals will be generated at a central site and transmitted to the antenna sites via fiber-optic cables up to 175 km in length. Environmental perturbations affect the optical path length of the fiber and act to degrade the phase stability of the reference signals received at the antennas, which has the ultimate effect of reducing the fidelity and dynamic range of the data.Since 2011, researchers at the University of Western Australia (UWA) have led the development of an actively-stabilized phase-synchronization system designed specifically to meet the scientific needs and technical challenges of the SKA telescope. Recently this system has been select as the official phase synchronization system for the SKA1-mid telescope. The system is an evolution of Atacama Large Millimeter Array’s distributed ‘photonic local oscillator system’, incorporating key advances made by the international frequency metrology community over the last decade, as well as novel innovations developed by UWA researchers.In this presentation I will describe the technical details of the system; outline how the system's performance was tested using metrology techniques in a laboratory setting, on 186 km of overhead fibre at the South African SKA site, and verified using existing astronomical radio interferometers; and how the system can enhance the astronomical performance of the SKA1-mid telescope.

An agenda-based routing protocol in delay tolerant mobile sensor networks.

PubMed

Wang, Xiao-Min; Zhu, Jin-Qi; Liu, Ming; Gong, Hai-Gang

2010-01-01

Routing in delay tolerant mobile sensor networks (DTMSNs) is challenging due to the networks' intermittent connectivity. Most existing routing protocols for DTMSNs use simplistic random mobility models for algorithm design and performance evaluation. In the real world, however, due to the unique characteristics of human mobility, currently existing random mobility models may not work well in environments where mobile sensor units are carried (such as DTMSNs). Taking a person's social activities into consideration, in this paper, we seek to improve DTMSN routing in terms of social structure and propose an agenda based routing protocol (ARP). In ARP, humans are classified based on their agendas and data transmission is made according to sensor nodes' transmission rankings. The effectiveness of ARP is demonstrated through comprehensive simulation studies.

Integrated experimental setup for angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy of transuranic materials

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

Graham, Kevin S.; Joyce, John J.; Durakiewicz, Tomasz

2013-09-15

We have developed the Angle Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES) system for transuranic materials. The ARPES transuranic system is an endstation upgrade to the Laser Plasma Light Source (LPLS) at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The LPLS is a tunable light source for photoemission with a photon energy range covering the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and soft x-ray regions (27–140 eV). The LPLS was designed and developed for transuranic materials. Transuranic photoemission is currently not permitted at the public synchrotrons worldwide in the VUV energy range due to sample encapsulation requirements. With the addition of the ARPES capability to the LPLS system theremore » is an excellent opportunity to explore new details centered on the electronic structure of actinide and transuranic materials.« less

Nonlinear Structural Analysis Methodology and Dynamics Scaling of Inflatable Parabolic Reflector Antenna Concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sreekantamurthy, Tham; Gaspar, James L.; Mann, Troy; Behun, Vaughn; Pearson, James C., Jr.; Scarborough, Stephen

2007-01-01

Ultra-light weight and ultra-thin membrane inflatable antenna concepts are fast evolving to become the state-of-the-art antenna concepts for deep-space applications. NASA Langley Research Center has been involved in the structural dynamics research on antenna structures. One of the goals of the research is to develop structural analysis methodology for prediction of the static and dynamic response characteristics of the inflatable antenna concepts. This research is focused on the computational studies to use nonlinear large deformation finite element analysis to characterize the ultra-thin membrane responses of the antennas. Recently, structural analyses have been performed on a few parabolic reflector antennas of varying size and shape, which are referred in the paper as 0.3 meters subscale, 2 meters half-scale, and 4 meters full-scale antenna. The various aspects studied included nonlinear analysis methodology and solution techniques, ways to speed convergence in iterative methods, the sensitivities of responses with respect to structural loads, such as inflation pressure, gravity, and pretension loads in the ground and in-space conditions, and the ultra-thin membrane wrinkling characteristics. Several such intrinsic aspects studied have provided valuable insight into evaluation of structural characteristics of such antennas. While analyzing these structural characteristics, a quick study was also made to assess the applicability of dynamics scaling of the half-scale antenna. This paper presents the details of the nonlinear structural analysis results, and discusses the insight gained from the studies on the various intrinsic aspects of the analysis methodology. The predicted reflector surface characteristics of the three inflatable ultra-thin membrane parabolic reflector antenna concepts are presented as easily observable displacement fringe patterns with associated maximum values, and normal mode shapes and associated frequencies. Wrinkling patterns are presented to show how surface wrinkle progress with increasing tension loads. Antenna reflector surface accuracies were found to be very much dependent on the type and size of the antenna, the reflector surface curvature, reflector membrane supports in terms of spacing of catenaries, as well as the amount of applied load.

Microwave system performance for a solar power satellite during startup/shutdown operations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arndt, G. D.; Berlin, L. A.

1979-01-01

The paper investigates the system performance and antenna characteristics under startup/shutdown conditions for the high power beam from a solar power satellite. Attention is given to the present microwave system reference configuration together with the dc power distribution system in the solar array and in the antenna. The pattern characteristics for the main beam, sidelobes, and grating lobes are examined for eight types of energizing configurations which include: random sequences, two types of concentric circles, and three types of line strips. In conclusion, it is noted that a proper choice of sequences should not cause environmental problems due to increased microwave radiation levels during the short time periods of energizing and de-energizing the antenna.

EXTENDED NEUTRAL HYDROGEN IN THE ALIGNED SHELL GALAXIES Arp 230 AND MCG -5-7-1: FORMATION OF DISKS IN MERGING GALAXIES?

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

Schiminovich, David; Van Gorkom, J. H.; Van der Hulst, J. M.

2013-02-01

As part of an ongoing study of the neutral hydrogen (H I) morphology and kinematics of 'shell' elliptical galaxies, we present Very Large Array observations of two shell galaxies with aligned shells, Arp 230 and MCG -5-7-1. Our data provide the first H I images of Arp 230 and deeper images of MCG -5-7-1 than previously reported. Optical images of Arp 230 reveal a bright, aligned, interleaved shell system, making it an ideal candidate for 'phase-wrapped' shell formation following a radial encounter with a smaller companion. The fainter, non-interleaved shells of MCG -5-7-1 do not clearly favor a particular formationmore » scenario. The H I we detect in both galaxies extends to nearly the same projected distance as the optical shells. In Arp 230 this gas appears to be anti-correlated with the aligned shells, consistent with our expectations for phase-wrapped shells produced in a radial encounter. In MCG -5-7-1, we observe gas associated with the shells making a 'spatial wrapping' or looping scenario more plausible. Although the extended gas component in both galaxies is unevenly distributed, the gas kinematics are surprisingly regular, looking almost like complete disks in rotation. We use the H I kinematics and optical data to determine mass-to-light ratios M/L{sub B} of 2.4{sup +3.0}{sub -0.5} (at 13.5 kpc, 4.5 R{sub e} ) for Arp 230 and M/L{sub B} of 30 {+-} 7 (at 40 kpc, 7 R{sub e} ) in MCG -5-7-1. In both systems we find that this ratio changes as a function of radius, indicating the presence of a dark halo. By comparing orbital and precession timescales, we conclude that the potentials are slightly flattened. We infer a 5%-10% flattening for Arp 230 and less flattening in the case of MCG -5-7-1. Finally, we present images of the H I associated with the inner disk or (polar) ring of each galaxy and discuss possible explanations for their different present-day star formation rates. We detect total H I masses of 1.1 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 9} M{sub Sun} in Arp 230 and 3.7 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 9} M{sub Sun} in MCG -5-7-1. Both systems have H I masses, scale sizes, and regular kinematics similar to those of non-aligned shell galaxies we have previously studied (Cen A and NGC 2865). Furthermore, we (re-)emphasize in this paper that shell galaxies such as MCG -5-7-1, along with previously studied galaxies NGC 5128 (Cen A) and NGC 2865, are unique in that they provide evidence of recent accretion with gas and collisionless stars showing clear association, though the displacement suggests the presence of significant gas-dynamical interaction.« less

47 CFR 80.767 - Propagation curve.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... data for field strengths in dBu for an effective radiated power of 1 kW, over sea water, fresh water or... referred to 1 kW (dBk), as follows: EC02AP91.005 where, Pt=Transmitter output power in dB referred to 1 kW... Graph 1 for a conversion graph. G=Antenna gain in dB referred to a standard half-wave dipole, in the...

47 CFR 80.767 - Propagation curve.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... data for field strengths in dBu for an effective radiated power of 1 kW, over sea water, fresh water or... referred to 1 kW (dBk), as follows: EC02AP91.005 where, Pt=Transmitter output power in dB referred to 1 kW... Graph 1 for a conversion graph. G=Antenna gain in dB referred to a standard half-wave dipole, in the...

47 CFR 80.767 - Propagation curve.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... data for field strengths in dBu for an effective radiated power of 1 kW, over sea water, fresh water or... referred to 1 kW (dBk), as follows: EC02AP91.005 where, Pt=Transmitter output power in dB referred to 1 kW... Graph 1 for a conversion graph. G=Antenna gain in dB referred to a standard half-wave dipole, in the...

47 CFR 80.767 - Propagation curve.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... data for field strengths in dBu for an effective radiated power of 1 kW, over sea water, fresh water or... referred to 1 kW (dBk), as follows: EC02AP91.005 where, Pt=Transmitter output power in dB referred to 1 kW... Graph 1 for a conversion graph. G=Antenna gain in dB referred to a standard half-wave dipole, in the...

Spectral performance of Square Kilometre Array Antennas - II. Calibration performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trott, Cathryn M.; de Lera Acedo, Eloy; Wayth, Randall B.; Fagnoni, Nicolas; Sutinjo, Adrian T.; Wakley, Brett; Punzalan, Chris Ivan B.

2017-09-01

We test the bandpass smoothness performance of two prototype Square Kilometre Array (SKA) SKA1-Low log-periodic dipole antennas, SKALA2 and SKALA3 ('SKA Log-periodic Antenna'), and the current dipole from the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) precursor telescope. Throughout this paper, we refer to the output complex-valued voltage response of an antenna when connected to a low-noise amplifier, as the dipole bandpass. In Paper I, the bandpass spectral response of the log-periodic antenna being developed for the SKA1-Low was estimated using numerical electromagnetic simulations and analysed using low-order polynomial fittings, and it was compared with the HERA antenna against the delay spectrum metric. In this work, realistic simulations of the SKA1-Low instrument, including frequency-dependent primary beam shapes and array configuration, are used with a weighted least-squares polynomial estimator to assess the ability of a given prototype antenna to perform the SKA Epoch of Reionisation (EoR) statistical experiments. This work complements the ideal estimator tolerances computed for the proposed EoR science experiments in Trott & Wayth, with the realized performance of an optimal and standard estimation (calibration) procedure. With a sufficient sky calibration model at higher frequencies, all antennas have bandpasses that are sufficiently smooth to meet the tolerances described in Trott & Wayth to perform the EoR statistical experiments, and these are primarily limited by an adequate sky calibration model and the thermal noise level in the calibration data. At frequencies of the Cosmic Dawn, which is of principal interest to SKA as one of the first next-generation telescopes capable of accessing higher redshifts, the MWA dipole and SKALA3 antenna have adequate performance, while the SKALA2 design will impede the ability to explore this era.

Mean and turbulent flow downstream of a low-intensity fire: influence of canopy and background atmospheric conditions

Treesearch

Michael T. Kiefer; Warren E. Heilman; Shiyuan Zhong; Joseph J. Charney; Xindi Bian

2015-01-01

This study examines the sensitivity of mean and turbulent flow in the planetary boundary layer and roughness sublayer to a low-intensity fire and evaluates whether the sensitivity is dependent on canopy and background atmospheric properties. The ARPS-CANOPY model, a modified version of the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) model with a canopy parameterization...

Subarcsecond imaging of the water emission in Arp 220

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

König, S.; Martín, S.; Muller, S.; Cernicharo, J.; Sakamoto, K.; Zschaechner, L. K.; Humphreys, E. M. L.; Mroczkowski, T.; Krips, M.; Galametz, M.; Aalto, S.; Vlemmings, W. H. T.; Ott, J.; Meier, D. S.; Fuente, A.; García-Burillo, S.; Neri, R.

2017-06-01

Aims: Extragalactic observations of water emission can provide valuable insight into the excitation of the interstellar medium. In particular they allow us to investigate the excitation mechanisms in obscured nuclei, that is, whether an active galactic nucleus or a starburst dominates. Methods: We use subarcsecond resolution observations to tackle the nature of the water emission in Arp 220. ALMA Band 5 science verification observations of the 183 GHz H2O 313 - 220 line, in conjunction with new ALMA Band 7 H2O 515 - 422 data at 325 GHz, and supplementary 22 GHz H2O 616 - 523 VLA observations, are used to better constrain the parameter space in the excitation modeling of the water lines. Results: We detect 183 GHz H2O and 325 GHz water emission toward the two compact nuclei at the center of Arp 220, being brighter in Arp 220 West. The emission at these two frequencies is compared to previous single-dish data and does not show evidence of variability. The 183 and 325 GHz lines show similar spectra and kinematics, but the 22 GHz profile is significantly different in both nuclei due to a blend with an NH3 absorption line. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the most likely scenario to cause the observed water emission in Arp 220 is a large number of independent masers originating from numerous star-forming regions. Based on observations carried in ALMA programs ADS/JAO.ALMA#2011.0.00018.SV and ADS/JAO.ALMA#2012.1.00453.S, with the IRAM 30 m telescope under project numbers 189-12 and 186-13.We dedicate this work to the memory of Fred Lo.

Fisetin inhibits epidermal growth factor-induced migration of ARPE-19 cells by suppression of AKT activation and Sp1-dependent MMP-9 expression.

PubMed

Lin, Hung-Yu; Chen, Yong-Syuan; Wang, Kai; Chien, Hsiang-Wen; Hsieh, Yi-Hsien; Yang, Shun-Fa

2017-01-01

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) can result in abnormal migration of RPE cells. Fisetin is a naturally occurring compound that has been reported to have antitumor effects, but its effects on epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced cell migration and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Effects of fisetin on EGF-induced cell viability and migration were examined with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and in vitro migration assays. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and immunoblotting were performed to evaluate matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) expression and activation of specificity protein-1 (Sp1) and protein kinase B (AKT) in ARPE-19 cells treated with EGF and with or without fisetin. Luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were performed to examine Sp1 transcription activity and MMP-9 binding activity. Fisetin did not affect ARPE-19 cell viability and significantly inhibited the EGF-induced migration capacity of ARPE-19 cells. Furthermore, fisetin exerted an antimigratory effect and suppressed MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression. Treatment with EGF induced phosphorylation of AKT and expression of MMP-9 and Sp1. Fisetin combined with LY294002 (an inhibitor of AKT) prevented the EGF-induced migration involved in downregulation of Sp1 and MMP-9 expression. Luciferase and ChIP assays suggested that fisetin remarkably decreased the EGF-induced transcription activity of MMP-9 and Sp1 and inhibited EGF-mediated Sp1 from directly binding to the MMP-9 promoter in ARPE-19 cells. Fisetin inhibited EGF-induced cell migration via modulation of AKT/Sp1-dependent MMP-9 transcriptional activity. Therefore, fisetin may be a potential agent in the treatment of migratory PVR diseases.

Evolution of the eukaryotic ARP2/3 activators of the WASP family: WASP, WAVE, WASH, and WHAMM, and the proposed new family members WAWH and WAML

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background WASP family proteins stimulate the actin-nucleating activity of the ARP2/3 complex. They include members of the well-known WASP and WAVE/Scar proteins, and the recently identified WASH and WHAMM proteins. WASP family proteins contain family specific N-terminal domains followed by proline-rich regions and C-terminal VCA domains that harbour the ARP2/3-activating regions. Results To reveal the evolution of ARP2/3 activation by WASP family proteins we performed a "holistic" analysis by manually assembling and annotating all homologs in most of the eukaryotic genomes available. We have identified two new families: the WAML proteins (WASP and MIM like), which combine the membrane-deforming and actin bundling functions of the IMD domains with the ARP2/3-activating VCA regions, and the WAWH protein (WASP without WH1 domain) that have been identified in amoebae, Apusozoa, and the anole lizard. Surprisingly, with one exception we did not identify any alternative splice forms for WASP family proteins, which is in strong contrast to other actin-binding proteins like Ena/VASP, MIM, or NHS proteins that share domains with WASP proteins. Conclusions Our analysis showed that the last common ancestor of the eukaryotes must have contained a homolog of WASP, WAVE, and WASH. Specific families have subsequently been lost in many taxa like the WASPs in plants, algae, Stramenopiles, and Euglenozoa, and the WASH proteins in fungi. The WHAMM proteins are metazoa specific and have most probably been invented by the Eumetazoa. The diversity of WASP family proteins has strongly been increased by many species- and taxon-specific gene duplications and multimerisations. All data is freely accessible via http://www.cymobase.org. PMID:22316129

The FAK-Arp2/3 interaction promotes leading edge advance and haptosensing by coupling nascent adhesions to lamellipodia actin.

PubMed

Swaminathan, Vinay; Fischer, R S; Waterman, Clare M

2016-04-01

Cell migration is initiated in response to biochemical or physical cues in the environment that promote actin-mediated lamellipodial protrusion followed by the formation of nascent integrin adhesions (NAs) within the protrusion to drive leading edge advance. Although FAK is known to be required for cell migration through effects on focal adhesions, its role in NA formation and lamellipodial dynamics is unclear. Live-cell microscopy of FAK(-/-)cells with expression of phosphorylation deficient or a FERM-domain mutant deficient in Arp2/3 binding revealed a requirement for FAK in promoting the dense formation, transient stabilization, and timely turnover of NA within lamellipodia to couple actin-driven protrusion to adhesion and advance of the leading edge. Phosphorylation on Y397 of FAK promotes dense NA formation but is dispensable for transient NA stabilization and leading edge advance. In contrast, transient NA stabilization and advance of the cell edge requires FAK-Arp2/3 interaction, which promotes Arp2/3 localization to NA and reduces FAK activity. Haptosensing of extracellular matrix (ECM) concentration during migration requires the interaction between FAK and Arp2/3, whereas FAK phosphorylation modulates mechanosensing of ECM stiffness during spreading. Taken together, our results show that mechanistically separable functions of FAK in NA are required for cells to distinguish distinct properties of their environment during migration. © 2016 Swaminathan et al. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). Two months after publication it is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

Fisetin inhibits epidermal growth factor–induced migration of ARPE-19 cells by suppression of AKT activation and Sp1-dependent MMP-9 expression

PubMed Central

Lin, Hung-Yu; Chen, Yong-Syuan; Wang, Kai; Chien, Hsiang-Wen

2017-01-01

Purpose Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) can result in abnormal migration of RPE cells. Fisetin is a naturally occurring compound that has been reported to have antitumor effects, but its effects on epidermal growth factor (EGF)–induced cell migration and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Methods Effects of fisetin on EGF-induced cell viability and migration were examined with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and in vitro migration assays. Reverse transcription–PCR (RT–PCR) and immunoblotting were performed to evaluate matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) expression and activation of specificity protein-1 (Sp1) and protein kinase B (AKT) in ARPE-19 cells treated with EGF and with or without fisetin. Luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were performed to examine Sp1 transcription activity and MMP-9 binding activity. Results Fisetin did not affect ARPE-19 cell viability and significantly inhibited the EGF-induced migration capacity of ARPE-19 cells. Furthermore, fisetin exerted an antimigratory effect and suppressed MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression. Treatment with EGF induced phosphorylation of AKT and expression of MMP-9 and Sp1. Fisetin combined with LY294002 (an inhibitor of AKT) prevented the EGF-induced migration involved in downregulation of Sp1 and MMP-9 expression. Luciferase and ChIP assays suggested that fisetin remarkably decreased the EGF-induced transcription activity of MMP-9 and Sp1 and inhibited EGF-mediated Sp1 from directly binding to the MMP-9 promoter in ARPE-19 cells. Conclusions Fisetin inhibited EGF-induced cell migration via modulation of AKT/Sp1–dependent MMP-9 transcriptional activity. Therefore, fisetin may be a potential agent in the treatment of migratory PVR diseases. PMID:29296070

Associative representational plasticity in the auditory cortex: A synthesis of two disciplines

PubMed Central

Weinberger, Norman M.

2013-01-01

Historically, sensory systems have been largely ignored as potential loci of information storage in the neurobiology of learning and memory. They continued to be relegated to the role of “sensory analyzers” despite consistent findings of associatively induced enhancement of responses in primary sensory cortices to behaviorally important signal stimuli, such as conditioned stimuli (CS), during classical conditioning. This disregard may have been promoted by the fact that the brain was interrogated using only one or two stimuli, e.g., a CS+ sometimes with a CS−, providing little insight into the specificity of neural plasticity. This review describes a novel approach that synthesizes the basic experimental designs of the experimental psychology of learning with that of sensory neurophysiology. By probing the brain with a large stimulus set before and after learning, this unified method has revealed that associative processes produce highly specific changes in the receptive fields of cells in the primary auditory cortex (A1). This associative representational plasticity (ARP) selectively facilitates responses to tonal CSs at the expense of other frequencies, producing tuning shifts toward and to the CS and expanded representation of CS frequencies in the tonotopic map of A1. ARPs have the major characteristics of associative memory: They are highly specific, discriminative, rapidly acquired, exhibit consolidation over hours and days, and can be retained indefinitely. Evidence to date suggests that ARPs encode the level of acquired behavioral importance of stimuli. The nucleus basalis cholinergic system is sufficient both for the induction of ARPs and the induction of specific auditory memory. Investigation of ARPs has attracted workers with diverse backgrounds, often resulting in behavioral approaches that yield data that are difficult to interpret. The advantages of studying associative representational plasticity are emphasized, as is the need for greater behavioral sophistication. PMID:17202426

Depth- and momentum- resolved electronic structure at buried oxide interfaces from standing-wave angle-resolved photoemission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fadley, Charles

2015-03-01

It is clear that interfaces in complex oxide heterostructures often represent emergent materials that possess surprising properties not associated with the parent oxides, such as two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs), superconductivity, and magnetism. A detailed knowledge of the composition, atomic structure, and electronic structure through such interfaces is thus critical. Photomission (PES) and angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) represent techniques of choice for such studies, but have certain limitations in being too surface sensitive and in not being able to focus specifically on buried interfaces or heterostructure layers. In this talk, I will discuss combining two newer elements of PES/ARPES to deal with this challenge: - the use of soft x-rays in the ca. few hundred-to-2000 eV regime, or even into the true hard x-ray regime, to probe more deeply into the structure, and - tailoring of the x-ray intensity profile into a strong standing wave (SW) through reflection from a multilayer heterostructure to provide much enhanced depth resolution. The relative advantages of soft/hard x-ray PES and ARPES and their complementarity to conventional VUV ARPES in the ca. 5-150 eV regime will be considered. As illustrative examples, by combining SW-PES and SW-ARPES, it has been possible to measure for the first time the detailed concentration profiles and momentum-resolved electronic structure at the SrTiO3/La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 interface and to directly measure the depth profile of the 2DEG at SrTiO3/GdTiO3 interfaces. Future directions for such measurements will also be discussed. Supported by US DOE Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231, ARO-MURI Grant W911-NF-09-1-0398, and the PALM-APTCOM Project (France).

The effects of pleiotrophin in proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

PubMed

Ding, Xue; Bai, Yujing; Zhu, Xuemei; Li, Tianqi; Jin, Enzhong; Huang, Lvzhen; Yu, Wenzhen; Zhao, Mingwei

2017-05-01

The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of pleiotrophin (PTN) in proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) both in vitro and in vivo. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the PTN expression in periretinal membrane samples from patients with PVR and controls. ARPE-19 cells were exposed to TGF-β1. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the ARPE-19 cells was confirmed by observed morphological changes and the increased expression of α-SMA and fibronectin at both the mRNA and protein levels. We used specific small interfering (si)RNA to knock down the expression of PTN. The subsequent effects of PTN inhibition were assessed with regard to the EMT, migration, proliferation, cytoskeletal arrangement, TGF-β signaling, PTN signaling, integral tight junction protein expression (e.g., claudin-1 and occludin), and p38 MAPK and p-p38 MAPK levels. Additionally, a PVR rat model was established by the intravitreal injection of ARPE-19 cells transfected with PTN-siRNA and was evaluated accordingly. PTN was highly expressed in PVR membranes compared to controls. PTN knockdown attenuated the TGF-β1-induced migration, proliferation, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and expression of EMT markers such as α-SMA and fibronectin in the ARPE-19 cells, and these effects may have been mediated through p38 MAPK signaling pathway activation. PTN silencing inhibited the up-regulation of claudin-1 and occludin stimulated by TGF-β1, and PTN knockdown inhibited the proliferative aspects of severe PVR in vivo. PTN is involved in the process of EMT induced by TGF-β1 in human ARPE-19 cells in vitro, and PTN knockdown attenuated the progression of experimental PVR in vivo. These findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of PVR.

Mutation analysis for DJ-1 in sporadic and familial parkinsonism: screening strategy in parkinsonism.

PubMed

Tomiyama, Hiroyuki; Li, Yuanzhe; Yoshino, Hiroyo; Mizuno, Yoshikuni; Kubo, Shin-Ichiro; Toda, Tatsushi; Hattori, Nobutaka

2009-05-22

DJ-1 mutations cause autosomal recessive parkinsonism (ARP). Although some reports of DJ-1 mutations have been published, there is lack of information on the prevalence of these mutations in large-scale studies of both familial and sporadic parkinsonism. In this genetic screening study, we analyzed the distribution and frequency of DJ-1 mutations by direct nucleotide sequencing of coding exons and exon-intron boundaries of DJ-1, in 386 parkin-negative parkinsonism patients (371 index cases: 67 probands of autosomal recessive parkinsonism families, 90 probands of autosomal dominant parkinsonism families, 201 patients with sporadic parkinsonism, and 13 with unknown family histories) from 12 countries (Japan 283, China 27, Taiwan 22, Korea 22, Israel 16, Turkey 5, Philippines 2, Bulgaria 2, Greece 2, Tunisia 1, USA 2, Ukraine 1, unknown 1). None had causative mutation in DJ-1, suggesting DJ-1 mutation is very rare among patients with familial and sporadic parkinsonism from Asian countries and those with other ethnic background. This is in contrast to the higher frequencies and worldwide distribution of parkin- and PINK1-related parkinsonism in ARP and sporadic parkinsonism. Thus, after obtaining clinical information, screening for mutations in (1) parkin, (2) PINK1, (3) DJ-1, (4) ATP13A2 should be conducted in that order, in ARP and sporadic parkinsonism, based on their reported frequencies. In addition, haplotype analysis should be employed to check for homozygosity of 1p36, which harbors a cluster of causative genes for ARP such as DJ-1, PINK1 and ATP13A2 in ARP and sporadic parkinsonism, especially in parkinsonism with consanguinity.

IGS14/igs14.atx: a new Framework for the IGS Products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rebischung, P.; Schmid, R.

2016-12-01

The International GNSS Service (IGS) is about to switch to a new reference frame (IGS14), based on the latest release of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF2014), as the basis for its products. An updated set of satellite and ground antenna calibrations (igs14.atx) will become effective at the same time. IGS14 and igs14.atx will then replace the previous IGS08/igs08.atx framework in use since GPS week 1632 (17 April 2011) and in the second IGS reprocessing campaign (repro2). Despite the negligible scale difference between ITRF2008 and ITRF2014 (0.02 ppb), the radial components of all GPS and GLONASS satellite antenna phase center offsets (z-PCOs) had to be updated in igs14.atx, because of modeling changes recently introduced within the IGS that affect the scale of the IGS products. This was achieved by deriving and averaging time series of satellite z-PCO estimates, consistent with the ITRF2014 scale, from the daily repro2 and latest operational SINEX solutions of seven IGS Analysis Centers (ACs). Compared to igs08.atx, igs14.atx includes robot calibrations for 16 additional ground antenna types, so that the percentage of stations with absolute calibrations in the IGS network will reach 90% after the switch. 19 type-mean robot calibrations were also updated thanks to the availability of calibration results for additional antenna samples. IGS14 is basically an extract of well-suited reference frame stations (i.e., with long and stable position time series) from ITRF2014. However, to make the IGS14 station coordinates consistent with the new igs14.atx ground antenna calibrations, position offsets due to the switch from igs08.atx to igs14.atx were derived for all IGS14 stations affected by ground antenna calibration updates and applied to their ITRF2014 coordinates. This presentation will first detail the different steps of the elaboration of IGS14 and igs14.atx. The impact of the switch on GNSS-derived geodetic parameter time series will then be assessed by re-aligning the daily repro2 and latest operational IGS combined SINEX solutions to IGS14/igs14.atx. A particular focus will finally be given to the biases and trends present in the satellite z-PCO time series derived from the daily AC SINEX solutions, and to their interpretation in terms of scale and scale rate of the terrestrial frame.

PATL: A RFID Tag Localization based on Phased Array Antenna.

PubMed

Qiu, Lanxin; Liang, Xiaoxuan; Huang, Zhangqin

2017-03-15

In RFID systems, how to detect the position precisely is an important and challenging research topic. In this paper, we propose a range-free 2D tag localization method based on phased array antenna, called PATL. This method takes advantage of the adjustable radiation angle of the phased array antenna to scan the surveillance region in turns. By using the statistics of the tags' number in different antenna beam directions, a weighting algorithm is used to calculate the position of the tag. This method can be applied to real-time location of multiple targets without usage of any reference tags or additional readers. Additionally, we present an optimized weighting method based on RSSI to increase the locating accuracy. We use a Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) UHF RFID reader which is integrated with a phased array antenna to evaluate our method. The experiment results from an indoor office environment demonstrate the average distance error of PATL is about 21 cm and the optimized approach achieves an accuracy of 13 cm. This novel 2D localization scheme is a simple, yet promising, solution that is especially applicable to the smart shelf visualized management in storage or retail area.

Solar power satellite system sizing tradeoffs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arndt, G. D.; Monford, L. G.

1981-01-01

Technical and economic tradeoffs of smaller solar power satellite systems configured with larger antennas, reduced output power, and smaller rectennas, are considered. The differential costs in electricity for seven antenna/rectenna configurations operating at 2.45 GHz and five satellite systems operating at 5.8 GHz are calculated. Two 2.45 GHz configurations dependent upon the ionospheric power density limit are chosen as examples. If the ionospheric limit could be increased to 54 mW sq/cm from the present 23 mW sq/cm level, a 1.53 km antenna satellite operating at 2.45 GHz would provide 5.05 GW of output power from a 6.8 km diameter rectenna. This system gives a 54 percent reduction in rectenna area relative to the reference solar power satellite system at a modest 17 percent increase in electricity costs. At 5.8 GHz, an 0.75 km antenna providing 2.72 GW of power from a 5.8 km diameter rectenna is selected for analysis. This configuration would have a 67 percent reduction in rectenna area at a 36 percent increase in electricity costs. Ionospheric, atmospheric, and thermal limitations are discussed. Antenna patterns for three configurations to show the relative main beam and sidelobe characteristics are included.

PATL: A RFID Tag Localization based on Phased Array Antenna

PubMed Central

Qiu, Lanxin; Liang, Xiaoxuan; Huang, Zhangqin

2017-01-01

In RFID systems, how to detect the position precisely is an important and challenging research topic. In this paper, we propose a range-free 2D tag localization method based on phased array antenna, called PATL. This method takes advantage of the adjustable radiation angle of the phased array antenna to scan the surveillance region in turns. By using the statistics of the tags’ number in different antenna beam directions, a weighting algorithm is used to calculate the position of the tag. This method can be applied to real-time location of multiple targets without usage of any reference tags or additional readers. Additionally, we present an optimized weighting method based on RSSI to increase the locating accuracy. We use a Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) UHF RFID reader which is integrated with a phased array antenna to evaluate our method. The experiment results from an indoor office environment demonstrate the average distance error of PATL is about 21 cm and the optimized approach achieves an accuracy of 13 cm. This novel 2D localization scheme is a simple, yet promising, solution that is especially applicable to the smart shelf visualized management in storage or retail area. PMID:28295014

Fragmentation of negative ions from N-linked carbohydrates, part 4. Fragmentation of complex glycans lacking substitution on the 6-antenna.

