Sample records for k-area complex kac

  1. Temperature environment for 9975 packages stored in KAC

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

    Daugherty, W. L.

    Plutonium materials are stored in the K Area Complex (KAC) in shipping packages, typically the 9975 shipping package. In order to estimate realistic degradation rates for components within the shipping package (i.e. the fiberboard overpack and O-ring seals), it is necessary to understand actual facility temperatures, which can vary daily and seasonally. Relevant facility temperature data available from several periods throughout its operating history have been reviewed. The annual average temperature within the Crane Maintenance Area has ranged from approximately 70 to 74 °F, although there is significant seasonal variation and lesser variation among different locations within the facility. Themore » long-term average degradation rate for 9975 package components is very close to that expected if the component were to remain continually at the annual average temperature. This result remains valid for a wide range of activation energies (which describes the variation in degradation rate as the temperature changes), if the activation energy remains constant over the seasonal range of component temperatures. It is recommended that component degradation analyses and service life estimates incorporate these results. Specifically, it is proposed that future analyses assume an average facility ambient air temperature of 94 °F. This value is bounding for all packages, and includes margin for several factors such as increased temperatures within the storage arrays, the addition of more packages in the future, and future operational changes.« less

  2. Feynman-Kac formula for stochastic hybrid systems.

    PubMed

    Bressloff, Paul C

    2017-01-01

    We derive a Feynman-Kac formula for functionals of a stochastic hybrid system evolving according to a piecewise deterministic Markov process. We first derive a stochastic Liouville equation for the moment generator of the stochastic functional, given a particular realization of the underlying discrete Markov process; the latter generates transitions between different dynamical equations for the continuous process. We then analyze the stochastic Liouville equation using methods recently developed for diffusion processes in randomly switching environments. In particular, we obtain dynamical equations for the moment generating function, averaged with respect to realizations of the discrete Markov process. The resulting Feynman-Kac formula takes the form of a differential Chapman-Kolmogorov equation. We illustrate the theory by calculating the occupation time for a one-dimensional velocity jump process on the infinite or semi-infinite real line. Finally, we present an alternative derivation of the Feynman-Kac formula based on a recent path-integral formulation of stochastic hybrid systems.

  3. 2D Kac-Moody symmetry of 4D Yang-Mills theory

    DOE PAGES

    He, Temple; Mitra, Prahar; Strominger, Andrew

    2016-10-25

    Scattering amplitudes of any four-dimensional theory with nonabelian gauge group G may be recast as two-dimensional correlation functions on the asymptotic twosphere at null in nity. The soft gluon theorem is shown, for massless theories at the semiclassical level, to be the Ward identity of a holomorphic two-dimensional G-Kac-Moody symmetry acting on these correlation functions. Holomorphic Kac-Moody current insertions are positive helicity soft gluon insertions. Furthermore, the Kac-Moody transformations are a CPT invariant subgroup of gauge transformations which act nontrivially at null in nity and comprise the four-dimensional asymptotic symmetry group.

  4. Feynman-Kac equations for reaction and diffusion processes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hou, Ru; Deng, Weihua

    2018-04-01

    This paper provides a theoretical framework for deriving the forward and backward Feynman-Kac equations for the distribution of functionals of the path of a particle undergoing both diffusion and reaction processes. Once given the diffusion type and reaction rate, a specific forward or backward Feynman-Kac equation can be obtained. The results in this paper include those for normal/anomalous diffusions and reactions with linear/nonlinear rates. Using the derived equations, we apply our findings to compute some physical (experimentally measurable) statistics, including the occupation time in half-space, the first passage time, and the occupation time in half-interval with an absorbing or reflecting boundary, for the physical system with anomalous diffusion and spontaneous evanescence.

  5. Connections between Kac-Moody algebras and M-theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cook, Paul P.

    2007-11-01

    We investigate some of the motivations and consequences of the conjecture that the Kac-Moody algebra E11 is the symmetry algebra of M-theory, and we develop methods to aid the further investigation of this idea. The definitions required to work with abstract root systems of Lie algebras are given in review leading up to the definition of a Kac-Moody algebra. The motivations for the E11 conjecture are presented and the nonlinear realisation of gravity relevant to the conjecture is described. We give a beginner's guide to producing the algebras of E11, relevant to M-theory, and K27, relevant to the bosonic string theory, along with their l1 representations are constructed. Reference tables of low level roots are produced for both the adjoint and l1 representations of these algebras. In addition a particular group element, having a generic form for all G+++ algebras, is shown to encode all the half-BPS brane solutions of the maximally oxidised supergravities. Special analysis is given to the role of space-time signature in the context of this group element and subsequent to this analysis spacelike brane solutions are derived from the same solution generating group element. Finally the appearance of U-duality charge multiplets from E11 is reviewed. General formulae for finding the content of arbitrary brane charge multiplets are given and the content of the particle and string multiplets in dimensions 4,5,6,7 and 8 is shown to be contained in the l1 representation of E11.

  6. The KAC family of kinesin-like proteins is essential for the association of chloroplasts with the plasma membrane in land plants.

    PubMed

    Suetsugu, Noriyuki; Sato, Yoshikatsu; Tsuboi, Hidenori; Kasahara, Masahiro; Imaizumi, Takato; Kagawa, Takatoshi; Hiwatashi, Yuji; Hasebe, Mitsuyasu; Wada, Masamitsu

    2012-11-01

    Chloroplasts require association with the plasma membrane for movement in response to light and for appropriate positioning within the cell to capture photosynthetic light efficiently. In Arabidopsis, CHLOROPLAST UNUSUAL POSITIONING 1 (CHUP1), KINESIN-LIKE PROTEIN FOR ACTIN-BASED CHLOROPLAST MOVEMENT 1 (KAC1) and KAC2 are required for both the proper movement of chloroplasts and the association of chloroplasts with the plasma membrane, through the reorganization of short actin filaments located on the periphery of the chloroplasts. Here, we show that KAC and CHUP1 orthologs (AcKAC1, AcCHUP1A and AcCHUP1B, and PpKAC1 and PpKAC2) play important roles in chloroplast positioning in the fern Adiantum capillus-veneris and the moss Physcomitrella patens. The knockdown of AcKAC1 and two AcCHUP1 genes induced the aggregation of chloroplasts around the nucleus. Analyses of A. capillus-veneris mutants containing perinuclear-aggregated chloroplasts confirmed that AcKAC1 is required for chloroplast-plasma membrane association. In addition, P. patens lines in which two KAC genes had been knocked out showed an aggregated chloroplast phenotype similar to that of the fern kac1 mutants. These results indicate that chloroplast positioning and movement are mediated through the activities of KAC and CHUP1 proteins, which are conserved in land plants.

  7. Affine Kac-Moody symmetric spaces related with A1^{(1)}, A2^{(1)},} A2^{(2)}

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nayak, Saudamini; Pati, K. C.

    2014-08-01

    Symmetric spaces associated with Lie algebras and Lie groups which are Riemannian manifolds have recently got a lot of attention in various branches of Physics for their role in classical/quantum integrable systems, transport phenomena, etc. Their infinite dimensional counter parts have recently been discovered which are affine Kac-Moody symmetric spaces. In this paper we have (algebraically) explicitly computed the affine Kac-Moody symmetric spaces associated with affine Kac-Moody algebras A1^{(1)}, A2^{(1)}, A2^{(2)}. We hope these types of spaces will play similar roles as that of symmetric spaces in many physical systems.

  8. Importance sampling studies of helium using the Feynman-Kac path integral method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Datta, S.; Rejcek, J. M.

    2018-05-01

    In the Feynman-Kac path integral approach the eigenvalues of a quantum system can be computed using Wiener measure which uses Brownian particle motion. In our previous work on such systems we have observed that the Wiener process numerically converges slowly for dimensions greater than two because almost all trajectories will escape to infinity. One can speed up this process by using a generalized Feynman-Kac (GFK) method, in which the new measure associated with the trial function is stationary, so that the convergence rate becomes much faster. We thus achieve an example of "importance sampling" and, in the present work, we apply it to the Feynman-Kac (FK) path integrals for the ground and first few excited-state energies for He to speed up the convergence rate. We calculate the path integrals using space averaging rather than the time averaging as done in the past. The best previous calculations from variational computations report precisions of 10-16 Hartrees, whereas in most cases our path integral results obtained for the ground and first excited states of He are lower than these results by about 10-6 Hartrees or more.

  9. Generalized Poisson-Kac Processes: Basic Properties and Implications in Extended Thermodynamics and Transport

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Giona, Massimiliano; Brasiello, Antonio; Crescitelli, Silvestro

    2016-04-01

    We introduce a new class of stochastic processes in Rn,{{{mathbb R}}^n}, referred to as generalized Poisson-Kac (GPK) processes, that generalizes the Poisson-Kac telegrapher's random motion in higher dimensions. These stochastic processes possess finite propagation velocity, almost everywhere smooth trajectories, and converge in the Kac limit to Brownian motion. GPK processes are defined by coupling the selection of a bounded velocity vector from a family of N distinct ones with a Markovian dynamics controlling probabilistically this selection. This model can be used as a probabilistic tool for a stochastically consistent formulation of extended thermodynamic theories far from equilibrium.

  10. Feynman-Kac equation for anomalous processes with space- and time-dependent forces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cairoli, Andrea; Baule, Adrian

    2017-04-01

    Functionals of a stochastic process Y(t) model many physical time-extensive observables, for instance particle positions, local and occupation times or accumulated mechanical work. When Y(t) is a normal diffusive process, their statistics are obtained as the solution of the celebrated Feynman-Kac equation. This equation provides the crucial link between the expected values of diffusion processes and the solutions of deterministic second-order partial differential equations. When Y(t) is non-Brownian, e.g. an anomalous diffusive process, generalizations of the Feynman-Kac equation that incorporate power-law or more general waiting time distributions of the underlying random walk have recently been derived. A general representation of such waiting times is provided in terms of a Lévy process whose Laplace exponent is directly related to the memory kernel appearing in the generalized Feynman-Kac equation. The corresponding anomalous processes have been shown to capture nonlinear mean square displacements exhibiting crossovers between different scaling regimes, which have been observed in numerous experiments on biological systems like migrating cells or diffusing macromolecules in intracellular environments. However, the case where both space- and time-dependent forces drive the dynamics of the generalized anomalous process has not been solved yet. Here, we present the missing derivation of the Feynman-Kac equation in such general case by using the subordination technique. Furthermore, we discuss its extension to functionals explicitly depending on time, which are of particular relevance for the stochastic thermodynamics of anomalous diffusive systems. Exact results on the work fluctuations of a simple non-equilibrium model are obtained. An additional aim of this paper is to provide a pedagogical introduction to Lévy processes, semimartingales and their associated stochastic calculus, which underlie the mathematical formulation of anomalous diffusion as a

  11. Tightness of the Ising-Kac Model on the Two-Dimensional Torus

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hairer, Martin; Iberti, Massimo

    2018-05-01

    We consider the sequence of Gibbs measures of Ising models with Kac interaction defined on a periodic two-dimensional discrete torus near criticality. Using the convergence of the Glauber dynamic proven by Mourrat and Weber (Commun Pure Appl Math 70:717-812, 2017) and a method by Tsatsoulis and Weber employed in (arXiv:1609.08447 2016), we show tightness for the sequence of Gibbs measures of the Ising-Kac model near criticality and characterise the law of the limit as the Φ ^4_2 measure on the torus. Our result is very similar to the one obtained by Cassandro et al. (J Stat Phys 78(3):1131-1138, 1995) on Z^2, but our strategy takes advantage of the dynamic, instead of correlation inequalities. In particular, our result covers the whole critical regime and does not require the large temperature/large mass/small coupling assumption present in earlier results.

  12. String unification scale and the hyper-charge Kac-Moody level in the non-supersymmetric standard model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cho, Gi-Chol; Hagiwara, Kaoru

    1998-02-01

    The string theory predicts the unification of the gauge couplings and gravity. The minimal supersymmetric Standard Model, however, gives the unification scale ~2x1016 GeV which is significantly smaller than the string scale ~5x1017 GeV of the weak coupling heterotic string theory. We study the unification scale of the non-supersymmetric minimal Standard Model quantitatively at the two-loop level. We find that the unification scale should be at most ~4x1016 GeV and the desired Kac-Moody level of the hyper-charge coupling should be 1.33<~kY<~1.35.

  13. Two-dimensional RCFT's without Kac-Moody symmetry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hampapura, Harsha R.; Mukhi, Sunil

    2016-07-01

    Using the method of modular-invariant differential equations, we classify a family of Rational Conformal Field Theories with two and three characters having no Kac-Moody algebra. In addition to unitary and non-unitary minimal models, we find "dual" theories whose characters obey bilinear relations with those of the minimal models to give the Moonshine Module. In some ways this relation is analogous to cosets of meromorphic CFT's. The theory dual in this sense to the Ising model has central charge 47/2 and is related to the Baby Monster Module.

  14. Affine Kac-Moody symmetric spaces related with A{sub 1}{sup (1)}, A{sub 2}{sup (1)}, A{sub 2}{sup (2)}

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

    Nayak, Saudamini, E-mail: anumama.nayak07@gmail.com; Pati, K. C., E-mail: kcpati@nitrkl.ac.in

    Symmetric spaces associated with Lie algebras and Lie groups which are Riemannian manifolds have recently got a lot of attention in various branches of Physics for their role in classical/quantum integrable systems, transport phenomena, etc. Their infinite dimensional counter parts have recently been discovered which are affine Kac-Moody symmetric spaces. In this paper we have (algebraically) explicitly computed the affine Kac-Moody symmetric spaces associated with affine Kac-Moody algebras A{sub 1}{sup (1)},A{sub 2}{sup (1)},A{sub 2}{sup (2)}. We hope these types of spaces will play similar roles as that of symmetric spaces in many physical systems.

  15. A non-multimacrocyclic heteroditopic receptor that cooperatively binds and effectively extracts KAcO salt.

    PubMed

    Zakrzewski, Maciej; Kwietniewska, Natalia; Walczak, Wojciech; Piątek, Piotr

    2018-06-06

    Prepared in only three synthetic steps, a non-multimacrocyclic heteroditopic receptor binds potassium salts of halides and carboxylates with unusually high cooperativity, suggesting salt binding as associated ion-pairs. Unprecedented extraction of highly hydrophilic KAcO salt from water to organic solution is also demonstrated.

  16. Kac determinant and singular vector of the level N representation of Ding-Iohara-Miki algebra

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ohkubo, Yusuke

    2018-05-01

    In this paper, we obtain the formula for the Kac determinant of the algebra arising from the level N representation of the Ding-Iohara-Miki algebra. It is also discovered that its singular vectors correspond to generalized Macdonald functions (the q-deformed version of the AFLT basis).

  17. Generalized conformal realizations of Kac-Moody algebras

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

    Palmkvist, Jakob

    2009-01-15

    We present a construction which associates an infinite sequence of Kac-Moody algebras, labeled by a positive integer n, to one single Jordan algebra. For n=1, this reduces to the well known Kantor-Koecher-Tits construction. Our generalization utilizes a new relation between different generalized Jordan triple systems, together with their known connections to Jordan and Lie algebras. Applied to the Jordan algebra of Hermitian 3x3 matrices over the division algebras R, C, H, O, the construction gives the exceptional Lie algebras f{sub 4}, e{sub 6}, e{sub 7}, e{sub 8} for n=2. Moreover, we obtain their infinite-dimensional extensions for n{>=}3. In the casemore » of 2x2 matrices, the resulting Lie algebras are of the form so(p+n,q+n) and the concomitant nonlinear realization generalizes the conformal transformations in a spacetime of signature (p,q)« less

  18. Stochastic foundations of undulatory transport phenomena: generalized Poisson-Kac processes—part III extensions and applications to kinetic theory and transport

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Giona, Massimiliano; Brasiello, Antonio; Crescitelli, Silvestro

    2017-08-01

    This third part extends the theory of Generalized Poisson-Kac (GPK) processes to nonlinear stochastic models and to a continuum of states. Nonlinearity is treated in two ways: (i) as a dependence of the parameters (intensity of the stochastic velocity, transition rates) of the stochastic perturbation on the state variable, similarly to the case of nonlinear Langevin equations, and (ii) as the dependence of the stochastic microdynamic equations of motion on the statistical description of the process itself (nonlinear Fokker-Planck-Kac models). Several numerical and physical examples illustrate the theory. Gathering nonlinearity and a continuum of states, GPK theory provides a stochastic derivation of the nonlinear Boltzmann equation, furnishing a positive answer to the Kac’s program in kinetic theory. The transition from stochastic microdynamics to transport theory within the framework of the GPK paradigm is also addressed.

  19. Global Insight into Lysine Acetylation Events and Their Links to Biological Aspects in Beauveria bassiana, a Fungal Insect Pathogen

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Zhi-Kang; Cai, Qing; Liu, Jin; Ying, Sheng-Hua; Feng, Ming-Guang

    2017-01-01

    Lysine acetylation (Kac) events in filamentous fungi are poorly explored. Here we show a lysine acetylome generated by LC-MS/MS analysis of immunoaffinity-based Kac peptides from normal hyphal cells of Beauveria bassiana, a fungal entomopathogen. The acetylome comprised 283 Kac proteins and 464 Kac sites. These proteins were enriched to eight molecular functions, 20 cellular components, 27 biological processes, 20 KEGG pathways and 12 subcellular localizations. All Kac sites were characterized as six Kac motifs, including a novel motif (KacW) for 26 Kac sites of 17 unknown proteins. Many Kac sites were predicted to be multifunctional, largely expanding the fungal Kac events. Biological importance of identified Kac sites was confirmed through functional analysis of Kac sites on Pmt1 and Pmt4, two O-mannosyltransferases. Singular site mutations (K88R and K482R) of Pmt1 resulted in impaired conidiation, attenuated virulence and decreased tolerance to oxidation and cell wall perturbation. These defects were close to or more severe than those caused by the deletion of pmt1. The Pmt4 K360R mutation facilitated colony growth under normal and stressful conditions and enhanced the fungal virulence. Our findings provide the first insight into the Kac events of B. bassiana and their links to the fungal potential against insect pests. PMID:28295016

  20. Why SRS Matters - K Area

    ScienceCinema

    Hunt, Paul; Lawson, Janice

    2018-06-22

    A video series presenting an overview of the Savannah River Site (SRS) mission and operations. Each episode features a specific area/operation and how it contributes to help make the world safer. This episode features K Area's mission and operations. K area is the former production reactor that's been re-purposed to serve as a plutonium processing and storage facility.

  1. Examination of Shipping Packages 9975-02694 and 9975-02729

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

    Daugherty, W.

    SRNL has assisted in the examination of two 9975 shipping packages (9975-02694 and 9975-02729) following their use for storage of nuclear material in K-Area Complex (KAC). Both of these were targeted for examination because they were exposed to water from a leaking expansion joint during storage. When first opened in KAC, the axial gap was found to be in excess of the 1 inch maximum criterion, signaling the potential for degradation of the fiberboard overpack and drum. Within each package the highest fiberboard moisture levels were observed in the bottom layers, but no mold was observed in either package. Themore » fiberboard in each package appeared to retain good integrity consistent with non-degraded material. Minor corrosion was also observed on these drums along the lower stitch welds and on several closure bolts.« less

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

    USGS Publications Warehouse

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

    1991-01-01

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

  3. Destructive examination of shipping package 9975-02644

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

    Daugherty, W. L.

    Destructive and non-destructive examinations have been performed on the components of shipping package 9975-02644 as part of a comprehensive SRS surveillance program for plutonium material stored in the K-Area Complex (KAC). During the field surveillance inspection of this package in KAC, three non-conforming conditions were noted: the axial gap of 1.389 inch exceeded the 1 inch maximum criterion, the exposed height of the lead shield was greater than the 4.65 inch maximum criterion, and the difference between the upper assembly inside height and the exposed height of the lead shield was less than the 0.425 inch minimum criterion. All threemore » of these observations relate to axial shrinkage of the lower fiberboard assembly. In addition, liquid water (condensation) was observed on the interior of the drum lid, the thermal blanket and the air shield.« less

  4. Wetland survey of selected areas in the K-24 Site Area of responsibility

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

    Rosensteel, B.A.; Awl, D.J.

    1995-07-01

    In accordance with DOE Regulations for Compliance with Floodplain/Wetlands Environmental Review Requirements, wetland surveys were conducted in selected areas within the K-25 Area of Responsibility during the summer of 1994. These areas are Mitchell Branch, Poplar Creek, the K-770 OU, Duct Island Peninsula, the Powerhouse area, and the K-25 South Corner. Previously surveyed areas included in this report are the main plant area of the K-25 Site, the K-901 OU, the AVLIS site, and the K-25 South Site. Wetland determinations were based on the USACE methodology. Forty-four separate wetland areas, ranging in size from 0.13 to 4.23 ha, were identified.more » Wetlands were identified in all of the areas surveyed with the exception of the interior of the Duct Island Peninsula and the main plant area of the K-25 Site. Wetlands perform functions such as floodflow alteration, sediment stabilization, sediment and toxicant retention, nutrient transformation, production export, and support of aquatic species and wildlife diversity and abundance. The forested, scrub-shrub, and emergent wetlands identified in the K-25 area perform some or all of these functions to varying degrees.« less

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

    Daugherty, W. L.

    Destructive and non-destructive examinations have been performed on the components of shipping package 9975-02019 as part of a comprehensive SRS surveillance program for plutonium material stored in the K-Area Complex (KAC). During the field surveillance inspection of this package in KAC, two non-conforming conditions were noted: the axial gap of 1.577 inch exceeded the 1 inch maximum criterion, and two areas of dried glue residue were noted on the upper fiberboard subassembly. This package was subsequently transferred to SRNL for more detailed inspection and destructive examination. In addition to the conditions noted in KAC, the following conditions were noted: -more » Numerous small spots of corrosion were observed along the bottom edge of the drum. - In addition to the smeared glue residue on the upper fiberboard subassembly, there was also a small dark stain. - Mold was present on the side and bottom of the lower fiberboard subassembly. Dark stains from elevated moisture content were also present in these areas. - A dark spot with possible light corrosion was observed on the primary containment vessel flange, and corresponding rub marks were observed on the secondary containment vessel ID. - The fiberboard thermal conductivity in the radial orientation was above the specified range. When the test was repeated with slightly lower moisture content, the result was acceptable. The moisture content for both tests was within a range typical of other packages in storage. The observed conditions must be fully evaluated by KAC to ensure the safety function of the package is being maintained. Several factors can contribute to the concentration of moisture in the fiberboard, including higher than average initial moisture content, higher internal temperature (due to internal heat load and placement within the array of packages), and the creation of additional moisture as the fiberboard begins to degrade.« less

  6. Dynamical systems defined on infinite dimensional lie algebras of the ''current algebra'' or ''Kac-Moody'' type

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hermann, Robert

    1982-07-01

    Recent work by Morrison, Marsden, and Weinstein has drawn attention to the possibility of utilizing the cosymplectic structure of the dual of the Lie algebra of certain infinite dimensional Lie groups to study hydrodynamical and plasma systems. This paper treats certain models arising in elementary particle physics, considered by Lee, Weinberg, and Zumino; Sugawara; Bardacki, Halpern, and Frishman; Hermann; and Dolan. The lie algebras involved are associated with the ''current algebras'' of Gell-Mann. This class of Lie algebras contains certain of the algebras that are called ''Kac-Moody algebras'' in the recent mathematics and mathematical physics literature.

  7. Status Report - Cane Fiberboard Properties And Degradation Rates For Storage Of The 9975 Shipping Package In KAC

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

    Daugherty, W.

    Thermal, mechanical and physical properties have been measured on cane fiberboard samples following accelerated aging for up to approximately 10 years. The aging environments have included elevated temperature < 250 ºF (the maximum allowed service temperature for fiberboard in 9975 packages) and elevated humidity. The results from this testing have been analyzed, and aging models fit to the data. Correlations relating several properties (thermal conductivity, energy absorption, weight, dimensions and density) to their rate of change in potential storage environments have been developed. Combined with an estimate of the actual conditions the fiberboard experiences in KAC, these models allow developmentmore » of service life predictions.« less

  8. Adsorption of ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin from aqueous solution onto granular activated carbon in fixed bed column.

    PubMed

    Darweesh, Teeba M; Ahmed, Muthanna J

    2017-04-01

    Carbonization of Phoenix dactylifera L stones followed by microwave K 2 CO 3 activation was adopted for preparation of granular activated carbon (KAC). High yield and favorable pore characteristics in terms of surface area and pore volume were reported for KAC as follows: 44%, 852m 2 /g, and 0.671cm 3 /g, respectively. The application of KAC as adsorbent for attraction of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and norfloxacin (NOR) was investigated using fixed bed systems. The effect of flow rate (0.5-1.5ml/min), bed height (15-25cm), and initial drug concentration (75-225mg/l) on the behavior of breakthrough curves was explained. The fixed bed analysis showed the better correlation of breakthrough data by both Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models. Inlet drug concentration was of greatest effect on breakthrough data compared to other fixed bed variables. Experimental and calculated breakthrough data were obtained for CIP and NOR adsorption on KAC, thus being important for design of fixed bed column. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Aquatic toxicity of airfield-pavement deicer materials and implications for airport runoff.

    PubMed

    Corsi, Steven R; Geis, Steven W; Bowman, George; Failey, Greg G; Rutter, Troy D

    2009-01-01

    Concentrations of airfield-pavement deicer materials (PDM) in a study of airport runoff often exceeded levels of concern regarding aquatic toxicity. Toxicity tests on Vibrio fischeri, Pimephales promelas, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (commonly known as Selenastrum capricornutum) were performed with potassium acetate (K-Ac) PDM, sodium formate (Na-For) PDM, and with freezing-point depressants (K-Ac and Na-For). Results indicate that toxicity in PDM is driven by the freezing-point depressants in all tests except the Vibrio fisheri test for Na-For PDM which is influenced by an additive. Acute toxicity end points for different organisms ranged from 298 to 6560 mg/L (as acetate) for K-Ac PDM and from 1780 to 4130 mg/L (as formate) for Na-For PDM. Chronic toxicity end points ranged from 19.9 to 336 mg/L (as acetate) for K-Ac PDM and from 584 to 1670 mg/L (as formate) for Na-For PDM. Sample results from outfalls at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, WI (GMIA) indicated that 40% of samples had concentrations greater thanthe aquatic-life benchmarkfor K-Ac PDM. K-Ac has replaced urea during the 1990s as the most widely used PDM at GMIA and in the United States. Results of ammonia samples from airport outfalls during periods when urea-based PDM was used at GMIA indicated that 41% of samples had concentrations exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) 1-h water-quality criterion. The USEPA 1-h water-quality criterion for chloride was exceeded in 68% of samples collected in the receiving stream, a result of road-salt runoff from urban influence near the airport. Results demonstrate that PDM must be considered to comprehensively evaluate the impact of chemical deicers on aquatic toxicity in water containing airport runoff.

  10. Aquatic toxicity of airfield-pavement deicer materials and implications for airport runoff

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Corsi, S.R.; Geis, S.W.; Bowman, G.; Failey, G.G.; Rutter, T.D.

    2009-01-01

    Concentrations of airfield-pavement deicer materials (PDM) in a study of airport runoff often exceeded levels of concern regarding aquatic toxicity. Toxicity tests on Vibrio fischeri, Pimephales promelas, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (commonly known as Selenastrum capricornutum) were performed with potassium acetate (K-Ac) PDM, sodium formate (Na-For) PDM, and with freezing- point depressants (K-Ac and Na-For). Results indicate that toxicity in PDM is driven by the freezing-point depressants in all tests except the Vibrio fisheri test for Na-For PDM which is influenced by an additive. Acute toxicity end points for different organisms ranged from 298 to 6560 mg/L (as acetate) for K-Ac PDM and from 1780 to 4130 mg/L (as formate) for Na- For PDM. Chronic toxicity end points ranged from 19.9 to 336 mg/L (as acetate) for K-Ac PDM and from 584 to 1670 mg/L (as formate) for Na-For PDM. Sample results from outfalls at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, Wl (GMIA) indicated that 40% of samples had concentrations greater than the aquatic-life benchmark for K-Ac PDM. K-Ac has replaced urea during the 1990s as the most widely used PDM at GMIA and in the United States. Results of ammonia samples from airport outfalls during periods when urea-based PDM was used at GMIA indicated that41% of samples had concentrations exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) 1 -h water-quality criterion. The USEPA 1-h water-quality criterion for chloride was exceeded in 68% of samples collected in the receiving stream, a result of road-salt runoff from urban influence near the airport. Results demonstrate that PDM must be considered to comprehensively evaluate the impact of chemical deicers on aquatic toxicity in water containing airport runoff. ?? 2009 American Chemical Society.

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

    PubMed Central

    Gallagher, Suzanne R; Goldberg, Debra S

    2015-01-01

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

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saito, Kazumi; Yamada, Takeshi; Kazama, Kazuhiro

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2017-12-22

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

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2016-01-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2016-10-17

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

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

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

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

    2016-03-24

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

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

    DOE PAGES

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

    2016-01-01

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

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

    DOE PAGES

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

    2014-12-10

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2015-09-01

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

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

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

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2015-05-01

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

  2. Energy Spectrum for the System, of N Ising Spins with Identical, Spin-Spin Coupling K/N - Anatomy of Phase Transition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Czachor, A.

    2008-04-01

    For the Kittel-Shore-Kac interspin coupling K/N between N Ising spins the ferromagnetic phase transition in specific heat vs. T plot has appeared in literature as a purely mathematical phenomenon, via the exact calculation of the sum of states Z(T) and subsequent differentiations with respect to temperature T. Physical nature of the transition remains in such derivation invisible. As it is expected to be related to the interaction/temperature competition in populating energy levels of the system, in this paper we construct the density of energy states D(E) (or energy spectrum) of such systems, both for the ferromagnetic (K > 0) and antiferromagnetic (K < 0) coupling between spins. This allows one to see the essence of the difference between these systems as related to the discrete vs. quasi-continuous shape of the spectra at low energy states.

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2016-01-01

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

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2016-09-01

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

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2011-01-01

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

  6. Examination of shipping packages 9975-01658, 9975-02075 and 9975-02738

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

    Daugherty, W. L.

    SRNL has assisted in the examination of three 9975 shipping packages (9975-01658, 9975-02075 and 9975-02738) following their use for storage of nuclear material in K-Area Complex (KAC). Each of these was targeted for examination because the axial gap exceeded the 1 inch maximum criterion, signaling the potential for degradation of the fiberboard overpack and drum. Each package experienced a degree of compaction of the bottom fiberboard layers, and had elevated moisture levels toward the bottom. A small amount of mold was observed on the lower fiberboard assembly in 9975-02738. However, the majority of the fiberboard in each package appeared tomore » retain good integrity consistent with non-degraded material. Minor corrosion was observed on these drums, but is judged to have not compromised the drum integrity.« less

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

    PubMed

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

    2016-03-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2018-04-11

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

  9. Complex Mobile Independent Power Station for Urban Areas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tunik, A. A.; Tolstoy, M. Y.

    2017-11-01

    A new type of a complex mobile independent power station developed in the Department of Engineering Communications and Life-Support Systems of Irkutsk National Research Technical University, is presented in this article. This station contains only solar panel, wind turbine, accumulator, diesel generator and microbial fuel cell for to produce electric energy, heat pump and solar collector to generate heat energy and also wastewater treatment plant and new complex control system. The complex mobile independent power station is intended for full power supply of a different kind of consumers located even in remote areas thus reducing their dependence from centralized energy supply systems, decrease the fossil fuel consumption, improve the environment of urban areas and solve the problems of the purification of industrial and municipal wastewater.

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

    PubMed

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

    2015-03-01

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

  11. Comprehensive profiling of lysine acetylation suggests the widespread function is regulated by protein acetylation in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

    PubMed

    Nie, Zuoming; Zhu, Honglin; Zhou, Yong; Wu, Chengcheng; Liu, Yue; Sheng, Qing; Lv, Zhengbing; Zhang, Wenping; Yu, Wei; Jiang, Caiying; Xie, Longfei; Zhang, Yaozhou; Yao, Juming

    2015-09-01

    Lysine acetylation in proteins is a dynamic and reversible PTM and plays an important role in diverse cellular processes. In this study, using lysine-acetylation (Kac) peptide enrichment coupled with nano HPLC/MS/MS, we initially identified the acetylome in the silkworms. Overall, a total of 342 acetylated proteins with 667 Kac sites were identified in silkworm. Sequence motifs analysis around Kac sites revealed an enrichment of Y, F, and H in the +1 position, and F was also enriched in the +2 and -2 positions, indicating the presences of preferred amino acids around Kac sites in the silkworm. Functional analysis showed the acetylated proteins were primarily involved in some specific biological processes. Furthermore, lots of nutrient-storage proteins, such as apolipophorin, vitellogenin, storage proteins, and 30 K proteins, were highly acetylated, indicating lysine acetylation may represent a common regulatory mechanism of nutrient utilization in the silkworm. Interestingly, Ser2 proteins, the coating proteins of larval silk, were found to contain many Kac sites, suggesting lysine acetylation may be involved in the regulation of larval silk synthesis. This study is the first to identify the acetylome in a lepidoptera insect, and expands greatly the catalog of lysine acetylation substrates and sites in insects. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  12. 9. VIEW LOOKING SOUTHEAST AT THE 771 AREA COMPLEX. ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    9. VIEW LOOKING SOUTHEAST AT THE 771 - AREA COMPLEX. THE 711 COMPLEX, ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS PLANT C, HOUSED ALL THE PLUTONIUM PROCESSES UNTIL 1956 WHEN BUILDING 776/777 BECAME OPERATIONAL. - Rocky Flats Plant, Bounded by Indiana Street & Routes 93, 128 & 72, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

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

    PubMed

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

    2015-12-01

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

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

    PubMed

    Vogel, O; Hoehn, B; Henning, U

    1972-06-01

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

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

    PubMed Central

    Vogel, Otto; Hoehn, Barbara; Henning, Ulf

    1972-01-01

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

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2015-01-01

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

  17. BRST Exactness of Stress-Energy Tensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Miyata, Hideo; Sugimoto, Hiroshi

    BRST commutators in the topological conformal field theories obtained by twisting N=2 theories are evaluated explicitly. By our systematic calculations of the multiple integrals which contain screening operators, the BRST exactness of the twisted stress-energy tensors is deduced for classical simple Lie algebras and general level k. We can see that the paths of integrations do not affect the result, and further, the N=2 coset theories are obtained by deleting two simple roots with Kac-label 1 from the extended Dynkin diagram; in other words, by not performing the integrations over the variables corresponding to the two simple roots of Kac-Moody algebras. It is also shown that a series of N=1 theories are generated in the same way by deleting one simple root with Kac-label 2.

  18. Research Area 3: Mathematics (3.1 Modeling of Complex Systems)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-10-31

    RESEARCH AREA 3: MATHEMATICS (3.1 Modeling of Complex Systems). Proposal should be directed to Dr. John Lavery The views, opinions and/or findings...so designated by other documentation. 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS (ES) U.S. Army Research Office P.O. Box 12211 Research ...Title: RESEARCH AREA 3: MATHEMATICS (3.1 Modeling of Complex Systems). Proposal should be directed to Dr. John Lavery Report Term: 0-Other Email

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

    PubMed

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

    2017-07-01

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

  20. Flood vulnerability evaluation in complex urban areas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Giosa, L.; Pascale, S.; Sdao, F.; Sole, A.; Cantisani, A.

    2009-04-01

    This paper deals the conception, the development and the subsequent validation of an integrated numerical model for the assessment of systemic vulnerability in complex and urbanized areas, subject to flood risk. The proposed methodology is based on the application of the concept of "systemic vulnerability", the model is a mathematician-decisional model action to estimate the vulnerability of complex a territorial system during a flood event. The model uses a group of "pressure pointers" in order to define, qualitatively and quantitatively, the influence exercised on the territorial system from factors like as those physicists, social, economic, etc.. The model evaluates the exposure to the flood risk of the elements that belong to a system. The proposed model, which is based on the studies of Tamura et al., 2000; Minciardi et al., 2004; Pascale et al., 2008; considers the vulnerability not as a characteristic of a particular element at risk, but as a peculiarity of a complex territorial system, in which the different elements are reciprocally linked in a functional way. The proposed model points out the elements with the major functional lost and that make the whole system critical. This characteristic makes the proposed model able to support a correct territorial planning and a suitable management of the emergency following natural disasters such as floods. The proposed approach was tested on the study area in the city of Potenza, southern Italy.

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

    PubMed

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

    2016-05-03

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

  2. Aqueous reactions of triplet excited states with allylic compounds

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kaur, R.; Anastasio, C.; Hudson, B. M.; Tantillo, D. J.

    2016-12-01

    Triplet excited states of dissolved organic matter react with several classes of aromatic organics such as phenols, anilines, sulfonamide antibiotics and phenylurea herbicides. Aqueous triplets appear to be among the most important oxidants for atmospheric phenols in regions with biomass burning, with phenol lifetimes on the order of a few hours to a day. However, little is known of the reactions of triplets with other classes of organic compounds. Recent work from our group shows that triplets react rapidly with several biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), such as methyl jasmonate, cis-3-hexenyl acetate, and cis-3-hexen-1-ol. However, there are only a few rate constants for aqueous reactions between alkenes such as these and triplet excited states. For our work, we refer to these and similar alkenes which have hydrogen(s) attached to a carbon adjacent to the double bond, as allylic compounds. To better assess the importance of triplets as aqueous oxidants, we measured second-order rate constants (kAC+3BP*) for a number of allylic compounds (ACs) with the triplet state of benzophenone; then established a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) between kAC+3BP* and computed oxidation potential of the ACs (R2 =0.65). Using the QSAR, we estimated the rate constants for triplets with some allylic isoprene and limonene oxidation products that have high Henry's law constants (KH>103 M atm-1). Hydroxylated limonene products and the delta-isomers of isoprene hydroxyhydroperoxides (δ4ISOPOOH) and hydroxynitrates (δ4ISONO2) were faster with predicted kAC+3BP* values ranging between (0.5-3.5) x 109 M-1-s-1 whereas the beta-isomers of ISOPOOH and ISONO2 were slower (kAC+3BP* < 0.5 x 109 M-1s-1). We scaled the predicted kAC+3BP* to represent less reactive atmospheric triplets that have been measured in fog drops, and compared to gas and aqueous hydroxyl radical and ozone, triplets in fog could account for up to 20 % of the measured loss of these compounds

  3. Identification and Development of 2,3-Dihydropyrrolo[1,2-a]quinazolin-5(1H)-one Inhibitors Targeting Bromodomains within the Switch/Sucrose Nonfermenting Complex

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    Bromodomain containing proteins PB1, SMARCA4, and SMARCA2 are important components of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes. We identified bromodomain inhibitors that target these proteins and display unusual binding modes involving water displacement from the KAc binding site. The best compound binds the fifth bromodomain of PB1 with a KD of 124 nM, SMARCA2B and SMARCA4 with KD values of 262 and 417 nM, respectively, and displays excellent selectivity over bromodomains other than PB1, SMARCA2, and SMARCA4. PMID:27119626

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

    PubMed

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

    2017-10-01

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

  5. Photocopy of drawing. SPACECRAFT INDUSTRIAL AREA, O&C BUILDING, A&T AREA, ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    Photocopy of drawing. SPACECRAFT INDUSTRIAL AREA, O&C BUILDING, A&T AREA, ALTITUDE CHAMBER “L”. NASA, John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Drawing 79K00213, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, no date. SHELL PENETRATION SCHEDULE. Sheet 4 - Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Launch Complex 39, Altitude Chambers, First Street, between Avenue D and Avenue E, Cape Canaveral, Brevard County, FL

  6. Photocopy of drawing. SPACECRAFT INDUSTRIAL AREA, O&C BUILDING, A&T AREA, ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    Photocopy of drawing. SPACECRAFT INDUSTRIAL AREA, O&C BUILDING, A&T AREA, ALTITUDE CHAMBER “L”. NASA, John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Drawing 79K00213, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, no date. SHELL PENETRATION LAYOUT. Sheet 3 - Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Launch Complex 39, Altitude Chambers, First Street, between Avenue D and Avenue E, Cape Canaveral, Brevard County, FL

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2013-07-01

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

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

    PubMed

    Wang, Dapeng; Xu, Jiayue; Yu, Jun

    2015-09-16

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

  9. Simulations of photochemical smog formation in complex urban areas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Muilwijk, C.; Schrijvers, P. J. C.; Wuerz, S.; Kenjereš, S.

    2016-12-01

    In the present study we numerically investigated the dispersion of photochemical reactive pollutants in complex urban areas by applying an integrated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Computational Reaction Dynamics (CRD) approach. To model chemical reactions involved in smog generation, the Generic Reaction Set (GRS) approach is used. The GRS model was selected since it does not require detailed modeling of a large set of reactive components. Smog formation is modeled first in the case of an intensive traffic emission, subjected to low to moderate wind conditions in an idealized two-dimensional street canyon with a building aspect ratio (height/width) of one. It is found that Reactive Organic Components (ROC) play an important role in the chemistry of smog formation. In contrast to the NOx/O3 photochemical steady state model that predicts a depletion of the (ground level) ozone, the GRS model predicts generation of ozone. Secondly, the effect of direct sunlight and shadow within the street canyon on the chemical reaction dynamics is investigated for three characteristic solar angles (morning, midday and afternoon). Large differences of up to one order of magnitude are found in the ozone production for different solar angles. As a proof of concept for real urban areas, the integrated CFD/CRD approach is applied for a real scale (1 × 1 km2) complex urban area (a district of the city of Rotterdam, The Netherlands) with high traffic emissions. The predicted pollutant concentration levels give realistic values that correspond to moderate to heavy smog. It is concluded that the integrated CFD/CRD method with the GRS model of chemical reactions is both accurate and numerically robust, and can be used for modeling of smog formation in complex urban areas.

  10. Batch and fixed bed adsorption of levofloxacin on granular activated carbon from date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) stones by KOH chemical activation.

    PubMed

    Darweesh, Teeba M; Ahmed, Muthanna J

    2017-03-01

    Granular activated carbon (KAC) was prepared from abundant Phoenix dactylifera L. stones by microwave- assisted KOH activation. The characteristics of KAC were tested by pore analyses, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The adsorption behavior of levofloxacin (LEV) antibiotic on KAC with surface area of 817m 2 /g and pore volume of 0.638cm 3 /g were analyzed using batch and fixed bed systems. The equilibrium data collected by batch experiments were well fitted with Langmuir compared to Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. The effect of flow rate (0.5-1.5ml/min), bed height (15-25cm), and initial LEV concentration (75-225mg/l) on the behavior of breakthrough curves was explained. The fixed bed analysis showed the better correlation of breakthrough data by both Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models. High LEV adsorption capacity of 100.3mg/g was reported on KAC, thus being an efficient adsorbent for antibiotic pollutants to protect ecological systems. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Study of pre-seismic kHz EM emissions by means of complex systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Balasis, Georgios; Papadimitriou, Constantinos; Eftaxias, Konstantinos

    2010-05-01

    The field of study of complex systems holds that the dynamics of complex systems are founded on universal principles that may used to describe disparate problems ranging from particle physics to economies of societies. A corollary is that transferring ideas and results from investigators in hitherto disparate areas will cross-fertilize and lead to important new results. It is well-known that the Boltzmann-Gibbs statistical mechanics works best in dealing with systems composed of either independent subsystems or interacting via short-range forces, and whose subsystems can access all the available phase space. For systems exhibiting long-range correlations, memory, or fractal properties, non-extensive Tsallis statistical mechanics becomes the most appropriate mathematical framework. As it was mentioned a central property of the magnetic storm, solar flare, and earthquake preparation process is the possible occurrence of coherent large-scale collective with a very rich structure, resulting from the repeated nonlinear interactions among collective with a very rich structure, resulting from the repeated nonlinear interactions among its constituents. Consequently, the non-extensive statistical mechanics is an appropriate regime to investigate universality, if any, in magnetic storm, solar flare, earthquake and pre-failure EM emission occurrence. A model for earthquake dynamics coming from a non-extensive Tsallis formulation, starting from first principles, has been recently introduced. This approach leads to a Gutenberg-Richter type law for the magnitude distribution of earthquakes which provides an excellent fit to seismicities generated in various large geographic areas usually identified as "seismic regions". We examine whether the Gutenberg-Richter law corresponding to a non-extensive Tsallis statistics is able to describe the distribution of amplitude of earthquakes, pre-seismic kHz EM emissions (electromagnetic earthquakes), solar flares, and magnetic storms. The

  12. Mathematics. Exceptional Child Education Curriculum K-12.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Jordon, Thelma; And Others

    The mathematics curriculum provides a framework of instruction for exceptional child education in grades K-12. Content areas include: numeration, whole numbers, rational numbers, real/complex numbers, calculator literacy, measurement, geometry, statistics, functions/relations, computer literacy, and pre-algebra. The guide is organized by content…

  13. Cell dialysis by sharp electrodes can cause nonphysiological changes in neuron properties

    PubMed Central

    Hooper, Scott L.; Guschlbauer, Christoph; Schmidt, Joachim; Büschges, Ansgar

    2015-01-01

    We recorded from lobster and leech neurons with two sharp electrodes filled with solutions often used with these preparations (lobster: 0.6 M K2SO4 or 2.5 M KAc; leech: 4 M KAc), with solutions approximately matching neuron cytoplasm ion concentrations, and with 6.5 M KAc (lobster, leech) and 0.6 M KAc (lobster). We measured membrane potential, input resistance, and transient and sustained depolarization-activated outward current amplitudes in leech and these neuron properties and hyperpolarization-activated current time constant in lobster, every 10 min for 60 min after electrode penetration. Neuron properties varied with electrode fill. For fills with molarities ≥2.5 M, neuron properties also varied strongly with time after electrode penetration. Depending on the property being examined, these variations could be large. In leech, cell size also increased with noncytoplasmic fills. The changes in neuron properties could be due to the ions being injected from the electrodes during current injection. We tested this possibility in lobster with the 2.5 M KAc electrode fill by making measurements only 10 and 60 min after penetration. Neuron properties still changed, although the changes were less extreme. Making measurements every 2 min showed that the time-dependent variations in neuron properties occurred in concert with each other. Neuron property changes with high molarity electrode-fill solutions were great enough to decrease neuron firing strongly. An experiment with 14C-glucose electrode fill confirmed earlier work showing substantial leak from sharp electrodes. Sharp electrode work should thus be performed with cytoplasm-matched electrode fills. PMID:26063785

  14. Abstraction of complex concepts with a refined partial-area taxonomy of SNOMED

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Yue; Halper, Michael; Wei, Duo; Perl, Yehoshua; Geller, James

    2012-01-01

    An algorithmically-derived abstraction network, called the partial-area taxonomy, for a SNOMED hierarchy has led to the identification of concepts considered complex. The designation “complex” is arrived at automatically on the basis of structural analyses of overlap among the constituent concept groups of the partial-area taxonomy. Such complex concepts, called overlapping concepts, constitute a tangled portion of a hierarchy and can be obstacles to users trying to gain an understanding of the hierarchy’s content. A new methodology for partitioning the entire collection of overlapping concepts into singly-rooted groups, that are more manageable to work with and comprehend, is presented. Different kinds of overlapping concepts with varying degrees of complexity are identified. This leads to an abstract model of the overlapping concepts called the disjoint partial-area taxonomy, which serves as a vehicle for enhanced, high-level display. The methodology is demonstrated with an application to SNOMED’s Specimen hierarchy. Overall, the resulting disjoint partial-area taxonomy offers a refined view of the hierarchy’s structural organization and conceptual content that can aid users, such as maintenance personnel, working with SNOMED. The utility of the disjoint partial-area taxonomy as the basis for a SNOMED auditing regimen is presented in a companion paper. PMID:21878396

  15. Soil mercury levels in the area surrounding the Cerro Prieto geothermal complex, MEXICO.

    PubMed

    Pastrana-Corral, M A; Wakida, F T; García-Flores, E; Rodriguez-Mendivil, D D; Quiñonez-Plaza, A; Piñon-Colin, T D J

    2016-08-01

    Even though geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that is seen as cost-effective and environmentally friendly, emissions from geothermal plants can impact air, soil, and water in the vicinity of geothermal power plants. The Cerro Prieto geothermal complex is located 30 km southeast of the city of Mexicali in the Mexican state of Baja California. Its installed electricity generation capacity is 720 MW, being the largest geothermal complex in Mexico. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the emissions generated by the geothermal complex have increased the soil mercury concentration in the surrounding areas. Fifty-four surface soil samples were collected from the perimeter up to an approximate distance of 7660 m from the complex. Additionally, four soil depth profiles were performed in the vicinity of the complex. Mercury concentration in 69 % of the samples was higher than the mercury concentration found at the baseline sites. The mercury concentration ranged from 0.01 to 0.26 mg/kg. Our results show that the activities of the geothermal complex have led to an accumulation of mercury in the soil of the surrounding area. More studies are needed to determine the risk to human health and the ecosystems in the study area.

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

    PubMed

    Wang, Zheng; Tseng, Shian-Shyong

    2013-01-01

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

  17. 18. A southeastward aerial view of entire complex. Area east ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    18. A southeastward aerial view of entire complex. Area east of Cherles Street (behind water tower in view) is not part of this project. - American Chain & Cable Company, East Princess Street (400 Block), York, York County, PA

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

    PubMed

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

    2012-04-11

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

  19. The Area-Time Complexity of Sorting.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-12-01

    suggests a classification of keys into short (k < logn), long (k > 2 logn), and of medium length. Optimal or near-optimal designs of VLSI sorters are...suggests a classification of keys into short (k 4 logn ), long (k > 21ogn ), and of medium length. Optimal or near-optimal designs of VLSI sorters are...ARCHITECTURES 79 5.1 Introduction 79 5.2 Parallel Algorithms for Sorting 80 . 5.3 Parallel Architectures 88 6 OPTIMAL VLSI SORTERS FOR KEYS OF LENGTH k - logn

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2005-03-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2005-03-01

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

  2. Cell dialysis by sharp electrodes can cause nonphysiological changes in neuron properties.

    PubMed

    Hooper, Scott L; Thuma, Jeffrey B; Guschlbauer, Christoph; Schmidt, Joachim; Büschges, Ansgar

    2015-08-01

    We recorded from lobster and leech neurons with two sharp electrodes filled with solutions often used with these preparations (lobster: 0.6 M K2SO4 or 2.5 M KAc; leech: 4 M KAc), with solutions approximately matching neuron cytoplasm ion concentrations, and with 6.5 M KAc (lobster, leech) and 0.6 M KAc (lobster). We measured membrane potential, input resistance, and transient and sustained depolarization-activated outward current amplitudes in leech and these neuron properties and hyperpolarization-activated current time constant in lobster, every 10 min for 60 min after electrode penetration. Neuron properties varied with electrode fill. For fills with molarities ≥2.5 M, neuron properties also varied strongly with time after electrode penetration. Depending on the property being examined, these variations could be large. In leech, cell size also increased with noncytoplasmic fills. The changes in neuron properties could be due to the ions being injected from the electrodes during current injection. We tested this possibility in lobster with the 2.5 M KAc electrode fill by making measurements only 10 and 60 min after penetration. Neuron properties still changed, although the changes were less extreme. Making measurements every 2 min showed that the time-dependent variations in neuron properties occurred in concert with each other. Neuron property changes with high molarity electrode-fill solutions were great enough to decrease neuron firing strongly. An experiment with (14)C-glucose electrode fill confirmed earlier work showing substantial leak from sharp electrodes. Sharp electrode work should thus be performed with cytoplasm-matched electrode fills. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

  3. Picatinny Arsenal 3000 Area Laboratory Complex Energy Analysis

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

    Brown, Daryl R.; Goddard, James K.

    2010-05-01

    In response to a request by Picatinny Arsenal, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) was asked by the Army to conduct an energy audit of the Arsenal’s 3000 Area Laboratory Complex. The objective of the audit was to identify life-cycle cost-effective measures that the Arsenal could implement to reduce energy costs. A “walk-through” audit of the facilities was conducted on December 7-8, 2009. Findings and recommendations are included in this document.

  4. Global Proteome Analysis Links Lysine Acetylation to Diverse Functions in Oryza Sativa.

    PubMed

    Xue, Chao; Liu, Shuai; Chen, Chen; Zhu, Jun; Yang, Xibin; Zhou, Yong; Guo, Rui; Liu, Xiaoyu; Gong, Zhiyun

    2018-01-01

    Lysine acetylation (Kac) is an important protein post-translational modification in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Herein, we report the results of a global proteome analysis of Kac and its diverse functions in rice (Oryza sativa). We identified 1353 Kac sites in 866 proteins in rice seedlings. A total of 11 Kac motifs are conserved, and 45% of the identified proteins are localized to the chloroplast. Among all acetylated proteins, 38 Kac sites are combined in core histones. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that Kac occurs on a diverse range of proteins involved in a wide variety of biological processes, especially photosynthesis. Protein-protein interaction networks of the identified proteins provided further evidence that Kac contributes to a wide range of regulatory functions. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the acetylation level of histone H3 (lysine 27 and 36) is increased in response to cold stress. In summary, our approach comprehensively profiles the regulatory roles of Kac in the growth and development of rice. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

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

    PubMed

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

    2013-12-19

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

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Saha, Avijit; Mukherjee, Asok K.

    2004-07-01

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

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

    USGS Publications Warehouse

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

    1997-01-01

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

  8. Correlation of Mohawkian (Ordovician) K-bentonites in post-Black River rocks of Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan

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

    Schumacher, G.A.; Carlton, R.W.; Bergstroem, S.M.

    1992-01-01

    One to 10 K-bentonites are recognized in the Curdsville and Logana Members of the Lexington Limestone of Kentucky and southwestern Ohio and in coeval strata in west-central and northwestern Ohio and southeastern Michigan. These beds occur in the Phragmodus undatus and Amorphognathus tyaerensis conodont zones and the Orthograptus ruedemanni and Climacograptus spiniferus graptolite zones. Individual beds range in thickness from 1 mm to 30 cm and occur 16 cm to 19 m above the base of the Lexington Limestone and equivalents. Seventy-five percent of the observed K-bentonites occur in three narrow stratigraphic intervals. Some K-bentonites are traceable over parts ofmore » Ohio but insufficient data from northern Kentucky and west-central Ohio complicate regional lithostratigraphic correlation. Conodont biostratigraphy suggests that each k-bentonite complex is correlative regionally. Most conodont species range throughout all, or most, of the study interval but the ranges of Belodina compressa, Polyplacognathus ramosus, and Amorphognathus tyaerensis show only minor overlap. Preliminary correlation suggests that the oldest K- bentonite complex occurs in the interval characterized by B. compressa, the second complex in the P. Ramosus interval, and the third complex in the A. tyaerensis interval. This study provides the basis for potential correlation with coeval K-bentonites in areas outside of the study area. Also it provides an enhanced understanding of the lithostratigraphy and conodont biofacies of this complex stratigraphic interval. The K-bentonite succession also adds information on the timing of the initiation of the Sebree Trough.« less

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2004-01-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2016-04-14

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2007-02-21

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

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2018-01-01

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

  13. Utilizing Occupational Complexity Levels in Vocational Interest Assessments: Assessing Interests for STEM Areas

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Toker, Yonca; Ackerman, Phillip L.

    2012-01-01

    With an aim to improve vocational interest assessments geared toward the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) areas, we developed a new assessment by incorporating occupational complexity levels. Occupations which correspond to Holland's realistic and investigative themes were identified together with their complexity levels…

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

    PubMed

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

    2018-01-01

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

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

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

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

    2018-01-01

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

  16. HIPAA is larger and more complex than Y2K.

    PubMed

    Tempesco, J W

    2000-07-01

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

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2017-01-01

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

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

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

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

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

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

    PubMed Central

    Ma, Shengquan; Li, Shenggang

    2014-01-01

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

  20. Alkaline magmatism in the Amambay area, NE Paraguay: The Cerro Sarambí complex

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gomes, C. B.; Velázquez, V. F.; Azzone, R. G.; Paula, G. S.