PubMed

Harvey, David J; Jaeken, Jaak; Butler, Mike; Armitage, Alison J; Rudd, Pauline M; Dwek, Raymond A

2010-05-01

Negative ion CID spectra of N-linked glycans released from glycoproteins contain many ions that are diagnostic for specific structural features such as the detailed arrangement of antennae and the location of fucose residues. Identification of such ions requires reference glycans that are often difficult to acquire in a pure state. The recent acquisition of a sample of N-glycans from a patient lacking the enzyme N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-2 provided an opportunity to investigate fragmentation of glycans lacking a 6-antenna. These glycans contained one or two galactose-N-acetylglucosamine-chains attached to the 3-linked mannose residue of the trimannosyl-chitobiose core with and without fucose substitution. The spectra from the patient sample clearly defined the antenna distribution and showed striking differences from the spectra of isomeric compounds obtained from normal subjects. Furthermore, they provided additional information on previously identified antenna-specific fragment ions and indicated the presence of additional ions that were diagnostic of fucose substitution. Glycans obtained from such enzyme-deficient patients can, thus, be a valuable way of obtaining spectra of specific isomers in a relatively pure state for interpretation of mass spectra. 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A numerical study of atmospheric perturbations induced by heat from a wildland fire: sensitivity to vertical canopy structure and heat source strength

Treesearch

Michael T. Kiefer; Shiyuan Zhong; Warren E. Heilman; Joseph J. Charney; Xindi Bian

2018-01-01

An improved understanding of atmospheric perturbations within and above a forest during a wildland fire has relevance to many aspects of wildland fires including fire spread, smoke transport and dispersion, and tree mortality. In this study, the ARPS-CANOPY model, a version of the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) model with a canopy parameterization, is...

Symmetry Breaking in Few Layer Graphene Films

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

Bostwick, A.; Ohta, T.; McChesney, J.L.

2007-05-25

Recently, it was demonstrated that the quasiparticledynamics, the layer-dependent charge and potential, and the c-axisscreening coefficient could be extracted from measurements of thespectral function of few layer graphene films grown epitaxially on SiCusing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). In this articlewe review these findings, and present detailed methodology for extractingsuch parameters from ARPES. We also present detailed arguments againstthe possibility of an energy gap at the Dirac crossing ED.

Spicule formation in calcareous sponges: Coordinated expression of biomineralization genes and spicule-type specific genes

PubMed Central

Voigt, Oliver; Adamska, Maja; Adamski, Marcin; Kittelmann, André; Wencker, Lukardis; Wörheide, Gert

2017-01-01

The ability to form mineral structures under biological control is widespread among animals. In several species, specific proteins have been shown to be involved in biomineralization, but it is uncertain how they influence the shape of the growing biomineral and the resulting skeleton. Calcareous sponges are the only sponges that form calcitic spicules, which, based on the number of rays (actines) are distinguished in diactines, triactines and tetractines. Each actine is formed by only two cells, called sclerocytes. Little is known about biomineralization proteins in calcareous sponges, other than that specific carbonic anhydrases (CAs) have been identified, and that uncharacterized Asx-rich proteins have been isolated from calcitic spicules. By RNA-Seq and RNA in situ hybridization (ISH), we identified five additional biomineralization genes in Sycon ciliatum: two bicarbonate transporters (BCTs) and three Asx-rich extracellular matrix proteins (ARPs). We show that these biomineralization genes are expressed in a coordinated pattern during spicule formation. Furthermore, two of the ARPs are spicule-type specific for triactines and tetractines (ARP1 or SciTriactinin) or diactines (ARP2 or SciDiactinin). Our results suggest that spicule formation is controlled by defined temporal and spatial expression of spicule-type specific sets of biomineralization genes. PMID:28406140

ARPES studies of the electronic structure of Fe-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Donghui

2009-03-01

The recent discovery of superconductivity in Fe-based layered compounds has created renewed interest in high temperature superconductivity. With a superconducting transition temperature as high as 55 K, this discovery provides a new direction to understand the essential ingredients for achieving a high superconducting transition temperature. In this talk, I will present our recent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) studies on LaOFeP and (Ba,K)Fe2As2 systems, with special emphasis on the basic electronic structure of the parent compounds. For LaOFeP, quantitative agreement can be found between our ARPES data and the LDA band structure calculations, suggesting that a weak coupling approach based on an itinerant ground state may be more appropriate for understanding this new superconducting compound [1]. On the other hand, the picture for (Ba,K)Fe2As2 system is more complicated. I will discuss two important issues in these FeAs compounds: 1) the unexpected Fermi surface topology in both undoped and doped compounds; 2) the peculiar signature of the SDW transition in ARPES spectra for the parent compound. [4pt] [1] D. H. Lu, M. Yi, S.-K. Mo, A. S. Erickson, J. Analytis, J.-H. Chu, D. J. Singh, Z. Hussain, T. H. Geballe, I. R. Fisher & Z.-X. Shen, Nature 455, 81 (2008).

Fisetin and luteolin protect human retinal pigment epithelial cells from oxidative stress-induced cell death and regulate inflammation

PubMed Central

Hytti, Maria; Piippo, Niina; Korhonen, Eveliina; Honkakoski, Paavo; Kaarniranta, Kai; Kauppinen, Anu

2015-01-01

Degeneration of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is a clinical hallmark of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness among aged people in the Western world. Both inflammation and oxidative stress are known to play vital roles in the development of this disease. Here, we assess the ability of fisetin and luteolin, to protect ARPE-19 cells from oxidative stress-induced cell death and to decrease intracellular inflammation. We also compare the growth and reactivity of human ARPE-19 cells in serum-free and serum-containing conditions. The absence of serum in the culture medium did not prevent ARPE-19 cells from reaching full confluency but caused an increased sensitivity to oxidative stress-induced cell death. Both fisetin and luteolin protected ARPE-19 cells from oxidative stress-induced cell death. They also significantly decreased the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines into the culture medium. The decrease in inflammation was associated with reduced activation of MAPKs and CREB, but was not linked to NF- κB or SIRT1. The ability of fisetin and luteolin to protect and repair stressed RPE cells even after the oxidative insult make them attractive in the search for treatments for AMD. PMID:26619957

AUDITORY ASSOCIATIVE MEMORY AND REPRESENTATIONAL PLASTICITY IN THE PRIMARY AUDITORY CORTEX

PubMed Central

Weinberger, Norman M.

2009-01-01

Historically, the primary auditory cortex has been largely ignored as a substrate of auditory memory, perhaps because studies of associative learning could not reveal the plasticity of receptive fields (RFs). The use of a unified experimental design, in which RFs are obtained before and after standard training (e.g., classical and instrumental conditioning) revealed associative representational plasticity, characterized by facilitation of responses to tonal conditioned stimuli (CSs) at the expense of other frequencies, producing CS-specific tuning shifts. Associative representational plasticity (ARP) possesses the major attributes of associative memory: it is highly specific, discriminative, rapidly acquired, consolidates over hours and days and can be retained indefinitely. The nucleus basalis cholinergic system is sufficient both for the induction of ARP and for the induction of specific auditory memory, including control of the amount of remembered acoustic details. Extant controversies regarding the form, function and neural substrates of ARP appear largely to reflect different assumptions, which are explicitly discussed. The view that the forms of plasticity are task-dependent is supported by ongoing studies in which auditory learning involves CS-specific decreases in threshold or bandwidth without affecting frequency tuning. Future research needs to focus on the factors that determine ARP and their functions in hearing and in auditory memory. PMID:17344002

Nanoceria-loaded injectable hydrogels for potential age-related macular degeneration treatment.

PubMed

Wang, Kai; Mitra, Rajendra Narayan; Zheng, Min; Han, Zongchao

2018-05-12

The major purpose of this article is to evaluate oligochitosan coated cerium oxide nanoparticles (OCCNPs) alginate laden injectable hydrogels and their potential treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The water soluble OCCNPs were loaded within injectable hydrogels as antioxidative agents. The release of OCCNPs from hydrogel, radical scavenging properties, and biocompatibility were evaluated and calculated in vitro. The effects of OCCNP laden hydrogel downregulating expression of angiogenic proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines were quantified in human retinal pigment epithlium-19 (ARPE-19) and umbilical endothelium cell lines. The hydrogels behaved with moderate swelling and controllable degradation. The laden OCCNPs were released in a controlled manner in vitro during two months of testing. The OCCNP loaded hydrogels exhibited robust antioxidative properties in oxygen radical absorbance capacity tests and reduced apoptosis in H 2 O 2 -induced ARPE-19 cells. Furthermore, OCCNP loaded injectable hydrogels are biocompatible and suppressed the LPS-induced inflammation response in ARPE-19 cells, and inhibited expression of vascular endothelium growth factor in human ARPE-19 and umbilical endothelium cell lines. The alginate-gelatin injectable hydrogel loaded OCCNPs are biocompatible and have high potential in protecting cells from apoptosis, angiogenesis, and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in AMD cellular models. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

What Lurks in ULIRGs?—Probing the Chemistry and Excitation of Molecular Gas in the Nuclei of Arp 220 and NGC 6240

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

Manohar, Swarnima; Scoville, Nick

We have imaged the dense star-forming regions of Arp 220 and NGC 6240 in the 3 mm band transitions of CO, HCN, HCO{sup +}, HNC, and CS at 0.″5–0.″8 resolution using CARMA. Our data set images all these lines at similar resolutions and high sensitivity, and can be used to derive line ratios of faint high excitation lines. In both the nuclei of Arp 220, the HCN/HNC ratios suggest chemistry of X-ray Dominated Regions (XDRs)—a likely signature of an active galactic nucleus. In NGC 6240, there is no evidence of XDR type chemistry, but there the bulk of the molecularmore » gas is concentrated between the nuclei rather than on them. We calculated molecular H{sub 2} densities from excitation analysis of each of the molecular species. It appears that the abundances of HNC and HCO{sup +} in Ultra Luminous Infrared Galaxies may be significantly different from those in galactic molecular clouds. The derived H{sub 2} volume densities are ∼5 × 10{sup 4} cm{sup −3} in the Arp 220 nuclei and ∼10{sup 4} cm{sup −3} in NGC 6240.« less

STM/BP-Like KNOXI Is Uncoupled from ARP in the Regulation of Compound Leaf Development in Medicago truncatula[C][W][OPEN

PubMed Central

Zhou, Chuanen; Han, Lu; Li, Guifen; Chai, Maofeng; Fu, Chunxiang; Cheng, Xiaofei; Wen, Jiangqi; Tang, Yuhong; Wang, Zeng-Yu

2014-01-01

Class I KNOTTED-like homeobox (KNOXI) genes are critical for the maintenance of the shoot apical meristem. The expression domain of KNOXI is regulated by ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1/ROUGHSHEATH2/PHANTASTICA (ARP) genes, which are associated with leaf morphology. In the inverted repeat-lacking clade (IRLC) of Fabaceae, the orthologs of LEAFY (LFY) function in place of KNOXI to regulate compound leaf development. Here, we characterized loss-of-function mutants of ARP (PHAN) and SHOOTMERISTEMLESS (STM)- and BREVIPEDICELLUS (BP)-like KNOXI in the model IRLC legume species Medicago truncatula. The function of ARP genes is species specific. The repression of STM/BP-like KNOXI genes in leaves is not mediated by PHAN, and no suppression of PHAN by STM/BP-like KNOXI genes was observed either, indicating that STM/BP-like KNOXI genes are uncoupled from PHAN in M. truncatula. Furthermore, comparative analyses of phenotypic output in response to ectopic expression of KNOXI and the M. truncatula LFY ortholog, SINGLE LEAFLET1 (SGL1), reveal that KNOXI and SGL1 regulate parallel pathways in leaf development. We propose that SGL1 probably functions in a stage-specific manner in the regulation of the indeterminate state of developing leaves in M. truncatula. PMID:24781113

Effects of hydroquinone on retinal and vascular cells in vitro

PubMed Central

Sharma, Ashish; Patil, Jayaprakash A; Gramajo, Ana L; Seigel, Gail M; Kuppermann, Baruch D; Kenney, Cristina M

2012-01-01

Aim: To explore the molecular pathophysiology that might explain the epidemiologic association between cigarette smoke and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by examining the effects of hydroquinone (HQ), a toxic compound present in high concentration in cigarette smoke-related tar, on human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19), rat retinal neurosensory cells (R-28), and human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC). Materials and Methods: ARPE-19, R-28, and HMVEC were treated for 24 h with four different concentrations of HQ (500 μM, 200 μM, 100 μM, 50 μM). Cell viability, caspase-3/7 activation, DNA laddering patterns, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were analyzed. Results: At 50 μM HQ, R-28 cells showed a significant decrease in cell viability compared with the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-treated controls. At the 100–500 μM concentrations, all three cell lines showed significant cell death (P < 0.001). In the ARPE-19, R-28, and HMVEC cultures, the caspase-3/7 activities were not increased at any of the HQ concentration. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the mechanism of cell death in all three cell lines was through non-apoptotic pathway. In addition, neuroretinal R-28 cells were more sensitive to HQ than the ARPE-19 and HMVEC cultures. PMID:22569379

Actin dynamics in Amoeba proteus motility.

PubMed

Pomorski, P; Krzemiński, P; Wasik, A; Wierzbicka, K; Barańska, J; Kłopocka, W

2007-01-01

We studied the distribution of the endogenous Arp2/3 complex in Amoeba proteus and visualised the ratio of filamentous (F-actin) to total actin in living cells. The presented results show that in the highly motile Amoeba proteus, Arp2/3 complex-dependent actin polymerisation is involved in the formation of the branching network of the contractile layer, adhesive structures, and perinuclear cytoskeleton. The aggregation of the Arp2/3 complex in the cortical network, with the exception of the uroid and advancing fronts, and the spatial orientation of microfilaments at the leading edge suggest that actin polymerisation in this area is not sufficient to provide the driving force for membrane displacement. The examined proteins were enriched in the pinocytotic pseudopodia and the perinuclear cytoskeleton in pinocytotic amoebae. In migrating amoebae, the course of changes in F-actin concentration corresponded with the distribution of tension in the cell cortex. The maximum level of F-actin in migrating amoebae was observed in the middle-posterior region and in the front of retracting pseudopodia. Arp2/3 complex-dependent actin polymerisation did not seem to influence F-actin concentration. The strongly condensed state of the microfilament system could be attributed to strong isometric contraction of the cortical layer accompanied by its retraction from distal cell regions. Isotonic contraction was limited to the uroid.

A novel role for WAVE1 in controlling actin network growth rate and architecture

PubMed Central

Sweeney, Meredith O.; Collins, Agnieszka; Padrick, Shae B.; Goode, Bruce L.

2015-01-01

Branched actin filament networks in cells are assembled through the combined activities of Arp2/3 complex and different WASP/WAVE proteins. Here we used TIRF and electron microscopy to directly compare for the first time the assembly kinetics and architectures of actin filament networks produced by Arp2/3 complex and dimerized VCA regions of WAVE1, WAVE2, or N-WASP. WAVE1 produced strikingly different networks from WAVE2 or N-WASP, which comprised unexpectedly short filaments. Further analysis showed that the WAVE1-specific activity stemmed from an inhibitory effect on filament elongation both in the presence and absence of Arp2/3 complex, which was observed even at low stoichiometries of WAVE1 to actin monomers, precluding an effect from monomer sequestration. Using a series of VCA chimeras, we mapped the elongation inhibitory effects of WAVE1 to its WH2 (“V”) domain. Further, mutating a single conserved lysine residue potently disrupted WAVE1's inhibitory effects. Taken together, our results show that WAVE1 has unique activities independent of Arp2/3 complex that can govern both the growth rates and architectures of actin filament networks. Such activities may underlie previously observed differences between the cellular functions of WAVE1 and WAVE2. PMID:25473116

Role of nucleation-promoting factors in mouse early embryo development.

PubMed

Wang, Qiao-Chu; Liu, Jun; Wang, Fei; Duan, Xing; Dai, Xiao-Xin; Wang, Teng; Liu, Hong-Lin; Cui, Xiang-Shun; Sun, Shao-Chen; Kim, Nam-Hyung

2013-06-01

During mitosis nucleation-promoting factors (NPFs) bind to the Arp2/3 complex and activate actin assembly. JMY and WAVE2 are two critical members of the NPFs. Previous studies have demonstrated that NPFs promote multiple processes such as cell migration and cytokinesis. However, the role of NPFs in development of mammalian embryos is still unknown. Results of the present study show that the NPFs JMY and WAVE2 are critical for cytokinesis during development of mouse embryos. Both JMY and WAVE2 are expressed in mouse embryos. After injection of JMY or WAVE2 siRNA, all embryos failed to develop to the morula or blastocyst stages. Moreover, using fluorescence intensity analysis, we found that the expression of actin decreased, and multiple nuclei were observed within a single cell indicating that NPFs-induced actin reduction caused the failure of cell division. In addition, injection of JMY and WAVE2 siRNA also caused ARP2 degradation, indicating that involvement of NPFs in development of mouse embryos is mainly through regulation of ARP2/3-induced actin assembly. Taken together, these data suggested that WAVE2 and JMY are involved in development of mouse embryos, and their regulation may be through a NPFs-Arp2/3-actin pathway.

WAVE2 Regulates High-Affinity Integrin Binding by Recruiting Vinculin and Talin to the Immunological Synapse▿

PubMed Central

Nolz, Jeffrey C.; Medeiros, Ricardo B.; Mitchell, Jason S.; Zhu, Peimin; Freedman, Bruce D.; Shimizu, Yoji; Billadeau, Daniel D.

2007-01-01

T-cell-receptor (TCR)-mediated integrin activation is required for T-cell-antigen-presenting cell conjugation and adhesion to extracellular matrix components. While it has been demonstrated that the actin cytoskeleton and its regulators play an essential role in this process, no mechanism has been established which directly links TCR-induced actin polymerization to the activation of integrins. Here, we demonstrate that TCR stimulation results in WAVE2-ARP2/3-dependent F-actin nucleation and the formation of a complex containing WAVE2, ARP2/3, vinculin, and talin. The verprolin-connecting-acidic (VCA) domain of WAVE2 mediates the formation of the ARP2/3-vinculin-talin signaling complex and talin recruitment to the immunological synapse (IS). Interestingly, although vinculin is not required for F-actin or integrin accumulation at the IS, it is required for the recruitment of talin. In addition, RNA interference of either WAVE2 or vinculin inhibits activation-dependent induction of high-affinity integrin binding to VCAM-1. Overall, these findings demonstrate a mechanism in which signals from the TCR produce WAVE2-ARP2/3-mediated de novo actin polymerization, leading to integrin clustering and high-affinity binding through the recruitment of vinculin and talin. PMID:17591693

WAVE2 regulates high-affinity integrin binding by recruiting vinculin and talin to the immunological synapse.

PubMed

Nolz, Jeffrey C; Medeiros, Ricardo B; Mitchell, Jason S; Zhu, Peimin; Freedman, Bruce D; Shimizu, Yoji; Billadeau, Daniel D

2007-09-01

T-cell-receptor (TCR)-mediated integrin activation is required for T-cell-antigen-presenting cell conjugation and adhesion to extracellular matrix components. While it has been demonstrated that the actin cytoskeleton and its regulators play an essential role in this process, no mechanism has been established which directly links TCR-induced actin polymerization to the activation of integrins. Here, we demonstrate that TCR stimulation results in WAVE2-ARP2/3-dependent F-actin nucleation and the formation of a complex containing WAVE2, ARP2/3, vinculin, and talin. The verprolin-connecting-acidic (VCA) domain of WAVE2 mediates the formation of the ARP2/3-vinculin-talin signaling complex and talin recruitment to the immunological synapse (IS). Interestingly, although vinculin is not required for F-actin or integrin accumulation at the IS, it is required for the recruitment of talin. In addition, RNA interference of either WAVE2 or vinculin inhibits activation-dependent induction of high-affinity integrin binding to VCAM-1. Overall, these findings demonstrate a mechanism in which signals from the TCR produce WAVE2-ARP2/3-mediated de novo actin polymerization, leading to integrin clustering and high-affinity binding through the recruitment of vinculin and talin.

Antenna Performance Influenced by the Finite Extent and Conductivity of Ground Planes: A Collection of Reprints

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-09-01

FORMULATION OF PROBLEM denoted by AZ and is given by With reference to a cylindrical polar coordinate 17-Z-Zs.- P, 1." * ()d. (4a) system (p,O,Z) the...without limit as a approaches zero. This formulation is not actually valid in this limiting case since one terminal of the generator would then be connected...current. APPE.IXx I Formulation of the input impedance. An expression is here for- mulated for the input impedance at the terminals of an antenna

SPS phase control system performance via analytical simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lindsey, W. C.; Kantak, A. V.; Chie, C. M.; Booth, R. W. D.

1979-01-01

A solar power satellite transmission system which incorporates automatic beam forming, steering, and phase control is discussed. The phase control concept centers around the notation of an active retrodirective phased array as a means of pointing the beam to the appropriate spot on Earth. The transmitting antenna (spacetenna) directs the high power beam so that it focuses on the ground-based receiving antenna (rectenna). A combination of analysis and computerized simulation was conducted to determine the far field performance of the reference distribution system, and the beam forming and microwave power generating systems.

Male- and Female-Biased Gene Expression of Olfactory-Related Genes in the Antennae of Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

PubMed Central

Zhang, Tiantao; Coates, Brad S.; Ge, Xing; Bai, Shuxiong; He, Kanglai; Wang, Zhenying

2015-01-01

The Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), is a destructive pest insect of cultivated corn crops, for which antennal-expressed receptors are important to detect olfactory cues for mate attraction and oviposition. Few olfactory related genes were reported in ACB, so we sequenced and characterized the transcriptome of male and female O. furnacalis antennae. Non-normalized male and female O. furnacalis antennal cDNA libraries were sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq 2000 and assembled into a reference transcriptome. Functional gene annotations identified putative olfactory-related genes; 56 odorant receptors (ORs), 23 odorant binding proteins (OBPs), and 10 CSPs. RNA-seq estimates of gene expression respectively showed up- and down-regulation of 79 and 30 genes in female compared to male antennae, which included up-regulation of 8 ORs and 1 PBP gene in male antennae as well as 3 ORs in female antennae. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analyses validated strong male antennal-biased expression of OfurOR3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13 and 14 transcripts, whereas OfurOR17 and 18 were specially expressed in female antennae. Sex-biases gene expression described here provides important insight in gene functionalization, and provides candidate genes putatively involved in environmental perception, host plant attraction, and mate recognition. PMID:26062030

Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) Quarterly Report Fourth Quarter FY-04

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bauman, William; Wheeler, Mark; Lambert, Winifred; Case, Jonathan; Short, David

2004-01-01

This report summarizes the Applied Meteorology Unit (A MU) activities for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2004 (July -Sept 2004). Tasks covered are: (1) Objective Lightning Probability Forecast: Phase I, (2) Severe Weather Forecast Decision Aid, (3) Hail Index, (4) Shuttle Ascent Camera Cloud Obstruction Forecast, (5) Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) Optimization and Training Extension and (5) User Control Interface for ARPS Data Analysis System (ADAS) Data Ingest.

Photoemission study of the electronic structure and charge density waves of Na₂Ti₂Sb₂O

DOE PAGES

Tan, S. Y.; Jiang, J.; Ye, Z. R.; ...

2015-04-30

The electronic structure of Na₂Ti₂Sb₂O single crystal is studied by photon energy and polarization dependent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). The obtained band structure and Fermi surface agree well with the band structure calculation of Na₂Ti₂Sb₂O in the non-magnetic state, which indicates that there is no magnetic order in Na₂Ti₂Sb₂O and the electronic correlation is weak. Polarization dependent ARPES results suggest the multi-band and multi-orbital nature of Na₂Ti₂Sb₂O. Photon energy dependent ARPES results suggest that the electronic structure of Na₂Ti₂Sb₂O is rather two-dimensional. Moreover, we find a density wave energy gap forms below the transition temperature and reaches 65 meV atmore » 7 K, indicating that Na₂Ti₂Sb₂O is likely a weakly correlated CDW material in the strong electron-phonon interaction regime. (author)« less

A test of the massive binary black hole hypothesis - Arp 102B

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Helpern, J. P.; Filippenko, Alexei V.

1988-01-01

The emission-line spectra of several AGN have broad peaks which are significantly displaced in velocity with respect to the host galaxy. An interpretation of this effect in terms of orbital motion of a binary black hole predicts periods of a few centuries. It is pointed out here that recent measurements of the masses and sizes of many low-luminosity AGN imply orbital periods much shorter than this. In particular, it is found that the elliptical galaxy Arp 102B is the most likely candidate for observation of radial velocity variations; its period is expected to be about 3 yr. The H-alpha line profile of Arp 102B has been measured for 5 yr without detecting any change in velocity, and it is thus found that a rather restrictive observational test of the massive binary black hole hypothesis already exists, albeit for this one object.

Stable Weyl points, trivial surface states, and particle-hole compensation in WP2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Razzoli, E.; Zwartsenberg, B.; Michiardi, M.; Boschini, F.; Day, R. P.; Elfimov, I. S.; Denlinger, J. D.; Süss, V.; Felser, C.; Damascelli, A.

2018-05-01

A possible connection between extremely large magnetoresistance and the presence of Weyl points has garnered much attention in the study of topological semimetals. Exploration of these concepts in transition-metal diphosphides WP2 has been complicated by conflicting experimental reports. Here we combine angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to disentangle surface and bulk contributions to the ARPES intensity, the superposition of which has plagued the determination of the band structure in WP2. Our results show that while the hole- and electronlike Fermi surface sheets originating from surface states have different areas, the bulk-band structure of WP2 is electron-hole compensated in agreement with DFT. Furthermore, the ARPES band structure is compatible with the presence of at least four temperature-independent Weyl points, confirming the topological nature of WP2 and its stability against lattice distortions.

In-plane magnetic penetration depth of superconducting CaKFe4As4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khasanov, Rustem; Meier, William R.; Wu, Yun; Mou, Daixiang; Bud'ko, Sergey L.; Eremin, Ilya; Luetkens, Hubertus; Kaminski, Adam; Canfield, Paul C.; Amato, Alex

2018-04-01

The temperature dependence of the in-plane magnetic penetration depth (λa b) in an extensively characterized sample of superconducting CaKFe4As4(Tc≃35 K ) was investigated using muon-spin rotation (μ SR ). A comparison of λab -2(T ) measured by μ SR with the one inferred from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) data confirms the presence of multiple gaps at the Fermi level. An agreement between μ SR and ARPES requires the presence of additional bands, which are not resolved by ARPES experiments. These bands are characterized by small superconducting gaps with an average zero-temperature value of Δ0=2.4 (2 ) meV . Our data suggest that in CaKFe4As4 the s± order parameter symmetry acquires a more sophisticated form by allowing a sign change not only between electron and hole pockets, but also within pockets of similar type.

dxz/yz subband structure and Chiral Orbital Angular Momentum of Nb doped SrTiO3 surface states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soltani, Shoresh; Cho, Soohyun; Ryu, Hanyoung; Han, Garam; Kim, Timur; Hoesch, Moritz; Kim, Changyoung

Using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we investigate subband structure and chiral orbital angular momentum (OAM) texture on the surface of lightly electron doped SrTiO3 single crystals. Our linearly polarized light ARPES data taken with 51 eV photons, reveal additional subbands for out-of-plane dxz/yzorbitals in addition to the previously reported ones. Our CD-ARPES data reveal a chiral OAM structure which we use as a clue to explain the origin of linear Rashba-like surface band splitting of Ti 3d t2g orbitals. The observed CD signal is enhanced near crossing points, where different orbitals hybridize, compatible with a linear Rashba-like surface band splitting. The work was supported by IBS-R009-G2. S.S., S.C., H.Y. and G. H. acknowledge were supported by Yonsei university, BK21 program.

Spectromicroscopy measurements of surface morphology and band structure of exfoliated graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knox, Kevin; Locatelli, Andrea; Cvetko, Dean; Mentes, Tevfik; Nino, Miguel; Wang, Shancai; Yilmaz, Mehmet; Kim, Philip; Osgood, Richard; Morgante, Alberto

2011-03-01

Monolayer-thick crystals, such as graphene, are an area of intense interest in condensed matter research. ~However, crystal deformations in these 2D systems are known to adversely affect conductivity and increase local chemical reactivity. Additionally, surface roughness in graphene complicates band-mapping and limits resolution in techniques such as angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), the theory of which was developed for atomically flat surfaces. Thus, an understanding of the surface morphology of graphene is essential to making high quality devices and important for interpreting ARPES results. In this talk, we will describe a non-invasive approach to examining the corrugation in exfoliated graphene using a combination of low energy electron microscopy (LEEM) and micro-spot low energy electron diffraction (LEED). We will also describe how such knowledge of surface roughness can be used in the analysis of ARPES data to improve resolution and extract useful information about the band-structure.

Trivial and topological Fermi arcs in the type-II Weyl semimetal candidate MoTe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamai, Anna; Wu, Quansheng; Cucchi, Irene; Bruno, Flavio; Barreteau, Celine; Giannini, Enrico; Soluyanov, Alexey; Baumberger, Felix

Weyl semimetals are commonly identified by detecting their characteristic open surface state Fermi arcs in angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) experiments. However, in type-II Weyl semimetals the Fermi arcs generally disappear in the bulk carrier pockets before reaching the Weyl points where they terminate - making it harder to unambiguously identify this new electronic state. Using laser-based ARPES, we have resolved multiple distinct Fermi arcs on the inequivalent top and bottom (001) surfaces of the candidate type-II Weyl semimetal MoTe2. By comparing our ARPES data with systematic electronic structure calculations simulating different Weyl point arrangements, we show that some of these arcs are false positives as they can be explained without Weyl points, while others are only reproduced in scenarios with at least eight Weyl points. Our results thus suggest that MoTe2 is the first experimental realisation of a type-II Weyl semimetal.

The proliferation of malignant melanoma cells could be inhibited by ranibizumab via antagonizing VEGF through VEGFR1.

PubMed

Li, Jiao; Cui, Yan; Wang, Qin; Guo, Dadong; Pan, Xuemei; Wang, Xingrong; Bi, Hongsheng; Chen, Wei; Liu, Zhengfeng; Zhao, Shengya

2014-01-01

Angiogenesis is an important mediator in tumor progression. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the major cytokines that can influence angiogenesis. However, the potential mechanism of tumor growth inhibition through anti-VEGF agents is still unclear. This study was performed to examine whether ranibizumab could inhibit malignant melanoma growth in vitro and to determine the safety of ranibizumab on human adult retinal pigment epithelium cell line (ARPE-19 cells). Malignant melanoma cells obtained from a clinic were cultured in vitro. VEGF concentrations secreted by malignant melanoma cells and the ARPE-19 cells were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The two kinds of cells were both treated with VEGF and its antagonist, ranibizumab. The dynamic changes of the two types of cells were monitored by real-time cell electronic sensing (RT-CES) assay. The effect of ranibizumab on both types of cells was verified by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl (MTT) assay. The expression of VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1) RNA in uveal melanoma was further investigated through the PCR technique. The levels of VEGF secreted by malignant melanoma cells were much higher than those of ARPE-19 cells, and were markedly decreased in the action of 0.1 mg/ml ranibizumab. However, there was no obvious reduction of VEGF in the presence of ranibizumab for ARPE-19 (p>0.05). Meanwhile, RT-CES showed that the viability of malignant melanoma cells increased greatly in the presence of VEGF. When VEGF was 20 ng/ml, viability of the malignant melanoma cells increased by 40% compared with the negative control. There was no evident effect on proliferation of ARPE-19 (p>0.05). Furthermore, the growth of malignant melanoma cells was obviously inhibited after ranibizumab intervention. When ranibizumab was administered at 0.25 mg/ml, the survival rate of the malignant melanoma cells decreased to 57.5%. Nevertheless, low-dose exposure to ranibizumab had only a slight effect on the growth of ARPE-19, and PCR result demonstrated that VEGFR1 plays a role in this tumor tissue rather than VEGFR2. Ranibizumab can selectively inhibit malignant melanoma cell proliferation by decreasing the expression of VEGF; the possible mechanism of the inhibitory effect may involve VEGFR1 antagonism.