    2011-07-01

    The Early Cretaceous alkaline magmatism in the northeastern region of Paraguay (Amambay Province) is represented by stocks, plugs, dikes, and dike swarms emplaced into Carboniferous to Triassic-Jurassic sediments and Precambrian rocks. This magmatism is tectonically related to the Ponta Porã Arch, a NE-trending structural feature, and has the Cerro Sarambí and Cerro Chiriguelo carbonatite complexes as its most significant expressions. Other alkaline occurrences found in the area are the Cerro Guazú and the small bodies of Cerro Apuá, Arroyo Gasory, Cerro Jhú, Cerro Tayay, and Cerro Teyú. The alkaline rocks comprise ultramafic-mafic, syenitic, and carbonatitic petrographic associations in addition to lithologies of variable composition and texture occurring as dikes; fenites are described in both carbonatite complexes. Alkali feldspar and clinopyroxene, ranging from diopside to aegirine, are the most abundant minerals, with feldspathoids (nepheline, analcime), biotite, and subordinate Ti-rich garnet; minor constituents are Fe-Ti oxides and cancrinite as the main alteration product from nepheline. Chemically, the Amambay silicate rocks are potassic to highly potassic and have miaskitic affinity, with the non-cumulate intrusive types concentrated mainly in the saturated to undersaturated areas in silica syenitic fields. Fine-grained rocks are also of syenitic affiliation or represent more mafic varieties. The carbonatitic rocks consist dominantly of calciocarbonatites. Variation diagrams plotting major and trace elements vs. SiO 2 concentration for the Cerro Sarambí rocks show positive correlations for Al 2O 3, K 2O, and Rb, and negative ones for TiO 2, MgO, Fe 2O 3, CaO, P 2O 5, and Sr, indicating that fractional crystallization played an important role in the formation of the complex. Incompatible elements normalized to primitive mantle display positive spikes for Rb, La, Pb, Sr, and Sm, and negative for Nb-Ta, P, and Ti, as these negative anomalies are

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

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

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

    1986-05-01

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

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

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

  3. 1. TEST AREA 1115, SOUTH PART OF SUPPORT COMPLEX, LOOKING ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    1. TEST AREA 1-115, SOUTH PART OF SUPPORT COMPLEX, LOOKING TO EAST FROM ABOVE BUILDING 8655, THE FUEL STORAGE TANK FARM, IN FOREGROUND SHADOW. AT THE RIGHT IS BUILDING 8660, ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION; TO ITS LEFT IS BUILDING 8663, THE HELIUM COMPRESSION PLANT. THE LIGHT TONED STRUCTURE IN THE MIDDLE DISTANCE, CENTER, IS THE MACHINE SHOP FOR TEST STAND 1-3. IN THE FAR DISTANCE IS TEST STAND 1-A, WITH THE WHITE SPHERICAL TANKS, AND TEST STAND 2-A TO ITS RIGHT. ALONG THE HORIZON FROM FAR LEFT ARE TEST STAND 1-D, TEST STAND 1-C, WATER TANKS ABOVE TEST AREA 1-125, AND TEST STAND 1-B IN TEST AREA 1-120. - Edwards Air Force Base, Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory, Leuhman Ridge near Highways 58 & 395, Boron, Kern County, CA

  4. 10. AERIAL VIEW LOOKING NORTHWEST AT THE 400AREA COMPLEX. THIS ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    10. AERIAL VIEW LOOKING NORTHWEST AT THE 400-AREA COMPLEX. THIS AREA OF THE PLANT MANUFACTURED NON-PLUTONIUM WEAPONS COMPONENTS FROM BERYLLIUM, DEPLETED URANIUM, AND STAINLESS STEEL. THE 400 - AREA ALSO INCLUDED A FACILITY FOR THE MODIFICATION OF SAFE SECURE TRANSPORT VEHICLES FOR SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIALS BEING SHIPPED TO AND FROM THE SITE. BUILDING 444, IN THE UPPER RIGHT EDGE OF THE PHOTOGRAPH, WAS THE ORIGINAL PLANT A. THE LARGE BUILDING IN THE TOP OF THE PHOTOGRAPH IS BUILDING 460, BUILT AS A STATE-OF-THE-ART STAINLESS STEEL MANUFACTURING FACILITY (6/27/95). - Rocky Flats Plant, Bounded by Indiana Street & Routes 93, 128 & 72, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

  5. Elaboration of a complex GIS application in a catchment area.

    PubMed

    Németh, T; Szabó, J; Pásztor, L; Bakacsi, Zs

    2002-01-01

    Rearrangement of land resources after political changes has not yet been finished in Hungary. It is almost impossible to collect information necessary for planning activities on outer areas of settlements. The data are distributed among various organizations and can be found in diverse forms or there are no available data at all. However water quality protection has become legally ordered concerning municipal activities around Lake Balaton which is considered as the most important recreation area and tourist target in Hungary and is also affected by a number of factors providing sources of environmental conflicts. Settlements in a catchment area (Tetves Creek) on the southern shoreline of Lake Balaton in Central Hungary tendered a complex project for collecting sources of authentic data of the Hungarian rural areas along with systematizing and saving these data in a uniform GIS. An application using Autodesk MapGuide Program for Internet realization was developed. The implemented web-based system can be used in Internet and Intranet environments.

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

    PubMed

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

    2017-01-09

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

  7. Organization of complex networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kitsak, Maksim

    Many large complex systems can be successfully analyzed using the language of graphs and networks. Interactions between the objects in a network are treated as links connecting nodes. This approach to understanding the structure of networks is an important step toward understanding the way corresponding complex systems function. Using the tools of statistical physics, we analyze the structure of networks as they are found in complex systems such as the Internet, the World Wide Web, and numerous industrial and social networks. In the first chapter we apply the concept of self-similarity to the study of transport properties in complex networks. Self-similar or fractal networks, unlike non-fractal networks, exhibit similarity on a range of scales. We find that these fractal networks have transport properties that differ from those of non-fractal networks. In non-fractal networks, transport flows primarily through the hubs. In fractal networks, the self-similar structure requires any transport to also flow through nodes that have only a few connections. We also study, in models and in real networks, the crossover from fractal to non-fractal networks that occurs when a small number of random interactions are added by means of scaling techniques. In the second chapter we use k-core techniques to study dynamic processes in networks. The k-core of a network is the network's largest component that, within itself, exhibits all nodes with at least k connections. We use this k-core analysis to estimate the relative leadership positions of firms in the Life Science (LS) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sectors of industry. We study the differences in the k-core structure between the LS and the ICT sectors. We find that the lead segment (highest k-core) of the LS sector, unlike that of the ICT sector, is remarkably stable over time: once a particular firm enters the lead segment, it is likely to remain there for many years. In the third chapter we study how

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2011-03-01

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

  9. Investigating Magmatic Processes in the Lower Levels of Mantle-derived Magmatic Systems: The Age & Emplacement of the Kunene Anorthosite Complex (SW Angola)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hayes, B.; Bybee, G. M.; Owen-Smith, T.; Lehmann, J.; Brower, A. M.; Ashwal, L. D.; Hill, C. M.

    2017-12-01

    Our understanding of mantle-derived magmatic systems has shifted from a notion of upper crustal, melt-dominated magma chambers that feed short-lived volcanic eruptions, to a view of more long-lived trans-crustal, mush-dominated systems. Proterozoic massif-type anorthosite systems are voluminous, plagioclase-dominated plutonic suites with ubiquitous intermediate compositions (An 50 ± 10) that represent mantle-derived magmas initially ponded at Moho depths and crystallized polybarically until emplacement at mid-crustal levels. Thus, these systems provide unique insight into magma storage and processing in the lower reaches of the magma mush column, where such interpretation has previously relied on cumulate xenoliths in lavas, geophysical data and experimental/numerical modeling. We present new CA-ID-TIMS ages and a series of detailed field observations from the largest Proterozoic anorthosite massif on Earth, the Kunene Anorthosite Complex (KAC) of SW Angola. Field structures indicate that (i) the bulk of the material was emplaced in the form of crystal mushes, as both plutons and sheet-like intrusions; (ii) prolonged magmatism led to cumulate disaggregation (block structure development) and remobilization, producing considerable textural heterogeneity; (iii) crystal-rich magmatic flow induced localized recrystallization and the development of protoclastic (mortar) textures; and (iv) late residual melts were able to migrate locally prior to complete solidification. Dating of pegmatitic pods entrained from cumulate zones at the base of the crust (1500 ± 13 Ma) and their host anorthosites (1375-1438 Ma) reveals time periods in the range of 60-120 Myr between the earliest products of the system and the final mushes emplaced at higher crustal levels. Therefore, the KAC represents a complex, mushy magmatic system that developed over a long period of time. Not only do these observations help in refining our understanding of Proterozoic anorthosite petrogenesis, they

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

    PubMed

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

    2018-05-23

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

  11. Krypton adsorption on rutile: State and cross-sectional area at 77 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grillet, Y.; Rouquerol, F.; Rouquerol, J.

    1985-10-01

    A krypton adsorption study was carried out on a polycrystalline TiO 2 sample (98.5% rutile) presently considered as a potential reference material for surface areas. Both adsorption microcalorimetry and volumetry show evidence of a two-dimensional phase change (from 2D fluid to 2D solid) taking place at 77 K before the completion of the monolayer. No such phenomenon is observed neither with nitrogen (which we explain by a strong orientation and a close-packing of this molecule on a polar surface) neither with argon (which we explain by a large incompatibility factor between rutile and an argon crystal). On completion of the monolayer, the krypton molecular cross-sectional area is here around 0.15 nm 2 (instead of the usual 0.17 to 0.21 nm 2).

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2016-01-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2016-01-01

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

  14. Modular invariant representations of infinite-dimensional Lie algebras and superalgebras

    PubMed Central

    Kac, Victor G.; Wakimoto, Minoru

    1988-01-01

    In this paper, we launch a program to describe and classify modular invariant representations of infinite-dimensional Lie algebras and superalgebras. We prove a character formula for a large class of highest weight representations L(λ) of a Kac-Moody algebra [unk] with a symmetrizable Cartan matrix, generalizing the Weyl-Kac character formula [Kac, V. G. (1974) Funct. Anal. Appl. 8, 68-70]. In the case of an affine [unk], this class includes modular invariant representations of arbitrary rational level m = t/u, where t [unk] Z and u [unk] N are relatively prime and m + g ≥ g/u (g is the dual Coxeter number). We write the characters of these representations in terms of theta functions and calculate their asymptotics, generalizing the results of Kac and Peterson [Kac, V. G. & Peterson, D. H. (1984) Adv. Math. 53, 125-264] and of Kac and Wakimoto [Kac, V. G. & Wakimoto, M. (1988) Adv. Math. 70, 156-234] for the u = 1 (integrable) case. We work out in detail the case [unk] = A1(1), in particular classifying all its modular invariant representations. Furthermore, we show that the modular invariant representations of the Virasoro algebra Vir are precisely the “minimal series” of Belavin et al. [Belavin, A. A., Polyakov, A. M. & Zamolodchikov, A. B. (1984) Nucl. Phys. B 241, 333-380] using the character formulas of Feigin and Fuchs [Feigin, B. L. & Fuchs, D. B. (1984) Lect. Notes Math. 1060, 230-245]. We show that tensoring the basic representation and modular invariant representations of A1(1) produces all modular invariant representations of Vir generalizing the results of Goddard et al. [Goddard P., Kent, A. & Olive, D. (1986) Commun. Math. Phys. 103, 105-119] and of Kac and Wakimoto [Kac, V. G. & Wakimoto, M. (1986) Lect. Notes Phys. 261, 345-371] in the unitary case. We study the general branching functions as well. All these results are generalized to the Kac-Moody superalgebras introduced by Kac [Kac, V. G. (1978) Adv. Math. 30, 85-136] and to N = 1 super

  15. 20. OVERVIEW OF SAR3 COMPLEX, SHOWING FORMER RESIDENTIAL AREA, SAR3 ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    20. OVERVIEW OF SAR-3 COMPLEX, SHOWING FORMER RESIDENTIAL AREA, SAR-3 SWITCH RACK, MAINTENANCE YARD, AND GREENSPOT BRIDGE. NOTE ALSO LARGE PIPE CONDUCTING TAILRACE WATER INTO IRRIGATION SYSTEM. VIEW TO SOUTHWEST. - Santa Ana River Hydroelectric System, Redlands, San Bernardino County, CA

  16. Software Development for Estimating the Conversion Factor (K-Factor) at Suitable Scan Areas, Relating the Dose Length Product to the Effective Dose.

    PubMed

    Kobayashi, Masanao; Asada, Yasuki; Matsubara, Kosuke; Suzuki, Syouichi; Koshida, Kichiro; Matsunaga, Yuta; Kawaguchi, Ai; Haba, Tomonobu; Toyama, Hiroshi; Kato, Ryouichi

    2017-05-01

    We developed a k-factor-creator software (kFC) that provides the k-factor for CT examination in an arbitrary scan area. It provides the k-factor from the effective dose and dose-length product by Imaging Performance Assessment of CT scanners and CT-EXPO. To assess the reliability, we compared the kFC-evaluated k-factors with those of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) publication 102. To confirm the utility, the effective dose determined by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) was evaluated by a phantom study and k-factor studies. In the CCTA, the effective doses were 5.28 mSv in the phantom study, 2.57 mSv (51%) in the k-factor of ICRP, and 5.26 mSv (1%) in the k-factor of the kFC. Effective doses can be determined from the kFC-evaluated k-factors in suitable scan areas. Therefore, we speculate that the flexible k-factor is useful in clinical practice, because CT examinations are performed in various scan regions. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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

    PubMed

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

    2003-02-10

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

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2018-02-01

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

  19. Gill area, permeability and Na+ ,K+ -ATPase activity as a function of size and salinity in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus.

    PubMed

    Li, Tiandao; Roer, Robert; Vana, Matthew; Pate, Susan; Check, Jennifer

    2006-03-01

    Juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, extensively utilize oligohaline and freshwater regions of the estuary. With a presumptively larger surface-area-to-body weight ratio, juvenile crabs could experience osmo- and ionoregulatory costs well in excess of that of adults. To test this hypothesis, crabs ranging over three orders of magnitude in body weight were acclimated to either sea water (1,000 mOsm) or dilute sea water (150 mOsm), and gill surface area, water and sodium permeabilities (calculated from the passive efflux of 3H2O and 22Na+), gill Na+, K+ -ATPase activity and expression were measured. Juveniles had a relatively larger gill surface area; weight-specific gill surface area decreased with body weight. Weight-specific water and sodium fluxes also decreased with weight, but not to the same extent as gill surface area; thus juveniles were able to decrease gill permeability slightly more than adults upon acclimation to dilute media. Crabs < 5 g in body weight had markedly higher activities of gill Na+ ,K+ -ATPase than crabs > 5 g in both posterior and anterior gills. Acclimation to dilute medium induced increased expression of Na+, K+ -ATPase and enzyme activity, but the increase was not as great in juveniles as in larger crabs. The increased weight-specific surface area for water gain and salt loss for small crabs in dilute media presents a challenge that is incompletely compensated by reduced permeability and increased affinity of gill Na+, K+ -ATPase for Na+. Juveniles maintain osmotic and ionic homeostasis by the expression and utilization of extremely high levels of gill Na+, K+ -ATPase, in posterior, as well as in anterior, gills. Copyright 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  20. Vitamin K

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

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

  1. Integration of the White Sands Complex into a Wide Area Network

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Boucher, Phillip Larry; Horan, Sheila, B.

    1996-01-01

    The NASA White Sands Complex (WSC) satellite communications facility consists of two main ground stations, an auxiliary ground station, a technical support facility, and a power plant building located on White Sands Missile Range. When constructed, terrestrial communication access to these facilities was limited to copper telephone circuits. There was no local or wide area communications network capability. This project incorporated a baseband local area network (LAN) topology at WSC and connected it to NASA's wide area network using the Program Support Communications Network-Internet (PSCN-I). A campus-style LAN is configured in conformance with the International Standards Organization (ISO) Open Systems Interconnect (ISO) model. Ethernet provides the physical and data link layers. Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) are used for the network and transport layers. The session, presentation, and application layers employ commercial software packages. Copper-based Ethernet collision domains are constructed in each of the primary facilities and these are interconnected by routers over optical fiber links. The network and each of its collision domains are shown to meet IEEE technical configuration guidelines. The optical fiber links are analyzed for the optical power budget and bandwidth allocation and are found to provide sufficient margin for this application. Personal computers and work stations attached to the LAN communicate with and apply a wide variety of local and remote administrative software tools. The Internet connection provides wide area network (WAN) electronic access to other NASA centers and the world wide web (WWW). The WSC network reduces and simplifies the administrative workload while providing enhanced and advanced inter-communications capabilities among White Sands Complex departments and with other NASA centers.

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

    PubMed Central

    Tran, Hoanh; Polakis, Paul

    2012-01-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2015-06-01

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

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2016-10-01

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

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

    PubMed

    Li, Shan; Dong, Xia; Su, Zhengchang

    2013-07-30

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

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

    PubMed

    Meihaus, Katie R; Long, Jeffrey R

    2013-11-27

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

  7. Design of a Low-Power, Small-Area AEC-Q100-Compliant SENT Transmitter in Signal Conditioning IC for Automotive Pressure and Temperature Complex Sensors in 180 Nm CMOS Technology.

    PubMed

    Ali, Imran; Rikhan, Behnam Samadpoor; Kim, Dong-Gyu; Lee, Dong-Soo; Rehman, Muhammad Riaz Ur; Abbasizadeh, Hamed; Asif, Muhammad; Lee, Minjae; Hwang, Keum Cheol; Yang, Youngoo; Lee, Kang-Yoon

    2018-05-14

    In this paper, a low-power and small-area Single Edge Nibble Transmission (SENT) transmitter design is proposed for automotive pressure and temperature complex sensor applications. To reduce the cost and size of the hardware, the pressure and temperature information is processed with a single integrated circuit (IC) and transmitted at the same time to the electronic control unit (ECU) through SENT. Due to its digital nature, it is immune to noise, has reduced sensitivity to electromagnetic interference (EMI), and generates low EMI. It requires only one PAD for its connectivity with ECU, and thus reduces the pin requirements, simplifies the connectivity, and minimizes the printed circuit board (PCB) complexity. The design is fully synthesizable, and independent of technology. The finite state machine-based approach is employed for area efficient implementation, and to translate the proposed architecture into hardware. The IC is fabricated in 1P6M 180 nm CMOS process with an area of (116 μm × 116 μm) and 4.314 K gates. The current consumption is 50 μA from a 1.8 V supply with a total 90 μW power. For compliance with AEC-Q100 for automotive reliability, a reverse and over voltage protection circuit is also implemented with human body model (HBM) electro-static discharge (ESD) of +6 kV, reverse voltage of -16 V to 0 V, over voltage of 8.2 V to 16 V, and fabricated area of 330 μm × 680 μm. The extensive testing, measurement, and simulation results prove that the design is fully compliant with SAE J2716 standard.

  8. Design of a Low-Power, Small-Area AEC-Q100-Compliant SENT Transmitter in Signal Conditioning IC for Automotive Pressure and Temperature Complex Sensors in 180 Nm CMOS Technology

    PubMed Central

    Rikhan, Behnam Samadpoor; Kim, Dong-Gyu; Lee, Dong-Soo; Rehman, Muhammad Riaz Ur; Abbasizadeh, Hamed; Asif, Muhammad; Lee, Minjae; Yang, Youngoo; Lee, Kang-Yoon

    2018-01-01

    In this paper, a low-power and small-area Single Edge Nibble Transmission (SENT) transmitter design is proposed for automotive pressure and temperature complex sensor applications. To reduce the cost and size of the hardware, the pressure and temperature information is processed with a single integrated circuit (IC) and transmitted at the same time to the electronic control unit (ECU) through SENT. Due to its digital nature, it is immune to noise, has reduced sensitivity to electromagnetic interference (EMI), and generates low EMI. It requires only one PAD for its connectivity with ECU, and thus reduces the pin requirements, simplifies the connectivity, and minimizes the printed circuit board (PCB) complexity. The design is fully synthesizable, and independent of technology. The finite state machine-based approach is employed for area efficient implementation, and to translate the proposed architecture into hardware. The IC is fabricated in 1P6M 180 nm CMOS process with an area of (116 μm × 116 μm) and 4.314 K gates. The current consumption is 50 μA from a 1.8 V supply with a total 90 μW power. For compliance with AEC-Q100 for automotive reliability, a reverse and over voltage protection circuit is also implemented with human body model (HBM) electro-static discharge (ESD) of +6 kV, reverse voltage of −16 V to 0 V, over voltage of 8.2 V to 16 V, and fabricated area of 330 μm × 680 μm. The extensive testing, measurement, and simulation results prove that the design is fully compliant with SAE J2716 standard. PMID:29757996

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2003-07-01

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

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

    PubMed

    Jerng, Henry H; Pfaffinger, Paul J

    2012-01-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2017-01-01

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

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

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

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

    2016-02-07

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2017-05-19

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

  14. The Complex Structure of Receptive Fields in the Middle Temporal Area

    PubMed Central

    Richert, Micah; Albright, Thomas D.; Krekelberg, Bart

    2012-01-01

    Neurons in the middle temporal area (MT) are often viewed as motion detectors that prefer a single direction of motion in a single region of space. This assumption plays an important role in our understanding of visual processing, and models of motion processing in particular. We used extracellular recordings in area MT of awake, behaving monkeys (M. mulatta) to test this assumption with a novel reverse correlation approach. Nearly half of the MT neurons in our sample deviated significantly from the classical view. First, in many cells, direction preference changed with the location of the stimulus within the receptive field. Second, the spatial response profile often had multiple peaks with apparent gaps in between. This shows that visual motion analysis in MT has access to motion detectors that are more complex than commonly thought. This complexity could be a mere byproduct of imperfect development, but can also be understood as the natural consequence of the non-linear, recurrent interactions among laterally connected MT neurons. An important direction for future research is to investigate whether these in homogeneities are advantageous, how they can be incorporated into models of motion detection, and whether they can provide quantitative insight into the underlying effective connectivity. PMID:23508640

  15. Luminosity and surface brightness distribution of K-band galaxies from the UKIDSS Large Area Survey

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smith, Anthony J.; Loveday, Jon; Cross, Nicholas J. G.

    2009-08-01

    We present luminosity and surface-brightness distributions of 40111 galaxies with K-band photometry from the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS), Data Release 3 and optical photometry from Data Release 5 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Various features and limitations of the new UKIDSS data are examined, such as a problem affecting Petrosian magnitudes of extended sources. Selection limits in K- and r-band magnitude, K-band surface brightness and K-band radius are included explicitly in the 1/Vmax estimate of the space density and luminosity function. The bivariate brightness distribution in K-band absolute magnitude and surface brightness is presented and found to display a clear luminosity-surface brightness correlation that flattens at high luminosity and broadens at low luminosity, consistent with similar analyses at optical wavelengths. Best-fitting Schechter function parameters for the K-band luminosity function are found to be M* - 5 logh = -23.19 +/- 0.04,α = -0.81 +/- 0.04 and φ* = (0.0166 +/- 0.0008)h3Mpc-3, although the Schechter function provides a poor fit to the data at high and low luminosity, while the luminosity density in the K band is found to be j = (6.305 +/- 0.067) × 108LsolarhMpc-3. However, we caution that there are various known sources of incompleteness and uncertainty in our results. Using mass-to-light ratios determined from the optical colours, we estimate the stellar mass function, finding good agreement with previous results. Possible improvements are discussed that could be implemented when extending this analysis to the full LAS.

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

    PubMed

    Chen, Kuan-Yu; Li, Hsou-min

    2007-01-01

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

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

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Kuan-Yu; Li, Hsou-min

    2007-01-01

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

  18. A survey of the wetlands and floodplains of the borrow area and wetland/shorebird complex for the remedial action at the chemical plant area of the Weldon Spring Site

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

    Van Lonkhuyzen, R.; Yin, S.; Hlohowskyj, I.

    1995-02-01

    The US Department of Energy is conducting cleanup operations at the Weldon Spring site, St. Charles, Missouri, that will include development of a 77-ha (191-acre) soil borrow area. Eight wetlands, including riverine and palustrine emergent wetland types and totaling 0.9 ha (2.2 acres), will be eliminated during excavation of the borrow area. A 23-ha (57-acre) wetland/shorebird complex will be created at the Busch Conservation Area. The complex will include 2 ha (5 acres) of palustrine emergent wetland as mitigation for wetland losses in the borrow area.

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

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

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

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

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

    Sugimasa, Hironobu; Taniue, Kenzui; Kurimoto, Akiko

    2015-03-27

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

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2014-01-01

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

  2. The coordination chemistry of group 15 element ligand complexes--a developing area.

    PubMed

    Scheer, Manfred

    2008-09-07

    A survey of the contemporary challenges of the field of unsubstituted group 15 element ligand complexes (excluding N) is given. The focus of the article is on the coordination chemistry behaviour of such E(n) ligand complexes. This field is subdivided into two areas of reactivity: E(n) ligand complexes with (i) noncoordinated Lewis-acidic cations and (ii) Lewis-acidic coordination compounds containing at least one permanently coordinating ligand. In the latter case, insoluble 1D and 2D polymers respectively are obtained; however, under special conditions soluble, spherical, fullerene-like giant molecules are formed. These nano-sized molecules are up to 2.4 nm in diameter and are able to encapsulate small molecules in their holes. In contrast, the first-mentioned field uses weakly coordinating anions to obtain readily soluble di- and polycationic products. These show depolymerisation tendencies in solution under the formation of oligomer-monomer equilibria and thus reveal dynamic supramolecular aggregation processes.

  3. Association of Plages with Sunspots: A Multi-Wavelength Study Using Kodaikanal Ca ii K and Greenwich Sunspot Area Data

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

    Mandal, Sudip; Chatterjee, Subhamoy; Banerjee, Dipankar, E-mail: sudip@iiap.res.in

    Plages are the magnetically active chromospheric structures prominently visible in the Ca ii K line (3933.67 Å). A plage may or may not be associated with a sunspot, which is a magnetic structure visible in the solar photosphere. In this study we explore this aspect of association of plages with sunspots using the newly digitized Kodaikanal Ca ii K plage data and the Greenwich sunspot area data. Instead of using the plage index or fractional plage area and its comparison with the sunspot number, we use, to our knowledge for the first time, the individual plage areas and compare themmore » with the sunspot area time series. Our analysis shows that these two structures, formed in two different layers, are highly correlated with each other on a timescale comparable to the solar cycle. The area and the latitudinal distributions of plages are also similar to those of sunspots. Different area thresholdings on the “butterfly diagram” reveal that plages of area ≥4 arcmin{sup 2} are mostly associated with a sunspot in the photosphere. Apart from this, we found that the cyclic properties change when plages of different sizes are considered separately. These results may help us to better understand the generation and evolution of the magnetic structures in different layers of the solar atmosphere.« less

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2015-01-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2018-06-01

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

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2017-01-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2017-09-15

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2017-07-14

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

  9. A GIS-based atmospheric dispersion model for pollutants emitted by complex source areas.

    PubMed

    Teggi, Sergio; Costanzini, Sofia; Ghermandi, Grazia; Malagoli, Carlotta; Vinceti, Marco

    2018-01-01

    Gaussian dispersion models are widely used to simulate the concentrations and deposition fluxes of pollutants emitted by source areas. Very often, the calculation time limits the number of sources and receptors and the geometry of the sources must be simple and without holes. This paper presents CAREA, a new GIS-based Gaussian model for complex source areas. CAREA was coded in the Python language, and is largely based on a simplified formulation of the very popular and recognized AERMOD model. The model allows users to define in a GIS environment thousands of gridded or scattered receptors and thousands of complex sources with hundreds of vertices and holes. CAREA computes ground level, or near ground level, concentrations and dry deposition fluxes of pollutants. The input/output and the runs of the model can be completely managed in GIS environment (e.g. inside a GIS project). The paper presents the CAREA formulation and its applications to very complex test cases. The tests shows that the processing time are satisfactory and that the definition of sources and receptors and the output retrieval are quite easy in a GIS environment. CAREA and AERMOD are compared using simple and reproducible test cases. The comparison shows that CAREA satisfactorily reproduces AERMOD simulations and is considerably faster than AERMOD. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2009-01-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2015-12-28

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2006-02-01

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

  13. Determining the K coefficient to leaf area index estimations in a tropical dry forest

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Magalhães, Sarah Freitas; Calvo-Rodriguez, Sofia; do Espírito Santo, Mário Marcos; Sánchez Azofeifa, Gerardo Arturo

    2018-03-01

    Vegetation indices are useful tools to remotely estimate several important parameters related to ecosystem functioning. However, improving and validating estimations for a wide range of vegetation types are necessary. In this study, we provide a methodology for the estimation of the leaf area index (LAI) in a tropical dry forest (TDF) using the light diffusion through the canopy as a function of the successional stage. For this purpose, we estimated the K coefficient, a parameter that relates the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to LAI, based on photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and solar radiation. The study was conducted in the Mata Seca State Park, in southeastern Brazil, from 2012 to 2013. We defined four successional stages (very early, early, intermediate, and late) and established one optical phenology tower at one plot of 20 × 20 m per stage. Towers measured the incoming and reflected solar radiation and PAR for NDVI calculation. For each plot, we established 24 points for LAI sampling through hemispherical photographs. Because leaf cover is highly seasonal in TDFs, we determined ΔK (leaf growth phase) and K max (leaf maturity phase). We detected a strong correlation between NDVI and LAI, which is necessary for a reliable determination of the K coefficient. Both NDVI and LAI varied significantly between successional stages, indicating sensitivity to structural changes in forest regeneration. Furthermore, the K values differed between successional stages and correlated significantly with other environmental variables such as air temperature and humidity, fraction of absorbed PAR, and soil moisture. Thus, we established a model based on spectral properties of the vegetation coupled with biophysical characteristics in a TDF that makes possible to estimate LAI from NDVI values. The application of the K coefficient can improve remote estimations of forest primary productivity and gases and energy exchanges between vegetation and atmosphere

  14. FY2017 status report: Model 9975 O-ring fixture long-term leak performance

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

    Daugherty, W. L.

    A series of experiments to monitor the aging performance of Viton® GLT and GLT-S O-rings used in the Model 9975 shipping package has been ongoing since 2004 at the Savannah River National Laboratory. One approach has been to periodically evaluate the leak performance of O-rings being aged in mock-up 9975 Primary Containment Vessels (PCVs) at elevated temperature. Other methods such as compression-stress relaxation (CSR) tests and field surveillance are also on-going to evaluate O-ring behavior. Seventy tests using PCV mock-ups with GLT O-rings were assembled and heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 450 ºF. They were leak-tested initially andmore » have been tested periodically to determine if they continue to meet the leak-tightness criterion defined in ANSI standard N14.5-97. Due to material substitution, a smaller test matrix with fourteen additional tests was initiated in 2008 with GLT-S O-rings heated to temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 ºF. Leak test failures have been experienced in all of the GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 350 ºF and higher temperatures, and in 8 fixtures aging at 300 ºF. The 300 °F GLT O-ring fixtures failed after 2.8 to 5.7 years at temperature. The remaining GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 300 ºF were retired from testing following more than 5 years at temperature without failure. No failures have yet been observed in GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 200 ºF for 9 to 10.5 years, or in GLT O-ring fixtures aging at 270 ºF for 5.7 years. These aging temperatures bound O-ring temperatures anticipated during normal storage in K-Area Complex (KAC). Leak test failures have been experienced in all of the GLT-S O-ring fixtures aging at 300 ºF and above. No failures have yet been observed in GLT-S O-ring fixtures aging at 200 and 250 ºF for 6.9 to 7.5 years. Data from the O-ring fixtures are generally consistent with results from compression stress relaxation testing, and provide confidence in the predictive models based on those

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2004-10-01

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

  16. Roadmap for K-12 and Postsecondary Linkages: Key Focus Areas to Ensure Quality Implementation. Data for Action

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Data Quality Campaign, 2014

    2014-01-01

    States rely on data from both the K-12 and postsecondary sectors to inform policy discussions; chart the progress of students, schools, districts, colleges, and the state; pinpoint best practices and areas of need; allocate scarce resources; and make other important education decisions every day. However, states need to securely link limited, but…

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

    PubMed

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

    2007-04-01

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

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

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2017-05-01

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

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

    PubMed Central

    Getty, Kendra; Delgado-Jaime, Mario Ulises

    2010-01-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2015-12-01

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

  1. Measurement of Tritium in Gas Phase Soil Moisture and Helium-3 in Soil Gas at the Hanford Townsite and 100 K Area

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

    KB Olsen; GW Patton; R Poreda

    2000-07-05

    In 1999, soil gas samples for helium-3 measurements were collected at two locations on the Hanford Site. Eight soil gas sampling points ranging in depth from 1.5 to 9.8 m (4.9 to 32 ft) below ground surface (bgs) in two clusters were installed adjacent to well 699-41-1, south of the Hanford Townsite. Fifteen soil gas sampling points, ranging in depth from 2.1 to 3.2 m (7 to 10.4 ft) bgs, were installed to the north and east of the 100 KE Reactor. Gas phase soil moisture samples were collected using silica gel traps from all eight sampling locations adjacent tomore » well 699-41-1 and eight locations at the 100 K Area. No detectable tritium (<240 pCi/L) was found in the soil moisture samples from either the Hanford Townsite or 100 K Area sampling points. This suggests that tritiated moisture from groundwater is not migrating upward to the sampling points and there are no large vadose zone sources of tritium at either location. Helium-3 analyses of the soil gas samples showed significant enrichments relative to ambient air helium-3 concentrations with a depth dependence consistent with a groundwater source from decay of tritium. Helium-3/helium-4 ratios (normalized to the abundances in ambient air) at the Hanford Townsite ranged from 1.012 at 1.5 m (5 ft) bgs to 2.157 at 9.8 m (32 ft) bgs. Helium-3/helium-4 ratios at the 100 K Area ranged from 0.972 to 1.131. Based on results from the 100 K Area, the authors believe that a major tritium plume does not lie within that study area. The data also suggest there may be a tritium groundwater plume or a source of helium-3 to the southeast of the study area. They recommend that the study be continued by placing additional soil gas sampling points along the perimeter road to the west and to the south of the initial study area.« less

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2011-01-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2018-06-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2016-06-01

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

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2014-01-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2014-01-01

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

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

    PubMed

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

    2016-01-01

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

  8. Predators and Prey: Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. An Environmental Education Learning Experience Designed for Grades K-3.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Boswell, Henry, III; Stamm, Daniel K.

    This document provides hands-on environmental education activities for the classroom and the outdoor setting of Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. The activity packet, designed for grades K-3, meets curriculum objectives of the standard course of study established by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. It includes on-site…

  9. Tectonic control of complex slope failures in the Ameka River Valley (Lower Gibe Area, central Ethiopia): Implications for landslide formation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kycl, Petr; Rapprich, Vladislav; Verner, Kryštof; Novotný, Jan; Hroch, Tomáš; Mišurec, Jan; Eshetu, Habtamu; Tadesse Haile, Ezra; Alemayehu, Leta; Goslar, Tomasz

    2017-07-01

    Even though major faults represent important landslide controlling factors, the role the tectonic setting in actively spreading rifts plays in the development of large complex landslides is seldom discussed. The Ameka complex landslide area is located on the eastern scarp of the Gibe Gorge, approximately 45 km to the west of the Main Ethiopian Rift and 175 km to the southwest of Addis Ababa. Investigation of the complex landslide failures required a combination of satellite and airborne data-based geomorphology, geological field survey complemented with structural analysis, radiocarbon geochronology and vertical electric sounding. The obtained observations confirmed the multiphase evolution of the landslide area. We have documented that, apart from climatic and lithological conditions, the main triggering factor of the Ameka complex landslide is the tectonic development of this area. The E-W extension along the NNE-SSW trending Main Ethiopian Rift is associated with the formation of numerous parallel normal faults, such as the Gibe Gorge fault and the almost perpendicular scissor faults. The geometry of the slid blocks of coherent lithology have inherited the original tectonic framework, which suggests the crucial role tectonics play in the fragmentation of the compact rock-masses, and the origin and development of the Ameka complex landslide area. Similarly, the main scarps were also parallel to the principal tectonic features. The local tectonic framework is dominated by faults of the same orientation as the regional structures of the Main Ethiopian Rift. Such parallel tectonic frameworks display clear links between the extension of the Main Ethiopian Rift and the tectonic development of the landslide area. The Ameka complex landslide developed in several episodes over thousands of years. According to the radiocarbon data, the last of the larger displaced blocks (representing only 2% of the total area) most likely slid down in the seventh century AD. The main

  10. Robust k-mer frequency estimation using gapped k-mers

    PubMed Central

    Ghandi, Mahmoud; Mohammad-Noori, Morteza

    2013-01-01

    Oligomers of fixed length, k, commonly known as k-mers, are often used as fundamental elements in the description of DNA sequence features of diverse biological function, or as intermediate elements in the constuction of more complex descriptors of sequence features such as position weight matrices. k-mers are very useful as general sequence features because they constitute a complete and unbiased feature set, and do not require parameterization based on incomplete knowledge of biological mechanisms. However, a fundamental limitation in the use of k-mers as sequence features is that as k is increased, larger spatial correlations in DNA sequence elements can be described, but the frequency of observing any specific k-mer becomes very small, and rapidly approaches a sparse matrix of binary counts. Thus any statistical learning approach using k-mers will be susceptible to noisy estimation of k-mer frequencies once k becomes large. Because all molecular DNA interactions have limited spatial extent, gapped k-mers often carry the relevant biological signal. Here we use gapped k-mer counts to more robustly estimate the ungapped k-mer frequencies, by deriving an equation for the minimum norm estimate of k-mer frequencies given an observed set of gapped k-mer frequencies. We demonstrate that this approach provides a more accurate estimate of the k-mer frequencies in real biological sequences using a sample of CTCF binding sites in the human genome. PMID:23861010

  11. Robust k-mer frequency estimation using gapped k-mers.

    PubMed

    Ghandi, Mahmoud; Mohammad-Noori, Morteza; Beer, Michael A

    2014-08-01

    Oligomers of fixed length, k, commonly known as k-mers, are often used as fundamental elements in the description of DNA sequence features of diverse biological function, or as intermediate elements in the constuction of more complex descriptors of sequence features such as position weight matrices. k-mers are very useful as general sequence features because they constitute a complete and unbiased feature set, and do not require parameterization based on incomplete knowledge of biological mechanisms. However, a fundamental limitation in the use of k-mers as sequence features is that as k is increased, larger spatial correlations in DNA sequence elements can be described, but the frequency of observing any specific k-mer becomes very small, and rapidly approaches a sparse matrix of binary counts. Thus any statistical learning approach using k-mers will be susceptible to noisy estimation of k-mer frequencies once k becomes large. Because all molecular DNA interactions have limited spatial extent, gapped k-mers often carry the relevant biological signal. Here we use gapped k-mer counts to more robustly estimate the ungapped k-mer frequencies, by deriving an equation for the minimum norm estimate of k-mer frequencies given an observed set of gapped k-mer frequencies. We demonstrate that this approach provides a more accurate estimate of the k-mer frequencies in real biological sequences using a sample of CTCF binding sites in the human genome.

  12. Multi-kW single fiber laser based on an extra large mode area fiber design

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Langner, Andreas; Such, Mario; Schötz, Gerhard; Just, Florian; Leich, Martin; Schwuchow, Anka; Grimm, Stephan; Zimer, Hagen; Kozak, Marcin; Wedel, Björn; Rehmann, Georg; Bachert, Charley; Krause, Volker

    2012-02-01

    The quality of Yb-doped fused bulk silica produced by sintering of Yb-doped fused silica granulates has improved greatly in the past five years [1 - 4]. In particular, the refractive index and doping level homogeneity of such materials are excellent and we achieved excellent background fiber attenuation of the active core material down to about 20 dB/km at 1200 nm. The improvement of the Yb-doped fused bulk silica has enabled the development of multi-kW fiber laser systems based on a single extra large multimode laser fiber (XLMA fiber). When a single active fiber is used in combination with the XLMA multimode fiber of 1200 μm diameter simple and robust high power fiber laser setups without complex fiber coupling and fiber combiner systems become possible. In this papper, we will discuss in detail the development of the core material based on Yb-doped bulk silica and the characterization of Yb-doped fibers with different core compositions. We will also report on the excellent performance of a 4 kW fiber laser based on a single XLMA-fiber and show the first experimental welding results of steel sheets achieved with such a laser.

  13. Hybrid Radar Emitter Recognition Based on Rough k-Means Classifier and Relevance Vector Machine

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Zhutian; Wu, Zhilu; Yin, Zhendong; Quan, Taifan; Sun, Hongjian

    2013-01-01

    Due to the increasing complexity of electromagnetic signals, there exists a significant challenge for recognizing radar emitter signals. In this paper, a hybrid recognition approach is presented that classifies radar emitter signals by exploiting the different separability of samples. The proposed approach comprises two steps, namely the primary signal recognition and the advanced signal recognition. In the former step, a novel rough k-means classifier, which comprises three regions, i.e., certain area, rough area and uncertain area, is proposed to cluster the samples of radar emitter signals. In the latter step, the samples within the rough boundary are used to train the relevance vector machine (RVM). Then RVM is used to recognize the samples in the uncertain area; therefore, the classification accuracy is improved. Simulation results show that, for recognizing radar emitter signals, the proposed hybrid recognition approach is more accurate, and presents lower computational complexity than traditional approaches. PMID:23344380

  14. Effects of task complexity on activation of language areas in a semantic decision fMRI protocol.

    PubMed

    Lopes, Tátila Martins; Yasuda, Clarissa Lin; de Campos, Brunno Machado; Balthazar, Marcio L F; Binder, Jeffrey R; Cendes, Fernando

    2016-01-29

    Language tasks used for clinical fMRI studies may be too complex for some patients with cognitive impairments, and "easier" versions are sometimes substituted, though the effects on brain activity of such changes in task complexity are largely unknown. To investigate these differences, we compared two versions of an fMRI language comprehension protocol, with different levels of difficulty, in 24 healthy right-handed adults. The protocol contrasted an auditory word comprehension task (semantic decision) with a nonspeech control task using tone sequences (tone decision). In the "complex" version (CV), the semantic decision task required two complex semantic decisions for each word, and the tone decision task required the participant to count the number of target tones in each sequence. In the "easy" version (EV), the semantic task required only a single easier decision, and the tone task required only detection of the presence or absence of a target tone in each sequence. The protocols were adapted for a Brazilian population. Typical left hemisphere language lateralization was observed in 92% of participants for both CV and EV using the whole-brain lateralization index, and typical language lateralization was also observed for others regions of interest. Task performance was superior on the EV compared to the CV (p=0.014). There were many common areas of activation across the two version; however, the CV produced greater activation in the left superior and middle frontal giri, angular gyrus, and left posterior cingulate gyrus compared to the EV, the majority of which are areas previously identified with language and semantic processing. The EV produced stronger activation only in a small area in the posterior middle temporal gyrus. These results reveal differences between two versions of the protocol and provide evidence that both are useful for language lateralization and worked well for Brazilian population. The complex version produces stronger activation in

  15. Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (Vkorc1) haplotype diversity in mouse priority strains

    PubMed Central

    Song, Ying; Vera, Nicole; Kohn, Michael H

    2008-01-01

    Background Polymorphisms in the vitamin K-epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 gene, Vkorc1, could affect blood coagulation and other vitamin K-dependent proteins, such as osteocalcin (bone Gla protein, BGP). Here we sequenced the Vkorc1 gene in 40 mouse priority strains. We analyzed Vkorc1 haplotypes with respect to prothrombin time (PT) and bone mineral density and composition (BMD and BMC); phenotypes expected to be vitamin K-dependent and represented by data in the Mouse Phenome Database (MPD). Findings In the commonly used laboratory strains of Mus musculus domesticus we identified only four haplotypes differing in the intron or 5' region sequence of the Vkorc1. Six haplotypes differing by coding and non-coding polymorphisms were identified in the other subspecies of Mus. We detected no significant association of Vkorc1 haplotypes with PT, BMD and BMC within each subspecies of Mus. Vkorc1 haplotype sequences divergence between subspecies was associated with PT, BMD and BMC. Conclusion Phenotypic variation in PT, BMD and BMC within subspecies of Mus, while substantial, appears to be dominated by genetic variation in genes other than the Vkorc1. This was particularly evident for M. m. domesticus, where a single haplotype was observed in conjunction with virtually the entire range of PT, BMD and BMC values of all 5 subspecies of Mus included in this study. Differences in these phenotypes between subspecies also should not be attributed to Vkorc1 variants, but should be viewed as a result of genome wide genetic divergence. PMID:19046458

  16. New phases of D ge 2 current and diffeomorphism algebras in particle physics

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

    Tze, Chia-Hsiung.

    We survey some global results and open issues of current algebras and their canonical field theoretical realization in D {ge} 2 dimensional spacetime. We assess the status of the representation theory of their generalized Kac-Moody and diffeomorphism algebras. Particular emphasis is put on higher dimensional analogs of fermi-bose correspondence, complex analyticity and the phase entanglements of anyonic solitons with exotic spin and statistics. 101 refs.

  17. Phase-field simulations of GaN growth by selective area epitaxy on complex mask geometries

    DOE PAGES

    Aagesen, Larry K.; Coltrin, Michael Elliott; Han, Jung; ...

    2015-05-15

    Three-dimensional phase-field simulations of GaN growth by selective area epitaxy were performed. Furthermore, this model includes a crystallographic-orientation-dependent deposition rate and arbitrarily complex mask geometries. The orientation-dependent deposition rate can be determined from experimental measurements of the relative growth rates of low-index crystallographic facets. Growth on various complex mask geometries was simulated on both c-plane and a-plane template layers. Agreement was observed between simulations and experiment, including complex phenomena occurring at the intersections between facets. The sources of the discrepancies between simulated and experimental morphologies were also investigated. We found that the model provides a route to optimize masks andmore » processing conditions during materials synthesis for solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and other electronic and opto-electronic applications.« less

  18. Health effects of environmental pollution in population living near industrial complex areas in Korea.

    PubMed

    Eom, Sang-Yong; Choi, Jonghyuk; Bae, Sanghyuk; Lim, Ji-Ae; Kim, Guen-Bae; Yu, Seung-Do; Kim, Yangho; Lim, Hyun-Sul; Son, Bu-Soon; Paek, Domyung; Kim, Yong-Dae; Kim, Heon; Ha, Mina; Kwon, Ho-Jang

    2018-01-01

    Several epidemiological studies have reported an association between environmental pollution and various health conditions in individuals residing in industrial complexes. To evaluate the effects of pollution from industrial complex on human health, we performed a pooled analysis of environmental epidemiologic monitoring data for residents living near national industrial complexes in Korea. The respiratory and allergic symptoms and the prevalence of acute and chronic diseases, including cancer, were used as the outcome variables for health effects. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between exposure to pollution from industrial complexes and health conditions. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, occupational exposure, level of education, and body mass index, the residents near the industrial complexes were found to have more respiratory symptoms, such as cough (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 1.31) and sputum production (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.24), and symptoms of atopic dermatitis (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.20). Among residents of the industrial complexes, the prevalence of acute eye disorders was approximately 40% higher (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.84) and the prevalence of lung and uterine cancer was 3.45 times and 1.88 times higher, respectively, than those among residents of the control area. This study showed that residents living in the vicinity of industrial complexes have a high risk of acute and chronic diseases including respiratory and allergic conditions. These results can be used as basic objective data for developing health management measures for individuals residing near industrial complexes.

  19. The K-π+ S-wave from the D+→K-π+π+ decay

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    FOCUS Collaboration; Link, J. M.; Yager, P. M.; Anjos, J. C.; Bediaga, I.; Castromonte, C.; Machado, A. A.; Magnin, J.; Massafferri, A.; de Miranda, J. M.; Pepe, I. M.; Polycarpo, E.; Dos Reis, A. C.; Carrillo, S.; Cuautle, E.; Sánchez-Hernández, A.; Uribe, C.; Vázquez, F.; Agostino, L.; Cinquini, L.; Cumalat, J. P.; Frisullo, V.; O'Reilly, B.; Segoni, I.; Stenson, K.; Butler, J. N.; Cheung, H. W. K.; Chiodini, G.; Gaines, I.; Garbincius, P. H.; Garren, L. A.; Gottschalk, E.; Kasper, P. H.; Kreymer, A. E.; Kutschke, R.; Wang, M.; Benussi, L.; Bianco, S.; Fabbri, F. L.; Zallo, A.; Casimiro, E.; Reyes, M.; Cawlfield, C.; Kim, D. Y.; Rahimi, A.; Wiss, J.; Gardner, R.; Kryemadhi, A.; Chung, Y. S.; Kang, J. S.; Ko, B. R.; Kwak, J. W.; Lee, K. B.; Cho, K.; Park, H.; Alimonti, G.; Barberis, S.; Boschini, M.; Cerutti, A.; D'Angelo, P.; Dicorato, M.; Dini, P.; Edera, L.; Erba, S.; Inzani, P.; Leveraro, F.; Malvezzi, S.; Menasce, D.; Mezzadri, M.; Moroni, L.; Pedrini, D.; Pontoglio, C.; Prelz, F.; Rovere, M.; Sala, S.; Davenport, T. F.; Arena, V.; Boca, G.; Bonomi, G.; Gianini, G.; Liguori, G.; Pegna, D. Lopes; Merlo, M. M.; Pantea, D.; Ratti, S. P.; Riccardi, C.; Vitulo, P.; Göbel, C.; Otalora, J.; Hernandez, H.; Lopez, A. M.; Mendez, H.; Paris, A.; Quinones, J.; Ramirez, J. E.; Zhang, Y.; Wilson, J. R.; Handler, T.; Mitchell, R.; Engh, D.; Hosack, M.; Johns, W. E.; Luiggi, E.; Moore, J. E.; Nehring, M.; Sheldon, P. D.; Vaandering, E. W.; Webster, M.; Sheaff, M.

    2009-10-01

    Using data from FOCUS (E831) experiment at Fermilab, we present a model independent partial-wave analysis of the K-π+ S-wave amplitude from the decay D+→K-π+π+. The S-wave is a generic complex function to be determined directly from the data fit. The P- and D-waves are parameterized by a sum of Breit-Wigner amplitudes. The measurement of the S-wave amplitude covers the whole elastic range of the K-π+ system.

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

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

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

    2010-09-17

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

  1. Thermostatted kinetic equations as models for complex systems in physics and life sciences.

    PubMed

    Bianca, Carlo

    2012-12-01

    Statistical mechanics is a powerful method for understanding equilibrium thermodynamics. An equivalent theoretical framework for nonequilibrium systems has remained elusive. The thermodynamic forces driving the system away from equilibrium introduce energy that must be dissipated if nonequilibrium steady states are to be obtained. Historically, further terms were introduced, collectively called a thermostat, whose original application was to generate constant-temperature equilibrium ensembles. This review surveys kinetic models coupled with time-reversible deterministic thermostats for the modeling of large systems composed both by inert matter particles and living entities. The introduction of deterministic thermostats allows to model the onset of nonequilibrium stationary states that are typical of most real-world complex systems. The first part of the paper is focused on a general presentation of the main physical and mathematical definitions and tools: nonequilibrium phenomena, Gauss least constraint principle and Gaussian thermostats. The second part provides a review of a variety of thermostatted mathematical models in physics and life sciences, including Kac, Boltzmann, Jager-Segel and the thermostatted (continuous and discrete) kinetic for active particles models. Applications refer to semiconductor devices, nanosciences, biological phenomena, vehicular traffic, social and economics systems, crowds and swarms dynamics. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. No Further Action Decision Under CERCLA Study Area 43K Historic Gas Station Sites Fort Devens, Massachusetts

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1995-01-01

    with the same. AMES C. CHAMBERS Date RAC Environmental Coordinator U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY JAMES P. BYRNE Date Fort Devens l(emedial...STATION SITES FORT DEVENS , MASSACHUSETTS CONTRACT DAAA15-91-D-0008 U.S. ARMY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MARYLAND JANUARY 1995 PRINTED ON...Distribution Unlimited U.S. ArmyEnvironmentalCenter NO FURTHER ACTION DECISION UNDER CERCLA STUDY AREA 43K HISTORIC GAS STATION SITES FORT DEVENS ,9

  3. Report: Federal Facility Cleanups EPA Region 10 Needs to Improve Oversight of Remediation Activities at the Hanford Superfund 100-K Area

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Report #2003-P-00002, November 4, 2002. Although some remediation progress has been made, Region 10 needs to further improve its oversight of Superfund remedial activities pertaining to Hanford’s 100-K Area.

  4. Data Quality Objectives Process for Designation of K Basins Debris

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

    WESTCOTT, J.L.

    2000-05-22

    The U.S. Department of Energy has developed a schedule and approach for the removal of spent fuels, sludge, and debris from the K East (KE) and K West (KW) Basins, located in the 100 Area at the Hanford Site. The project that is the subject of this data quality objective (DQO) process is focused on the removal of debris from the K Basins and onsite disposal of the debris at the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility (ERDF). This material previously has been dispositioned at the Hanford Low-Level Burial Grounds (LLBGs) or Central Waste Complex (CWC). The goal of this DQO processmore » and the resulting Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) is to provide the strategy for characterizing and designating the K-Basin debris to determine if it meets the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC), Revision 3 (BHI 1998). A critical part of the DQO process is to agree on regulatory and WAC interpretation, to support preparation of the DQO workbook and SAP.« less

  5. Generalized Kähler geometry and current algebras in classical N=2 superconformal WZW model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Parkhomenko, S. E.

    2018-04-01

    I examine the Generalized Kähler (GK) geometry of classical N = (2, 2) superconformal WZW model on a compact group and relate the right-moving and left-moving Kac-Moody superalgebra currents to the GK geometry data using biholomorphic gerbe formulation and Hamiltonian formalism. It is shown that the canonical Poisson homogeneous space structure induced by the GK geometry of the group manifold is crucial to provide N = (2, 2) superconformal σ-model with the Kac-Moody superalgebra symmetries. Then, the biholomorphic gerbe geometry is used to prove that Kac-Moody superalgebra currents are globally defined.

  6. Persistent human Borna disease virus infection modifies the acetylome of human oligodendroglia cells towards higher energy and transporter levels

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

    Liu, Xia; Liu, Siwen; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016

    2015-11-15

    Background: Borna disease virus (BDV) is a neurotropic RNA virus persistently infecting mammalian hosts including humans. Lysine acetylation (Kac) is a key protein post-translational modification (PTM). The unexpectedly broad regulatory scope of Kac let us to profile the entire acetylome upon BDV infection. Methods: The acetylome was profiled through stable isotope labeling for cell culture (SILAC)-based quantitative proteomics. The quantifiable proteome was annotated using bioinformatics. Results: We identified and quantified 791 Kac sites in 473 Kac proteins in human BDV Hu-H1-infected and non-infected oligodendroglial (OL) cells. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that BDV infection alters the acetylation of metabolic proteins, membrane-associated proteinsmore » and transmembrane transporter activity, and affects the acetylation of several lysine acetyltransferases (KAT). Conclusions: Upon BDV persistence the OL acetylome is manipulated towards higher energy and transporter levels necessary for shuttling BDV proteins to and from nuclear replication sites. - Highlights: • We used SILAC-based proteomics to analyze the acetylome of BDV infected OL cells. • We quantified 791Kac sites in 473 proteins. • Bioinformatic analysis revealed altered acetylation of metabolic proteins et al. • BDV manipulates the OL acetylome towards higher energy and transporter levels. • BDV infection is associated with enriched phosphate-associated metabolic processes.« less

  7. Photocopy of drawing. VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING MODIFICATIONS, HIGH BAY AREA. ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    Photocopy of drawing. VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING MODIFICATIONS, HIGH BAY AREA. NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida. File Number 79K05424, Seelye Stevenson Value & Knecht, March 1975. TRANSFER AISLE NORTH DOOR, ARCHITECTURAL AND STRUCTURAL ELEVATIONS, SECTIONS AND DETAILS. Sheet 79 of 207 - Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Launch Complex 39, Vehicle Assembly Building, VAB Road, East of Kennedy Parkway North, Cape Canaveral, Brevard County, FL

  8. Photocopy of drawing. VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING MODIFICATIONS, HIGH BAY AREA. ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    Photocopy of drawing. VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING MODIFICATIONS, HIGH BAY AREA. NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida. File Number 79K05424, Seelye Stevenson Value & Knecht, March 1975. TRANSFER AISLE NORTH DOOR,ARCHITECTURAL NORTH ELEVATION AND MISC. DETAILS. Sheet 78 of 207 - Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Launch Complex 39, Vehicle Assembly Building, VAB Road, East of Kennedy Parkway North, Cape Canaveral, Brevard County, FL

  9. Magnesium Contamination in Soil at a Magnesite Mining Area of Jelšava-Lubeník (Slovakia)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fazekašová, D.; Fazekaš, J.; Hronec, O.; Horňak, M.

    2017-10-01

    Magnesium contamination in soil at a magnesite mining area of Jelšava-Lubeník (Slovakia) and their effect to the soil characteristics were determined. Soil samples were collected in the area Jelšava - Lubeník with specific alkaline pollutants, it is one of the most devastated regions of Slovakia and with the alarming degree of environmental damage. Magnesite air pollutants are a mixture of MgO and MgCO3 due to which a soil reaction can move above pH 8. Production of clink accompanies the enormous emissions of dust particles of MgO into the air and the leakage of gaseous compounds, mainly SO2 and NOx. The total content of heavy metals in soils (Pb, Zn, Cr, Mn, Mg) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Soil reaction was determined in solution of 0.01 M CaCl2. The research showed that the investigated sites are mostly strongly alkaline. Based on the obtained results, it can be stated that the contents of Pb, Zn is below the level of toxicity but for Cr, Mn and Mg, it does not apply. Their significant exceedance points contamination in which we can take into account the harmfulness and toxicity.

  10. Resonances in Coupled π K - η K Scattering from Quantum Chromodynamics

    DOE PAGES

    Dudek, Jozef J.; Edwards, Robert G.; Thomas, Christopher E.; ...

    2014-10-01

    Using first-principles calculation within Quantum Chromodynamics, we are able to reproduce the pattern of experimental strange resonances which appear as complex singularities within coupled πK, ηK scattering amplitudes. We make use of numerical computation within the lattice discretized approach to QCD, extracting the energy dependence of scattering amplitudes through their relation- ship to the discrete spectrum of the theory in a finite-volume, which we map out in unprecedented detail.

  11. Inelastic Rescattering in B Decays to π π , π K, and K bar K, and Extraction of γ

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zenczykowski, P.

    2002-07-01

    We discuss all contributions from inelastic SU(3)-symmetric rescattering in B decays into a final pair of pseudoscalar mesons PP = π π , Kbar {K}, π K. FSI-induced modifications of amplitudes obtained from the quark-line approach are described in terms of a few parameters which take care of all possible SU(3)-symmetric forms relevant for final-state interactions. Although in general it appears impossible to uniquely determine FSI effects from the combined set of all π π , K bar {K}, and π K data, drawing some conclusions is feasible. In particular, it is shown that in leading order the amplitudes of strangeness-changing B decays depend on only one additional complex FSI-related parameter apart from those present in the definitions of penguin and tree amplitudes. It is also shown that joint considerations of U-spin-related Δ S=0 and | Δ S|=1 decay amplitudes are modified when non-negligible SU(3)-symmetric FSI are present. In particular, if rescattering in B+ → K+bar {K}0 is substantial, determination of the CP-violating weak angle γ from B+ → π + K0, B0d → π -K+, B0s → π + K-, and their CP counterparts might be susceptible to important FSI-induced corrections.