Gold-induced nanowires on the Ge(100) surface yield a 2D and not a 1D electronic structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Jong, N.; Heimbuch, R.; Eliëns, S.; Smit, S.; Frantzeskakis, E.; Caux, J.-S.; Zandvliet, H. J. W.; Golden, M. S.

2016-06-01

Atomic nanowires on semiconductor surfaces induced by the adsorption of metallic atoms have attracted a lot of attention as possible hosts of the elusive, one-dimensional Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid. The Au/Ge(100) system in particular is the subject of controversy as to whether the Au-induced nanowires do indeed host exotic, 1D (one-dimensional) metallic states. In light of this debate, we report here a thorough study of the electronic properties of high quality nanowires formed at the Au/Ge(100) surface. The high-resolution ARPES data show the low-lying Au-induced electronic states to possess a dispersion relation that depends on two orthogonal directions in k space. Comparison of the E (kx,ky) surface measured using high-resolution ARPES to tight-binding calculations yields hopping parameters in the two different directions that differ by approximately factor of two. Additionally, by pinpointing the Au-induced surface states in the first, second, and third surface Brillouin zones and analyzing their periodicity in k||, the nanowire propagation direction seen clearly in STM can be imported into the ARPES data. We find that the larger of the two hopping parameters corresponds, in fact, to the direction perpendicular to the nanowires (tperp). This proves that the Au-induced electron pockets possess a two-dimensional, closed Fermi surface, and this firmly places the Au/Ge(100) nanowire system outside potential hosts of a Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid. We combine these ARPES data with scanning tunneling spectroscopic measurements of the spatially resolved electronic structure and find that the spatially straight—wirelike—conduction channels observed up to energies of order one electron volt below the Fermi level do not originate from the Au-induced states seen in the ARPES data. The former are rather more likely to be associated with bulk Ge states that are localized to the subsurface region. Despite our proof of the 2D (two-dimentional) nature of the Au-induced nanowire and subsurface Ge-related states, an anomalous suppression of the density of states at the Fermi level is observed in both the STS and ARPES data, and this phenomenon is discussed in the light of the effects of disorder.

Spacecraft Doppler tracking with a VLBI antenna

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Comoretto, G.; Iess, L.; Bertotti, B.; Brenkle, J. P.; Horton, T.

1990-01-01

Preliminary results are reported from Doppler-shift measurements to the Voyager-2 spacecraft at a distance of 26 AU, obtained using the 32-m VLBI antenna at Medicina (Italy) during July and August 1988. The apparatus comprises the el-az antenna, an S-X-band receiver, a hydrogen maser to generate the reference signal, a Mark III VLBI terminal, and a digital tone extractor capable of isolating a tone of known frequency from a noisy signal and giving its phase and amplitude. A signal transmitted in S-band from the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) station in Australia and retransmitted coherently in X-band by Voyager, was received 7 h 6 min later at Medicina and at the DSN station in Madrid. Sample data are presented graphically and shown to be of generally high quality; further in-depth analysis is under way.

Micro-RNA-128 (miRNA-128) down-regulation in glioblastoma targets ARP5 (ANGPTL6), Bmi-1 and E2F-3a, key regulators of brain cell proliferation.

PubMed

Cui, J G; Zhao, Y; Sethi, P; Li, Y Y; Mahta, A; Culicchia, F; Lukiw, W J

2010-07-01

High density micro-RNA (miRNA) arrays, fluorescent-reporter miRNA assay and Northern miRNA dot-blot analysis show that a brain-enriched miRNA-128 is significantly down-regulated in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and in GBM cell lines when compared to age-matched controls. The down-regulation of miRNA-128 was found to inversely correlate with WHO tumor grade. Three bioinformatics-verified miRNA-128 targets, angiopoietin-related growth factor protein 5 (ARP5; ANGPTL6), a transcription suppressor that promotes stem cell renewal and inhibits the expression of known tumor suppressor genes involved in senescence and differentiation, Bmi-1, and a transcription factor critical for the control of cell-cycle progression, E2F-3a, were found to be up-regulated. Addition of exogenous miRNA-128 to CRL-1690 and CRL-2610 GBM cell lines (a) restored 'homeostatic' ARP5 (ANGPTL6), Bmi-1 and E2F-3a expression, and (b) significantly decreased the proliferation of CRL-1690 and CRL-2610 cell lines. Our data suggests that down-regulation of miRNA-128 may contribute to glioma and GBM, in part, by coordinately up-regulating ARP5 (ANGPTL6), Bmi-1 and E2F-3a, resulting in the proliferation of undifferentiated GBM cells.

The plant pathogenic fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici improves bacterial growth and triggers early gene regulations in the biocontrol strain Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf29Arp.

PubMed

Barret, M; Frey-Klett, P; Boutin, M; Guillerm-Erckelboudt, A-Y; Martin, F; Guillot, L; Sarniguet, A

2009-01-01

In soil, some antagonistic rhizobacteria contribute to reduce root diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi. Direct modes of action of these bacteria have been largely explored; however, commensal interaction also takes place between these microorganisms and little is known about the influence of filamentous fungi on bacteria. An in vitro confrontation bioassay between the pathogenic fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt) and the biocontrol bacterial strain Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf29Arp was set up to analyse bacterial transcriptional changes induced by the fungal mycelium at three time-points of the interaction before cell contact and up until contact. For this, a Pf29Arp shotgun DNA microarray was constructed. Specifity of Ggt effect was assessed in comparison with one of two other filamentous fungi, Laccaria bicolor and Magnaporthe grisea. During a commensal interaction, Ggt increased the growth rate of Pf29Arp. Before contact, Ggt induced bacterial genes involved in mycelium colonization. At contact, genes encoding protein of stress response and a patatin-like protein were up-regulated. Among all the bacterial genes identified, xseB was specifically up-regulated at contact by Ggt but down-regulated by the other fungi. Data showed that the bacterium sensed the presence of the fungus early, but the main gene alteration occurred during bacterial-fungal cell contact.

Advillin acts upstream of phospholipase C ϵ1 in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome

PubMed Central

Rao, Jia; Ashraf, Shazia; Tan, Weizhen; van der Ven, Amelie T.; Braun, Daniela A.; Fehér, Krisztina; George, Sudeep P.; Esmaeilniakooshkghazi, Amin; Choi, Won-Il; Schneider, Ronen; Schmidt, Johanna Magdalena; Warejko, Jillian K.; Schapiro, David; Lovric, Svjetlana; Shril, Shirlee; Daga, Ankana; Nayir, Ahmet; Shenoy, Mohan; Tse, Yincent; Bald, Martin; Helmchen, Udo; Mir, Sevgi; Kari, Jameela A.; El Desoky, Sherif; Bagga, Arvind; Mane, Shrikant; Jairajpuri, Mohamad A.; Lifton, Richard P.; Khurana, Seema; Martins, Jose C.

2017-01-01

Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is a frequent cause of chronic kidney disease. Here, we identified recessive mutations in the gene encoding the actin-binding protein advillin (AVIL) in 3 unrelated families with SRNS. While all AVIL mutations resulted in a marked loss of its actin-bundling ability, truncation of AVIL also disrupted colocalization with F-actin, thereby leading to impaired actin binding and severing. Additionally, AVIL colocalized and interacted with the phospholipase enzyme PLCE1 and with the ARP2/3 actin-modulating complex. Knockdown of AVIL in human podocytes reduced actin stress fibers at the cell periphery, prevented recruitment of PLCE1 to the ARP3-rich lamellipodia, blocked EGF-induced generation of diacylglycerol (DAG) by PLCE1, and attenuated the podocyte migration rate (PMR). These effects were reversed by overexpression of WT AVIL but not by overexpression of any of the 3 patient-derived AVIL mutants. The PMR was increased by overexpression of WT Avil or PLCE1, or by EGF stimulation; however, this increased PMR was ameliorated by inhibition of the ARP2/3 complex, indicating that ARP-dependent lamellipodia formation occurs downstream of AVIL and PLCE1 function. Together, these results delineate a comprehensive pathogenic axis of SRNS that integrates loss of AVIL function with alterations in the action of PLCE1, an established SRNS protein. PMID:29058690

Adaptive rood pattern search for fast block-matching motion estimation.

PubMed

Nie, Yao; Ma, Kai-Kuang

2002-01-01

In this paper, we propose a novel and simple fast block-matching algorithm (BMA), called adaptive rood pattern search (ARPS), which consists of two sequential search stages: 1) initial search and 2) refined local search. For each macroblock (MB), the initial search is performed only once at the beginning in order to find a good starting point for the follow-up refined local search. By doing so, unnecessary intermediate search and the risk of being trapped into local minimum matching error points could be greatly reduced in long search case. For the initial search stage, an adaptive rood pattern (ARP) is proposed, and the ARP's size is dynamically determined for each MB, based on the available motion vectors (MVs) of the neighboring MBs. In the refined local search stage, a unit-size rood pattern (URP) is exploited repeatedly, and unrestrictedly, until the final MV is found. To further speed up the search, zero-motion prejudgment (ZMP) is incorporated in our method, which is particularly beneficial to those video sequences containing small motion contents. Extensive experiments conducted based on the MPEG-4 Verification Model (VM) encoding platform show that the search speed of our proposed ARPS-ZMP is about two to three times faster than that of the diamond search (DS), and our method even achieves higher peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) particularly for those video sequences containing large and/or complex motion contents.

Tolerance of ARPE 19 cells to organophosphorus pesticide chlorpyrifos is limited to concentration and time of exposure.

PubMed

Gomathy, Narayanan; Sumantran, Venil N; Shabna, A; Sulochana, K N

2015-01-01

Age related macular degeneration is a blinding disease common in elder adults. The prevalence of age related macular degeneration has been found to be 1.8% in the Indian population. Organophosphates are widely used insecticides with well documented neurological effects, and the persistent nature of these compounds in the body results in long term health effects. Farmers exposed to organophosphorus pesticides in USA had an earlier onset of age related macular degeneration when compared to unexposed controls. A recent study found significant levels of an organophosphate, termed chlorpyrifos, in the blood samples of Indian farmers. Therefore, in understanding the link between age related macular degeneration and chlorpyrifos, the need for investigation is important. Our data show that ARPE-19 (retinal pigment epithelial cells) exhibit a cytoprotective response to chlorpyrifos as measured by viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, superoxide dismutase activity, and increased levels of glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione, after 24 h exposure to chlorpyrifos. However, this cytoprotective response was absent in ARPE-19 cells exposed to the same range of concentrations of chlorpyrifos for 48 h. These results have physiological significance, since HPLC analysis showed that effects of chlorpyrifos were mediated through its entry into ARPE-19 cells. HPLC analysis also showed that chlorpyrifos remained stable, as we recovered up to 80% of the chlorpyrifos added to 6 different ocular tissues. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Inc.

VLBI height corrections due to gravitational deformation of antenna structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarti, P.; Negusini, M.; Abbondanza, C.; Petrov, L.

2009-12-01

From an analysis of regional European VLBI data we evaluate the impact of a VLBI signal path correction model developed to account for gravitational deformations of the antenna structures. The model was derived from a combination of terrestrial surveying methods applied to telescopes at Medicina and Noto in Italy. We find that the model corrections shift the derived height components of these VLBI telescopes' reference points downward by 14.5 and 12.2 mm, respectively. No other parameter estimates nor other station positions are affected. Such systematic height errors are much larger than the formal VLBI random errors and imply the possibility of significant VLBI frame scale distortions, of major concern for the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) and its applications. This demonstrates the urgent need to investigate gravitational deformations in other VLBI telescopes and eventually correct them in routine data analysis.

Tunka-Rex: energy reconstruction with a single antenna station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hiller, R.; Bezyazeekov, P. A.; Budnev, N. M.; Fedorov, O.; Gress, O. A.; Haungs, A.; Huege, T.; Kazarina, Y.; Kleifges, M.; Korosteleva, E. E.; Kostunin, D.; Krömer, O.; Kungel, V.; Kuzmichev, L. A.; Lubsandorzhiev, N.; Mirgazov, R. R.; Monkhoev, R.; Osipova, E. A.; Pakhorukov, A.; Pankov, L.; Prosin, V. V.; Rubtsov, G. I.; Schröder, F. G.; Wischnewski, R.; Zagorodnikov, A.

2017-03-01

The Tunka-Radio extension (Tunka-Rex) is a radio detector for air showers in Siberia. From 2012 to 2014, Tunka-Rex operated exclusively together with its host experiment, the air-Cherenkov array Tunka-133, which provided trigger, data acquisition, and an independent air-shower reconstruction. It was shown that the air-shower energy can be reconstructed by Tunka-Rex with a precision of 15% for events with signal in at least 3 antennas, using the radio amplitude at a distance of 120 m from the shower axis as an energy estimator. Using the reconstruction from the host experiment Tunka-133 for the air-shower geometry (shower core and direction), the energy estimator can in principle already be obtained with measurements from a single antenna, close to the reference distance. We present a method for event selection and energy reconstruction, requiring only one antenna, and achieving a precision of about 20%. This method increases the effective detector area and lowers thresholds for zenith angle and energy, resulting in three times more events than in the standard reconstruction.

Object Locating System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arndt, G. Dickey (Inventor); Carl, James R. (Inventor)

2000-01-01

A portable system is provided that is operational for determining, with three dimensional resolution, the position of a buried object or approximately positioned object that may move in space or air or gas. The system has a plurality of receivers for detecting the signal front a target antenna and measuring the phase thereof with respect to a reference signal. The relative permittivity and conductivity of the medium in which the object is located is used along with the measured phase signal to determine a distance between the object and each of the plurality of receivers. Knowing these distances. an iteration technique is provided for solving equations simultaneously to provide position coordinates. The system may also be used for tracking movement of an object within close range of the system by sampling and recording subsequent position of the object. A dipole target antenna. when positioned adjacent to a buried object, may be energized using a separate transmitter which couples energy to the target antenna through the medium. The target antenna then preferably resonates at a different frequency, such as a second harmonic of the transmitter frequency.

Beam Scanning Antenna with Wideband Broadside Radiation Based on Multilayered Substrate Integrated Waveguide Composite Right/Left-Handed Structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Qin; Wu, Guo-cheng; Wang, Guang-ming; Liang, Jian-gang; Gao, Xiang-jun

2017-01-01

In this paper, a novel multilayered substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) composite right/left-handed (CRLH) structure is proposed to design beam scanning antenna for wideband broadside radiation. The unit cell of the SIW-CRLH structure is formed by spiral interdigital fingers etched on the upper ground of SIW, and a parasitic patch beneath the slot, has a continuous change of phase constant from negative to positive value within its passband. The proposed beam scanning antenna, which consists of consists of 15 identical elementary cells of the SIW-CRLH, is simulated, fabricated and measured. According to the measured results, the proposed antenna not only realizes a continuous main beam scanning from backward -78° to forward +80° within the operating frequency range from 8.25 to 12.2 GHz, but also obtains the measured broadside gain of 11.5 dB with variation of 1.0 dB over the frequency range of 8.8-9.25 GHz (4.99 %). Besides, compared with the same works in the references, this one has the most wonderful performance.

The effects of geography on spectrum-orbit utilization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sawitz, P. H.

1979-01-01

With over forty satellites in geostationary orbit, and many more planned, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable orbit positions for new systems operating at 4 and 6 GHz. Efficient spectrum-orbit utilization can be achieved with frequency-reuse techniques - orthogonal polarization, earth-station antenna discrimination, and satellite antenna discrimination - provided that service-area geography is considered. Service arc - that portion of the orbit which affords useful service to all points in a given area - is a function of the area's climate, terrain, and location as well as its size and shape. Of the three techniques, satellite antenna discrimination is the most sensitive to these factors. According to the BSS (broadcasting-satellite service) antenna reference pattern, the maximum discrimination possible is the on-axis gain, which can be as high as 49 dB for a beamwidth of 0.6 degrees, or as low as 32 dB for a 3.5-degree beamwidth. Unlike the Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS), the BSS will normally have beams that cover no more than one or two time zones.

Found: A Galaxy's Missing Gamma Rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohler, Susanna

2016-04-01

Recent reanalysis of data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has resulted in the first detection of high-energy gamma rays emitted from a nearby galaxy. This discovery reveals more about how supernovae interact with their environments.Colliding Supernova RemnantAfter a stellar explosion, the supernovas ejecta expand, eventually encountering the ambient interstellar medium. According to models, this generates a strong shock, and a fraction of the kinetic energy of the ejecta is transferred into cosmic rays high-energy radiation composed primarily of protons and atomic nuclei. Much is still unknown about this process, however. One open question is: what fraction of the supernovas explosion power goes into accelerating these cosmic rays?In theory, one way to answer this is by looking for gamma rays. In a starburst galaxy, the collision of the supernova-accelerated cosmic rays with the dense interstellar medium is predicted to produce high-energy gamma rays. That radiation should then escape the galaxy and be visible to us.Pass 8 to the RescueObservational tests of this model, however, have beenstumped by Arp 220. This nearby ultraluminous infrared galaxy is the product of a galaxy merger ~700 million years ago that fueled a frenzy of starbirth. Due to its dusty interior and extreme levels of star formation, Arp 220 has long been predicted to emit the gamma rays produced by supernova-accelerated cosmic rays. But though weve looked, gamma-ray emission has never been detected from this galaxy until now.In a recent study, a team of scientists led by Fang-Kun Peng (Nanjing University) reprocessed 7.5 years of Fermi observations using the new Pass 8 analysis software. The resulting increase in resolution revealed the first detection of GeV emission from Arp 220!Acceleration EfficiencyGamma-ray luminosity vs. total infrared luminosity for LAT-detected star-forming galaxies and Seyferts. Arp 220s luminosities are consistent with the scaling relation. [Peng et al. 2016]Peng and collaborators argue that this emission is due solely to cosmic-ray interactions with interstellar gas. This picture is supported by the lack of variability in the emission, and the fact that Arp 220s gamma-ray luminosity is consistent with the scaling relation between gamma-ray and infrared luminosity for star-forming galaxies. The authors also argue that, due to Arp 220s high gas density, all cosmic rays will interact with the gas before escaping.Under these two assumptions, Peng and collaborators use the gamma-ray luminosity and the known supernova rate in Arp 220 to estimate how efficiently cosmic rays are acceleratedby supernova remnants in the galaxy. They determine that 4.2 2.6% of the supernova remnants kinetic energy is used to accelerate cosmic rays above 1 GeV.This is the first time such a rate has been measured directly from gamma-ray emission, but its consistent with estimates of 3-10% efficiency in the Milky Way. Future analysis of other ultraluminous infrared galaxies like Arp 220 with Fermi (and Pass 8!) will hopefully reveal more about these recent-merger, starburst environments.CitationFang-Kun Peng et al 2016 ApJ 821 L20. doi:10.3847/2041-8205/821/2/L20

Protective Effect of Combined Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester and Bevacizumab Against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human RPE Cells.

PubMed

Dinc, Erdem; Ayaz, Lokman; Kurt, Akif Hakan

2017-12-01

This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and combined CAPE-bevacizumab against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) in human retinal pigment epithelium. ARPE-19 cells were pretreated with 5, 10, and 30 μM CAPE alone and in combination with bevacizumab for 3 h, then exposed to H 2 O 2 for 16 h. Cell viability was evaluated with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein levels in the medium were measured using a human VEGF ELISA kit. Total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) were measured in ARPE-19 cells using the test kit from Rel Assay. Expression levels of VEGF, Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome c, apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (apaf-1), and caspase-3 were determined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Pretreatment of ARPE-19 cells with 30 μM CAPE and combined CAPE-bevacizumab reduced H 2 O 2 mediated cell death. H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress increased TOS and VEGF production, which was significantly inhibited by CAPE and the CAPE-bevacizumab combination. VEGF, Bax, cytochrome c, apaf-1, and caspase-3 gene expressions were significantly decreased in cells pretreated with 5, 10, and 30 μM CAPE and combined CAPE-bevacizumab compared to the H 2 O 2 group. In addition, Bcl-2 expression was significantly increased in both the CAPE and CAPE-bevacizumab combination groups compared to the H 2 O 2 group. CAPE has a protective effect on ARPE-19 cells against oxidative stress, and VEGF protein level and expression can be decreased by incubation with different concentrations of CAPE. These results demonstrate that CAPE suppresses the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells under oxidative stress. In addition, the use of CAPE in combination with bevacizumab has an additive effect.

Model of turnover kinetics in the lamellipodium: implications of slow- and fast- diffusing capping protein and Arp2/3 complex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McMillen, Laura M.; Vavylonis, Dimitrios

2016-12-01

Cell protrusion through polymerization of actin filaments at the leading edge of motile cells may be influenced by spatial gradients of diffuse actin and regulators. Here we study the distribution of two of the most important regulators, capping protein and Arp2/3 complex, which regulate actin polymerization in the lamellipodium through capping and nucleation of free barbed ends. We modeled their kinetics using data from prior single molecule microscopy experiments on XTC cells. These experiments have provided evidence for a broad distribution of diffusion coefficients of both capping protein and Arp2/3 complex. The slowly diffusing proteins appear as extended ‘clouds’ while proteins bound to the actin filament network appear as speckles that undergo retrograde flow. Speckle appearance and disappearance events correspond to assembly and dissociation from the actin filament network and speckle lifetimes correspond to the dissociation rate. The slowly diffusing capping protein could represent severed capped actin filament fragments or membrane-bound capping protein. Prior evidence suggests that slowly diffusing Apr2/3 complex associates with the membrane. We use the measured rates and estimates of diffusion coefficients of capping protein and Arp2/3 complex in a Monte Carlo simulation that includes particles in association with a filament network and diffuse in the cytoplasm. We consider two separate pools of diffuse proteins, representing fast and slowly diffusing species. We find a steady state with concentration gradients involving a balance of diffusive flow of fast and slow species with retrograde flow. We show that simulations of FRAP are consistent with prior experiments performed on different cell types. We provide estimates for the ratio of bound to diffuse complexes and calculate conditions where Arp2/3 complex recycling by diffusion may become limiting. We discuss the implications of slowly diffusing populations and suggest experiments to distinguish among mechanisms that influence long range transport.

The Huperzia selago Shoot Tip Transcriptome Sheds New Light on the Evolution of Leaves

PubMed Central

Evkaikina, Anastasiia I.; Berke, Lidija; Romanova, Marina A.; Proux-Wéra, Estelle; Ivanova, Alexandra N.; Rydin, Catarina; Voitsekhovskaja, Olga V.

2017-01-01

Abstract Lycopodiophyta—consisting of three orders, Lycopodiales, Isoetales and Selaginellales, with different types of shoot apical meristems (SAMs)—form the earliest branch among the extant vascular plants. They represent a sister group to all other vascular plants, from which they differ in that their leaves are microphylls—that is, leaves with a single, unbranched vein, emerging from the protostele without a leaf gap—not megaphylls. All leaves represent determinate organs originating on the flanks of indeterminate SAMs. Thus, leaf formation requires the suppression of indeterminacy, that is, of KNOX transcription factors. In seed plants, this is mediated by different groups of transcription factors including ARP and YABBY. We generated a shoot tip transcriptome of Huperzia selago (Lycopodiales) to examine the genes involved in leaf formation. Our H. selago transcriptome does not contain any ARP homolog, although transcriptomes of Selaginella spp. do. Surprisingly, we discovered a YABBY homolog, although these transcription factors were assumed to have evolved only in seed plants. The existence of a YABBY homolog in H. selago suggests that YABBY evolved already in the common ancestor of the vascular plants, and subsequently was lost in some lineages like Selaginellales, whereas ARP may have been lost in Lycopodiales. The presence of YABBY in the common ancestor of vascular plants would also support the hypothesis that this common ancestor had a simplex SAM. Furthermore, a comparison of the expression patterns of ARP in shoot tips of Selaginella kraussiana (Harrison CJ, etal. 2005. Independent recruitment of a conserved developmental mechanism during leaf evolution. Nature 434(7032):509–514.) and YABBY in shoot tips of H. selago implies that the development of microphylls, unlike megaphylls, does not seem to depend on the combined activities of ARP and YABBY. Altogether, our data show that Lycopodiophyta are a diverse group; so, in order to understand the role of Lycopodiophyta in evolution, representatives of Lycopodiales, Selaginellales, as well as of Isoetales, have to be examined. PMID:28957460

Evolution of the eukaryotic dynactin complex, the activator of cytoplasmic dynein

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Dynactin is a large multisubunit protein complex that enhances the processivity of cytoplasmic dynein and acts as an adapter between dynein and the cargo. It is composed of eleven different polypeptides of which eight are unique to this complex, namely dynactin1 (p150Glued), dynactin2 (p50 or dynamitin), dynactin3 (p24), dynactin4 (p62), dynactin5 (p25), dynactin6 (p27), and the actin-related proteins Arp1 and Arp10 (Arp11). Results To reveal the evolution of dynactin across the eukaryotic tree the presence or absence of all dynactin subunits was determined in most of the available eukaryotic genome assemblies. Altogether, 3061 dynactin sequences from 478 organisms have been annotated. Phylogenetic trees of the various subunit sequences were used to reveal sub-family relationships and to reconstruct gene duplication events. Especially in the metazoan lineage, several of the dynactin subunits were duplicated independently in different branches. The largest subunit repertoire is found in vertebrates. Dynactin diversity in vertebrates is further increased by alternative splicing of several subunits. The most prominent example is the dynactin1 gene, which may code for up to 36 different isoforms due to three different transcription start sites and four exons that are spliced as differentially included exons. Conclusions The dynactin complex is a very ancient complex that most likely included all subunits in the last common ancestor of extant eukaryotes. The absence of dynactin in certain species coincides with that of the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain: Organisms that do not encode cytoplasmic dynein like plants and diplomonads also do not encode the unique dynactin subunits. The conserved core of dynactin consists of dynactin1, dynactin2, dynactin4, dynactin5, Arp1, and the heterodimeric actin capping protein. The evolution of the remaining subunits dynactin3, dynactin6, and Arp10 is characterized by many branch- and species-specific gene loss events. PMID:22726940

Molecular Gas Heating Mechanisms, and Star Formation Feedback in Merger/Starbursts: NGC 6240 and Arp 193 as Case Studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papadopoulos, Padelis P.; Zhang, Zhi-Yu; Xilouris, E. M.; Weiss, Axel; van der Werf, Paul; Israel, F. P.; Greve, T. R.; Isaak, Kate G.; Gao, Y.

2014-06-01

We used the SPIRE/FTS instrument aboard the Herschel Space Observatory to obtain the Spectral Line Energy Distributions (SLEDs) of CO from J = 4-3 to J = 13-12 of Arp 193 and NGC 6240, two classical merger/starbursts selected from our molecular line survey of local Luminous Infrared Galaxies (L IR >= 1011 L ⊙). The high-J CO SLEDs are then combined with ground-based low-J CO, 13CO, HCN, HCO+, CS line data and used to probe the thermal and dynamical states of their large molecular gas reservoirs. We find the two CO SLEDs strongly diverging from J = 4-3 onward, with NGC 6240 having a much higher CO line excitation than Arp 193, despite their similar low-J CO SLEDs and L FIR/L CO, 1 - 0, L HCN/L CO (J = 1-0) ratios (proxies of star formation efficiency and dense gas mass fraction). In Arp 193, one of the three most extreme starbursts in the local universe, the molecular SLEDs indicate a small amount (~5%-15%) of dense gas (n >= 104 cm-3) unlike NGC 6240 where most of the molecular gas (~60%-70%) is dense (n ~ (104-105) cm-3). Strong star-formation feedback can drive this disparity in their dense gas mass fractions, and also induce extreme thermal and dynamical states for the molecular gas. In NGC 6240, and to a lesser degree in Arp 193, we find large molecular gas masses whose thermal states cannot be maintained by FUV photons from Photon-Dominated Regions. We argue that this may happen often in metal-rich merger/starbursts, strongly altering the initial conditions of star formation. ALMA can now directly probe these conditions across cosmic epoch, and even probe their deeply dust-enshrouded outcome, the stellar initial mass function averaged over galactic evolution.

Simulation of patch and slot antennas using FEM with prismatic elements and investigations of artificial absorber mesh termination schemes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gong, J.; Ozdemir, T.; Volakis, J; Nurnberger, M.

1995-01-01

Year 1 progress can be characterized with four major achievements which are crucial toward the development of robust, easy to use antenna analysis code on doubly conformal platforms. (1) A new FEM code was developed using prismatic meshes. This code is based on a new edge based distorted prism and is particularly attractive for growing meshes associated with printed slot and patch antennas on doubly conformal platforms. It is anticipated that this technology will lead to interactive, simple to use codes for a large class of antenna geometries. Moreover, the codes can be expanded to include modeling of the circuit characteristics. An attached report describes the theory and validation of the new prismatic code using reference calculations and measured data collected at the NASA Langley facilities. The agreement between the measured and calculated data is impressive even for the coated patch configuration. (2) A scheme was developed for improved feed modeling in the context of FEM. A new approach based on the voltage continuity condition was devised and successfully tested in modeling coax cables and aperture fed antennas. An important aspect of this new feed modeling approach is the ability to completely separate the feed and antenna mesh regions. In this manner, different elements can be used in each of the regions leading to substantially improved accuracy and meshing simplicity. (3) A most important development this year has been the introduction of the perfectly matched interface (PMI) layer for truncating finite element meshes. So far the robust boundary integral method has been used for truncating the finite element meshes. However, this approach is not suitable for antennas on nonplanar platforms. The PMI layer is a lossy anisotropic absorber with zero reflection at its interface. (4) We were able to interface our antenna code FEMA_CYL (for antennas on cylindrical platforms) with a standard high frequency code. This interface was achieved by first generating equivalent magnetic currents across the antenna aperture using the FEM code. These currents were employed as the sources in the high frequency code.

Extended Monopole antenna Array with individual Shield (EMAS) coil: An improved monopole antenna design for brain imaging at 7 tesla MRI.

PubMed

Woo, Myung-Kyun; Hong, Suk-Min; Lee, Jongho; Kang, Chang-Ki; Park, Sung-Yeon; Son, Young-Don; Kim, Young-Bo; Cho, Zang-Hee

2016-06-01

To propose a new Extended Monopole antenna Array with individual Shields (EMAS) coil that improves the B1 field coverage and uniformity along the z-direction. To increase the spatial coverage of Monopole antenna Array (MA) coil, each monopole antenna was shielded and extended in length. Performance of this new coil, which is referred to as EMAS coil, was compared with the original MA coil and an Extended Monopole antenna Array coil with no shield (EMA). For comparison, flip angle, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and receive sensitivity maps were measured at multiple regions of interest (ROIs) in the brain. The EMAS coil demonstrated substantially larger flip angle and receive sensitivity than the MA and EMA coils in the inferior aspect of the brain. In the brainstem ROI, for example, the flip angle in the EMAS coil was increased by 45.5% (or 60.0%) and the receive sensitivity was increased by 26.9% (or 14.9%), resulting in an SNR gain of 84.8% (or 76.3%) when compared with the MA coil (or EMA). The EMAS coil provided 25.7% (or 24.4%) more uniform B1+ field distribution compared with the MA (or EMA) coil in sagittal. The EMAS coil successfully extended the imaging volume in lower part of the brain. Magn Reson Med 75:2566-2572, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Multibeam monopulse radar for airborne sense and avoid system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorwara, Ashok; Molchanov, Pavlo

2016-10-01

The multibeam monopulse radar for Airborne Based Sense and Avoid (ABSAA) system concept is the next step in the development of passive monopulse direction finder proposed by Stephen E. Lipsky in the 80s. In the proposed system the multibeam monopulse radar with an array of directional antennas is positioned on a small aircaraft or Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). Radar signals are simultaneously transmitted and received by multiple angle shifted directional antennas with overlapping antenna patterns and the entire sky, 360° for both horizontal and vertical coverage. Digitizing of amplitude and phase of signals in separate directional antennas relative to reference signals provides high-accuracy high-resolution range and azimuth measurement and allows to record real time amplitude and phase of reflected from non-cooperative aircraft signals. High resolution range and azimuth measurement provides minimal tracking errors in both position and velocity of non-cooperative aircraft and determined by sampling frequency of the digitizer. High speed sampling with high-accuracy processor clock provides high resolution phase/time domain measurement even for directional antennas with wide Field of View (FOV). Fourier transform (frequency domain processing) of received radar signals provides signatures and dramatically increases probability of detection for non-cooperative aircraft. Steering of transmitting power and integration, correlation period of received reflected signals for separate antennas (directions) allows dramatically decreased ground clutter for low altitude flights. An open architecture, modular construction allows the combination of a radar sensor with Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B), electro-optic, acoustic sensors.

FDTD assessment of human exposure to electromagnetic fields from WiFi and bluetooth devices in some operating situations.

PubMed

Martínez-Búrdalo, M; Martín, A; Sanchis, A; Villar, R

2009-02-01

In this work, the numerical dosimetry in human exposure to the electromagnetic fields from antennas of wireless devices, such as those of wireless local area networks (WLAN) access points or phone and computer peripherals with Bluetooth antennas, is analyzed with the objective of assessing guidelines compliance. Several geometrical configurations are considered to simulate possible exposure situations of a person to the fields from WLAN or Bluetooth antennas operating at 2400 MHz. The exposure to radiation from two sources of different frequencies when using a 1800 MHz GSM mobile phone connected via Bluetooth with a hands-free car kit is also considered. The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used to calculate electric and magnetic field values in the vicinity of the antennas and specific absorption rates (SAR) in a high-resolution model of the human head and torso, to be compared with the limits from the guidelines (reference levels and basic restrictions, respectively). Results show that the exposure levels in worst-case situations studied are lower than those obtained when analyzing the exposure to mobile phones, as could be expected because of the low power of the signals and the distance between the human and the antennas, with both field and SAR values being far below the limits established by the guidelines, even when considering the combined exposure to both a GSM and a Bluetooth antenna. Copyright 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Study and design of the ion cyclotron resonance heating system for the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ongena, J.; Messiaen, A.; Van Eester, D.; Schweer, B.; Dumortier, P.; Durodie, F.; Kazakov, Ye. O.; Louche, F.; Vervier, M.; Koch, R.; Krivska, A.; Lyssoivan, A.; Van Schoor, M.; Wauters, T.; Borsuk, V.; Neubauer, O.; Schmitz, O.; Offermans, G.; Altenburg, Y.; Baylard, C.; Birus, D.; Bozhenkov, S.; Hartmann, D. A.; Kallmeyer, J. P.; Renard, S.; Wolf, R. C.; Fülöp, T.

2014-06-01

The current status of the mechanical and electromagnetic design for the ICRF antenna system for W7-X is presented. Two antenna plugins are discussed: one consisting of a pair of straps with pre-matching to cover the first frequency band, 25-38 MHz, and a second one consisting of two short strap triplets to cover a frequency band around 76 MHz. This paper focusses on the two strap antenna for the lower frequency band. Power coupling of the antenna to a reference plasma profile is studied with the help of the codes TOPICA and Microwave Studio that deliver the scattering matrix needed for the optimization of the geometric parameters of the straps and antenna box. Radiation power spectra for different phasings of the two straps are obtained using the code ANTITER II and different heating scenario are discussed. The potential for heating, fast particle generation, and current drive is discussed. The problem of RF coupling through the plasma edge and of edge power deposition is summarized. Important elements of the complete ion cyclotron resonance heating system are discussed: a resonator circuit with tap feed to limit the maximum voltage in the system, and a decoupler to counterbalance the large mutual coupling between the 2 straps. The mechanical design highlights the challenges encountered with this antenna: adaptation to a large variety of plasma configurations, the limited space within the port to accommodate the necessary matching components and the watercooling needed for long pulse operation.

A plane-polar approach for far-field construction from near-field measurements. [of large space-craft antennas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rahmat-Samii, Y.; Galindo-Israel, V.; Mittra, R.

1980-01-01

The planar configuration with a probe scanning a polar geometry is discussed with reference to its usefulness in the determination of a far field from near-field measurements. The accuracy of the method is verified numerically, using the concept of probe compensation as a vector deconvolution. Advantages of the Jacobi-Bessel series over the fast Fourier transforms for the plane-polar geometry are demonstrated. Finally, the far-field pattern of the Viking high gain antenna is constructed from the plane-polar near-field measured data and compared with the previously measured far-field pattern.

Extending the scanning angle of a phased array antenna by using a null-space medium.

PubMed

Sun, Fei; He, Sailing

2014-10-30

By introducing a columnar null-space region as the reference space, we design a radome that can extend the scanning angle of a phased array antenna (PAA) by a predetermined relationship (e.g. a linear relationship between the incident angle and steered output angle can be achieved). After some approximation, we only need two homogeneous materials to construct the proposed radome layer by layer. This kind of medium is called a null-space medium, which has been studied and fabricated for realizing hyper-lenses and some other devices. Numerical simulations verify the performance of our radome.

Arm Locking for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maghami, P. G.; Thorpe, J. I.; Livas, J.

2009-01-01

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission is a planned gravitational wave detector consisting of three spacecraft in heliocentric orbit. Laser interferometry is used to measure distance fluctuations between test masses aboard each spacecraft to the picometer level over a 5 million kilometer separation. Laser frequency fluctuations must be suppressed in order to meet the measurement requirements. Arm-locking, a technique that uses the constellation of spacecraft as a frequency reference, is a proposed method for stabilizing the laser frequency. We consider the problem of arm-locking using classical optimal control theory and find that our designs satisfy the LISA requirements.

Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) Quarterly Report. First Quarter FY-05

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bauman, William; Wheeler, Mark; Lambert, Winifred; Case, Jonathan; Short, David

2005-01-01

This report summarizes the Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) activities for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2005 (October - December 2005). Tasks reviewed include: (1) Objective Lightning Probability Forecast: Phase I, (2) Severe Weather Forecast Decision Aid, (3) Hail Index, (4) Stable Low Cloud Evaluation, (5) Shuttle Ascent Camera Cloud Obstruction Forecast, (6) Range Standardization and Automation (RSA) and Legacy Wind Sensor Evaluation, (7) Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) Optimization and Training Extension, and (8) User Control Interface for ARPS Data Analysis System (ADAS) Data Ingest

Geodetic antenna calibration test in the Antarctic environment

USGS Publications Warehouse

Grejner-Brzezinska, A.; Vazquez, E.; Hothem, L.

2006-01-01

TransAntarctic Mountain DEFormation (TAMDEF) Monitoring Network is the NSF-sponsored OSU and USGS project, aimed at measuring crustal motion in the Transantarctic Mountains of Victoria Land using GPS carrier phase measurements. Station monumentation, antenna mounts, antenna types, and data processing strategies were optimized to achieve mm-level estimates for the rates of motion. These data contributes also to regional Antarctic frame definition. Significant amount of data collected over several years allow the investigation of unique aspects of GPS geodesy in Antarctica, to determine how the error spectrum compares to the mid-latitude regions, and to identify the optimum measurement and data processing schemes for Antarctic conditions, in order to test the predicted rates of motion (mm-level w.r.t. time). The data collection for the TAMDEF project was initiated in 1996. The primary antenna used has been the Ashtech L1/L2 Dorne Margolin (D/M) choke ring. A few occupations involved the use of a Trimble D/M choke ring. The data were processed using the antenna calibration data available from the National Geodetic Survey (NGS). The recent developments in new antenna designs that are lighter in weight and lower in cost are being considered as a possible alternative to the bulkier and more expensive D/M choke ring design. In November 2003, in situ testing of three alternative models of L1/L2 antennas was conducted at a site located in the vicinity of McMurdo Station, Antarctica (S77.87, E166.56). The antenna models used in this test were: Ashtech D/M choke ring, Trimble D/M choke ring, Trimble Zephyr, and the NovAtel GPS-702. Two stations, spaced within 30 meters, were used in the test. Both had the characteristics similar to the stations of the TAMDEF network, i.e., the UNAVCO fixed-height, force-centered level mounts with a constant antenna offset were used, ensuring extreme stability of the antenna/ mount/pin set up. During each of the four 3-day test data collection sessions, a reference station was occupied continuously with the Ashtech D/M choke ring antenna, while the second station was occupied by the tested antennas, one 3-day session for each antenna type. The coordinate differences were produced using software optimized for the analysis of data collected over short baselines. Each solution incorporated the NGS antenna calibration data appropriate for each antenna model. Hourly and 24-hour solutions were analyzed for repeatability and compared to the standard baseline coordinate differences. No significant variation was observed when comparing the same type of antennas and when switching antennas at the test site using daily solutions. An mm-level scatter can be observed comparing different antennas over the 1-hour solutions; it is smaller for the horizontal components, as compared to the vertical direction. At this point, it can be concluded that the standard antenna calibration models from NGS used for each antenna involved in this test did not result in any significant variation in the daily results, but with some in the hourly results. Thus, based on this fact, the antenna types tested here could be used in the future TAMDEF campaigns, where 24-hour solutions are normally used for deformation monitoring. These results can serve as good guidance to any future use of GPS equipment in Antarctica.

Galileo satellite antenna modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steigenberger, Peter; Dach, Rolf; Prange, Lars; Montenbruck, Oliver

2015-04-01

The space segment of the European satellite navigation system Galileo currently consists of six satellites. Four of them belong to the first generation of In-Orbit Validation (IOV) satellites whereas the other two are Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellites. High-precision geodetic applications require detailed knowledge about the actual phase center of the satellite and receiver antenna. The deviation of this actual phase center from a well-defined reference point is described by phase center offsets (PCOs) and phase center variations (PCVs). Unfortunately, no public information is available about the Galileo satellite antenna PCOs and PCVs, neither for the IOV, nor the FOC satellites. Therefore, conventional values for the IOV satellite antenna PCOs have been adopted for the Multi-GNSS experiment (MGEX) of the International GNSS Service (IGS). The effect of the PCVs is currently neglected and no PCOs for the FOC satellites are available yet. To overcome this deficiency in GNSS observation modeling, satellite antenna PCOs and PCVs are estimated for the Galileo IOV satellites based on global GNSS tracking data of the MGEX network and additional stations of the legacy IGS network. Two completely independent solutions are computed with the Bernese and Napeos software packages. The PCO and PCV values of the individual satellites are analyzed and the availability of two different solutions allows for an accuracy assessment. The FOC satellites are built by a different manufacturer and are also equipped with another type of antenna panel compared to the IOV satellites. Signal transmission of the first FOC satellite has started in December 2014 and activation of the second satellite is expected for early 2015. Based on the available observations PCO estimates and, optionally PCVs of the FOC satellites will be presented as well. Finally, the impact of the new antenna model on the precision and accuracy of the Galileo orbit determination is analyzed.

Simplified Antenna Group Determination of RS Overhead Reduced Massive MIMO for Wireless Sensor Networks.

PubMed

Lee, Byung Moo

2017-12-29

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems can be applied to support numerous internet of things (IoT) devices using its excessive amount of transmitter (TX) antennas. However, one of the big obstacles for the realization of the massive MIMO system is the overhead of reference signal (RS), because the number of RS is proportional to the number of TX antennas and/or related user equipments (UEs). It has been already reported that antenna group-based RS overhead reduction can be very effective to the efficient operation of massive MIMO, but the method of deciding the number of antennas needed in each group is at question. In this paper, we propose a simplified determination scheme of the number of antennas needed in each group for RS overhead reduced massive MIMO to support many IoT devices. Supporting many distributed IoT devices is a framework to configure wireless sensor networks. Our contribution can be divided into two parts. First, we derive simple closed-form approximations of the achievable spectral efficiency (SE) by using zero-forcing (ZF) and matched filtering (MF) precoding for the RS overhead reduced massive MIMO systems with channel estimation error. The closed-form approximations include a channel error factor that can be adjusted according to the method of the channel estimation. Second, based on the closed-form approximation, we present an efficient algorithm determining the number of antennas needed in each group for the group-based RS overhead reduction scheme. The algorithm depends on the exact inverse functions of the derived closed-form approximations of SE. It is verified with theoretical analysis and simulation that the proposed algorithm works well, and thus can be used as an important tool for massive MIMO systems to support many distributed IoT devices.

Simplified Antenna Group Determination of RS Overhead Reduced Massive MIMO for Wireless Sensor Networks

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems can be applied to support numerous internet of things (IoT) devices using its excessive amount of transmitter (TX) antennas. However, one of the big obstacles for the realization of the massive MIMO system is the overhead of reference signal (RS), because the number of RS is proportional to the number of TX antennas and/or related user equipments (UEs). It has been already reported that antenna group-based RS overhead reduction can be very effective to the efficient operation of massive MIMO, but the method of deciding the number of antennas needed in each group is at question. In this paper, we propose a simplified determination scheme of the number of antennas needed in each group for RS overhead reduced massive MIMO to support many IoT devices. Supporting many distributed IoT devices is a framework to configure wireless sensor networks. Our contribution can be divided into two parts. First, we derive simple closed-form approximations of the achievable spectral efficiency (SE) by using zero-forcing (ZF) and matched filtering (MF) precoding for the RS overhead reduced massive MIMO systems with channel estimation error. The closed-form approximations include a channel error factor that can be adjusted according to the method of the channel estimation. Second, based on the closed-form approximation, we present an efficient algorithm determining the number of antennas needed in each group for the group-based RS overhead reduction scheme. The algorithm depends on the exact inverse functions of the derived closed-form approximations of SE. It is verified with theoretical analysis and simulation that the proposed algorithm works well, and thus can be used as an important tool for massive MIMO systems to support many distributed IoT devices. PMID:29286339

Statistical analysis of electromagnetic radiation measurements in the vicinity of GSM/UMTS base station antenna masts.

PubMed

Koprivica, Mladen; Neskovic, Natasa; Neskovic, Aleksandar; Paunovic, George

2014-01-01

As a result of dense installations of public mobile base station, additional electromagnetic radiation occurs in the living environment. In order to determine the level of radio-frequency radiation generated by base stations, extensive electromagnetic field strength measurements were carried out for 664 base station locations. Base station locations were classified into three categories: indoor, masts and locations with installations on buildings. Having in mind the large percentage (47 %) of sites with antenna masts, a detailed analysis of this location category was performed, and the measurement results were presented. It was concluded that the total electric field strength in the vicinity of base station antenna masts in no case exceeded 10 V m(-1), which is quite below the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection reference levels. At horizontal distances >50 m from the mast bottom, the median and maximum values were <1 and 2 V m(-1), respectively.

Light scattering of rectangular slot antennas: parallel magnetic vector vs perpendicular electric vector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Dukhyung; Kim, Dai-Sik

2016-01-01

We study light scattering off rectangular slot nano antennas on a metal film varying incident polarization and incident angle, to examine which field vector of light is more important: electric vector perpendicular to, versus magnetic vector parallel to the long axis of the rectangle. While vector Babinet’s principle would prefer magnetic field along the long axis for optimizing slot antenna function, convention and intuition most often refer to the electric field perpendicular to it. Here, we demonstrate experimentally that in accordance with vector Babinet’s principle, the incident magnetic vector parallel to the long axis is the dominant component, with the perpendicular incident electric field making a small contribution of the factor of 1/|ε|, the reciprocal of the absolute value of the dielectric constant of the metal, owing to the non-perfectness of metals at optical frequencies.

In-plane magnetic penetration depth of superconducting CaKFe 4 As 4

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

Khasanov, Rustem; Meier, William R.; Wu, Yun

Here, the temperature dependence of the in-plane magnetic penetration depth (λ ab) in an extensively characterized sample of superconducting CaKFe 4As 4(T c≃35K) was investigated using muon-spin rotation (μSR). A comparison of λ –2 ab(T) measured by μSR with the one inferred from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) data confirms the presence of multiple gaps at the Fermi level. An agreement between μSR and ARPES requires the presence of additional bands, which are not resolved by ARPES experiments. These bands are characterized by small superconducting gaps with an average zero-temperature value of Δ 0=2.4(2)meV. Our data suggest that in CaKFe 4Asmore » 4 the s ± order parameter symmetry acquires a more sophisticated form by allowing a sign change not only between electron and hole pockets, but also within pockets of similar type.« less

Evaluation of prophylactic and therapeutic effects of sildenafil on acute radiation proctitis in rats.

PubMed

Yavuz, Erkan; Ercan, Gulcin; Karagulle, Onur Olgac; Bayrak, Busra Yaprak; Biricik, Aytac; Ercetin, Candas; Gokcek, Berk; Yigitbas, Hakan; Kusaslan, Ramazan; Celik, Atilla; Gulcicek, Osman Bilgin

2018-04-01

To investigate the prophylactic and therapeutical effects of sildenafil in a model of acute radiation proctitis (ARP). All experimental procedures of this study was examined by histopathological, immunohistochemical and transmission electron microscopic analysis. Our histopathological evaluations indicated significant increases in lesion severity, cryptic apsis, cryptitis, cryptic distortion, reactive atypia and infiltration depth of the control (proctitis) group. While the prophylaxis group and the treatment group had significantly lower scores. High-dose group showed similar results as prophylaxis group. Histopathological findings of the prophylaxis group was more significant than the treatment group. Immunoreactivities of IL-1β, FGF-2, TNF- α and HIF-1α increased in the control group especially in the epithelial and cryptic regions. On the contrary, sildenafil application caused significant decreases of inflammatory markers in all treatment groups, specifically better results in the prophylaxis group. The sildenafil has anti-inflammatory effects on ARP, as well as protective effects against ARP and the protective effect of sildenafil surpasses its therapeutic effect histopathologically.

In-plane magnetic penetration depth of superconducting CaKFe 4 As 4

DOE PAGES

Khasanov, Rustem; Meier, William R.; Wu, Yun; ...

2018-04-09

Here, the temperature dependence of the in-plane magnetic penetration depth (λ ab) in an extensively characterized sample of superconducting CaKFe 4As 4(T c≃35K) was investigated using muon-spin rotation (μSR). A comparison of λ –2 ab(T) measured by μSR with the one inferred from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) data confirms the presence of multiple gaps at the Fermi level. An agreement between μSR and ARPES requires the presence of additional bands, which are not resolved by ARPES experiments. These bands are characterized by small superconducting gaps with an average zero-temperature value of Δ 0=2.4(2)meV. Our data suggest that in CaKFe 4Asmore » 4 the s ± order parameter symmetry acquires a more sophisticated form by allowing a sign change not only between electron and hole pockets, but also within pockets of similar type.« less

Photoemission study of the electronic structure and charge density waves of Na2Ti2Sb2O.

PubMed

Tan, S Y; Jiang, J; Ye, Z R; Niu, X H; Song, Y; Zhang, C L; Dai, P C; Xie, B P; Lai, X C; Feng, D L

2015-04-30

The electronic structure of Na2Ti2Sb2O single crystal is studied by photon energy and polarization dependent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). The obtained band structure and Fermi surface agree well with the band structure calculation of Na2Ti2Sb2O in the non-magnetic state, which indicates that there is no magnetic order in Na2Ti2Sb2O and the electronic correlation is weak. Polarization dependent ARPES results suggest the multi-band and multi-orbital nature of Na2Ti2Sb2O. Photon energy dependent ARPES results suggest that the electronic structure of Na2Ti2Sb2O is rather two-dimensional. Moreover, we find a density wave energy gap forms below the transition temperature and reaches 65 meV at 7 K, indicating that Na2Ti2Sb2O is likely a weakly correlated CDW material in the strong electron-phonon interaction regime.

Observation of the spin-polarized surface state in a noncentrosymmetric superconductor BiPd

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

Neupane, Madhab; Alidoust, Nasser; Hosen, M. Mofazzel

Recently, noncentrosymmetric superconductor BiPd has attracted considerable research interest due to the possibility of hosting topological superconductivity. Here in this paper we report a systematic high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and spin-resolved ARPES study of the normal state electronic and spin properties of BiPd. Our experimental results show the presence of a surface state at higher-binding energy with the location of Dirac point at around 700 meV below the Fermi level. The detailed photon energy, temperature-dependent and spin-resolved ARPES measurements complemented by our first-principles calculations demonstrate the existence of the spin-polarized surface states at high-binding energy. The absence of suchmore » spin-polarized surface states near the Fermi level negates the possibility of a topological superconducting behaviour on the surface. Our direct experimental observation of spin-polarized surface states in BiPd provides critical information that will guide the future search for topological superconductivity in noncentrosymmetric materials.« less

Chandra Observations of Extended X-Ray Emission in ARP 220

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McDowell, J. C.; Clements, D. L.; Lamb, S. A.; Shaked, S.; Hearn, N. C.; Colina, L.; Mundell, C.; Borne, K.; Baker, A. C.; Arribas, S.

2003-01-01

We resolve the extended X-ray emission from the prototypical ultraluminous infrared galaxy Arp 220. Extended, faint, edge-brightened, soft X-ray lobes outside the optical galaxy are observed to a distance of 1CL 15 kpc on each side of the nuclear region. Bright plumes inside the optical isophotes coincide with the optical line emission and extend 1 1 kpc from end to end across the nucleus. The data for the plumes cannot be fitted by a single-temperature plasma and display a range of temperatures from 0.2 to 1 keV. The plumes emerge from bright, diffuse circumnuclear emission in the inner 3 kpc centered on the Ha peak, which is displaced from the radio nuclei. There is a close morphological correspondence between the Ha and soft X-ray emission on all spatial scales. We interpret the plumes as a starburst-driven superwind and discuss two interpretations of the emission from the lobes in the context of simulations of the merger dynamics of Arp 220.

Observation of the spin-polarized surface state in a noncentrosymmetric superconductor BiPd

DOE PAGES

Neupane, Madhab; Alidoust, Nasser; Hosen, M. Mofazzel; ...

2016-11-07

Recently, noncentrosymmetric superconductor BiPd has attracted considerable research interest due to the possibility of hosting topological superconductivity. Here in this paper we report a systematic high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and spin-resolved ARPES study of the normal state electronic and spin properties of BiPd. Our experimental results show the presence of a surface state at higher-binding energy with the location of Dirac point at around 700 meV below the Fermi level. The detailed photon energy, temperature-dependent and spin-resolved ARPES measurements complemented by our first-principles calculations demonstrate the existence of the spin-polarized surface states at high-binding energy. The absence of suchmore » spin-polarized surface states near the Fermi level negates the possibility of a topological superconducting behaviour on the surface. Our direct experimental observation of spin-polarized surface states in BiPd provides critical information that will guide the future search for topological superconductivity in noncentrosymmetric materials.« less

Basic Diagnosis and Prediction of Persistent Contrail Occurrence using High-resolution Numerical Weather Analyses/Forecasts and Logistic Regression. Part II: Evaluation of Sample Models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duda, David P.; Minnis, Patrick

2009-01-01

Previous studies have shown that probabilistic forecasting may be a useful method for predicting persistent contrail formation. A probabilistic forecast to accurately predict contrail formation over the contiguous United States (CONUS) is created by using meteorological data based on hourly meteorological analyses from the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) and from the Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) as well as GOES water vapor channel measurements, combined with surface and satellite observations of contrails. Two groups of logistic models were created. The first group of models (SURFACE models) is based on surface-based contrail observations supplemented with satellite observations of contrail occurrence. The second group of models (OUTBREAK models) is derived from a selected subgroup of satellite-based observations of widespread persistent contrails. The mean accuracies for both the SURFACE and OUTBREAK models typically exceeded 75 percent when based on the RUC or ARPS analysis data, but decreased when the logistic models were derived from ARPS forecast data.

Requirement of the basic region of N-WASP/WAVE2 for actin-based motility.

PubMed

Suetsugu, S; Miki, H; Yamaguchi, H; Takenawa, T

2001-04-06

WASP family proteins activate nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex, inducing rapid actin polymerization in vitro. Although the C-terminal portion of WASP family proteins (VCA) activates nucleation by the Arp2/3 complex in pure systems, we find that this fragment lacks activity in cell extracts. Thus, polystyrene beads coated with VCA did not move in brain cytosol, while beads coated with N-WASP or WAVE2 did move. The basic clusters between the WH1 domain and the CRIB domain of N-WASP were critical for movement since beads coated with N-WASP or WAVE2 constructs missing the basic clusters (Delta basic) also did not move. Furthermore, VCA and N-WASP/WAVE2 Delta basic constructs were much less able than wild-type N-WASP and WAVE2 to induce actin polymerization in cytosol. All of the proteins, with or without the basic domain, were potent activators of nucleation by purified Arp2/3 complex. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

A COLLISION IN THE HEART OF A GALAXY

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

The Hubble Space Telescope's Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) has uncovered a collision between two spiral galaxies in the heart of the peculiar galaxy called Arp 220. The collision has provided the spark for a burst of star formation. The NICMOS image captures bright knots of stars forming in the heart of Arp 220. The bright, crescent moon-shaped object is a remnant core of one of the colliding galaxies. The core is a cluster of 1 billion stars. The core's half-moon shape suggests that its bottom half is obscured by a disk of dust about 300 light-years across. This disk is embedded in the core and may be swirling around a black hole. The core of the other colliding galaxy is the bright round object to the left of the crescent moon-shaped object. Both cores are about 1,200 light-years apart and are orbiting each other. Arp 220, located 250 million light-years away in the constellation Serpens, is the 220th object in Halton Arp's Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies. The image was taken with three filters. The colors have been adjusted so that, in this infrared image, blue corresponds to shorter wavelengths, red to longer wavelengths. The image was taken April 5, 1997. Credits: Rodger Thompson, Marcia Rieke, Glenn Schneider (University of Arizona) and Nick Scoville (California Institute of Technology), and NASA Image files in GIF and JPEG format and captions may be accessed on the Internet via anonymous ftp from ftp.stsci.edu in /pubinfo.

A quantitative comparison of precipitation forecasts between the storm-scale numerical weather prediction model and auto-nowcast system in Jiangsu, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Gaili; Yang, Ji; Wang, Dan; Liu, Liping

2016-11-01

Extrapolation techniques and storm-scale Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models are two primary approaches for short-term precipitation forecasts. The primary objective of this study is to verify precipitation forecasts and compare the performances of two nowcasting schemes: a Beijing Auto-Nowcast system (BJ-ANC) based on extrapolation techniques and a storm-scale NWP model called the Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS). The verification and comparison takes into account six heavy precipitation events that occurred in the summer of 2014 and 2015 in Jiangsu, China. The forecast performances of the two schemes were evaluated for the next 6 h at 1-h intervals using gridpoint-based measures of critical success index, bias, index of agreement, root mean square error, and using an object-based verification method called Structure-Amplitude-Location (SAL) score. Regarding gridpoint-based measures, BJ-ANC outperforms ARPS at first, but then the forecast accuracy decreases rapidly with lead time and performs worse than ARPS after 4-5 h of the initial forecast. Regarding the object-based verification method, most forecasts produced by BJ-ANC focus on the center of the diagram at the 1-h lead time and indicate high-quality forecasts. As the lead time increases, BJ-ANC overestimates precipitation amount and produces widespread precipitation, especially at a 6-h lead time. The ARPS model overestimates precipitation at all lead times, particularly at first.

Sharp Jet in Arp 192 Identified as Main-Belt Asteroid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanipe, Jeff

2010-01-01

Arp 192 (NGC 3303) is a LINER-type active galaxy that is described in both the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies (1966) and the Uppsala Galaxy Catalogue (1973), respectively, as having "a spike” or a "sharp jet.” Recent images of Arp 192 made by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, however, do not show this feature. For over forty years, the spike, seen so conspicuously in the Arp Atlas image, has presumed to be an intrinsic feature of that peculiar galaxy. However, at the distance to the galaxy ( 90 Mpc), it would have to be many kiloparsecs in length, and it is highly unlikely that such a structure could dissipate in less than five decades. This paper presents findings that point to the "spike” as being the superposed track of minor planet (84447) 2002 TU 240, which was discovered by the Near Earth Asteroid Telescope on Haleakala on 6 October 2002. Prediscovery observations of this minor planet have been recognized in 2000 (Catalina and LINEAR), as well as a single ESO image of 1 March 1992. Digital archives of the observing logbooks kept at the Carnegie Observatories Headquarters in Pasadena, California, indicate the Atlas image was taken on 19 February 1964, making it the earliest known prediscovery image of this object. These results suggest that older photographic images and plates of almost any astronomical object might be "mined” for anomalous features, emulsion flaws, and artifacts that might be attributed to real phenomena.

Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of derivatization reagents for different types of protein-bound carbonyl groups.

PubMed

Bollineni, Ravi Chand; Fedorova, Maria; Hoffmann, Ralf

2013-09-07

Mass spectrometry (MS) of 'carbonylated proteins' often involves derivatization of reactive carbonyl groups to facilitate their enrichment, identification and quantification. Among the many reported reagents, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), biotin hydrazide (BHZ) and O-(biotinylcarbazoylmethyl) hydroxylamine (ARP) are the most frequently used. Despite their common use in carbonylation research, their reactivity towards protein-bound carbonyls has not been quantitatively evaluated in detail, to the best of our knowledge. Thus we studied the reactivity and specificity of these reagents towards different classes of reactive carbonyl groups (e.g. aldehydes, ketones and lactams), each being represented by a synthetic peptide carrying an accordingly modified residue. All three tagging reagents were selective for aliphatic aldehydes and ketones. Lactams and carbonyl-containing tryptophan oxidation products, however, were labelled only at low levels or not at all. Whereas DNPH derivatization was efficient under the published standard conditions, the derivatization conditions for BHZ and ARP had to be altered. Acidic conditions provided quantitative labelling yields for ARP. Peptides derivatized with DNPH, BHZ and ARP fragmented efficiently in tandem mass spectrometry, when the experimental conditions were chosen carefully for each reagent. Importantly, the tested carbonylated peptides did not cross-react with amino groups in other proteins present during sample preparations or enzymatic digestion. Thus, it appears favourable to digest proteins first and then derivatise the reactive carbonyl groups more efficiently at the peptide level under acidic conditions. The carbonylated model peptides used in this study might be valid internal standards for carbonylation proteomics.

Causal Evaluation of Acute Recurrent and Chronic Pancreatitis in Children: Consensus From the INSPPIRE Group.

PubMed

Gariepy, Cheryl E; Heyman, Melvin B; Lowe, Mark E; Pohl, John F; Werlin, Steven L; Wilschanski, Michael; Barth, Bradley; Fishman, Douglas S; Freedman, Steven D; Giefer, Matthew J; Gonska, Tanja; Himes, Ryan; Husain, Sohail Z; Morinville, Veronique D; Ooi, Chee Y; Schwarzenberg, Sarah J; Troendle, David M; Yen, Elizabeth; Uc, Aliye

2017-01-01

Acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) have been diagnosed in children at increasing rates during the past decade. As pediatric ARP and CP are still relatively rare conditions, little quality evidence is available on which to base the diagnosis and determination of etiology. The aim of the study was to review the current state of the literature regarding the etiology of these disorders and to developed a consensus among a panel of clinically active specialists caring for children with these disorders to help guide the diagnostic evaluation and identify areas most in need of future research. A systematic review of the literature was performed and scored for quality, followed by consensus statements developed and scored by each individual in the group for level of agreement and strength of the supporting data using a modified Delphi method. Scores were analyzed for the level of consensus achieved by the group. The panel reached consensus on 27 statements covering the definitions of pediatric ARP and CP, evaluation for potential etiologies of these disorders, and long-term monitoring. Statements for which the group reached consensus to make no recommendation or could not reach consensus are discussed. This consensus helps define the minimal diagnostic evaluation and monitoring of children with ARP and CP. Even in areas in which we reached consensus, the quality of the evidence is weak, highlighting the need for further research. Improved understanding of the underlying cause will facilitate treatment development and targeting.