  12. Microsurgical and Tractographic Anatomy of the Supplementary Motor Area Complex in Humans.

    PubMed

    Bozkurt, Baran; Yagmurlu, Kaan; Middlebrooks, Erik H; Karadag, Ali; Ovalioglu, Talat Cem; Jagadeesan, Bharathi; Sandhu, Gauravjot; Tanriover, Necmettin; Grande, Andrew W

    2016-11-01

    To evaluate the microsurgical anatomy of the fiber tract connections of the supplementary motor area (SMA) and pre-SMA, and examine its potential functional role with reference to clinical trials in the literature. Ten postmortem formalin-fixed human brains (20 sides) and 1 cadaveric head were prepared following Klingler's method. The fiber dissection was performed in a stepwise fashion, from lateral to medial and also from medial to lateral, under an operating microscope, with 3D images captured at each stage. Our findings were supported by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging tractography in 2 healthy subjects. The connections of the SMA complex, composed of the pre-SMA and the SMA proper, are composed of short "U" association fibers and the superior longitudinal fasciculus I, cingulum, claustrocortical fibers, callosal fibers, corticospinal tract, frontal aslant tract, and frontostriatal tract. The claustrocortical fibers may play an important role in the integration of motor, language, and limbic functions of the SMA complex. The frontostriatal tract connects the pre-SMA to the putamen and caudate nucleus, and also forms parts of both the internal capsule and the dorsal external capsule. The SMA complex has numerous connections throughout the cerebrum. An understanding of these connections is important for presurgical planning for lesions in the frontal lobe and helps explain symptoms related to SMA injury. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. The Suzaku Observation of NGC 3516: Complex Absorption and the Broad and Narrow Fe K Lines

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Markowitz, Alex; Reeves, James N.; Miniutti, Giovanni; Serlemitsos, Peter; Kunieda, Hideyo; Taqoob, Tahir; Fabian, Andrew C.; Fukazawa, Yasushi; Mushotzky, Richard; Okajima, Takashi; hide

    2007-01-01

    We present results from a 150 ksec Suzaku observation of the Seyfert 1 NGC 3516 in October 2005. The source was in a relatively highly absorbed state. Our best-fit model is consistent with partial covering by a lowly-ionized absorber with a column density near 5x10(exp 22) cm(exp -2) and with a covering fraction 96-100 percent. Narrow K-shell absorption features due to He- and H-like Fe confirm the presence of a high-ionization absorbing component as well. A broad Fe K(alpha) diskline is required in all fits, even after the complex absorption is taken into account; an additional partial-covering component is an inadequate substitute for the continuum curvature associated with the broad line. The narrow Fe Ka line at 6.4 keV is resolved, yielding a velocity width commensurate with the optical Broad Line Region. The strength of the Compton reflection hump suggests a contribution mainly from the broad Fe line origin. We include in our model soft band emission lines from He- and H-like ions and radiative recombination lines, consistent with photo-ionization, though a small contribution from collisional ionization is possible.

  14. Tectono-metamorphic evolution of high-P/T and low-P/T metamorphic rocks in the Tia Complex, southern New England Fold Belt, eastern Australia: Insights from K-Ar chronology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fukui, Shiro; Tsujimori, Tatsuki; Watanabe, Teruo; Itaya, Tetsumaru

    2012-10-01

    The Tia Complex in the southern New England Fold Belt is a poly-metamorphosed Late Paleozoic accretionary complex. It consists mainly of high-P/low-T type pumpellyite-actinolite facies (rare blueschist facies) schists, phyllite and serpentinite (T = 300 °C and P = 5 kbar), and low-P/high-T type amphibolite facies schist and gneiss (T = 600 °C and P < 5 kbar) associated with granodioritic plutons (Tia granodiorite). White mica and biotite K-Ar ages distinguish Carboniferous subduction zone metamorphism and Permian granitic intrusions, respectively. The systematic K-Ar age mapping along a N-S traverse of the Tia Complex exhibits a gradual change. The white mica ages become younger from the lowest-grade zone (339 Ma) to the highest-grade zone (259 Ma). In contrast, Si content of muscovite changes drastically only in the highest-grade zone. The regional changes of white mica K-Ar ages and chemical compositions of micas indicate argon depletion from precursor high-P/low-T type phengitic white mica during the thermal overprinting and recrystallization by granitoids intrusions. Our new K-Ar ages and available geological data postulate a model of the eastward rollback of a subduction zone in Early Permian. The eastward shift of a subduction zone system and subsequent magmatic activities of high-Mg andesite and adakite might explain formation of S-type granitoids (Hillgrove suite) and coeval low-P/high-T type metamorphism in the Tia Complex.

  15. Matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry in the subunit stoichiometry study of high-mass non-covalent complexes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moniatte, M.; Lesieur, C.; Vecsey-Semjen, B.; Buckley, J. T.; Pattus, F.; van der Goot, F. G.; van Dorsselaer, A.

    1997-12-01

    This study explores the potential of MALDI-TOF MS for the mass measurement of large non-covalent protein complexes. The following non-covalent complexes have been investigated: aerolysin from Aeromonas hydrophila (335 kDa) and [alpha]-haemolysin from Staphylococcus aureus (233 kDa) which are both cytolytic toxins, three enzymes known to be homotetramers in solution: bovine liver catalase (235 kDa), rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase (232 kDa), yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (147 kDa) and finally a lectin, concanavalin A (102 kDa). Three different matrix preparations were systematically tested under various conditions: ferulic acid dissolved in THF, 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone in 20 mM aqueous ammonium citrate and a two-step sample preparation with sinapinic acid. It was possible to find a suitable combination of matrix and preparation type which allowed the molecularity of all complexes tested to be deduced from the MALDI mass spectrum. Trimeric and tetrameric intermediates accumulating during the formation of the active heptameric aerolysin complex were also identified, this allowing a formation mechanism to be proposed. The observation of large specific non-covalent complexes has been found to be dependent on the choice of matrix, the type of sample preparation used, the solvent evaporation speed, the pH of the resulting matrix-sample mixture and the number of shots acquired on a given area. From this set of experiments, some useful guidelines for the observation of large complexes by MALDI could therefore be deduced. Fast evaporation of the solvent is particularly necessary in the case of pH sensitive complexes. An ESMS study on the same non-covalent complexes indicated that, rather surprisingly, reliable results could be obtained by MALDI-TOF MS on several very large complexes (above 200 kDa) for which ESMS yielded no clear spectra.

  16. Groundwater contaminant plume maps and volumes, 100-K and 100-N Areas, Hanford Site, Washington

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Johnson, Kenneth H.

    2016-09-27

    This study provides an independent estimate of the areal and volumetric extent of groundwater contaminant plumes which are affected by waste disposal in the 100-K and 100-N Areas (study area) along the Columbia River Corridor of the Hanford Site. The Hanford Natural Resource Trustee Council requested that the U.S. Geological Survey perform this interpolation to assess the accuracy of delineations previously conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy and its contractors, in order to assure that the Natural Resource Damage Assessment could rely on these analyses. This study is based on previously existing chemical (or radionuclide) sampling and analysis data downloaded from publicly available Hanford Site Internet sources, geostatistically selected and interpreted as representative of current (from 2009 through part of 2012) but average conditions for groundwater contamination in the study area. The study is limited in scope to five contaminants—hexavalent chromium, tritium, nitrate, strontium-90, and carbon-14, all detected at concentrations greater than regulatory limits in the past.All recent analytical concentrations (or activities) for each contaminant, adjusted for radioactive decay, non-detections, and co-located wells, were converted to log-normal distributions and these transformed values were averaged for each well location. The log-normally linearized well averages were spatially interpolated on a 50 × 50-meter (m) grid extending across the combined 100-N and 100-K Areas study area but limited to avoid unrepresentative extrapolation, using the minimum curvature geostatistical interpolation method provided by SURFER®data analysis software. Plume extents were interpreted by interpolating the log-normally transformed data, again using SURFER®, along lines of equal contaminant concentration at an appropriate established regulatory concentration . Total areas for each plume were calculated as an indicator of relative environmental damage. These plume

  17. Regional groundwater flow model for C, K. L. and P reactor areas, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC

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

    Flach, G.P.

    2000-02-11

    A regional groundwater flow model encompassing approximately 100 mi2 surrounding the C, K, L, and P reactor areas has been developed. The reactor flow model is designed to meet the planning objectives outlined in the General Groundwater Strategy for Reactor Area Projects by providing a common framework for analyzing groundwater flow, contaminant migration and remedial alternatives within the Reactor Projects team of the Environmental Restoration Department. The model provides a quantitative understanding of groundwater flow on a regional scale within the near surface aquifers and deeper semi-confined to confined aquifers. The model incorporates historical and current field characterization data upmore » through Spring 1999. Model preprocessing is automated so that future updates and modifications can be performed quickly and efficiently. The CKLP regional reactor model can be used to guide characterization, perform scoping analyses of contaminant transport, and serve as a common base for subsequent finer-scale transport and remedial/feasibility models for each reactor area.« less

  18. The relation between air pollution data and planetary boundary layer quantities in a complex coastal industrial site nearby populated areas.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mammarella, M. C.; Grandoni, G.; Fernando, J.; Cacciani, M.; di Sabatino, S.; Favaron, M.; Fedele, P.

    2010-09-01

    The connection among boundary layer phenomena, atmospheric pollutant dynamics and human health is an established fact, taking many different forms depending on local characteristics, including slope and position of relief and/or coastline, surface roughness, emission patterns. The problem is especially interesting in complex and coastal terrain, where concurrence of slope and sea induced local circulation interact reciprocally, yielding a complex pattern whose interpretation may go beyond pure modeling, and devise specific measurements among which the planetary boundary layer (PBL) height. An occasion for studying this important theme has been offered by Regione Molise and Valle del Biferno Consortium (COSIB), for the specific case of the industrial complex of Valle del Biferno, 3 km inland of Termoli, in Central Italy, on the Adriatic coast. The local government, sensitive to air quality and public health in the industrial area, together with COSIB has co-financed a research project aimed at gaining knowledge about local meteorology, PBL phenomena and atmospheric pollutant dispersion in the area. Expected results include new air quality monitoring and control methodologies in Valle del Biferno for a sustainable development in an environmentally respectful manner, at a site already characterized by a high environmental and landscape value. The research project, developed by ENEA, has began in 2007 and will conclude in December 2010. Project activities involve research group from Europe, the United States of America, and the Russian Federation. Scientific and practical results will be published and presented in occasion of the final workshop to be held on project conclusion. The scientific interest of Valle del Biferno case stems from the specific local characteristics at site. Given the valley orientation respect to mean synoptic circulation, local effects as sea and slope breezes are dominant, and a complex wind regime develops affecting local transport and

  19. Plum Pox Virus 6K1 Protein Is Required for Viral Replication and Targets the Viral Replication Complex at the Early Stage of Infection.

    PubMed

    Cui, Hongguang; Wang, Aiming

    2016-05-15

    The potyviral RNA genome encodes two polyproteins that are proteolytically processed by three viral protease domains into 11 mature proteins. Extensive molecular studies have identified functions for the majority of the viral proteins. For example, 6K2, one of the two smallest potyviral proteins, is an integral membrane protein and induces the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-originated replication vesicles that target the chloroplast for robust viral replication. However, the functional role of 6K1, the other smallest protein, remains uncharacterized. In this study, we developed a series of recombinant full-length viral cDNA clones derived from a Canadian Plum pox virus (PPV) isolate. We found that deletion of any of the short motifs of 6K1 (each of which ranged from 5 to 13 amino acids), most of the 6K1 sequence (but with the conserved sequence of the cleavage sites being retained), or all of the 6K1 sequence in the PPV infectious clone abolished viral replication. The trans expression of 6K1 or the cis expression of a dislocated 6K1 failed to rescue the loss-of-replication phenotype, suggesting the temporal and spatial requirement of 6K1 for viral replication. Disruption of the N- or C-terminal cleavage site of 6K1, which prevented the release of 6K1 from the polyprotein, either partially or completely inhibited viral replication, suggesting the functional importance of the mature 6K1. We further found that green fluorescent protein-tagged 6K1 formed punctate inclusions at the viral early infection stage and colocalized with chloroplast-bound viral replicase elements 6K2 and NIb. Taken together, our results suggest that 6K1 is required for viral replication and is an important viral element of the viral replication complex at the early infection stage. Potyviruses account for more than 30% of known plant viruses and consist of many agriculturally important viruses. The genomes of potyviruses encode two polyproteins that are proteolytically processed into 11 mature

  20. Plum Pox Virus 6K1 Protein Is Required for Viral Replication and Targets the Viral Replication Complex at the Early Stage of Infection

    PubMed Central

    Cui, Hongguang

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT The potyviral RNA genome encodes two polyproteins that are proteolytically processed by three viral protease domains into 11 mature proteins. Extensive molecular studies have identified functions for the majority of the viral proteins. For example, 6K2, one of the two smallest potyviral proteins, is an integral membrane protein and induces the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-originated replication vesicles that target the chloroplast for robust viral replication. However, the functional role of 6K1, the other smallest protein, remains uncharacterized. In this study, we developed a series of recombinant full-length viral cDNA clones derived from a Canadian Plum pox virus (PPV) isolate. We found that deletion of any of the short motifs of 6K1 (each of which ranged from 5 to 13 amino acids), most of the 6K1 sequence (but with the conserved sequence of the cleavage sites being retained), or all of the 6K1 sequence in the PPV infectious clone abolished viral replication. The trans expression of 6K1 or the cis expression of a dislocated 6K1 failed to rescue the loss-of-replication phenotype, suggesting the temporal and spatial requirement of 6K1 for viral replication. Disruption of the N- or C-terminal cleavage site of 6K1, which prevented the release of 6K1 from the polyprotein, either partially or completely inhibited viral replication, suggesting the functional importance of the mature 6K1. We further found that green fluorescent protein-tagged 6K1 formed punctate inclusions at the viral early infection stage and colocalized with chloroplast-bound viral replicase elements 6K2 and NIb. Taken together, our results suggest that 6K1 is required for viral replication and is an important viral element of the viral replication complex at the early infection stage. IMPORTANCE Potyviruses account for more than 30% of known plant viruses and consist of many agriculturally important viruses. The genomes of potyviruses encode two polyproteins that are proteolytically

  1. Equilibrium and kinetic modeling of contaminant immobilization by activated carbon amended to sediments in the field.

    PubMed

    Rakowska, Magdalena I; Kupryianchyk, Darya; Koelmans, Albert A; Grotenhuis, Tim; Rijnaarts, Huub H M

    2014-12-15

    Addition of activated carbons (AC) to polluted sediments and soils is an attractive remediation technique aiming at reducing pore water concentrations of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs). In this study, we present (pseudo-)equilibrium as well as kinetic parameters for sorption of a series of PAHs and PCBs to powdered and granular activated carbons (AC) after three different sediment treatments: sediment mixed with powdered AC (PAC), sediment mixed with granular AC (GAC), and addition of GAC followed by 2 d mixing and subsequent removal ('sediment stripping'). Remediation efficiency was assessed by quantifying fluxes of PAHs towards SPME passive samplers inserted in the sediment top layer, which showed that the efficiency decreased in the order of PAC > GAC stripping > GAC addition. Sorption was very strong to PAC, with Log KAC (L/kg) values up to 10.5. Log KAC values for GAC ranged from 6.3-7.1 and 4.8-6.2 for PAHs and PCBs, respectively. Log KAC values for GAC in the stripped sediment were 7.4-8.6 and 5.8-7.7 for PAH and PCB. Apparent first order adsorption rate constants for GAC (kGAC) in the stripping scenario were calculated with a first-order kinetic model and ranged from 1.6 × 10(-2) (PHE) to 1.7 × 10(-5) d(-1) (InP). Sorption affinity parameters did not change within 9 months post treatment, confirming the longer term effectiveness of AC in field applications for PAC and GAC. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  2. S K-edge XAS and DFT Calculations on Square Planar NiII-thiolate Complexes: Effects of Active and Passive H-bonding

    PubMed Central

    Dey, Abhishek; Green, Kayla N.; Jenkins, Roxanne M.; Jeffrey, Stephen P.; Darensbourg, Marcetta; Hodgson, Keith O.; Hedman, Britt; Solomon, Edward I.

    2008-01-01

    S K-edge XAS for a low-spin NiII-thiolate complex shows a 0.2 eV shift to higher pre-edge energy but no change in Ni-S bond covalency upon H-bonding. This is different from the H-bonding effect we observed in high spin FeIII-thiolate complexes where there is a significant decrease in Fe-S bond covalency but no change in energy due to H-bonding (Dey, A.; Okamura, T.-A.; Ueyama, N.; Hedman, B.; Hodgson, K. O.; Solomon, E. I. J. Am. Chem. Soc.; 2005; 127, 12046-12053.). These differences were analyzed using DFT calculations and the results indicate that two different types of H-bonding interactions are possible in metal-thiolate systems. In the high-spin FeIII-thiolate case, the H-bonding involves a thiolate donor orbital which is also involved in bonding with the metal (active), while in the low-spin NiII-thiolate the orbital involved in H-bonding is non-bonding with respect to the M-S bonding (passive). The contributions of active and passive H-bonds to the reduction potential and Lewis acid properties of a metal center are evaluated. PMID:17949080

  3. Mechanisms of astrocytic K(+) clearance and swelling under high extracellular K(+) concentrations.

    PubMed

    Murakami, Shingo; Kurachi, Yoshihisa

    2016-03-01

    In response to the elevation of extracellular K(+) concentration ([K(+)]out), astrocytes clear excessive K(+) to maintain conditions necessary for neural activity. K(+) clearance in astrocytes occurs via two processes: K(+) uptake and K(+) spatial buffering. High [K(+)]out also induces swelling in astrocytes, leading to edema and cell death in the brain. Despite the importance of astrocytic K(+) clearance and swelling, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report results from a simulation analysis of astrocytic K(+) clearance and swelling. Astrocyte models were constructed by incorporating various mechanisms such as intra/extracellular ion concentrations of Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-), cell volume, and models of Na,K-ATPase, Na-K-Cl cotransporter (NKCC), K-Cl cotransporter, inwardly-rectifying K(+) (KIR) channel, passive Cl(-) current, and aquaporin channel. The simulated response of astrocyte models under the uniform distribution of high [K(+)]out revealed significant contributions of NKCC and Na,K-ATPase to increases of intracellular K(+) and Cl(-) concentrations, and swelling. Moreover, we found that, under the non-uniform distribution of high [K(+)]out, KIR channels localized at synaptic clefts absorbed excess K(+) by depolarizing the equivalent potential of K(+) (E K) above membrane potential, while K(+) released through perivascular KIR channels was enhanced by hyperpolarizing E K and depolarizing membrane potential. Further analysis of simulated drug effects revealed that astrocyte swelling was modulated by blocking each of the ion channels and transporters. Our simulation analysis revealed controversial mechanisms of astrocytic K(+) clearance and swelling resulting from complex interactions among ion channels and transporters.

  4. TASK-2: a K2P K+ channel with complex regulation and diverse physiological functions

    PubMed Central

    Cid, L. Pablo; Roa-Rojas, Hugo A.; Niemeyer, María I.; González, Wendy; Araki, Masatake; Araki, Kimi; Sepúlveda, Francisco V.

    2013-01-01

    TASK-2 (K2P5.1) is a two-pore domain K+ channel belonging to the TALK subgroup of the K2P family of proteins. TASK-2 has been shown to be activated by extra- and intracellular alkalinization. Extra- and intracellular pH-sensors reside at arginine 224 and lysine 245 and might affect separate selectivity filter and inner gates respectively. TASK-2 is modulated by changes in cell volume and a regulation by direct G-protein interaction has also been proposed. Activation by extracellular alkalinization has been associated with a role of TASK-2 in kidney proximal tubule bicarbonate reabsorption, whilst intracellular pH-sensitivity might be the mechanism for its participation in central chemosensitive neurons. In addition to these functions TASK-2 has been proposed to play a part in apoptotic volume decrease in kidney cells and in volume regulation of glial cells and T-lymphocytes. TASK-2 is present in chondrocytes of hyaline cartilage, where it is proposed to play a central role in stabilizing the membrane potential. Additional sites of expression are dorsal root ganglion neurons, endocrine and exocrine pancreas and intestinal smooth muscle cells. TASK-2 has been associated with the regulation of proliferation of breast cancer cells and could become target for breast cancer therapeutics. Further work in native tissues and cells together with genetic modification will no doubt reveal the details of TASK-2 functions that we are only starting to suspect. PMID:23908634

  5. Participation of primary motor cortex area 4a in complex sensory processing: 3.0-T fMRI study.

    PubMed

    Terumitsu, Makoto; Ikeda, Kotaro; Kwee, Ingrid L; Nakada, Tsutomu

    2009-05-06

    The precise movement of human fingers requires continuous and reciprocal interaction between motor and sensory systems. Similar to other primates, there is double representation of the digits and wrists within the human primary motor cortex (M1), which are generally referred to as area 4 anterior (M1-4a) and area 4 posterior (M1-4p). In this high-field (3.0 T) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we hypothesized that M1-4p is more important for initiation of motion, whereas M1-4a is important for execution of a given motion involving more complex sensoriomotor interaction. We investigated M1-4a and M1-4p activation associated with two representative motor tasks, namely, finger tapping (voluntary motion, VM) and passive finger movement accomplished by continuous pressure (passive motor, PM), and two representative sensory stimulations, namely, simple stimulation of flutter vibration (simple sensory, SS), and complex stimulation by a row of pins moving either vertically or horizontally (complex sensory, CS). Both M1-4a and M1-4p were activated in both motor tasks, VM and PM. M1-4p was not activated by either of the two sensory tasks, whereas M1-4a was activated by CS but not by SS. Analysis of the center of gravities (COG) of the activated areas showed that VM and PM moved COG towards M1-4p and 3a. SS moved COG towards somatosensory cortex Brodmann areas 1, 2, and 3b, whereas CS towards M1-4a. The result clearly showed that M1-4a represents the area of secondary motor execution, which actively participates in CS processing.

  6. ORAC-fluorescein assay to determine the oxygen radical absorbance capacity of resveratrol complexed in cyclodextrins.

    PubMed

    Lucas-Abellán, C; Mercader-Ros, M T; Zafrilla, M P; Fortea, M I; Gabaldón, J A; Núñez-Delicado, E

    2008-03-26

    The effect of the complexation of resveratrol with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrins (HP-beta-CDs) on the antioxidant capacity of the polyphenol is studied for the first time by means of the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method, using fluorescein (FL) as the fluorescent probe. The method is validated through its linearity, precision, and accuracy for measuring the ORAC of resveratrol in the absence or presence of cyclodextrins (CDs). The complexation of resveratrol in CDs increased the net area under the FL decay curve (net AUC) of resveratrol up to its saturation level, at which the polyphenol showed almost double the antioxidant activity it shows in the absence of CDs. The complexation constant ( K c) between resveratrol and HP-beta-CDs was calculated by linear regression of the phase solubility diagram ( K c = 18048 M (-1)). The antioxidant activity of resveratrol was dependent on the complexed resveratrol because CDs acts as a controlled dosage reservoir that protects resveratrol against rapid oxidation by free radicals. In this way, its antioxidant activity is prolonged and only reaches its maximum when all the resveratrol is complexed.

  7. Characteristics of coated copper wire specimens using high frequency ultrasonic complex vibration welding equipments.

    PubMed

    Tsujino, J; Ihara, S; Harada, Y; Kasahara, K; Sakamaki, N

    2004-04-01

    Welding characteristic of thin coated copper wires were studied using 40, 60, 100 kHz ultrasonic complex vibration welding equipments with elliptical to circular vibration locus. The complex vibration systems consisted of a longitudinal-torsional vibration converter and a driving longitudinal vibration system. Polyurethane coated copper wires of 0.036 mm outer diameter and copper plates of 0.3 mm thickness and the other dimension wires were used as welding specimens. The copper wire part is completely welded on the copper substrate and the insulated coating material is driven from welded area to outsides of the wire specimens by high frequency complex vibration.

  8. K-decompositions and 3d gauge theories

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dimofte, Tudor; Gabella, Maxime; Goncharov, Alexander B.

    2016-11-01

    This paper combines several new constructions in mathematics and physics. Mathematically, we study framed flat PGL( K, ℂ)-connections on a large class of 3-manifolds M with boundary. We introduce a moduli space ℒ K ( M) of framed flat connections on the boundary ∂ M that extend to M. Our goal is to understand an open part of ℒ K ( M) as a Lagrangian subvariety in the symplectic moduli space {{X}}_K^{un}(partial M) of framed flat connections on the boundary — and more so, as a "K2-Lagrangian," meaning that the K2-avatar of the symplectic form restricts to zero. We construct an open part of ℒ K ( M) from elementary data associated with the hypersimplicial K-decomposition of an ideal triangulation of M, in a way that generalizes (and combines) both Thurston's gluing equations in 3d hyperbolic geometry and the cluster coordinates for framed flat PGL( K, ℂ)-connections on surfaces. By using a canonical map from the complex of configurations of decorated flags to the Bloch complex, we prove that any generic component of ℒ K ( M) is K2-isotropic as long as ∂ M satisfies certain topological constraints (theorem 4.2). In some cases this easily implies that ℒ K ( M) is K2-Lagrangian. For general M, we extend a classic result of Neumann and Zagier on symplectic properties of PGL(2) gluing equations to reduce the K2-Lagrangian property to a combinatorial statement.

  9. Using MEG to Understand the Progression of Light Sleep and the Emergence and Functional Roles of Spindles and K-Complexes

    PubMed Central

    Ioannides, Andreas A.; Liu, Lichan; Poghosyan, Vahe; Kostopoulos, George K.

    2017-01-01

    We used tomographic analysis of MEG signals to characterize regional spectral changes in the brain at sleep onset and during light sleep. We identified two key processes that may causally link to loss of consciousness during the quiet or “core” periods of NREM1. First, active inhibition in the frontal lobe leads to delta and theta spectral power increases. Second, activation suppression leads to sharp drop of spectral power in alpha and higher frequencies in posterior parietal cortex. During NREM2 core periods, the changes identified in NREM1 become more widespread, but focal increases also emerge in alpha and low sigma band power in frontal midline cortical structures, suggesting reemergence of some monitoring of internal and external environment. Just before spindles and K-complexes (KCs), the hallmarks of NREM2, we identified focal spectral power changes in pre-frontal cortex, mid cingulate, and areas involved in environmental and internal monitoring, i.e., the rostral and sub-genual anterior cingulate. During both spindles and KCs, alpha and low sigma bands increases. Spindles emerge after further active inhibition (increase in delta power) of the frontal areas responsible for environmental monitoring, while in posterior parietal cortex, power increases in low and high sigma bands. KCs are correlated with increase in alpha power in the monitoring areas. These specific regional changes suggest strong and varied vigilance changes for KCs, but vigilance suppression and sharpening of cognitive processing for spindles. This is consistent with processes designed to ensure accurate and uncorrupted memory consolidation. The changes during KCs suggest a sentinel role: evaluation of the salience of provoking events to decide whether to increase processing and possibly wake up, or to actively inhibit further processing of intruding influences. The regional spectral patterns of NREM1, NREM2, and their dynamic changes just before spindles and KCs reveal an edge effect

  10. Molecular assessment of artemisinin resistance markers, polymorphisms in the k13 propeller, and a multidrug-resistance gene in the eastern and western border areas of Myanmar.

    PubMed

    Nyunt, Myat Htut; Hlaing, Thaung; Oo, Htet Wai; Tin-Oo, Lu-Lu Kyaw; Phway, Hnin Phyu; Wang, Bo; Zaw, Ni Ni; Han, Soe Soe; Tun, Thurein; San, Kyaw Kyaw; Kyaw, Myat Phone; Han, Eun-Taek

    2015-04-15

    As K13 propeller mutations have been recently reported to serve as molecular markers, assessment of K13 propeller polymorphisms in multidrug-resistant gene in isolates from Myanmar, especially the eastern and western border areas, is crucial if we are to understand the spread of artemisinin resistance. A 3-day surveillance study was conducted in the eastern and western border areas in Myanmar, and K13 propeller and Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (pfmrp1) mutations were analyzed. Among the 1761 suspected malaria cases screened, a total of 42 uncomplicated falciparum cases from the eastern border and 49 from the western border were subjected to 3 days of surveillance after artemether-lumefantrine treatment. No parasitemic case showing positivity on day 3 was noted from the western border, but 26.2% (11/42) of cases were positive in the eastern border. Although we found no marked difference in the prevalence of the pfmrp1 mutation in the eastern and western borders (36% vs 31%, respectively), K13 mutations were more frequent in the eastern border area (where the 3-day persistent cases were detected; 48% vs 14%). C580Y, M476I, A481V, N458Y, R539T, and R516Y accounted for 68.9% of all K13 mutations significantly associated with day 3 parasitaemia. The K13 mutations were significantly associated with day 3 parasitaemia, emphasizing the importance of K13 surveillance. The low prevalence of K13 mutations and the absence of day 3 parasitaemic cases indicate that artemisinin resistance may not have spread to the western Myanmar border region. Although analysis of multiple K13 mutations is challenging, it should be done at various sentinel sites in Myanmar. © The Author 2014. 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.

  11. Dust transportation in bounday layers on complex areas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Karelsky, Kirill; Petrosyan, Arakel

    2017-04-01

    This presentation is aimed at creating and realization of new physical model of impurity transfer (solid particles and heavy gases) in areas with non-flat and/or nonstationary boundaries. The main idea of suggested method is to use non-viscous equations for solid particles transport modeling in the vicinity of complex boundary. In viscous atmosphere with as small as one likes coefficient of molecular viscosity, the non-slip boundary condition on solid surface must be observed. This postulates the reduction of velocity to zero at a solid surface. It is unconditionally in this case Prandtle hypothesis must be observed: for rather wide range of conditions in the surface neighboring layers energy dissipation of atmosphere flows is comparable by magnitude with manifestation of inertia forces. That is why according to Prandtle hypothesis in atmosphere movement characterizing by a high Reynolds number the boundary layer is forming near a planet surface, within which the required transition from zero velocities at the surface to magnitudes at the external boundary of the layer that are quite close to ones in ideal atmosphere flow. In that layer fast velocity gradients cause viscous effects to be comparable in magnitude with inertia forces influence. For conditions considered essential changes of hydrodynamic fields near solid boundary caused not only by nonslip condition but also by a various relief of surface: mountains, street canyons, individual buildings. Transport of solid particles, their ascent and precipitation also result in dramatic changes of meteorological fields. As dynamic processes of solid particles transfer accompanying the flow past of complex relief surface by wind flows is of our main interest we are to use equations of non-viscous hydrodynamic. We should put up with on the one hand idea of high wind gradients in the boundary layer and on the other hand disregard of molecular viscosity in two-phase atmosphere equations. We deal with describing high

  12. SON and its alternatively spliced isoforms control MLL complex-mediated H3K4me3 and transcription of leukemia-associated genes

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Jung-Hyun; Baddoo, Melody C.; Park, Eun Young; Stone, Joshua K.; Park, Hyeonsoo; Butler, Thomas W.; Huang, Gang; Yan, Xiaomei; Pauli-Behn, Florencia; Myers, Richard M.; Tan, Ming; Flemington, Erik K.; Lim, Ssang-Taek; Erin Ahn, Eun-Young

    2016-01-01

    SUMMARY Dysregulation of MLL complex-mediated histone methylation plays a pivotal role in gene expression associated with diseases, but little is known about cellular factors modulating MLL complex activity. Here, we report that SON, previously known as an RNA splicing factor, controls MLL complex-mediated transcriptional initiation. SON binds to DNA near transcription start sites, interacts with menin, and inhibits MLL complex assembly, resulting in decreased H3K4me3 and transcriptional repression. Importantly, alternatively spliced short isoforms of SON are markedly upregulated in acute myeloid leukemia. The short isoforms compete with full-length SON for chromatin occupancy, but lack the menin-binding ability, thereby antagonizing full-length SON function in transcriptional repression while not impairing full-length SON-mediated RNA splicing. Furthermore, overexpression of a short isoform of SON enhances replating potential of hematopoietic progenitors. Our findings define SON as a fine-tuner of the MLL-menin interaction and reveal short SON overexpression as a marker indicating aberrant transcriptional initiation in leukemia. PMID:26990989

  13. Structure and metamorphism of the Franciscan Complex, Mt. Hamilton area, Northern California

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Blake, M.C.; Wentworth, C.M.

    1999-01-01

    Truncation of metamorphic isograds and fold axes within coherent terranes of Franciscan metagraywacke by intervening zones of melange indicate that the melange is tectonic and formed after the subduction-related metamorphism and folding. These relations are expressed in two terranes of blueschist-facies rocks of the Franciscan Complex in the Mt. Hamilton area, northern California-the Jurassic Yolla Bolly terrane and the structurally underlying Cretaceous Burnt Hills terrane. Local preservation in both terranes of basal radiolarian chert and oceanic basalt beneath continent-derived metagraywacke and argillite demonstrates thrust repetition within the coherent terranes, although these relations are scarce near Mt. Hamilton. The metagraywackes range from albite-pumpellyite blueschists to those containing well-crystallized jadeitic pyroxene, and a jadeite-in isograd can be defined in parts of the area. Primary bedding defines locally coherent structural orientations and folds within the metagraywacke units. These units are crosscut by thin zones of tectonic melange containing blocks of high-grade blueschist, serpentinite, and other exotic rocks, and a broader, but otherwise identical melange zone marks the discordant boundary between the two terranes.

  14. Quick detection of QRS complexes and R-waves using a wavelet transform and K-means clustering.

    PubMed

    Xia, Yong; Han, Junze; Wang, Kuanquan

    2015-01-01

    Based on the idea of telemedicine, 24-hour uninterrupted monitoring on electrocardiograms (ECG) has started to be implemented. To create an intelligent ECG monitoring system, an efficient and quick detection algorithm for the characteristic waveforms is needed. This paper aims to give a quick and effective method for detecting QRS-complexes and R-waves in ECGs. The real ECG signal from the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database is used for the performance evaluation. The method proposed combined a wavelet transform and the K-means clustering algorithm. A wavelet transform is adopted in the data analysis and preprocessing. Then, based on the slope information of the filtered data, a segmented K-means clustering method is adopted to detect the QRS region. Detection of the R-peak is based on comparing the local amplitudes in each QRS region, which is different from other approaches, and the time cost of R-wave detection is reduced. Of the tested 8 records (total 18201 beats) from the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database, an average R-peak detection sensitivity of 99.72 and a positive predictive value of 99.80% are gained; the average time consumed detecting a 30-min original signal is 5.78s, which is competitive with other methods.

  15. 9975 SHIPPING PACKAGE LIFE EXTENSION SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM RESULTS SUMMARY

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

    Dunn, K.; Daugherty, W.; Hackney, B.

    2011-05-27

    Results from the 9975 shipping package Storage and Surveillance Program at the Savannah River Site (SRS) are summarized for justification to extend the life of the 9975 packages currently stored in the K-Area Complex (KAC). This justification is established with the stipulation that surveillance activities will continue throughout the extended time to ensure the continued integrity of the 9975 materials of construction and to further understand the currently identified degradation mechanisms. The 10 year storage life justification was developed prior to storage. A subsequent report was later used to validate the qualification of the 9975 shipping packages for 10 yearsmore » in storage. However the qualification for the storage period was provided by the monitoring requirements of the 9975 Storage and Surveillance Program. This report summarizes efforts to determine a new safe storage limit for the 9975 shipping package based on the surveillance data collected since 2005 when the 9975 Storage and Surveillance Program began. The Program has demonstrated that the 9975 package has a robust design that can perform under a variety of conditions. The primary emphasis of the on-going 9975 Storage and Surveillance Program is an aging study of the 9975 Viton{reg_sign} containment vessel O-rings and the Celotex{reg_sign} fiberboard thermal insulation at bounding conditions of radiation, elevated temperatures and/or elevated humidity.« less

  16. A Low-Complexity Circuit for On-Sensor Concurrent A/D Conversion and Compression

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Leon-Salas, Walter D.; Balkir, Sina; Sayood, Khalid; Schemm, Nathan; Hoffman, Michael W.

    2007-01-01

    A low-complexity circuit for on-sensor compression is presented. The proposed circuit achieves complexity savings by combining a single-slope analog-to-digital converter with a Golomb-Rice entropy encoder and by implementing a low-complexity adaptation rule. The adaptation rule monitors the output codewords and minimizes their length by incrementing or decrementing the value of the Golomb-Rice coding parameter k. Its hardware implementation is one order of magnitude lower than existing adaptive algorithms. The compression circuit has been fabricated using a 0.35 micrometers CMOS technology and occupies an area of 0.0918 mm2. Test measurements confirm the validity of the design

  17. CENP-C/H/I/K/M/T/W/N/L and hMis12 but not CENP-S/X participate in complex formation in the nucleoplasm of living human interphase cells outside centromeres.

    PubMed

    Hoischen, Christian; Yavas, Sibel; Wohland, Thorsten; Diekmann, Stephan

    2018-01-01

    Kinetochore proteins assemble onto centromeric chromatin and regulate DNA segregation during cell division. The inner kinetochore proteins bind centromeres while most outer kinetochore proteins assemble at centromeres during mitosis, connecting the complex to microtubules. Here, we measured the co-migration between protein pairs of the constitutive centromere associated network (CCAN) and hMis12 complexes by fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) in the nucleoplasm outside centromeres in living human interphase cells. FCCS is a method that can tell if in living cells two differently fluorescently labelled molecules migrate independently, or co-migrate and thus are part of one and the same soluble complex. We also determined the apparent dissociation constants (Kd) of the hetero-dimers CENP-T/W and CENP-S/X. We measured co-migration between CENP-K and CENP-T as well as between CENP-M and CENP-T but not between CENP-T/W and CENP-S/X. Furthermore, CENP-C co-migrated with CENP-H, and CENP-K with CENP-N as well as with CENP-L. Thus, in the nucleoplasm outside centromeres, a large fraction of the CENP-H/I/K/M proteins interact with CENP-C, CENP-N/L and CENP-T/W but not with CENP-S/X. Our FCCS analysis of the Mis12 complex showed that hMis12, Nsl1, Dsn1 and Nnf1 also form a complex outside centromeres of which at least hMis12 associated with the CENP-C/H/I/K/M/T/W/N/L complex.

  18. Infrared spectroscopy of solid normal hydrogen doped with CH3F and O2 at 4.2 K: CH3F:O2 complex and CH3F migration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abouaf-Marguin, L.; Vasserot, A.-M.

    2011-04-01

    Double doping of solid normal hydrogen with CH3F and O2 at about 4.2 K gives evidence of (ortho-H2)n:CH3F clusters and of O2:CH3F complex formation. FTIR analysis of the time evolution of the spectra in the region of the v3 C-F stretching mode indicates that these clusters behave very differently from (ortho-H2)n:H2O clusters. The main point is the observed migration of CH3F molecules in solid para-H2 at 4.2 K which differs from that of H2O under identical experimental conditions. This is confirmed by an increase over time of the integrated intensity of the CH3F:O2 complex with a rate constant K = 2.7(2) . 10-4 s-1.

  19. Hybrid assemblies of ATP-sensitive K+ channels determine their muscle-type-dependent biophysical and pharmacological properties.

    PubMed

    Tricarico, Domenico; Mele, Antonietta; Lundquist, Andrew L; Desai, Reshma R; George, Alfred L; Conte Camerino, Diana

    2006-01-24

    ATP-sensitive K(+) channels (K(ATP)) are an octameric complex of inwardly rectifying K(+) channels (Kir6.1 and Kir6.2) and sulfonylurea receptors (SUR1 and SUR2A/B), which are involved in several diseases. The tissue-selective expression of the subunits leads to different channels; however, the composition and role of the functional channel in native muscle fibers is not known. In this article, the properties of K(ATP) channels of fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscles were compared by combining patch-clamp experiments with measurements of gene expression. We found that the density of K(ATP) currents/area was muscle-type specific, being higher in fast-twitch muscles compared with the slow-twitch muscle. The density of K(ATP) currents/area was correlated with the level of Kir6.2 expression. SUR2A was the most abundant subunit expressed in all muscles, whereas the vascular SUR2B subunit was expressed but at lower levels. A significant expression of the pancreatic SUR1 was also found in fast-twitch muscles. Pharmacological experiments showed that the channel response to the SUR1 agonist diazoxide, SUR2A/B agonist cromakalim, SUR1 antagonist tolbutamide, and the SUR1/SUR2A/B-antagonist glibenclamide matched the SURs expression pattern. Muscle-specific K(ATP) subunit compositions contribute to the physiological performance of different muscle fiber types and determine the pharmacological actions of drugs modulating K(ATP) activity in muscle diseases.

  20. Weighing the evidence for a ternary protein complex mediating A-type K+ currents in neurons.

    PubMed

    Maffie, Jonathon; Rudy, Bernardo

    2008-12-01

    The subthreshold-operating A-type K(+) current in neurons (I(SA)) has important roles in the regulation of neuronal excitability, the timing of action potential firing and synaptic integration and plasticity. The channels mediating this current (Kv4 channels) have been implicated in epilepsy, the control of dopamine release, and the regulation of pain plasticity. It has been proposed that Kv4 channels in neurons are ternary complexes of three types of protein: pore forming subunits of the Kv4 subfamily and two types of auxiliary subunits, the Ca(2+) binding proteins KChIPs and the dipeptidyl peptidase-like proteins (DPPLs) DPP6 (also known as DPPX) and DPP10 (4 molecules of each per channel for a total of 12 proteins in the complex). Here we consider the evidence supporting this hypothesis. Kv4 channels in many neurons are likely to be ternary complexes of these three types of protein. KChIPs and DPPLs are required to efficiently traffic Kv4 channels to the plasma membrane and regulate the functional properties of the channels. These proteins may also be important in determining the localization of the channels to specific neuronal compartments, their dynamics, and their response to neuromodulators. A surprisingly large number of additional proteins have been shown to modify Kv4 channels in heterologous expression systems, but their association with native Kv4 channels in neurons has not been properly validated. A critical consideration of the evidence suggests that it is unlikely that association of Kv4 channels with these additional proteins is widespread in the CNS. However, we cannot exclude that some of these proteins may associate with the channels transiently or in specific neurons or neuronal compartments, or that they may associate with the channels in other tissues.

  1. Arabidopsis shaker pollen inward K+ channel SPIK functions in SnRK1 complex-regulated pollen hydration on the stigma.

    PubMed

    Li, Dan-Dan; Guan, Huan; Li, Fei; Liu, Chang-Zhen; Dong, Yu-Xiu; Zhang, Xian-Sheng; Gao, Xin-Qi

    2017-09-01

    Pollen hydration is a critical step that determines pollen germination on the stigma. KINβγ is a plant-specific subunit of the SNF1-related protein kinase 1 complex (SnRK1 complex). In pollen of the Arabidopsis kinβγ mutant, the levels of reactive oxygen species were decreased which lead to compromised hydration of the mutant pollen on the stigma. In this study, we analyzed gene expression in kinβγ mutant pollen by RNA-seq and found the expression of inward shaker K + channel SPIK was down-regulated in the kinβγ pollen. Furthermore, we showed that the pollen hydration of the Arabidopsis spik mutant was defective on the wild-type stigma, although the mutant pollen demonstrated normal hydration in vitro. Additionally, the defective hydration of spik mutant pollen could not be rescued by the wild-type pollen on the stigma, indicating that the spik mutation deprived the capability of pollen absorption on the stigma. Our results suggest that the Arabidopsis SnRK1 complex regulates SPIK expression, which functions in determining pollen hydration on the stigma. © 2017 Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

  2. Human-Modified Permafrost Complexes in Urbanized Areas of the Russian North

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grebenets, V. I.; Streletskiy, D. A.

    2013-12-01

    Economic development in permafrost regions is accompanied by modification of natural geocryological conditions. Drastic landscape transformations in urbanized areas on permafrost are characterized by changes of heat and moisture exchange in permafrost - atmosphere system, and by engineering and technogenic influence upon the frozen ground, leading to alteration of its physical, thermal and mechanical properties. In northern cities this leads to overall increase of ground temperature relative to undisturbed areas and intensification of hazardous cryogenic processes in areas under engineering development, which together leads to reduction in stability of geotechnical environment. For example, deformations of structures in Norilsk district, Northern Siberia, in the last 15 years, became much more abundant than those revealed throughout the previous 50 years. About 250 large buildings in the local towns were deformed considerably due to deterioration of geocryological conditions, about 100 structures were functioning in emergency state, and almost 50 nine- and five-storey houses, built in the 1960-80s, have been recently disassembled. Increase in accident risk for various facilities (water and oil pipelines, industrial enterprises, etc.) enhances the technogenic pressure on permafrost, leading to the new milestone of changes in permafrost characteristics, i.e. to creation of 'another reality' of geocryological conditions. Social and natural factors dictate clustered spatial pattern of industrial development in permafrost regions. Cryogenic processes within the urban areas on permafrost are seldom similar with those under the natural conditions as intensity, duration and extent of the processes changes under technogenic impacts. Moreover, new cryogenic processes and phenomena may occur, which have not been typical for a given region. This makes mapping and characterization of these processes difficult task. Peculiar natural-technogenic geocryological complexes (NTGC

  3. Examining Differentiation and Utilization of iPads across Content Areas in an Independent, PreK-4th Grade Elementary School

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Milman, Natalie B.; Carlson-Bancroft, Angela; Vanden Boogart, Amy

    2014-01-01

    This mixed methods case study examined the implementation of a 1:1 iPad initiative in a suburban, co-educational, independent, preK-4th grade elementary school in the United States. This article focuses on how teachers used iPads to differentiate instruction and across multiple content areas. Findings show the processes by which teachers employed…

  4. Cambrian ophiolite complexes in the Beishan area, China, southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shi, Yuruo; Zhang, Wei; Kröner, Alfred; Li, Linlin; Jian, Ping

    2018-03-01

    We present zircon ages and geochemical data for Cambrian ophiolite complexes exposed in the Beishan area at the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The complexes consist of the Xichangjing-Xiaohuangshan and Hongliuhe-Yushishan ophiolites, which both exhibit complete ophiolite stratigraphy: chert, basalt, sheeted dikes, gabbro, mafic and ultramafic cumulates and serpentinized mantle peridotites. Zircon grains of gabbro samples yielded 206Pb/238U ages of 516 ± 8, 521 ± 4, 528 ± 3 and 535 ± 6 Ma that reflect the timing of gabbro emplacement. The geochemical data of the basaltic rocks show enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements and depletion in the high field strength elements relative to normal mid-oceanic ridge basalt (NMORB) in response to aqueous fluids or melts expelled from the subducting slab. The gabbro samples have higher whole-rock initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios and lower positive εNd(t) values than NMORB. These geochemical signatures resulted from processes or conditions that are unique to subduction zones, and the ophiolites are therefore likely to have formed within a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) environment. We suggest that the Cambrian ophiolite complexes in the Beishan area formed within a SSZ setting, reflecting an early Paleozoic subduction of components of the Paleo-Central Asian Ocean and recording an early Paleozoic southward subduction event in the southern CAOB along the northern margin of the Tarim and North China Cratons.

  5. Prostatic origin of a zinc binding high molecular weight protein complex in human seminal plasma.

    PubMed

    Siciliano, L; De Stefano, C; Petroni, M F; Vivacqua, A; Rago, V; Carpino, A

    2000-03-01

    The profile of the zinc ligand high molecular weight proteins was investigated in the seminal plasma of 55 normozoospermic subjects by size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The proteins were recovered from Sephadex G-75 gel filtration of seminal plasma in three zinc-containing fractions which were then submitted to HPLC analysis. The results were, that in all the samples, the protein profiles showed two peaks with apparent molecular weight of approximately 660 and approximately 250 kDa. Dialysis experiments revealed that both approximately 660 and approximately 250 kDa proteins were able to uptake zinc against gradient indicating their zinc binding capacity. The HPLC analysis of the whole seminal plasma evidenced only the approximately 660 kDa protein complex as a single well quantifying peak, furthermore a positive correlation between its peak area and the seminal zinc values (P < 0.001) was observed. This suggested a prostatic origin of the approximately 660 kDa protein complex which was then confirmed by the seminal plasma HPLC analysis of a subject with agenesis of the Wolffian ducts. Finally the study demonstrated the presence of two zinc binding proteins, approximately 660 and approximately 250 kDa respectively, in human seminal plasma and the prostatic origin of the approximately 660 kDa.

  6. Biocompatible interpolymer complex matrix tablets - an oral sustained release class-III antidiabetic drug

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ershadul Haque, S. K.; Sheela, A.

    2017-11-01

    Development of sustained release formulations of Metformin hydrochloride (Met) having low bioavailability and short half-life is one of the frontier areas of research towards achieving novel drug delivery systems. Towards the same, we have prepared interpolymer complexes (IPCs) of chitosan (CH) and two different viscosity grades of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose - HPMC (K4M and K100M) in various ratios, say, 4:6, 2:8, 1:9, respectively. The IPCs are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Drug compatibility study is carried out by FT-IR and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The physical properties and drug content of formulated tablets are evaluated and found to be optimum. In addition, in vitro drug release kinetics is carried out at two different pH, say, 1.2 and 6.8. The release pattern from different polymeric matrices is shown in figure below: a) Chitosan, HPMC K4M and HPMC K100M b) IPCs of CH/HPMC K4M in [2:3, 1:4 and 1:9 ratios] c) IPCs of CH/HPMC K100M in [2:3, 1:4 and 1:9 ratios]. From the study, it has been observed that the drug release is sustained for a period of 12h in 1:9 ratio of CH: K100M IPC due to the formation of complex network matrix.

  7. Electronic sensor and actuator webs for large-area complex geometry cardiac mapping and therapy

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Dae-Hyeong; Ghaffari, Roozbeh; Lu, Nanshu; Wang, Shuodao; Lee, Stephen P.; Keum, Hohyun; D’Angelo, Robert; Klinker, Lauren; Su, Yewang; Lu, Chaofeng; Kim, Yun-Soung; Ameen, Abid; Li, Yuhang; Zhang, Yihui; de Graff, Bassel; Hsu, Yung-Yu; Liu, ZhuangJian; Ruskin, Jeremy; Xu, Lizhi; Lu, Chi; Omenetto, Fiorenzo G.; Huang, Yonggang; Mansour, Moussa; Slepian, Marvin J.; Rogers, John A.

    2012-01-01

    Curved surfaces, complex geometries, and time-dynamic deformations of the heart create challenges in establishing intimate, nonconstraining interfaces between cardiac structures and medical devices or surgical tools, particularly over large areas. We constructed large area designs for diagnostic and therapeutic stretchable sensor and actuator webs that conformally wrap the epicardium, establishing robust contact without sutures, mechanical fixtures, tapes, or surgical adhesives. These multifunctional web devices exploit open, mesh layouts and mount on thin, bio-resorbable sheets of silk to facilitate handling in a way that yields, after dissolution, exceptionally low mechanical moduli and thicknesses. In vivo studies in rabbit and pig animal models demonstrate the effectiveness of these device webs for measuring and spatially mapping temperature, electrophysiological signals, strain, and physical contact in sheet and balloon-based systems that also have the potential to deliver energy to perform localized tissue ablation. PMID:23150574

  8. The high-resolution crystal structure of a 24-kDa gyrase B fragment from E. coli complexed with one of the most potent coumarin inhibitors, clorobiocin.

    PubMed

    Tsai, F T; Singh, O M; Skarzynski, T; Wonacott, A J; Weston, S; Tucker, A; Pauptit, R A; Breeze, A L; Poyser, J P; O'Brien, R; Ladbury, J E; Wigley, D B

    1997-05-01

    Coumarin antibiotics, such as clorobiocin, novobiocin, and coumermycin A1, inhibit the supercoiling activity of gyrase by binding to the gyrase B (GyrB) subunit. Previous crystallographic studies of a 24-kDa N-terminal domain of GyrB from E. coli complexed with novobiocin and a cyclothialidine analogue have shown that both ligands act by binding at the ATP-binding site. Clorobiocin is a natural antibiotic isolated from several Streptomyces strains and differs from novobiocin in that the methyl group at the 8 position in the coumarin ring of novobiocin is replaced by a chlorine atom, and the carbamoyl at the 3' position of the noviose sugar is substituted by a 5-methyl-2-pyrrolylcarbonyl group. To understand the difference in affinity, in order that this information might be exploited in rational drug design, the crystal structure of the 24-kDa GyrB fragment in complex with clorobiocin was determined to high resolution. This structure was determined independently in two laboratories, which allowed the validation of equivalent interpretations. The clorobiocin complex structure is compared with the crystal structures of gyrase complexes with novobiocin and 5'-adenylyl-beta, gamma-imidodiphosphate, and with information on the bound conformation of novobiocin in the p24-novobiocin complex obtained by heteronuclear isotope-filtered NMR experiments in solution. Moreover, to understand the differences in energetics of binding of clorobiocin and novobiocin to the protein, the results from isothermal titration calorimetry are also presented.

  9. IKKε-mediated tumorigenesis requires K63-linked polyubiquitination by a cIAP1/cIAP2/TRAF2 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex

    PubMed Central

    Zhou, Alicia Y.; Shen, Rhine R.; Kim, Eejung; Lock, Ying J.; Xu, Ming; Chen, Zhijian J.; Hahn, William C.

    2014-01-01

    SUMMARY IκB kinase ε (IKKε, IKBKE) is a key regulator of innate immunity and a breast cancer oncogene, amplified in ~30% of breast cancers, that promotes malignant transformation through NF-κB activation. Here we show that IKKε is modified and regulated by K63-linked polyubiquitination at Lysine 30 and Lysine 401. TNFα and IL-1β stimulation induces IKKε K63-linked polyubiquitination over baseline levels in both macrophages and breast cancer cell lines, and this modification is essential for IKKε kinase activity, IKKε-mediated NF-κB activation and IKKε-induced malignant transformation. Disruption of K63-linked ubiquitination of IKKε does not affect its overall structure but impairs the recruitment of canonical NF-κB proteins. A cIAP1/cIAP2/TRAF2 E3 ligase complex binds to and ubiquitinates IKKε. Together, these observations demonstrate that K63-linked polyubiquitination regulates IKKε activity in both inflammatory and oncogenic contexts and suggests an alterative approach to target this breast cancer oncogene. PMID:23453969

  10. Trapping and desorption of complex organic molecules in water at 20 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Burke, Daren J.; Puletti, Fabrizio; Woods, Paul M.; Viti, Serena; Slater, Ben; Brown, Wendy A.

    2015-10-01

    The formation, chemical, and thermal processing of complex organic molecules (COMs) is currently a topic of much interest in interstellar chemistry. The isomers glycolaldehyde, methyl formate, and acetic acid are particularly important because of their role as pre-biotic species. It is becoming increasingly clear that many COMs are formed within interstellar ices which are dominated by water. Hence, the interaction of these species with water ice is crucially important in dictating their behaviour. Here, we present the first detailed comparative study of the adsorption and thermal processing of glycolaldehyde, methyl formate, and acetic acid adsorbed on and in water ices at astrophysically relevant temperatures (20 K). We show that the functional group of the isomer dictates the strength of interaction with water ice, and hence the resulting desorption and trapping behaviour. Furthermore, the strength of this interaction directly affects the crystallization of water, which in turn affects the desorption behaviour. Our detailed coverage and composition dependent data allow us to categorize the desorption behaviour of the three isomers on the basis of the strength of intermolecular and intramolecular interactions, as well as the natural sublimation temperature of the molecule. This categorization is extended to other C, H, and O containing molecules in order to predict and describe the desorption behaviour of COMs from interstellar ices.

  11. Selective complexation of K+ and Na+ in simple polarizable ion-ligating systems.

    PubMed

    Bostick, David L; Brooks, Charles L

    2010-09-29

    An influx of experimental and theoretical studies of ion transport protein structure has inspired efforts to understand underlying determinants of ionic selectivity. Design principles for selective ion binding can be effectively isolated and interrogated using simplified models composed of a single ion surrounded by a set of ion-ligating molecular species. While quantum mechanical treatments of such systems naturally incorporate electronic degrees of freedom, their computational overhead typically prohibits thorough dynamic sampling of configurational space and, thus, requires approximations when determining ion-selective free energy. As an alternative, we employ dynamical simulations with a polarizable force field to probe the structure and K(+)/Na(+) selectivity in simple models composed of one central K(+)/Na(+) ion surrounded by 0-8 identical model compounds: N-methylacetamide, formamide, or water. In the absence of external restraints, these models represent gas-phase clusters displaying relaxed coordination structures with low coordination number. Such systems display Na(+) selectivity when composed of more than ∼3 organic carbonyl-containing compounds and always display K(+) selectivity when composed of water molecules. Upon imposing restraints that solely enforce specific coordination numbers, we find all models are K(+)-selective when ∼7-8-fold ion coordination is achieved. However, when models composed of the organic compounds provide ∼4-6-fold coordination, they retain their Na(+) selectivity. From these trends, design principles emerge that are of basic importance in the behavior of K(+) channel selectivity filters and suggest a basis not only for K(+) selectivity but also for modulation of block and closure by smaller ions.

  12. An Automatic Assessment System of Diabetic Foot Ulcers Based on Wound Area Determination, Color Segmentation, and Healing Score Evaluation.

    PubMed

    Wang, Lei; Pedersen, Peder C; Strong, Diane M; Tulu, Bengisu; Agu, Emmanuel; Ignotz, Ron; He, Qian

    2015-08-07

    For individuals with type 2 diabetes, foot ulcers represent a significant health issue. The aim of this study is to design and evaluate a wound assessment system to help wound clinics assess patients with foot ulcers in a way that complements their current visual examination and manual measurements of their foot ulcers. The physical components of the system consist of an image capture box, a smartphone for wound image capture and a laptop for analyzing the wound image. The wound image assessment algorithms calculate the overall wound area, color segmented wound areas, and a healing score, to provide a quantitative assessment of the wound healing status both for a single wound image and comparisons of subsequent images to an initial wound image. The system was evaluated by assessing foot ulcers for 12 patients in the Wound Clinic at University of Massachusetts Medical School. As performance measures, the Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) value for the wound area determination algorithm tested on 32 foot ulcer images was .68. The clinical validity of our healing score algorithm relative to the experienced clinicians was measured by Krippendorff's alpha coefficient (KAC) and ranged from .42 to .81. Our system provides a promising real-time method for wound assessment based on image analysis. Clinical comparisons indicate that the optimized mean-shift-based algorithm is well suited for wound area determination. Clinical evaluation of our healing score algorithm shows its potential to provide clinicians with a quantitative method for evaluating wound healing status. © 2015 Diabetes Technology Society.