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

Poirier, M.; Burket, P.

The Savannah River Site (SRS) is currently treating radioactive liquid waste with the Actinide Removal Process (ARP) and the Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Unit (MCU). Recently, the low filter flux through the ARP of approximately 5 gallons per minute has limited the rate at which radioactive liquid waste can be treated. Salt Batch 6 had a lower processing rate and required frequent filter cleaning. Savannah River Remediation (SRR) has a desire to understand the causes of the low filter flux and to increase ARP/MCU throughput. SRR requested SRNL to conduct bench-scale filter tests to evaluate whether sodium oxalate, sodiummore » aluminosilicate, or aluminum solids (i.e., gibbsite and boehmite) could be the cause of excessive fouling of the crossflow or secondary filter at ARP. The authors conducted the tests by preparing slurries containing 6.6 M sodium Salt Batch 6 supernate, 2.5 g MST/L slurry, and varying concentrations of sodium oxalate, sodium aluminosilicate, and aluminum solids, processing the slurry through a bench-scale filter unit that contains a crossflow primary filter and a dead-end secondary filter, and measuring filter flux and transmembrane pressure as a function of time. Among the conclusions drwn from this work are the following: (1) All of the tests showed some evidence of fouling the secondary filter. This fouling could be from fine particles passing through the crossflow filter. (2) The sodium oxalate-containing feeds behaved differently from the sodium aluminosilicate- and gibbsite/boehmite-containing feeds.« less

The Causal Evaluation of Acute Recurrent and Chronic Pancreatitis in Children: Consensus From the INSPPIRE Group

PubMed Central

Gariepy, Cheryl E.; Heyman, Melvin B.; Lowe, Mark E.; Pohl, John F.; Werlin, Steven L.; Wilschanski, Michael; Barth, Bradley; Fishman, Douglas S.; Freedman, Steven D.; Giefer, Matthew J.; Gonska, Tanja; Himes, Ryan; Husain, Sohail Z.; Morinville, Veronique D.; Ooi, Chee Y.; Schwarzenberg, Sarah Jane; Troendle, David M.; Yen, Elizabeth; Uc, Aliye

2016-01-01

Acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) have been diagnosed in children at increasing rates over the past decade. However, as pediatric ARP and CP are still relatively rare conditions, little quality evidence is available on which to base the diagnosis and determination of etiology. Objectives: To review the current state of the literature regarding the etiology of these disorders and to developed a consensus among a panel of clinically active specialists caring for children with these disorders to help guide the diagnostic evaluation and identify areas most in need of future research. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed and scored for quality, then consensus statements developed and scored by each individual in the group for level of agreement and strength of the supporting data using a modified Delphi method. Scores were analyzed for the level of consensus achieved by the group. Results: The panel reached consensus on 27 statements covering the definitions of pediatric ARP and CP, evaluation for potential etiologies of these disorders, and long-term monitoring. Statements for which the group reached consensus to make no recommendation or could not reach consensus are discussed. Conclusion: This consensus helps define the minimal diagnostic evaluation and monitoring of children with ARP and CP. Even in areas in which we reached consensus, the quality of the evidence is weak, highlighting the need for further research. Improved understanding of the underlying cause will facilitate treatment development and targeting. PMID:27782962

Safety management of Ethernet broadband access based on VLAN aggregation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Li

2004-04-01

With broadband access network development, the Ethernet technology is more and more applied access network now. It is different from the private network -LAN. The differences lie in four points: customer management, safety management, service management and count-fee management. This paper mainly discusses the safety management related questions. Safety management means that the access network must secure the customer data safety, isolate the broad message which brings the customer private information, such as ARP, DHCP, and protect key equipment from attack. Virtue LAN (VLAN) technology can restrict network broadcast flow. We can config each customer port with a VLAN, so each customer is isolated with others. The IP address bound with VLAN ID can be routed rightly. But this technology brings another question: IP address shortage. VLAN aggregation technology can solve this problem well. Such a mechanism provides several advantages over traditional IPv4 addressing architectures employed in large switched LANs today. With VLAN aggregation technology, we introduce the notion of sub-VLANs and super-VLANs, a much more optimal approach to IP addressing can be realized. This paper will expatiate the VLAN aggregation model and its implementation in Ethernet access network. It is obvious that the customers in different sub-VLANs can not communication to each other because the ARP packet is isolated. Proxy ARP can enable the communication among them. This paper will also expatiate the proxy ARP model and its implementation in Ethernet access network.

Radio frequency electromagnetic field compliance assessment of multi-band and MIMO equipped radio base stations.

PubMed

Thors, Björn; Thielens, Arno; Fridén, Jonas; Colombi, Davide; Törnevik, Christer; Vermeeren, Günter; Martens, Luc; Joseph, Wout

2014-05-01

In this paper, different methods for practical numerical radio frequency exposure compliance assessments of radio base station products were investigated. Both multi-band base station antennas and antennas designed for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmission schemes were considered. For the multi-band case, various standardized assessment methods were evaluated in terms of resulting compliance distance with respect to the reference levels and basic restrictions of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. Both single frequency and multiple frequency (cumulative) compliance distances were determined using numerical simulations for a mobile communication base station antenna transmitting in four frequency bands between 800 and 2600 MHz. The assessments were conducted in terms of root-mean-squared electromagnetic fields, whole-body averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) and peak 10 g averaged SAR. In general, assessments based on peak field strengths were found to be less computationally intensive, but lead to larger compliance distances than spatial averaging of electromagnetic fields used in combination with localized SAR assessments. For adult exposure, the results indicated that even shorter compliance distances were obtained by using assessments based on localized and whole-body SAR. Numerical simulations, using base station products employing MIMO transmission schemes, were performed as well and were in agreement with reference measurements. The applicability of various field combination methods for correlated exposure was investigated, and best estimate methods were proposed. Our results showed that field combining methods generally considered as conservative could be used to efficiently assess compliance boundary dimensions of single- and dual-polarized multicolumn base station antennas with only minor increases in compliance distances. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Bodipy-C60 triple hydrogen bonding assemblies as heavy atom-free triplet photosensitizers: preparation and study of the singlet/triplet energy transfer.

PubMed

Guo, Song; Xu, Liang; Xu, Kejing; Zhao, Jianzhang; Küçüköz, Betül; Karatay, Ahmet; Yaglioglu, Halime Gul; Hayvali, Mustafa; Elmali, Ayhan

2015-07-01

Supramolecular triplet photosensitizers based on hydrogen bonding-mediated molecular assemblies were prepared. Three thymine-containing visible light-harvesting Bodipy derivatives ( B-1 , B-2 and B-3 , which show absorption at 505 nm, 630 nm and 593 nm, respectively) were used as H-bonding modules, and 1,6-diaminopyridine-appended C 60 was used as the complementary hydrogen bonding module ( C-1 ), in which the C 60 part acts as a spin converter for triplet formation. Visible light-harvesting antennae with methylated thymine were prepared as references ( B-1-Me , B-2-Me and B-3-Me ), which are unable to form strong H-bonds with C-1 . Triple H-bonds are formed between each Bodipy antenna ( B-1 , B-2 and B-3 ) and the C 60 module ( C-1 ). The photophysical properties of the H-bonding assemblies and the reference non-hydrogen bond-forming mixtures were studied using steady state UV/vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectroscopy, electrochemical characterization, and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Singlet energy transfer from the Bodipy antenna to the C 60 module was confirmed by fluorescence quenching studies. The intersystem crossing of the latter produced the triplet excited state. The nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy showed that the triplet state is either localized on the C 60 module (for assembly B-1·C-1 ), or on the styryl-Bodipy antenna (for assemblies B-2·C-1 and B-3·C-1 ). Intra-assembly forward-backward (ping-pong) singlet/triplet energy transfer was proposed. In contrast to the H-bonding assemblies, slow triplet energy transfer was observed for the non-hydrogen bonding mixtures. As a proof of concept, these supramolecular assemblies were used as triplet photosensitizers for triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion.

New Insights into High-Tc Superconductivity from Angle-Resolved Photoemission at Low Photon Energies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plumb, Nicholas Clark

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) is one of the most direct and powerful probes for studying the physics of solids. ARPES takes a "snapshot" of electrons in momentum space (k-space) to reveal details of the dispersion relation E( k), as well as information about the lifetimes of interacting quasiparticles. From this we learn not only where the electrons live, but also, if we are crafty, what they are doing. Beginning with work by our group in 2006 using a 6-eV laser, ARPES experiments have begun to make use of a new, low photon energy regime (roughly hnu = 6--9 eV). These low photon energies give drastic improvements in momentum resolution, photoelectron escape depths, and overall spectral sharpness. This has led to several important new findings in the intensively-studied problem of high-temperature superconductivity. This thesis will focus on two of the latest results from our group using low-energy ARPES (LE-ARPES) to study the cuprate high-Tc superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta (Bi2212). The first of these is an investigation into the nature of many-body interactions at a well-known energy scale (˜ 60--70 meV) where the dispersion shows a large bend, or "kink". Using LE-ARPES measurements, the k-dependence of this kink is investigated in unprecedented detail. An attempt is then made to map the feature's k evolution into the scattering q-space of boson dispersions. In our analysis, the q-dispersion of the kink bears more resemblance to dispersive spin excitations than phonons --- a surprising finding in light of previous evidence that the the kink originates from interactions with phonons. However, phonons cannot be ruled out, and the results may hint that both types of interactions contribute to the main nodal kink. A second result is the discovery of a new ultralow (< 10 meV) energy scale for electron interactions, corresponding to a distinct, smaller kink in the electron dispersion. The temperature and doping dependence of this feature show not only that it turns on near Tc --- signalling a possible relation to the mechanism of high-T c superconductivity --- but also that it leads to a subtle breakdown of the so-called "universal" Fermi velocity vF along nodes of the anisotropic superconducting gap. Moreover, vF is found to depend quite strongly on temperature, which may be an important factor in the physics of cuprates.

Subarcsecond international LOFAR radio images of Arp 220 at 150 MHz. A kpc-scale star forming disk surrounding nuclei with shocked outflows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varenius, E.; Conway, J. E.; Martí-Vidal, I.; Aalto, S.; Barcos-Muñoz, L.; König, S.; Pérez-Torres, M. A.; Deller, A. T.; Moldón, J.; Gallagher, J. S.; Yoast-Hull, T. M.; Horellou, C.; Morabito, L. K.; Alberdi, A.; Jackson, N.; Beswick, R.; Carozzi, T. D.; Wucknitz, O.; Ramírez-Olivencia, N.

2016-09-01

Context. Arp 220 is the prototypical ultra luminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG). Despite extensive studies, the structure at MHz-frequencies has remained unknown because of limits in spatial resolution. Aims: This work aims to constrain the flux and shape of radio emission from Arp 220 at MHz frequencies. Methods: We analyse new observations with the International Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) telescope, and archival data from the Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). We model the spatially resolved radio spectrum of Arp 220 from 150 MHz to 33 GHz. Results: We present an image of Arp 220 at 150 MHz with resolution 0.̋65 × 0.̋35, sensitivity 0.15 mJy beam-1, and integrated flux density 394 ± 59 mJy. More than 80% of the detected flux comes from extended (6''≈ 2.2 kpc) steep spectrum (α = -0.7) emission, likely from star formation in the molecular disk surrounding the two nuclei. We find elongated features extending 0.3'' (110 pc) and 0.9'' (330 pc) from the eastern and western nucleus respectively, which we interpret as evidence for outflows. The extent of radio emission requires acceleration of cosmic rays far outside the nuclei. We find that a simple three component model can explain most of the observed radio spectrum of the galaxy. When accounting for absorption at 1.4 GHz, Arp 220 follows the FIR/radio correlation with q = 2.36, and we estimate a star formation rate of 220 M⊙ yr-1. We derive thermal fractions at 1 GHz of less than 1% for the nuclei, which indicates that a major part of the UV-photons are absorbed by dust. Conclusions: International LOFAR observations shows great promise to detect steep spectrum outflows and probe regions of thermal absorption. However, in LIRGs the emission detected at 150 MHz does not necessarily come from the main regions of star formation. This implies that high spatial resolution is crucial for accurate estimates of star formation rates for such galaxies at 150 MHz. The reduced images at 150 MHz and 1.4 GHz presented in this paper 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/593/A86

Feeding and feedback in radio galaxies of the local universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Couto, Guilherme dos Santos

2016-10-01

We present integral field spectroscopic data covering the inner kiloparsecs of four radio galaxies of the local Universe (z<0.07), Arp 102B, Pictor A, 3C 33 and 4C +29.30, obtained with the GMOS-IFU instrument of the Gemini telescopes. We use these data to analyze the gas excitation and kinematics via two-dimensional maps. Using the flux distributions of the emission lines, we identify extended emission in ionized gas up to the edges of the observed field, which corresponds to 1.7 kpc x 2.5 kpc for Arp 102B, 2.5 kpc x 3.4 kpc for Pictor A, 4.0 kpc x 5.8 kpc for 3C 33 and 4.3 kpc x 6.2 kpc for 4C +29.30. The extended line emitting gas displays structures resembling rotating disks, spiral arms and bars. Line ratios indicate that both photons from the nuclear source and shocks originated in the interaction of the radio jet with circumnuclear gas are ionizing mechanisms of the gas. Line ratio values are typical of Seyfert galaxies for 3C 33 and 4C +29.30, while intermediate values between Seyferts and LINERs are observed in Arp 102B. Pictor A galaxy, however, shows low values of [NII]/Ha=0.15-0.25, expected for HII regions. We suggest that these values are observed due to the low gas metallicity (12+log(O/H)=8.39). Centroid velocity maps show that the gas kinematics is dominated by rotation only in Arp 102B and 3C 33. Outflows are observed in the galaxies Arp 102B, 3C 33 and 4C +29.30. We obtain mass outflow rates of 0.32-0.49 Msun per year, but the outflow kinetic power is small, ranging 0.04-0.07% of the AGN bolometric luminosity, indicating that the feedback has little impact in the host galaxies evolution. The high masses of ionized gas, ranging from 7.4E7 to 4.6E8 Msun, and the fact that these galaxies are early-type, suggest an external origin of the gas. Indeed, it is observed evidence of interaction with companion galaxies in Arp 102B, Pictor A and 4C +29.30. We suggest that the capture of mass has triggered the nuclear activity in these galaxies, with the high masses feeding not only the SMBH but also being a possible source of star formation.

Conceptual study of an ICRH traveling-wave antenna system for low-coupling conditions as expected in DEMO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ragona, R.; Messiaen, A.

2016-07-01

For the central heating of a fusion reactor ion cyclotron radio frequency heating (ICRH) is the first choice method as it is able to couple RF power to the ions without density limit. The drawback of this heating method is the problem of excitation of the magneto-sonic wave through the plasma boundary layer from the antenna located along the wall, without exceeding its voltage standoff. The amount of coupling depends on the antenna excitation and the surface admittance at the antenna output due to the plasma profile. The paper deals with the optimization of the antenna excitation by the use of sections of traveling-wave antennas (TWAs) distributed all along the reactor wall between the blanket modules. They are mounted and fed in resonant ring system(s). First, the physics of the coupling of a strap array is studied by simple models and the coupling code ANTITER II. Then, after the study of the basic properties of a TWA section, its feeding problem is solved by hybrids driving them in resonant ring circuit(s). The complete modeling is obtained from the matrices of the TWA sections connected to one of the feeding hybrid(s). The solution is iterated with the coupling code to determine the loading for a reference low-coupling ITER plasma profile. The resulting wave pattern up to the plasma bulk is derived. The proposed system is totally load resilient and allows us to obtain a very selective exciting wave spectrum. A discussion of some practical implementation problems is added.

Dual-mode plasmonic nanorod type antenna based on the concept of a trapped dipole.

PubMed

Panaretos, Anastasios H; Werner, Douglas H

2015-04-06

In this paper we theoretically investigate the feasibility of creating a dual-mode plasmonic nanorod antenna. The proposed design methodology relies on adapting to optical wavelengths the principles of operation of trapped dipole antennas, which have been widely used in the low MHz frequency range. This type of antenna typically employs parallel LC circuits, also referred to as "traps", which are connected along the two arms of the dipole. By judiciously choosing the resonant frequency of these traps, as well as their position along the arms of the dipole, it is feasible to excite the λ/2 resonance of both the original dipole as well as the shorter section defined by the length of wire between the two traps. This effectively enables the dipole antenna to have a dual-mode of operation. Our analysis reveals that the implementation of this concept at the nanoscale requires that two cylindrical pockets (i.e. loading volumes) be introduced along the length of the nanoantenna, inside which plasmonic core-shell particles are embedded. By properly selecting the geometry and constitution of the core-shell particle as well as the constitution of the host material of the two loading volumes and their position along the nanorod, the equivalent effect of a resonant parallel LC circuit can be realized. This effectively enables a dual-mode operation of the nanorod antenna. The proposed methodology introduces a compact approach for the realization of dual-mode optical sensors while at the same time it clearly illustrates the inherent tuning capabilities that core-shell particles can offer in a practical framework.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Arp 102B spectral optical monitoring (Shapovalova+, 2013)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shapovalova, A. I.; Popovic, L. C.; Burenkov, A. N.; Chavushyan, V. H.; Ilic, D.; Kollatschny, W.; Kovacevic, A.; Bochkarev, N. G.; Valdes, J. R.; Torrealba, J.; Patino-Alvarez, V.; Leon-Tavares, J.; Benitez, E.; Carrasco, L.; Dultzin, D.; Mercado, A.; Zhdanova, V. E.

2013-10-01

Spectra of Arp 102B (during 142 nights) were taken with the 6-m and 1-m telescopes of the SAO RAS (Russia, 1998-2010), the INAOE 2.1-m telescope of the Guillermo Haro Observatory (GHO) at Cananea, Sonora, Mexico (1998-2007), the 2.1-m telescope of the Observatorio Astronomico Nacional at San Pedro Martir (OAN-SPM), Baja California, Mexico (2005-2007), and the 3.5-m and 2.2-m telescopes of Calar Alto observatory, Spain (1987-1994). (4 data files).

Observations of three QSOs lying in the spiral arms of NGC 1073

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burbidge, E. M.; Junkkarinen, V.; Koski, A. T.

1979-01-01

Spectrophotometric observations of three QSOs lying in the field of the spiral galaxy NGC 1073 are presented. These objects have been reported by Arp and Sulentic (1979), who obtained redshifts for two of them. The present observations, made with the Shane telescope at Lick Observatory, extend the wavelength coverage, show L-alpha in BSO 1 at z = 1.945, yield a firm redshift of z = 0.599 for BSO 2, and confirm the redshift z = 1.41 of RSO obtained by Arp and Sulentic (1979).

Extending the scanning angle of a phased array antenna by using a null-space medium

PubMed Central

Sun, Fei; He, Sailing

2014-01-01

By introducing a columnar null-space region as the reference space, we design a radome that can extend the scanning angle of a phased array antenna (PAA) by a predetermined relationship (e.g. a linear relationship between the incident angle and steered output angle can be achieved). After some approximation, we only need two homogeneous materials to construct the proposed radome layer by layer. This kind of medium is called a null-space medium, which has been studied and fabricated for realizing hyper-lenses and some other devices. Numerical simulations verify the performance of our radome. PMID:25355198

The focal plane reception pattern calculation for a paraboloidal antenna with a nearby fence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmidt, Richard F.; Cheng, Hwai-Soon; Kao, Michael W.

1987-01-01

A computer simulation program is described which is used to estimate the effects of a proximate diffraction fence on the performance of paraboloid antennas. The computer program is written in FORTRAN. The physical problem, mathematical formulation and coordinate references are described. The main control structure of the program and the function of the individual subroutines are discussed. The Job Control Language set-up and program instruction are provided in the user's instruction to help users execute the present program. A sample problem with an appropriate output listing is made available as an illustration of the usage of the program.

DSN 63 64-meter antenna S- and X-band efficiency and system noise temperature calibrations, July 1986

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Slobin, S. D.

1987-01-01

The Deep Space Network (DSN) 64-meter antenna in Spain (DSN 63) has been calibrated prior to its upgrading to a 70-meter high efficiency configuration in preparation for the Voyager Neptune encounter in August 1989. The S-band (2285 MHz) and X-band (8420 MHz) effective area efficiency and system noise temperature calibrations were carried out during July 1986 to establish a baseline system performance for this station. It is expected that the 70-meter will result in at least a 1.9 dB G/T improvement at X-band relative to the 64-meter baseline reference.

Thermal analysis and optimization of the EAST ICRH antenna

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qingxi, YANG; Wei, SONG; Qunshan, DU; Yuntao, SONG; Chengming, QIN; Xinjun, ZHANG; Yanping, ZHAO

2018-02-01

The ion cyclotron resonance of frequency heating (ICRH) plays an important role in plasma heating. Two ICRH antennas were designed and applied on the EAST tokamak. In order to meet the requirement imposed by high-power and long-pulse operation of EAST in the future, an active cooling system is mandatory to be designed to remove the heat load deposited on the components. Thermal analyses for high heat-load components have been carried out, which presented clear temperature distribution on each component and provided the reference data to do the optimization. Meanwhile, heat pipes were designed to satisfy the high requirement imposed by a Faraday shield and lateral limiter.

Spatial averaging of fields from half-wave dipole antennas and corresponding SAR calculations in the NORMAN human voxel model between 65 MHz and 2 GHz.

PubMed

Findlay, R P; Dimbylow, P J

2009-04-21

If an antenna is located close to a person, the electric and magnetic fields produced by the antenna will vary in the region occupied by the human body. To obtain a mean value of the field for comparison with reference levels, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) recommend spatially averaging the squares of the field strength over the height the body. This study attempts to assess the validity and accuracy of spatial averaging when used for half-wave dipoles at frequencies between 65 MHz and 2 GHz and distances of lambda/2, lambda/4 and lambda/8 from the body. The differences between mean electric field values calculated using ten field measurements and that of the true averaged value were approximately 15% in the 600 MHz to 2 GHz range. The results presented suggest that the use of modern survey equipment, which takes hundreds rather than tens of measurements, is advisable to arrive at a sufficiently accurate mean field value. Whole-body averaged and peak localized SAR values, normalized to calculated spatially averaged fields, were calculated for the NORMAN voxel phantom. It was found that the reference levels were conservative for all whole-body SAR values, but not for localized SAR, particularly in the 1-2 GHz region when the dipole was positioned very close to the body. However, if the maximum field is used for normalization of calculated SAR as opposed to the lower spatially averaged value, the reference levels provide a conservative estimate of the localized SAR basic restriction for all frequencies studied.

Interest of the MICROSTAR Accelerometer to improve the GRASP Mission.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perrot, E.; Lebat, V.; Foulon, B.; Christophe, B.; Liorzou, F.; Huynh, P. A.

2015-12-01

The Geodetic Reference Antenna in Space (GRASP) is a micro satellite mission concept proposed by JPL to improve the definition of the Terrestrial Reference Frame (TRF). GRASP collocates GPS, SLR, VLBI, and DORIS sensors on a dedicated spacecraft in order to establish precise and stable ties between the key geodetic techniques used to define and disseminate the TRF. GRASP also offers a space-based reference antenna for the present and future Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). By taking advantage of the new testing possibilities offer by the catapult facility at the ZARM drop tower, the ONERA's space accelerometer team proposes an up-dated version, called MICROSTAR, of its ultra sensitive electrostatic accelerometers which have contributed to the success of the last Earth's gravity missions GRACE and GOCE. Built around a cubic proof-mass, it provides the 3 linear accelerations with a resolution better than 10-11 ms-2/Hz1/2 into a measurement bandwidth between 10-3 Hz and 0.1 Hz and the 3 angular accelerations about its 3 orthogonal axes with 5´10-10 rad.s-2/Hz1/2 resolution. Integrated at the centre of mass of the satellite, MICROSTAR improves the Precise Orbit Determination (POD) by accurate measurement of the non-gravitational force acting on the satellite. It offers also the possibility to calibrate the change in the position of the satellite center of mass with an accuracy better than 100 μm as demonstrated in the GRACE mission. Assuming a sufficiently rigid structure between the antennas and the accelerometer, its data can participate to reach the mission objective of 1 mm precision for the TRF position.

Experimental Study of Radiation Efficiency from an Ingested Source inside a Human Body Model^*.

PubMed

Chan, Yawen; -H Meng, Max; Wu, K-L; Wang, Xiaona

2005-01-01

The attenuation of human body trunk at frequency range of 100MHz to 6GHz from an internal source was estimated using a simplified experimental model. Antennas were placed in the model which was filled with distilled water, 0.9% NaCl saline solution, and porcine body tissue alternately to determine the attenuation of the system. Saline has greater attenuation than water due to its higher conductivity, while porcine body tissue has attenuation bounded by saline solution and water. Estimated attenuation at the four ISM bands, 434MHz, 915MHz, 2.45GHz and 5.8GHz were given and all of these bands satisfied the safety and sensitivity requirements of a biomedical telemetry system. 915MHz and 2.45GHz are good choices for the wireless link because of their relatively larger electrical size of RF components such as antenna. In addition, with the growth in wireless LAN and Bluetooth technology, miniaturized antennas, camera modules, and other RF devices have been developed which can be employed in biomedical ingested or implanted devices. This paper gives a reference of attenuation values of a human body trunk of average size. It should be noted that the attenuation values can be different for different body size and different body composition, and therefore the values in this paper serves as a reference only.

Time-Tag Generation Script

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jackson, Dan E.

2010-01-01

Time-Tag Generation Script (TTaGS) is an application program, written in the AWK scripting language, for generating commands for aiming one Ku-band antenna and two S-band antennas for communicating with spacecraft. TTaGS saves between 2 and 4 person-hours per every 24 hours by automating the repetitious process of building between 150 and 180 antenna-control commands. TTaGS reads a text database of communication satellite schedules and a text database of satellite rise and set times and cross-references items in the two databases. It then compares the scheduled start and stop with the geometric rise and set to compute the times to execute antenna control commands. While so doing, TTaGS determines whether to generate commands for guidance, navigation, and control computers to tell them which satellites to track. To help prevent Ku-band irradiation of the Earth, TTaGS accepts input from the user about horizon tolerance and accordingly restricts activation and effects deactivation of the transmitter. TTaGS can be modified easily to enable tracking of additional satellites and for such other tasks as reading Sun-rise/set tables to generate commands to point the solar photovoltaic arrays of the International Space Station at the Sun.

Time and Frequency Synchronization on the Virac Radio Telescope RT-32

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bezrukovs, V.

2016-04-01

One of the main research directions of Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) is radio astronomy and astrophysics. The instrumental base for the centre comprised two fully steerable parabolic antennas, RT-16 and RT-32 (i.e. with the mirror diameter of 16 m and 32 m). After long reconstruction, radio telescope RT-32 is currently equipped with the receiving and data acquisition systems that allow observing in a wide frequency range from 327 MHz to 9 GHz. New Antenna Control Unit (ACU) allows stable, fast and precise pointing of antenna. Time and frequency distribution service provide 5, 10 and 100 MHz reference frequency, 1PPS signals and precise time stamps by NTP protocol and in the IRIG-B format by coaxial cable. For the radio astronomical observations, main requirement of spatially Very Long Base Line Interferometric (VLBI) observations for the observatory is precise synchronization of the received and sampled data and linking to the exact time stamps. During October 2015, radio telescope RT-32 performance was tested in several successful VLBI experiments. The obtained results confirm the efficiency of the chosen methods of synchronization and the ability to reproduce them on similar antennas.

High Performance Circularly Polarized Microstrip Antenna

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bondyopadhyay, Probir K. (Inventor)

1997-01-01

A microstrip antenna for radiating circularly polarized electromagnetic waves comprising a cluster array of at least four microstrip radiator elements, each of which is provided with dual orthogonal coplanar feeds in phase quadrature relation achieved by connection to an asymmetric T-junction power divider impedance notched at resonance. The dual fed circularly polarized reference element is positioned with its axis at a 45 deg angle with respect to the unit cell axis. The other three dual fed elements in the unit cell are positioned and fed with a coplanar feed structure with sequential rotation and phasing to enhance the axial ratio and impedance matching performance over a wide bandwidth. The centers of the radiator elements are disposed at the corners of a square with each side of a length d in the range of 0.7 to 0.9 times the free space wavelength of the antenna radiation and the radiator elements reside in a square unit cell area of sides equal to 2d and thereby permit the array to be used as a phased array antenna for electronic scanning and is realizable in a high temperature superconducting thin film material for high efficiency.

When Worlds Collide: Chandra Observes Titanic Merger

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2002-04-01

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has provided the best X-ray image yet of two Milky Way-like galaxies in the midst of a head-on collision. Since all galaxies - including our own - may have undergone mergers, this provides insight into how the universe came to look as it does today. Astronomers believe the mega-merger in the galaxy known as Arp 220 triggered the formation of huge numbers of new stars, sent shock waves rumbling through intergalactic space, and could possibly lead to the formation of a supermassive black hole in the center of the new conglomerate galaxy. The Chandra data also suggest that merger of these two galaxies began only 10 million years ago, a short time in astronomical terms. "The Chandra observations show that things really get messed up when two galaxies run into each other at full speed," said David Clements of the Imperial College, London, one of the team members involved in the study. "The event affects everything from the formation of massive black holes to the dispersal of heavy elements into the universe." Arp 220 is considered to be a prototype for understanding what conditions were like in the early universe, when massive galaxies and supermassive black holes were presumably formed by numerous galaxy collisions. At a relatively nearby distance of about 250 million light years, Arp 220 is the closest example of an "ultra-luminous" galaxy, one that gives off a trillion times as much radiation as our Sun. The Chandra image shows a bright central region at the waist of a glowing, hour-glass-shaped cloud of multimillion-degree gas. Rushing out of the galaxy at hundreds of thousands of miles per hour, the super-heated as forms a "superwind," thought to be due to explosive activity generated by the formation of hundreds of millions of new stars. Farther out, spanning a distance of 75,000 light years, are giant lobes of hot gas that could be galactic remnants flung into intergalactic space by the early impact of the collision. Whether the lobes will continue to expand into space or fall back into Arp 220 is unknown. The center of Arp 220 is of particular interest. Chandra observations allowed astronomers to pinpoint an X-ray source at the exact location of the nucleus of one of the pre-merger galaxies. Another fainter X-ray source nearby may coincide with the nucleus of the other galaxy remnant. The X-ray power output of these point-like sources is greater than expected for stellar black holes accreting from companion stars. The authors suggest that these sources could be due to supermassive black holes at the centers of the merging galaxies. These two remnant sources are relatively weak, and provide strong evidence to support the theory that the extraordinary luminosity of Arp 220 - about a hundred times that of our Milky Way galaxy - is due to the rapid rate of star formation and not to an active, supermassive black hole in the center. However, in a few hundred million years, this balance of power may change. The two massive black holes could merge to produce a central supermassive black hole. This new arrangement could cause much more gas to fall into the central black hole, creating a power source equal to or greater than that due to star formation. "The unusual concentration of X-ray sources in the very center of Arp 220 suggests that we could be observing the early stages of the creation of a supermassive black hole and the eventual rise to power of an active galactic nucleus," said Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA, another member of the team studying Arp 220. Clements and McDowell were joined on this research by an international group of researchers from the United States, United Kingdom and Spain. Chandra observed Arp 220 on June 24, 2000, for approximately 56,000 seconds using the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) instrument. ACIS was developed for NASA by Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., manages the Chandra program, and TRW, Inc., Redondo Beach, Calif., is the prime contractor. The Smithsonian's Chandra X-ray Center controls science and flight operations from Cambridge, Mass.

Molecular gas heating mechanisms, and star formation feedback in merger/starbursts: NGC 6240 and Arp 193 as case studies

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

Papadopoulos, Padelis P.; Zhang, Zhi-Yu; Xilouris, E. M.

2014-06-20

We used the SPIRE/FTS instrument aboard the Herschel Space Observatory to obtain the Spectral Line Energy Distributions (SLEDs) of CO from J = 4-3 to J = 13-12 of Arp 193 and NGC 6240, two classical merger/starbursts selected from our molecular line survey of local Luminous Infrared Galaxies (L {sub IR} ≥ 10{sup 11} L {sub ☉}). The high-J CO SLEDs are then combined with ground-based low-J CO, {sup 13}CO, HCN, HCO{sup +}, CS line data and used to probe the thermal and dynamical states of their large molecular gas reservoirs. We find the two CO SLEDs strongly diverging frommore » J = 4-3 onward, with NGC 6240 having a much higher CO line excitation than Arp 193, despite their similar low-J CO SLEDs and L {sub FIR}/L {sub CO,} {sub 1} {sub –0}, L {sub HCN}/L {sub CO} (J = 1-0) ratios (proxies of star formation efficiency and dense gas mass fraction). In Arp 193, one of the three most extreme starbursts in the local universe, the molecular SLEDs indicate a small amount (∼5%-15%) of dense gas (n ≥ 10{sup 4} cm{sup –3}) unlike NGC 6240 where most of the molecular gas (∼60%-70%) is dense (n ∼ (10{sup 4}-10{sup 5}) cm{sup –3}). Strong star-formation feedback can drive this disparity in their dense gas mass fractions, and also induce extreme thermal and dynamical states for the molecular gas. In NGC 6240, and to a lesser degree in Arp 193, we find large molecular gas masses whose thermal states cannot be maintained by FUV photons from Photon-Dominated Regions. We argue that this may happen often in metal-rich merger/starbursts, strongly altering the initial conditions of star formation. ALMA can now directly probe these conditions across cosmic epoch, and even probe their deeply dust-enshrouded outcome, the stellar initial mass function averaged over galactic evolution.« less

The Extreme Star Formation Activity of Arp 299 Revealed by Spitzer IRS Spectral Mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alonso-Herrero, Almudena; Rieke, George H.; Colina, Luis; Pereira-Santaella, Miguel; García-Marín, Macarena; Smith, J.-D. T.; Brandl, Bernhard; Charmandaris, Vassilis; Armus, Lee

2009-05-01

We present Spitzer/IRS spectral mapping observations of the luminous infrared galaxy Arp 299 (IC 694 + NGC 3690) covering the central ~45'' ~ 9 kpc. The integrated mid-IR spectrum of Arp 299 is similar to that of local starbursts despite its strongly interacting nature and high-IR luminosity, L IR ~ 6 × 1011 L sun. This is explained because the star formation (probed by, e.g., high [Ne III]15.56 μm/[Ne II]12.81 μm line ratios) is spread across at least 6-8 kpc. Moreover, a large fraction of this star formation is taking place in young regions of moderate mid-IR optical depths such as the C+C' complex in the overlap region between the two galaxies and in H II regions in the disks of the galaxies. It is only source A, the nuclear region of IC 694, which shows the typical mid-IR characteristics of ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs; L IR > 1012 L sun), that is, very compact (less than 1 kpc) and dust-enshrouded star formation resulting in a deep silicate feature and moderate equivalent widths of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The nuclear region of NGC 3690, known as source B1, hosts a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (AGN) and is surrounded by regions of star formation. Although the high-excitation [Ne V]14.32 μm line typical of AGN is not detected in B1, its upper limit is consistent with the value expected from the X-ray luminosity. The AGN emission is detected in the form of a strong hot-dust component that accounts for 80%-90% of the 6 μm luminosity of B1. The similarity between the Arp 299 integrated mid-IR spectrum and those of high-z ULIRGs suggests that Arp 299 may represent a local example, albeit with lower IR luminosity and possibly higher metallicity, of the star formation processes occurring at high-z. Based on observations obtained with the Spitzer Space Telescope, which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under NASA contract 1407.

Domestication-driven Gossypium profilin 1 (GhPRF1) gene transduces early flowering phenotype in tobacco by spatial alteration of apical/floral-meristem related gene expression.

PubMed

Pandey, Dhananjay K; Chaudhary, Bhupendra

2016-05-13

Plant profilin genes encode core cell-wall structural proteins and are evidenced for their up-regulation under cotton domestication. Notwithstanding striking discoveries in the genetics of cell-wall organization in plants, little is explicit about the manner in which profilin-mediated molecular interplay and corresponding networks are altered, especially during cellular signalling of apical meristem determinacy and flower development. Here we show that the ectopic expression of GhPRF1 gene in tobacco resulted in the hyperactivation of apical meristem and early flowering phenotype with increased flower number in comparison to the control plants. Spatial expression alteration in CLV1, a key meristem-determinacy gene, is induced by the GhPRF1 overexpression in a WUS-dependent manner and mediates cell signalling to promote flowering. But no such expression alterations are recorded in the GhPRF1-RNAi lines. The GhPRF1 transduces key positive flowering regulator AP1 gene via coordinated expression of FT4, SOC1, FLC1 and FT1 genes involved in the apical-to-floral meristem signalling cascade which is consistent with our in silico profilin interaction data. Remarkably, these positive and negative flowering regulators are spatially controlled by the Actin-Related Protein (ARP) genes, specifically ARP4 and ARP6 in proximate association with profilins. This study provides a novel and systematic link between GhPRF1 gene expression and the flower primordium initiation via up-regulation of the ARP genes, and an insight into the functional characterization of GhPRF1 gene acting upstream to the flowering mechanism. Also, the transgenic plants expressing GhPRF1 gene show an increase in the plant height, internode length, leaf size and plant vigor. Overexpression of GhPRF1 gene induced early and increased flowering in tobacco with enhanced plant vigor. During apical meristem determinacy and flower development, the GhPRF1 gene directly influences key flowering regulators through ARP-genes, indicating for its role upstream in the apical-to-floral meristem signalling cascade.

47 CFR Alphabetical Index - Part 78

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... of towers 78.63 Modulation limits 78.115 Monitors and Measurements, Frequency 78.113 N [Reserved] O... SERVICE Technical Regulations Modulation limits. Pt. 78, Index Alphabetical Index—Part 78 A Antenna... Changes in equipment 78.109 Conditions for license 78.27 Coordination, frequencies 78.36 Cross reference...

Redshift differences of galaxies in nearby groups

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harrison, E. R.

1975-01-01

It is reported that galaxies in nearby groups exhibit anomalous nonvelocity redshifts. In this discussion, (1) four classes of nearby groups of galacies are analyzed, and no significant nonvelocity redshift effect is found; and (2) it is pointed out that transverse velocities (i.e., velocities transverse to the line of sight of the main galaxy, or center of mass) contribute components to the redshift measurements of companion galaxies. The redshifts of galaxies in nearby groups of appreciable angular size are considerably affected by these velocity projection effects. The transverse velocity contributions average out in rich, isotropic groups, and also in large samples of irregular groups of low membership, as in the four classes referred to in (1), but can introduce apparent discrepancies in small samples (as studied by Arp) of nearby groups of low membership.

Atypical retardation patterns in scanning laser polarimetry are associated with low peripapillary choroidal thickness.

PubMed

Tornow, Ralf P; Schrems, Wolfgang A; Bendschneider, Delia; Horn, Folkert K; Mayer, Markus; Mardin, Christian Y; Lämmer, Robert

2011-09-29

Scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) results can be affected by an atypical retardation pattern (ARP). One reason for an ARP is the birefringence of the sclera. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the peripapillary choroidal thickness (pChTh) on the occurrence of ARP. One hundred ten healthy subjects were investigated with SLP and spectral domain OCT. pChTh was measured in B-scan images at 768 positions using semiautomatic software. Values were averaged to 32 sectors and the total peripapillary mean. Subjects were divided into four groups according to the typical scan score (TSS) provided by the GDxVCC: group 1 TSS, 100; group 2 TSS, 90-99; group 3 TSS, 80-89; group 4 TSS, <80. Mean pChTh (± SD) in 110 healthy subjects was 141 μm (±49 μm). There was a significant correlation between pChTh and TSS (r = 0.608; P < 0.001). In TSS groups 1 to 4, mean pChTh was 168 μm (±38 μm), 148 μm (± 48 μm), 119 μm (±35 μm), and 92 (±42 μm). Mean pChTh of TSS groups 3 and 4 was significantly lower than that of TSS group 1 (P < 0.001). Low values of TSS resulting from the appearance of ARP in SLP are associated with low peripapillary choroidal thickness. Reduced choroidal thickness may result in an increased amount of confounding light getting to the SLP light detectors.

Effect of UVB radiation exposure in the expression of genes and proteins related to apoptosis in freshwater prawn embryos.

PubMed

Schramm, Heloísa; Jaramillo, Michael L; Quadros, Thaline de; Zeni, Eliane C; Müller, Yara M R; Ammar, Dib; Nazari, Evelise M

2017-10-01

Our previous studies showed that embryos of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium olfersii exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation exhibited DNA damage, excessive ROS production, mitochondrial dysfunction and increased hsp70 expression, which are able, independently or together, to induce apoptosis. Thus, we attempted to elucidate some key apoptosis-related genes (ARG) and apoptosis-related proteins (ARP) and their expression during different stages of embryonic development, as well as to characterize the chronology of ARG expression and ARP contents after UVB radiation insult. We demonstrate that p53, Bax and Caspase3 genes are active in the embryonic cells at early embryonic developmental stages, and that the Bcl2 gene is active from the mid-embryonic stage. After UVB radiation exposure, we found an increase in ARP such as p53 and Bak after 3h of exposure. Moreover, an increase in ARG transcript levels for p53, Bax, Bcl2 and Caspase3 was observed at 6h after UVB exposure. Then, after 12h of UVB radiation exposure, an increase in Caspase3 gene expression and protein was observed, concomitantly with an increased number of apoptotic cells. Our data reveal that ARG and ARP are developmentally regulated in embryonic cells of M. olfersii and that UVB radiation causes apoptosis after 12h of exposure. Overall, we demonstrate that embryonic cells of M. olfersii are able to active the cell machinery against environmental changes, such as increased incidence of UVB radiation in aquatic ecosystems. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cyanidin-3-glucoside Alleviates 4-Hydroxyhexenal-Induced NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation via JNK-c-Jun/AP-1 Pathway in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells.

PubMed

Jin, Xiaolu; Wang, Chengtao; Wu, Wei; Liu, Tingting; Ji, Baoping; Zhou, Feng

2018-01-01

Recently, the NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the eyes has been known to be associated with the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), an important anthocyanin with great potential for preventing eye diseases, against 4-hydroxyhexenal- (HHE-) induced inflammatory damages in human retinal pigment epithelial cells, ARPE-19. We noticed that C3G pretreatment to the ARPE-19 cells rescued HHE-induced antiproliferative effects. Cell apoptosis ratio induced by HHE was also decreased by C3G, measured by flow cytometry. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome induced by HHE was found with increases of caspase-1 activity, proinflammatory cytokine releases (IL-1 β and IL-18), and NLRP3 inflammasome-related gene expressions (NLRP3, IL-1 β , IL-18, and caspase-1). The C3G showed potent inhibitive effects on these NLRP3 inflammasome activation hallmarks induced by HHE. Moreover, we noticed that the C3G's pretreatment leads to a delayed and a decreased JNK activation in HHE-challenged ARPE-19 cells. Finally, using a luciferase reporter gene assay system, we demonstrated that HHE-induced activation protein- (AP-) 1 transcription activity was abolished by C3G pretreatment in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these data showed that HHE leads to inflammatory damages to ARPE-19 cells while C3G has great protective effects, highlighting future potential applications of C3G against AMD-associated inflammation.

LC-MS/MS method for the determination of the prodrug aripiprazole lauroxil and its three metabolites in plasma and its application to in vitro biotransformation and animal pharmacokinetic studies.

PubMed

Sun, Yiying; Lu, Xiaoyan; Gai, Yunyun; Sha, Chunjie; Leng, Guangyi; Yang, Xiucheng; Liu, Wanhui

2018-04-01

A sensitive and selective LC-MS/MS method for determination of the prodrug aripiprazole lauroxil (AL) and the three metabolites (N-hydroxymethyl aripiprazole [NHA], aripiprazole [ARP], and dehydro aripiprazole [DHA]) in plasma was developed using ARP-d 8 as an internal standard. The analytes were determined on an AB Sciex Triple Quad™ 4500 system using positive ion electrospray ionization and selected multiple reaction monitoring mode. Solid phase extraction was applied for sample preparation for AL, ARP, and DHA, and protein precipitation for NHA. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Agilent Eclipse XDB-CN column (100 × 2.1 mm i.d., 3.5 μm) using the mobile phase of water and acetonitrile (25:75, v/v) containing 0.1% formic acid with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The linear ranges for AL, NHA, ARP, and DHA were 0.5-50 ng/mL, 1.0-50 ng/mL, 0.5-50 ng/mL, and 0.05-5.0 ng/mL, respectively. The average recovery in the plasma sample was stable and reproducible. The precision and accuracy of the intra- and inter-run were within assay variability criteria limits. The developed method was suitable for in vitro biotransformation studies in plasma and animal pharmacokinetic studies after intramuscular injection of AL formulations. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

A novel role for WAVE1 in controlling actin network growth rate and architecture.

PubMed

Sweeney, Meredith O; Collins, Agnieszka; Padrick, Shae B; Goode, Bruce L

2015-02-01

Branched actin filament networks in cells are assembled through the combined activities of Arp2/3 complex and different WASP/WAVE proteins. Here we used TIRF and electron microscopy to directly compare for the first time the assembly kinetics and architectures of actin filament networks produced by Arp2/3 complex and dimerized VCA regions of WAVE1, WAVE2, or N-WASP. WAVE1 produced strikingly different networks from WAVE2 or N-WASP, which comprised unexpectedly short filaments. Further analysis showed that the WAVE1-specific activity stemmed from an inhibitory effect on filament elongation both in the presence and absence of Arp2/3 complex, which was observed even at low stoichiometries of WAVE1 to actin monomers, precluding an effect from monomer sequestration. Using a series of VCA chimeras, we mapped the elongation inhibitory effects of WAVE1 to its WH2 ("V") domain. Further, mutating a single conserved lysine residue potently disrupted WAVE1's inhibitory effects. Taken together, our results show that WAVE1 has unique activities independent of Arp2/3 complex that can govern both the growth rates and architectures of actin filament networks. Such activities may underlie previously observed differences between the cellular functions of WAVE1 and WAVE2. © 2015 Sweeney et al. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). Two months after publication it is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

Stability of the Broad-line Region Geometry and Dynamics in Arp 151 Over Seven Years

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pancoast, A.; Barth, A. J.; Horne, K.; Treu, T.; Brewer, B. J.; Bennert, V. N.; Canalizo, G.; Gates, E. L.; Li, W.; Malkan, M. A.; Sand, D.; Schmidt, T.; Valenti, S.; Woo, J.-H.; Clubb, K. I.; Cooper, M. C.; Crawford, S. M.; Hönig, S. F.; Joner, M. D.; Kandrashoff, M. T.; Lazarova, M.; Nierenberg, A. M.; Romero-Colmenero, E.; Son, D.; Tollerud, E.; Walsh, J. L.; Winkler, H.

2018-04-01

The Seyfert 1 galaxy Arp 151 was monitored as part of three reverberation mapping campaigns spanning 2008–2015. We present modeling of these velocity-resolved reverberation mapping data sets using a geometric and dynamical model for the broad-line region (BLR). By modeling each of the three data sets independently, we infer the evolution of the BLR structure in Arp 151 over a total of 7 yr and constrain the systematic uncertainties in nonvarying parameters such as the black hole mass. We find that the BLR geometry of a thick disk viewed close to face-on is stable over this time, although the size of the BLR grows by a factor of ∼2. The dynamics of the BLR are dominated by inflow, and the inferred black hole mass is consistent for the three data sets, despite the increase in BLR size. Combining the inference for the three data sets yields a black hole mass and statistical uncertainty of log10({M}BH}/{M}ȯ ) = {6.82}-0.09+0.09 with a standard deviation in individual measurements of 0.13 dex.

Switch-like Arp2/3 activation upon WASP and WIP recruitment to an apparent threshold level by multivalent linker proteins in vivo.

PubMed

Sun, Yidi; Leong, Nicole T; Jiang, Tommy; Tangara, Astou; Darzacq, Xavier; Drubin, David G

2017-08-16

Actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex activation by nucleation promoting factors (NPFs) such as WASP, plays an important role in many actin-mediated cellular processes. In yeast, Arp2/3-mediated actin filament assembly drives endocytic membrane invagination and vesicle scission. Here we used genetics and quantitative live-cell imaging to probe the mechanisms that concentrate NPFs at endocytic sites, and to investigate how NPFs regulate actin assembly onset. Our results demonstrate that SH3 (Src homology 3) domain-PRM (proline-rich motif) interactions involving multivalent linker proteins play central roles in concentrating NPFs at endocytic sites. Quantitative imaging suggested that productive actin assembly initiation is tightly coupled to accumulation of threshold levels of WASP and WIP, but not to recruitment kinetics or release of autoinhibition. These studies provide evidence that WASP and WIP play central roles in establishment of a robust multivalent SH3 domain-PRM network in vivo, giving actin assembly onset at endocytic sites a switch-like behavior.

Functional Coordination of WAVE and WASP in C. elegans Neuroblast Migration.

PubMed

Zhu, Zhiwen; Chai, Yongping; Jiang, Yuxiang; Li, Wenjing; Hu, Huifang; Li, Wei; Wu, Jia-Wei; Wang, Zhi-Xin; Huang, Shanjin; Ou, Guangshuo

2016-10-24

Directional cell migration is critical for metazoan development. We define two molecular pathways that activate the Arp2/3 complex during neuroblast migration in Caenorhabditis elegans. The transmembrane protein MIG-13/Lrp12 is linked to the Arp2/3 nucleation-promoting factors WAVE or WASP through direct interactions with ABL-1 or SEM-5/Grb2, respectively. WAVE mutations partially impaired F-actin organization and decelerated cell migration, and WASP mutations did not inhibit cell migration but enhanced migration defects in WAVE-deficient cells. Purified SEM-5 and MIG-2 synergistically stimulated the F-actin branching activity of WASP-Arp2/3 in vitro. In GFP knockin animals, WAVE and WASP were largely organized into separate clusters at the leading edge, and the amount of WASP was less than WAVE but could be elevated by WAVE mutations. Our results indicate that the MIG-13-WAVE pathway provides the major force for directional cell motility, whereas MIG-13-WASP partially compensates for its loss, underscoring their coordinated activities in facilitating robust cell migration. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Laser angle-resolved photoemission as a probe of initial state k z dispersion, final-state band gaps, and spin texture of Dirac states in the Bi 2Te 3 topological insulator

DOE PAGES

Ärrälä, Minna; Hafiz, Hasnain; Mou, Daixiang; ...

2016-10-27

Here, we have obtained angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) spectra from single crystals of the topological insulator material Bi 2Te 3 using tunable laser spectrometer. The spectra were collected for eleven different photon energies ranging from 5.57 to 6.70 eV for incident light polarized linearly along two different in-plane directions. Parallel first-principles, fully relativistic computations of photo-intensities were carried out using the experimental geometry within the framework of the one-step model of photoemission. Good overall accord between theory and experiment is used to gain insight into how properties of the initial and final state band structures as well as those of themore » topological surface states and their spin-textures are reflected in the laser-ARPES spectra. In conclusion, our analysis reveals that laser-ARPES is sensitive to both the initial state k z dispersion and the presence of delicate gaps in the final state electronic spectrum.« less

ERK reinforces actin polymerization to power persistent edge protrusion during motility

PubMed Central

Mendoza, Michelle C.; Vilela, Marco; Juarez, Jesus E.; Blenis, John; Danuser, Gaudenz

2016-01-01

Cells move through perpetual protrusion and retraction cycles at the leading edge. These cycles are coordinated with substrate adhesion and retraction of the cell rear. Here, we tracked spatial and temporal fluctuations in the molecular activities of individual moving cells to elucidate how extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) signaling controlled the dynamics of protrusion and retraction cycles. ERK is activated by many cell-surface receptors and we found that ERK signaling specifically reinforced cellular protrusions so that they translated into rapid, sustained forward motion of the leading edge. Using quantitative fluorescent speckle microscopy (qFSM) and cross-correlation analysis, we showed that ERK controlled the rate and timing of actin polymerization by promoting the recruitment of the actin nucleator Arp2/3 to the leading edge. Arp2/3 activity generates branched actin networks that can produce pushing force. These findings support a model in which surges in ERK activity induced by extracellular cues enhance Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization to generate protrusion power phases with enough force to counteract increasing membrane tension and to promote sustained motility. PMID:25990957

Cooperativity and redundancy in the mechanics of compositely crosslinked branched anisotropic cytoskeletal networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwarz, J. M.; Zhang, Tao; Das, Moumita

2013-03-01

At the leading edge of a crawling cell, the actin cytoskeleton extends itself in a particular direction via a branched crosslinked network of actin filaments with some overall alignment. This network is known as the lamellipodium. Branching via the complex Arp2/3 occurs at a reasonably well-defined angle of 70 degrees from the plus end of the mother filament such that Arp2/3 can be modeled as an angle-constraining crosslinker. Freely-rotating crosslinkers, such as alpha-actinin, are also present in lamellipodia. Therefore, we study the interplay between these two types of crosslinkers, angle-constraining and free-rotating, both analytically and numerically, to begin to quantify the mechanics of lamellipodia. We also investigate how the orientational ordering of the filaments affects this interplay. Finally, while role of Arp2/3 as a nucleator for filaments along the leading edge of a crawling cell has been studied intensely, much less is known about its mechanical contribution. Our work seeks to fill in this important gap in modeling the mechanics of lamellipodia.

Sharp low-energy feature in single-particle spectra due to forward scattering in d-wave cuprate superconductors.

PubMed

Hong, Seung Hwan; Bok, Jin Mo; Zhang, Wentao; He, Junfeng; Zhou, X J; Varma, C M; Choi, Han-Yong

2014-08-01

There is an enormous interest in the renormalization of the quasiparticle (qp) dispersion relation of cuprate superconductors both below and above the critical temperature T_{c} because it enables the determination of the fluctuation spectrum to which the qp's are coupled. A remarkable discovery by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) is a sharp low-energy feature (LEF) in qp spectra well below the superconducting energy gap but with its energy increasing in proportion to T_{c} and its intensity increasing sharply below T_{c}. This unexpected feature needs to be reconciled with d-wave superconductivity. Here, we present a quantitative analysis of ARPES data from Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+δ} (Bi2212) using Eliashberg equations to show that the qp scattering rate due to the forward scattering impurities far from the Cu-O planes is modified by the energy gap below T_{c} and shows up as the LEF. This is also a necessary step to analyze ARPES data to reveal the spectrum of fluctuations promoting superconductivity.

Nuclear ARP2/3 drives DNA break clustering for homology-directed repair.

PubMed

Schrank, Benjamin R; Aparicio, Tomas; Li, Yinyin; Chang, Wakam; Chait, Brian T; Gundersen, Gregg G; Gottesman, Max E; Gautier, Jean

2018-06-20

DNA double-strand breaks repaired by non-homologous end joining display limited DNA end-processing and chromosomal mobility. By contrast, double-strand breaks undergoing homology-directed repair exhibit extensive processing and enhanced motion. The molecular basis of this movement is unknown. Here, using Xenopus laevis cell-free extracts and mammalian cells, we establish that nuclear actin, WASP, and the actin-nucleating ARP2/3 complex are recruited to damaged chromatin undergoing homology-directed repair. We demonstrate that nuclear actin polymerization is required for the migration of a subset of double-strand breaks into discrete sub-nuclear clusters. Actin-driven movements specifically affect double-strand breaks repaired by homology-directed repair in G2 cell cycle phase; inhibition of actin nucleation impairs DNA end-processing and homology-directed repair. By contrast, ARP2/3 is not enriched at double-strand breaks repaired by non-homologous end joining and does not regulate non-homologous end joining. Our findings establish that nuclear actin-based mobility shapes chromatin organization by generating repair domains that are essential for homology-directed repair in eukaryotic cells.

Prehistoric spatial patterning and subsistence studies: Archaeological investigations at Sample Unit U19arP4, Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada

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

Johnson, W.G.; DuBarton, A.; Edwards, S.

1992-12-31

This report documents the methods and results of archaeological investigations at Sample Unit U19arP4 on Pahute Mesa at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Eight sites were located there: four lithic artifact scatters (26NY1370, 26NY1372, 26NY3666 and 26NY3667), two temporary camps (26NY3665 and 26NY5418), one artifact locality (26NY5419), and one quarry (26NY3664). One of the lithic scatters, 26NY3667, incorporated a previously recorded rock ring, 26NY1371, that could not be relocated during subsequent investigations. Surface artifacts were collected from all but two of the sites, 26NY1370 and 26NY1372. The data retrieved from these investigations include over one thousand artifacts, such as projectilemore » points, bifaces, debitage, groundstone, and pottery. The temporally diagnostic materials indicate periodic use of Sample Unit U19arP4 from the Middle Archaic to the Shoshonean period.« less

Rac interacts with Abi-1 and WAVE2 to promote an Arp2/3-dependent actin recruitment during chlamydial invasion.

PubMed

Carabeo, Rey A; Dooley, Cheryl A; Grieshaber, Scott S; Hackstadt, Ted

2007-09-01

Chlamydiae are Gram-negative obligate intracellular pathogens to which access to an intracellular environment is fundamental to their development. Chlamydial attachment to host cells induces the activation of the Rac GTPase, which is required for the localization of WAVE2 at the sites of chlamydial entry. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that Chlamydia trachomatis infection promoted the interaction of Rac with WAVE2 and Abi-1, but not with IRSp53. siRNA depletion of WAVE2 and Abi-1 abrogated chlamydia-induced actin recruitment and significantly reduced the uptake of the pathogen by the depleted cells. Chlamydia invasion also requires the Arp2/3 complex as demonstrated by its localization to the sites of chlamydial attachment and the reduced efficiency of chlamydial invasion in cells overexpressing the VCA domain of the neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein. Thus, C. trachomatis activates Rac and promotes its interaction with WAVE2 and Abi-1 to activate the Arp2/3 complex resulting in the induction of actin cytoskeletal rearrangements that are required for invasion.

[Net power and energy of cooled antenna microwave ablation:ex vivo versus in vivo results in porcine liver].

PubMed

Jiang, Hua; Fan, Wei-jun; Zhang, Liang; Li, Xin; Zhang, Jian-lei

2012-09-18

To explore the net power and net energy of a cooled antenna radiator in ex vivo and in vivo porcine livers. All animal experiments complied with the guidelines of our animal use committee. Microwave ablation (MWA) was performed in ex vivo and in vivo porcine livers with a cooled-shaft antenna in different microwave ablation parameter groups (50, 80 and 110 W for 10 min). The energy losses from the microwave antenna or cables were calculated. And the net power, net energy and the relationship between net power and power readout were determined. When the power displayed by the machine indicated 50 W, 80 W and 110 W, the net power during MWA was 31.3 ± 0.6, 47.3 ± 0.8 and 62.1 ± 0.9 W ex vivo and 31.8 ± 0.8, 47.4 ± 0.3 and 61.7 ± 1.5 W in vivo. For the same power readout, the ex vivo or in vivo effective power was the same (P = 0.841, P = 0.133, P = 0.551). For both ex vivo and in vivo experiments, the ratio of microwave antenna energy loss to microwave antenna input energy was relatively constant (P = 0.613, 0.326). For the same treatment time and net power, the difference was significant between ex vivo and in vivo ablation volumes (P = 0.001, 0.006, 0.001). Using net power as a reference during MWA is more accurate compared to the traditional power readout. And net energy offers a more realistic reflection of MWA energy in tissues.

Layer-by-Layer Evolution of a Two-Dimensional Electron Gas Near an Oxide Interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Young Jun; Moreschini, Luca; Bostwick, Aaron; Gaines, Geoffrey A.; Kim, Yong Su; Walter, Andrew L.; Freelon, Byron; Tebano, Antonello; Horn, Karsten; Rotenberg, Eli

2013-09-01

We report the momentum-resolved measurement of a two-dimensional electron gas at the LaTiO3/SrTiO3 interface by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). Thanks to an advanced sample preparation technique, the orbital character of the conduction electrons and the electronic correlations can be accessed quantitatively as each unit cell layer is added. We find that all of these quantities change dramatically with distance from the interface. These findings open the way to analogous studies on other heterostructures, which are traditionally a forbidden field for ARPES.

Observation of Dirac-like band dispersion in LaAgSb 2

DOE PAGES

Shi, X.; Richard, P.; Wang, Kefeng; ...

2016-02-16

In this paper, we present a combined angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and first-principles calculations study of the electronic structure of LaAgSb 2 in the entire first Brillouin zone. We observe a Dirac-cone-like structure in the vicinity of the Fermi level formed by the crossing of two linear energy bands, as well as the nested segments of a Fermi surface pocket emerging from the cone. In conclusion, our ARPES results show the close relationship of the Dirac cone to the charge-density-wave ordering, providing consistent explanations for exotic behaviors in this material.

Angle resolved photoemission study of Fermi surfaces and single-particle excitations of quasi-low dimensional materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gweon, Gey-Hong

Using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) as the main experimental tool and the single particle Green's function as the main theoretical tool, materials of various degrees of low dimensionality and different ground states are studied. The underlying theme of this thesis is that of one dimensional physics, which includes charge density waves (CDW's) and the Luttinger liquid (LL). The LL is the prime example of a lattice non-Fermi liquid (non-FL) and CDW fluctuations also give non-FL behaviors. Non-FL physics is an emerging paradigm of condensed matter physics. It is thought by some researchers that one dimensional LL behavior is a key element in solving the high temperature superconductivity problem. TiTe2 is a quasi-2 dimensional (quasi-2D) Fermi liquid (FL) material very well suited for ARPES lineshape studies. I report ARPES spectra at 300 K which show an unusual behavior of a peak moving through the Fermi energy (EF). I also report a good fit of the ARPES spectra at 25 K obtained by using a causal Green's function proposed by K. Matho. SmTe3 is a quasi-2D CDW material. The near EF ARPES spectra and intensity map reveal rich details of an anisotropic gap and imperfectly nested Fermi surface (FS) for a high temperature CDW. A simple model of imperfect nesting can be constructed from these data and predicts a CDW wavevector in very good agreement with the value known from electron diffraction. NaMo6O17 and KMo 6O17 are also quasi-2D CDW materials. The "hidden nesting" or "hidden 1 dimensionality" picture for the CDW is confirmed very well by our direct image of the FS. K0.3MoO3, the so-called "blue bronze," is a quasi-1 dimensional (quasi-1D) CDW material. Even in its metallic phase above the CDW transition temperature, its photoemission spectra show an anomalously weak intensity at EF and no clear metallic Fermi edge. I compare predictions of an LL model and a CDW fluctuation model regarding these aspects, and find that the LL scenario explains them better. Despite the weak EF intensity, the EF intensity map shows a FS pattern in good agreement with the expected FS and the known CDW wavevector. Li0.9Mo6O17 is a quasi-1D material, whose 24 K transition is incompatible with a CDW transition. I compare the 200 K ARPES lineshapes with the LL lineshapes calculated using the spin-independent Tomonaga-Luttinger model. I point out both strong similarities and some significant differences. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Space Experiments with Particle Accelerators (SEPAC)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taylor, William W. L.