  13. Tetrahalide complexes of the [U(NR)2]2+ ion: synthesis, theory, and chlorine K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Spencer, Liam P; Yang, Ping; Minasian, Stefan G; Jilek, Robert E; Batista, Enrique R; Boland, Kevin S; Boncella, James M; Conradson, Steven D; Clark, David L; Hayton, Trevor W; Kozimor, Stosh A; Martin, Richard L; MacInnes, Molly M; Olson, Angela C; Scott, Brian L; Shuh, David K; Wilkerson, Marianne P

    2013-02-13

    Synthetic routes to salts containing uranium bis-imido tetrahalide anions [U(NR)(2)X(4)](2-) (X = Cl(-), Br(-)) and non-coordinating NEt(4)(+) and PPh(4)(+) countercations are reported. In general, these compounds can be prepared from U(NR)(2)I(2)(THF)(x) (x = 2 and R = (t)Bu, Ph; x = 3 and R = Me) upon addition of excess halide. In addition to providing stable coordination complexes with Cl(-), the [U(NMe)(2)](2+) cation also reacts with Br(-) to form stable [NEt(4)](2)[U(NMe)(2)Br(4)] complexes. These materials were used as a platform to compare electronic structure and bonding in [U(NR)(2)](2+) with [UO(2)](2+). Specifically, Cl K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and both ground-state and time-dependent hybrid density functional theory (DFT and TDDFT) were used to probe U-Cl bonding interactions in [PPh(4)](2)[U(N(t)Bu)(2)Cl(4)] and [PPh(4)](2)[UO(2)Cl(4)]. The DFT and XAS results show the total amount of Cl 3p character mixed with the U 5f orbitals was roughly 7-10% per U-Cl bond for both compounds, which shows that moving from oxo to imido has little effect on orbital mixing between the U 5f and equatorial Cl 3p orbitals. The results are presented in the context of recent Cl K-edge XAS and DFT studies on other hexavalent uranium chloride systems with fewer oxo or imido ligands.

  14. Exon resequencing of H3K9 methyltransferase complex genes, EHMT1, EHTM2 and WIZ, in Japanese autism subjects.

    PubMed

    Balan, Shabeesh; Iwayama, Yoshimi; Maekawa, Motoko; Toyota, Tomoko; Ohnishi, Tetsuo; Toyoshima, Manabu; Shimamoto, Chie; Esaki, Kayoko; Yamada, Kazuo; Iwata, Yasuhide; Suzuki, Katsuaki; Ide, Masayuki; Ota, Motonori; Fukuchi, Satoshi; Tsujii, Masatsugu; Mori, Norio; Shinkai, Yoichi; Yoshikawa, Takeo

    2014-01-01

    Histone H3 methylation at lysine 9 (H3K9) is a conserved epigenetic signal, mediating heterochromatin formation by trimethylation, and transcriptional silencing by dimethylation. Defective GLP (Ehmt1) and G9a (Ehmt2) histone lysine methyltransferases, involved in mono and dimethylation of H3K9, confer autistic phenotypes and behavioral abnormalities in animal models. Moreover, EHMT1 loss of function results in Kleefstra syndrome, characterized by severe intellectual disability, developmental delays and psychiatric disorders. We examined the possible role of histone methyltransferases in the etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and suggest that rare functional variants in these genes that regulate H3K9 methylation may be associated with ASD. Since G9a-GLP-Wiz forms a heteromeric methyltransferase complex, all the protein-coding regions and exon/intron boundaries of EHMT1, EHMT2 and WIZ were sequenced in Japanese ASD subjects. The detected variants were prioritized based on novelty and functionality. The expression levels of these genes were tested in blood cells and postmortem brain samples from ASD and control subjects. Expression of EHMT1 and EHMT2 isoforms were determined by digital PCR. We identified six nonsynonymous variants: three in EHMT1, two in EHMT2 and one in WIZ. Two variants, the EHMT1 ankyrin repeat domain (Lys968Arg) and EHMT2 SET domain (Thr961Ile) variants were present exclusively in cases, but showed no statistically significant association with ASD. The EHMT2 transcript expression was significantly elevated in the peripheral blood cells of ASD when compared with control samples; but not for EHMT1 and WIZ. Gene expression levels of EHMT1, EHMT2 and WIZ in Brodmann area (BA) 9, BA21, BA40 and the dorsal raphe nucleus (DoRN) regions from postmortem brain samples showed no significant changes between ASD and control subjects. Nor did expression levels of EHMT1 and EHMT2 isoforms in the prefrontal cortex differ significantly between ASD and

  15. High-K granites of the Rum Jungle Complex, N-Australia: Insights into the Late Archean crustal evolution of the North Australian Craton

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Drüppel, K.; McCready, A. J.; Stumpfl, E. F.

    2009-08-01

    The Late Archean (c. 2.54-2.52 Ga) high-K granitoids of the Rum Jungle Complex, Northern Australia, display the igneous mineral assemblage of K-feldspar, quartz, plagioclase, biotite, and magnetite, and accessories such as zircon, monazite, titanite, allanite, apatite, and ilmenite. The granites underwent a variably severe greenschist facies alteration and associated deformation during the Barramundi Orogeny (1.88-1.85 Ga). The K-rich granitoids have variable compositions, mainly comprising syenogranite and quartz-monzonite. They can be subdivided into two major groups, (1) felsic granites and (2) intermediate to felsic granites, quartz-monzonites, and diorite. The felsic group (69-76 wt.% SiO 2) shares many features with typical Late Archean potassic granites. They are K- and LILE-rich and show marked depletion in Sr and Eu and the high field strength elements (HFSE), particularly Nb and Ti, relative to LILE and LREE. Compared to the average upper crust they have anomalously high Th (up to 123 ppm) and U (up to 40 ppm). The intermediate to felsic group (56-69 wt.% SiO 2) differs from the felsic group in having weakly lower Th and U but higher Mg#, Ti, Ba, Sr, Ni, Cr and REE, with a less pronounced negative Eu anomaly. This group displays well-defined trends in Harker diagrams, involving a negative correlation of Si with Sr, Ca, Na, and P whereas K, Rb, and Ba increase in the same direction, suggesting fractional crystallization of feldspar was more prominent than in the felsic suite. The mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the felsic group are consistent with granite formation by intracrustal melting of plagioclase-rich igneous protoliths, probably of tonaltic to granodioritic composition, at moderate crustal levels. The intermediate to felsic granites, on the other hand, appear to be the products of mantle-crust interaction, possibly by melting of or mixing with more mafic igneous rocks. As evidenced by the presence of older inherited zircons crustal

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

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

    Zagidullin, M. V., E-mail: marsel@fian.smr.ru; Pershin, A. A., E-mail: anchizh93@gmail.com; Azyazov, V. N., E-mail: azyazov@ssau.ru

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

  17. Mn K-Edge X-ray Absorption Studies of Oxo- and Hydroxo-manganese(IV) Complexes: Experimental and Theoretical Insights into Pre-Edge Properties

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    Mn K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was used to gain insights into the geometric and electronic structures of [MnII(Cl)2(Me2EBC)], [MnIV(OH)2(Me2EBC)]2+, and [MnIV(O)(OH)(Me2EBC)]+, which are all supported by the tetradentate, macrocyclic Me2EBC ligand (Me2EBC = 4,11-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane). Analysis of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data for [MnIV(O)(OH)(Me2EBC)]+ revealed Mn–O scatterers at 1.71 and 1.84 Å and Mn–N scatterers at 2.11 Å, providing the first unambiguous support for the formulation of this species as an oxohydroxomanganese(IV) adduct. EXAFS-determined structural parameters for [MnII(Cl)2(Me2EBC)] and [MnIV(OH)2(Me2EBC)]2+ are consistent with previously reported crystal structures. The Mn pre-edge energies and intensities of these complexes were examined within the context of data for other oxo- and hydroxomanganese(IV) adducts, and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) computations were used to predict pre-edge properties for all compounds considered. This combined experimental and computational analysis revealed a correlation between the Mn–O(H) distances and pre-edge peak areas of MnIV=O and MnIV–OH complexes, but this trend was strongly modulated by the MnIV coordination geometry. Mn 3d-4p mixing, which primarily accounts for the pre-edge intensities, is not solely a function of the Mn–O(H) bond length; the coordination geometry also has a large effect on the distribution of pre-edge intensity. For tetragonal MnIV=O centers, more than 90% of the pre-edge intensity comes from excitations to the Mn=O σ* MO. Trigonal bipyramidal oxomanganese(IV) centers likewise feature excitations to the Mn=O σ* molecular orbital (MO) but also show intense transitions to 3dx2–y2 and 3dxy MOs because of enhanced 3d-4px,y mixing. This gives rise to a broader pre-edge feature for trigonal MnIV=O adducts. These results underscore the importance of reporting experimental pre-edge areas

  18. Mn K-edge X-ray absorption studies of oxo- and hydroxo-manganese(IV) complexes: experimental and theoretical insights into pre-edge properties.

    PubMed

    Leto, Domenick F; Jackson, Timothy A

    2014-06-16

    Mn K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was used to gain insights into the geometric and electronic structures of [Mn(II)(Cl)2(Me2EBC)], [Mn(IV)(OH)2(Me2EBC)](2+), and [Mn(IV)(O)(OH)(Me2EBC)](+), which are all supported by the tetradentate, macrocyclic Me2EBC ligand (Me2EBC = 4,11-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane). Analysis of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data for [Mn(IV)(O)(OH)(Me2EBC)](+) revealed Mn-O scatterers at 1.71 and 1.84 Å and Mn-N scatterers at 2.11 Å, providing the first unambiguous support for the formulation of this species as an oxohydroxomanganese(IV) adduct. EXAFS-determined structural parameters for [Mn(II)(Cl)2(Me2EBC)] and [Mn(IV)(OH)2(Me2EBC)](2+) are consistent with previously reported crystal structures. The Mn pre-edge energies and intensities of these complexes were examined within the context of data for other oxo- and hydroxomanganese(IV) adducts, and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) computations were used to predict pre-edge properties for all compounds considered. This combined experimental and computational analysis revealed a correlation between the Mn-O(H) distances and pre-edge peak areas of Mn(IV)═O and Mn(IV)-OH complexes, but this trend was strongly modulated by the Mn(IV) coordination geometry. Mn 3d-4p mixing, which primarily accounts for the pre-edge intensities, is not solely a function of the Mn-O(H) bond length; the coordination geometry also has a large effect on the distribution of pre-edge intensity. For tetragonal Mn(IV)═O centers, more than 90% of the pre-edge intensity comes from excitations to the Mn═O σ* MO. Trigonal bipyramidal oxomanganese(IV) centers likewise feature excitations to the Mn═O σ* molecular orbital (MO) but also show intense transitions to 3dx(2)-y(2) and 3dxy MOs because of enhanced 3d-4px,y mixing. This gives rise to a broader pre-edge feature for trigonal Mn(IV)═O adducts. These results underscore the importance of

  19. Complex Chern-Simons Theory at Level k via the 3d-3d Correspondence

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dimofte, Tudor

    2015-10-01

    We use the 3d-3d correspondence together with the DGG construction of theories T n [ M] labelled by 3-manifolds M to define a non-perturbative state-integral model for Chern-Simons theory at any level k, based on ideal triangulations. The resulting partition functions generalize a widely studied k = 1 state-integral, as well as the 3d index, which is k = 0. The Chern-Simons partition functions correspond to partition functions of T n [ M] on squashed lens spaces L( k, 1). At any k, they admit a holomorphic-antiholomorphic factorization, corresponding to the decomposition of L( k, 1) into two solid tori, and the associated holomorphic block decomposition of the partition functions of T n [ M]. A generalization to L( k, p) is also presented. Convergence of the state integrals, for any k, requires triangulations to admit a positive angle structure; we propose that this is also necessary for the DGG gauge theory T n [ M] to flow to a desired IR SCFT.

  20. Single-row versus double-row capsulolabral repair: a comparative evaluation of contact pressure and surface area in the capsulolabral complex-glenoid bone interface.

    PubMed

    Kim, Doo-Sup; Yoon, Yeo-Seung; Chung, Hoi-Jeong

    2011-07-01

    Despite the attention that has been paid to restoration of the capsulolabral complex anatomic insertion onto the glenoid, studies comparing the pressurized contact area and mean interface pressure at the anatomic insertion site between a single-row repair and a double-row labral repair have been uncommon. The purpose of our study was to compare the mean interface pressure and pressurized contact area at the anatomic insertion site of the capsulolabral complex between a single-row repair and a double-row repair technique. Controlled laboratory study. Thirty fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders (mean age, 61 ± 8 years; range, 48-71 years) were used for this study. Two types of repair were performed on each specimen: (1) a single-row repair and (2) a double-row repair. Using pressure-sensitive films, we examined the interface contact area and contact pressure. The mean interface pressure was greater for the double-row repair technique (0.29 ± 0.04 MPa) when compared with the single-row repair technique (0.21 ± 0.03 MPa) (P = .003). The mean pressurized contact area was also significantly greater for the double-row repair technique (211.8 ± 18.6 mm(2), 78.4% footprint) compared with the single-row repair technique (106.4 ± 16.8 mm(2), 39.4% footprint) (P = .001). The double-row repair has significantly greater mean interface pressure and pressurized contact area at the insertion site of the capsulolabral complex than the single-row repair. The double-row repair may be advantageous compared with the single-row repair in restoring the native footprint area of the capsulolabral complex.

  1. Crystal structure of the tyrosine kinase domain of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor c-Met and its complex with the microbial alkaloid K-252a.

    PubMed

    Schiering, Nikolaus; Knapp, Stefan; Marconi, Marina; Flocco, Maria M; Cui, Jean; Perego, Rita; Rusconi, Luisa; Cristiani, Cinzia

    2003-10-28

    The protooncogene c-met codes for the hepatocyte growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase. Binding of its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor, stimulates receptor autophosphorylation, which leads to pleiotropic downstream signaling events in epithelial cells, including cell growth, motility, and invasion. These events are mediated by interaction of cytoplasmic effectors, generally through Src homology 2 (SH2) domains, with two phosphotyrosine-containing sequence motifs in the unique C-terminal tail of c-Met (supersite). There is a strong link between aberrant c-Met activity and oncogenesis, which makes this kinase an important cancer drug target. The furanosylated indolocarbazole K-252a belongs to a family of microbial alkaloids that also includes staurosporine. It was recently shown to be a potent inhibitor of c-Met. Here we report the crystal structures of an unphosphorylated c-Met kinase domain harboring a human cancer mutation and its complex with K-252a at 1.8-A resolution. The structure follows the well established architecture of protein kinases. It adopts a unique, inhibitory conformation of the activation loop, a catalytically noncompetent orientation of helix alphaC, and reveals the complete C-terminal docking site. The first SH2-binding motif (1349YVHV) adopts an extended conformation, whereas the second motif (1356YVNV), a binding site for Grb2-SH2, folds as a type II Beta-turn. The intermediate portion of the supersite (1353NATY) assumes a type I Beta-turn conformation as in an Shc-phosphotyrosine binding domain peptide complex. K-252a is bound in the adenosine pocket with an analogous binding mode to those observed in previously reported structures of protein kinases in complex with staurosporine.

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

    PubMed

    Shatalin, Iu V; Shubina, V S

    2014-01-01

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

  3. Human-impacted areas of France are environmental reservoirs of the Pseudallescheria boydii/Scedosporium apiospermum species complex.

    PubMed

    Rougeron, Amandine; Schuliar, Gaëlle; Leto, Julie; Sitterlé, Emilie; Landry, David; Bougnoux, Marie-Elisabeth; Kobi, Abdessamad; Bouchara, Jean-Philippe; Giraud, Sandrine

    2015-04-01

    Species of the Pseudallescheria boydii/Scedosporium apiospermum complex (PSC) are emerging fungal pathogens able to chronically colonize the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). As P. boydii was found more frequently colonizing the lungs of CF patients in France than in other European countries in a previous report, the present study was conducted in order to clarify distribution of PSC species in France and to characterize their natural habitat. The highest densities of PSC isolates were found in human-impacted areas, i.e. agricultural areas, fluids obtained from wastewater treatment plants, playgrounds and industrial areas. PSC was not detected from soil samples collected in forests. Most PSC culture-positive soil samples exhibited a pH range of 6-8. Scedosporium dehoogii, the most abundant species, was detected in all human-impacted area types except vineyards, whereas Scedosporium aurantiacum was mostly found in agricultural areas. Pseudallescheria boydii and S. apiospermum were predominantly isolated from seashores and playgrounds respectively. Pseudallescheria minutispora was found only once from a playground. This study highlights potential sources of contamination of the patients, especially in the CF context. © 2014 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  4. An a 0 resonance in strongly coupled π η , K K ¯ scattering from lattice QCD

    DOE PAGES

    Dudek, Jozef J.; Edwards, Robert G.; Wilson, David J.

    2016-05-11

    Here, we present the first calculation of coupled-channel meson-meson scattering in the isospinmore » $=1$, $G$-parity negative sector, with channels $$\\pi \\eta$$, $$K\\overline{K}$$ and $$\\pi \\eta'$$, in a first-principles approach to QCD. From the discrete spectrum of eigenstates in three volumes extracted from lattice QCD correlation functions we determine the energy dependence of the $S$-matrix, and find that the $S$-wave features a prominent cusp-like structure in $$\\pi \\eta \\to \\pi \\eta$$ close to $$K\\overline{K}$$ threshold coupled with a rapid turn on of amplitudes leading to the $$K\\overline{K}$$ final-state. This behavior is traced to an $$a_0(980)$$-like resonance, strongly coupled to both $$\\pi \\eta$$ and $$K\\overline{K}$$, which is identified with a pole in the complex energy plane, appearing on only a single unphysical Riemann sheet. Consideration of $D$-wave scattering suggests a narrow tensor resonance at higher energy.« less

  5. An a 0 resonance in strongly coupled π η , K K ¯ scattering from lattice QCD

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

    Dudek, Jozef J.; Edwards, Robert G.; Wilson, David J.

    Here, we present the first calculation of coupled-channel meson-meson scattering in the isospinmore » $=1$, $G$-parity negative sector, with channels $$\\pi \\eta$$, $$K\\overline{K}$$ and $$\\pi \\eta'$$, in a first-principles approach to QCD. From the discrete spectrum of eigenstates in three volumes extracted from lattice QCD correlation functions we determine the energy dependence of the $S$-matrix, and find that the $S$-wave features a prominent cusp-like structure in $$\\pi \\eta \\to \\pi \\eta$$ close to $$K\\overline{K}$$ threshold coupled with a rapid turn on of amplitudes leading to the $$K\\overline{K}$$ final-state. This behavior is traced to an $$a_0(980)$$-like resonance, strongly coupled to both $$\\pi \\eta$$ and $$K\\overline{K}$$, which is identified with a pole in the complex energy plane, appearing on only a single unphysical Riemann sheet. Consideration of $D$-wave scattering suggests a narrow tensor resonance at higher energy.« less

  6. NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase from bovine heart mitochondria. cDNA sequences of the import precursors of the nuclear-encoded 39 kDa and 42 kDa subunits.

    PubMed Central

    Fearnley, I M; Finel, M; Skehel, J M; Walker, J E

    1991-01-01

    The 39 kDa and 42 kDa subunits of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase from bovine heart mitochondria are nuclear-coded components of the hydrophobic protein fraction of the enzyme. Their amino acid sequences have been deduced from the sequences of overlapping cDNA clones. These clones were amplified from total bovine heart cDNA by means of the polymerase chain reaction, with the use of complex mixtures of oligonucleotide primers based upon fragments of protein sequence determined at the N-terminals of the proteins and at internal sites. The protein sequences of the 39 kDa and 42 kDa subunits are 345 and 320 amino acid residues long respectively, and their calculated molecular masses are 39,115 Da and 36,693 Da. Both proteins are predominantly hydrophilic, but each contains one or two hydrophobic segments that could possibly be folded into transmembrane alpha-helices. The bovine 39 kDa protein sequence is related to that of a 40 kDa subunit from complex I from Neurospora crassa mitochondria; otherwise, it is not related significantly to any known sequence, including redox proteins and two polypeptides involved in import of proteins into mitochondria, known as the mitochondrial processing peptidase and the processing-enhancing protein. Therefore the functions of the 39 kDa and 42 kDa subunits of complex I are unknown. The mitochondrial gene product, ND4, a hydrophobic component of complex I with an apparent molecular mass of about 39 kDa, has been identified in preparations of the enzyme. This subunit stains faintly with Coomassie Blue dye, and in many gel systems it is not resolved from the nuclearcoded 36 kDa subunit. Images Fig. 1. PMID:1832859

  7. A low complexity visualization tool that helps to perform complex systems analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Beiró, M. G.; Alvarez-Hamelin, J. I.; Busch, J. R.

    2008-12-01

    In this paper, we present an extension of large network visualization (LaNet-vi), a tool to visualize large scale networks using the k-core decomposition. One of the new features is how vertices compute their angular position. While in the later version it is done using shell clusters, in this version we use the angular coordinate of vertices in higher k-shells, and arrange the highest shell according to a cliques decomposition. The time complexity goes from O(n\\sqrt n) to O(n) upon bounds on a heavy-tailed degree distribution. The tool also performs a k-core-connectivity analysis, highlighting vertices that are not k-connected; e.g. this property is useful to measure robustness or quality of service (QoS) capabilities in communication networks. Finally, the actual version of LaNet-vi can draw labels and all the edges using transparencies, yielding an accurate visualization. Based on the obtained figure, it is possible to distinguish different sources and types of complex networks at a glance, in a sort of 'network iris-print'.

  8. High pressure behavior of complex phosphate K2Ce[PO4]2: Grüneisen parameter and anharmonicity properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mishra, Karuna Kara; Bevara, Samatha; Ravindran, T. R.; Patwe, S. J.; Gupta, Mayanak K.; Mittal, Ranjan; Krishnan, R. Venkata; Achary, S. N.; Tyagi, A. K.

    2018-02-01

    Herein we reported structural stability, vibrational and thermal properties of K2Ce[PO4]2, a relatively underexplored complex phosphate of tetravalent Ce4+ from in situ high-pressure Raman spectroscopic investigations up to 28 GPa using a diamond anvil cell. The studies identified the soft phonons that lead to a reversible phase transformation above 8 GPa, and a phase coexistence of ambient (PI) and high pressure (PII) phases in a wider pressure region 6-11 GPa. From a visual representation of the computed eigen vector displacements, the Ag soft mode at 82 cm-1 is assigned as a lattice mode of K+ cation. Pressure-induced positional disorder is apparent from the substantial broadening of internal modes and the disappearance of low frequency lattice and external modes in phase PII above 18 GPa. Isothermal mode Grüneisen parameters γi of the various phonon modes are calculated and compared for several modes. Using these values, thermal properties such as average Grüneisen parameter, and thermal expansion coefficient are estimated as 0.47, and 2.5 × 10-6 K-1, respectively. The specific heat value was estimated from all optical modes obtained from DFT calculations as 314 J-mol-1 K-1. Our earlier reported temperature dependence of phonon frequencies is used to decouple the "true anharmonic" (explicit contribution at constant volume) and "quasi harmonic" (implicit contribution brought out by volume change) contributions from the total anharmonicity. In addition to the 81 cm-1 Ag lattice mode, several other lattice and external modes of PO43- ions are found to be strongly anharmonic.

  9. Regulation of mTORC1 by PI3K signaling.

    PubMed

    Dibble, Christian C; Cantley, Lewis C

    2015-09-01

    The class I phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling network directs cellular metabolism and growth. Activation of mTORC1 [composed of mTOR, regulatory-associated protein of mTOR (Raptor), mammalian lethal with SEC13 protein 8(mLST8), 40-kDa proline-rich Akt substrate (PRAS40), and DEP domain-containing mTOR-interacting protein (DEPTOR)] depends on the Ras-related GTPases (Rags) and Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb) GTPase and requires signals from amino acids, glucose, oxygen, energy (ATP), and growth factors (including cytokines and hormones such as insulin). Here we discuss the signal transduction mechanisms through which growth factor-responsive PI3K signaling activates mTORC1. We focus on how PI3K-dependent activation of Akt and spatial regulation of the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) complex (TSC complex) [composed of TSC1, TSC2, and Tre2-Bub2-Cdc16-1 domain family member 7 (TBC1D7)] switches on Rheb at the lysosome, where mTORC1 is activated. Integration of PI3K- and amino acid-dependent signals upstream of mTORC1 at the lysosome is detailed in a working model. A coherent understanding of the PI3K-mTORC1 network is imperative as its dysregulation has been implicated in diverse pathologies including cancer, diabetes, autism, and aging. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Results of complex annual parasitological monitoring in the coastal area of Kola Bay

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kuklin, V. V.; Kuklina, M. M.; Kisova, N. E.; Maslich, M. A.

    2009-12-01

    The results of annual parasitological monitoring in the coastal area near the Abram-mys (Kola Bay, Barents Sea) are presented. The studies were performed in 2006-2007 and included complex examination of the intermediate hosts (mollusks and crustaceans) and definitive hosts (marine fish and birds) of the helminths. The biodiversity of the parasite fauna, seasonal dynamics, and functioning patterns of the parasite systems were investigated. The basic regularities in parasite circulation were assessed in relation to their life cycle strategies and the ecological features of the intermediate and definitive hosts. The factors affecting the success of parasite circulation in the coastal ecosystems were revealed through analysis of parasite biodiversity and abundance dynamics.

  11. Historical and current fire management practices in two wilderness areas in the southwestern United States: The Saguaro Wilderness Area and the Gila-Aldo Leopold Wilderness Complex

    Treesearch

    Molly E. Hunter; Jose M. Iniguez; Calvin A. Farris

    2014-01-01

    Fire suppression has been the dominant fire management strategy in the West over the last century. However, managers of the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness Complex in New Mexico and the Saguaro Wilderness Area in Arizona have allowed fire to play a more natural role for decades. This report summarizes the effects of these fire management practices on key resources,...

  12. Constraining the 40K decay constant with 87Rb-87Sr - 40K-40Ca chronometer intercomparison

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Naumenko-Dèzes, Maria O.; Nägler, Thomas F.; Mezger, Klaus; Villa, Igor M.

    2018-01-01

    A literature survey reveals that the K-Ar chronometer gives ages that are ca. 1% younger than U-Pb ages. This offset is generally attributed to an inaccurate 40K decay constant. Three geological samples selected from a shortlist of eight with known U-Pb ages were investigated using detailed petrological methods and subsequently the Rb-Sr and K-Ca chronometers in order (a) to evaluate if they meet the requirement of a geological history reflecting a ;point-like; event (i.e. isochronous formation and subsequent ideal closure of chronometers) and (b) to narrow down the systematic uncertainty on the 40K decay constant by investigating the metrologically traceable K-Ca decay branch. Lepidolite of the Rubikon pegmatite, Namibia, was dated with Rb-Sr at 504.7 ± 4.2 Ma and the phlogopite and apatite from the Phalaborwa carbonatite complex, South Africa, yielded a Rb-Sr age of 2058.9 ± 5.2 Ma. Both Rb-Sr ages agree with published U-Pb ages. The Rb-Sr age of the late Archean Siilinjärvi carbonatite, Finland, records a later regional metamorphic event at 1869 ± 10 Ma. Only the samples from the Phalaborwa complex represent a ;point-like; magmatic event and meet all the criteria to make them suitable for the 40K decay constant intercalibration. The Phalaborwa K-Ca isochron has a slope of 1.878 ± 0.012. Forcing the K-Ca isochron to coincide with the U-Pb and Rb-Sr ages gives one equation with two unknowns. Assuming that the branching ratio of the K-Ca branch, BCa, lies in the interval (k = 2) of all published references, 0.8925 < BCa < 0.8963, then the most reliable uncertainty interval (k = 2) for the total 40K decay constant, λtot, is calculated as 5.484 × 10-10 a-1 < λtot < 5.498 × 10-10 a-1. This confirms that the currently used IUGS recommendation is inaccurate.

  13. Stratigraphy, correlation, and age estimates for fossils from Area 123, Koobi Fora.

    PubMed

    Feibel, Craig S; Lepre, Christopher J; Quinn, Rhonda L

    2009-08-01

    Geological data from the Bura Hasuma region at Koobi Fora provide important constraints for estimating the ages of hominin fossils recovered there, including the cranium KNM-ER 1813. Strata of the upper Burgi, KBS, and Okote members in this part of Koobi Fora reflect three depositional regimes driven by changing paleogeography through time. The upper Burgi and lowermost KBS sequence in the southern Bura Hasuma region accumulated in a lacustrine to delta front setting, with highly localized depositional patterns, limiting the lateral extent of lithostratigraphic markers. Farther north, uppermost upper Burgi through KBS member strata document a fluctuating lake margin, with complex facies patterns. This interval is marked by laterally extensive lithostratigraphic markers, including molluscan packstones, beach sandstones, and stromatolite beds. The uppermost KBS and Okote members show a transition to dominantly fluvial character, with localized and discontinuous accumulation. An age model for the richly fossiliferous Area 123 sequence demonstrates the complexity of terrestrial accumulation patterns. Early lacustrine and delta front accumulation is marked by fairly continuous sedimentation, and high accumulation rates (up to ca. 91 cm/k.yr.). The fluctuating lake margin interval reflects lower sedimentation rates coupled with intervals of exposure, decreasing accumulation significantly (to ca. 13 cm/k.yr.). The capping fluvial interval is marked by significant erosion surfaces, breaks which may drop the overall accumulation rate even lower (ca. 0.3 cm/k.yr.). The data provided here establish a geological framework at odds with a recent proposal of ages considerably younger (by ca. 250 k.yr.) for many of the fossils from Area 123 and elsewhere. Tests of age models demonstrate that the younger ages are not possible. While minor refinements to age estimates for fossils are indicated by improved chronostratigraphic control, in the case of KNM-ER 1813, an age of younger

  14. Two year performance of a 10 kW CPV system installed in two areas of Saudi Arabia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khonkar, Hussam; Alowais, Abdullah; Sheikho, Ayman; Alyahya, Abdulaziz; Alghamdi, Ahmed; Alsaedan, Abdullah; Eugenio, Nunilo N.; Alalweet, Fahad; Halawani, Mohammad; Alsaferan, Abdulrahman

    2014-09-01

    The three year KACST/IBM collaboration in solar technology research led to the design and development of a 10kW CPV system. The system is comprised of 81 PV modules, inverters and a tracking system and is grid connected. A primary and secondary optics were employed to reach 1600x concentration on multijunction solar cells. Two CPV trackers were installed in the city of Riyadh and one in the eastern coastal city of Al Khafji. These two areas differ in climatic conditions. Riyadh is mostly dry and very often hit by very strong sand storms while Al Khafji is very humid with sand storms. Very fine dusts and dirt carried by the storms hits the surface of the primary optics, Fresnel lens, of the system. In Riyadh, the particles stick to the lenses but accumulation in the surface is not much since it is blown away by wind. However, the humid condition of the coastal areas wets the dusts and makes it sticky, cumulating more dusts and dirt. This paper discusses in details the parts of the 10kW CPV system. It presents a comprehensive analysis of the system's performance since the time they were installed and operated. CPV systems are operated with the least number of personnel and supervision. However, dust and dirt lessens the amount of sunlight passing through the primary optics. It requires periodic cleaning of the Fresnel lens. Different methods of cleaning were tried to identify the efficient way to clean the system that results to a higher power generation. Corrections and modifications of the system to further increase power production are presented.

  15. Acceptor Type Vacancy Complexes In As-Grown ZnO

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zubiaga, A.; Tuomisto, F.; Zuñiga-Pérez, J.

    2010-11-01

    One of the many technological areas that ZnO is interesting for is the construction of opto-electronic devices working in the blue-UV range as its large band gap (˜3.4 eV at 10 K) makes them suitable for that purpose. As-grown ZnO shows generally n-type conductivity partially due to the large concentration of unintentional shallow donors, like H, but impurities can also form complexes with acceptor type defects (Zn vacancy) leading to the creation of compensating defects. Recently, LiZn and NaZn acceptors have been measured and H could form similar type of defects. Doppler Broadening Positron Annihilation spectroscopy experimental results on the observation of Zn related vacancy complexes in ZnO thin films, as-grown, O implanted and Al doped will be presented. Results show that as-grown ZnO film show small Zn vacancy related complexed that could be related to presence of H as a unintentional doping element.

  16. Idaho National Laboratory Test Area North: Application of Endpoints to Guide Adaptive Remediation at a Complex Site: INL Test Area North: Application of Endpoints

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

    Lee, M. Hope; Truex, Mike; Freshley, Mark

    Complex sites are defined as those with difficult subsurface access, deep and/or thick zones of contamination, large areal extent, subsurface heterogeneities that limit the effectiveness of remediation, or where long-term remedies are needed to address contamination (e.g., because of long-term sources or large extent). The Test Area North at the Idaho National Laboratory, developed for nuclear fuel operations and heavy metal manufacturing, is used as a case study. Liquid wastes and sludge from experimental facilities were disposed in an injection well, which contaminated the subsurface aquifer located deep within fractured basalt. The wastes included organic, inorganic, and low-level radioactive constituents,more » with the focus of this case study on trichloroethylene. The site is used as an example of a systems-based framework that provides a structured approach to regulatory processes established for remediation under existing regulations. The framework is intended to facilitate remedy decisions and implementation at complex sites where restoration may be uncertain, require long timeframes, or involve use of adaptive management approaches. The framework facilitates site, regulator, and stakeholder interactions during the remedial planning and implementation process by using a conceptual model description as a technical foundation for decisions, identifying endpoints, which are interim remediation targets or intermediate decision points on the path to an ultimate end, and maintaining protectiveness during the remediation process. At the Test Area North, using a structured approach to implementing concepts in the endpoint framework, a three-component remedy is largely functioning as intended and is projected to meet remedial action objectives by 2095 as required. The remedy approach is being adjusted as new data become available. The framework provides a structured process for evaluating and adjusting the remediation approach, allowing site owners, regulators

  17. Quiver W-algebras

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kimura, Taro; Pestun, Vasily

    2018-06-01

    For a quiver with weighted arrows, we define gauge-theory K-theoretic W-algebra generalizing the definition of Shiraishi et al. and Frenkel and Reshetikhin. In particular, we show that the qq-character construction of gauge theory presented by Nekrasov is isomorphic to the definition of the W-algebra in the operator formalism as a commutant of screening charges in the free field representation. Besides, we allow arbitrary quiver and expect interesting applications to representation theory of generalized Borcherds-Kac-Moody Lie algebras, their quantum affinizations and associated W-algebras.

  18. Humic acid protein complexation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tan, W. F.; Koopal, L. K.; Weng, L. P.; van Riemsdijk, W. H.; Norde, W.

    2008-04-01

    Interactions of purified Aldrich humic acid (PAHA) with lysozyme (LSZ) are investigated. In solution LSZ is moderately positively and PAHA negatively charged at the investigated pH values. The proton binding of PAHA and of LSZ is determined by potentiometric proton titrations at various KCl concentrations. It is also measured for two mixtures of PAHA-LSZ and compared with theoretically calculated proton binding assuming no mutual interaction. The charge adaptation due to PAHA-LSZ interaction is relatively small and only significant at low and high pH. Next to the proton binding, the mass ratio PAHA/LSZ at the iso-electric point (IEP) of the complex at given solution conditions is measured together with the pH using the Mütek particle charge detector. From the pH changes the charge adaptation due to the interaction can be found. Also these measurements show that the net charge adaptation is weak for PAHA-LSZ complexes at their IEP. PAHA/LSZ mass ratios in the complexes at the IEP are measured at pH 5 and 7. At pH 5 and 50 mmol/L KCl the charge of the complex is compensated for 30-40% by K +; at pH 7, where LSZ has a rather low positive charge, this is 45-55%. At pH 5 and 5 mmol/L KCl the PAHA/LSZ mass ratio at the IEP of the complex depends on the order of addition. When LSZ is added to PAHA about 25% K + is included in the complex, but no K + is incorporated when PAHA is added to LSZ. The flocculation behavior of the complexes is also different. After LSZ addition to PAHA slow precipitation occurs (6-24 h) in the IEP, but after addition of PAHA to LSZ no precipitation can be seen after 12 h. Clearly, PAHA/LSZ complexation and the colloidal stability of PAHA-LSZ aggregates depend on the order of addition. Some implications of the observed behavior are discussed.

  19. Complex motor task associated with non-linear BOLD responses in cerebro-cortical areas and cerebellum.

    PubMed

    Alahmadi, Adnan A S; Samson, Rebecca S; Gasston, David; Pardini, Matteo; Friston, Karl J; D'Angelo, Egidio; Toosy, Ahmed T; Wheeler-Kingshott, Claudia A M

    2016-06-01

    Previous studies have used fMRI to address the relationship between grip force (GF) applied to an object and BOLD response. However, whilst the majority of these studies showed a linear relationship between GF and neural activity in the contralateral M1 and ipsilateral cerebellum, animal studies have suggested the presence of non-linear components in the GF-neural activity relationship. Here, we present a methodology for assessing non-linearities in the BOLD response to different GF levels, within primary motor as well as sensory and cognitive areas and the cerebellum. To be sensitive to complex forms, we designed a feasible grip task with five GF targets using an event-related visually guided paradigm and studied a cohort of 13 healthy volunteers. Polynomial functions of increasing order were fitted to the data. (1) activated motor areas irrespective of GF; (2) positive higher-order responses in and outside M1, involving premotor, sensory and visual areas and cerebellum; (3) negative correlations with GF, predominantly involving the visual domain. Overall, our results suggest that there are physiologically consistent behaviour patterns in cerebral and cerebellar cortices; for example, we observed the presence of a second-order effect in sensorimotor areas, consistent with an optimum metabolic response at intermediate GF levels, while higher-order behaviour was found in associative and cognitive areas. At higher GF levels, sensory-related cortical areas showed reduced activation, interpretable as a redistribution of the neural activity for more demanding tasks. These results have the potential of opening new avenues for investigating pathological mechanisms of neurological diseases.

  20. Nup93, a Vertebrate Homologue of Yeast Nic96p, Forms a Complex with a Novel 205-kDa Protein and Is Required for Correct Nuclear Pore Assembly

    PubMed Central

    Grandi, Paola; Dang, Tam; Pané, Nelly; Shevchenko, Andrej; Mann, Matthias; Forbes, Douglass; Hurt, Ed

    1997-01-01

    Yeast and vertebrate nuclear pores display significant morphological similarity by electron microscopy, but sequence similarity between the respective proteins has been more difficult to observe. Herein we have identified a vertebrate nucleoporin, Nup93, in both human and Xenopus that has proved to be an evolutionarily related homologue of the yeast nucleoporin Nic96p. Polyclonal antiserum to human Nup93 detects corresponding proteins in human, rat, and Xenopus cells. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy localize vertebrate Nup93 at the nuclear basket and at or near the nuclear entry to the gated channel of the pore. Immunoprecipitation from both mammalian and Xenopus cell extracts indicates that a small fraction of Nup93 physically interacts with the nucleoporin p62, just as yeast Nic96p interacts with the yeast p62 homologue. However, a large fraction of vertebrate Nup93 is extracted from pores and is also present in Xenopus egg extracts in complex with a newly discovered 205-kDa protein. Mass spectrometric sequencing of the human 205-kDa protein reveals that this protein is encoded by an open reading frame, KIAAO225, present in the human database. The putative human nucleoporin of 205 kDa has related sequence homologues in Caenorhabditis elegans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To analyze the role of the Nup93 complex in the pore, nuclei were assembled that lack the Nup93 complex after immunodepletion of a Xenopus nuclear reconstitution extract. The Nup93-complex–depleted nuclei are clearly defective for correct nuclear pore assembly. From these experiments, we conclude that the vertebrate and yeast pore have significant homology in their functionally important cores and that, with the identification of Nup93 and the 205-kDa protein, we have extended the knowledge of the nearest-neighbor interactions of this core in both yeast and vertebrates. PMID:9348540

  1. Space-Time Smoothing of Complex Survey Data: Small Area Estimation for Child Mortality

    PubMed Central

    Mercer, Laina D; Wakefield, Jon; Pantazis, Athena; Lutambi, Angelina M; Masanja, Honorati; Clark, Samuel

    2016-01-01

    Many people living in low and middle-income countries are not covered by civil registration and vital statistics systems. Consequently, a wide variety of other types of data including many household sample surveys are used to estimate health and population indicators. In this paper we combine data from sample surveys and demographic surveillance systems to produce small area estimates of child mortality through time. Small area estimates are necessary to understand geographical heterogeneity in health indicators when full-coverage vital statistics are not available. For this endeavor spatio-temporal smoothing is beneficial to alleviate problems of data sparsity. The use of conventional hierarchical models requires careful thought since the survey weights may need to be considered to alleviate bias due to non-random sampling and non-response. The application that motivated this work is estimation of child mortality rates in five-year time intervals in regions of Tanzania. Data come from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted over the period 1991–2010 and two demographic surveillance system sites. We derive a variance estimator of under five years child mortality that accounts for the complex survey weighting. For our application, the hierarchical models we consider include random effects for area, time and survey and we compare models using a variety of measures including the conditional predictive ordinate (CPO). The method we propose is implemented via the fast and accurate integrated nested Laplace approximation (INLA). PMID:27468328

  2. Space-Time Smoothing of Complex Survey Data: Small Area Estimation for Child Mortality.

    PubMed

    Mercer, Laina D; Wakefield, Jon; Pantazis, Athena; Lutambi, Angelina M; Masanja, Honorati; Clark, Samuel

    2015-12-01

    Many people living in low and middle-income countries are not covered by civil registration and vital statistics systems. Consequently, a wide variety of other types of data including many household sample surveys are used to estimate health and population indicators. In this paper we combine data from sample surveys and demographic surveillance systems to produce small area estimates of child mortality through time. Small area estimates are necessary to understand geographical heterogeneity in health indicators when full-coverage vital statistics are not available. For this endeavor spatio-temporal smoothing is beneficial to alleviate problems of data sparsity. The use of conventional hierarchical models requires careful thought since the survey weights may need to be considered to alleviate bias due to non-random sampling and non-response. The application that motivated this work is estimation of child mortality rates in five-year time intervals in regions of Tanzania. Data come from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted over the period 1991-2010 and two demographic surveillance system sites. We derive a variance estimator of under five years child mortality that accounts for the complex survey weighting. For our application, the hierarchical models we consider include random effects for area, time and survey and we compare models using a variety of measures including the conditional predictive ordinate (CPO). The method we propose is implemented via the fast and accurate integrated nested Laplace approximation (INLA).

  3. MinK-dependent internalization of the IKs potassium channel.

    PubMed

    Xu, Xianghua; Kanda, Vikram A; Choi, Eun; Panaghie, Gianina; Roepke, Torsten K; Gaeta, Stephen A; Christini, David J; Lerner, Daniel J; Abbott, Geoffrey W

    2009-06-01

    KCNQ1-MinK potassium channel complexes (4alpha:2beta stoichiometry) generate IKs, the slowly activating human cardiac ventricular repolarization current. The MinK ancillary subunit slows KCNQ1 activation, eliminates its inactivation, and increases its unitary conductance. However, KCNQ1 transcripts outnumber MinK transcripts five to one in human ventricles, suggesting KCNQ1 also forms other heteromeric or even homomeric channels there. Mechanisms governing which channel types prevail have not previously been reported, despite their significance: normal cardiac rhythm requires tight control of IKs density and kinetics, and inherited mutations in KCNQ1 and MinK can cause ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. Here, we describe a novel mechanism for this control. Whole-cell patch-clamping, confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, antibody feeding, biotin feeding, fluorescent transferrin feeding, and protein biochemistry techniques were applied to COS-7 cells heterologously expressing KCNQ1 with wild-type or mutant MinK and dynamin 2 and to native IKs channels in guinea-pig myocytes. KCNQ1-MinK complexes, but not homomeric KCNQ1 channels, were found to undergo clathrin- and dynamin 2-dependent internalization (DDI). Three sites on the MinK intracellular C-terminus were, in concert, necessary and sufficient for DDI. Gating kinetics and sensitivity to XE991 indicated that DDI decreased cell-surface KCNQ1-MinK channels relative to homomeric KCNQ1, decreasing whole-cell current but increasing net activation rate; inhibiting DDI did the reverse. The data redefine MinK as an endocytic chaperone for KCNQ1 and present a dynamic mechanism for controlling net surface Kv channel subunit composition-and thus current density and gating kinetics-that may also apply to other alpha-beta type Kv channel complexes.

  4. Loss of plastoglobule kinases ABC1K1 and ABC1K3 causes conditional degreening, modified prenyl-lipids, and recruitment of the jasmonic acid pathway

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Plastoglobules (PGs) are plastid lipid-protein particles. This study examines the function of PG-localized kinases ABC1K1 and ABC1K3 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Several lines of evidence suggested that ABC1K1 and ABC1K3 form a protein complex. Null mutants for both genes (abc1k1 and abc1k3) and the dou...

  5. Poplar potassium transporters capable of controlling K+ homeostasis and K+-dependent xylogenesis.

    PubMed

    Langer, Katharina; Ache, Peter; Geiger, Dietmar; Stinzing, Andrea; Arend, Matthias; Wind, Christa; Regan, Sharon; Fromm, Jörg; Hedrich, Rainer

    2002-12-01

    The cambial K+ content of poplar increases during the growth period in a K+ supply dependent manner. Upon K+ starvation or application of tetraethylammoniumchloride (TEA+), a K+ channel blocker, the average vessel lumen and expansion zone area were significantly reduced. In search for the molecular basis of potassium-dependent xylogenesis in poplar, K+ transporters homologous to those of known function in Arabidopis phloem- and xylem-physiology were isolated from a poplar wood EST library. The expression profile of three distinct K+ channel types and one K+ transporter, Populus tremula K+ uptake transporter 1 (PtKUP1), was analysed by quantitative RT-PCR. Thereby, we found P. tremula outward rectifying K+ channel (PTORK) and P. tremula K+ channel 2 (PTK2) correlated with the seasonal wood production. K+ transporter P. tremula 1 (KPT1) was predominantly found in guard cells. Following the heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes the biophysical properties of the different channels were determined. PTORK, upon membrane de-polarization mediates potassium release. PTK2 is almost voltage independent, carrying inward K+ flux at hyperpolarized potential and K+ release upon de-polarization. PtKUP1 was expressed in a K+ uptake-deficient Escherichia coli strain, where this K+ transporter rescued K+-dependent growth. In order to link the different K+ transporters to the cambial activity and wood production, we compared the expression profiles to seasonal changes in the K+ content of the bark as well as xylem vessel diameter. Thereby, we found PTORK and PTK2 transcripts to follow the annual K+ variations in poplar branches. PtKUP1 was expressed at a low level throughout the year, suggesting a housekeeping function. From these data, we conclude that K+ channels are involved in the regulation of K+-dependent wood production.

  6. GOES-K on display in Astrotech clean room

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1997-01-01

    The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-K (GOES-K) is placed on display for news media representatives at the Astrotech Space Operations LP facility in Titusville. GOES-K, the latest in the current series of advanced geostationary weather satellites in service, is scheduled to be launched into space aboard an Atlas 1 rocket on April 24 from Launch Complex 36, Pad B, Cape Canaveral Air Station. Once in orbit, GOES-K will become GOES-10, joining GOES-8 and GOES-9 in space.

  7. K π vector form factor, dispersive constraints and τ→ ν τ K π decays

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Boito, Diogo R.; Escribano, Rafel; Jamin, Matthias

    2009-02-01

    Recent experimental data for the differential decay distribution of the decay τ -→ ν τ K S π - by the Belle collaboration are described by a theoretical model which is composed of the contributing vector and scalar form factors F {+/ K π }( s) and F {0/ K π }( s). Both form factors are constructed such that they fulfil constraints posed by analyticity and unitarity. A good description of the experimental measurement is achieved by incorporating two vector resonances and working with a three-times-subtracted dispersion relation in order to suppress higher-energy contributions. The resonance parameters of the charged K *(892) meson, defined as the pole of F {+/ K π }( s) in the complex s-plane, can be extracted, with the result M_{K^{*}}=892.0± 0.9 MeV and \\varGamma_{K^{*}}=46.2± 0.4 MeV . Finally, employing a three-times-subtracted dispersion relation allows one to determine the slope and curvature parameters λ'+=(24.7±0.8)×10-3 and λ″+=(12.0±0.2)×10-4 of the vector form factor F {+/ K π }( s) directly from the data.

  8. Chaos and complexity by design

    DOE PAGES

    Roberts, Daniel A.; Yoshida, Beni

    2017-04-20

    We study the relationship between quantum chaos and pseudorandomness by developing probes of unitary design. A natural probe of randomness is the “frame poten-tial,” which is minimized by unitary k-designs and measures the 2-norm distance between the Haar random unitary ensemble and another ensemble. A natural probe of quantum chaos is out-of-time-order (OTO) four-point correlation functions. We also show that the norm squared of a generalization of out-of-time-order 2k-point correlators is proportional to the kth frame potential, providing a quantitative connection between chaos and pseudorandomness. In addition, we prove that these 2k-point correlators for Pauli operators completely determine the k-foldmore » channel of an ensemble of unitary operators. Finally, we use a counting argument to obtain a lower bound on the quantum circuit complexity in terms of the frame potential. This provides a direct link between chaos, complexity, and randomness.« less

  9. Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial investigation of some moxifloxacin metal complexes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sadeek, Sadeek A.; El-Shwiniy, Walaa H.; El-Attar, Mohamed S.

    2011-12-01

    The new complexes of moxifloxacin (MOX), with Ti(IV), Y(III), Pd(II) and Ce(IV) have been synthesized. These complexes were then characterized by melting point, magnetic studies and spectroscopic techniques involving infrared spectra (IR), UV-Vis, 1H NMR. C, H, N and halogen elemental analysis and thermal behavior of complexes also investigated. The results suggested that the molar ratio for all complexes is M: MOX = 1:2 where moxifloxacin acts as a bidentate via one of the oxygen atoms of the carboxylate group and through the ring carbonyl group and the complexes have the following formula [Ti(MOX) 2](SO 4) 2·7H 2O, [Y(MOX) 2Cl 2]Cl·12H 2O, [Pd(MOX) 2(H 2O) 2]Cl 2·6H 2O and [Ce(MOX) 2](SO 4) 2·2H 2O. The activation energies, E*, enthalpies, Δ H*, entropies, Δ S* and Gibbs free energies, Δ G*, of the thermal decomposition reactions have been derived from thermogravimetric (TGA) and differential thermogravimetric (DrTG) curves, using Coats-Redfern (CR) and Horowitz-Metzger (HM) methods. The antimicrobial activity of these complexes has been evaluated against three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria and compared with the reference drug moxifloxacin. The antibacterial activity of Ti(IV) complex is significant for E. coli K32 and highly significant for S. aureus K1, B. subtilis K22, Br. otitidis K76, P. aeruginosa SW1 and K. oxytoca K42 compared with free moxifloxacin.

  10. K-decompositions and 3d gauge theories

    DOE PAGES

    Dimofte, Tudor; Gabella, Maxime; Goncharov, Alexander B.

    2016-11-24

    This paper combines several new constructions in mathematics and physics. Mathematically, we study framed flat PGL(K, C)-connections on a large class of 3-manifolds M with boundary. We introduce a moduli spacemore » $$\\mathcal{L}$$ K(M) of framed flat connections on the boundary ∂M that extend to M. Our goal is to understand an open part of $$\\mathcal{L}$$ K(M) as a Lagrangian subvariety in the symplectic moduli space X un K(∂M) of framed flat connections on the boundary — and more so, as a “K 2-Lagrangian,” meaning that the K 2-avatar of the symplectic form restricts to zero. We construct an open part of $$\\mathcal{L}$$ K(M) from elementary data associated with the hypersimplicial K-decomposition of an ideal triangulation of M, in a way that generalizes (and combines) both Thurston’s gluing equations in 3d hyperbolic geometry and the cluster coordinates for framed flat PGL(K, C)-connections on surfaces. By using a canonical map from the complex of configurations of decorated flags to the Bloch complex, we prove that any generic component of $$\\mathcal{L}$$ K(M) is K 2-isotropic as long as ∂M satisfies certain topological constraints (theorem 4.2). In some cases this easily implies that $$\\mathcal{L}$$ K(M) is K 2-Lagrangian. For general M, we extend a classic result of Neumann and Zagier on symplectic properties of PGL(2) gluing equations to reduce the K 2-Lagrangian property to a combinatorial statement. Physically, we translate the K-decomposition of an ideal triangulation of M and its symplectic properties to produce an explicit construction of 3d N = 2 superconformal field theories T K [M] resulting (conjecturally) from the compactification of K M5-branes on M. This extends known constructions for K = 2. Just as for K = 2, the theories T K [M] are described as IR fixed points of abelian Chern-Simons-matter theories. Changes of triangulation (2-3 moves) lead to abelian mirror symmetries that are all generated by the elementary duality

  11. K-decompositions and 3d gauge theories

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

    Dimofte, Tudor; Gabella, Maxime; Goncharov, Alexander B.

    This paper combines several new constructions in mathematics and physics. Mathematically, we study framed flat PGL(K, C)-connections on a large class of 3-manifolds M with boundary. We introduce a moduli spacemore » $$\\mathcal{L}$$ K(M) of framed flat connections on the boundary ∂M that extend to M. Our goal is to understand an open part of $$\\mathcal{L}$$ K(M) as a Lagrangian subvariety in the symplectic moduli space X un K(∂M) of framed flat connections on the boundary — and more so, as a “K 2-Lagrangian,” meaning that the K 2-avatar of the symplectic form restricts to zero. We construct an open part of $$\\mathcal{L}$$ K(M) from elementary data associated with the hypersimplicial K-decomposition of an ideal triangulation of M, in a way that generalizes (and combines) both Thurston’s gluing equations in 3d hyperbolic geometry and the cluster coordinates for framed flat PGL(K, C)-connections on surfaces. By using a canonical map from the complex of configurations of decorated flags to the Bloch complex, we prove that any generic component of $$\\mathcal{L}$$ K(M) is K 2-isotropic as long as ∂M satisfies certain topological constraints (theorem 4.2). In some cases this easily implies that $$\\mathcal{L}$$ K(M) is K 2-Lagrangian. For general M, we extend a classic result of Neumann and Zagier on symplectic properties of PGL(2) gluing equations to reduce the K 2-Lagrangian property to a combinatorial statement. Physically, we translate the K-decomposition of an ideal triangulation of M and its symplectic properties to produce an explicit construction of 3d N = 2 superconformal field theories T K [M] resulting (conjecturally) from the compactification of K M5-branes on M. This extends known constructions for K = 2. Just as for K = 2, the theories T K [M] are described as IR fixed points of abelian Chern-Simons-matter theories. Changes of triangulation (2-3 moves) lead to abelian mirror symmetries that are all generated by the elementary duality

  12. A multiplanar complex resection of a low-grade chondrosarcoma of the distal femur guided by K-wires previously inserted under CT-guide: a case report.

    PubMed

    Zoccali, Carmine; Rossi, Barbara; Ferraresi, Virginia; Anelli, Vincenzo; Rita, Alessandro

    2014-08-13

    In muscular skeletal oncology aiming to achieve wide surgical margin is one of the main factors influencing patient prognosis. In cases where lesions are either meta or epiphyseal, surgery most often compromises joint integrity and stability because muscles, tendons and ligaments are involved in wide resection. When lesions are well circumscribed they can be completely resected by performing multi-planar osteotomies guided by computer-assisted navigation. We describe a case of low-grade chondrosarcoma of the distal femur where a simple but effective technique was useful to perform complex multiplanar osteotomies. No similar techniques are reported in the literature. A 57 year-old Caucasian female was referred to our department for the presence of a distal femur chondrosarcoma. A resection with the presenting technique was scheduled. The first step consists of inserting several K-wires under CT-scan control to delimitate the tumor; the second step consists of tumor removal: in operative theatre, following surgical access, k-wires are used as guide positioning; scalpels are externally placed to k-wires to perform a safe osteotomy. Computed assisted resections can be considered the most advantageous method to reach the best surgical outcome; unfortunately navigation systems are only available in specialized centres. The present technique allows for a multiplanar complex resection when navigation systems are not available. This technique can be applied in low-grade tumours where a minimal wide margin can be considered sufficient.

  13. A multiplanar complex resection of a low-grade chondrosarcoma of the distal femur guided by K-wires previously inserted under CT-guide: a case report

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Background In muscular skeletal oncology aiming to achieve wide surgical margin is one of the main factors influencing patient prognosis. In cases where lesions are either meta or epiphyseal, surgery most often compromises joint integrity and stability because muscles, tendons and ligaments are involved in wide resection. When lesions are well circumscribed they can be completely resected by performing multi-planar osteotomies guided by computer-assisted navigation. We describe a case of low-grade chondrosarcoma of the distal femur where a simple but effective technique was useful to perform complex multiplanar osteotomies. No similar techniques are reported in the literature. Case presentation A 57 year-old Caucasian female was referred to our department for the presence of a distal femur chondrosarcoma. A resection with the presenting technique was scheduled. The first step consists of inserting several K-wires under CT-scan control to delimitate the tumor; the second step consists of tumor removal: in operative theatre, following surgical access, k-wires are used as guide positioning; scalpels are externally placed to k-wires to perform a safe osteotomy. Conclusions Computed assisted resections can be considered the most advantageous method to reach the best surgical outcome; unfortunately navigation systems are only available in specialized centres. The present technique allows for a multiplanar complex resection when navigation systems are not available. This technique can be applied in low-grade tumours where a minimal wide margin can be considered sufficient. PMID:25123066

  14. The NSL Complex Regulates Housekeeping Genes in Drosophila

    PubMed Central

    Raja, Sunil Jayaramaiah; Holz, Herbert; Luscombe, Nicholas M.; Manke, Thomas; Akhtar, Asifa

    2012-01-01

    MOF is the major histone H4 lysine 16-specific (H4K16) acetyltransferase in mammals and Drosophila. In flies, it is involved in the regulation of X-chromosomal and autosomal genes as part of the MSL and the NSL complexes, respectively. While the function of the MSL complex as a dosage compensation regulator is fairly well understood, the role of the NSL complex in gene regulation is still poorly characterized. Here we report a comprehensive ChIP–seq analysis of four NSL complex members (NSL1, NSL3, MBD-R2, and MCRS2) throughout the Drosophila melanogaster genome. Strikingly, the majority (85.5%) of NSL-bound genes are constitutively expressed across different cell types. We find that an increased abundance of the histone modifications H4K16ac, H3K4me2, H3K4me3, and H3K9ac in gene promoter regions is characteristic of NSL-targeted genes. Furthermore, we show that these genes have a well-defined nucleosome free region and broad transcription initiation patterns. Finally, by performing ChIP–seq analyses of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) in NSL1- and NSL3-depleted cells, we demonstrate that both NSL proteins are required for efficient recruitment of Pol II to NSL target gene promoters. The observed Pol II reduction coincides with compromised binding of TBP and TFIIB to target promoters, indicating that the NSL complex is required for optimal recruitment of the pre-initiation complex on target genes. Moreover, genes that undergo the most dramatic loss of Pol II upon NSL knockdowns tend to be enriched in DNA Replication–related Element (DRE). Taken together, our findings show that the MOF-containing NSL complex acts as a major regulator of housekeeping genes in flies by modulating initiation of Pol II transcription. PMID:22723752

  15. Ecohydrologic Dynamics in Areas of Complex Topography in Semiarid Ecosystems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ivanov, V. Y.; Bras, R. L.; Vivoni, E. R.

    2008-12-01

    Topography strongly affects the state and distribution of vegetation and this control is normally considered to operate through the regulation of the incoming solar radiation and lateral redistribution of water and elements. One of the areas of active research is how plants adjust to terrain effects relative to their location in a landscape and what the implications are for the spatial distribution of the water balance. This study emphasizes the coupled nature of interactions among vegetation-water-energy dynamics and their corresponding controls in complex topography of a semiarid ecosystem. These dynamics are investigated by constructing a coupled modeling system, tRIBS+VEGGIE, based on physical, biochemical, or mechanistic representation of individual processes. In a set of numerical experiments, linkages between terrain attributes, patterns of grass and shrub productivity, and water balance components are examined. For different imposed regimes of lateral water transfer, regions of relative vegetation "favorability" are identified. Their principal controlling mechanisms, as mediated by topographic features of the landscape, are investigated. It is argued that the long-term effects of site-specific and non-local terrain characteristics are superimposed and the key features of the superposition appear to be of the same form, irrespective of the soil hydraulic type or the actual water transport mechanism involved.

  16. Isolation and Purification of Complex II from Proteus Mirabilis Strain ATCC 29245

    PubMed Central

    Shabbiri, Khadija; Ahmad, Waqar; Syed, Quratulain; Adnan, Ahmad

    2010-01-01

    A respiratory complex was isolated from plasma membrane of pathogenic Proteus mirabilis strain ATCC 29245. It was identified as complex II consisting of succinate:quinone oxidoreductase (EC 1.3.5.1) containing single heme b. The complex II was purified by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The molecular weight of purified complex was 116.5 kDa and it was composed of three subunits with molecular weights of 19 kDa, 29 kDa and 68.5 kDa. The complex II contained 9.5 nmoles of cytochrome b per mg protein. Heme staining indicated that the 19 kDa subunit was cytochrome b. Its reduced form showed absorptions peaks at 557.0, 524.8 and 424.4 nm. The α-band was shifted from 557.0 nm to 556.8 nm in pyridine ferrohemochrome spectrum. The succinate: quinone oxidoreductase activity was found to be high in this microorganism. PMID:24031557

  17. Structure and function of the C-terminal domain of MrpA in the Bacillus subtilis Mrp-antiporter complex--the evolutionary progenitor of the long horizontal helix in complex I.

    PubMed

    Virzintiene, Egle; Moparthi, Vamsi K; Al-Eryani, Yusra; Shumbe, Leonard; Górecki, Kamil; Hägerhäll, Cecilia

    2013-10-11

    MrpA and MrpD are homologous to NuoL, NuoM and NuoN in complex I over the first 14 transmembrane helices. In this work, the C-terminal domain of MrpA, outside this conserved area, was investigated. The transmembrane orientation was found to correspond to that of NuoJ in complex I. We have previously demonstrated that the subunit NuoK is homologous to MrpC. The function of the MrpA C-terminus was tested by expression in a previously used Bacillus subtilis model system. At neutral pH, the truncated MrpA still worked, but at pH 8.4, where Mrp-complex formation is needed for function, the C-terminal domain of MrpA was absolutely required. Copyright © 2013 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Communication complexity and information complexity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pankratov, Denis

    Information complexity enables the use of information-theoretic tools in communication complexity theory. Prior to the results presented in this thesis, information complexity was mainly used for proving lower bounds and direct-sum theorems in the setting of communication complexity. We present three results that demonstrate new connections between information complexity and communication complexity. In the first contribution we thoroughly study the information complexity of the smallest nontrivial two-party function: the AND function. While computing the communication complexity of AND is trivial, computing its exact information complexity presents a major technical challenge. In overcoming this challenge, we reveal that information complexity gives rise to rich geometrical structures. Our analysis of information complexity relies on new analytic techniques and new characterizations of communication protocols. We also uncover a connection of information complexity to the theory of elliptic partial differential equations. Once we compute the exact information complexity of AND, we can compute exact communication complexity of several related functions on n-bit inputs with some additional technical work. Previous combinatorial and algebraic techniques could only prove bounds of the form theta( n). Interestingly, this level of precision is typical in the area of information theory, so our result demonstrates that this meta-property of precise bounds carries over to information complexity and in certain cases even to communication complexity. Our result does not only strengthen the lower bound on communication complexity of disjointness by making it more exact, but it also shows that information complexity provides the exact upper bound on communication complexity. In fact, this result is more general and applies to a whole class of communication problems. In the second contribution, we use self-reduction methods to prove strong lower bounds on the information

  19. Electrostatic rate enhancement and transient complex of protein-protein association.

    PubMed

    Alsallaq, Ramzi; Zhou, Huan-Xiang

    2008-04-01

    The association of two proteins is bounded by the rate at which they, via diffusion, find each other while in appropriate relative orientations. Orientational constraints restrict this rate to approximately 10(5)-10(6) M(-1) s(-1). Proteins with higher association rates generally have complementary electrostatic surfaces; proteins with lower association rates generally are slowed down by conformational changes upon complex formation. Previous studies (Zhou, Biophys J 1997;73:2441-2445) have shown that electrostatic enhancement of the diffusion-limited association rate can be accurately modeled by $k_{\\bf D}$ = $k_{D}0\\ {exp} ( - \\langle U_{el} \\rangle;{\\star}/k_{B} T),$ where k(D) and k(D0) are the rates in the presence and absence of electrostatic interactions, respectively, U(el) is the average electrostatic interaction energy in a "transient-complex" ensemble, and k(B)T is the thermal energy. The transient-complex ensemble separates the bound state from the unbound state. Predictions of the transient-complex theory on four protein complexes were found to agree well with the experiment when the electrostatic interaction energy was calculated with the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) equation (Alsallaq and Zhou, Structure 2007;15:215-224). Here we show that the agreement is further improved when the nonlinear PB equation is used. These predictions are obtained with the dielectric boundary defined as the protein van der Waals surface. When the dielectric boundary is instead specified as the molecular surface, electrostatic interactions in the transient complex become repulsive and are thus predicted to retard association. Together these results demonstrate that the transient-complex theory is predictive of electrostatic rate enhancement and can help parameterize PB calculations. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  20. K-Partite RNA Secondary Structures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Minghui; Tejada, Pedro J.; Lasisi, Ramoni O.; Cheng, Shanhong; Fechser, D. Scott

    RNA secondary structure prediction is a fundamental problem in structural bioinformatics. The prediction problem is difficult because RNA secondary structures may contain pseudoknots formed by crossing base pairs. We introduce k-partite secondary structures as a simple classification of RNA secondary structures with pseudoknots. An RNA secondary structure is k-partite if it is the union of k pseudoknot-free sub-structures. Most known RNA secondary structures are either bipartite or tripartite. We show that there exists a constant number k such that any secondary structure can be modified into a k-partite secondary structure with approximately the same free energy. This offers a partial explanation of the prevalence of k-partite secondary structures with small k. We give a complete characterization of the computational complexities of recognizing k-partite secondary structures for all k ≥ 2, and show that this recognition problem is essentially the same as the k-colorability problem on circle graphs. We present two simple heuristics, iterated peeling and first-fit packing, for finding k-partite RNA secondary structures. For maximizing the number of base pair stackings, our iterated peeling heuristic achieves a constant approximation ratio of at most k for 2 ≤ k ≤ 5, and at most frac6{1-(1-6/k)^k} le frac6{1-e^{-6}} < 6.01491 for k ≥ 6. Experiment on sequences from PseudoBase shows that our first-fit packing heuristic outperforms the leading method HotKnots in predicting RNA secondary structures with pseudoknots. Source code, data set, and experimental results are available at http://www.cs.usu.edu/ mjiang/rna/kpartite/.

  1. K-Ar chronology and geochemistry of the Miocene magmatism of Collo-Bougaroun and Edough-Cap de Fer areas (NE Algeria). Temporal constraints on geodynamic evolution of the Eastern Algerian margin between 6° and 8°E

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abbassene, F.; Bellon, H.; Chazot, G.; Ouabadi, A.

    2013-12-01

    The ''Petite Kabylie'' corresponds to the eastern Algerian coastal magmatic chain outcropping from Jijel to the west, up to the plain of Annaba to the east. In this area, the Collo-Bougaroun volcano-plutonic complex, of ca. 300 km2, comprises (1) granular rocks, mainly cordierite bearing peraluminous granites, (2) gabbros that occur at the northern and southern parts of Cap Bougaroun pluton where they are associated with ultramafic rocks and form the layered complex of Yadene?; (3) microgranular rocks, mainly microgranites, that outcrop at the eastern part of the Bougaroun pluton, in Collo basin and El Milia, microdiorites in Bouserdoum and some doleritic or microgabbroic metric veins at Cap Bougaroun and (4) of rhyolitic lava in Kef Cheraïa. The Bougaroun complex form a huge elliptical batholite along a major axis of 20km oriented ENE- WSW that intrudes serpentinized peridotites and kinzigites of the Bougaroun basement to the east. This granitic pluton gives time constraints as it induces deformation and contact metamorphism of the Oligo-Miocene Kabyle sediments of Collo-Oued Zhour basin in the south. These sediments reach the Upper Burdigalien which suggests that the lower limit of emplacement of this granite is coeval at least with this age. The majority of these magmatic rocks show subalkaline affinity with strong enrichment (0.13 to 4.13 %) in K2O during fractionation to calc-alkaline and high-K calc-alkaline affinity for the most differentiated rocks. The felsic rocks (granites, microgranites and rhyolites) are marked by a significant crustal contamination (ξNd = -10, I Sr = 0.720, δ18O = +12 ‰ [1], [2]) during their petrogenesis. However, the presence of basic rocks (gabbros and dolerites) that are depleted in K2O (0.13 to 0.44%) provides information on mantle composition and origin of magmas. The geochemical data on these rocks are discussed in the very particular geodynamic context of the northern Algerian margin.Twenty-four 40K-40Ar analyses were

  2. Surface reaction of SnII on goethite (α-FeOOH): surface complexation, redox reaction, reductive dissolution, and phase transformation.

    PubMed

    Dulnee, Siriwan; Scheinost, Andreas C

    2014-08-19

    To elucidate the potential risk of (126)Sn migration from nuclear waste repositories, we investigated the surface reactions of Sn(II) on goethite as a function of pH and Sn(II) loading under anoxic condition with O2 level < 2 ppmv. Tin redox state and surface structure were investigated by Sn K edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), goethite phase transformations were investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction. The results demonstrate the rapid and complete oxidation of Sn(II) by goethite and formation of Sn(IV) (1)E and (2)C surface complexes. The contribution of (2)C complexes increases with Sn loading. The Sn(II) oxidation leads to a quantitative release of Fe(II) from goethite at low pH, and to the precipitation of magnetite at higher pH. To predict Sn sorption, we applied surface complexation modeling using the charge distribution multisite complexation approach and the XAS-derived surface complexes. Log K values of 15.5 ± 1.4 for the (1)E complex and 19.2 ± 0.6 for the (2)C complex consistently predict Sn sorption across pH 2-12 and for two different Sn loadings and confirm the strong retention of Sn(II) even under anoxic conditions.

  3. AGT relations for abelian quiver gauge theories on ALE spaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pedrini, Mattia; Sala, Francesco; Szabo, Richard J.

    2016-05-01

    We construct level one dominant representations of the affine Kac-Moody algebra gl̂k on the equivariant cohomology groups of moduli spaces of rank one framed sheaves on the orbifold compactification of the minimal resolution Xk of the Ak-1 toric singularity C2 /Zk. We show that the direct sum of the fundamental classes of these moduli spaces is a Whittaker vector for gl̂k, which proves the AGT correspondence for pure N = 2 U(1) gauge theory on Xk. We consider Carlsson-Okounkov type Ext-bundles over products of the moduli spaces and use their Euler classes to define vertex operators. Under the decomposition gl̂k ≃ h ⊕sl̂k, these vertex operators decompose as products of bosonic exponentials associated to the Heisenberg algebra h and primary fields of sl̂k. We use these operators to prove the AGT correspondence for N = 2 superconformal abelian quiver gauge theories on Xk.

  4. Complexation between carrageenan and methylene blue for sensor design

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ling, Yew Pei; Heng, Lee Yook

    2013-11-01

    Theoretical studies on the methylene blue (MB)-carrageenans complexation at solution and solid states have been carried out via ultraviolet spectrophotoscopy and reflectometry methods. The equilibrium constant (Ka) of the MBcarrageenans complexation follows the order of Iota > Lambda > Kappa carrageenans, which indicated Iota-carrageenan forms a stable complex. MB-carrageenan complexation reaction showed decrease in Ka value from 210.71 ppm-1 to 114.57 ppm-1 when the reaction temperature increased from 298 K to 323 K. Le Chatelier's principle and mass action law explained that the MB-carrageenan complexation was an exothermic reaction (ΔH=-18.54 kJmol-1) that release heat. Thus MB-carrageenan complex was less stable at high temperature and tend to dissociate into free MB and carrageenan molecules. It was also supported by the van't Hoff equation. The reaction is a spontaneous process (ΔG=-13.23 kJmol-1) where the randomness of the molecules reduced (ΔS=-17.83 Jmol-1K-1) due to complexation. Besides, linear regression of the concentration and absorption of the MB-carrageenan reaction obeys the Beer Lambert law, which elucidated that the complexation process was not affected by any concentration dependent factors such as aggregation and self-quenching. Moreover, linear Benesi Hilderbrend plot revealed that the interaction between MB and carrageenan was a reversible and stoichiometric reaction with 1:1 ratio. However, the molar extinction coefficient (ɛ) and molar adsorption coefficient (μa) of the MB-carrageenan complex were lower compared to free MB, described that the complex was less adsorptive. The sensor constructed based on these theoretical investigations showed response behavior that was similar with solution test as both have attraction for carrageenans in the sequence of Iota-, Lambda-, Kappa- carrageenans. Likewise, carrageenan sensor was more selective towards Iota-carrageenan than to Lambda- and Kappa-carrageenans, and no response observed when

  5. Summary of Synoptic Meteorological Observations. Indonesian Coastal Marine Areas. Volume 1. Area 1 - Southeast Sumatra. Area 2 - Christmas Island. Area 3 - Sunda Strait. Area 4 - Northwest Java Sea. Area 5 - Bangka Island Northwest. Area 6 - Natuna Island. Area 7 - Sarawak

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1975-04-01

    AD/ A -006 923 SUMMARY OF SYNOPTIC METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. INDONESIAN COASTAL MARINE AREAS. VOLUME I. AREA 1 - SOUTHEAST SUMATRA. AREA 2...Weather Service Command Washington, D. C. April 1975 ;V, A DISTRIBUTED BY: Nausm Tsciulca Iufennls Suvm• U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 2 z z 0 0 ~ > o CI2LI...00 4 bO >~ d) cn q 00 ca (n~ -0E 4) fl) U C 0 E CD o :Cu -V 0. Cau . .t $4 Cu a X k) 04. " # Cu c.. - u 0- u c0 E Q =E 0 ca- 1 ca 4).,u 04$ = a )E ==r

  6. H4K20me0 marks post-replicative chromatin and recruits the TONSL₋MMS22L DNA repair complex

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

    Saredi, Giulia; Huang, Hongda; Hammond, Colin M.

    Here, we report that after DNA replication, chromosomal processes including DNA repair and transcription take place in the context of sister chromatids. While cell cycle regulation can guide these processes globally, mechanisms to distinguish pre- and post-replicative states locally remain unknown. In this paper we reveal that new histones incorporated during DNA replication provide a signature of post-replicative chromatin, read by the human TONSL–MMS22L 1, 2, 3, 4 homologous recombination complex. We identify the TONSL ankyrin repeat domain (ARD) as a reader of histone H4 tails unmethylated at K20 (H4K20me0), which are specific to new histones incorporated during DNA replicationmore » and mark post-replicative chromatin until the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Accordingly, TONSL–MMS22L binds new histones H3–H4 both before and after incorporation into nucleosomes, remaining on replicated chromatin until late G2/M. H4K20me0 recognition is required for TONSL–MMS22L binding to chromatin and accumulation at challenged replication forks and DNA lesions. Consequently, TONSL ARD mutants are toxic, compromising genome stability, cell viability and resistance to replication stress. Finally, together, these data reveal a histone-reader-based mechanism for recognizing the post-replicative state, offering a new angle to understand DNA repair with the potential for targeted cancer therapy.« less

  7. Vitamins K1 and K2: The Emerging Group of Vitamins Required for Human Health.

    PubMed

    Schwalfenberg, Gerry Kurt

    2017-01-01

    To review the evidence for the use of vitamin K supplementation in clinical conditions such as osteoporosis, vascular calcification, arthritis, cancer, renal calculi, diabetes, and warfarin therapy. PubMed was searched for articles on vitamin K (K1 and K2) along with books and conference proceedings and health conditions listed above. Level I and II evidence supports the use of vitamins K1 and K2 in osteoporosis and Level II evidence supports vitamin K2 in prevention of coronary calcification and cardiovascular disease. Evidence is insufficient for use in diabetes, arthritis, renal calculi, and cancer. Vitamin K2 may be a useful adjunct for the treatment of osteoporosis, along with vitamin D and calcium, rivaling bisphosphonate therapy without toxicity. It may also significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular health by reducing vascular calcification. Vitamin K2 appears promising in the areas of diabetes, cancer, and osteoarthritis. Vitamin K use in warfarin therapy is safe and may improve INR control, although a dosage adjustment is required. Vitamin K supplementation may be useful for a number of chronic conditions that are afflicting North Americans as the population ages. Supplementation may be required for bone and cardiovascular health.

  8. Measurement of branching fractions of B decays to K 1(1270)π and K 1(1400)π and determination of the CKM angle α from B 0→ a 1(1260) ± π ∓

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

    Stracka, Simone

    2011-02-01

    In the Standard Model, CP violation in weak interactions involving quarks is parameterized by an irreducible complex phase in the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) quark-mixing-matrix. The precise determination of the CKM elements is a necessary ingredient for a stringent test of the Standard Model predictions, and is a crucial input for reducing the theoretical error in many New Physics searches with flavor, e.g., in the kaon sector. The unitarity of the CKM matrix is typically expressed as a triangle relationship among its parameters, where the area of the so-called Unitarity Triangle visually depicts the amount of asymmetry between the decays of B particles and their antimatter counterparts. In the past few years, the BABAR and Belle experiments have been able to measure all three angles of the triangle from CP asymmetry measurements. The first asymmetry measurements in B particle decays, about ten years ago, allowed to determine β, which is now known to better than 5% precision. The angles α and γ, measured in much rarer processes, required several years of data taking before analyses could yield reliable answers. A remarkable feature is that the direct measurement of the angles of the Unitarity Triangle generates an area that is consistent with the area predicted by measurement of the sides. In this thesis we have presented the branching fraction measurements of charged and neutral B meson decays to K 1(1270)π and K 1(1400)π, obtained from a data sample of 454 million Υ(4S) → Bmore » $$\\bar{B}$$ events. This analysis is particularly challenging from the experimental side since the branching fractions involved are very low, at the level of 10 -6 - 10 -7, and the signal is characterized by the simultaneous presence of two overlapping resonances, which exhibit sizeable interference effects. The combined K 1(1270)π and K 1(1400)π signal is therefore modeled with a K-matrix formalism, which accounts for the effects of interference between the K 1

  9. Aminotroponiminate calcium and strontium complexes.

    PubMed

    Datta, Simmi; Gamer, Michael T; Roesky, Peter W

    2008-06-07

    Heteroleptic aminotroponiminate complexes of calcium and strontium have been prepared. The monomeric calcium complex [((iPr)2ATI)CaI(THF)3] 1 ((iPr)2ATI = N-isopropyl-2-(isopropylamino)troponiminate) and the corresponding dimeric strontium compound [( (iPr)2ATI)SrI(THF)2]2 2 were obtained by reaction of [((iPr)2ATI)K] and MI2. Whereas the mixed ligand compound of composition [((iPr)2ATI)Ca(iPrAT)]2 3 (iPrAT = 2-(isopropylamino)troponate) was not obtained via a salt metathesis but by reaction of [Ca(N(SiMe3)2)2(THF)2] with ( (iPr)2ATI)H and (iPrAT)H, the diphosphanylamido complex [( (iPr)2ATI)Ca((Ph2P)2N)(THF)2] was obtained by reaction of CaI2 with the potassium compounds [( (iPr)2ATI)K] and [K(THF)n][N(PPh2)2]. The single crystal X-ray structures of all compounds were established and the latter compound shows a eta2-coordination mode of the ligand via the nitrogen and one phosphorus atom.

  10. Nature and regional significance of unconformities associated with the Middle Ordovician Hagan K-bentonite complex in the North American midcontinent

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Kolata, Dennis R.; Huff, W.D.; Bergstrom, Stig M.

    1998-01-01

    Stratal patterns of the Middle Ordovician Hagan K-bentonite complex and associated rocks show that the Black River-Trenton unconformity in the North American midcontinent formed through the complex interplay of eustasy, sediment accumulation rates, siliciclastic influx, bathymetry, seawater chemistry, and perhaps local tectonic uplift. The unconformity is diachronous and is an amalgamated surface that resulted from local late Turinian lowstand exposure followed by regional early Chatfieldian transgressive drowning and sediment starvation. The duration of the unconformity is greatest in southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and northern Indiana, where the Deicke and Millbrig K-bentonite Beds converge at the unconformity. On the basis of published isotopic ages for the Deicke and Millbrig beds, it is possible that in these regions erosion and non-deposition spanned a period of as much as 3.2 m.y. Two broad coeval depositional settings are recognized within the North American midcontinent during early Chatfieldian time. 1) An inner shelf, subtidal facies of fossiliferous shale (Spechts Ferry Shale Member and Ion Shale Member of the Decorah Formation) and argillaceous lime mudstone and skeletal wackestone (Guttenberg and Kings Lake Limestone Members) extended from the Canadian shield and Transcontinental arch southeastward through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri. 2) A seaward, relatively deep subtidal, sediment-starved, middle shelf extended eastward from the Mississippi Valley region to the Taconian foreland basins in the central and southern Appalachians and southward through the pericratonic Arkoma and Black Warrior basins. In the inner shelf region, the Black River-Trenton unconformity is a composite of at least two prominent hardground omission surfaces, one at the top of the Castlewood and Carimona Limestone Members and the other at the top of the Guttenberg and Kings Lake Limestone Members, both merging to a single surface in the middle shelf region

  11. Interaction of the sea breeze with a river breeze in an area of complex coastal heating

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zhong, Shiyuan; Takle, Eugene S.; Leone, John M., Jr.

    1991-01-01

    The interaction of the sea-breeze circulation with a river-breeze circulation in an area of complex coastal heating (east coast of Florida) was studied using a 3D finite-element mesoscale model. The model simulations are compared with temperature and wind fields observed on a typical fall day during the Kennedy Space Center Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment. The results from numerical experiments designed to isolate the effect of the river breeze indicate that the convergence in the sea-breeze front is suppressed when it passes over the cooler surface of the rivers.

  12. Cryogen free cooling of ASTRO-H SXS Helium Dewar from 300 K to 4 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kanao, Ken'ichi; Yoshida, Seiji; Miyaoka, Mikio; Tsunematsu, Shoji; Otsuka, Kiyomi; Hoshika, Shunji; Narasaki, Katsuhiro; Mitsuda, Kazuhisa; Yamasaki, Noriko; Takei, Yoh; Fujimoto, Ryuji; Sato, Yoichi; Okamoto, Atsushi; Noda, Hirofumi; DiPirro, Michel J.; Shirron, Peter J.

    2017-12-01

    Soft X-ray Spectrometer instrument (SXS) is one of the primary scientific instruments of ASTRO-H. SXS has a cold detector that is cooled to 50 mK by using a multi-stage Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator (ADR). SXS Dewar containing ADR provides 1.3 K heat sink by using liquid helium in nominal operation. After liquid helium is dried up, 4 K heat sink is provided by using mechanical coolers. Both nominal operation and cryogen free operation were successfully demonstrated. This paper describes the test result of cryogen free operation and cool-down performance from room temperature by using only mechanical coolers without liquid helium. The coolers on the Dewar cooled down cold mass from around 300 K to 4 K with 260 W electric power in 40 days. Cold mass is 35 kg in 4 K area including the helium tank, ADR and detector assembly.

  13. Electrostatic Rate Enhancement and Transient Complex of Protein-Protein Association

    PubMed Central

    Alsallaq, Ramzi; Zhou, Huan-Xiang

    2012-01-01

    The association of two proteins is bounded by the rate at which they, via diffusion, find each other while in appropriate relative orientations. Orientational constraints restrict this rate to ~105 – 106 M−1s−1. Proteins with higher association rates generally have complementary electrostatic surfaces; proteins with lower association rates generally are slowed down by conformational changes upon complex formation. Previous studies (Zhou, Biophys. J. 1997;73:2441–2445) have shown that electrostatic enhancement of the diffusion-limited association rate can be accurately modeled by kD = kD0 exp(−*/ kBT), where kD and kD0 are the rates in the presence and absence of electrostatic interactions, respectively, * is the average electrostatic interaction energy in a “transient-complex” ensemble, and kBT is thermal energy. The transient-complex ensemble separates the bound state from the unbound state. Predictions of the transient-complex theory on four protein complexes were found to agree well with experiment when the electrostatic interaction energy was calculated with the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) equation (Alsallaq and Zhou, Structure 2007, 15:215–224). Here we show that the agreement is further improved when the nonlinear PB equation is used. These predictions are obtained with the dielectric boundary defined as the protein van der Waals surface. When the dielectric boundary is instead specified as the molecular surface, electrostatic interactions in the transient complex become repulsive and are thus predicted to retard association. Together these results demonstrate that the transient-complex theory is predictive of electrostatic rate enhancement and can help parameterize PB calculations. PMID:17932929

  14. Cross Sections for the Reactions e+e to K+ K- pi+pi-, K+ K- pi0pi0, and K+ K- K+ K- Measured Using Initial-State Radiation

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

    Lees, J.P.; Poireau, V.; Prencipe, E.

    2011-08-19

    We study the processes e{sup +}e{sup -} {yields} K{sup +}K{sup -}{pi}{sup +}{pi}-{gamma}, K{sup +}K{sup -}{pi}{sup 0}{pi}{sup 0}{gamma}, and K{sup +}K{sup -}K{sup +}K{sup -}{gamma}, where the photon is radiated from the initial state. About 84000, 8000, and 4200 fully reconstructed events, respectively, are selected from 454 fb{sup -1} of BABAR data. The invariant mass of the hadronic final state defines the e{sup +}e{sup -} center-of-mass energy, so that the K{sup +}K{sup -}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -}{gamma} data can be compared with direct measurements of the e{sup +}e{sup -} {yields} K{sup +}K{sup -}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} reaction. No direct measurements exist for the e{sup +}e{supmore » -} {yields} K{sup +}K{sup -}{pi}{sup 0}{pi}{sup 0} or e{sup +}e{sup -} {yields} K{sup +}K{sup -}K{sup +}K{sup -} reactions, and we present an update of our previous result with doubled statistics. Studying the structure of these events, we find contributions from a number of intermediate states, and extract their cross sections. In particular, we perform a more detailed study of the e{sup +}e{sup -} {yields} {phi}(1020){pi}{pi}{gamma} reaction, and confirm the presence of the Y (2175) resonance in the {phi}(1020)f{sub 0}(980) and K{sup +}K{sup -} f{sub 0}(980) modes. In the charmonium region, we observe the J/{psi} in all three final states and in several intermediate states, as well as the {phi}(2S) in some modes, and measure the corresponding branching fractions.« less

  15. Cross sections for the reactions e+e-→K+K-π+π-, K+K-π0π0, and K+K-K+K- measured using initial-state radiation events

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2012-07-01

    We study the processes e+e-→K+K-π+π-γ, K+K-π0π0γ, and K+K-K+K-γ, where the photon is radiated from the initial state. About 84 000, 8000, and 4200 fully reconstructed events, respectively, are selected from 454fb-1 of BABAR data. The invariant mass of the hadronic final state defines the e+e- center-of-mass energy, so that the K+K-π+π-γ data can be compared with direct measurements of the e+e-→K+K-π+π- reaction. No direct measurements exist for the e+e-→K+K-π0π0 or e+e-→K+K-K+K- reactions, and we present an update of our previous result based on a data sample that is twice as large. Studying the structure of these events, we find contributions from a number of intermediate states and extract their cross sections. In particular, we perform a more detailed study of the e+e-→ϕ(1020)ππγ reaction and confirm the presence of the Y(2175) resonance in the ϕ(1020)f0(980) and K+K-f0(980) modes. In the charmonium region, we observe the J/ψ in all three final states and in several intermediate states, as well as the ψ(2S) in some modes, and measure the corresponding products of branching fraction and electron width.

  16. The trans-[Ru(PPh3)2(N,N-dimethyl-N'-thiophenylthioureato-k2O,S)(bipy)]PF6 complex has pro-apoptotic effects on triple negative breast cancer cells and presents low toxicity in vivo.

    PubMed

    Becceneri, Amanda Blanque; Popolin, Cecília Patrícia; Plutin, Ana Maria; Maistro, Edson Luis; Castellano, Eduardo Ernesto; Batista, Alzir Azevedo; Cominetti, Márcia Regina

    2018-05-24

    Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous subtype of breast tumors that does not exhibit the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, neither the amplification of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) gene. Despite all the advances in cancer treatments, the development of new anticancer drugs for TNBC tumors is still a challenge. There is an increasing interest in new agents to be used in cancer treatment. Ruthenium is a metal that has unique characteristics and important in vivo and in vitro results achieved for cancer treatment. Thus, in this work, with the aim to develop anticancer drugs, three new ruthenium complexes containing acylthiourea ligands have been synthesized and characterized: trans-[Ru(PPh 3 ) 2 (N,N-dibutyl-N'-benzoylthioureato-k 2 O,S)(2,2'-bipyridine (bipy))]PF 6 (1), trans-[Ru(PPh 3 ) 2 (N,N-dimethyl-N'-thiophenylthioureato-k 2 O,S)(bipy)]PF 6 (2) and trans-[Ru(PPh 3 ) 2 (N,N-dimethyl-N'-benzoylthioureato-k 2 O,S)(bipy)]PF 6 (3). Then, the cytotoxicity of these three new ruthenium complexes was investigated in TNBC MDA-MB-231 and in non-tumor MCF-10A cells. Complex (2) was the most selective complex and was chosen for further studies to verify its effects on cell morphology, adhesion, migration, invasion, induction of apoptosis and DNA damage in vitro, as well as its toxicity and capacity of causing DNA damage in vivo. Complex (2) inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, adhesion, changed morphology and induced apoptosis, DNA damage and nuclear fragmentation of TNBC cells at lower concentrations compared to non-tumor MCF-10A cells, suggesting an effective action for this complex on tumor cells. Finally, complex (2) did not induce toxicity or caused DNA damage in vivo when low doses were administered to mice. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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

    PubMed

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

    1991-10-15

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

  18. K-Ras Populates Conformational States Differently from Its Isoform H-Ras and Oncogenic Mutant K-RasG12D.

    PubMed

    Parker, Jillian A; Volmar, Alicia Y; Pavlopoulos, Spiro; Mattos, Carla

    2018-06-05

    Structures of wild-type K-Ras from crystals obtained in the presence of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) or its analogs have remained elusive. Of the K-Ras mutants, only K-RasG12D and K-RasQ61H are available in the PDB representing the activated form of the GTPase not in complex with other proteins. We present the crystal structure of wild-type K-Ras bound to the GTP analog GppCH 2 p, with K-Ras in the state 1 conformation. Signatures of conformational states obtained by one-dimensional proton NMR confirm that K-Ras has a more substantial population of state 1 in solution than H-Ras, which predominantly favors state 2. The oncogenic mutant K-RasG12D favors state 2, changing the balance of conformational states in favor of interactions with effector proteins. Differences in the population of conformational states between K-Ras and H-Ras, as well as between K-Ras and its mutants, can provide a structural basis for focused targeting of the K-Ras isoform in cancer-specific strategies. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Vitamins K1 and K2: The Emerging Group of Vitamins Required for Human Health

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    Objective To review the evidence for the use of vitamin K supplementation in clinical conditions such as osteoporosis, vascular calcification, arthritis, cancer, renal calculi, diabetes, and warfarin therapy. Quality of Evidence PubMed was searched for articles on vitamin K (K1 and K2) along with books and conference proceedings and health conditions listed above. Level I and II evidence supports the use of vitamins K1 and K2 in osteoporosis and Level II evidence supports vitamin K2 in prevention of coronary calcification and cardiovascular disease. Evidence is insufficient for use in diabetes, arthritis, renal calculi, and cancer. Main Message Vitamin K2 may be a useful adjunct for the treatment of osteoporosis, along with vitamin D and calcium, rivaling bisphosphonate therapy without toxicity. It may also significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular health by reducing vascular calcification. Vitamin K2 appears promising in the areas of diabetes, cancer, and osteoarthritis. Vitamin K use in warfarin therapy is safe and may improve INR control, although a dosage adjustment is required. Conclusion Vitamin K supplementation may be useful for a number of chronic conditions that are afflicting North Americans as the population ages. Supplementation may be required for bone and cardiovascular health. PMID:28698808

  20. Cobalt complexes as internal standards for capillary zone electrophoresis-mass spectrometry studies in biological inorganic chemistry.

    PubMed

    Holtkamp, Hannah U; Morrow, Stuart J; Kubanik, Mario; Hartinger, Christian G

    2017-07-01

    Run-by-run variations are very common in capillary electrophoretic (CE) separations and cause imprecision in both the migration times and the peak areas. This makes peak and kinetic trend identification difficult and error prone. With the aim to identify suitable standards for CE separations which are compatible with the common detectors UV, ESI-MS, and ICP-MS, the Co III complexes [Co(en) 3 ]Cl 3 , [Co(acac) 3 ] and K[Co(EDTA)] were evaluated as internal standards in the reaction of the anticancer drug cisplatin and guanosine 5'-monophosphate as an example of a classical biological inorganic chemistry experiment. These Co III chelate complexes were considered for their stability, accessibility, and the low detection limit for Co in ICP-MS. Furthermore, the Co III complexes are positively and negatively charged as well as neutral, allowing the detection in different areas of the electropherograms. The background electrolytes were chosen to cover a wide pH range. The compatibility to the separation conditions was dependent on the ligands attached to the Co III centers, with only the acetylacetonato (acac) complex being applicable in the pH range 2.8-9.0. Furthermore, because of being charge neutral, this compound could be used as an electroosmotic flow (EOF) marker. In general, employing Co complexes resulted in improved data sets, particularly with regard to the migration times and peak areas, which resulted, for example, in higher linear ranges for the quantification of cisplatin.

  1. Chiral discrimination in cyclodextrin complexes of amino acid derivatives: beta-cyclodextrin/N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine and N-acetyl-D-phenylalanine complexes.

    PubMed

    Alexander, Jennifer M; Clark, Joanna L; Brett, Tom J; Stezowski, John J

    2002-04-16

    In a systematic study of molecular recognition of amino acid derivatives in solid-state beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) complexes, we have determined crystal structures for complexes of beta-cyclodextrin/N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine at 298 and 20 K and for N-acetyl-D-phenylalanine at 298 K. The crystal structures for the N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine complex present disordered inclusion complexes for which the distribution of guest molecules at room temperature is not resolvable; however, they can be located with considerable confidence at low temperature. In contrast, the complex with N-acetyl-D-phenylalanine is well ordered at room temperature. The latter complex presents an example of a complex in this series in which a water molecule is included deeply in the hydrophobic torus of the extended dimer host. In an effort to understand the mechanisms of molecular recognition giving rise to the dramatic differences in crystallographic order in these crystal structures, we have examined the intermolecular interactions in detail and have examined insertion of the enantiomer of the D-complex into the chiral beta-CD complex crystal lattice.

  2. Complexity in Language Learning and Treatment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Thompson, Cynthia K.

    2007-01-01

    Purpose: To introduce a Clinical Forum focused on the Complexity Account of Treatment Efficacy (C. K. Thompson, L. P. Shapiro, S. Kiran, & J. Sobecks, 2003), a counterintuitive but effective approach for treating language disorders. This approach espouses training "complex" structures to promote generalized improvement of simpler, linguistically…

  3. New infinite-dimensional hidden symmetries for heterotic string theory

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

    Gao Yajun

    The symmetry structures of two-dimensional heterotic string theory are studied further. A (2d+n)x(2d+n) matrix complex H-potential is constructed and the field equations are extended into a complex matrix formulation. A pair of Hauser-Ernst-type linear systems are established. Based on these linear systems, explicit formulations of new hidden symmetry transformations for the considered theory are given and then these symmetry transformations are verified to constitute infinite-dimensional Lie algebras: the semidirect product of the Kac-Moody o(d,d+n-circumflex) and Virasoro algebras (without center charges). These results demonstrate that the heterotic string theory under consideration possesses more and richer symmetry structures than previously expected.

  4. Study of the D K K and D K K ¯ systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Debastiani, V. R.; Dias, J. M.; Oset, E.

    2017-07-01

    Using the fixed center approximation to Faddeev equations, we investigate the D K K and D K K ¯ three-body systems, considering that the D K dynamically generates, through its I =0 component, the Ds0 *(2317 ) molecule. According to our findings, for the D K K ¯ interaction we find evidence of a state I (JP)=1 /2 (0-) just above the Ds0 *(2317 )K ¯ threshold and around the D f0(980 ) threshold, with mass of about 2833-2858 MeV, made mostly of D f0(980 ). On the other hand, no evidence related to a state from the D K K interaction is found. The state found could be seen in the π π D invariant mass.

  5. Structure of GlnK1 with bound effectors indicates regulatory mechanism for ammonia uptake.

    PubMed

    Yildiz, Ozkan; Kalthoff, Christoph; Raunser, Stefan; Kühlbrandt, Werner

    2007-01-24

    A binary complex of the ammonia channel Amt1 from Methanococcus jannaschii and its cognate P(II) signalling protein GlnK1 has been produced and characterized. Complex formation is prevented specifically by the effector molecules Mg-ATP and 2-ketoglutarate. Single-particle electron microscopy of the complex shows that GlnK1 binds on the cytoplasmic side of Amt1. Three high-resolution X-ray structures of GlnK1 indicate that the functionally important T-loop has an extended, flexible conformation in the absence of Mg-ATP, but assumes a compact, tightly folded conformation upon Mg-ATP binding, which in turn creates a 2-ketoglutarate-binding site. We propose a regulatory mechanism by which nitrogen uptake is controlled by the binding of both effector molecules to GlnK1. At normal effector levels, a 2-ketoglutarate molecule binding at the apex of the compact T-loop would prevent complex formation, ensuring uninhibited ammonia uptake. At low levels of Mg-ATP, the extended loops would seal the ammonia channels in the complex. Binding of both effector molecules to P(II) signalling proteins may thus represent an effective feedback mechanism for regulating ammonium uptake through the membrane.

  6. Contrasting Patterns of Cortical Input to Architectural Subdivisions of the Area 8 Complex: A Retrograde Tracing Study in Marmoset Monkeys

    PubMed Central

    Reser, David H.; Burman, Kathleen J.; Yu, Hsin-Hao; Chaplin, Tristan A.; Richardson, Karyn E.; Worthy, Katrina H.; Rosa, Marcello G.P.

    2013-01-01

    Contemporary studies recognize 3 distinct cytoarchitectural and functional areas within the Brodmann area 8 complex, in the caudal prefrontal cortex: 8b, 8aD, and 8aV. Here, we report on the quantitative characteristics of the cortical projections to these areas, using injections of fluorescent tracers in marmoset monkeys. Area 8b was distinct from both 8aD and 8aV due to its connections with medial prefrontal, anterior cingulate, superior temporal polysensory, and ventral midline/retrosplenial areas. In contrast, areas 8aD and 8aV received the bulk of the projections from posterior parietal cortex and dorsal midline areas. In the frontal lobe, area 8aV received projections primarily from ventrolateral areas, while both 8aD and 8b received dense inputs from areas on the dorsolateral surface. Whereas area 8aD received the most significant auditory projections, these were relatively sparse, in comparison with those previously reported in macaques. Finally, area 8aV was distinct from both 8aD and 8b by virtue of its widespread input from the extrastriate visual areas. These results are compatible with a homologous organization of the prefrontal cortex in New and Old World monkeys, and suggest significant parallels between the present pathways, revealed by tract-tracing, and networks revealed by functional connectivity analysis in Old World monkeys and humans. PMID:22735155

  7. Unravelling regolith material types using Mg/Al and K/Al plot to support field regolith identification in the savannah regions of NW Ghana, West Africa

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Arhin, Emmanuel; Zango, Saeed M.

    2015-12-01

    The XRF analytical method was used to measure the weight % of the major oxides in regolith samples. The metal weight % of Mg, K and Al were calculated from their oxides and were normalised relative to immobile Al calculated from its oxide. The plot of Mg/Al and K/Al identified the regolith of the study area to consist of 137 transported clays, 4 ferruginous sediments or ferricrete, 2 lateritic duricrust and 4 saprolites. Surface regolith that had undergone secondary transformation and shows compositional overlaps were 4 transported clays with Fe-oxide impregnation may be referred to as nodular laterite and 5 ferruginous saprolites. The variable regolith materials features identified from the 154 samples enabled the characterisation and identification of the different sample materials because an overprint of bedrock geochemistry is reflected in the regolith. Plot of Mg/Al and K/Al highlighted the compositional variability of the regolith samples and refute the notion of the homogeneity of all the sampled materials in the area. The study thus recognized Mg/Al versus K/Al plots to be used in supporting field identification of regolith mapping units particularly in complex regolith terrains of savannah regions of Ghana and in similar areas where geochemical exploration surveys are being carried out under cover.

  8. Control of cerium oxidation state through metal complex secondary structures

    DOE PAGES

    Levin, Jessica R.; Dorfner, Walter L.; Carroll, Patrick J.; ...

    2015-08-11

    A series of alkali metal cerium diphenylhydrazido complexes, M x(py) y[Ce(PhNNPh) 4], M = Li, Na, and K, x = 4 (Li and Na) or 5 (K), and y = 4 (Li), 8 (Na), or 7 (K), were synthesized to probe how a secondary coordination sphere would modulate electronic structures at a cerium cation. The resulting electronic structures of the heterobimetallic cerium diphenylhydrazido complexes were found to be strongly dependent on the identity of the alkali metal cations. When M = Li + or Na +, the cerium(III) starting material was oxidized with concomitant reduction of 1,2-diphenylhydrazine to aniline. Reductionmore » of 1,2-diphenylhydrazine was not observed when M = K +, and the complex remained in the cerium(III) oxidation state. Oxidation of the cerium(III) diphenylhydrazido complex to the Ce( IV) diphenylhydrazido one was achieved through a simple cation exchange reaction of the alkali metals. As a result, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, electrochemistry, magnetic susceptibility, and DFT studies were used to probe the oxidation state and the electronic changes that occurred at the metal centre.« less

  9. Sulfur K-edge XAS of WV=O vs. MoV=O Bis(dithiolene) Complexes: Contributions of Relativistic Effects to Electronic Structure and Reactivity of Tungsten Enzymes†

    PubMed Central

    Tenderholt, Adam L.; Szilagyi, Robert K.; Holm, Richard H.; Hodgson, Keith O.; Hedman, Britt; Solomon, Edward I.

    2009-01-01

    Molybdenum- or tungsten-containing enzymes catalyze oxygen atom transfer reactions involved in carbon, sulfur, or nitrogen metabolism. It has been observed that reduction potentials and oxygen atom transfer rates are different for W relative to Mo enzymes and the isostructural Mo/W complexes. Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations on [MoVO(bdt)2]− and [WVO(bdt)2]−, where bdt = benzene-1,2-dithiolate(2−), have been used to determine that the energies of the half-filled redox-active orbital, and thus the reduction potentials and M=O bond strengths, are different for these complexes due to relativistic effects in the W sites. PMID:17720249

  10. Vacancy-fluorine complexes and their impact on the properties of metal-oxide transistors with high-k gate dielectrics studied using monoenergetic positron beams

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Uedono, A.; Inumiya, S.; Matsuki, T.; Aoyama, T.; Nara, Y.; Ishibashi, S.; Ohdaira, T.; Suzuki, R.; Miyazaki, S.; Yamada, K.

    2007-09-01

    Vacancy-fluorine complexes in metal-oxide semiconductors (MOS) with high-k gate dielectrics were studied using a positron annihilation technique. F+ ions were implanted into Si substrates before the deposition of gate dielectrics (HfSiON). The shift of threshold voltage (Vth) in MOS capacitors and an increase in Fermi level position below the HfSiON/Si interface were observed after F+ implantation. Doppler broadening spectra of the annihilation radiation and positron lifetimes were measured before and after HfSiON fabrication processes. From a comparison between Doppler broadening spectra and those obtained by first-principles calculation, the major defect species in Si substrates after annealing treatment (1050 °C, 5 s) was identified as vacancy-fluorine complexes (V3F2). The origin of the Vth shift in the MOS capacitors was attributed to V3F2 located in channel regions.

  11. Different metabolic profiles of K1 serotype and non-serotype K1 and K2 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in oral infection mice model.

    PubMed

    Chen, Nan; Wang, Lin-Lin; Xue, Juan; Ma, Xiang-Bo; Zhao, Sheng; Rong, Rui-Xue; Li, Hong-Quan; Ding, Liang; Zheng, Ming-Zhi; Chen, Ying-Ying; Duan, Fei; Shen, Yue-Liang

    2014-10-01

    K1 or K2 serotype Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate caused clinical pyogenic liver abscess (KLA) infection is prevalent in many areas. It has been identified that K1 or K2 serotype K. pneumoniae isolates caused KLA infection in mice by oral inoculation. In our study, K1 serotype K. pneumoniae isolate Kp1002 with hypermucoviscosity (HV)-positive phenotype caused KLA infection in C57BL/6 mice by oral inoculation. Simultaneously, non-serotype K1 and K2 isolate Kp1014 with HV-negative phenotype failed to cause KLA infection in the same manner. It seems that gastrointestinal tract translocation is the pathway by which K1 or K2 serotype K. pneumoniae caused KLA infection. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to further analyze metabolic profile changes in mice with KLA infection. Data showed that after Kp1002 or Kp1014 oral inoculation, serum Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) levels significantly changed in mice. Some PC and LPC molecules showed changes both in the Kp1002 KLA group and the Kp1014 no-KLA group compared with the control group. The level of 18:1/18:2-PC significantly changed in the Kp1002 KLA group compared with the control group, but showed no change between the Kp1014 no-KLA group and the control group. The level of 18:1/18:2-PC might have been particularly affected by KLA infection caused by K1 serotype K. pneumoniae Kp1002. It may be a potential biomarker for KLA infection. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. 100-K Target Analyte List Development for Soil

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

    Ovink, R.

    2012-09-18

    This report documents the process used to identify source area target analytes in support of the 100-K Area remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) addendum to the Integrated 100 Area Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Work Plan (DOE/RL-2008-46, Rev. 0).

  13. Characterization of aspartame-cyclodextrin complexation.

    PubMed

    Sohajda, Tamás; Béni, Szabolcs; Varga, Erzsébet; Iványi, Róbert; Rácz, Akos; Szente, Lajos; Noszál, Béla

    2009-12-05

    The inclusion complex formation of aspartame (guest) and various cyclodextrins (host) were examined using 1H NMR titration and capillary electrophoresis. Initially the protonation constants of aspartame were determined by NMR-pH titration with in situ pH measurement to yield log K1=7.83 and log K2=2.96. Based on these values the stability of the complexes formed by aspartame and 21 different cyclodextrins (CDs) were studied at pH 2.5, pH 5.2 and pH 9.0 values where aspartame exists predominantly in monocationic, zwitterionic and monoanionic form, respectively. The host cyclodextrin derivatives differed in various sidechains, degree of substitution, charge and purity so that the effect of these properties could be examined systematically. Concerning size, the seven-membered beta-cyclodextrin and its derivatives have been found to be the most suitable host molecules for complexation. Highest stability was observed for the acetylated derivative with a degree of substitution of 7. The purity of the CD enhanced the complexation while the degree of substitution did not provide obvious consequences. Finally, geometric aspects of the inclusion complex were assessed by 2D ROESY NMR and molecular modelling which proved that the guest's aromatic ring enters the wider end of the host cavity.

  14. The Vitamin K Oxidoreductase Is a Multimer That Efficiently Reduces Vitamin K Epoxide to Hydroquinone to Allow Vitamin K-dependent Protein Carboxylation*

    PubMed Central

    Rishavy, Mark A.; Hallgren, Kevin W.; Wilson, Lee A.; Usubalieva, Aisulu; Runge, Kurt W.; Berkner, Kathleen L.

    2013-01-01

    The vitamin K oxidoreductase (VKORC1) recycles vitamin K to support the activation of vitamin K-dependent (VKD) proteins, which have diverse functions that include hemostasis and calcification. VKD proteins are activated by Glu carboxylation, which depends upon the oxygenation of vitamin K hydroquinone (KH2). The vitamin K epoxide (KO) product is recycled by two reactions, i.e. KO reduction to vitamin K quinone (K) and then to KH2, and recent studies have called into question whether VKORC1 reduces K to KH2. Analysis in insect cells lacking endogenous carboxylation components showed that r-VKORC1 reduces KO to efficiently drive carboxylation, indicating KH2 production. Direct detection of the vitamin K reaction products is confounded by KH2 oxidation, and we therefore developed a new assay that stabilized KH2 and allowed quantitation. Purified VKORC1 analyzed in this assay showed efficient KO to KH2 reduction. Studies in 293 cells expressing tagged r-VKORC1 revealed that VKORC1 is a multimer, most likely a dimer. A monomer can only perform one reaction, and a dimer is therefore interesting in explaining how VKORC1 accomplishes both reactions. An inactive mutant (VKORC1(C132A/C135A)) was dominant negative in heterodimers with wild type VKORC1, resulting in decreased KO reduction in cells and carboxylation in vitro. The results are significant regarding human VKORC1 mutations, as warfarin-resistant patients have mutant and wild type VKORC1 alleles. A VKORC1 dimer indicates a mixed population of homodimers and heterodimers that may have different functional properties, and VKORC1 reduction may therefore be more complex in these patients than appreciated previously. PMID:23918929

  15. K-Ar geochronology of the Survey Pass, Ambler River and Eastern Baird Mountains quadrangles, southwestern Brooks Range, Alaska

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Turner, Donald L.; Forbes, R.B.; Mayfield, C.F.

    1978-01-01

    We report 76 previously unpublished K-Ar mineral ages from 47 metamorphic and igneous rocks in the southwestern Brooks Range. The pattern of radiometric ages is complex, reflecting the complex geologic history of this area. Local and regional radiometric evidence suggests that the southern Brooks Range schist belt has, at least in part, undergone a late Precambrian metamorphism and that the parent sedimentary and igneous rocks for the metamorphic rocks dated as late Precambrian are at least this old (Precambrian Z). This schist terrane experienced a major thermal event in mid-Cretaceous time, causing widespread resetting of nearly all K-Ar mica ages. A series of apparent ages intermediate between late Precambrian and mid-Cretaceous are interpreted as indicating varying amounts of partial argon loss from older rocks during the Cretaceous event. The schist belt is characterized by dominant metasediments and subordinate metabasites and metafelsites. Blueschists occur within the schist belt from the Chandalar quadrangle westward to the Baird Mountains quadrangle, but geologic evidence does not support the existence of a fossil subduction zone.

  16. Dissociation kinetics of Mn2+ complexes of NOTA and DOTA.

    PubMed

    Drahoš, Bohuslav; Kubíček, Vojtěch; Bonnet, Célia S; Hermann, Petr; Lukeš, Ivan; Tóth, Éva

    2011-03-07

    The kinetics of transmetallation of [Mn(nota)](-) and [Mn(dota)](2-) was investigated in the presence of Zn(2+) (5-50-fold excess) at variable pH (3.5-5.6) by (1)H relaxometry. The dissociation is much faster for [Mn(nota)](-) than for [Mn(dota)](2-) under both experimental and physiologically relevant conditions (t(½) = 74 h and 1037 h for [Mn(nota)](-) and [Mn(dota)](2-), respectively, at pH 7.4, c(Zn(2+)) = 10(-5) M, 25 °C). The dissociation of the complexes proceeds mainly via spontaneous ([Mn(nota)](-)k(0) = (2.6 ± 0.5) × 10(-6) s(-1); [Mn(dota)](2-)k(0) = (1.8 ± 0.6) × 10(-7) s(-1)) and proton-assisted pathways ([Mn(nota)](-)k(1) = (7.8 ± 0.1) × 10(-1) M(-1) s(-1); [Mn(dota)](2-)k(1) = (4.0 ± 0.6) × 10(-2) M(-1) s(-1), k(2) = (1.6 ± 0.1) × 10(3) M(-2) s(-1)). The observed suppression of the reaction rates with increasing Zn(2+) concentration is explained by the formation of a dinuclear Mn(2+)-L-Zn(2+) complex which is about 20-times more stable for [Mn(dota)](2-) than for [Mn(nota)](-) (K(MnLZn) = 68 and 3.6, respectively), and which dissociates very slowly (k(3)∼10(-5) M(-1) s(-1)). These data provide the first experimental proof that not all Mn(2+) complexes are kinetically labile. The absence of coordinated water makes both [Mn(nota)](-) and [Mn(dota)](2-) complexes inefficient for MRI applications. Nevertheless, the higher kinetic inertness of [Mn(dota)](2-) indicates a promising direction in designing ligands for Mn(2+) complexation.

  17. Search Complexities for HTN Planning

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-01-01

    AUTHORS 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAMES AND ADDRESSES 15. SUBJECT TERMS b . ABSTRACT 2. REPORT TYPE 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT 15. NUMBER OF...43 3.1 Complexity of plan-existence for propositional delete-free STRIPS and HTN planning with various restrictions ( k ...paper, we are concerned with two HTN decision problems: plan-existence, for whether a problem has any solution, and k -length-plan-existence, for whether a

  18. Modeling and Docking Studies on Novel Mutants (K71L and T204V) of the ATPase Domain of Human Heat Shock 70 kDa Protein 1

    PubMed Central

    Elengoe, Asita; Naser, Mohammed Abu; Hamdan, Salehhuddin

    2014-01-01

    The purpose of exploring protein interactions between human adenovirus and heat shock protein 70 is to exploit a potentially synergistic interaction to enhance anti-tumoral efficacy and decrease toxicity in cancer treatment. However, the protein interaction of Hsp70 with E1A32 kDa of human adenovirus serotype 5 remains to be elucidated. In this study, two residues of ATPase domain of human heat shock 70 kDa protein 1 (PDB: 1 HJO) were mutated. 3D mutant models (K71L and T204V) using PyMol software were then constructed. The structures were evaluated by PROCHECK, ProQ, ERRAT, Verify 3D and ProSA modules. All evidence suggests that all protein models are acceptable and of good quality. The E1A32 kDa motif was retrieved from UniProt (P03255), as well as subjected to docking interaction with NBD, K71L and T204V, using the Autodock 4.2 program. The best lowest binding energy value of −9.09 kcal/mol was selected for novel T204V. Moreover, the protein-ligand complex structures were validated by RMSD, RMSF, hydrogen bonds and salt bridge analysis. This revealed that the T204V-E1A32 kDa motif complex was the most stable among all three complex structures. This study provides information about the interaction between Hsp70 and the E1A32 kDa motif, which emphasizes future perspectives to design rational drugs and vaccines in cancer therapy. PMID:24758925

  19. Measurements of the branching fractions for D + → K S 0 K S 0 K + , K S 0 K S 0 π + and D 0 → K S 0 K S 0 , K S 0 K S 0 K S 0

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

    Ablikim, M.; Achasov, M. N.; Ahmed, S.

    By analyzing 2.93 fb-1 of data taken at the ψ (3770) resonance peak with the BESIII detector, we measure the branching fractions for the hadronic decays D +→Kmore » $$0\\atop{S}$$K$$0\\atop{S}$$K +, D +→K$$0\\atop{S}$$K$$0\\atop{S}$$π +. D 0→K$$0\\atop{S}$$K$$0\\atop{S}$$ and D 0→K$$0\\atop{S}$$K$$0\\atop{S}$$K$$0\\atop{S}$$.« less

  20. Measurements of the branching fractions for D + → K S 0 K S 0 K + , K S 0 K S 0 π + and D 0 → K S 0 K S 0 , K S 0 K S 0 K S 0

    DOE PAGES

    Ablikim, M.; Achasov, M. N.; Ahmed, S.; ...

    2016-12-13

    By analyzing 2.93 fb-1 of data taken at the ψ (3770) resonance peak with the BESIII detector, we measure the branching fractions for the hadronic decays D +→Kmore » $$0\\atop{S}$$K$$0\\atop{S}$$K +, D +→K$$0\\atop{S}$$K$$0\\atop{S}$$π +. D 0→K$$0\\atop{S}$$K$$0\\atop{S}$$ and D 0→K$$0\\atop{S}$$K$$0\\atop{S}$$K$$0\\atop{S}$$.« less

  1. Suppressing the formation of lipid raft-associated Rac1/PI3K/Akt signaling complexes by curcumin inhibits SDF-1α-induced invasion of human esophageal carcinoma cells.