1994-01-01

The scientific emphasis of this contract has been on the physics of beam ionosphere interactions, in particular, what are the plasma wave levels stimulated by the Space Experiments with Particle Accelerators (SEPAC) electron beam as it is ejected from the Electron Beam Accelerator (EBA) and passes into and through the ionosphere. There were two different phenomena expected. The first was generation of plasma waves by the interaction of the DC component of the beam with the plasma of the ionosphere, by wave particle interactions. The second was the generation of waves at the pulsing frequency of the beam (AC component). This is referred to as using the beam as a virtual antenna, because the beam of electrons is a coherent electrical current confined to move along the earth's magnetic field. As in a physical antenna, a conductor at a radio or TV station, the beam virtual antenna radiates electromagnetic waves at the frequency of the current variations. These two phenomena were investigated during the period of this contract.

Superluminal Labview Code

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

Wheat, Robert; Marksteiner, Quinn; Quenzer, Jonathan

2012-03-26

This labview code is used to set the phase and amplitudes on the 72 antenna of the superluminal machine, and to map out the radiation patter from the superluminal antenna.Each antenna radiates a modulated signal consisting of two separate frequencies, in the range of 2 GHz to 2.8 GHz. The phases and amplitudes from each antenna are controlled by a pair of AD8349 vector modulators (VMs). These VMs set the phase and amplitude of a high frequency signal using a set of four DC inputs, which are controlled by Linear Technologies LTC1990 digital to analog converters (DACs). The labview codemore » controls these DACs through an 8051 microcontroller.This code also monitors the phases and amplitudes of the 72 channels. Near each antenna, there is a coupler that channels a portion of the power into a binary network. Through a labview controlled switching array, any of the 72 coupled signals can be channeled in to the Tektronix TDS 7404 digital oscilloscope. Then the labview code takes an FFT of the signal, and compares it to the FFT of a reference signal in the oscilloscope to determine the magnitude and phase of each sideband of the signal. The code compensates for phase and amplitude errors introduced by differences in cable lengths.The labview code sets each of the 72 elements to a user determined phase and amplitude. For each element, the code runs an iterative procedure, where it adjusts the DACs until the correct phases and amplitudes have been reached.« less

Microbiological sampling of spacecraft cabling, antennas, solar panels and thermal blankets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koukol, R. C.

1973-01-01

Sampling procedures and techniques described resulted from various flight project microbiological monitoring programs of unmanned planetary spacecraft. Concurrent with development of these procedures, compatibility evaluations were effected with the cognizant spacecraft subsystem engineers to assure that degradation factors would not be induced during the monitoring program. Of significance were those areas of the spacecraft configuration for which special handling precautions and/or nonstandard sample gathering techniques were evolved. These spacecraft component areas were: cabling, high gain antenna, solar panels, and thermal blankets. The compilation of these techniques provides a historical reference for both the qualification and quantification of sampling parameters as applied to the Mariner Spacecraft of the late 1960's and early 1970's.

Korea Geodetic VLBI Station, Sejong

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Donghyun, Baek; Sangoh, Yi; Hongjong, Oh; Sangchul, Han

2013-01-01

The Sejong VLBI station officially joined the IVS as a new Network Station in 2012. This report summarizes the activities of the Sejong station during 2012. The following are the activities at the station: 1) VLBI test observations were carried out with the Tsukuba 34-m antenna of the GSI in Japan. As a result, the Sejong antenna needs to improve its efficiency, which is currently in progress, 2) A survey to connect the VLBI reference point to GNSS and ground marks was conducted, and 3) To see the indirect effects of RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) at this place, we checked the omni-direction (AZ 0? to 360?, EL fixed at 7?) for RFI influence.

Wave-Ice Interaction and the Marginal Ice Zone

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-30

concept, using a high-quality attitude and heading reference system ( AHRS ) together with an accurate twin-antennae GPS compass. The instruments logged...the AHRS parameters at 50Hz, together with GPS-derived fixes, heading (accurate to better than 1o) and velocities at 10Hz. The 30MB hourly files

Use of Reference Frames for Interplanetary Navigation at JPL

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heflin, Michael; Jacobs, Chris; Sovers, Ojars; Moore, Angelyn; Owen, Sue

2010-01-01

Navigation of interplanetary spacecraft is typically based on range, Doppler, and differential interferometric measurements made by ground-based telescopes. Acquisition and interpretation of these observations requires accurate knowledge of the terrestrial reference frame and its orientation with respect to the celestial frame. Work is underway at JPL to reprocess historical VLBI and GPS data to improve realizations of the terrestrial and celestial frames. Improvements include minimal constraint alignment, improved tropospheric modeling, better orbit determination, and corrections for antenna phase center patterns.

Finding the hidden valence band of N  =  7 armchair graphene nanoribbons with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Senkovskiy, Boris V.; Usachov, Dmitry Yu; Fedorov, Alexander V.; Haberer, Danny; Ehlen, Niels; Fischer, Felix R.; Grüneis, Alexander

2018-07-01

To understand the optical and transport properties of graphene nanoribbons, an unambiguous determination of their electronic band structure is needed. In this work we demonstrate that the photoemission intensity of each valence sub-band, formed due to the quantum confinement in quasi-one-dimensional (1D) graphene nanoribbons, is a peaked function of the two-dimensional (2D) momentum. We resolve the long-standing discrepancy regarding the valence band effective mass () of armchair graphene nanoribbons with a width of N  =  7 carbon atoms (7-AGNRs). In particular, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy report   ≈0.2 and  ≈0.4 of the free electron mass (m e ), respectively. ARPES mapping in the full 2D momentum space identifies the experimental conditions for obtaining a large intensity for each of the three highest valence 1D sub-bands. Our detail map reveals that previous ARPES experiments have incorrectly assigned the second sub-band as the frontier one. The correct frontier valence sub-band for 7-AGNRs is only visible in a narrow range of emission angles. For this band we obtain an ARPES derived effective mass of 0.4 m e , a charge carrier velocity in the linear part of the band of 0.63  ×  106 m s‑1 and an energy separation of only  ≈60 meV to the second sub-band. Our results are of importance not only for the growing research field of graphene nanoribbons but also for the community, which studies quantum confined systems.

UV-A induced oxidative stress is more prominent in naturally pigmented aged human RPE cells compared to non-pigmented human RPE cells independent of zinc treatment.

PubMed

Biesemeier, Antje; Kokkinou, Despina; Julien, Sylvie; Heiduschka, Peter; Berneburg, Mark; Bartz-Schmidt, Karl Ulrich; Schraermeyer, Ulrich

2008-02-27

To investigate the effects of zinc supplementation on human amelanotic (ARPE-19) and native pigmented retinal pigment epithelial cells (hRPE) under normal light conditions and after ultraviolet A light exposure. hRPE cells, containing both melanin and lipofuscin granules, were prepared from human donor eyes of 60-70 year old patients. Cells of the amelanotic ARPE-19 cell line and pigmented hRPE cells were treated with zinc chloride and subjected to oxidative stress by UV-A irradiation. Intracellular H(2)O(2) formation was measured using a fluorescence oxidation assay. Additionally, apoptosis and viability assays were performed. Control cells were treated identically except for irradiation and zinc supplementation. Under normal light conditions, zinc treated hRPE cells produced less H(2)O(2) than unsupplemented hRPE cells. Viability and apoptosis events did not change. After UV-A irradiation, ARPE and hRPE cells were greatly impaired in all tests performed compared to the non-irradiated controls. No differences were found after zinc supplementation. hRPE cells showed a higher apoptosis and mortality rate than non-pigmented cells when stressed by UV-A light. ARPE cells never showed any zinc related effects. In contrast, without irradiation, zinc supplementation reduced H(2)O(2) production in pigmented hRPE cells slightly. We did not find any zinc effect in irradiated hRPE cells. After UV light exposure, pigmented cells showed a higher apoptosis and mortality than cells lacking any pigmentation. We conclude that cells with pigmentation consisting of melanin and lipofuscin granules have more prooxidative than antioxidative capacity when stressed by UV light exposure compared to cells lacking any pigmentation.

Overexpression of Snail in retinal pigment epithelial triggered epithelial–mesenchymal transition

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

Li, Hui; Li, Min; Xu, Ding

2014-03-28

Highlights: • First reported overexpression of Snail in RPE cells could directly trigger EMT. • Further confirmed the regulator role of Snail in RPE cells EMT in vitro. • Snail may be a potential therapeutic target to prevent the fibrosis of PVR. - Abstract: Snail transcription factor has been implicated as an important regulator in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) during tumourigenesis and fibrogenesis. Our previous work showed that Snail transcription factor was activated in transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) induced EMT in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and may contribute to the development of retinal fibrotic disease such as proliferative vitreoretinopathymore » (PVR). However, whether Snail alone has a direct role on retinal pigment epithelial–mesenchymal transition has not been investigated. Here, we analyzed the capacity of Snail to drive EMT in human RPE cells. A vector encoding Snail gene or an empty vector were transfected into human RPE cell lines ARPE-19 respectively. Snail overexpression in ARPE-19 cells resulted in EMT, which was characterized by the expected phenotypic transition from a typical epithelial morphology to mesenchymal spindle-shaped. The expression of epithelial markers E-cadherin and Zona occludin-1 (ZO-1) were down-regulated, whereas mesenchymal markers a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) and fibronectin were up-regulated in Snail expression vector transfected cells. In addition, ectopic expression of Snail significantly enhanced ARPE-19 cell motility and migration. The present data suggest that overexpression of Snail in ARPE-19 cells could directly trigger EMT. These results may provide novel insight into understanding the regulator role of Snail in the development of retinal pigment epithelial–mesenchymal transition.« less

Attenuation of iron-binding proteins in ARPE-19 cells reduces their resistance to oxidative stress.

PubMed

Karlsson, Markus; Kurz, Tino

2016-09-01

Oxidative stress-related damage to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is an important feature in the development of age-related macular degeneration. Iron-catalysed intralysosomal production of hydroxyl radicals is considered a major pathogenic factor, leading to lipofuscin formation with ensuing depressed cellular autophagic capacity, lysosomal membrane permeabilization and apoptosis. Previously, we have shown that cultured immortalized human RPE (ARPE-19) cells are extremely resistant to exposure to bolus doses of hydrogen peroxide and contain considerable amounts of the iron-binding proteins metallothionein (MT), heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70) and ferritin (FT). According to previous findings, autophagy of these proteins depresses lysosomal redox-active iron. The aim of this study was to investigate whether up- or downregulation of these proteins would affect the resistance of ARPE-19 cells to oxidative stress. The sensitivity of ARPE-19 cells to H2 O2 exposure was tested following upregulation of MT, HSP70 and/or FT by pretreatment with ZnSO4 , heat shock or FeCl3 , as well as siRNA-mediated downregulation of the same proteins. Upregulation of MT, HSP70 and FT did not improve survival following exposure to H2 O2 . This was interpreted as existence of an already maximal protection. Combined siRNA-mediated attenuation of both FT chains (H and L), or simultaneous downregulation of all three proteins, made the cells significantly more susceptible to oxidative stress confirming the importance of iron-binding proteins. The findings support our hypothesis that the oxidative stress resistance exhibited by RPE cells may be explained by a high autophagic influx of iron-binding proteins that would keep levels of redox-active lysosomal iron low. © 2016 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A novel imidazopyridine derivative, X22, prevents the retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury via inhibition of MAPKs.

PubMed

Bian, Yang; Ren, Luqing; Wang, Lei; Xu, Shanmei; Tao, Jianjian; Zhang, Xiuhua; Huang, Yi; Qian, Yuanyuan; Zhang, Xin; Song, Zongming; Wu, Wencan; Wang, Yi; Liang, Guang

2015-06-01

Inflammation is a pathological hallmark of ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. The present study was conducted to explore the ability of a new anti-inflammatory compound, X22, to attenuate retinal I/R injury via cytokine-inhibitory mechanism. For the in vitro experiment, ARPE-19 cells were pretreated with X22 (5 or 10 μM) or saline for 2 h, followed by stimulation with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP, 1000 μM) for an indicated amount of time. The expression of inflammatory mediators, cell viability, and cell apoptosis were evaluated. For the in vivo experiment, the rats were randomized to receive treatment with saline or X22 (0.1 μM/kg, 3 μL) before the induction of I/R injury. Histological evaluation, apoptosis of retinal cells, macrophage infiltration, and retina functional changes were further determined. Our data showed that pretreatment with X22 significantly inhibited TBHP-induced inflammatory cytokine expression in ARPE-19 cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of X22 may be associated with its inhibition on MAPKs, rather than NF-κB. Subsequently, our data proved that TBHP induced apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells, while pretreatment of X22 significantly suppressed TBHP-caused ARPE-19 apoptosis. Finally, the in vivo data revealed that X22 administration maintained better inner retinal layer structures, reduced apoptosis of retinal ganglion cell, and improved retinal function in retinal I/R rat models, which were accompanied with a remarkable decrease in retinal macrophage infiltration. These results suggest that the novel compound X22 is a potential agent for the treatment of retinal I/R-related diseases via the MAPKs-targeting anti-inflammatory mechanism and deserves the further development. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Value of Botox-A in Acute Radiation Proctitis: Results From a Phase I/II Study Using a Three-Dimensional Scoring System

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

Vuong, Te, E-mail: tvuong@jgh.mcgill.ca; Waschke, Kevin; Niazi, Tamim

Purpose: Acute radiation proctitis (ARP) is a common side effect of pelvic radiotherapy, and its management is challenging in daily practice. The present phase I/II study evaluates the safety and efficacy of the botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) in ARP treatment for rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant high-dose-rate endorectal brachytherapy (HDREBT). Methods and Materials: Fifteen patients, treated with neoadjuvant HDREBT, 26-Gy in 4 fractions, received the study treatment that consisted of a single injection of BTX-A into the rectal wall. The injection was performed post-HDREBT and prior to the development of ARP. The control group, 20 such patients, did not receivemore » the BTX-A injection. Both groups had access to standard treatment with hydrocortisone rectal aerosol foam (Cortifoam) and anti-inflammatory and narcotic medication. The ARP was clinically evaluated by self-administered daily questionnaires using visual analog scores to document frequency and urgency of bowel movements, rectal burning/tenesmus, and pain symptoms before and after HDREBT. Results: At the time of this analysis, there was no observed systemic toxicity. Patient compliance with the self-administered questionnaire was 100% from week 1 to 4, 70% during week 5, and 40% during week 6. The maximum tolerated dose was established at the 100-U dose level, and noticeable mean differences were observed in bowel frequency (p = 0.016), urgency (p = 0.007), and pain (p = 0.078). Conclusions: This study confirms the feasibility and efficacy of BTX-A intervention at 100-U dose level for study patients compared to control patients. A phase III study with this dose level is planned to validate these results.« less

ARPES study of the evolution of band structure and charge density wave properties in RTe3 ( R=Y , La, Ce, Sm, Gd, Tb, and Dy)

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

Hussain, Zahid; Brouet, Veronique; Yang, Wanli

2008-01-16

We present a detailed angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) investigation of the RTe3 family, which sets this system as an ideal"textbook" example for the formation of a nesting driven charge density wave (CDW). This family indeed exhibits the full range of phenomena that can be associated to CDWinstabilities, from the opening of large gaps on the best nested parts of Fermi surface (up to 0.4 eV), to the existence of residual metallic pockets. ARPES is the best suited technique to characterize these features, thanks to its unique ability to resolve the electronic structure in k space. An additional advantage of RTe3more » is that theband structure can be very accurately described by a simple two dimensional tight-binding (TB) model, which allows one to understand and easily reproduce many characteristics of the CDW. In this paper, we first establish the main features of the electronic structure by comparing our ARPES measurements with the linear muffin-tinorbital band calculations. We use this to define the validity and limits of the TB model. We then present a complete description of the CDW properties and of their strong evolution as a function of R. Using simple models, we are able to reproduce perfectly the evolution of gaps in k space, the evolution of the CDW wave vector with R, and the shape of the residual metallic pockets. Finally, we give an estimation of the CDWinteraction parameters and find that the change in the electronic density of states n (EF), due to lattice expansion when different R ions are inserted, has the correct order of magnitude to explain the evolution of the CDW properties.« less

The role of Arabidopsis Actin-Related Protein 3 in amyloplast sedimentation and polar auxin transport in root gravitropism

PubMed Central

Zou, Jun-Jie; Zheng, Zhong-Yu; Xue, Shan; Li, Han-Hai; Wang, Yu-Ren; Le, Jie

2016-01-01

Gravitropism is vital for shaping directional plant growth in response to the forces of gravity. Signals perceived in the gravity-sensing cells can be converted into biochemical signals and transmitted. Sedimentation of amyloplasts in the columella cells triggers asymmetric auxin redistribution in root tips, leading to downward root growth. The actin cytoskeleton is thought to play an important role in root gravitropism, although the molecular mechanism has not been resolved. DISTORTED1 (DIS1) encodes the ARP3 subunit of the Arabidopsis Actin-Related Protein 2/3 (ARP2/3) complex, and the ARP3/DIS1 mutant dis1-1 showed delayed root curvature after gravity stimulation. Microrheological analysis revealed that the high apparent viscosity within dis1-1 central columella cells is closely associated with abnormal movement trajectories of amyloplasts. Analysis using a sensitive auxin input reporter DII-VENUS showed that asymmetric auxin redistribution was reduced in the root tips of dis1-1, and the actin-disrupting drug Latrunculin B increased the asymmetric auxin redistribution. An uptake assay using the membrane-selective dye FM4-64 indicated that endocytosis was decelerated in dis1-1 root epidermal cells. Treatment and wash-out with Brefeldin A, which inhibits protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus, showed that cycling of the auxin-transporter PIN-FORMED (PIN) proteins to the plasma membrane was also suppressed in dis1-1 roots. The results reveal that ARP3/DIS1 acts in root gravitropism by affecting amyloplast sedimentation and PIN-mediated polar auxin transport through regulation of PIN protein trafficking. PMID:27473572

The role of Arabidopsis Actin-Related Protein 3 in amyloplast sedimentation and polar auxin transport in root gravitropism.

PubMed

Zou, Jun-Jie; Zheng, Zhong-Yu; Xue, Shan; Li, Han-Hai; Wang, Yu-Ren; Le, Jie

2016-10-01

Gravitropism is vital for shaping directional plant growth in response to the forces of gravity. Signals perceived in the gravity-sensing cells can be converted into biochemical signals and transmitted. Sedimentation of amyloplasts in the columella cells triggers asymmetric auxin redistribution in root tips, leading to downward root growth. The actin cytoskeleton is thought to play an important role in root gravitropism, although the molecular mechanism has not been resolved. DISTORTED1 (DIS1) encodes the ARP3 subunit of the Arabidopsis Actin-Related Protein 2/3 (ARP2/3) complex, and the ARP3/DIS1 mutant dis1-1 showed delayed root curvature after gravity stimulation. Microrheological analysis revealed that the high apparent viscosity within dis1-1 central columella cells is closely associated with abnormal movement trajectories of amyloplasts. Analysis using a sensitive auxin input reporter DII-VENUS showed that asymmetric auxin redistribution was reduced in the root tips of dis1-1, and the actin-disrupting drug Latrunculin B increased the asymmetric auxin redistribution. An uptake assay using the membrane-selective dye FM4-64 indicated that endocytosis was decelerated in dis1-1 root epidermal cells. Treatment and wash-out with Brefeldin A, which inhibits protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus, showed that cycling of the auxin-transporter PIN-FORMED (PIN) proteins to the plasma membrane was also suppressed in dis1-1 roots. The results reveal that ARP3/DIS1 acts in root gravitropism by affecting amyloplast sedimentation and PIN-mediated polar auxin transport through regulation of PIN protein trafficking. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

A Second Las17 Monomeric Actin-Binding Motif Functions in Arp2/3-Dependent Actin Polymerization During Endocytosis

PubMed Central

Feliciano, Daniel; Tolsma, Thomas O.; Farrell, Kristen B.; Aradi, Al; Di Pietro, Santiago M.

2018-01-01

During clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), actin assembly provides force to drive vesicle internalization. Members of the Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family play a fundamental role stimulating actin assembly. WASP family proteins contain a WH2 motif that binds globular actin (G-actin) and a central-acidic motif that binds the Arp2/3 complex, thus promoting the formation of branched actin filaments. Yeast WASP (Las17) is the strongest of five factors promoting Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization during CME. It was suggested that this strong activity may be caused by a putative second G-actin-binding motif in Las17. Here, we describe the in vitro and in vivo characterization of such Las17 G-actin-binding motif (LGM) and its dependence on a group of conserved arginine residues. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, GST-pulldown, fluorescence polarization and pyrene-actin polymerization assays, we show that LGM binds G-actin and is necessary for normal Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization in vitro. Live-cell fluorescence microscopy experiments demonstrate that LGM is required for normal dynamics of actin polymerization during CME. Further, LGM is necessary for normal dynamics of endocytic machinery components that are recruited at early, intermediate and late stages of endocytosis, as well as for optimal endocytosis of native CME cargo. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments show that LGM has relatively lower potency compared to the previously known Las17 G-actin-binding motif, WH2. These results establish a second G-actin-binding motif in Las17 and advance our knowledge on the mechanism of actin assembly during CME. PMID:25615019

Dock mediates Scar- and WASp-dependent actin polymerization through interaction with cell adhesion molecules in founder cells and fusion-competent myoblasts.

PubMed

Kaipa, Balasankara Reddy; Shao, Huanjie; Schäfer, Gritt; Trinkewitz, Tatjana; Groth, Verena; Liu, Jianqi; Beck, Lothar; Bogdan, Sven; Abmayr, Susan M; Önel, Susanne-Filiz

2013-01-01

The formation of the larval body wall musculature of Drosophila depends on the asymmetric fusion of two myoblast types, founder cells (FCs) and fusion-competent myoblasts (FCMs). Recent studies have established an essential function of Arp2/3-based actin polymerization during myoblast fusion, formation of a dense actin focus at the site of fusion in FCMs, and a thin sheath of actin in FCs and/or growing muscles. The formation of these actin structures depends on recognition and adhesion of myoblasts that is mediated by cell surface receptors of the immunoglobulin superfamily. However, the connection of the cell surface receptors with Arp2/3-based actin polymerization is poorly understood. To date only the SH2-SH3 adaptor protein Crk has been suggested to link cell adhesion with Arp2/3-based actin polymerization in FCMs. Here, we propose that the SH2-SH3 adaptor protein Dock, like Crk, links cell adhesion with actin polymerization. We show that Dock is expressed in FCs and FCMs and colocalizes with the cell adhesion proteins Sns and Duf at cell-cell contact points. Biochemical data in this study indicate that different domains of Dock are involved in binding the cell adhesion molecules Duf, Rst, Sns and Hbs. We emphasize the importance of these interactions by quantifying the enhanced myoblast fusion defects in duf dock, sns dock and hbs dock double mutants. Additionally, we show that Dock interacts biochemically and genetically with Drosophila Scar, Vrp1 and WASp. Based on these data, we propose that Dock links cell adhesion in FCs and FCMs with either Scar- or Vrp1-WASp-dependent Arp2/3 activation.

Emission analysis of large number of various passenger electronic devices in aircraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schüür, Jens; Oppermann, Lukas; Enders, Achim; Nunes, Rafael R.; Oertel, Carl-Henrik

2016-09-01

The ever increasing use of PEDs (passenger or portable electronic devices) has put pressure on the aircraft industry as well as operators and administrations to reevaluate established restrictions in PED-use on airplanes in the last years. Any electronic device could cause electromagnetic interference to the electronics of the airplane, especially interference at receiving antennas of sensitive wireless navigation and communication (NAV/COM) systems. This paper presents a measurement campaign in an Airbus A320. 69 test passengers were asked to actively use a combination of about 150 electronic devices including many attached cables, preferentially with a high data load on their buses, to provoke maximal emissions. These emissions were analysed within the cabin as well as at the inputs of aircraft receiving antennas outside of the fuselage. The emissions of the electronic devices as well as the background noise are time-variant, so just comparing only one reference and one transmission measurement is not sufficient. Repeated measurements of both cases lead to a more reliable first analysis. Additional measurements of the absolute received power at the antennas of the airplane allow a good estimation of the real interference potential to aircraft NAV/COM systems. Although there were many measured emissions within the cabin, there were no disturbance signals detectable at the aircraft antennas.

Contribution of TIGA reprocessing to the ITRF densification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rudenko, S.; Dähnn, M.; Gendt, G.; Brandt, A.; Nischan, T.

2009-04-01

Analysis of tide gauge measurements with the purpose of sea level change investigations requires a well defined reference frame. Such reference frame can be realized through precise positions of GPS stations located at or near tide gauges (TIGA stations) and analyzed within the IGS GPS Tide Gauge Benchmark Monitoring Pilot Project (TIGA). To tie this reference frame to the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), one should process simultaneously GPS data from TIGA and IGS stations included in the ITRF. A time series of GPS station positions has been recently derived by reprocessing GPS data from about 400 GPS stations globally distributed covering totally time span from 1998 till 2008 using EPOS-Potsdam software developed at GFZ and improved in the recent years. The analysis is based on the use of IERS Conventions 2003, ITRF2005 as a priori reference frame, FES2004 ocean tide loading model, absolute phase centre variations for GPS satellite transmit and ground receive antennae and other models. About 220 stations of the solution are IGS ones and about 180 are TIGA GPS stations that are not IGS ones. The solution includes weekly coordinates of GPS stations, daily values of the Earth rotation parameters and their rates, as well as satellite antenna offsets. On the other hand, our new solution can contribute to the ITRF densification by providing positions of about 200 stations being not present in ITRF2005. The solution can be also used for the integration of regional frames. The paper presents the results of the analysis and the comparison of our solution with ITRF2005 and the solutions of other TIGA and IGS Analysis Centres.

Bodipy–C60 triple hydrogen bonding assemblies as heavy atom-free triplet photosensitizers: preparation and study of the singlet/triplet energy transfer† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Syntheses, structure characterization data, and UV/vis absorption and emission spectra. See DOI: 10.1039/c4sc03865g

PubMed Central

Guo, Song; Xu, Liang; Xu, Kejing; Küçüköz, Betül; Karatay, Ahmet; Yaglioglu, Halime Gul; Hayvali, Mustafa; Elmali, Ayhan

2015-01-01

Supramolecular triplet photosensitizers based on hydrogen bonding-mediated molecular assemblies were prepared. Three thymine-containing visible light-harvesting Bodipy derivatives (B-1, B-2 and B-3, which show absorption at 505 nm, 630 nm and 593 nm, respectively) were used as H-bonding modules, and 1,6-diaminopyridine-appended C60 was used as the complementary hydrogen bonding module (C-1), in which the C60 part acts as a spin converter for triplet formation. Visible light-harvesting antennae with methylated thymine were prepared as references (B-1-Me, B-2-Me and B-3-Me), which are unable to form strong H-bonds with C-1. Triple H-bonds are formed between each Bodipy antenna (B-1, B-2 and B-3) and the C60 module (C-1). The photophysical properties of the H-bonding assemblies and the reference non-hydrogen bond-forming mixtures were studied using steady state UV/vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectroscopy, electrochemical characterization, and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Singlet energy transfer from the Bodipy antenna to the C60 module was confirmed by fluorescence quenching studies. The intersystem crossing of the latter produced the triplet excited state. The nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy showed that the triplet state is either localized on the C60 module (for assembly B-1·C-1), or on the styryl-Bodipy antenna (for assemblies B-2·C-1 and B-3·C-1). Intra-assembly forward–backward (ping-pong) singlet/triplet energy transfer was proposed. In contrast to the H-bonding assemblies, slow triplet energy transfer was observed for the non-hydrogen bonding mixtures. As a proof of concept, these supramolecular assemblies were used as triplet photosensitizers for triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion. PMID:29218142

Integrated, Dual Orthogonal Antennas for Polarimetric Ground Penetrating Radar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pauli, Mario; Wiesbeck, Werner

2015-04-01

Ground penetrating radar systems are mostly equipped with single polarized antennas, for example with single linear polarization or with circular polarization. The radiated waves are partly reflected at the ground surface and very often the penetrating waves are distorted in their polarization. The distortion depends on the ground homogeneity and the orientation of the antennas relative to the ground structure. The received signals from the reflecting objects may most times only be classified according to their coverage and intensity. This makes the recognition of the objects difficult or impossible. In airborne and spaceborne Remote Sensing the systems are meanwhile mostly equipped with front ends with dual orthogonal polarized antennas for a full polarimetric operation. The received signals, registered in 2x2 scattering matrices according to co- and cross polarization, are processed for the evaluation of all features of the targets. Ground penetrating radars could also profit from the scientific results of Remote Sensing. The classification of detected objects for their structure and orientation requires more information in the reflected signal than can be measured with a single polarization [1, 2]. In this paper dual linear, orthogonal polarized antennas with a common single, frequency independent phase center, are presented [3]. The relative bandwidth of these antennas can be 1:3, up to 1:4. The antenna is designed to work in the frequency range between 3 GHz and 11 GHz, but can be easily adapted to the GPR frequency range by scaling. The size of the antenna scaled for operation in typical GPR frequencies would approximately be 20 by 20 cm2. By the implementation in a dielectric carrier it could be reduced in size if required. The major problem for ultra wide band, dual polarized antennas is the frequency independent feed network, realizing the required phase shifts. For these antennas a network, which is frequency independent over a wide range, has been developed [4]. If OFDM signals are used for the radiation, the carriers can be split in even and odd carriers and fed to the two orthogonally polarized transmit antennas. By using OFDM, the de-correlation of the two subcarrier groups becomes inherently high. Due to the orthogonality of OFDM subcarriers the de-correlation only depends on the quality of the hardware and the signal processing. They can be simultaneously radiated and received by the two antennas. This could result in a significant improvement of the GPR sensor system. The antenna has been realized and first measurements have been conducted. During the forthcoming EGU 2015 General Assembly the detailed electromagnetic background and the function of the dual linear, orthogonal polarized antenna will be presented as well as results in GPR relevant frequencies. Also, an approach of a planar feeding network will be presented. This abstract is a contribution to Session GI3.1 "Civil Engineering Applications of Ground Penetrating Radar," organized by the COST Action TU1208. References [1] Carin, L.; Kapoor, R.; Baum, C.E., "Polarimetric SAR imaging of buried landmines," IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 36 iss. 6, pp.1985-1988, 1998. [2] T. Schultze, M. Porebska, W. Wiesbeck, and I. Willms, "Onsets for the recognition of objects and image refinement using UWB Radar," in Proceedings of the German Microwave Conference GeMiC 2008, CD-ROM, Hamburg-Harburg, Germany, Mar. 2008. [3] G. Adamiuk, S. Beer, W. Wiesbeck, and T. Zwick, "Dual-Orthogonal Polarized Antenna for UWB-IR Technology," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 8, pp. 981-984, Jul. 2009. [4] Adamiuk, W. Wiesbeck, and T. Zwick, "Differential Feeding as a Concept for the Realization of Broadband Dual-Polarized Antennas with Very High Polarization Purity," in 2009 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas & Propagation, Charleston, South Carolina, USA, Jun. 2009.

Photoemission perspective on pseudogap, superconducting fluctuations, and charge order in cuprates: a review of recent progress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vishik, I. M.

2018-06-01

In the course of seeking the microscopic mechanism of superconductivity in cuprate high temperature superconductors, the pseudogap phase— the very abnormal ‘normal’ state on the hole-doped side— has proven to be as big of a quandary as superconductivity itself. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) is a powerful tool for assessing the momentum-dependent phenomenology of the pseudogap, and recent technological developments have permitted a more detailed understanding. This report reviews recent progress in understanding the relationship between superconductivity and the pseudogap, the Fermi arc phenomena, and the relationship between charge order and pseudogap from the perspective of ARPES measurements.

Rapid high-resolution spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with pulsed laser source and time-of-flight spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gotlieb, K.; Hussain, Z.; Bostwick, A.; Lanzara, A.; Jozwiak, C.