    PubMed

    Lin, Meng-Liang; Lu, Yao-Cheng; Chen, Hung-Yi; Lee, Chuan-Chun; Chung, Jing-Gung; Chen, Shih-Shun

    2014-05-01

    Stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) is a ligand for C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), which contributes to the metastasis of cancer cells by promoting cell migration. Here, we show that the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis can significantly increase invasion of esophageal carcinoma (EC) cells. We accomplished this by examining the effects of CXCR4 knockdown as well as treatment with a CXCR4-neutralizing antibody and the CXCR4-specific inhibitor AMD3100. Curcumin suppressed SDF-1α-induced cell invasion and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) promoter activity, cell surface localization of CXCR4 at lipid rafts, and lipid raft-associated ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) p85α/Akt signaling. Curcumin inhibited SDF-1α-induced cell invasion by suppressing the Rac1-PI3K signaling complex at lipid rafts but did not abrogate lipid raft formation. We further demonstrate that the attenuation of lipid raft-associated Rac1 activity by curcumin was critical for the inhibition of SDF-1α-induced PI3K/Akt/NF-κB activation, cell surface localization of CXCR4 at lipid rafts, MMP-2 promoter activity, and cell invasion. Collectively, our results indicate that curcumin inhibits SDF-1α-induced EC cell invasion by suppressing the formation of the lipid raft-associated Rac1-PI3K-Akt signaling complex, the localization of CXCR4 with lipid rafts at the cell surface, and MMP-2 promoter activity, likely through the inhibition of Rac1 activity. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  2. A Fast Exact k-Nearest Neighbors Algorithm for High Dimensional Search Using k-Means Clustering and Triangle Inequality.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xueyi

    2012-02-08

    The k-nearest neighbors (k-NN) algorithm is a widely used machine learning method that finds nearest neighbors of a test object in a feature space. We present a new exact k-NN algorithm called kMkNN (k-Means for k-Nearest Neighbors) that uses the k-means clustering and the triangle inequality to accelerate the searching for nearest neighbors in a high dimensional space. The kMkNN algorithm has two stages. In the buildup stage, instead of using complex tree structures such as metric trees, kd-trees, or ball-tree, kMkNN uses a simple k-means clustering method to preprocess the training dataset. In the searching stage, given a query object, kMkNN finds nearest training objects starting from the nearest cluster to the query object and uses the triangle inequality to reduce the distance calculations. Experiments show that the performance of kMkNN is surprisingly good compared to the traditional k-NN algorithm and tree-based k-NN algorithms such as kd-trees and ball-trees. On a collection of 20 datasets with up to 10(6) records and 10(4) dimensions, kMkNN shows a 2-to 80-fold reduction of distance calculations and a 2- to 60-fold speedup over the traditional k-NN algorithm for 16 datasets. Furthermore, kMkNN performs significant better than a kd-tree based k-NN algorithm for all datasets and performs better than a ball-tree based k-NN algorithm for most datasets. The results show that kMkNN is effective for searching nearest neighbors in high dimensional spaces.

  3. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb and muscovite K-Ar ages of basement rocks from the south arm of Sulawesi, Indonesia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jaya, Asri; Nishikawa, Osamu; Hayasaka, Yasutaka

    2017-11-01

    The zircon U-Pb and muscovite K-Ar age from the Bantimala, Barru and Biru basement complexes in the South Arm of Sulawesi, Indonesia provide new information regarding the timing of magmatism, metamorphism and sedimentation in this region and have implications for the origin and evolution of the study area. The study area is at the juncture between the southeast margin of Sundaland and Bird's Head-Australia. The age of both the zircon U-Pb of detrital materials in the Bantimala Complex and the muscovite K-Ar of amphibolite in the Biru Complex fall in the Late Early Cretaceous (between 109 and 115 Ma), which is a similar age range to previous data for both the sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. The youngest detrital zircon in the schist samples from the Barru Complex fall into the Triassic in age (between 243 and 247 Ma). These age data indicate that the protolith of all three basement complexes were involved in the subduction system and metamorphosed in the late Early Cretaceous, but there are several differences in their deposition environment under and out of the influence of the late Early Cretaceous magmatism in the Bantimala and Barru Complexes, respectively. Felsic igneous activities are confirmed in the Late Cretaceous and the Eocene by the zircon U-Pb age of igneous rocks intruding or included as detrital fragments in three basement complexes. These dates are similar to those reported from the Meratus Complex of South Kalimantan. The detrital zircon age distributions of the basement rocks in the South Arm of Sulawesi display predominant Mesozoic (Cretaceous and Triassic) and Paleozoic populations with a small population of Proterozoic ages supporting the hypothesis that the West Sulawesi block originated from the region of the circum Bird's Head-Australian, namely the Inner Banda block. The absence of Jurassic zircon age population in the South Arm of Sulawesi suggests the division of the South Arm of Sulawesi from the Inner Banda block in early stage of

  4. Lesson Development for English Learners in Content Area Settings: Key Considerations. Q&A with Sarah Catherine K. Moore, Ph.D. 2016 Educator Effectiveness Webinar Series

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Moore, Sarah Catherine K.

    2016-01-01

    In this webinar, Dr. Sarah Catherine K. Moore, Program Director at the Center for Applied Linguistics, outlined factors for content area teachers to consider as they design and deliver lessons for mainstream classrooms that include English learner (EL) students. This Q&A addressed the questions participants had for Dr. Moore following the…

  5. ND3, ND1 and 39 kDa subunits are more exposed in the de-active form of bovine mitochondrial complex I

    PubMed Central

    Babot, Marion; Labarbuta, Paola; Birch, Amanda; Kee, Sara; Fuszard, Matthew; Botting, Catherine H.; Wittig, Ilka; Heide, Heinrich; Galkin, Alexander

    2014-01-01

    An intriguing feature of mitochondrial complex I from several species is the so-called A/D transition, whereby the idle enzyme spontaneously converts from the active (A) form to the de-active (D) form. The A/D transition plays an important role in tissue response to the lack of oxygen and hypoxic deactivation of the enzyme is one of the key regulatory events that occur in mitochondria during ischaemia. We demonstrate for the first time that the A/D conformational change of complex I does not affect the macromolecular organisation of supercomplexes in vitro as revealed by two types of native electrophoresis. Cysteine 39 of the mitochondrially-encoded ND3 subunit is known to become exposed upon de-activation. Here we show that even if complex I is a constituent of the I + III2 + IV (S1) supercomplex, cysteine 39 is accessible for chemical modification in only the D-form. Using lysine-specific fluorescent labelling and a DIGE-like approach we further identified two new subunits involved in structural rearrangements during the A/D transition: ND1 (MT-ND1) and 39 kDa (NDUFA9). These results clearly show that structural rearrangements during de-activation of complex I include several subunits located at the junction between hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains, in the region of the quinone binding site. De-activation of mitochondrial complex I results in concerted structural rearrangement of membrane subunits which leads to the disruption of the sealed quinone chamber required for catalytic turnover. PMID:24560811

  6. Sorption and speciation of iodine in groundwater system: The roles of organic matter and organic-mineral complexes.

    PubMed

    Li, Junxia; Zhou, Hailing; Wang, Yanxin; Xie, Xianjun; Qian, Kun

    2017-06-01

    Characterizing the properties of main host of iodine in soil/sediment and the geochemical behaviors of iodine species are critical to understand the mechanisms of iodine mobilization in groundwater systems. Four surface soil and six subsurface sediment samples were collected from the iodine-affected area of Datong basin in northern China to conduct batch experiments and to evaluate the effects of NOM and/or organic-mineral complexes on iodide/iodate geochemical behaviors. The results showed that both iodine contents and k f -iodate values had positive correlations with solid TOC contents, implying the potential host of NOM for iodine in soil/sediment samples. The results of chemical removal of easily extracted NOM indicated that the NOM of surface soils is mainly composed of surface embedded organic matter, while sediment NOM mainly occurs in the form of organic-mineral complexes. After the removal of surface sorbed NOM, the decrease in k f -iodate value of treated surface soils indicates that surface sorbed NOM enhances iodate adsorption onto surface soil. By contrast, k f -iodate value increases in several H 2 O 2 -treated sediment samples, which was considered to result from exposed rod-like minerals rich in Fe/Al oxyhydroxide/oxides. After chemical removal of organic-mineral complexes, the lowest k f -iodate value for both treated surface soils and sediments suggests the dominant role of organic-mineral complexes on controlling the iodate geochemical behavior. In comparison with iodate, iodide exhibited lower affinities on all (un)treated soil/sediment samples. The understanding of different geochemical behaviors of iodine species helps to explain the occurrence of high iodine groundwater with iodate and iodide as the main species in shallow (oxidizing conditions) and deep (reducing conditions) groundwater. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  7. Elevated extracellular [K+] inhibits death-receptor- and chemical-mediated apoptosis prior to caspase activation and cytochrome c release.

    PubMed Central

    Thompson, G J; Langlais, C; Cain, K; Conley, E C; Cohen, G M

    2001-01-01

    Efflux of intracellular K(+) and cell shrinkage are features of apoptosis in many experimental systems, and a regulatory role has been proposed for cytoplasmic [K(+)] in initiating apoptosis. We have investigated this in both death-receptor-mediated and chemical-induced apoptosis. Using Jurkat T cells pre-loaded with the K(+) ion surrogate (86)Rb(+), we have demonstrated an efflux of intracellular K(+) during apoptosis that was concomitant with, but did not precede, other apoptotic changes, including phosphatidylserine externalization, mitochondrial depolarization and cell shrinkage. To further clarify the role of K(+) ions in apoptosis, cytoprotection by elevated extracellular [K(+)] was studied. Induction of apoptosis by diverse death-receptor and chemical stimuli in two cell lines was inhibited prior to phosphatidylserine externalization, mitochondrial depolarization, cytochrome c release and caspase activation. Using a cell-free system, we have demonstrated a novel mechanism by which increasing [K(+)] inhibited caspase activation. In control dATP-activated lysates, Apaf-1 oligomerized to a biologically active caspase processing approximately 700 kDa complex and an inactive approximately 1.4 MDa complex. Increasing [K(+)] inhibited caspase activation by preventing formation of the approximately 700 kDa complex, but not of the inactive complex. Thus intracellular and extracellular [K(+)] markedly affect caspase activation and the initiation of apoptosis induced by both death-receptor ligation and chemical stress. PMID:11415444

  8. Contribution of ground surface altitude difference to thermal anomaly detection using satellite images: Application to volcanic/geothermal complexes in the Andes of Central Chile

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gutiérrez, Francisco J.; Lemus, Martín; Parada, Miguel A.; Benavente, Oscar M.; Aguilera, Felipe A.

    2012-09-01

    Detection of thermal anomalies in volcanic-geothermal areas using remote sensing methodologies requires the subtraction of temperatures, not provided by geothermal manifestations (e.g. hot springs, fumaroles, active craters), from satellite image kinetic temperature, which is assumed to correspond to the ground surface temperature. Temperatures that have been subtracted in current models include those derived from the atmospheric transmittance, reflectance of the Earth's surface (albedo), topography effect, thermal inertia and geographic position effect. We propose a model that includes a new parameter (K) that accounts for the variation of temperature with ground surface altitude difference in areas where steep relief exists. The proposed model was developed and applied, using ASTER satellite images, in two Andean volcanic/geothermal complexes (Descabezado Grande-Cerro Azul Volcanic Complex and Planchón-Peteroa-Azufre Volcanic Complex) where field data of atmosphere and ground surface temperature as well as radiation for albedo calibration were obtained in 10 selected sites. The study area was divided into three zones (Northern, Central and Southern zones) where the thermal anomalies were obtained independently. K value calculated for night images of the three zones are better constrained and resulted to be very similar to the Environmental Lapse Rate (ELR) determined for a stable atmosphere (ELR > 7 °C/km). Using the proposed model, numerous thermal anomalies in areas of ≥ 90 m × 90 m were identified that were successfully cross-checked in the field. Night images provide more reliable information for thermal anomaly detection than day images because they record higher temperature contrast between geothermal areas and its surroundings and correspond to more stable atmospheric condition at the time of image acquisition.

  9. An Ab Initio Study of Alkali-C60 Complexes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Frick, Nathan; Hira, A. S.; Ray, A. K.

    2003-03-01

    We extend our previous work on fullerene-alkali complexes1-2 by presenting the results of an ab initio theoretical study of the alkali LiC60+, LiC60, NaC60+, NaC60, KC60+, and KC60 complexes. In the endohedral complexes for Li and Na, there is displacement of the adatom from the center. Of the ions, exohedral Li+ will sit closest to the cage, and among the neutrals, exohedral K remains closest. Bond lengths are consistently longer for the fivefold and threefold approaches. Adsorbates inside the fullerene donate negative charge to the carbons, but ions outside obtain a small amount, resulting in a polarization of the molecule. In the ion complexes, there is lowering of the orbital energy levels by 3 to 4 eV, resulting in an increase in the number of bound, but unoccupied, electronic orbitals. The HOMO-LUMO gap, of interest in superconductivity studies, is reduced by about 50 1. A.S. Hira and A.K. Ray, Phys. Rev. A 52, 141(1995); A 54, 2205(1996). 2. Ajit Hira and A. K. Ray, "An Initio Modeling of the Endohedral and Exohedral Complexes of C60Na2+ Complexes", Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 47 (March 2002).

  10. Functional Architecture of T7 RNA Polymerase Transcription Complexes

    PubMed Central

    Nayak, Dhananjaya; Guo, Qing; Sousa, Rui

    2007-01-01

    Summary T7 RNA polymerase is the best-characterized member of a widespread family of single-subunit RNA polymerases. Crystal structures of T7 RNA polymerase initiation and elongation complexes have provided a wealth of detailed information on RNA polymerase interactions with the promoter and transcription bubble, but the absence of DNA downstream of the melted region of the template in the initiation complex structure, and the absence of DNA upstream of the transcription bubble in the elongation complex structure means that our picture of the functional architecture of T7 RNA polymerase transcription complexes remains incomplete. Here we use the site-specifically tethered chemical nucleases and functional characterization of directed T7 RNAP mutants to both reveal the architecture of the duplex DNA that flanks the transcription bubble in the T7 RNAP initiation and elongation complexes, and to define the function of the interactions made by these duplex elements. We find that downstream duplex interactions made with a cluster of lysines (K711/K713/K714) are present during both elongation and initiation where they contribute to stabilizing a bend in the downstream DNA that is important for promoter opening. The upstream DNA in the elongation complex is also found to be sharply bent at the upstream edge of the transcription bubble, thereby allowing formation of upstream duplex:polymerase interactions that contribute to elongation complex stability. PMID:17580086

  11. Photocopy of drawing. LAUNCH COMPLEX 39. NASA John F. Kennedy ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    Photocopy of drawing. LAUNCH COMPLEX 39. NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida. File Number 203-100, Urbahn-Roberts-Seelye-Moran, October 1963. VERTICAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING, LOW BAY, SECTIONS J-J, K-K, & L-L. Sheet 33-32 - Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Launch Complex 39, Vehicle Assembly Building, VAB Road, East of Kennedy Parkway North, Cape Canaveral, Brevard County, FL

  12. Cryosolution infrared study of hydrogen bonded halothane acetylene complex

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Melikova, S. M.; Rutkowski, K. S.; Rospenk, M.

    2018-05-01

    The interactions between halothane (2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane) and acetylene (C2H2) are studied by FTIR spectroscopy. Results obtained in liquid cryosolutions in Kr suggest weak complex formation stabilized by H - bond. The complexation enthalpy (∼11 kJ/mol) is evaluated in a series of temperature measurements (T ∼ 120-160 K) of integrated intensity of selected bands performed in liquefied Kr. The quantum chemical MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) calculations predict four different structures of the complex. The most stable and populated (94% at T∼120 K) structure corresponds to the H - bond between H atom of halothane and pi-electron of triple bond between C atoms of acetylene. Wave numbers of vibrational bands of the most stable structure are calculated in anharmonic approximation implemented in Gaussian program.

  13. Thermodynamics of complexation in an aqueous solution of Tb(III) nitrate at 298 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lobacheva, O. L.; Berlinskii, I. V.; Dzhevaga, N. V.

    2017-01-01

    The pH of the formation of hydroxo complexes and hydrates in an aqueous solution of terbium Tb(III) is determined using combined means of potentiometric and conductometric titration. The stability constants of the hydroxo complexes, the products of hydroxide solubility, and the Gibbs energy of terbium hydroxo complex formation are calculated.

  14. Summary of Synoptic Meteorological Observations. Indonesian Coastal Marine Areas. Volume 2. Area 8 - West Borneo, Area 9 - Karimata Strait, Area 10 - Southwest Java Sea, Area 11 - South Central Java, Area 12 - Southeast Java, Area 13 - Southeast Java Sea, Area 14 - Northeast Java Sea

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1975-04-01

    5 ’ :00 0 1’.20 2. 219 39 : .:0 :00 .0 A.. AP99 120 , ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -y- ,M -.7yT ,, T , . , .,77M III II P~ kID : (¢E(’Ll) 9•3-977AREA 0009 KARIMATA STRAIT...TYPE OTHER WEATHER PHENOMENA kNO 01D RAIN PAIN VAIL RAIG SNOW OTHER HAI. PORN AT PCPN PAST ?HOR FOG FOG WO SMOKE SPRAY NO SHoR PON FRZN 06 TIME HOUR LTNG...NAONO DIR RAIN RAIN ORIL RCZG SNOW OTHER HAIL PCORN A? FCN PAST THOR OTOH HAZE SPRy NOUST SI ? R G PUG W SMOK SPRAY No PHft PCN PRN OPTM OR LTNG Wa PORN

  15. Lysine residues K66, K109, and K110 in the bovine foamy virus transactivator protein are required for transactivation and viral replication.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Suzhen; Cui, Xiaoxu; Li, Jing; Liang, Zhibin; Qiao, Wentao; Tan, Juan

    2016-04-01

    Bovine foamy virus (BFV) is a complex retrovirus that infects cattle. Like all retroviruses, BFV encodes a transactivator Tas protein (BTas) that increases gene transcription from viral promoters. BFV encodes two promoters that can interact with BTas, a conserved promoter in the 5' long terminal repeat (LTR) and a unique internal promoter (IP). Our previous study showed that BTas is acetylated by p300 at residues K66, K109, and K110, which markedly enhanced the ability of BTas to bind to DNA. However, whether these residues are important for BFV replication was not determined. Therefore, in this study we provide direct evidence that BTas is required for BFV replication and demonstrate that residues K66, K109, and K110 are critical for BTas function and BFV replication. Full-length infectious clones were generated, which were BTas deficient or contained lysine to arginine (K→R) mutations at position 66, 109, and/or 110. In vivo data indicated that K→R mutations at positions 66, 109, and 110 in BTas impaired transactivation of both the LTR and IP promoters. In addition, the K→R mutations in full-length infectious clones reduced expression of viral proteins, and the triple mutant and BTas deletion completely abrogated viral replication. Taken together, these results indicate that lysine residues at positions 66, 109, and 110 in the BTas protein are crucial for BFV replication and suggest a potential role for BTas acetylation in regulating the viral life cycle.

  16. Structural Insight Into the Role of Mutual Polymorphism and Conservatism in the Contact Zone of the NFR5-K1 Heterodimer With the Nod Factor.

    PubMed

    Igolkina, A A; Porozov, Yu B; Chizhevskaya, E P; Andronov, E E

    2018-01-01

    Sandwich-like docking configurations of the heterodimeric complex of NFR5 and K1 Vicia sativa receptor-like kinases together with the putative ligand, Nod factor (NF) of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae , were modeled and two of the most probable configurations were assessed through the analysis of the mutual polymorphisms and conservatism. We carried out this analysis based on the hypothesis that in a contact zone of two docked components (proteins or ligands) the population polymorphism or conservatism is mutual, i.e., the variation in one component has a reflected variation in the other component. The population material of 30 wild-growing V. sativa (leaf pieces) was collected from a large field (uncultivated for the past 25-years) and pooled; form this pool, 100 randomly selected cloned fragments of NFR5 gene and 100 of K1 gene were sequenced by the Sanger method. Congruence between population trees of NFR5 and K1 haplotypes allowed us to select two respective haplotypes, build their 3D structures, and perform protein-protein docking. In a separate simulation, the protein-ligand docking between NFR5 and NF was carried out. We merged the results of the two docking experiments and extracted NFR5-NF-K1 complexes, in which NF was located within the cavity between two receptors. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated two out of six complexes as stable. Regions of mutual polymorphism in the contact zone of one complex overlapped with known NF structural variations produced by R. leguminosarum bv. viciae . A total of 74% of the contact zone of another complex contained mutually polymorphic and conservative areas. Common traits of the obtained two stable structures allowed us to hypothesize the functional role of three-domain structure of plant LysM-RLKs in their heteromers.

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

    PubMed

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

    2009-10-15

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

  18. Investigation of iron(III) complex with crown-porphyrin

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pankratov, Denis A.; Dolzhenko, Vladimir D.; Stukan, Reonald A.; Al Ansari, Yana F.; Savinkina, Elena V.; Kiselev, Yury M.

    2013-08-01

    Iron complex of 5-(4-(((4'-hydroxy-benzo-15-crown-5)-5'-yl)diazo)phenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin was investigated by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and EPR. Two Fe sites were identified; they give two differing signals, doublet and wide absorption in a large velocity interval. EPR spectra of solutions of the complex in chloroform at room temperature also show two signals with g = 2.064, AFe = 0.032 cm - 1; g = 2.015, AFe = 0.0034 cm - 1. The doublet asymmetry is studied vs. temperature and normal angle to the sample plane and gamma-beam. The isomer shift δ in the doublet varies from 0.25 to 0.41 mm/s in the 360-5 K temperature range, whereas quadruple splitting value is constant, Δ ˜ 0.65 mm/s. The relax absorption may be described as a wide singlet ( δ = 0.30- 0.44 mm/s and Γ = 2.83-3.38 mm/s); its relative area strongly depends on temperature. According to δ, both signals are assigned to Fe(III).

  19. Vertical and horizontal distribution of radionuclides (232Th, 238U and 40K) in sediment from Manjung coastal water area Perak, Malaysia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abdullah, Anisa; Hamzah, Zaini; Saat, Ahmad; Wood, Ab. Khalik

    2016-01-01

    Distribution of radionuclides from anthropogenic activities has been widely studied in marine coastal area. Due to rapid population growth and socio-economic development in Manjung area such as coal fired power plant, iron foundries, port development, waste discharged from factories and agriculture runoff may contribute to increase in pollution rate. The radioactive materials from anthropogenic activities could deteriorate the quality of the marine ecosystem and thus lead to possible radiological health risk to the population. Radionuclides (232Th, 238U and 40K) content in surface and profile sediment from Manjung coastal area was determined in this study. Radionuclides in sediment from seven locations were collected using sediment core sampling and measurements were carried out using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy. The results show that the concentration of radionuclides in surface sediment and distribution trend of depth vertical profile sediment generally varies depending on locations. Enrichment factors (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and pollution index (PI) were applied to determine level of pollution of this study area. The radiological risks related to human exposure were evaluated based on external hazard index (Hex).

  20. Comparison in gas media (absolute and gauge mode)in the range from 25 kPa TO 200 kPa (EURAMET.M.P-K8)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wuethrich, C.; Alisic, S.; Altintas, A.; van Andel, I.; C, In­Mook; Eltawil, A. A.; Farár, P.; Hetherington, P.; Koçaş, I.; Lefkopoulos, A.; Otal, P.; Prazak, D.; Sabuga, W.; Salustiano, R.; Sandu, I.; Sardi, M.; Saxholm, S.; Setina, J.; Spohr, I.; Steindl, D.; Testa, N.; Vámossy, C.; Grgec Bermanec, L.

    2016-01-01

    It was decided at the EURAMET TC-M meeting in Torino in 2006 to realize a comparison in gauge and absolute pressure up to 200 kPa as it would allow a link to the CCM.P-K6 and CCM.P-K2 comparisons to be established. This project interested a lot of laboratories from the beginning with 23 participants, 22 of which have submitted results. The circulation of the transfer standard began in July 2009 and lasted until January 2012. No major problems occurred during the transport. The measurand of the comparison is the effective area of a piston-cylinder determined in gauge and absolute pressure from 25 kPa to 200 kPa with pressure steps of 25 kPa. The transfer standard is a gas lubricated tungsten carbide piston-cylinder with an effective area of ~9.8 cm2, fabricated by DH Instruments and compatible with a PG-7601 pressure balance. Some participants used their own pressure balance while a pressure balance with a reference vacuum sensor has been circulated for the participants not equipped with this system. One participant (SMU, Slovakia) has never provided the measurement results and another participant (FORCE Technology, Denmark) submitted a revised set of measurement results after the pilot laboratory mentioned that the equivalence was not met. After the determination of the reference value, all the 22 participants who delivered the results in gauge pressure demonstrated equivalence respective to the reference value on most of the range. In absolute pressure the equivalence is demonstrated, for all nominal pressures, by all 17 participants who submitted results. The comparison is linked to the CCM.P-K6 for gauge pressure and to CCM.P-K2 for absolute pressure. The link does not strongly affect the equivalence of the results and an excellent degree of equivalence is achieved in gauge and absolute pressure. 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

  1. Improving Radar Quantitative Precipitation Estimation over Complex Terrain in the San Francisco Bay Area

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cifelli, R.; Chen, H.; Chandrasekar, V.

    2017-12-01

    A recent study by the State of California's Department of Water Resources has emphasized that the San Francisco Bay Area is at risk of catastrophic flooding. Therefore, accurate quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) and forecast (QPF) are critical for protecting life and property in this region. Compared to rain gauge and meteorological satellite, ground based radar has shown great advantages for high-resolution precipitation observations in both space and time domain. In addition, the polarization diversity shows great potential to characterize precipitation microphysics through identification of different hydrometeor types and their size and shape information. Currently, all the radars comprising the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) network are operating in dual-polarization mode. Enhancement of QPE is one of the main considerations of the dual-polarization upgrade. The San Francisco Bay Area is covered by two S-band WSR-88D radars, namely, KMUX and KDAX. However, in complex terrain like the Bay Area, it is still challenging to obtain an optimal rainfall algorithm for a given set of dual-polarization measurements. In addition, the accuracy of rain rate estimates is contingent on additional factors such as bright band contamination, vertical profile of reflectivity (VPR) correction, and partial beam blockages. This presentation aims to improve radar QPE for the Bay area using advanced dual-polarization rainfall methodologies. The benefit brought by the dual-polarization upgrade of operational radar network is assessed. In addition, a pilot study of gap fill X-band radar performance is conducted in support of regional QPE system development. This paper also presents a detailed comparison between the dual-polarization radar-derived rainfall products with various operational products including the NSSL's Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) system. Quantitative evaluation of various rainfall products is achieved

  2. Destructive examination of shipping package 9975-02101

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

    Daugherty, W. L.

    Destructive and non-destructive examinations have been performed on the components of shipping package 9975-02101 as part of the comprehensive Model 9975 package surveillance program. This package is one of ten high-wattage packages that were selected for field surveillance in FY15, and was identified to contain several non-conforming conditions. Most of these conditions (mold, stains, drum corrosion, calculated fiberboard dimensions and fiberboard damage) relate to the accumulation of water in the outer and lower portions of the cane fiberboard assembly. In the short term, this causes local but reversible changes in the fiberboard properties. Long-term effects can include the permanent lossmore » of fiberboard properties (thus far observed only in the bottom fiberboard layers) and reduced drum integrity due to corrosion. The observed conditions must be fully evaluated by KAC to ensure the safety function of the package is being maintained. Three of the other nine FY15 high-wattage packages examined in the K-Area Complex showed similar behavior. Corrosion of the overpack drum has been seen primarily in those packages with relatively severe fiberboard degradation. Visual examination of the drums in storage for external corrosion should be considered as a screening tool to identify additional packages with potential fiberboard degradation. Where overpack drum corrosion has been observed, it is typically heaviest adjacent to the stitch welds along the bottom edge. It is possible that changes to the stitch weld design would reduce the degree of corrosion in this area, but would not eliminate it. Several factors can contribute to the concentration of moisture in the fiberboard, including higher than average initial moisture content, higher internal temperature (due to internal heat load and placement with the array of packages), and the creation of additional moisture as the fiberboard begins to degrade.« less

  3. Examination of shipping packages 9975-01641, 9975-01692, 9975-03373, 9975-02101 AND 9975-02713

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

    Daugherty, W. L.

    SRNL has assisted in the examination of five 9975 shipping packages following storage of nuclear material in K-Area Complex (KAC). Two packages (9975-01641 and -01692) with water intrusion resulting from a roof leak were selected for detailed examination after internal fiberboard degradation (mold) was observed. 9975-01692 contained regions of saturated fiberboard and significant mold, while the second package was less degraded. A third package (9975-03373) was removed from storage for routine surveillance activities, and set aside for further examination after a musty odor was noted inside. No additional degradation was noted in 9975-03373, but the lower assembly could not bemore » removed from the drum for detailed examination. Two additional packages (9975-02101 and -02713) identified for further examination were among a larger group selected for surveillance as part of a specific focus on high-wattage packages. These two packages displayed several non-conforming conditions, including the following: (1) the axial gap criterion was exceeded, (2) a significant concentration of moisture was found in the bottom fiberboard layers, with active mold in this area, (3) condensation and/or water stains were observed on internal components (drum, lid, air shield), and (4) both drums contained localized corrosion along the bottom lip. It is recommended that a new screening check be implemented for packages that are removed from storage, as well as high wattage packages remaining in storage. An initial survey for corrosion along the drum bottom lip of high wattage packages could identify potential degraded packages for future surveillance focus. In addition, after packages have been removed from storage (and unloaded), the drum bottom lip and underside should be inspected for corrosion. The presence of corrosion could signal the need to remove the lower fiberboard assembly for further inspection of the fiberboard and drum prior to recertification of the package.« less

  4. Composition and stability of complexes of maleic and succinic acids with Cu2+ ions in water-ethanol solutions at 298 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tukumova, N. V.; Usacheva, T. R.; Thuan, Tran Thi Dieu; Sharnin, V. A.

    2014-10-01

    The composition and stability of coordination compounds of the anions of maleic (H2L) and succinic (H2Y) acids with copper(II) ions in water-ethanol solutions is studied by means of potentiometric titration at a sodium perchlorate ionic strength of 0.1 and a temperature of 298.15 K. The composition of the water-ethanol solvent was varied from 0 to 0.7 molar parts of ethanol for maleic acid and from 0 to 0.4 molar parts for succinic acid. The stability of monoligand complexes of copper ions with the anions of maleic and succinic acids grows with increase of ethanol concentration from 3.86 to 6.62 for logβCuL and from 2.98 to 6.01 for logβCuY. It is shown that a monotonic rise in stability upon an increase in the content of ethanol in solution is observed, while the values of logβCuL change more sharply. The succinic acid anion forms a stronger complex with copper ions than maleic acid anions do at an ethanol content of 0.4 molar parts. The possibility of the formation of a protonated CuHY+ particle is established.

  5. Paramagnetic Europium Salen Complex and Sickle-Cell Anemia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wynter, Clive I.; Ryan, D. H.; May, Leopold; Oliver, F. W.; Brown, Eugene; Hoffman, Eugene J.; Bernstein, David

    2005-04-01

    A new europium salen complex, Eu(salen)2NH4, was synthesized, and its composition was confirmed by chemical analysis and infrared spectroscopy. Further characterization was carried out by 151 Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Mössbauer spectroscopic measurements were made at varying temperatures between 9 K and room temperature and a value of Debye temperature of 133 ±5 K was computed. Both Mössbauer and magnetic susceptibility measurements confirmed the paramagnetic behavior of this complex and the trivalent state of the europium ion. In view of the fact that the "odd" paramagnetic molecule NO has been shown to reverse sickling of red blood cells in sickle cell anemia, the interaction between the paramagnetic europium salen complex and sickle cells was examined after incubation with this europium complex and shown to have similar effects.

  6. Mechanism of Disruption of the Amt-GlnK Complex by PII-Mediated Sensing of 2-Oxoglutarate

    PubMed Central

    Maier, Sarah; Schleberger, Paula; Lü, Wei; Wacker, Tobias; Pflüger, Tobias; Litz, Claudia; Andrade, Susana L. A.

    2011-01-01

    GlnK proteins regulate the active uptake of ammonium by Amt transport proteins by inserting their regulatory T-loops into the transport channels of the Amt trimer and physically blocking substrate passage. They sense the cellular nitrogen status through 2-oxoglutarate, and the energy level of the cell by binding both ATP and ADP with different affinities. The hyperthermophilic euryarchaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus possesses three Amt proteins, each encoded in an operon with a GlnK ortholog. One of these proteins, GlnK2 was recently found to be incapable of binding 2-OG, and in order to understand the implications of this finding we conducted a detailed structural and functional analysis of a second GlnK protein from A. fulgidus, GlnK3. Contrary to Af-GlnK2 this protein was able to bind both ATP/2-OG and ADP to yield inactive and functional states, respectively. Due to the thermostable nature of the protein we could observe the exact positioning of the notoriously flexible T-loops and explain the binding behavior of GlnK proteins to their interaction partner, the Amt proteins. A thermodynamic analysis of these binding events using microcalorimetry evaluated by microstate modeling revealed significant differences in binding cooperativity compared to other characterized PII proteins, underlining the diversity and adaptability of this class of regulatory signaling proteins. PMID:22039461

  7. Chaos and Fractals in C-K Map

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Xing-Yuan; Liang, Qing-Yong; Meng, Juan

    The characteristic of the fixed points of the Carotid-Kundalini (C-K) map is investigated and the boundary equation of the first bifurcation of the C-K map in the parameter plane is given. Based on the studies of the phase graph, the power spectrum, the correlation dimension and the Lyapunov exponents, the paper reveals the general features of the C-K map transforming from regularity. Meanwhile, using the periodic scanning technology proposed by Welstead and Cromer, a series of Mandelbrot-Julia (M-J) sets of the complex C-K map are constructed. The symmetry of M-J set and the topological inflexibility of distributing of periodic region in the Mandelbrot set are investigated. By founding the whole portray of Julia sets based on Mandelbrot set qualitatively, we find out that Mandelbrot sets contain abundant information of structure of Julia sets.

  8. Gas spark switches with increased operating life for Marx generator of lightning test complex

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

    Bykov, Yu. A.; Krastelev, E. G., E-mail: ekrastelev@yandex.ru

    A new design of gas spark switches with an increased operating life and stable dynamic characteristics for the Marx generator of the lightning test complex has been developed. The switches are characterized by the following parameters in the mode of operation: voltage up to 80 kV, discharge current up to 50 kA, flowing charge up to 3.5 C/pulse. An increased operating life is achieved by using torus-shaped electrodes with increased working surface area and a trigger electrode in the form of a thick disk with a hole located between them. Low breakdown delay time and high stability of breakdown voltagemore » under dynamic conditions are provided by gas preionization in the spark gap using UV radiation of an additional corona discharge in the axial region.« less

  9. k-Space Image Correlation Spectroscopy: A Method for Accurate Transport Measurements Independent of Fluorophore Photophysics

    PubMed Central

    Kolin, David L.; Ronis, David; Wiseman, Paul W.

    2006-01-01

    We present the theory and application of reciprocal space image correlation spectroscopy (kICS). This technique measures the number density, diffusion coefficient, and velocity of fluorescently labeled macromolecules in a cell membrane imaged on a confocal, two-photon, or total internal reflection fluorescence microscope. In contrast to r-space correlation techniques, we show kICS can recover accurate dynamics even in the presence of complex fluorophore photobleaching and/or “blinking”. Furthermore, these quantities can be calculated without nonlinear curve fitting, or any knowledge of the beam radius of the exciting laser. The number densities calculated by kICS are less sensitive to spatial inhomogeneity of the fluorophore distribution than densities measured using image correlation spectroscopy. We use simulations as a proof-of-principle to show that number densities and transport coefficients can be extracted using this technique. We present calibration measurements with fluorescent microspheres imaged on a confocal microscope, which recover Stokes-Einstein diffusion coefficients, and flow velocities that agree with single particle tracking measurements. We also show the application of kICS to measurements of the transport dynamics of α5-integrin/enhanced green fluorescent protein constructs in a transfected CHO cell imaged on a total internal reflection fluorescence microscope using charge-coupled device area detection. PMID:16861272

  10. Chicxulub ejecta at the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-P) boundary in Northeastern Mexico

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schulte, Peter; Kontny, Agnes

    2005-04-01

    The combined petrological and rock magnetic study of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-P) boundary in northeastern Mexico revealed compositionally and texturally complex Chicxulub ejecta deposits. The predominant silicic ejecta components are Fe-Mg-rich chlorite and Si-Al-K-rich glass spherules with carbonate inclusions and schlieren. Besides these silica phases, the most prominent ejecta component is carbonate. Carbonate occurs as lithic clasts, accretionary lapilli, melt globules (often with quench textures), and as microspar. The composition of the spherules provides evidence for a range of target rocks of mafic to intermediate composition, presumably situated in the northwestern sector of the Chicxulub impact structure. The abundance of carbonate ejecta suggests that this area received ejecta mainly from shallow, carbonate-rich lithologies. Rare µm-sized metallic and sulfidic Ni-Co-rich inclusions in the spherules indicate a possible contamination by meteoritic material. This complex composition underlines the similarities of ejecta in NE Mexico to Chicxulub ejecta from K-P sections worldwide. Although the ejecta display a great variability, the magnetic susceptibility, remanence, and hysteresis properties of the ejecta deposits are fairly homogeneous, with dominantly paramagnetic susceptibilities and a weak ferromagnetic contribution from hematite and goethite. The absence of spinels and the ubiquitous presence of hematite and goethite points to high oxygen fugacity during the impact process. The microfacies and internal texture of the ejecta deposits show welding and fusing of components, as well as evidence for liquid immiscibility between silicic and carbonate melts. No evidence for binary mixing of ejecta phases was found. Therefore, Chicxulub ejecta in NE Mexico probably derived from less energetic parts of the ejecta curtain. However, welding features of ejecta particles and enclosed marl clasts and/or benthic foraminifera from a siliciclastic environment

  11. Effect of the type of metal on the electrical conductivity and thermal properties of metal complexes: The relation between ionic radius of metal complexes and electrical conductivity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Morgan, Sh. M.; El-Ghamaz, N. A.; Diab, M. A.

    2018-05-01

    Co(II) complexes (1-4) and Ni(II) complexes (5-8) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra and thermal analysis data. Thermal decomposition of all complexes was discussed using thermogravimetric analysis. The dielectric properties and alternating current conductivity were investigated in the frequency range 0.1-100 kHz and temperature range 300-660 K. The thermal activation energies of electrical conductivity (ΔE1 and ΔE2) values for complexes were calculated and discussed. The values of ΔE1 and ΔE2 for complexes (1-8) were found to decrease with increasing the frequency. Ac electrical conductivity (σac) values increases with increasing temperatures and the values of σac for Co(II) complexes are greater than Ni(II) complexes. Co(II) complexes showed a higher conductivity than other Ni(II) complexes due to the higher crystallinity as confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.

  12. Boosting the signal: Endothelial inward rectifier K+ channels.

    PubMed

    Jackson, William F

    2017-04-01

    Endothelial cells express a diverse array of ion channels including members of the strong inward rectifier family composed of K IR 2 subunits. These two-membrane spanning domain channels are modulated by their lipid environment, and exist in macromolecular signaling complexes with receptors, protein kinases and other ion channels. Inward rectifier K + channel (K IR ) currents display a region of negative slope conductance at membrane potentials positive to the K + equilibrium potential that allows outward current through the channels to be activated by membrane hyperpolarization, permitting K IR to amplify hyperpolarization induced by other K + channels and ion transporters. Increases in extracellular K + concentration activate K IR allowing them to sense extracellular K + concentration and transduce this change into membrane hyperpolarization. These properties position K IR to participate in the mechanism of action of hyperpolarizing vasodilators and contribute to cell-cell conduction of hyperpolarization along the wall of microvessels. The expression of K IR in capillaries in electrically active tissues may allow K IR to sense extracellular K + , contributing to functional hyperemia. Understanding the regulation of expression and function of microvascular endothelial K IR will improve our understanding of the control of blood flow in the microcirculation in health and disease and may provide new targets for the development of therapeutics in the future. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  13. Profiling the HER3/PI3K Pathway in Breast Tumors Using Proximity-Directed Assays Identifies Correlations between Protein Complexes and Phosphoproteins

    PubMed Central

    Mukherjee, Ali; Badal, Youssouf; Nguyen, Xuan-Thao; Miller, Johanna; Chenna, Ahmed; Tahir, Hasan; Newton, Alicia; Parry, Gordon; Williams, Stephen

    2011-01-01

    Background The identification of patients for targeted antineoplastic therapies requires accurate measurement of therapeutic targets and associated signaling complexes. HER3 signaling through heterodimerization is an important growth-promoting mechanism in several tumor types and may be a principal resistance mechanism by which EGFR and HER2 expressing tumors elude targeted therapies. Current methods that can study these interactions are inadequate for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples. Methodology and Principal Findings Herein, we describe a panel of proximity-directed assays capable of measuring protein-interactions and phosphorylation in FFPE samples in the HER3/PI3K/Akt pathway and examine the capability of these assays to inform on the functional state of the pathway. We used FFPE breast cancer cell line and tumor models for this study. In breast cancer cell lines we observe both ligand-dependent and independent activation of the pathway and strong correlations between measured activation of key analytes. When selected cell lines are treated with HER2 inhibitors, we not only observe the expected molecular effects based on mechanism of action knowledge, but also novel effects of HER2 inhibition on key targets in the HER receptor pathway. Significantly, in a xenograft model of delayed tumor fixation, HER3 phosphorylation is unstable, while alternate measures of pathway activation, such as formation of the HER3PI3K complex is preserved. Measurements in breast tumor samples showed correlations between HER3 phosphorylation and receptor interactions, obviating the need to use phosphorylation as a surrogate for HER3 activation. Significance This assay system is capable of quantitatively measuring therapeutically relevant responses and enables molecular profiling of receptor networks in both preclinical and tumor models. PMID:21297994

  14. Impact ejecta layer from the mid-Devonian: possible connection to global mass extinctions.

    PubMed

    Ellwood, Brooks B; Benoist, Stephen L; El Hassani, Ahmed; Wheeler, Christopher; Crick, Rex E

    2003-06-13

    We have found evidence for a bolide impacting Earth in the mid-Devonian ( approximately 380 million years ago), including high concentrations of shocked quartz, Ni, Cr, As, V, and Co anomalies; a large negative carbon isotope shift (-9 per mil); and microspherules and microcrysts at Jebel Mech Irdane in the Anti Atlas desert near Rissani, Morocco. This impact is important because it is coincident with a major global extinction event (Kacák/otomari event), suggesting a possible cause-and-effect relation between the impact and the extinction. The result may represent the extinction of as many as 40% of all living marine animal genera.

  15. Impact Ejecta Layer from the Mid-Devonian: Possible Connection to Global Mass Extinctions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ellwood, Brooks B.; Benoist, Stephen L.; Hassani, Ahmed El; Wheeler, Christopher; Crick, Rex E.

    2003-06-01

    We have found evidence for a bolide impacting Earth in the mid-Devonian (~380 million years ago), including high concentrations of shocked quartz, Ni, Cr, As, V, and Co anomalies; a large negative carbon isotope shift (-9 per mil); and microspherules and microcrysts at Jebel Mech Irdane in the Anti Atlas desert near Rissani, Morocco. This impact is important because it is coincident with a major global extinction event (Kacák/otomari event), suggesting a possible cause-and-effect relation between the impact and the extinction. The result may represent the extinction of as many as 40% of all living marine animal genera.

  16. Both H4K20 mono-methylation and H3K56 acetylation mark transcription-dependent histone turnover in fission yeast

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

    Yang, Hanna; Kwon, Chang Seob; Choi, Yoonjung, E-mail: jjungii@kaist.ac.kr

    Nucleosome dynamics facilitated by histone turnover is required for transcription as well as DNA replication and repair. Histone turnover is often associated with various histone modifications such as H3K56 acetylation (H3K56Ac), H3K36 methylation (H3K36me), and H4K20 methylation (H4K20me). In order to correlate histone modifications and transcription-dependent histone turnover, we performed genome wide analyses for euchromatic regions in G2/M-arrested fission yeast. The results show that transcription-dependent histone turnover at 5′ promoter and 3′ termination regions is directly correlated with the occurrence of H3K56Ac and H4K20 mono-methylation (H4K20me1) in actively transcribed genes. Furthermore, the increase of H3K56Ac and H4K20me1 and antisense RNAmore » production was observed in the absence of the histone H3K36 methyltransferase Set2 and histone deacetylase complex (HDAC) that are involved in the suppression of histone turnover within the coding regions. These results together indicate that H4K20me1 as well as H3K56Ac are bona fide marks for transcription-dependent histone turnover in fission yeast.« less

  17. Water quality analysis of the Rapur area, Andhra Pradesh, South India using multivariate techniques

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nagaraju, A.; Sreedhar, Y.; Thejaswi, A.; Sayadi, Mohammad Hossein

    2017-10-01

    The groundwater samples from Rapur area were collected from different sites to evaluate the major ion chemistry. The large number of data can lead to difficulties in the integration, interpretation, and representation of the results. Two multivariate statistical methods, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and factor analysis (FA), were applied to evaluate their usefulness to classify and identify geochemical processes controlling groundwater geochemistry. Four statistically significant clusters were obtained from 30 sampling stations. This has resulted two important clusters viz., cluster 1 (pH, Si, CO3, Mg, SO4, Ca, K, HCO3, alkalinity, Na, Na + K, Cl, and hardness) and cluster 2 (EC and TDS) which are released to the study area from different sources. The application of different multivariate statistical techniques, such as principal component analysis (PCA), assists in the interpretation of complex data matrices for a better understanding of water quality of a study area. From PCA, it is clear that the first factor (factor 1), accounted for 36.2% of the total variance, was high positive loading in EC, Mg, Cl, TDS, and hardness. Based on the PCA scores, four significant cluster groups of sampling locations were detected on the basis of similarity of their water quality.

  18. The oculocerebrorenal syndrome gene product is a 105-kD protein localized to the Golgi complex.

    PubMed Central

    Olivos-Glander, I M; Jänne, P A; Nussbaum, R L

    1995-01-01

    The oculocerebrorenal syndrome of Lowe (OCRL) is a multisystem disorder affecting the lens, kidney, and CNS. The predicted amino acid sequence of the OCRL gene, OCRL-1, was used to develop antibodies against the OCRL-1 protein. Western blot analysis using affinity-purified serum against the amino terminus of the OCRL-1 gene product (ocrl-1) demonstrates a single protein of 105 kD in fibroblasts of a normal individual that is absent in fibroblasts of an OCRL patient who lacks OCRL-1 transcript. A single protein with the same electrophoretic mobility is found by western analysis in various human cultured cell lines, and approximately the same size protein is also found in all mouse tissues tested. Northern analysis of various human and mouse tissues demonstrate that OCRL-1 transcript is expressed in nearly all tissues examined. By immunofluorescence, the ocrl-1 antibody stains a juxtanuclear region in normal fibroblast cells, while no specific staining is evident in the OCRL patient who produces no transcript. Colocalization of the ocrl-1 protein to the Golgi complex was demonstrated using a known monoclonal antibody against a Golgi-specific coat protein, beta-COP (beta coatomer protein). Images Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 PMID:7573041

  19. Conserved Loop Cysteines of Vitamin K Epoxide Reductase Complex Subunit 1-like 1 (VKORC1L1) Are Involved in Its Active Site Regeneration*

    PubMed Central

    Tie, Jian-Ke; Jin, Da-Yun; Stafford, Darrel W.

    2014-01-01

    Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) reduces vitamin K epoxide in the vitamin K cycle for post-translational modification of proteins that are involved in a variety of biological functions. However, the physiological function of VKORC1-like 1 (VKORC1L1), a paralogous enzyme sharing about 50% protein identity with VKORC1, is unknown. Here we determined the structural and functional differences of these two enzymes using fluorescence protease protection (FPP) assay and an in vivo cell-based activity assay. We show that in vivo VKORC1L1 reduces vitamin K epoxide to support vitamin K-dependent carboxylation as efficiently as does VKORC1. However, FPP assays show that unlike VKORC1, VKORC1L1 is a four-transmembrane domain protein with both its termini located in the cytoplasm. Moreover, the conserved loop cysteines, which are not required for VKORC1 activity, are essential for VKORC1L1's active site regeneration. Results from domain exchanges between VKORC1L1 and VKORC1 suggest that it is VKORC1L1's overall structure that uniquely allows for active site regeneration by the conserved loop cysteines. Intermediate disulfide trapping results confirmed an intra-molecular electron transfer pathway for VKORC1L1's active site reduction. Our results allow us to propose a concerted action of the four conserved cysteines of VKORC1L1 for active site regeneration; the second loop cysteine, Cys-58, attacks the active site disulfide, forming an intermediate disulfide with Cys-139; the first loop cysteine, Cys-50, attacks the intermediate disulfide resulting in active site reduction. The different membrane topologies and reaction mechanisms between VKORC1L1 and VKORC1 suggest that these two proteins might have different physiological functions. PMID:24532791

  20. Conserved loop cysteines of vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1-like 1 (VKORC1L1) are involved in its active site regeneration.

    PubMed

    Tie, Jian-Ke; Jin, Da-Yun; Stafford, Darrel W

    2014-03-28

    Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) reduces vitamin K epoxide in the vitamin K cycle for post-translational modification of proteins that are involved in a variety of biological functions. However, the physiological function of VKORC1-like 1 (VKORC1L1), a paralogous enzyme sharing about 50% protein identity with VKORC1, is unknown. Here we determined the structural and functional differences of these two enzymes using fluorescence protease protection (FPP) assay and an in vivo cell-based activity assay. We show that in vivo VKORC1L1 reduces vitamin K epoxide to support vitamin K-dependent carboxylation as efficiently as does VKORC1. However, FPP assays show that unlike VKORC1, VKORC1L1 is a four-transmembrane domain protein with both its termini located in the cytoplasm. Moreover, the conserved loop cysteines, which are not required for VKORC1 activity, are essential for VKORC1L1's active site regeneration. Results from domain exchanges between VKORC1L1 and VKORC1 suggest that it is VKORC1L1's overall structure that uniquely allows for active site regeneration by the conserved loop cysteines. Intermediate disulfide trapping results confirmed an intra-molecular electron transfer pathway for VKORC1L1's active site reduction. Our results allow us to propose a concerted action of the four conserved cysteines of VKORC1L1 for active site regeneration; the second loop cysteine, Cys-58, attacks the active site disulfide, forming an intermediate disulfide with Cys-139; the first loop cysteine, Cys-50, attacks the intermediate disulfide resulting in active site reduction. The different membrane topologies and reaction mechanisms between VKORC1L1 and VKORC1 suggest that these two proteins might have different physiological functions.

  1. Recent developments in anti-cancer agents targeting PI3K, Akt and mTORC1/2.

    PubMed

    Dienstmann, Rodrigo; Rodon, Jordi; Markman, Ben; Tabernero, Josep

    2011-05-01

    Inappropriate PI3K signaling is one of the most frequent occurrences in human cancer and is critical for tumor progression. A variety of genetic mutations and amplifications have been described affecting key components of this pathway, with implications not only for tumorigenesis but also for resistance to targeted agents. Emerging preclinical research has significantly advanced our understanding of the PI3K pathway and its complex downstream signalling, interactions and crosstalk. This knowledge, combined with the limited clinical antitumor activity of mTOR complex 1 inhibitors, has led to the development of rationally designed drugs targeting key elements of this pathway, such as pure PI3K inhibitors (both pan-PI3K and isoform-specific), dual PI3K/ mTOR inhibitors, Akt inhibitors, and mTOR complexes 1 and 2 catalytic site inhibitors. This review will focus primarily on an analysis of newly developed inhibitors of this pathway that have entered clinical trials, and recently registered patents in this field.

  2. Direction of ground-water flow in the surficial aquifer in the vicinity of impact areas G-10 and K-2, Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, North Carolina, 2004

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Harden, Stephen L.; Howe, Stephen S.; Terziotti, Silvia

    2004-01-01

    Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is located in Onslow County in the North Carolina Coastal Plain. In support of North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resource requirements, Camp Lejeune is developing a site closure plan for two Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulated open burn/open detonation (OB/OD) facilities located within Impact Area K-2 and Impact Area G-10, respectively. Both Impact Areas are used for training activities involving live artillery fire. The two OB/OD facilities are used to treat RCRA regulated waste munitions. To provide Base officials with information needed for assessing the quality of ground water at these sites, hydrologic data were used to characterize groundwater flow directions and hydraulic gradients in the surficial aquifer underlying the Impact Areas. Water-level data in the unconfined surficial aquifer and potentiometric head data in the underlying Castle Hayne aquifer were compiled from existing and newly drilled wells. Water-table contour maps were developed for Impact Areas K-2 and G-10 to examine the direction of ground-water flow in the surficial aquifer. The primary directions of ground-water flow beneath K-2 are southward and eastward toward discharge zones along the New River and its tributaries. Beneath interior areas of G-10, water in the surficial aquifer flows outward in all directions toward discharge zones along local streams that drain westward to the New River or to streams that drain southward and eastward to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. Long-term water-level data for the period October 1994 through September 2004 at selected Camp Lejeune well sites were used to examine trends in ground-water levels and vertical hydraulic gradients between the surficial and Castle Hayne aquifers. Evaluation of water-level data for three wells in the surficial aquifer indicated no significant trends for this period of record. The apparent water-level declines in two of the three Castle

  3. Characterization of complexes between phenethylamine enantiomers and β-cyclodextrin derivatives by capillary electrophoresis-Determination of binding constants and complex mobilities.

    PubMed

    Wahl, Joachim; Furuishi, Takayuki; Yonemochi, Etsuo; Meinel, Lorenz; Holzgrabe, Ulrike

    2017-04-01

    To optimize chiral separation conditions and to improve the knowledge of enantioseparation, it is important to know the binding constants K between analytes and cyclodextrins and the electrophoretic mobilities of the temporarily formed analyte-cyclodextrin-complexes. K values for complexes between eight phenethylamine enantiomers, namely ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, methylephedrine and norephedrine, and four different β-cyclodextrin derivatives were determined by affinity capillary electrophoresis. The binding constants were calculated from the electrophoretic mobility values of the phenethylamine enantiomers at increasing concentrations of cyclodextrins in running buffer. Three different linear plotting methods (x-reciprocal, y-reciprocal, double reciprocal) and nonlinear regression were used for the determination of binding constants with β-cyclodextrin, (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin, methyl-β-cyclodextrin and 6-O-α-maltosyl-β-cyclodextrin. The cyclodextrin concentration in a 50 mM phosphate buffer pH 3.0 was varied from 0 to 12 mM. To investigate the influence of the binding constant values on the enantioseparation the observed electrophoretic selectivities were compared with the obtained K values and the calculated enantiomer-cyclodextrin-complex mobilities. The different electrophoretic mobilities of the temporarily formed complexes were crucial factors for the migration order and enantioseparation of ephedrine derivatives. To verify the apparent binding constants determined by capillary electrophoresis, a titration process using ephedrine enantiomers and β-cyclodextrin was carried out. Furthermore, the isothermal titration calorimetry measurements gave information about the thermal properties of the complexes. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  4. Pinpoint chemical modification of Asp160 in the 49 kDa subunit of bovine mitochondrial complex I via a combination of ligand-directed tosyl chemistry and click chemistry.

    PubMed

    Masuya, Takahiro; Murai, Masatoshi; Morisaka, Hironobu; Miyoshi, Hideto

    2014-12-16

    Through a ligand-directed tosyl (LDT) chemistry strategy using the synthetic acetogenin ligand AL1, we succeeded in the pinpoint alkynylation (-C≡CH) of Asp160 in the 49 kDa subunit of bovine complex I, which may be located in the inner part of the putative quinone binding cavity of the enzyme [Masuya, T., et al. (2014) Biochemistry, 53, 2307-2317]. This study provided a promising technique for diverse chemical modifications of complex I. To further improve this technique for its adaptation to intact complex I, we here synthesized the new acetogenin ligand AL2, possessing an azido (-N₃) group in place of the terminal alkyne in AL1, and attempted the pinpoint azidation of complex I in bovine heart submitochondrial particles. Careful proteomic analyses revealed that, just as in the case of AL1, azidation occurred at 49 kDa Asp160 with a reaction yield of ∼50%, verifying the high site specificity of our LDT chemistry using acetogenin ligands. This finding prompted us to speculate that a reactivity of the azido group incorporated into Asp160 (Asp160-N₃) against externally added chemicals can be employed to characterize the structural features of the quinone/inhibitor binding cavity. Consequently, we used a ring-strained cycloalkyne possessing a rhodamine fluorophore (TAMRA-DIBO), which can covalently attach to an azido group via so-called click chemistry without Cu¹⁺ catalysis, as the reaction partner of Asp160-N₃. We found that bulky TAMRA-DIBO is capable of reacting directly with Asp160-N₃ in intact complex I. Unexpectedly, the presence of an excess amount of short-chain ubiquinones as well as some strong inhibitors (e.g., quinazoline and fenpyroximate) did not interfere with the reaction between TAMRA-DIBO and Asp160-N₃; nevertheless, bullatacin, a member of the natural acetogenins, markedly interfered with this reaction. Taking the marked bulkiness of TAMRA-DIBO into consideration, it appears to be difficult to reconcile these results with the

  5. Distorted tetrahedral nickel-nitrosyl complexes: spectroscopic characterization and electronic structure.

    PubMed

    Soma, Shoko; Van Stappen, Casey; Kiss, Mercedesz; Szilagyi, Robert K; Lehnert, Nicolai; Fujisawa, Kiyoshi

    2016-09-01

    The linear nickel-nitrosyl complex [Ni(NO)(L3)] supported by a highly hindered tridentate nitrogen-based ligand, hydrotris(3-tertiary butyl-5-isopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate (denoted as L3), was prepared by the reaction of the potassium salt of the ligand with the nickel-nitrosyl precursor [Ni(NO)(Br)(PPh 3 ) 2 ]. The obtained nitrosyl complexes as well as the corresponding chlorido complexes [Ni(NO)(Cl)(PPh 3 ) 2 ] and [Ni(Cl)(L3)] were characterized by X-ray crystallography and different spectroscopic methods including IR/far-IR, UV-Vis, NMR, and multi-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Ni K-, Ni L-, Cl K-, and P K-edges. For comparative electronic structure analysis we also performed DFT calculations to further elucidate the electronic structure of [Ni(NO)(L3)]. These results provide the nickel oxidation state and the character of the Ni-NO bond. The complex [Ni(NO)(L3)] is best described as [Ni (II) (NO (-) )(L3)], and the spectroscopic results indicate that the phosphane complexes have a similar [Ni (II) (NO (-) )(X)(PPh 3 ) 2 ] ground state.