2013-09-01

A high-efficiency spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (spin-ARPES) spectrometer is coupled with a laboratory-based laser for rapid high-resolution measurements. The spectrometer combines time-of-flight (TOF) energy measurements with low-energy exchange scattering spin polarimetry for high detection efficiencies. Samples are irradiated with fourth harmonic photons generated from a cavity-dumped Ti:sapphire laser that provides high photon flux in a narrow bandwidth, with a pulse timing structure ideally matched to the needs of the TOF spectrometer. The overall efficiency of the combined system results in near-EF spin-resolved ARPES measurements with an unprecedented combination of energy resolution and acquisition speed. This allows high-resolution spin measurements with a large number of data points spanning multiple dimensions of interest (energy, momentum, photon polarization, etc.) and thus enables experiments not otherwise possible. The system is demonstrated with spin-resolved energy and momentum mapping of the L-gap Au(111) surface states, a prototypical Rashba system. The successful integration of the spectrometer with the pulsed laser system demonstrates its potential for simultaneous spin- and time-resolved ARPES with pump-probe based measurements.

Site-specific intermolecular valence-band dispersion in α-phase crystalline films of cobalt phthalocyanine studied by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

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

Yamane, Hiroyuki; Kosugi, Nobuhiro; The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Okazaki 444-8585

2014-12-14

The valence band structure of α-phase crystalline films of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) grown on Au(111) is investigated by using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) with synchrotron radiation. The photo-induced change in the ARPES peaks is noticed in shape and energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO, C 2p) and HOMO-1 (Co 3d) of CoPc, and is misleading the interpretation of the electronic properties of CoPc films. From the damage-free normal-emission ARPES measurement, the clear valence-band dispersion has been first observed, showing that orbital-specific behaviors are attributable to the interplay of the intermolecular π-π and π-d interactions. The HOMO band dispersionmore » of 0.1 eV gives the lower limit of the hole mobility for α-CoPc of 28.9 cm{sup 2} V{sup −1} s{sup −1} at 15 K. The non-dispersive character of the split HOMO-1 bands indicates that the localization of the spin state is a possible origin of the antiferromagnetism.« less

Effects of process variables and kinetics on the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol using advanced reduction processes (ARP).

PubMed

Yu, Xingyue; Cabooter, Deirdre; Dewil, Raf

2018-05-24

This study aims at investigating the efficiency and kinetics of 2,4-DCP degradation via advanced reduction processes (ARP). Using UV light as activation method, the highest degradation efficiency of 2,4-DCP was obtained when using sulphite as a reducing agent. The highest degradation efficiency was observed under alkaline conditions (pH = 10.0), for high sulphite dosage and UV intensity, and low 2,4-DCP concentration. For all process conditions, first-order reaction rate kinetics were applicable. A quadratic polynomial equation fitted by a Box-Behnken Design was used as a statistical model and proved to be precise and reliable in describing the significance of the different process variables. The analysis of variance demonstrated that the experimental results were in good agreement with the predicted model (R 2  = 0.9343), and solution pH, sulphite dose and UV intensity were found to be key process variables in the sulphite/UV ARP. Consequently, the present study provides a promising approach for the efficient degradation of 2,4-DCP with fast degradation kinetics. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nutraceutical with Resveratrol and Omega-3 Fatty Acids Induces Autophagy in ARPE-19 Cells.

PubMed

Koskela, Ali; Reinisalo, Mika; Petrovski, Goran; Sinha, Debasish; Olmiere, Céline; Karjalainen, Reijo; Kaarniranta, Kai

2016-05-11

Impaired autophagic and proteasomal cleansing have been documented in aged retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Omega-3 fatty acids and resveratrol have many positive homeostatic effects in RPE cells. In this work, ARPE-19 cells were treated with 288 ng of Resvega, containing 30 mg of trans resveratrol and 665 mg of omega-3 fatty acids, among other nutrients, with proteasome inhibitor MG-132 or autophagy inhibitor bafilomycin A1 up to 48 h. Autophagy markers p62/SQSTM1 (p62) and LC3 (microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3) were analyzed by Western blotting. Fluorescence microscopy with mCherry-GFP-LC3 plasmid was applied to study the autophagy flux, and cytoprotective effects were investigated with colorimetric MTT and LDH assays. Resvega induced autophagy by showing increased autolysosome formation and autophagy flux, and the change in the p62 and LC3 protein levels further confirmed the fluorescent microscopy results. Moreover, Resvega provided a clear cytoprotection under proteasome inhibition. These findings highlight the potential of the nutraceuticals containing resveratrol, omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients in the prevention of ARPE-19 cell damage.

Manipulating Liquids With Acoustic Radiation Pressure Phased Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oeftering, Richard C.

1999-01-01

High-intensity ultrasound waves can produce the effects of "Acoustic Radiation Pressure" (ARP) and "acoustic streaming." These effects can be used to propel liquid flows and to apply forces that can be used to move or manipulate floating objects or liquid surfaces. NASA's interest in ARP includes the remote-control agitation of liquids and the manipulation of bubbles and drops in liquid experiments and propellant systems. A high level of flexibility is attained by using a high-power acoustic phased array to generate, steer, and focus a beam of acoustic waves. This is called an Acoustic Radiation Pressure Phased Array, or ARPPA. In this approach, many acoustic transducer elements emit wavelets that converge into a single beam of sound waves. Electronically coordinating the timing, or "phase shift," of the acoustic waves makes it possible to form a beam with a predefined direction and focus. Therefore, a user can direct the ARP force at almost any desired point within a liquid volume. ARPPA lets experimenters manipulate objects anywhere in a test volume. This flexibility allow it to be used for multiple purposes, such as to agitate liquids, deploy and manipulate drops or bubbles, and even suppress sloshing in spacecraft propellant tanks.

Branched actin networks push against each other at adherens junctions to maintain cell-cell adhesion.

PubMed

Efimova, Nadia; Svitkina, Tatyana M

2018-05-07

Adherens junctions (AJs) are mechanosensitive cadherin-based intercellular adhesions that interact with the actin cytoskeleton and carry most of the mechanical load at cell-cell junctions. Both Arp2/3 complex-dependent actin polymerization generating pushing force and nonmuscle myosin II (NMII)-dependent contraction producing pulling force are necessary for AJ morphogenesis. Which actin system directly interacts with AJs is unknown. Using platinum replica electron microscopy of endothelial cells, we show that vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin colocalizes with Arp2/3 complex-positive actin networks at different AJ types and is positioned at the interface between two oppositely oriented branched networks from adjacent cells. In contrast, actin-NMII bundles are located more distally from the VE-cadherin-rich zone. After Arp2/3 complex inhibition, linear AJs split, leaving gaps between cells with detergent-insoluble VE-cadherin transiently associated with the gap edges. After NMII inhibition, VE-cadherin is lost from gap edges. We propose that the actin cytoskeleton at AJs acts as a dynamic push-pull system, wherein pushing forces maintain extracellular VE-cadherin transinteraction and pulling forces stabilize intracellular adhesion complexes. © 2018 Efimova and Svitkina.

Regulation of Compound Leaf Development by PHANTASTICA in Medicago truncatula1[C][W][OPEN

PubMed Central

Ge, Liangfa; Peng, Jianling; Berbel, Ana; Madueño, Francisco; Chen, Rujin

2014-01-01

Plant leaves, simple or compound, initiate as peg-like structures from the peripheral zone of the shoot apical meristem, which requires class I KNOTTED-LIKE HOMEOBOXI (KNOXI) transcription factors to maintain its activity. The MYB domain protein encoded by the ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1/ROUGH SHEATH2/PHANTASTICA (ARP) gene, together with other factors, excludes KNOXI gene expression from incipient leaf primordia to initiate leaves and specify leaf adaxial identity. However, the regulatory relationship between ARP and KNOXI is more complex in compound-leafed species. Here, we investigated the role of ARP and KNOXI genes in compound leaf development in Medicago truncatula. We show that the M. truncatula phantastica mutant exhibited severe compound leaf defects, including curling and deep serration of leaf margins, shortened petioles, increased rachises, petioles acquiring motor organ characteristics, and ectopic development of petiolules. On the other hand, the M. truncatula brevipedicellus mutant did not exhibit visible compound leaf defects. Our analyses show that the altered petiole development requires ectopic expression of ELONGATED PETIOLULE1, which encodes a lateral organ boundary domain protein, and that the distal margin serration requires the auxin efflux protein M. truncatula PIN-FORMED10 in the M. truncatula phantastica mutant. PMID:24218492

Electronic structure of germanium selenide investigated using ultra-violet photo-electron spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, P.; Lohani, H.; Kundu, A. K.; Patel, R.; Solanki, G. K.; Menon, Krishnakumar S. R.; Sekhar, B. R.

2015-07-01

The valence band electronic structure of GeSe single crystals has been investigated using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The experimentally observed bands from ARPES, match qualitatively with our LDA-based band structure calculations along the Γ-Z, Γ-Y and Γ-T symmetry directions. The valence band maximum occurs nearly midway along the Γ-Z direction, at a binding energy of -0.5 eV, substantiating the indirect band gap of GeSe. Non-dispersive features associated with surface states and indirect transitions have been observed. The difference in hybridization of Se and Ge 4p orbitals leads to the variation of dispersion along the three symmetry directions. The predominance of the Se 4pz orbitals, evidenced from theoretical calculations, may be the cause for highly dispersive bands along the Γ-T direction. Detailed electronic structure analysis reveals the significance of the cation-anion 4p orbitals hybridization in the valence band dispersion of IV-VI semiconductors. This is the first comprehensive report of the electronic structure of a GeSe single crystal using ARPES in conjugation with theoretical band structure analysis.

Gypenosides protect retinal pigment epithelium cells from oxidative stress.

PubMed

Alhasani, Reem Hasaballah; Biswas, Lincoln; Tohari, Ali Mohammad; Zhou, Xinzhi; Reilly, James; He, Jian-Feng; Shu, Xinhua

2018-02-01

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of retinal degeneration. Gypenosides are the major functional components isolated from Gynostemma pentaphyllum. They have been shown to protect against oxidative stress and inflammation and have also demonstrated a protective effect on experimental optic neuritis. In order to determine the protective properties of gypenosides against oxidative stress in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, ARPE-19 cells were treated with H 2 O 2 or H 2 O 2 plus gypenosides for 24 h. ARPE-19 cells co-treated with gypenosides had significantly increased cell viability and decreased cell death rate when compared to cells treated with H 2 O 2 alone. The level of GSH, the activities of SOD and catalase, and the expression of NRF2 and antioxidant genes were notably decreased, while there were marked increases in ROS, MDA and pro-inflammatory cytokines in ARPE-19 cells exposed to H 2 O 2 ; co-treatment with gypenosides significantly counteract these changes. Our study suggests that gypenosides protect RPE cells from oxidative damage and offer therapeutic potential for the treatment of retinal degeneration. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Down-regulation of WAVE2, WASP family verprolin-homologous protein 2, in gastric cancer indicates lymph node metastasis and cell migration.

PubMed

Jia, Shuqin; Jia, Yongning; Weeks, Hoi Ping; Ruge, Fiona; Feng, Xuemin; Ma, Ruiting; Ji, Jiafu; Ren, Jianjun; Jiang, Wen G

2014-05-01

WAVE2 plays a crucial role in actin polymerisation and cell migration. We aimed to investigate the expression and cellular functions of WAVE2 in human gastric cancer (GC). The level of WAVE2 was determined using quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) in a cohort of human gastric tissues. Expression of WAVE2, ARP2, NWASP, ROCK1 and ROCK2 was examined using RT-PCR in paired tissues. WAVE2 and ARP2 protein co-expression was examined. Anti-WAVE2 transgene ribozymes were constructed and transiently transfected into human GC cells. Down-regulation of WAVE2 expression in GC was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis. WAVE2 was positively correlated with E-cadherin and negatively with TWIST. Immunohistochemically, WAVE2 and ARP2 were not co-expressed in serial mirror sections. In vitro, WAVE2 knockdown was shown to increase cell motility, whilst ROCK inhibitor treatment reduced this effect in HGC27 cells. WAVE2 is down-regulated in GC and loses its metastatic role in GC. Knockdown of WAVE2 could increase metastatic potential by promoting the growth, invasiveness, motility, adhesiveness and suppressing EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) of GC cells.

Protein Kinase Cδ and Calmodulin Regulate Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Recycling from Early Endosomes through Arp2/3 Complex and Cortactin

PubMed Central

Lladó, Anna; Timpson, Paul; Vilà de Muga, Sandra; Moretó, Jemina; Pol, Albert; Grewal, Thomas; Daly, Roger J.

2008-01-01

The intracellular trafficking of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is regulated by a cross-talk between calmodulin (CaM) and protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ). On inhibition of CaM, PKCδ promotes the formation of enlarged early endosomes and blocks EGFR recycling and degradation. Here, we show that PKCδ impairs EGFR trafficking due to the formation of an F-actin coat surrounding early endosomes. The PKCδ-induced polymerization of actin is orchestrated by the Arp2/3 complex and requires the interaction of cortactin with PKCδ. Accordingly, inhibition of actin polymerization by using cytochalasin D or by overexpression of active cofilin, restored the normal morphology of the organelle and the recycling of EGFR. Similar results were obtained after down-regulation of cortactin and the sequestration of the Arp2/3 complex. Furthermore we demonstrate an interaction of cortactin with CaM and PKCδ, the latter being dependent on CaM inhibition. In summary, this study provides the first evidence that CaM and PKCδ organize actin dynamics in the early endosomal compartment, thereby regulating the intracellular trafficking of EGFR. PMID:17959830

InSAR datum connection using GNSS-augmented radar transponders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahapatra, Pooja; der Marel, Hans van; van Leijen, Freek; Samiei-Esfahany, Sami; Klees, Roland; Hanssen, Ramon

2018-01-01

Deformation estimates from Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) are relative: they form a `free' network referred to an arbitrary datum, e.g. by assuming a reference point in the image to be stable. However, some applications require `absolute' InSAR estimates, i.e. expressed in a well-defined terrestrial reference frame, e.g. to compare InSAR results with those of other techniques. We propose a methodology based on collocated InSAR and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements, achieved by rigidly attaching phase-stable millimetre-precision compact active radar transponders to GNSS antennas. We demonstrate this concept through a simulated example and practical case studies in the Netherlands.

A novel Arometic compound acts synergistically with a naturally occurring monoterpene to elicit strong behavioral responses in Asian citrus psyllid

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Inscent, Inc. has developed methodologies for rapidly screening potential ligands of chemosensory proteins (CSPs) isolated from the antennae of target insects. These novel ligands, referred to as Arometics, mimic naturally-occurring odorants and may function as super-stimuli because of their strong ...

Receivers and Transmitters. Electronics Module 6. Instructor's Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Everett, Jim

This module is the sixth of 10 modules in the competency-based electronics series. Introductory materials include a listing of competencies addressed in the module and a cross-reference table of instructional materials. Two instructional units cover: (1) AM/FM transmitter and receiver basics; and (2) satellite systems, antennas, and analyzers.…

Collaborative localization in wireless sensor networks via pattern recognition in radio irregularity using omnidirectional antennas.

PubMed

Jiang, Joe-Air; Chuang, Cheng-Long; Lin, Tzu-Shiang; Chen, Chia-Pang; Hung, Chih-Hung; Wang, Jiing-Yi; Liu, Chang-Wang; Lai, Tzu-Yun

2010-01-01

In recent years, various received signal strength (RSS)-based localization estimation approaches for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been proposed. RSS-based localization is regarded as a low-cost solution for many location-aware applications in WSNs. In previous studies, the radiation patterns of all sensor nodes are assumed to be spherical, which is an oversimplification of the radio propagation model in practical applications. In this study, we present an RSS-based cooperative localization method that estimates unknown coordinates of sensor nodes in a network. Arrangement of two external low-cost omnidirectional dipole antennas is developed by using the distance-power gradient model. A modified robust regression is also proposed to determine the relative azimuth and distance between a sensor node and a fixed reference node. In addition, a cooperative localization scheme that incorporates estimations from multiple fixed reference nodes is presented to improve the accuracy of the localization. The proposed method is tested via computer-based analysis and field test. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed low-cost method is a useful solution for localizing sensor nodes in unknown or changing environments.

Specific absorption rate and electric field measurements in the near field of six mobile phone base station antennas.

PubMed

Toivonen, Tommi; Toivo, Tim; Puranen, Lauri; Jokela, Kari

2009-05-01

In this article, the exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields was studied in close proximity (distances of 10, 100, 300, and 600 mm) to six base station antennas. The specific absorption rate (SAR) in 800 mm x 500 mm x 200 mm box phantom as well as unperturbed electric field (E) in air was measured. The results were used to determine whether the measurement of local maximum of unperturbed electric field can be used as a compliance check for local exposure. Also, the conservativeness of this assessment method compared to the ICNIRP basic restriction was studied. Moreover, the assessment of whole-body exposure was discussed and the distance ranges presented in which the ICNIRP limit for local exposure could be exceeded before the limit for whole-body SAR. These results show that the electric field measurement alone can be used for easy compliance check for the local exposure at all distances and for all antenna types studied. However, in some cases when the local peak value of E was compared directly to the ICNIRP reference level for unperturbed E, the exposure was overestimated only very slightly (by factor 1.1) compared to the basic restriction for localized SAR in a human, and hence these results can not be generalized to all antenna types. Moreover, it was shown that the limit for localized exposure could be exceeded before the limit for the whole-body average SAR, if the distance to the antenna was less than 240 mm. Copyright 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Experimental simulation of ranging action using Si photonic crystal modulator and optical antenna

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furukado, Yuya; Abe, Hiroshi; Hinakura, Yosuke; Baba, Toshihiko

2018-02-01

Time of flight LiDARs are used for auto-driving of vehicles, while FMCW LiDARs potentially achieve a higher sensitivity. In this study, we fabricated and tested each component of a FMCW LiDAR based on Si photonics and experimentally simulated the ranging action. Here, we drove a Si photonic crystal slow light modulator with linearly frequency-chirped signal in the frequency band of 500-1000 MHz and a repetition frequency of 100 kHz, to generate FM-signal light from a narrow-linewidth laser source. Next, we branched the signal light into two paths. One was inserted into a fiber delay line of 20-320 m and its output was irradiated to a photonic crystal slow beam steering device acting as an optical antenna via the free-space transmission. When the irradiation angle was optimized so that the antenna gain took maximum for a set laser wavelength, light was efficiently coupled into the antenna. We mixed the light output from the antenna with reference light of the other path with no delay, and detected it by balanced photodiodes. We observed a beat signal whose frequency well agreed with the theoretical value predicted from the length of the delay line. Thus, we succeeded in the experimental simulation of the FMCW LiDAR. We also observed a spectral sequence around the beat spectrum, in which the inter-frequency spacing equals the repetition frequency and corresponds to a range resolution of 30 cm which will be improved by expanding the modulation bandwidth.

Analysis of S-band solid-state transmitters for the solar power satellite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Belohoubek, E. F.; Ettenberg, M.; Huang, H. C.; Nowogrodzki, M.; Sechi, F. N.

1979-01-01

The possibility of replacing the Reference System antenna in which thermionic devices are used for the dc-to-microwave conversion, with solid-state elements was explored. System, device, and antenna module tradeoff investigations strongly point toward the desirability of changing the transmitter concept to a distributed array of relatively low power elements, deriving their dc power directly from the solar cell array and whose microwave power outputs are combined in space. The approach eliminates the thermal, weight, and dc-voltage distribution problems of a system in which high power tubes are simply replaced with clusters of solid state amplifiers. The proposed approach retains the important advantages of a solid state system: greatly enhanced reliability and graceful degradation of the system.

Printed wide-slot antenna design with bandwidth and gain enhancement on low-cost substrate.

PubMed

Samsuzzaman, M; Islam, M T; Mandeep, J S; Misran, N

2014-01-01

This paper presents a printed wide-slot antenna design and prototyping on available low-cost polymer resin composite material fed by a microstrip line with a rotated square slot for bandwidth enhancement and defected ground structure for gain enhancement. An I-shaped microstrip line is used to excite the square slot. The rotated square slot is embedded in the middle of the ground plane, and its diagonal points are implanted in the middle of the strip line and ground plane. To increase the gain, four L-shaped slots are etched in the ground plane. The measured results show that the proposed structure retains a wide impedance bandwidth of 88.07%, which is 20% better than the reference antenna. The average gain is also increased, which is about 4.17 dBi with a stable radiation pattern in the entire operating band. Moreover, radiation efficiency, input impedance, current distribution, axial ratio, and parametric studies of S11 for different design parameters are also investigated using the finite element method-based simulation software HFSS.

Printed Wide-Slot Antenna Design with Bandwidth and Gain Enhancement on Low-Cost Substrate

PubMed Central

Samsuzzaman, M.; Islam, M. T.; Mandeep, J. S.; Misran, N.

2014-01-01

This paper presents a printed wide-slot antenna design and prototyping on available low-cost polymer resin composite material fed by a microstrip line with a rotated square slot for bandwidth enhancement and defected ground structure for gain enhancement. An I-shaped microstrip line is used to excite the square slot. The rotated square slot is embedded in the middle of the ground plane, and its diagonal points are implanted in the middle of the strip line and ground plane. To increase the gain, four L-shaped slots are etched in the ground plane. The measured results show that the proposed structure retains a wide impedance bandwidth of 88.07%, which is 20% better than the reference antenna. The average gain is also increased, which is about 4.17 dBi with a stable radiation pattern in the entire operating band. Moreover, radiation efficiency, input impedance, current distribution, axial ratio, and parametric studies of S11 for different design parameters are also investigated using the finite element method-based simulation software HFSS. PMID:24696661

Visual Associative Learning in Restrained Honey Bees with Intact Antennae

PubMed Central

Dobrin, Scott E.; Fahrbach, Susan E.

2012-01-01

A restrained honey bee can be trained to extend its proboscis in response to the pairing of an odor with a sucrose reward, a form of olfactory associative learning referred to as the proboscis extension response (PER). Although the ability of flying honey bees to respond to visual cues is well-established, associative visual learning in restrained honey bees has been challenging to demonstrate. Those few groups that have documented vision-based PER have reported that removing the antennae prior to training is a prerequisite for learning. Here we report, for a simple visual learning task, the first successful performance by restrained honey bees with intact antennae. Honey bee foragers were trained on a differential visual association task by pairing the presentation of a blue light with a sucrose reward and leaving the presentation of a green light unrewarded. A negative correlation was found between age of foragers and their performance in the visual PER task. Using the adaptations to the traditional PER task outlined here, future studies can exploit pharmacological and physiological techniques to explore the neural circuit basis of visual learning in the honey bee. PMID:22701575

Mitigation of Parallel RF Potentials by an Appropriate Antenna Design Using TOPICA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maggiora, R.; Milanesio, D.

2011-12-01

A substantial effort has been devoted in recent years to the optimization of the ITER Ion Cyclotron (IC) launcher [1], above all with the aim of maximizing the coupling performances of the antenna; good improvements have been documented by using TOPICA code [2], a predictive tool for the design and optimization of RF launchers in front of a plasma region. Despite the progresses in the mentioned topic, this is not the only issue related to the design of IC antennas: a second crucial aspect is the impurities production, which is driven by the parallel RF potentials generated by the antenna itself and by the surrounding structures. The goal of this work is to analyze a set of innovative solutions that could be implemented in the next generation of IC antennas in order to mitigate the parallel RF potentials without reducing the power delivered to plasma. To achieve this challenging task, the TOPICA code has been adopted, taking advantage of recently introduced features. In particular, the code permits to compute the electric field distribution everywhere inside the antenna enclosure and in the plasma column, allowing to determine not only the magnitude and shape of the fields in front of the antenna, but also to evaluate their radial decay. Provided the electric field map, it is then possible to determine the parallel RF potentials and, even more important, to directly verify the impact of geometrical modifications of the front elements of the antenna on the RF potentials themselves. Furthermore, the capability to simulate the full 3D antenna with a high geometrical accuracy (as the one provided by commercial codes) and to account for an accurate plasma model indicates in TOPICA code a perfect candidate for this specific task. To lower the parallel RF potentials, two complementary approaches are outlined in the paper: the first one acts on the reduction of the electric field values, the second works on the minimization of the geometrical asymmetries. Pros and cons of the adopted solutions are discussed in detail. Two realistic cases have been taken into account in this work. Firstly, an ITER-like IC launcher has been adopted as a reference and optimized, then few solutions have been proposed for the ASDEX Upgrade experiment, with the final goal of testing the most promising concept for the machine in the coming years. This second activity has been carried out in collaboration with IPP-Garching and ENEA-Frascati.

Effects of correlated noise on the full-spectrum combining and complex-symbol combining arraying techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vazirani, P.

1995-01-01

The process of combining telemetry signals received at multiple antennas, commonly referred to as arraying, can be used to improve communication link performance in the Deep Space Network (DSN). By coherently adding telemetry from multiple receiving sites, arraying produces an enhancement in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over that achievable with any single antenna in the array. A number of different techniques for arraying have been proposed and their performances analyzed in past literature. These analyses have compared different arraying schemes under the assumption that the signals contain additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and that the noise observed at distinct antennas is independent. In situations where an unwanted background body is visible to multiple antennas in the array, however, the assumption of independent noises is no longer applicable. A planet with significant radiation emissions in the frequency band of interest can be one such source of correlated noise. For example, during much of Galileo's tour of Jupiter, the planet will contribute significantly to the total system noise at various ground stations. This article analyzes the effects of correlated noise on two arraying schemes currently being considered for DSN applications: full-spectrum combining (FSC) and complex-symbol combining (CSC). A framework is presented for characterizing the correlated noise based on physical parameters, and the impact of the noise correlation on the array performance is assessed for each scheme.

Spectroscopic evidence for temperature-dependent convergence of light- and heavy-hole valence bands of PbQ (Q = Te, Se, S)

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

Zhao, J.; Malliakas, C. D.; Wijayaratne, K.

2017-01-01

We have conducted a temperature- dependent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) study of the electronic structures of PbTe, PbSe and PbS. Our ARPES data provide direct evidence for the light-hole upper valence bands (UVBs) and hitherto undetected heavy-hole lower valence bands (LVBs) in these materials. An unusual temperature-dependent relative movement between these bands leads to a monotonic decrease in the energy separation between their maxima with increasing temperature, which is known as band convergence and has long been believed to be the driving factor behind extraordinary thermoelectric performances of these compounds at elevated temperatures.

Mechanisms for Superconductivity in Cuprates compared with results from the Generalized MacMillan-Rowell Analysis of High Resolution Laser- ARPES

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varma, Chandra; Choi, Han-Yong; Zhang, Wentao; Zhou, Xingjiang

2012-02-01

The spectra of fluctuations and their coupling to fermions has been deduced from extensive high resolution laser ARPES in several BISCCO samples and quantitatively analyzed. We ask the question whether some of the theories for superconductivity in Cuprates are consistent or inconsistent with the frequency and the momentum dependence of the deductions. We find that any fluctuation spectra, for example that of Antiferromagnetic Fluctuations, whose frequency dependence depends significantly on momentum dependence are excluded. We consider the quantum-critical spectra of the loop-current order observed in under-doped cuprates and its coupling to fermions and find it consistent with the data.

Spectroscopic evidence for temperature-dependent convergence of light- and heavy-hole valence bands of PbQ (Q = Te, Se, S)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, J.; Malliakas, C. D.; Wijayaratne, K.; Karlapati, V.; Appathurai, N.; Chung, D. Y.; Rosenkranz, S.; Kanatzidis, M. G.; Chatterjee, U.

2017-01-01

We have conducted a temperature-dependent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) study of the electronic structures of PbTe, PbSe and PbS. Our ARPES data provide direct evidence for the light-hole upper valence bands (UVBs) and hitherto undetected heavy-hole lower valence bands (LVBs) in these materials. An unusual temperature-dependent relative movement between these bands leads to a monotonic decrease in the energy separation between their maxima with increasing temperature, which is known as band convergence and has long been believed to be the driving factor behind extraordinary thermoelectric performances of these compounds at elevated temperatures.

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

Schwantes, Jon M.

Kelly Fitzgerald Kelly Fitzgerald assisted with laboratory testing for an ongoing R&D project known as Electrochemically Modulated Separation (EMS) for on-line rapid preseparations of actinides prior to mass spectrometry analysis. Ryne Burgess Ryne Burgess used SCALE 5.1 ORIGEN-ARP to predict isotope libraries for the Units 1, 2 and 3 reactors and Unit 4 spent fuel pool for comparing against measurements of environmental sampled collected at the site in order to identify the source terms of the accident. Comparison of the cesium 134/137 and cesium 136/137 ratios observed in environmental samples and ORIGEN-ARP predictions indicated that the Unit 4 Spent Fuelmore » Pool did not significantly contribute to radionuclide release during the Fukushima Daiichi accident.« less

Amplitude mode oscillations in pump-probe photoemission spectra from a d -wave superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nosarzewski, B.; Moritz, B.; Freericks, J. K.; Kemper, A. F.; Devereaux, T. P.

2017-11-01

Recent developments in the techniques of ultrafast pump-probe photoemission have made possible the search for collective modes in strongly correlated systems out of equilibrium. Including inelastic scattering processes and a retarded interaction, we simulate time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (trARPES) to study the amplitude mode of a d -wave superconductor, a collective mode excited through the nonlinear light-matter coupling to the pump pulse. We find that the amplitude mode oscillations of the d -wave order parameter occur in phase at a single frequency that is twice the quasi-steady-state maximum gap size after pumping. We comment on the necessary conditions for detecting the amplitude mode in trARPES experiments.

Interband quasiparticle scattering in superconducting LiFeAs reconciles photoemission and tunneling measurements.

PubMed

Hess, Christian; Sykora, Steffen; Hänke, Torben; Schlegel, Ronny; Baumann, Danny; Zabolotnyy, Volodymyr B; Harnagea, Luminita; Wurmehl, Sabine; van den Brink, Jeroen; Büchner, Bernd

2013-01-04

Several angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) studies reveal a poorly nested Fermi surface of LiFeAs, far away from a spin density wave instability, and clear-cut superconducting gap anisotropies. On the other hand a very different, more nested Fermi surface and dissimilar gap anisotropies have been obtained from quasiparticle interference (QPI) data, which were interpreted as arising from intraband scattering within holelike bands. Here we show that this ARPES-QPI paradox is completely resolved by interband scattering between the holelike bands. The resolution follows from an excellent agreement between experimental quasiparticle scattering data and T-matrix QPI calculations (based on experimental band structure data), which allows disentangling interband and intraband scattering processes.

Space Station needs, attributes and architectural options, volume 2, book 2, part 4: International reports

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1983-01-01

The capabilities of the European Space Agency's SPAS and EURECA platforms for reference payload accommodation are considered. The instrument pointing subsystem, the position and hold mount, and the antenna pointing mechanism developed by Dornier are described. Relevant payloads for the space station are summarized and space station accommodation aspects are discussed.

Microwave systems analysis, solar power satellite. [alignment of the antenna array

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

Various alternative active approaches to achieving aand maintaining flatness for the microwave power transmission system (MPTS) were studied. A baseline active alignment scheme was developed which includes subarray attachment mechanisms, height and tilting adjustments, service corridors, a rotating laser beam reference system, monopulse pointing techniques, and the design of a beam-centering photoconductive sensor.

47 CFR 73.702 - Assignment and use of frequencies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... where a transmitter power of less than 100 kW is used. In this case, antenna gain on restricted azimuths... these restrictions. Permitted gain for transmitter powers less than 100 kW: ER10au05.065 Where: Gi = maximum gain permitted with reference to an isotropic radiator. Pa = Transmitter power employed in kW. (i...

47 CFR 73.702 - Assignment and use of frequencies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... where a transmitter power of less than 100 kW is used. In this case, antenna gain on restricted azimuths... these restrictions. Permitted gain for transmitter powers less than 100 kW: ER10au05.065 Where: Gi = maximum gain permitted with reference to an isotropic radiator. Pa = Transmitter power employed in kW. (i...