  6. Symmetrical group theory for mathematical complexity reduction of digital holograms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Perez-Ramirez, A.; Guerrero-Juk, J.; Sanchez-Lara, R.; Perez-Ramirez, M.; Rodriguez-Blanco, M. A.; May-Alarcon, M.

    2017-10-01

    This work presents the use of mathematical group theory through an algorithm to reduce the multiplicative computational complexity in the process of creating digital holograms. An object is considered as a set of point sources using mathematical symmetry properties of both the core in the Fresnel integral and the image, where the image is modeled using group theory. This algorithm has multiplicative complexity equal to zero and an additive complexity ( k - 1) × N for the case of sparse matrices and binary images, where k is the number of pixels other than zero and N is the total points in the image.

  7. Better conditions for mammalian in vitro splicing provided by acetate and glutamate as potassium counterions

    PubMed Central

    Reichert, Vienna; Moore, Melissa J.

    2000-01-01

    We demonstrate here that replacing potassium chloride (KCl) with potassium acetate (KAc) or potassium glutamate (KGlu) routinely enhances the yield of RNA intermediates and products obtained from in vitro splicing reactions performed in HeLa cell nuclear extract. This effect was reproducibly observed with multiple splicing substrates. The enhanced yields are at least partially due to stabilization of splicing precursors and products in the KAc and KGlu reactions. This stabilization relative to KCl reactions was greatest with KGlu and was observed over an extended potassium concentration range. The RNA stability differences could not be attributed to heavy metal contamination of the KCl, since ultrapure preparations of this salt yielded similar results. After testing various methods for altering the salts, we found that substitution of KAc or KGlu for KCl and MgAc2 for MgCl2 in splicing reactions is the simplest and most effective. Since the conditions defined here more closely mimic in vivo ionic concentrations, they may permit the study of more weakly spliced substrates, as well as facilitate more detailed analyses of spliceosome structure and function. PMID:10606638

  8. Characterizing the influence of transportation infrastructure on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in urban area-A case study of Seoul, South Korea.

    PubMed

    Cho, Jungwoo; You, Myoungsoon; Yoon, Yoonjin

    2017-01-01

    In highly urbanized area where traffic condition fluctuates constantly, transportation infrastructure is one of the major contributing factors to Emergency Medical Service (EMS) availability and patient outcome. In this paper, we assess the impact of traffic fluctuation to the EMS first response availability in urban area, by evaluating the k-minute coverage under 21 traffic scenarios. The set of traffic scenarios represents the time-of-day and day-of-week effects, and is generated by combining road link speed information from multiple historical speed databases. In addition to the k-minute area coverage calculation, the k-minute population coverage is also evaluated for every 100m by 100m grid that partitions the case study area of Seoul, South Korea. In the baseline case of traveling at the speed limit, both the area and population coverage reached nearly 100% when compared to the five-minute travel time national target. Employing the proposed LoST (Loss of Serviceability due to Traffic) index, which measures coverage reduction in percentage compared to the baseline case, we find that the citywide average LoST for area and population coverage are similar at 34.2% and 33.8%. However, district-wise analysis reveals that such reduction varies significantly by district, and the magnitude of area and population coverage reduction is not always proportional. We conclude that the effect of traffic variation is significant to successful urban EMS first response performance, and regional variation is evident among local districts. Complexity in the urban environment requires a more adaptive approach in public health resource management and EMS performance target determination.

  9. Common Areas.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    American School & University, 2003

    2003-01-01

    Presents K-12 and college common areas considered outstanding in a competition, which judged the most outstanding learning environments at educational institutions nationwide. Jurors spent two days reviewing projects, highlighting concepts and ideas that made them exceptional. For each citation, the article offers information on the firm, client,…

  10. Depositional and diagenetic history and petroleum geology of the Jurassic Norphlet Formation of the Alabama coastal waters area and adjacent federal waters area

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Kugler, R.L.; Mink, R.M.

    1999-01-01

    The discovery of deep (>20,000 ft) gas reservoirs in eolian sandstone of the Upper Jurassic Norphlet Formation in Mobile Bay and offshore Alabama in the late 1970s represents one of the most significant hydrocarbon discoveries in the nation during the past several decades. Estimated original proved gas from Norphlet reservoirs in the Alabama coastal waters and adjacent federal waters is 7.462 trillion ft3 (Tcf) (75% recovery factor). Fifteen fields have been established in the offshore Alabama area. Norphlet sediment was deposited in an arid environment in alluvial fans, alluvial plains, and wadis in updip areas. In downdip areas, the Norphlet was deposited in a broad desert plain, with erg development in some areas. Marine transgression, near the end of Norphlet deposition, resulted in reworking of the upper part of the Norphlet Formation. Norphlet reservoir sandstone is arkose and subarkose, consisting of a simple assemblage of three minerals, quartz, albite, and K-feldspar. The present framework grain assemblage of the Norphlet is dominantly diagenetic, owing to albitization and dissolution of feldspar. Despite the simple framework composition, the diagenetic character of the Norphlet is complex. Important authigenic minerals include carbonate phases (calcite, dolomite, Fe-dolomite, and breunnerite), feldspar (albite and K-feldspar), evaporite minerals (anhydrite and halite), clay minerals (illite and chlorite), quartz, and pyrobitumen. The abundance and distribution of these minerals varies significantly between onshore and offshore regions of Norphlet production. The lack of sufficient internal sources of components for authigenic minerals, combined with unusual chemical compositions of chloride (Mg-rich), breunnerite, and some minor authigenic minerals, suggests that Louann-derived fluids influenced Norphlet diagenesis. In offshore Alabama reservoirs, porosity is dominantly modified primary porosity. Preservation of porosity in deep Norphlet reservoirs is due

  11. Design of high-strength refractory complex solid-solution alloys

    DOE PAGES

    Singh, Prashant; Sharma, Aayush; Smirnov, A. V.; ...

    2018-03-28

    Nickel-based superalloys and near-equiatomic high-entropy alloys containing molybdenum are known for higher temperature strength and corrosion resistance. Yet, complex solid-solution alloys offer a huge design space to tune for optimal properties at slightly reduced entropy. For refractory Mo-W-Ta-Ti-Zr, we showcase KKR electronic structure methods via the coherent-potential approximation to identify alloys over five-dimensional design space with improved mechanical properties and necessary global (formation enthalpy) and local (short-range order) stability. Deformation is modeled with classical molecular dynamic simulations, validated from our first-principle data. We predict complex solid-solution alloys of improved stability with greatly enhanced modulus of elasticity (3× at 300 K)more » over near-equiatomic cases, as validated experimentally, and with higher moduli above 500 K over commercial alloys (2.3× at 2000 K). We also show that optimal complex solid-solution alloys are not described well by classical potentials due to critical electronic effects.« less

  12. Design of high-strength refractory complex solid-solution alloys

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

    Singh, Prashant; Sharma, Aayush; Smirnov, A. V.

    Nickel-based superalloys and near-equiatomic high-entropy alloys containing molybdenum are known for higher temperature strength and corrosion resistance. Yet, complex solid-solution alloys offer a huge design space to tune for optimal properties at slightly reduced entropy. For refractory Mo-W-Ta-Ti-Zr, we showcase KKR electronic structure methods via the coherent-potential approximation to identify alloys over five-dimensional design space with improved mechanical properties and necessary global (formation enthalpy) and local (short-range order) stability. Deformation is modeled with classical molecular dynamic simulations, validated from our first-principle data. We predict complex solid-solution alloys of improved stability with greatly enhanced modulus of elasticity (3× at 300 K)more » over near-equiatomic cases, as validated experimentally, and with higher moduli above 500 K over commercial alloys (2.3× at 2000 K). We also show that optimal complex solid-solution alloys are not described well by classical potentials due to critical electronic effects.« less

  13. Reverse weathering in marine sediments and the geochemical cycle of potassium in seawater: Insights from the K isotopic composition (41K/39K) of deep-sea pore-fluids

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Santiago Ramos, Danielle P.; Morgan, Leah; Lloyd, Nicholas S.; Higgins, John A.

    2018-01-01

    In situ Al-silicate formation, also known as “reverse weathering,” is an important sink of many of the major and minor cations in seawater (e.g. Mg, K, and Li). However, the importance of this sink in global geochemical cycles and isotopic budgets of these elements remains poorly constrained. Here, we report on the potassium isotopic composition (41">41K/39">39K) of deep-sea sediment pore-fluids from four (Integrated) Ocean Drilling Program sites (1052, U1378, U1395 and U1403) to characterize potassium isotopic fractionation associated with the formation of authigenic Al-silicate minerals in marine sediments and its role in elevating the 41">41K/39">39K of seawater relative to bulk silicate Earth. Isotopic ratios are obtained by high-resolution multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) in cold plasma conditions with a long-term external reproducibility of ca. 0.17‰. We find that, although all sites are characterized by pore-fluid K concentrations that decline with increasing depth, their K isotopic profiles vary systematically from site-to-site; at sites characterized by rapid sedimentation rates, pore-fluid profiles of 41">41K/39">39K are relatively invariant whereas at sites characterized by slow sedimentation rates, 41">41K/39">39K declines with depth by up to 1.8‰. Results from 1-D diffusion-advection-reaction models suggest that these differences may result from a complex interplay between sedimentation rate and fractionation of K isotopes during diffusion, Al-silicate authigenesis, and ion exchange. Model simulations suggest fractionation factors between 0.9980 and 1.0000 for reverse weathering reactions in deep-sea sediments. Although deep-sea sites do not constitute major sinks of K in seawater, some of the processes responsible for K isotopic fractionation at these sites (diffusion and Al-silicate authigenesis) likely play a role in determining the 41">41K/39">39K of seawater.

  14. Complex systems: physics beyond physics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Holovatch, Yurij; Kenna, Ralph; Thurner, Stefan

    2017-03-01

    Complex systems are characterised by specific time-dependent interactions among their many constituents. As a consequence they often manifest rich, non-trivial and unexpected behaviour. Examples arise both in the physical and non-physical worlds. The study of complex systems forms a new interdisciplinary research area that cuts across physics, biology, ecology, economics, sociology, and the humanities. In this paper we review the essence of complex systems from a physicists' point of view, and try to clarify what makes them conceptually different from systems that are traditionally studied in physics. Our goal is to demonstrate how the dynamics of such systems may be conceptualised in quantitative and predictive terms by extending notions from statistical physics and how they can often be captured in a framework of co-evolving multiplex network structures. We mention three areas of complex-systems science that are currently studied extensively, the science of cities, dynamics of societies, and the representation of texts as evolutionary objects. We discuss why these areas form complex systems in the above sense. We argue that there exists plenty of new ground for physicists to explore and that methodical and conceptual progress is needed most.

  15. Assessing the 40K decay constant by intercalibration with U-Pb, Rb-Sr and K-Ca chronometers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Naumenko-Dèzes, M. O.; Nagler, T. F.; Mezger, K.; Villa, I. M.

    2016-12-01

    Ar-Ar is one of the most used dating systems and its accuracy plays an important role in constraining the age of planets, durations of processes and their sequence of occurrence. This system has been reported to give ages that are ca. 1% younger than U-Pb ages. The discrepancies between the two mostly used and precise geochronometers, U-Pb and K-Ar, have been a subject of critical reviewing (e.g. Renne et al. [1] and ref. therein) and were attributed to a systematic offset of the 40K decay constant. Multiple attempts to recalibrate it did not achieve consistency.We attempted to intercalibrate three dating systems: U-Pb (the main reference), Rb-Sr (the consistency check) and K-Ca (the unknown). We examined 11 natural samples, but only a phlogopite from the Phalaborwa carbonatite complex met all requirements of a geological "point-like" event [2]. The Rb-Sr age of this sample is 2058.9±5.2 Ma and agrees with the age determined by Nebel et al [3] and with published U-Pb ages. The K-Ca age for the same sample calculated with constants of Steiger&Jäger [4] is 2040±13 Ma, ca.1% younger age than U-Pb reference age of the complex. Since we improved the Ca measurements [5] the K-Ca age has a low uncertainty of 0.6%. This age constrains the decay constant of the Ca branch of the 40K decay. However, the total decay constant is given by one equation with two unknowns, the branching ratio B and the decay constant of the Ar branch.Within the range of published branching ratios (B = 0.892 to 0.896 [6]) the best total 40K decay constant lies mid-way between the values proposed by Renne et al [7] and Min et al [8] (fig. 1).Figure 1. K-Ca age of Phalaborwa phlogopite changes along sloping lines as a function of assumed branching ratio B, calculated with the total 40K decay constant of [3]. [5], [6].[1] Renne et al. (2010) Geochim. Cosmochim Acta 74, 5349-5367; [2] Begemann et al. (2001) Geochim. Cosmochim Acta 65, 111-121; [3] Nebel et al (2010) GCA 74, 5349; [4] Steiger

  16. Validation and optimization of SST k-ω turbulence model for pollutant dispersion within a building array

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Hesheng; Thé, Jesse

    2016-11-01

    The prediction of the dispersion of air pollutants in urban areas is of great importance to public health, homeland security, and environmental protection. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) emerges as an effective tool for pollutant dispersion modelling. This paper reports and quantitatively validates the shear stress transport (SST) k-ω turbulence closure model and its transitional variant for pollutant dispersion under complex urban environment for the first time. Sensitivity analysis is performed to establish recommendation for the proper use of turbulence models in urban settings. The current SST k-ω simulation is validated rigorously by extensive experimental data using hit rate for velocity components, and the "factor of two" of observations (FAC2) and fractional bias (FB) for concentration field. The simulation results show that current SST k-ω model can predict flow field nicely with an overall hit rate of 0.870, and concentration dispersion with FAC2 = 0.721 and FB = 0.045. The flow simulation of the current SST k-ω model is slightly inferior to that of a detached eddy simulation (DES), but better than that of standard k-ε model. However, the current study is the best among these three model approaches, when validated against measurements of pollutant dispersion in the atmosphere. This work aims to provide recommendation for proper use of CFD to predict pollutant dispersion in urban environment.

  17. Sub-kilometer Numerical Weather Prediction in complex urban areas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Leroyer, S.; Bélair, S.; Husain, S.; Vionnet, V.

    2013-12-01

    A Sub-kilometer atmospheric modeling system with grid-spacings of 2.5 km, 1 km and 250 m and including urban processes is currently being developed at the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) in order to provide more accurate weather forecasts at the city scale. Atmospheric lateral boundary conditions are provided with the 15-km Canadian Regional Deterministic Prediction System (RDPS). Surface physical processes are represented with the Town Energy Balance (TEB) model for the built-up covers and with the Interactions between the Surface, Biosphere, and Atmosphere (ISBA) land surface model for the natural covers. In this study, several research experiments over large metropolitan areas and using observational networks at the urban scale are presented, with a special emphasis on the representation of local atmospheric circulations and their impact on extreme weather forecasting. First, numerical simulations are performed over the Vancouver metropolitan area during a summertime Intense Observing Period (IOP of 14-15 August 2008) of the Environmental Prediction in Canadian Cities (EPiCC) observational network. The influence of the horizontal resolution on the fine-scale representation of the sea-breeze development over the city is highlighted (Leroyer et al., 2013). Then severe storms cases occurring in summertime within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are simulated. In view of supporting the 2015 PanAmerican and Para-Pan games to be hold in GTA, a dense observational network has been recently deployed over this region to support model evaluations at the urban and meso scales. In particular, simulations are conducted for the case of 8 July 2013 when exceptional rainfalls were recorded. Leroyer, S., S. Bélair, J. Mailhot, S.Z. Husain, 2013: Sub-kilometer Numerical Weather Prediction in an Urban Coastal Area: A case study over the Vancouver Metropolitan Area, submitted to Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology.

  18. Juxtaposed Polycomb complexes co-regulate vertebral identity.

    PubMed

    Kim, Se Young; Paylor, Suzanne W; Magnuson, Terry; Schumacher, Armin

    2006-12-01

    Best known as epigenetic repressors of developmental Hox gene transcription, Polycomb complexes alter chromatin structure by means of post-translational modification of histone tails. Depending on the cellular context, Polycomb complexes of diverse composition and function exhibit cooperative interaction or hierarchical interdependency at target loci. The present study interrogated the genetic, biochemical and molecular interaction of BMI1 and EED, pivotal constituents of heterologous Polycomb complexes, in the regulation of vertebral identity during mouse development. Despite a significant overlap in dosage-sensitive homeotic phenotypes and co-repression of a similar set of Hox genes, genetic analysis implicated eed and Bmi1 in parallel pathways, which converge at the level of Hox gene regulation. Whereas EED and BMI1 formed separate biochemical entities with EzH2 and Ring1B, respectively, in mid-gestation embryos, YY1 engaged in both Polycomb complexes. Strikingly, methylated lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3-K27), a mediator of Polycomb complex recruitment to target genes, stably associated with the EED complex during the maintenance phase of Hox gene repression. Juxtaposed EED and BMI1 complexes, along with YY1 and methylated H3-K27, were detected in upstream regulatory regions of Hoxc8 and Hoxa5. The combined data suggest a model wherein epigenetic and genetic elements cooperatively recruit and retain juxtaposed Polycomb complexes in mammalian Hox gene clusters toward co-regulation of vertebral identity.

  19. Multiple complexes of nitrogen assimilatory enzymes in spinach chloroplasts: possible mechanisms for the regulation of enzyme function.

    PubMed

    Kimata-Ariga, Yoko; Hase, Toshiharu

    2014-01-01

    Assimilation of nitrogen is an essential biological process for plant growth and productivity. Here we show that three chloroplast enzymes involved in nitrogen assimilation, glutamate synthase (GOGAT), nitrite reductase (NiR) and glutamine synthetase (GS), separately assemble into distinct protein complexes in spinach chloroplasts, as analyzed by western blots under blue native electrophoresis (BN-PAGE). GOGAT and NiR were present not only as monomers, but also as novel complexes with a discrete size (730 kDa) and multiple sizes (>120 kDa), respectively, in the stromal fraction of chloroplasts. These complexes showed the same mobility as each monomer on two-dimensional (2D) SDS-PAGE after BN-PAGE. The 730 kDa complex containing GOGAT dissociated into monomers, and multiple complexes of NiR reversibly converted into monomers, in response to the changes in the pH of the stromal solvent. On the other hand, the bands detected by anti-GS antibody were present not only in stroma as a conventional decameric holoenzyme complex of 420 kDa, but also in thylakoids as a novel complex of 560 kDa. The polypeptide in the 560 kDa complex showed slower mobility than that of the 420 kDa complex on the 2D SDS-PAGE, implying the assembly of distinct GS isoforms or a post-translational modification of the same GS protein. The function of these multiple complexes was evaluated by in-gel GS activity under native conditions and by the binding ability of NiR and GOGAT with their physiological electron donor, ferredoxin. The results indicate that these multiplicities in size and localization of the three nitrogen assimilatory enzymes may be involved in the physiological regulation of their enzyme function, in a similar way as recently described cases of carbon assimilatory enzymes.

  20. Theoretical Study of Spin Crossover in 30 Iron Complexes.

    PubMed

    Kepp, Kasper P

    2016-03-21

    Iron complexes are important spin crossover (SCO) systems with vital roles in oxidative metabolism and promising technological potential. The SCO tendency depends on the free energy balance of high- and low-spin states, which again depends on physical effects such as dispersion, relativistic effects, and vibrational entropy. This work studied 30 different iron SCO systems with experimentally known thermochemical data, using 12 different density functionals. Remarkably general entropy-enthalpy compensation across SCO systems was identified (R = 0.82, p = 0.002) that should be considered in rational SCO design. Iron(II) complexes displayed higher ΔH and ΔS values than iron(III) complexes and also less steep compensation effects. First-coordination sphere ΔS values computed from numerical frequencies reproduce most of the experimental entropy and should thus be included when modeling spin-state changes in inorganic chemistry (R = 0.52, p = 3.4 × 10(-3); standard error in TΔS ≈ 4.4 kJ/mol at 298 K vs 16 kJ/mol of total TΔS on average). Zero-point energies favored high-spin states by 9 kJ/mol on average. Interestingly, dispersion effects are surprisingly large for the SCO process (average: 9 kJ/mol, but up to 33 kJ/mol) and favor the more compact low-spin state. Relativistic effects favor low-spin by ∼9 kJ/mol on average, but up to 24 kJ/mol. B3LYP*, TPSSh, B2PLYP, and PW6B95 performed best for the typical calculation scheme that includes ZPE. However, if relativistic and dispersion effects are included, only B3LYP* remained accurate. On average, high-spin was favored by LYP by 11-15 kJ/mol relative to other correlation functionals, and by 4.2 kJ/mol per 1% HF exchange in hybrids. 13% HF exchange was optimal without dispersion, and 15% was optimal with all effects included for these systems.

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2013-01-01

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

  2. Fluoxetine induces autophagic cell death via eEF2K-AMPK-mTOR-ULK complex axis in triple negative breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Sun, Dejuan; Zhu, Lingjuan; Zhao, Yuqian; Jiang, Yingnan; Chen, Lixia; Yu, Yang; Ouyang, Liang

    2018-04-01

    Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a complex and intrinsically aggressive tumour with poor prognosis, and the discovery of targeted small-molecule drugs for TNBC treatment still remains in its infancy. In this study, we aimed to discover a small-molecule agent for TNBC treatment and illuminate its potential mechanisms. Cell viability was detected by using methylthiazoltetrazolium (MTT) assay. Electron microscopy, GFP-LC3 transfection, monodansylcadaverine staining and apoptosis assay were performed to determine Fluoxetine-induced autophagy and apoptosis. Western blotting and siRNA transfection were carried out to investigate the mechanisms of Fluoxetine-induced autophagy. iTRAQ-based proteomics analysis was used to explore the underlying mechanisms. We have demonstrated that Fluoxetine had remarkable anti-proliferative activities and induced autophagic cell death in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436 cells. The mechanism for Fluoxetine-induced autophagic cell death was associated with inhibition of eEF2K and activation of AMPK-mTOR-ULK complex axis. Further iTRAQ-based proteomics and network analyses revealed that Fluoxetine-induced mechanism was involved in BIRC6, BNIP1, SNAP29 and Bif-1. These results demonstrate that Fluoxetine induces apoptosis and autophagic cell death in TNBC, which will hold a promise for the future TNBC therapy. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  3. Complexes between neutral oxyacid beryllium salts and dihydrogen: a possible way for hydrogen storage?

    PubMed

    Alkorta, Ibon; Montero-Campillo, M Merced; Elguero, José; Yáñez, Manuel; Mó, Otilia

    2018-06-05

    Accurate ab initio calculations reveal that oxyacid beryllium salts yield rather stable complexes with dihydrogen. The binding energies range between -40 and -60 kJ mol-1 for 1 : 1 complexes, remarkably larger than others previously reported for neutral H2 complexes. The second H2 molecule in 1 : 2 complexes is again strongly bound (between -18 and -20 kJ mol-1). The incoming H2 molecules in 1 : n complexes (n = 3-6) are more weakly bound, confirming the preference of Be for tetracoordinated arrangements.

  4. Behavior of Tachyon in String Cosmology Based on Gauged WZW Model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Sunggeun; Nam, Soonkeon

    We investigate a string theoretic cosmological model in the context of the gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten model. Our model is based on a product of non-compact coset space and a spectator flat space; [SL(2, R)/U(1)]k × ℝ2. We extend the formerly studied semiclassical consideration with infinite Kac-Moody level k to a finite one. In this case, the tachyon field appears in the effective action, and we solve the Einstein equation to determine the behavior of tachyon as a function of time. We find that tachyon field dominates over dilaton field in early times. In particular, we consider the energy conditions of the matter fields consisting of the dilaton and the tachyon which affect the initial singularity. We find that not only the strong energy but also the null energy condition is violated.

  5. Fault block kinematics at a releasing stepover of the Eastern California shear zone: Partitioning of rotation style in and around the Coso geothermal area and nascent metamorphic core complex

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pluhar, Christopher J.; Coe, Robert S.; Lewis, Jonathan C.; Monastero, Francis C.; Glen, Jonathan M. G.

    2006-10-01

    , K. Richards-Dinger, The Coso geothermal field: a nascent metamorphic core complex, Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull. 117 (2005) 1534-1553.] characterize as a nascent metamorphic core complex. Consistent with upper plate disruption above a detachment, surface rocks (i.e. the upper plate of the detachment system) at the Coso geothermal area are tilted westward. However they appear to exhibit no detectable rotation. Thus, the style of block rotation may be partitioned: with clockwise vertical-axis rotation dominating in the Wild Horse Mesa and horizontal axis rotation (tilting) in the geothermal area.

  6. Identifying the Correlation between Professional Learning Communities and Collective Teacher Efficacy for Math Data Teams in Kaua'i Complex Area Secondary Schools

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Ellwood, Cheryl Kathryn

    2013-01-01

    Professional learning communities and teacher efficacy are at the core of many of the current educational reform models. The intention of this dissertation was to identify the correlation between professional learning communities and collective teacher efficacy for math data teams in the six Kaua'i Complex Area secondary schools, as measured by…

  7. Structural insight into the rearrangement of the switch I region in GTP-bound G12A K-Ras.

    PubMed

    Xu, Shenyuan; Long, Brian N; Boris, Gabriel H; Chen, Anqi; Ni, Shuisong; Kennedy, Michael A

    2017-12-01

    K-Ras, a molecular switch that regulates cell growth, apoptosis and metabolism, is activated when it undergoes a conformation change upon binding GTP and is deactivated following the hydrolysis of GTP to GDP. Hydrolysis of GTP in water is accelerated by coordination to K-Ras, where GTP adopts a high-energy conformation approaching the transition state. The G12A mutation reduces intrinsic K-Ras GTP hydrolysis by an unexplained mechanism. Here, crystal structures of G12A K-Ras in complex with GDP, GTP, GTPγS and GppNHp, and of Q61A K-Ras in complex with GDP, are reported. In the G12A K-Ras-GTP complex, the switch I region undergoes a significant reorganization such that the Tyr32 side chain points towards the GTP-binding pocket and forms a hydrogen bond to the GTP γ-phosphate, effectively stabilizing GTP in its precatalytic state, increasing the activation energy required to reach the transition state and contributing to the reduced intrinsic GTPase activity of G12A K-Ras mutants.

  8. Structural insight into the rearrangement of the switch I region in GTP-bound G12A K-Ras

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

    Xu, Shenyuan; Long, Brian N.; Boris, Gabriel H.

    K-Ras, a molecular switch that regulates cell growth, apoptosis and metabolism, is activated when it undergoes a conformation change upon binding GTP and is deactivated following the hydrolysis of GTP to GDP. Hydrolysis of GTP in water is accelerated by coordination to K-Ras, where GTP adopts a high-energy conformation approaching the transition state. The G12A mutation reduces intrinsic K-Ras GTP hydrolysis by an unexplained mechanism. Here, crystal structures of G12A K-Ras in complex with GDP, GTP, GTPγS and GppNHp, and of Q61A K-Ras in complex with GDP, are reported. In the G12A K-Ras–GTP complex, the switch I region undergoes amore » significant reorganization such that the Tyr32 side chain points towards the GTP-binding pocket and forms a hydrogen bond to the GTP γ-phosphate, effectively stabilizing GTP in its precatalytic state, increasing the activation energy required to reach the transition state and contributing to the reduced intrinsic GTPase activity of G12A K-Ras mutants.« less

  9. Immune complexes in serum of rats during infection with Plasmodium berghei.

    PubMed

    Alder, J D; Kreier, J P

    1989-01-01

    Large amounts of immune complexes were present in the serum of infected rats early in infection when parasitemias were low. As the infection progressed and parasitemia increased and then decreased, the amounts of immune complexes in the serum also fell. This result suggests that increased efficiency of complex clearance was an important factor in determining the levels of immune complexes in the serum. In high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the complexes in the serum migrated as a peak with material of 350 kDa and greater in mass. They sedimented in a sucrose gradient as a band with a sedimentation coefficient of 22 s, which was calculated to yield a mass of approximately 1100 kDa. Immunoelectrophoresis and radial immunodiffusion showed that IgG was the major immunoglobulin in the complexes. As the IgG content of the complexes increased, the levels of complexes in the serum generally decreased. HPLC analysis of precipitated complexes suggested that they contained loosely bound albumin. Serum proteins were affected by the infection. A depletion of free immunoglobulin was observed during the initial period of immune complex formation.

  10. Numerical model for mapping of complex hydrogeological conditions: the Chmielnik area (South Poland) case study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Buszta, Kamila; Szklarczyk, Tadeusz; Malina, Grzegorz

    2017-04-01

    Detailed analysis of hydrogeological conditions at a study area is the basis for characterising adjacent groundwater circulation systems. It is also an essential element during executing hydrogeological documentations. The goal of this work was to reconstruct on a numerical model natural groundwater circulation systems of the studied area located within the municipality of Chmielnik in the region of Kielce (South Poland). The area is characterized by a complex geological structure, which along with the existing hydrographic network, makes the scheme of groundwater circulation complicated and difficult to map on a numerical model. The studied area is situated at the border of three geological units: on the North - the extended portion of the Palaeozoic Swietokrzyskie Mountains (mainly Devonian and Permian), in the center - the S-W part of the Mesozoic Margin of the Swietokrzyskie Mountains, and on the South - a marginal zone of the Carpathian Foredeep. The whole area belongs to the Vistula river basin, and it includes catchments of its left tributaries: the Nida and Czarna Staszowska rivers. Based on the collected field and archival hydrogeological, hydrological and sozological data a conceptual model was built, under which a numerical model of groundwater flow was developed using the specialized software - Visual MODFLOW. The numerical model maps the five-layer groundwater circulation system in conjunction with surface watercourses. Such division reflects appropriately the variability of hydrogeological parameters within the geological structures. Two principal and exploited aquifers comprise: a fractured-porous Neogene and fractured Upper Jurassic formations. The external model borders are based primarily on surface watercourses and locally on watersheds. The modelled area of 130 km2 was divided into square grids of 50 m. The model consists of 275 rows and 277 columns. Each of five layers was simulated with the same number of active blocks. In the construction of

  11. Isolation and characterization of PSI-LHCI super-complex and their sub-complexes from a red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae.

    PubMed

    Tian, Lirong; Liu, Zheyi; Wang, Fangjun; Shen, Liangliang; Chen, Jinghua; Chang, Lijing; Zhao, Songhao; Han, Guangye; Wang, Wenda; Kuang, Tingyun; Qin, Xiaochun; Shen, Jian-Ren

    2017-09-01

    Photosystem I (PSI)-light-harvesting complex I (LHCI) super-complex and its sub-complexes PSI core and LHCI, were purified from a unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae and characterized. PSI-LHCI of C. merolae existed as a monomer with a molecular mass of 580 kDa. Mass spectrometry analysis identified 11 subunits (PsaA, B, C, D, E, F, I, J, K, L, O) in the core complex and three LHCI subunits, CMQ142C, CMN234C, and CMN235C in LHCI, indicating that at least three Lhcr subunits associate with the red algal PSI core. PsaG was not found in the red algae PSI-LHCI, and we suggest that the position corresponding to Lhca1 in higher plant PSI-LHCI is empty in the red algal PSI-LHCI. The PSI-LHCI complex was separated into two bands on native PAGE, suggesting that two different complexes may be present with slightly different protein compositions probably with respective to the numbers of Lhcr subunits. Based on the results obtained, a structural model was proposed for the red algal PSI-LHCI. Furthermore, pigment analysis revealed that the C. merolae PSI-LHCI contained a large amount of zeaxanthin, which is mainly associated with the LHCI complex whereas little zeaxanthin was found in the PSI core. This indicates a unique feature of the carotenoid composition of the Lhcr proteins and may suggest an important role of Zea in the light-harvesting and photoprotection of the red algal PSI-LHCI complex.

  12. Complex Road Intersection Modelling Based on Low-Frequency GPS Track Data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, J.; Deng, M.; Zhang, Y.; Liu, H.

    2017-09-01

    It is widely accepted that digital map becomes an indispensable guide for human daily traveling. Traditional road network maps are produced in the time-consuming and labour-intensive ways, such as digitizing printed maps and extraction from remote sensing images. At present, a large number of GPS trajectory data collected by floating vehicles makes it a reality to extract high-detailed and up-to-date road network information. Road intersections are often accident-prone areas and very critical to route planning and the connectivity of road networks is mainly determined by the topological geometry of road intersections. A few studies paid attention on detecting complex road intersections and mining the attached traffic information (e.g., connectivity, topology and turning restriction) from massive GPS traces. To the authors' knowledge, recent studies mainly used high frequency (1 s sampling rate) trajectory data to detect the crossroads regions or extract rough intersection models. It is still difficult to make use of low frequency (20-100 s) and easily available trajectory data to modelling complex road intersections geometrically and semantically. The paper thus attempts to construct precise models for complex road intersection by using low frequency GPS traces. We propose to firstly extract the complex road intersections by a LCSS-based (Longest Common Subsequence) trajectory clustering method, then delineate the geometry shapes of complex road intersections by a K-segment principle curve algorithm, and finally infer the traffic constraint rules inside the complex intersections.

  13. Plant mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex: purification and identification of catalytic components in potato.

    PubMed Central

    Millar, A H; Knorpp, C; Leaver, C J; Hill, S A

    1998-01-01

    The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (mPDC) from potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. Romano) tuber mitochondria was purified 40-fold to a specific activity of 5.60 micromol/min per mg of protein. The activity of the complex depended on pyruvate, divalent cations, NAD+ and CoA and was competitively inhibited by both NADH and acetyl-CoA. SDS/PAGE revealed the complex consisted of seven polypeptide bands with apparent molecular masses of 78, 60, 58, 55, 43, 41 and 37 kDa. N-terminal sequencing revealed that the 78 kDa protein was dihydrolipoamide transacetylase (E2), the 58 kDa protein was dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3), the 43 and 41 kDa proteins were alpha subunits of pyruvate dehydrogenase, and the 37 kDa protein was the beta subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase. N-terminal sequencing of the 55 kDa protein band yielded two protein sequences: one was another E3; the other was similar to the sequence of E2 from plant and yeast sources but was distinctly different from the sequence of the 78 kDa protein. Incubation of the mPDC with [2-14C]pyruvate resulted in the acetylation of both the 78 and 55 kDa proteins. PMID:9729464

  14. Sr-isotopic composition of marbles from the Puerto Galera area (Mindoro, Philippines): additional evidence for a Paleozoic age of a metamorphic complex in the Philippine island arc

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

    Knittel, U.; Daniels, U.

    1987-02-01

    The Sr-isotopic composition of marbles from the Puerto Galera area (Mindoro, Philippines) is compatible with either a Tertiary or a Paleozoic age. The former is considered as unlikely because nonmetamorphic sediments of that age overlie the metamorphic complex. This implies that the metamorphic complex does not represent the basement of the Philippine arc but is an accreted terrane.

  15. Silicon K-edge XANES spectra of silicate minerals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Dien; Bancroft, G. M.; Fleet, M. E.; Feng, X. H.

    1995-03-01

    Silicon K-edge x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra of a selection of silicate and aluminosilicate minerals have been measured using synchrotron radiation (SR). The spectra are qualitatively interpreted based on MO calculation of the tetrahedral SiO{4/4-}cluster. The Si K-edge generally shifts to higher energy with increased polymerization of silicates by about 1.3 eV, but with considerable overlap for silicates of different polymerization types. The substitution of Al for Si shifts the Si K-edge to lower energy. The chemical shift of Si K-edge is also sensitive to cations in more distant atom shells; for example, the Si K-edge shifts to lower energy with the substitution of Al for Mg in octahedral sites. The shifts of the Si K-edge show weak correlation with average Si-O bond distance (dSi-O), Si-O bond valence (sSi-O) and distortion of SiO4 tetrahedra, due to the crystal structure complexity of silicate minerals and multiple factors effecting the x-ray absorption processes.

  16. PLANT HOMOLOGOUS TO PARAFIBROMIN is a component of the PAF1 complex and assists in regulating expression of genes within H3K27ME3-enriched chromatin.

    PubMed

    Park, Sunchung; Oh, Sookyung; Ek-Ramos, Julissa; van Nocker, Steven

    2010-06-01

    The human Paf1 complex (Paf1C) subunit Parafibromin assists in mediating output from the Wingless/Int signaling pathway, and dysfunction of the encoding gene HRPT2 conditions specific cancer-related disease phenotypes. Here, we characterize the organismal and molecular roles of PLANT HOMOLOGOUS TO PARAFIBROMIN (PHP), the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) homolog of Parafibromin. PHP resides in an approximately 670-kD protein complex in nuclear extracts, and physically interacts with other known Paf1C-related proteins in vivo. In striking contrast to the developmental pleiotropy conferred by mutation in other plant Paf1C component genes in Arabidopsis, loss of PHP specifically conditioned accelerated phase transition from vegetative growth to flowering and resulted in misregulation of a very limited subset of genes that included the flowering repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C. Those genes targeted by PHP were distinguished from the bulk of Arabidopsis genes and other plant Paf1C targets by strong enrichment for trimethylation of lysine-27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3) within chromatin. These findings suggest that PHP is a component of a plant Paf1C protein in Arabidopsis, but has a more specialized role in modulating expression of a subset of Paf1C targets.

  17. Initiation of lambda DNA replication. The Escherichia coli small heat shock proteins, DnaJ and GrpE, increase DnaK's affinity for the lambda P protein.

    PubMed

    Osipiuk, J; Georgopoulos, C; Zylicz, M

    1993-03-05

    It is known that the initiation of bacteriophage lambda replication requires the orderly assembly of the lambda O.lambda P.DnaB helicase protein preprimosomal complex at the ori lambda DNA site. The DnaK, DnaJ, and GrpE heat shock proteins act together to destabilize the lambda P.DnaB complex, thus freeing DnaB and allowing it to unwind lambda DNA near the ori lambda site. The first step of this disassembly reaction is the binding of DnaK to the lambda P protein. In this report, we examined the influence of the DnaJ and GrpE proteins on the stability of the lambda P.DnaK complex. We present evidence for the existence of the following protein-protein complexes: lambda P.DnaK, lambda P.DnaJ, DnaJ.DnaK, DnaK.GrpE, and lambda P.DnaK.GrpE. Our results suggest that the presence of GrpE alone destabilizes the lambda P.DnaK complex, whereas the presence of DnaJ alone stabilizes the lambda P.DnaK complex. Using immunoprecipitation, we show that in the presence of GrpE, DnaK exhibits a higher affinity for the lambda P.DnaJ complex than it does alone. Using cross-linking with glutaraldehyde, we show that oligomeric forms of DnaK exhibit a higher affinity for lambda P than monomeric DnaK. However, in the presence of GrpE, monomeric DnaK can efficiently bind lambda P protein. These findings help explain our previous results, namely that in the GrpE-dependent lambda DNA replication system, the DnaK protein requirement can be reduced up to 10-fold.

  18. Convective cell development and propagation in a mesoscale convective complex

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ahn, Yoo-Shin; Brundidge, Kenneth C.

    1987-01-01

    A case study was made of the mesoscale convective complex (MCC) which occurred over southern Oklahoma and northern Texas on 27 May 1981. This storm moved in an eastsoutheasterly direction and during much of its lifetime was observable by radars at Oklahoma City, Ok. and Stephenville, Tx. It was found that the direction of cell (VIP level 3 or more reflectivity) propagation was somewhat erratic but approximately the same as the system (VIP level 1 reflectivity) movement and the ambient wind. New cells developed along and behind the gust front make it appear that once the MCC is initiated, a synergistic relationship exists between the gust front and the MCC. The relationship between rainfall patterns and amounts and the infrared (IR) temperature field in the satellite imagery were examined. The 210 K isotherm of GOES IR imagery was found to encompass the rain area of the storm. The heaviest rainfall was in the vicinity of the VIP level 3 cells and mostly contained within the 205 K isotherm of GOES IR imagery.

  19. Amplitude analysis of B0→K+π-π0 and evidence of direct CP violation in B→K*π decays

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

    2011-06-01

    We analyze the decay B0→K+π-π0 with a sample of 4.54×108 BB¯ events collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory at SLAC, and extract the complex amplitudes of seven interfering resonances over the Dalitz plot. These results are combined with amplitudes measured in B0→KS0π+π- decays to construct isospin amplitudes from B0→K*π and B0→ρK decays. We measure the phase of the isospin amplitude Φ3/2, useful in constraining the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa unitarity triangle angle γ and evaluate a CP rate asymmetry sum rule sensitive to the presence of new physics operators. We measure direct CP violation in B0→K*+π- decays at the level of 3σ when measurements from both B0→K+π-π0 and B0→KS0π+π- decays are combined.

  20. Complex antigen presentation pathway for an HLA-A*0201-restricted epitope from Chikungunya 6K protein

    PubMed Central

    Lemonnier, François A.; Esteban, Mariano

    2017-01-01

    Background The adaptive cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated immune response is critical for clearance of many viral infections. These CTL recognize naturally processed short viral antigenic peptides bound to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules on the surface of infected cells. This specific recognition allows the killing of virus-infected cells. The T cell immune T cell response to Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a mosquito-borne Alphavirus of the Togaviridae family responsible for severe musculoskeletal disorders, has not been fully defined; nonetheless, the importance of HLA class I-restricted immune response in this virus has been hypothesized. Methodology/Principal findings By infection of HLA-A*0201-transgenic mice with a recombinant vaccinia virus that encodes the CHIKV structural polyprotein (rVACV-CHIKV), we identified the first human T cell epitopes from CHIKV. These three novel 6K transmembrane protein-derived epitopes are presented by the common HLA class I molecule, HLA-A*0201. One of these epitopes is processed and presented via a complex pathway that involves proteases from different subcellular locations. Specific chemical inhibitors blocked these events in rVACV-CHIKV-infected cells. Conclusions/Significance Our data have implications not only for the identification of novel Alphavirus and Togaviridae antiviral CTL responses, but also for analyzing presentation of antigen from viruses of different families and orders that use host proteinases to generate their mature envelope proteins. PMID:29084215

  1. Complex antigen presentation pathway for an HLA-A*0201-restricted epitope from Chikungunya 6K protein.

    PubMed

    Lorente, Elena; Barriga, Alejandro; García-Arriaza, Juan; Lemonnier, François A; Esteban, Mariano; López, Daniel

    2017-10-01

    The adaptive cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated immune response is critical for clearance of many viral infections. These CTL recognize naturally processed short viral antigenic peptides bound to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules on the surface of infected cells. This specific recognition allows the killing of virus-infected cells. The T cell immune T cell response to Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a mosquito-borne Alphavirus of the Togaviridae family responsible for severe musculoskeletal disorders, has not been fully defined; nonetheless, the importance of HLA class I-restricted immune response in this virus has been hypothesized. By infection of HLA-A*0201-transgenic mice with a recombinant vaccinia virus that encodes the CHIKV structural polyprotein (rVACV-CHIKV), we identified the first human T cell epitopes from CHIKV. These three novel 6K transmembrane protein-derived epitopes are presented by the common HLA class I molecule, HLA-A*0201. One of these epitopes is processed and presented via a complex pathway that involves proteases from different subcellular locations. Specific chemical inhibitors blocked these events in rVACV-CHIKV-infected cells. Our data have implications not only for the identification of novel Alphavirus and Togaviridae antiviral CTL responses, but also for analyzing presentation of antigen from viruses of different families and orders that use host proteinases to generate their mature envelope proteins.

  2. Objective measurement of subjective tinnitus using the acoustic change complex.

    PubMed

    Han, Ji-Hye; Won, Joong Yeon; Hong, Sung Kwang; Kim, Ja Hee; Kim, Eun Soo; Kim, Hyung-Jong; Lee, Hyo-Jeong

    2017-01-01

    At present, there is no objective method for diagnosing subjective sensorineural tinnitus. Recently, the acoustic change complex (ACC) has been used to evaluate neural detection of sounds. Thus, the present study aimed to examine whether the ACC can reflect cortical detection and discrimination of sounds matched with tinnitus frequencies. We hypothesized that the ACC to change stimuli matched with tinnitus frequencies would be decreased in tinnitus patients because the tinnitus interferes with the perception of acoustic changes. To test the hypothesis, 96 ears of normal-hearing (NH) tinnitus patients and controls were tested. Among the tinnitus patients, 33 ears with a tinnitus frequency of 8 kHz constituted the tinnitus group, and the remaining 63 ears with no experience of tinnitus were allocated to the control group. For the 4 kHz non-tinnitus matched frequency, a subset of tinnitus (n = 17) and NH (n = 47) subjects was tested. The acoustic stimuli were pure tones with a total duration of 500 ms consisting of a 1 kHz tone in the first 250 ms and a second tone of either 8 kHz or 4 kHz in the latter 250 ms. The normalized amplitude of the ACC (naACC) was calculated separately for the amplitude of the N1'-P2' complex evoked by an 8 kHz or 4 kHz change stimulus and for the amplitude of the N1-P2 complex elicited by the initial 1 kHz background stimulus. Our results showed that the naACC to an 8 kHz stimulus in the tinnitus group was significantly smaller than those to 4 kHz and 8 kHz in normal controls. Additionally, in the tinnitus group, the naACC to 4 kHz was greater compared to 8 kHz. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis conducted for naACC to 8 kHz at UCL revealed a fair degree of diagnostic efficacy. Overall, our results indicated that the ACC to a change stimulus matched with the tinnitus frequency can provide an objective measure of frequency-specific tinnitus.

  3. Objective measurement of subjective tinnitus using the acoustic change complex

    PubMed Central

    Han, Ji-Hye; Won, Joong Yeon; Hong, Sung Kwang; Kim, Ja Hee; Kim, Eun Soo; Kim, Hyung-Jong

    2017-01-01

    At present, there is no objective method for diagnosing subjective sensorineural tinnitus. Recently, the acoustic change complex (ACC) has been used to evaluate neural detection of sounds. Thus, the present study aimed to examine whether the ACC can reflect cortical detection and discrimination of sounds matched with tinnitus frequencies. We hypothesized that the ACC to change stimuli matched with tinnitus frequencies would be decreased in tinnitus patients because the tinnitus interferes with the perception of acoustic changes. To test the hypothesis, 96 ears of normal-hearing (NH) tinnitus patients and controls were tested. Among the tinnitus patients, 33 ears with a tinnitus frequency of 8 kHz constituted the tinnitus group, and the remaining 63 ears with no experience of tinnitus were allocated to the control group. For the 4 kHz non-tinnitus matched frequency, a subset of tinnitus (n = 17) and NH (n = 47) subjects was tested. The acoustic stimuli were pure tones with a total duration of 500 ms consisting of a 1 kHz tone in the first 250 ms and a second tone of either 8 kHz or 4 kHz in the latter 250 ms. The normalized amplitude of the ACC (naACC) was calculated separately for the amplitude of the N1’-P2’ complex evoked by an 8 kHz or 4 kHz change stimulus and for the amplitude of the N1-P2 complex elicited by the initial 1 kHz background stimulus. Our results showed that the naACC to an 8 kHz stimulus in the tinnitus group was significantly smaller than those to 4 kHz and 8 kHz in normal controls. Additionally, in the tinnitus group, the naACC to 4 kHz was greater compared to 8 kHz. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis conducted for naACC to 8 kHz at UCL revealed a fair degree of diagnostic efficacy. Overall, our results indicated that the ACC to a change stimulus matched with the tinnitus frequency can provide an objective measure of frequency-specific tinnitus. PMID:29176873

  4. HB-Line Plutonium Oxide Data Collection Strategy

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

    Watkins, R.; Varble, J.; Jordan, J.

    2015-05-26

    HB-Line and H-Canyon will handle and process plutonium material to produce plutonium oxide for feed to the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF). However, the plutonium oxide product will not be transferred to the MFFF directly from HB-Line until it is packaged into a qualified DOE-STD-3013-2012 container. In the interim, HB-Line will load plutonium oxide into an inner, filtered can. The inner can will be placed in a filtered bag, which will be loaded into a filtered outer can. The outer can will be loaded into a certified 9975 with getter assembly in compliance with onsite transportation requirement, for subsequentmore » storage and transfer to the K-Area Complex (KAC). After DOE-STD-3013-2012 container packaging capabilities are established, the product will be returned to HB-Line to be packaged into a qualified DOE-STD-3013-2012 container. To support the transfer of plutonium oxide to KAC and then eventually to MFFF, various material and packaging data will have to be collected and retained. In addition, data from initial HB-Line processing operations will be needed to support future DOE-STD-3013-2012 qualification as amended by the HB-Line DOE Standard equivalency. As production increases, the volume of data to collect will increase. The HB-Line data collected will be in the form of paper copies and electronic media. Paper copy data will, at a minimum, consist of facility procedures, nonconformance reports (NCRs), and DCS print outs. Electronic data will be in the form of Adobe portable document formats (PDFs). Collecting all the required data for each plutonium oxide can will be no small effort for HB-Line, and will become more challenging once the maximum annual oxide production throughput is achieved due to the sheer volume of data to be collected. The majority of the data collected will be in the form of facility procedures, DCS print outs, and laboratory results. To facilitate complete collection of this data, a traveler form will be developed

  5. Probing Aspergillus niger glucose oxidase with pentacyanoferrate(III) aza- and thia-complexes.

    PubMed

    Kulys, J; Tetianec, L; Ziemys, A

    2006-10-01

    Complexes of pentacyanoferrate(III) and biologically relevant ligands, such as pyridine, pyrazole, imidazole, histidine, and other aza- and thia-heterocycles, were synthesized. Their spectral, electrochemical properties, electron exchange constants, electronic structure parameters, and reactivity with glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger were determined. The formation of the complexes following ammonia replacement by the ligands was associated with the appearance of a new band of absorbance in the visible spectrum. The constants of the complexes formation calculated at a ligand-pentacyanoferrate(III) concentrations ratio of 10:1, were 7.5 x 10(-5), 7.7 x 10(-5), and 1.8 x 10(-3) s(-1) for benzotriazole, benzimidazole, and aminothiazole ligands, respectively. The complexes showed quasi-reversible redox conversion at a glassy carbon electrode. The redox potential of the complexes spanned the potential range from 70 to 240 mV vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE) at pH7.2. For most of the complexes self-exchange constants (k(11)) were similar to or larger than that of hexacyanoferrate(III) (ferricyanide). The complexes containing pyridine derivatives and thia-heterocyclic ligands held a lower value of k(11) than that of ferricyanide. All complexes reacted with reduced glucose oxidase at pH7.2. The reactivity of the complex containing pyrazole was the largest in comparison to the rest of the complexes. Correlations between the complexes' reactivity and both the free energy of reaction and k(11) shows that the reactivity of pentacyanoferrates obeys the principles of Marcus's electron transfer theory. The obtained data suggest that large negative charges of the complexes decrease their reactivity.

  6. Decreased cathepsin K levels in human atherosclerotic plaques are associated with plaque instability.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Huiying; Qin, Xiujiao; Wang, Shuai; Sun, Xiwei; Dong, Bin

    2017-10-01

    Investigating the determinants and dynamics of atherosclerotic plaque instability is a key area of current cardiovascular research. Extracellular matrix degradation from excessive proteolysis induced by enzymes such as cathepsin K (Cat K) is implicated in the pathogenesis of unstable plaques. The current study assessed the expression of Cat K in human unstable atherosclerotic plaques. Specimens of popliteal arteries with atherosclerotic plaques were classified as stable (<40% lipid core plaque area; n=6) or unstable (≥40% lipid core plaque area; n=14) based on histopathological examinations of hematoxylin and eosin stained sections. The expression of Cat K and cystatin C (Cys C) were assessed by immunohistochemical examination and levels of Cat K mRNA were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Morphological changes including a larger lipid core, endothelial proliferation with foam cells and destruction of internal elastic lamina were observed in unstable atherosclerotic plaques. In unstable plaques, the expression of Cat K protein and mRNA was upregulated, whereas Cys C protein expression was downregulated. The interplay between Cat K and Cys C may underlie the progression of plaques from stable to unstable and the current study indicated that Cat K and Cys C are potential targets for preventing and treating vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque ruptures.

  7. 940nm QCW diode laser bars with 70% efficiency at 1 kW output power at 203K: analysis of remaining limits and path to higher efficiency and power at 200K and 300K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Frevert, C.; Bugge, F.; Knigge, S.; Ginolas, A.; Erbert, G.; Crump, P.

    2016-03-01

    Both high-energy-class laser facilities and commercial high-energy pulsed laser sources require reliable optical pumps with the highest pulse power and electro-optical efficiency. Although commercial quasi-continuous wave (QCW) diode laser bars reach output powers of 300…500 W further improvements are urgently sought to lower the cost per Watt, improve system performance and reduce overall system complexity. Diode laser bars operating at temperatures of around 200 K show significant advances in performance, and are particularly attractive in systems that use cryogenically cooled solid state lasers. We present the latest results on 940 nm, passively cooled, 4 mm long QCW diode bars which operate under pulse conditions of 1.2 ms, 10 Hz at an output power of 1 kW with efficiency of 70% at 203 K: a two-fold increase in power compared to 300 K, without compromising efficiency. We discuss how custom low-temperature design of the vertical layers can mitigate the limiting factors such as series resistance while sustaining high power levels. We then focus on the remaining obstacles to higher efficiency and power, and use a detailed study of multiple vertical structures to demonstrate that the properties of the active region are a major performance limit. Specifically, one key limit to series resistance is transport in the layers around the active region and the differential internal efficiency is closely correlated to the threshold current. Tailoring the barriers around the active region and reducing transparency current density thus promise bars with increased performance at temperatures of 200 K as well as 300 K.

  8. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate down-regulates Na,K-ATPase independent of its protein kinase C site: decrease in basolateral cell surface area.

    PubMed Central

    Beron, J; Forster, I; Beguin, P; Geering, K; Verrey, F

    1997-01-01

    The effect of protein kinase C (PKC) stimulation on the pump current (Ip) generated by the Na,K-ATPase was measured in A6 epithelia apically permeabilized with amphotericin B. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) produced a decrease in Ip carried by sodium pumps containing the endogenous Xenopus laevis or transfected Bufo marinus alpha 1 subunits (approximately 30% reduction within 25 min, maximum after 40 min) independent of the PKC phosphorylation site (T15A/S16A). In addition to this major effect of PMA, which was independent of the intracellular sodium concentration and was prevented by the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide GF 109203X (BIM), another BIM-resistant, PKC site-independent decrease was observed when the Ip was measured at low sodium concentrations (total reduction approximately 50% at 5 mM sodium). Using ouabain binding and cell surface biotinylation, stimulation of PKC was shown to reduce surface Na,K-ATPase by 14 to 20% within 25 min. The same treatment stimulated fluid phase endocytosis sevenfold and decreased by 16.5% the basolateral cell surface area measured by transepithelial capacitance measurements. In conclusion, PKC stimulation produces a decrease in sodium pump function which can be attributed, to a large extent, to a withdrawal of sodium pumps from the basolateral cell surface independent of their PKC site. This reduction of the number of sodium pumps is parallel to a decrease in basolateral membrane area. Images PMID:9188092

  9. Enhancer-associated H3K4 monomethylation by Trithorax-related, the Drosophila homolog of mammalian Mll3/Mll4.

    PubMed

    Herz, Hans-Martin; Mohan, Man; Garruss, Alexander S; Liang, Kaiwei; Takahashi, Yoh-Hei; Mickey, Kristen; Voets, Olaf; Verrijzer, C Peter; Shilatifard, Ali

    2012-12-01

    Monomethylation of histone H3 on Lys 4 (H3K4me1) and acetylation of histone H3 on Lys 27 (H3K27ac) are histone modifications that are highly enriched over the body of actively transcribed genes and on enhancers. Although in yeast all H3K4 methylation patterns, including H3K4me1, are implemented by Set1/COMPASS (complex of proteins associated with Set1), there are three classes of COMPASS-like complexes in Drosophila that could carry out H3K4me1 on enhancers: dSet1, Trithorax, and Trithorax-related (Trr). Here, we report that Trr, the Drosophila homolog of the mammalian Mll3/4 COMPASS-like complexes, can function as a major H3K4 monomethyltransferase on enhancers in vivo. Loss of Trr results in a global decrease of H3K4me1 and H3K27ac levels in various tissues. Assays with the cut wing margin enhancer implied a functional role for Trr in enhancer-mediated processes. A genome-wide analysis demonstrated that Trr is required to maintain the H3K4me1 and H3K27ac chromatin signature that resembles the histone modification patterns described for enhancers. Furthermore, studies in the mammalian system suggested a role for the Trr homolog Mll3 in similar processes. Since Trr and mammalian Mll3/4 complexes are distinguished by bearing a unique subunit, the H3K27 demethylase UTX, we propose a model in which the H3K4 monomethyltransferases Trr/Mll3/Mll4 and the H3K27 demethylase UTX cooperate to regulate the transition from inactive/poised to active enhancers.

  10. Enhancer-associated H3K4 monomethylation by Trithorax-related, the Drosophila homolog of mammalian Mll3/Mll4

    PubMed Central

    Herz, Hans-Martin; Mohan, Man; Garruss, Alexander S.; Liang, Kaiwei; Takahashi, Yoh-hei; Mickey, Kristen; Voets, Olaf; Verrijzer, C. Peter; Shilatifard, Ali

    2012-01-01

    Monomethylation of histone H3 on Lys 4 (H3K4me1) and acetylation of histone H3 on Lys 27 (H3K27ac) are histone modifications that are highly enriched over the body of actively transcribed genes and on enhancers. Although in yeast all H3K4 methylation patterns, including H3K4me1, are implemented by Set1/COMPASS (complex of proteins associated with Set1), there are three classes of COMPASS-like complexes in Drosophila that could carry out H3K4me1 on enhancers: dSet1, Trithorax, and Trithorax-related (Trr). Here, we report that Trr, the Drosophila homolog of the mammalian Mll3/4 COMPASS-like complexes, can function as a major H3K4 monomethyltransferase on enhancers in vivo. Loss of Trr results in a global decrease of H3K4me1 and H3K27ac levels in various tissues. Assays with the cut wing margin enhancer implied a functional role for Trr in enhancer-mediated processes. A genome-wide analysis demonstrated that Trr is required to maintain the H3K4me1 and H3K27ac chromatin signature that resembles the histone modification patterns described for enhancers. Furthermore, studies in the mammalian system suggested a role for the Trr homolog Mll3 in similar processes. Since Trr and mammalian Mll3/4 complexes are distinguished by bearing a unique subunit, the H3K27 demethylase UTX, we propose a model in which the H3K4 monomethyltransferases Trr/Mll3/Mll4 and the H3K27 demethylase UTX cooperate to regulate the transition from inactive/poised to active enhancers. PMID:23166019

  11. Complex of simian virus 40 large-T antigen and host 53,000-molecular-weight protein in monkey cells.

    PubMed Central

    Harlow, E; Pim, D C; Crawford, L V

    1981-01-01

    Mouse cells transformed by simian virus 40 (SV40) have been shown to contain a complex of the virus-coded large-T antigen with a host 53,000-molecular-weight (53K) protein. Initial attempts to detect a similar complex in lytically infected cells were unsuccessful, and it therefore seemed that the complex might be peculiar to transformed or abortively transformed nonpermissive cells. Immunoprecipitation of [32P]phosphate-labeled extracts of SV40-infected CV-1 African green monkey kidney cells with antibodies specific for large-T or the 53K protein revealed that the large-T-53K protein complex was formed during lytic infections. Only a minor fraction of the large-T present was associated with 53K protein, and large-T and the 53K host protein cosedimented during centrifugation through sucrose gradients. We used monospecific sera and monoclonal antibodies to study the rate of synthesis and phosphorylation of the 53K protein during lytic infections. Infection of CV-1 cells with SV40 increased the rate of synthesis of the 53K protein fivefold over that in mock-infected cells. At the same time, the rate of phosphorylation of the 53K protein increased more than 30-fold compared with control cultures. Monkey cells transformed by UV-irradiated SV40 (Gluzman et al., J. Virol. 22:256-266, 1977) also contained the large-T-53K protein complex. The formation of the complex is therefore not a peculiarity of SV40-transformed rodent cells but is a common feature of SV40 infections. Images PMID:6163871

  12. Climatological characteristics of raindrop size distributions within a topographically complex area

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Suh, S.-H.; You, C.-H.; Lee, D.-I.

    2015-04-01

    Raindrop size distribution (DSD) characteristics within the complex area of Busan, Korea (35.12° N, 129.10° E) were studied using a Precipitation Occurrence Sensor System (POSS) disdrometer over a four-year period from 24 February 2001 to 24 December 2004. Average DSD parameters in Busan, a mid-latitude site, were compared with corresponding parameters recorded in the high-latitude site of Järvenpää, Finland. Mean values of median drop diameter (D0) and the shape parameter (μ) in Busan are smaller than those in Järvenpää, whereas the mean normalized intercept parameter (Nw) and rainfall rate (R) are higher in Busan. To analyze the climatological DSD characteristics in more detail, the entire period of recorded rainfall was divided into 10 categories with different temporal and spatial scales. When only convective rainfall was considered, mean Dm and Nw values for all these categories converged around a maritime cluster, except for rainfall associated with typhoons. The convective rainfall of a typhoon showed much smaller Dm and larger Nw compared with the other rainfall categories. In terms of diurnal DSD variability, we observe maritime (continental) precipitation during the daytime (DT) (nighttime, NT), which likely results from sea (land) breeze identified through wind direction analysis. These features also appeared in the seasonal diurnal distribution. The DT and NT Probability Density Function (PDF) during the summer was similar to the PDF of the entire study period. However, the DT and NT PDF during the winter season displayed an inverse distribution due to seasonal differences in wind direction.

  13. 11.72-sq cm Active-Area Wafer Interconnected PiN Diode Pulsed at 64 kA Dissipates 382 J and Exhibits an Action of 1.7 MA(sup 2)-s

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-01-30

    calculated action exceeded 1.7 MA2 -s. Preliminary efforts on high voltage diode interconnection have produced quarter wafer interconnected PiN...was packaged in a “hockey-puck” configuration and pulsed to 64 kA, dissipating 382 J with a calculated action exceeding 1.7 MA2 -s. II. FULL...epitaxial layers are utilized. 11.72-cm2 Active-area Wafer Interconnected PiN Diode pulsed at 64 kA dissipates 382 J and exhibits an action of 1.7 MA2 -s

  14. Expression of bovine non-classical major histocompatibility complex class I proteins in mouse P815 and human K562 cells.

    PubMed

    Parasar, Parveen; Wilhelm, Amanda; Rutigliano, Heloisa M; Thomas, Aaron J; Teng, Lihong; Shi, Bi; Davis, William C; Suarez, Carlos E; New, Daniel D; White, Kenneth L; Davies, Christopher J

    2016-08-01

    Major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) proteins can be expressed as cell surface or secreted proteins. To investigate whether bovine non-classical MHC-I proteins are expressed as cell surface or secreted proteins, and to assess the reactivity pattern of monoclonal antibodies with non-classical MHC-I isoforms, we expressed the MHC proteins in murine P815 and human K562 (MHC-I deficient) cells. Following antibiotic selection, stably transfected cell lines were stained with H1A or W6/32 antibodies to detect expression of the MHC-I proteins by flow cytometry. Two non-classical proteins (BoLA-NC1*00501 and BoLA-NC3*00101) were expressed on the cell surface in both cell lines. Surprisingly, the BoLA-NC4*00201 protein was expressed on the cell membrane of human K562 but not mouse P815 cells. Two non-classical proteins (BoLA-NC1*00401, which lacks a transmembrane domain, and BoLA-NC2*00102) did not exhibit cell surface expression. Nevertheless, Western blot analyses demonstrated expression of the MHC-I heavy chain in all transfected cell lines. Ammonium-sulfate precipitation of proteins from culture supernatants showed that BoLA-NC1*00401 was secreted and that all surface expressed proteins where shed from the cell membrane by the transfected cells. Interestingly, the surface expressed MHC-I proteins were present in culture supernatants at a much higher concentration than BoLA-NC1*00401. This comprehensive study shows that bovine non-classical MHC-I proteins BoLA-NC1*00501, BoLA-NC3*00101, and BoLA-NC4*00201 are expressed as surface isoforms with the latter reaching the cell membrane only in K562 cells. Furthermore, it demonstrated that BoLA-NC1*00401 is a secreted isoform and that significant quantities of membrane associated MHC-I proteins can be shed from the cell membrane. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  15. Social Studies Scope & Sequence Learner Outcomes: [Grades K-8].

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Duluth Public Schools, MN.

    The goal of this K-8 social studies curriculum guide is to ensure instructional consistency at each grade level and sequential growth in content and process skills. Within the K-6 grade levels, the curriculum objectives are itemized under the discipline areas of geography, history, cultures/ethnicity, citizenship/government, economics, and…

  16. DNA Origami Scaffolds as Templates for Functional Tetrameric Kir3 K+ Channels.

    PubMed

    Kurokawa, Tatsuki; Kiyonaka, Shigeki; Nakata, Eiji; Endo, Masayuki; Koyama, Shohei; Mori, Emiko; Tran, Nam Ha; Dinh, Huyen; Suzuki, Yuki; Hidaka, Kumi; Kawata, Masaaki; Sato, Chikara; Sugiyama, Hiroshi; Morii, Takashi; Mori, Yasuo

    2018-03-01

    In native systems, scaffolding proteins play important roles in assembling proteins into complexes to transduce signals. This concept is yet to be applied to the assembly of functional transmembrane protein complexes in artificial systems. To address this issue, DNA origami has the potential to serve as scaffolds that arrange proteins at specific positions in complexes. Herein, we report that Kir3 K + channel proteins are assembled through zinc-finger protein (ZFP)-adaptors at specific locations on DNA origami scaffolds. Specific binding of the ZFP-fused Kir3 channels and ZFP-based adaptors on DNA origami were confirmed by atomic force microscopy and gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, the DNA origami with ZFP binding sites nearly tripled the K + channel current activity elicited by heterotetrameric Kir3 channels in HEK293T cells. Thus, our method provides a useful template to control the oligomerization states of membrane protein complexes in vitro and in living cells. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  17. TOPOGRAPHIC VIEW OF THE STATE FORESTER'S COMPLEX, VIEW LOOKING SOUTHWEST ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    TOPOGRAPHIC VIEW OF THE STATE FORESTER'S COMPLEX, VIEW LOOKING SOUTHWEST FROM STATE STREET, WITH THE K.O.G BUILDING (KEEP OREGON GREEN) IN THE FOREGROUND. - Oregon State Forester's Office Complex, 2600 State Street, Salem, Marion, OR

  18. Fluorometric and theoretical studies on inclusion complexes of β-cyclodextrin and D-, L-phenylalanine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aree, Thammarat; Arunchai, Rungthiwa; Koonrugsa, Narongsak; Intasiri, Amarawan

    2012-10-01

    Inclusion complexes of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with L- and D-phenylalanine (Phe) have been characterized in solution by fluorometry and in gas phase by semiempirical PM3 calculations. The unimolar stoichiometric ratio of both β-CD-L-Phe and β-CD-D-Phe complexes and the stability constants (K) were deduced from fluorometric titrations. The β-CD-L-Phe complex is more stable than the β-CD-D-Phe complex as indicated by the larger K values, 21.1 vs. 6.86 M-1. This is consistent with the stabilization energies (ΔEstb) and inclusion geometries obtained from PM3 calculations. The β-CD-L-Phe complex with L-Phe residing in the central β-CD cavity and pointing its COOH group downwards to the O6 end has ΔEstb = -62.7 kJ mol-1, whereas the β-CD-D-Phe complex with D-Phe placing at 3 Å beneath the β-CD O4-plane and pointing its COOH group upwards to the O2/O3 end has ΔEstb = -53.3 kJ mol-1. The unison of host-guest intermolecular hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions and molecular deformations plays an essential role in forming and stabilizing the inclusion complexes. Our results show that the β-CD-L-Phe and β-CD-D-Phe inclusion complexes are relatively stable and differentiable, suggesting the applications of CDs in foods and drugs.

  19. Universality and chaoticity in ultracold K+KRb chemical reactions

    DOE PAGES

    Croft, J. F. E.; Makrides, C.; Li, M.; ...

    2017-07-19

    A fundamental question in the study of chemical reactions is how reactions proceed at a collision energy close to absolute zero. This question is no longer hypothetical: quantum degenerate gases of atoms and molecules can now be created at temperatures lower than a few tens of nanokelvin. Here we consider the benchmark ultracold reaction between, the most-celebrated ultracold molecule, KRb and K. We map out an accurate ab initio ground-state potential energy surface of the K 2Rb complex in full dimensionality and report numerically-exact quantum-mechanical reaction dynamics. The distribution of rotationally resolved rates is shown to be Poissonian. An analysismore » of the hyperspherical adiabatic potential curves explains this statistical character revealing a chaotic distribution for the short-range collision complex that plays a key role in governing the reaction outcome.« less

  20. Regulation of human adenovirus alternative RNA splicing by the adenoviral L4-33K and L4-22K proteins.

    PubMed

    Biasiotto, Roberta; Akusjärvi, Göran

    2015-01-28

    Adenovirus makes extensive use of alternative RNA splicing to produce a complex set of spliced viral mRNAs. Studies aimed at characterizing the interactions between the virus and the host cell RNA splicing machinery have identified three viral proteins of special significance for the control of late viral gene expression: L4-33K, L4-22K, and E4-ORF4. L4-33K is a viral alternative RNA splicing factor that controls L1 alternative splicing via an interaction with the cellular protein kinases Protein Kinase A (PKA) and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). L4-22K is a viral transcription factor that also has been implicated in the splicing of a subset of late viral mRNAs. E4-ORF4 is a viral protein that binds the cellular protein phosphatase IIA (PP2A) and controls Serine/Arginine (SR)-rich protein activity by inducing SR protein dephosphorylation. The L4-33K, and most likely also the L4-22K protein, are highly phosphorylated in vivo. Here we will review the function of these viral proteins in the post-transcriptional control of adenoviral gene expression and further discuss the significance of potential protein kinases phosphorylating the L4-33K and/or L4-22K proteins.

  1. Processing of simple and complex acoustic signals in a tonotopically organized ear

    PubMed Central

    Hummel, Jennifer; Wolf, Konstantin; Kössl, Manfred; Nowotny, Manuela

    2014-01-01

    Processing of complex signals in the hearing organ remains poorly understood. This paper aims to contribute to this topic by presenting investigations on the mechanical and neuronal response of the hearing organ of the tropical bushcricket species Mecopoda elongata to simple pure tone signals as well as to the conspecific song as a complex acoustic signal. The high-frequency hearing organ of bushcrickets, the crista acustica (CA), is tonotopically tuned to frequencies between about 4 and 70 kHz. Laser Doppler vibrometer measurements revealed a strong and dominant low-frequency-induced motion of the CA when stimulated with either pure tone or complex stimuli. Consequently, the high-frequency distal area of the CA is more strongly deflected by low-frequency-induced waves than by high-frequency-induced waves. This low-frequency dominance will have strong effects on the processing of complex signals. Therefore, we additionally studied the neuronal response of the CA to native and frequency-manipulated chirps. Again, we found a dominant influence of low-frequency components within the conspecific song, indicating that the mechanical vibration pattern highly determines the neuronal response of the sensory cells. Thus, we conclude that the encoding of communication signals is modulated by ear mechanics. PMID:25339727

  2. Coordinated aqua vs methanol substitution kinetics in fac-Re(I) tricarbonyl tropolonato complexes.

    PubMed

    Schutte, Marietjie; Roodt, Andreas; Visser, Hendrik G

    2012-11-05

    Water-soluble fac-[Re(CO)(3)(L,L'-Bid)(X)] (L,L'-Bid = tropolonato, X = H(2)O, methanol) complexes have been synthesized, and the aqua and methanol substitution reactions were investigated in water (pH range 6.3-10.0) and methanol, respectively, and compared. Thiocyanate ions were used as monodentate entering ligand. The complexes were characterized by UV-vis, IR, and NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of the complexes [NEt(4)] fac-[Re(Trop)(CO)(3)(H(2)O)].NO(3).H(2)O (reactant) and fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Trop)(Py)], a substitution product, are reported. Overall it was found that the aqua substitution of fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Trop)(H(2)O)] is about 10 times faster than the methanol substitution reaction for fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Trop)(MeOH)], with forward and reverse rate and stability constants [k(1) (M(-1) s(-1)), k(-1) (s(-1)), K(1), (M(-1))] for thiocyanate as monodentate entering ligand as follows: fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Trop)(H(2)O)] = 2.54 ± 0.03, 0.0077 ± 0.0005, 330 ± 22/207 ± 14 and fac-[Re(CO)(3)(Trop)(MeOH)] = 0.268 ± 0.002, 0.0044 ± 0.0002, (61 ± 3)/(52 ± 4). The activation parameters [ΔH(‡)(k1) (kJ mol(-1)), ΔS(‡)(k1) (J K(-1) mol(-1))] for the aqua and methanol complex respectively are 56.1 ± 0.7, -49 ± 2 and 64 ± 1, -43 ± 5.

  3. Coexistence of spin crossover and magnetic ordering in a dendrimeric Fe(III) complex

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vorobeva, V. E.; Domracheva, N. E.; Pyataev, A. V.; Gruzdev, M. S.; Chervonova, U. V.

    2015-01-01

    The magnetic properties of a new dendrimeric spin crossover Fe(III) complex, [Fe(L)2]+PF6-, where L = 3,5-di[3,4,5-tris(tetradecyloxy) benzoyloxy]benzoyl-4-salicylidene-N-ethyl-N-ethylene-diamine, are reported for the first time. EPR studies show that this compound undergoes a gradual spin transition in the temperature range 70-300 K and has antiferromagnetic ordering below 10 K. Mössbauer spectroscopy at 5 K confirms the presence of magnetic ordering in the dendrimeric iron complex.

  4. Impurity-defect complexes in non-implanted aluminum

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pedersen, F. T.; Grann, H.; Weyer, G.

    1986-02-01

    The formation of impurity-defect complexes in ion-implanted aluminum has been studied in the temperature interval 100 400K. Radioactive119In isotopes have been implanted. Mössbauer spectra have been measured for the 24 keV γ-radiation emitted after the decay to119Sn. The spectra could be analysed satisfactorily with two lines, one of which is known to be due to substitutional Sn. A second line, which has a higher isomer shift and lower Debye temperature, is tentatively assigned to vacancy-associated Sn, formed by trapping of thermally mobile (multi-)vacancies. Comparison to similar DPAC experiments suggests that cubic Sn-V4 complexes are formed. Some indication (˜15%) for an athermal formation of impurity defects below 175K is obtained.

  5. Molecular investigation on the interaction of spermine with proteinase K by multispectroscopic techniques and molecular simulation studies.

    PubMed

    Hosseini-Koupaei, Mansoore; Shareghi, Behzad; Saboury, Ali Akbar; Davar, Fateme

    2017-01-01

    The alteration in structure, function and stability of proteinase K in the presence of spermine was investigated using spectroscopic methods and simulation techniques. The stability and enzyme activity of proteinase K-spermine complex were significantly enhanced as compared to that of the pure enzyme. The increase in the value of V max and the catalytic efficiency of Proteinase K in presence of spermine confirmed that the polyamine could bring the enzyme hyperactivation. UV-vis spectroscopy, intrinsic fluorescence and circular dichroism methods demonstrated that the binding of spermine changed the microenvironment and structure of proteinase K. The fluorescence studies, showing that spermine quenched the intensity of proteinase K with static mechanism. Thermodynamic parameters analysis suggested that hydrogen bond and van der Waals forces play a key role in complex stability which is in agreement with modeling studies. The CD spectra represented the secondary structure alteration of proteinase K with an increase in α-helicity and a decrease in β-sheet of proteinase K upon spermine conjugation. The molecular simulation results proposed that spermine could interact with proteinase K spontaneously at single binding site, which is in agreement with spectroscopic results. This agreement between experimental and theoretical results may be a worth method for protein-ligand complex studies. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. High pressure study of viscosity effects on the luminescence of tetracyanobenzene EDA complexes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thomas, Michele Moisio; Drickamer, H. G.

    1981-03-01

    High pressure fluorescence studies fron 0-10 kbar have been performed on electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes of s-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) with a series of aromatic hydrocarbons. Four solvents were used, 2,2,4,4,6,8,8 heptamethylnonane (HMN), methylcyclohexane (MCH), 2,6,10,14 tetramethylpentadecane (TMPD), and a mixture of MCH and HMN. A viscosity range from 0.006 to 10 000 poise was covered at constant temperature. As pressure (viscosity) increased the fluorescence spectrum shifted from one dominated by emission from the equilibrium (EQ) excited singlet state to one dominated by Franck-Condon (FC) singlet emission. Lifetime measurements for the complexes of o-xylene and p-xylene with TCNB as well as one mesitylene complex yielded the two radiative rates (kEQ and kFC) as well as the rate of internal conversion from FC to the EQ excited state to (kIC). The results are discussed in terms of the rate of relaxation of the solvent compared with the rate kFC. It was found that kIC correlated very well with the solvent viscosity.

  7. The ShcA SH2 domain engages a 14-3-3/PI3'K signaling complex and promotes breast cancer cell survival.

    PubMed

    Ursini-Siegel, J; Hardy, W R; Zheng, Y; Ling, C; Zuo, D; Zhang, C; Podmore, L; Pawson, T; Muller, W J

    2012-11-29

    The ShcA adapter protein transmits activating signals downstream of receptor and cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases through the establishment of phosphotyrosine-dependent complexes. In this regard, ShcA possesses both a phosphotyrosine-binding domain (PTB) and Src homology 2 domain (SH2), which bind phosphotyrosine residues in a sequence-specific manner. Although the majority of receptor tyrosine kinases expressed in breast cancer cells bind the PTB domain, very little is known regarding the biological importance of SH2-driven ShcA signaling during mammary tumorigenesis. To address this, we employed transgenic mice expressing a mutant ShcA allele harboring a non-functional SH2 domain (ShcR397K) under the transcriptional control of the endogenous ShcA promoter. Using transplantation approaches, we demonstrate that SH2-dependent ShcA signaling within the mammary epithelial compartment is essential for breast tumor outgrowth, survival and the development of lung metastases. We further show that the ShcA SH2 domain activates the AKT pathway, potentially through a novel SH2-mediated complex between ShcA, 14-3-3ζ and the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3') kinase. This study is the first to demonstrate that the SH2 domain of ShcA is critical for tumor survival during mammary tumorigenesis.

  8. Harmonic maps of S into a complex Grassmann manifold.

    PubMed

    Chern, S S; Wolfson, J

    1985-04-01

    Let G(k, n) be the Grassmann manifold of all C(k) in C(n), the complex spaces of dimensions k and n, respectively, or, what is the same, the manifold of all projective spaces P(k-1) in P(n-1), so that G(1, n) is the complex projective space P(n-1) itself. We study harmonic maps of the two-dimensional sphere S(2) into G(k, n). The case k = 1 has been the subject of investigation by several authors [see, for example, Din, A. M. & Zakrzewski, W. J. (1980) Nucl. Phys. B 174, 397-406; Eells, J. & Wood, J. C. (1983) Adv. Math. 49, 217-263; and Wolfson, J. G. Trans. Am. Math. Soc., in press]. The harmonic maps S(2) --> G(2, 4) have been studied by Ramanathan [Ramanathan, J. (1984) J. Differ. Geom. 19, 207-219]. We shall describe all harmonic maps S(2) --> G(2, n). The method is based on several geometrical constructions, which lead from a given harmonic map to new harmonic maps, in which the image projective spaces are related by "fundamental collineations." The key result is the degeneracy of some fundamental collineations, which is a global consequence, following from the fact that the domain manifold is S(2). The method extends to G(k, n).

  9. A complex baleen whale call recorded in the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument.

    PubMed

    Nieukirk, Sharon L; Fregosi, Selene; Mellinger, David K; Klinck, Holger

    2016-09-01

    In fall 2014 and spring 2015, passive acoustic data were collected via autonomous gliders east of Guam in an area that included the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument. A short (2-4 s), complex sound was recorded that features a ∼38 Hz moan with both harmonics and amplitude modulation, followed by broad-frequency metallic-sounding sweeps up to 7.5 kHz. This sound was recorded regularly during both fall and spring surveys. Aurally, the sound is quite unusual and most resembles the minke whale "Star Wars" call. It is likely this sound is biological and produced by a baleen whale.

  10. Can oral vitamin K before elective surgery substitute for preoperative heparin bridging in patients on vitamin K antagonists?

    PubMed

    Steib, A; Barre, J; Mertes, M; Morel, M H; Nathan, N; Ozier, Y; Treger, M; Samama, C M

    2010-03-01

    After a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) overdose, 1-2 mg of oral vitamin K can lower the International Normalized Ratio (INR) to the therapeutic range. To establish whether oral vitamin K can substitute for heparin bridging and decrease the INR to < or = 1.5 before elective surgery. Patients on long-term VKAs were randomized either to heparin bridging after the last VKA dose on day -5 before surgery (group H) or to VKA treatment until day -2, followed by 1 mg of oral vitamin K on the day before surgery (group K). Blood clotting variables were assessed on days -5/-2, 1 and 0, and postoperatively. If the target INR was not achieved 2 h before incision, surgery was deferred or performed after injection of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC). In 30 of 94 included patients, baseline INR was outside the chosen range (18, INR < 2; 12, INR > 3.5), leaving 34 eligible patients in group H and 30 in group K. The groups were balanced in terms of body mass index, VKA treatment duration and indication, scheduled surgery, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin, and blood loss. The INR was significantly higher in group K on days -1 and 0 than in group H. An INR < or = 1.5 was not achieved in 20 group K patients (66%). Surgery was postponed or performed after PCC injection in 12 of these 20 patients. Oral vitamin K (1 mg) cannot substitute for heparin bridging before surgery. In addition, one-third of patients on VKAs were exposed to a risk of bleeding (overdose) or thrombosis (underdose), thus highlighting the need for new oral anticoagulants.

  11. A Complex Organic Slushy Bathing Low-Mass Protostars

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Drozdovskaya, Maria; Walsh, Catherine; Visser, Ruud; Harsono, Daniel; van Dishoeck, Ewine

    2015-08-01

    Complex organic molecules are ubiquitous companions of young forming stars. They were first observed in hot cores surrounding high-mass protostars [e.g., 1], but have since also been detected in the environs of several low-mass counterparts [e.g., 2]. Recent studies have shown that colder envelopes and positions with impinging outflows may also glow with emission from complex organic species [e.g., 3, 4]. For this meeting, I would like to present physicochemical modeling results on the synthesis of complex organics in an envelope-cavity system that is subject to non-thermal processing. This includes wavelength-dependent radiative transfer calculations with RADMC [5] and a comprehensive gas-grain chemical network [6]. The results show that the morphology of such a system delineates three distinct regions: the cavity wall layer with time-dependent and species-variant enhancements; a torus rich in complex organic ices, but not reflected in gas-phase abundances; and the remaining outer envelope abundant in simpler solid and gaseous molecules. Within the adopted paradigm, complex organic molecules are demonstrated to have unique lifetimes and be grouped into early and late species [7]. Key chemical processes for forming and destroying complex organic molecules will be discussed. In addition, the results of adding newly experimentally verified routes [8] into the existing chemical networks will be shown.[1] Blake G. A., Sutton E. C., Masson C. R., Phillips T. G., 1987, ApJ, 315, 621[2] Jørgensen J. K., Favre C., Bisschop S. E., Bourke T. L., van Dishoeck E. F., Schmalzl M., 2012, ApJ, 757, L4[3] Arce H. G., Santiago-García J., Jørgensen J. K., Tafalla M., Bachiller R., 2008, ApJ, 681, L21[4] Öberg K. I., Bottinelli S., Jørgensen J. K., van Dishoeck E. F., 2010, ApJ, 716, 825[5] Dullemond C. P., Dominik C., 2004, A&A, 417, 159[6] Walsh C., Millar T. J., Nomura H., Herbst E., Widicus Weaver S., Aikawa Y., Laas J. C., Vasyunin A. I., 2014, A&A, 563, A33[7] Drozdovskaya

  12. The effects of PI3K-mediated signalling on glioblastoma cell behaviour.

    PubMed

    Langhans, Julia; Schneele, Lukas; Trenkler, Nancy; von Bandemer, Hélène; Nonnenmacher, Lisa; Karpel-Massler, Georg; Siegelin, Markus D; Zhou, Shaoxia; Halatsch, Marc-Eric; Debatin, Klaus-Michael; Westhoff, Mike-Andrew

    2017-11-29

    The PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling network is activated in almost 90% of all glioblastoma, the most common primary brain tumour, which is almost invariably lethal within 15 months of diagnosis. Despite intensive research, modulation of this signalling cascade has so far yielded little therapeutic benefit, suggesting that the role of the PI3K network as a pro-survival factor in glioblastoma and therefore a potential target in combination therapy should be re-evaluated. Therefore, we used two distinct pharmacological inhibitors that block signalling at different points of the cascade, namely, GDC-0941 (Pictilisib), a direct inhibitor of the near apical PI3K, and Rapamycin which blocks the side arm of the network that is regulated by mTOR complex 1. While both substances, at concentrations where they inhibit their primary target, have similar effects on proliferation and sensitisation for temozolomide-induced apoptosis, GDC-0941 appears to have a stronger effect on cellular motility than Rapamycin. In vivo GDC-0941 effectively retards growth of orthotopic transplanted human tumours in murine brains and significantly prolongs mouse survival. However, when looking at genetically identical cell populations that are in alternative states of differentiation, i.e. stem cell-like cells and their differentiated progeny, a more complex picture regarding the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway emerges. The pathway is differently regulated in the alternative cell populations and, while it contributes to the increased chemo-resistance of stem cell-like cells compared to differentiated cells, it only contributes to the motility of the latter. Our findings are the first to suggest that within a glioblastoma tumour the PI3K network can have distinct, cell-specific functions. These have to be carefully considered when incorporating inhibition of PI3K-mediated signals into complex combination therapies.

  13. Amplitude Analysis of B0 to K^ pi^-pi^0 and Evidence of Direct CP Violation in B to K^* pi decays

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

    Lees, J.P.

    We analyze the decay B{sup 0} {yields} K{sup +} {pi}{sup -} {pi}{sup 0} with a sample of 454 million B{bar B} events collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory at SLAC, and extract the complex amplitudes of seven interfering resonances over the Dalitz plot. These results are combined with amplitudes measured in B{sup 0} {yields} K{sup 0}{sub s}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} decays to construct isospin amplitudes from B{sup 0} {yields} K{sup *}{pi} and B{sup 0} {yields} {rho}K decays. We measure the phase of the isospin amplitude {Phi}{sub 3/2}, useful in constraining the CKM unitarity triangle angle {gamma}more » and evaluate a CP rate asymmetry sum rule sensitive to the presence of new physics operators. We measure direct CP violation in B{sup 0} {yields} K{sup *+}{pi}{sup -} decays at the level of 3 {sigma} when measurements from both B{sup 0} {yields} K{sup +}{pi}{sup -}{pi}{sup 0} and B{sup 0} {yields} K{sup 0}{sub s}{pi}{sup +}{pi}{sup -} decays are combined.« less

  14. A 64Cycles/MB, Luma-Chroma Parallelized H.264/AVC Deblocking Filter for 4K × 2K Applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shen, Weiwei; Fan, Yibo; Zeng, Xiaoyang

    In this paper, a high-throughput debloking filter is presented for H.264/AVC standard, catering video applications with 4K × 2K (4096 × 2304) ultra-definition resolution. In order to strengthen the parallelism without simply increasing the area, we propose a luma-chroma parallel method. Meanwhile, this work reduces the number of processing cycles, the amount of external memory traffic and the working frequency, by using triple four-stage pipeline filters and a luma-chroma interlaced sequence. Furthermore, it eliminates most unnecessary off-chip memory bandwidth with a highly reusable memory scheme, and adopts a “slide window” buffer scheme. As a result, our design can support 4K × 2K at 30fps applications at the working frequency of only 70.8MHz.

  15. Correlation of the impedance and effective electrode area of doped PEDOT modified electrodes for brain-machine interfaces.

    PubMed

    Harris, Alexander R; Molino, Paul J; Kapsa, Robert M I; Clark, Graeme M; Paolini, Antonio G; Wallace, Gordon G

    2015-05-07

    Electrode impedance is used to assess the thermal noise and signal-to-noise ratio for brain-machine interfaces. An intermediate frequency of 1 kHz is typically measured, although other frequencies may be better predictors of device performance. PEDOT-PSS, PEDOT-DBSA and PEDOT-pTs conducting polymer modified electrodes have reduced impedance at 1 kHz compared to bare metal electrodes, but have no correlation with the effective electrode area. Analytical solutions to impedance indicate that all low-intermediate frequencies can be used to compare the electrode area at a series RC circuit, typical of an ideal metal electrode in a conductive solution. More complex equivalent circuits can be used for the modified electrodes, with a simplified Randles circuit applied to PEDOT-PSS and PEDOT-pTs and a Randles circuit including a Warburg impedance element for PEDOT-DBSA at 0 V. The impedance and phase angle at low frequencies using both equivalent circuit models is dependent on the electrode area. Low frequencies may therefore provide better predictions of the thermal noise and signal-to-noise ratio at modified electrodes. The coefficient of variation of the PEDOT-pTs impedance at low frequencies was lower than the other conducting polymers, consistent with linear and steady-state electroactive area measurements. There are poor correlations between the impedance and the charge density as they are not ideal metal electrodes.

  16. A novel subunit structure of Clostridium botulinum serotype D toxin complex with three extended arms.

    PubMed

    Hasegawa, Kimiko; Watanabe, Toshihiro; Suzuki, Tomonori; Yamano, Akihito; Oikawa, Tetsuo; Sato, Yasuhiko; Kouguchi, Hirokazu; Yoneyama, Tohru; Niwa, Koichi; Ikeda, Toshihiko; Ohyama, Tohru

    2007-08-24

    The botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent toxins known in nature, causing the lethal disease known as botulism in humans and animals. The BoNTs act by inhibiting neurotransmitter release from cholinergic synapses. Clostridium botulinum strains produce large BoNTs toxin complexes, which include auxiliary non-toxic proteins that appear not only to protect BoNTs from the hostile environment of the digestive tract but also to assist BoNT translocation across the intestinal mucosal layer. In this study, we visualize for the first time a series of botulinum serotype D toxin complexes using negative stain transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The complexes consist of the 150-kDa BoNT, 130-kDa non-toxic non-hemagglutinin (NTNHA), and three kinds of hemagglutinin (HA) subcomponents: 70-kDa HA-70, 33-kDa HA-33, and 17-kDa HA-17. These components assemble sequentially to form the complex. A novel TEM image of the mature L-TC revealed an ellipsoidal-shaped structure with "three arms" attached. The "body" section was comprised of a single BoNT, a single NTNHA and three HA-70 molecules. The arm section consisted of a complex of HA-33 and HA-17 molecules. We determined the x-ray crystal structure of the complex formed by two HA-33 plus one HA-17. On the basis of the TEM image and biochemical results, we propose a novel 14-mer subunit model for the botulinum toxin complex. This unique model suggests how non-toxic components make up a "delivery vehicle" for BoNT.

  17. Prediction of chemotherapeutic response in bladder cancer using k-means clustering of DCE-MRI pharmacokinetic parameters

    PubMed Central

    Nguyen, Huyen T.; Jia, Guang; Shah, Zarine K.; Pohar, Kamal; Mortazavi, Amir; Zynger, Debra L.; Wei, Lai; Yang, Xiangyu; Clark, Daniel; Knopp, Michael V.

    2015-01-01

    Purpose To apply k-means clustering of two pharmacokinetic parameters derived from 3T DCE-MRI to predict chemotherapeutic response in bladder cancer at the mid-cycle time-point. Materials and Methods With the pre-determined number of 3 clusters, k-means clustering was performed on non-dimensionalized Amp and kep estimates of each bladder tumor. Three cluster volume fractions (VFs) were calculated for each tumor at baseline and mid-cycle. The changes of three cluster VFs from baseline to mid-cycle were correlated with the tumor’s chemotherapeutic response. Receiver-operating-characteristics curve analysis was used to evaluate the performance of each cluster VF change as a biomarker of chemotherapeutic response in bladder cancer. Results k-means clustering partitioned each bladder tumor into cluster 1 (low kep and low Amp), cluster 2 (low kep and high Amp), cluster 3 (high kep and low Amp). The changes of all three cluster VFs were found to be associated with bladder tumor response to chemotherapy. The VF change of cluster 2 presented with the highest area-under-the-curve value (0.96) and the highest sensitivity/specificity/accuracy (96%/100%/97%) with a selected cutoff value. Conclusion k-means clustering of the two DCE-MRI pharmacokinetic parameters can characterize the complex microcirculatory changes within a bladder tumor to enable early prediction of the tumor’s chemotherapeutic response. PMID:24943272

  18. Molecular composition and extinction coefficient of native botulinum neurotoxin complex produced by Clostridium botulinum hall A strain.

    PubMed

    Bryant, Anne-Marie; Davis, Jenny; Cai, Shuowei; Singh, Bal Ram

    2013-02-01

    Seven distinct strains of Clostridium botulinum (type A to G) each produce a stable complex of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) along with neurotoxin-associated proteins (NAPs). Type A botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT/A) is produced with a group of NAPs and is commercially available for the treatment of numerous neuromuscular disorders and cosmetic purposes. Previous studies have indicated that BoNT/A complex composition is specific to the strain, the method of growth and the method of purification; consequently, any variation in composition of NAPs could have significant implications to the effectiveness of BoNT based therapeutics. In this study, a standard analytical technique using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and densitometry analysis was developed to accurately analyze BoNT/A complex from C. botulinum type A Hall strain. Using 3 batches of BoNT/A complex the molar ratio was determined as neurotoxin binding protein (NBP, 124 kDa), heavy chain (HC, 90 kDa), light chain (LC, 53 kDa), NAP-53 (50 kDa), NAP-33 (36 kDa), NAP-22 (24 kDa), NAP-17 (17 kDa) 1:1:1:2:3:2:2. With Bradford, Lowry, bicinchoninic acid (BCA) and spectroscopic protein estimation methods, the extinction coefficient of BoNT/A complex was determined as 1.54 ± 0.26 (mg/mL)(-1)cm(-1). These findings of a reproducible BoNT/A complex composition will aid in understanding the molecular structure and function of BoNT/A and NAPs.

  19. Effective response theory for zero-energy Majorana bound states in three spatial dimensions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lopes, Pedro L. e. S.; Teo, Jeffrey C. Y.; Ryu, Shinsei

    2015-05-01

    We propose a gravitational response theory for point defects (hedgehogs) binding Majorana zero modes in (3 + 1)-dimensional superconductors. Starting in 4 + 1 dimensions, where the point defect is extended into a line, a coupling of the bulk defect texture with the gravitational field is introduced. Diffeomorphism invariance then leads to an S U (2) 2 Kac-Moody current running along the defect line. The S U (2) 2 Kac-Moody algebra accounts for the non-Abelian nature of the zero modes in 3 + 1 dimensions. It is then shown to also encode the angular momentum density which permeates throughout the bulk between hedgehog-antihedgehog pairs.

  20. On the positronium spin conversion reactions caused by some macrocyclic Co II complexes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fantola-Lazzarini, Anna L.; Lazzarini, Ennio

    2002-08-01

    The rate constants, kCR, of ortho- into para-positronium ( o-Ps→ p-Ps) spin conversion reactions, CR, caused by the high-spin [Co IIsep] 2+, [Co IIdinosar] 2+ and [Co IIdiamsar] 2+ macrocyclic complexes and also by high-spin [Co II sen] 2+ tripod complex were measured at several temperatures. The delocalizations, β, of Co II unpaired electrons, promoted by the mentioned ligands, were determined by using the previously established correlations between kCR and the electron delocalization β of unpaired metal electrons. β is given by the ratio between the Racah inter-electronic repulsion parameters of complexes, B, and that of the free ions, B0. The β values are compared with those of the Co II complexes with en (1,2-ethanediamine), pn (1,2 propanediamine) and dien (2,2' diamino diethylamine) ligands. The kCR rate constants are also compared with those of the Ps oxidation reactions, OR, promoted by the corresponding Co III complexes. It is concluded that, unlike OR's, the CR's do not occur by formation of hepta-coordinate adducts with Ps atoms.

  1. Fully developed turbulence and complex time singularities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dombre, T.; Gagne, Y.; Hopfinger, E.

    The hypothesis of Frisch and Morf (1981), relating intermittent bursts observed in high-pass-filtered turbulent-flow data to complex time singularities in the solution of the Navier-Stokes equations, is tested experimentally. Velocity signals filtered at high-pass frequency 1 kHz and low-pass frequency 6 kHz are recorded for 7 min at sampling frequency 20 kHz in a flow of mean velocity 6.1 m/s, with mesh length d = 7.5 cm, observation point x/d = 40, R sub lambda = 67, dissipation length eta = 0.5 mm, and Kolmogorov frequency fK = about 2 kHz. The results are presented in graphs, and it is shown that the exponential behavior of the energy spectrum settles well before fK, the spectra of individual bursts having exponential behavior and delta(asterisk) values consistent with the Frisch-Morf hypothesis, at least for high-amplitude events.

  2. On Real-Time Systems Using Local Area Networks.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-07-01

    87-35 July, 1987 CS-TR-1892 On Real - Time Systems Using Local Area Networks*I VShem-Tov Levi Department of Computer Science Satish K. Tripathit...1892 On Real - Time Systems Using Local Area Networks* Shem-Tov Levi Department of Computer Science Satish K. Tripathit Department of Computer Science...constraints and the clock systems that feed the time to real - time systems . A model for real-time system based on LAN communication is presented in

  3. Perimetric Complexity of Binary Digital Images: Notes on Calculation and Relation to Visual Complexity

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Watson, Andrew B.

    2011-01-01

    Perimetric complexity is a measure of the complexity of binary pictures. It is defined as the sum of inside and outside perimeters of the foreground, squared, divided by the foreground area, divided by 4p . Difficulties arise when this definition is applied to digital images composed of binary pixels. In this paper we identify these problems and propose solutions. Perimetric complexity is often used as a measure of visual complexity, in which case it should take into account the limited resolution of the visual system. We propose a measure of visual perimetric complexity that meets this requirement.

  4. Kinetics of acid hydrolysis and reactivity of some antibacterial hydrophilic iron(II) imino-complexes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shaker, Ali Mohamed; Nassr, Lobna Abdel-Mohsen Ebaid; Adam, Mohamed Shaker Saied; Mohamed, Ibrahim Mohamed Abdelhalim

    2015-05-01

    Kinetic study of acid hydrolysis of some hydrophilic Fe(II) Schiff base amino acid complexes with antibacterial properties was performed using spectrophotometry. The Schiff base ligands were derived from sodium 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde-5-sulfonate and glycine, L-alanine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, DL-methionine, DL-serine, or L-phenylalanine. The reaction was studied in aqueous media under conditions of pseudo-first order kinetics. Moreover, the acid hydrolysis was studied at different temperatures and the activation parameters were calculated. The general rate equation was suggested as follows: rate = k obs [Complex], where k obs = k 2 [H+]. The evaluated rate constants and activation parameters are consistent with the hydrophilicity of the investigated complexes.

  5. K+ Stimulation of ATPase Activity Associated with the Chloroplast Inner Envelope 1

    PubMed Central

    Wu, Weihua; Berkowitz, Gerald A.

    1992-01-01

    Studies were conducted to characterize ATPase activity associated with purified chloroplast inner envelope preparations from spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) plants. Comparison of free Mg2+ and Mg·ATP complex effects on ATPase activity revealed that any Mg2+ stimulation of activity was likely a function of the use of the Mg·ATP complex as a substrate by the enzyme; free Mg2+ may be inhibitory. In contrast, a marked (one- to twofold) stimulation of ATPase activity was noted in the presence of K+. This stimulation had a pH optimum of approximately pH 8.0, the same pH optimum found for enzyme activity in the absence of K+. K+ stimulation of enzyme activity did not follow simple Michaelis-Menton kinetics. Rather, K+ effects were consistent with a negative cooperativity-type binding of the cation to the enzyme, with the Km increasing at increasing substrate. Of the total ATPase activity associated with the chloroplast inner envelope, the K+-stimulated component was most sensitive to the inhibitors oligomycin and vanadate. It was concluded that K+ effects on this chloroplast envelope ATPase were similar to this cation's effects on other transport ATPases (such as the plasmalemma H+-ATPase). Such ATPases are thought to be indirectly involved in active K+ uptake, which can be facilitated by ATPase-dependent generation of an electrical driving force. Thus, K+ effects on the chloroplast enzyme in vitro were found to be consistent with the hypothesized role of this envelope ATPase in facilitating active cation transport in vivo. ImagesFigure 3 PMID:16668922

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

    USGS Publications Warehouse

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

    2009-01-01

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

  7. Complexation behavior of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes: Effect of charge distribution

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

    Zhao, Mingtian; Li, Baohui, E-mail: dliang@pku.edu.cn, E-mail: baohui@nankai.edu.cn; Zhou, Jihan

    Complexation behavior of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in a solution is investigated using a combination of computer simulations and experiments, focusing on the influence of polyelectrolyte charge distributions along the chains on the structure of the polyelectrolyte complexes. The simulations are performed using Monte Carlo with the replica-exchange algorithm for three model systems where each system is composed of a mixture of two types of oppositely charged model polyelectrolyte chains (EGEG){sub 5}/(KGKG){sub 5}, (EEGG){sub 5}/(KKGG){sub 5}, and (EEGG){sub 5}/(KGKG){sub 5}, in a solution including explicit solvent molecules. Among the three model systems, only the charge distributions along the chains are notmore » identical. Thermodynamic quantities are calculated as a function of temperature (or ionic strength), and the microscopic structures of complexes are examined. It is found that the three systems have different transition temperatures, and form complexes with different sizes, structures, and densities at a given temperature. Complex microscopic structures with an alternating arrangement of one monolayer of E/K monomers and one monolayer of G monomers, with one bilayer of E and K monomers and one bilayer of G monomers, and with a mixture of monolayer and bilayer of E/K monomers in a box shape and a trilayer of G monomers inside the box are obtained for the three mixture systems, respectively. The experiments are carried out for three systems where each is composed of a mixture of two types of oppositely charged peptide chains. Each peptide chain is composed of Lysine (K) and glycine (G) or glutamate (E) and G, in solution, and the chain length and amino acid sequences, and hence the charge distribution, are precisely controlled, and all of them are identical with those for the corresponding model chain. The complexation behavior and complex structures are characterized through laser light scattering and atomic force microscopy measurements. The

  8. Electrostatic redesign of the [myoglobin, cytochrome b5] interface to create a well-defined docked complex with rapid interprotein electron transfer.

    PubMed

    Xiong, Peng; Nocek, Judith M; Griffin, Amanda K K; Wang, Jingyun; Hoffman, Brian M

    2009-05-27

    Cyt b(5) is the electron-carrier "repair" protein that reduces met-Mb and met-Hb to their O(2)-carrying ferroheme forms. Studies of electron transfer (ET) between Mb and cyt b(5) revealed that they react on a "Dynamic Docking" (DD) energy landscape on which binding and reactivity are uncoupled: binding is weak and involves an ensemble of nearly isoenergetic configurations, only a few of which are reactive; those few contribute negligibly to binding. We set the task of redesigning the surface of Mb so that its reaction with cyt b(5) instead would occur on a conventional "simple docking" (SD) energy landscape, on which a complex exhibits a well-defined (set of) reactive binding configuration(s), with binding and reactivity thus no longer being decoupled. We prepared a myoglobin (Mb) triple mutant (D44K/D60K/E85K; Mb(+6)) substituted with Zn-deuteroporphyrin and monitored cytochrome b(5) (cyt b(5)) binding and electron transfer (ET) quenching of the (3)ZnMb(+6) triplet state. In contrast, to Mb(WT), the three charge reversals around the "front-face" heme edge of Mb(+6) have directed cyt b(5) to a surface area of Mb adjacent to its heme, created a well-defined, most-stable structure that supports good ET pathways, and apparently coupled binding and ET: both K(a) and k(et) are increased by the same factor of approximately 2 x 10(2), creating a complex that exhibits a large ET rate constant, k(et) = 10(6 1) s(-1), and is in slow exchange (k(off) < k(et)). In short, these mutations indeed appear to have created the sought-for conversion from DD to simple docking (SD) energy landscapes.

  9. Final report of CCQM-K136 measurement of porosity properties (specific adsorption, BET specific surface area, specific pore volume and pore diameter) of nanoporous Al2O3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sobina, E.; Zimathis, A.; Prinz, C.; Emmerling, F.; Unger, W.; de Santis Neves, R.; Galhardo, C. E.; De Robertis, E.; Wang, H.; Mizuno, K.; Kurokawa, A.

    2016-01-01

    CCQM key comparison K-136 Measurement of porosity properties (specific adsorption, BET specific surface area, specific pore volume and pore diameter) of nanoporous Al2O3 has been performed by the Surface Analysis Working Group (SAWG) of the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance (CCQM). The objective of this key comparison is to compare the equivalency of the National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) and Designated Institutes (DIs) for the measurement of specific adsorption, BET specific surface area, specific pore volume and pore diameter) of nanoporous substances (sorbents, catalytic agents, cross-linkers, zeolites, etc) used in advanced technology. In this key comparison, a commercial sorbent (aluminum oxide) was supplied as a sample. Five NMIs participated in this key comparison. All participants used a gas adsorption method, here nitrogen adsorption at 77.3 K, for analysis according to the international standards ISO 15901-2 and 9277. In this key comparison, the degrees of equivalence uncertainties for specific adsorption, BET specific surface area, specific pore volume and pore diameter was established. 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 CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

  10. Measurement of the branching ratio for the doubly cabibbo suppressed decay D + → + K -K +K +; Medida da razao de ramificacao do Decaimento D + → + K -K +K + duplamente suprimido por cabibbo (in Portuguese)

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

    Silva Carvalho, Hendly da

    In this thesis, we performed a study for the decay modes D + → + K -K +K + and D + s → + K -K +K +, using the data collected by the E791, a hadroproduction of charm experiment at Fermilab. The D + → + K -K +K + decay is doubly Cabibbo suppressed while the D + s → + K -K +K + decay is singly Cabibbo suppressed. We found 11.6 +- 3.9 events in the D + mass region and 8.9 +- 3.3 in the D + s mass region. The D + →more » + K -K +K + branching ratio is measured to be (3.7 +- 1.3 +- 0.6) x 10 -4 while the D + → + K -K +K + branching ratio relative to D + s → + K -K +K + is measured to be (4.2 +- 1.5 +- 0.6) x 10 -2.« less

  11. Diadenosine tetraphosphate-gating of recombinant pancreatic ATP-sensitive K(+) channels.

    PubMed

    Jovanovic, S; Jovanovic, A

    2001-02-01

    Diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A) has been recently discovered in the pancreatic beta cells where targets ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channels, depolarizes the cell membrane and induces insulin secretion. However, whether Ap4A inhibit pancreatic K(ATP) channels by targeting protein channel complex itself was unknown. Therefore, we coexpressed pancreatic K(ATP) channel subunits, Kir6.2 and SUR1, in COS-7 cells and examined the effect of Ap4A on the single channel behavior using the inside-out configuration of the patch-clamp technique. Ap4A inhibited channel opening in a concentration-dependent manner. Analysis of single channels demonstrated that Ap4A did not change intraburst kinetic behavior of K(ATP) channels, but rather decreased burst duration and increased between-burst duration. It is concluded that Ap4A antagonizes K(ATP) channel opening by targeting channel subunits themselves and by keeping channels longer in closed interburst states.

  12. Visual search and segregation as a function of display complexity.

    PubMed

    Scharroo, J; Stalmeier, P F; Boselie, F

    1994-01-01

    Complexity is proposed as an important psychological factor in search and segregation tasks. Displays were presented with target and nontarget areas that were each built up of one type of randomly rotated micropatterns. We manipulated experimentally (a) the complexity of the target elements, as measured by Garner's (1970) invariance criterion; (b) the complexity of the target region; (c) the complexity of the nontargets; and (d) the number of elements within a target region. The main result is that detectability increases when the within-region complexity of the target and the nontarget regions decreases. Furthermore, interactions between the target and nontarget areas affect detectability too: We found that search asymmetry is produced by the asymmetrical effect of complexity when target and nontarget areas are interchanged.

  13. A comparison of unsupervised classification procedures on LANDSAT MSS data for an area of complex surface conditions in Basilicata, Southern Italy

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Justice, C.; Townshend, J. (Principal Investigator)

    1981-01-01

    Two unsupervised classification procedures were applied to ratioed and unratioed LANDSAT multispectral scanner data of an area of spatially complex vegetation and terrain. An objective accuracy assessment was undertaken on each classification and comparison was made of the classification accuracies. The two unsupervised procedures use the same clustering algorithm. By on procedure the entire area is clustered and by the other a representative sample of the area is clustered and the resulting statistics are extrapolated to the remaining area using a maximum likelihood classifier. Explanation is given of the major steps in the classification procedures including image preprocessing; classification; interpretation of cluster classes; and accuracy assessment. Of the four classifications undertaken, the monocluster block approach on the unratioed data gave the highest accuracy of 80% for five coarse cover classes. This accuracy was increased to 84% by applying a 3 x 3 contextual filter to the classified image. A detailed description and partial explanation is provided for the major misclassification. The classification of the unratioed data produced higher percentage accuracies than for the ratioed data and the monocluster block approach gave higher accuracies than clustering the entire area. The moncluster block approach was additionally the most economical in terms of computing time.

  14. Predicting Stability Constants for Uranyl Complexes Using Density Functional Theory

    DOE PAGES

    Vukovic, Sinisa; Hay, Benjamin P.; Bryantsev, Vyacheslav S.

    2015-04-02

    The ability to predict the equilibrium constants for the formation of 1:1 uranyl:ligand complexes (log K 1 values) provides the essential foundation for the rational design of ligands with enhanced uranyl affinity and selectivity. We also use density functional theory (B3LYP) and the IEFPCM continuum solvation model to compute aqueous stability constants for UO 2 2+ complexes with 18 donor ligands. Theoretical calculations permit reasonably good estimates of relative binding strengths, while the absolute log K 1 values are significantly overestimated. Accurate predictions of the absolute log K 1 values (root mean square deviation from experiment < 1.0 for logmore » K 1 values ranging from 0 to 16.8) can be obtained by fitting the experimental data for two groups of mono and divalent negative oxygen donor ligands. The utility of correlations is demonstrated for amidoxime and imide dioxime ligands, providing a useful means of screening for new ligands with strong chelate capability to uranyl.« less

  15. The effects of iris-ciliary complex on the organ cultured rabbit ocular lens.

    PubMed

    Niyogi, T K; Emanuel, K; Parafina, J; Bagchi, M

    1991-01-01

    Freshly isolated rabbit lenses were cultured with and without attached iris-ciliary (IC)-complex for 24 hours in TC-199 medium. Subsequent morphological analysis revealed that the IC-complex cannot be maintained in serum-free medium. In addition an observed effect of the IC-complex on the co-cultured lenses could not be due only because of the cellular degeneration of the IC-complex. To test this possibility lenses with attached IC-complexes were incubated in 20% serum-containing TC-199 medium. The IC-complex cultured in 20% serum containing medium retained its normal morphology. However co-cultured lens cells displayed vacuoles and other signs of degeneration. The protein synthetic and Na+/K+ pump activities of these lenses were also significantly depressed. These data indicated that the observed effects of IC-complex on the lens were not due to its cellular degradation. Preliminary experiments showed that the IC-complex contains water soluble factor(s) which could effectively inhibit lens protein synthesis and Na+/K+ pump.

  16. Dielectric response of crystalline tris(acetylacetonato)cobalt(III) films grown on Si substrate for low- k dielectric applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dakhel, A. A.; Ali-Mohamed, A. Y.

    2008-01-01

    Thin films of the complex tris(acetylacetonato)cobalt(III) [abb. Co(acac) 3] were deposited in vacuum on glass and p-Si substrates for optical and dielectric studies. The samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction and fluorescence methods as well as optical absorption spectroscopy. The prepared films show a polycrystalline of monoclinic P2 1/ c structure. The optical absorption spectrum of the prepared film was not exactly fit to that of the molecular one. The energy of the optical absorption onset of the Co(acac) 3 film was calculated by using usual solid-state methods. For electrical measurements on the complex as insulator, samples in the form of metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structure were prepared and characterised by measurement of the capacitance as a function of gate voltage at 1 MHz. The frequency dependence of the complex dielectric constant of the complex was studied in the frequency range (1-1000 kHz) in the temperature range (294-323 K). The experimental results were analysed in the framework of Debye single relaxation model. Generally, the present study shows that a film of complex Co(acac) 3 grown on Si substrate is a promising candidate for low- k dielectric applications, it displays low- k value around 1.7 at high frequencies.

  17. Reactivity of molecular dioxygen towards a series of isostructural dichloroiron(III) complexes with tripodal tetraamine ligands: general access to mu-oxodiiron(III) complexes and effect of alpha-fluorination on the reaction kinetics.

    PubMed

    Thallaj, Nasser K; Rotthaus, Olaf; Benhamou, Leila; Humbert, Nicolas; Elhabiri, Mourad; Lachkar, Mohammed; Welter, Richard; Albrecht-Gary, Anne-Marie; Mandon, Dominique

    2008-01-01

    We have synthesized the mono, di-, and tri-alpha-fluoro ligands in the tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TPA) series, namely, FTPA, F(2)TPA and F(3)TPA, respectively. Fluorination at the alpha-position of these nitrogen-containing tripods shifts the oxidation potential of the ligand by 45-70 mV per added fluorine atom. The crystal structures of the dichloroiron(II) complexes with FTPA and F(2)TPA reveal that the iron center lies in a distorted octahedral geometry comparable to that already found in TPAFeCl(2). All spectroscopic data indicate that the geometry is retained in solution. These three isostructural complexes all react with molecular dioxygen to yield stable mu-oxodiiron(III) complexes. Crystal structure analyses are reported for each of these three mu-oxo compounds. With TPA, a symmetrical structure is obtained for a dicationic compound with the tripod coordinated in the kappa(4)N coordination mode. With FTPA, the compound is a neutral mu-oxodiiron(III) complex with a kappa(3)N coordination mode of the ligand. Oxygenation of the F(2)TPA complex gave a neutral unsymmetrical compound, the structure of which is reminiscent of that already found with the trifluorinated ligand. On reduction, all mu-oxodiiron(III) complexes revert to the starting iron(II) species. The oxygenation reaction parallels the well-known formation of mu-oxo derivatives from dioxygen in the chemistry of porphyrins reported almost three decades ago. The striking feature of the series of iron(II) precursors is the effect of the ligand on the kinetics of oxygenation of the complexes. Whereas the parent complex undergoes 90 % conversion over 40 h, the monofluorinated ligand provides a complex that has fully reacted after 30 h, whereas the reaction time for the complex with the difluorinated ligand is only 10 h. Analysis of the spectroscopic data reveals that formation of the mu-oxo complexes proceeds in two distinct reversible kinetic steps with k(1) approximately 10 k(2). For TPAFeCl(2) and

  18. Teacher Modeling Using Complex Informational Texts

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fisher, Douglas; Frey, Nancy

    2015-01-01

    Modeling in complex texts requires that teachers analyze the text for factors of qualitative complexity and then design lessons that introduce students to that complexity. In addition, teachers can model the disciplinary nature of content area texts as well as word solving and comprehension strategies. Included is a planning guide for think aloud.

  19. Surface Induced Dissociation Coupled with High Resolution Mass Spectrometry Unveils Heterogeneity of a 211 kDa Multicopper Oxidase Protein Complex

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhou, Mowei; Yan, Jing; Romano, Christine A.; Tebo, Bradley M.; Wysocki, Vicki H.; Paša-Tolić, Ljiljana

    2018-01-01

    Manganese oxidation is an important biogeochemical process that is largely regulated by bacteria through enzymatic reactions. However, the detailed mechanism is poorly understood due to challenges in isolating and characterizing these unknown enzymes. A manganese oxidase, Mnx, from Bacillus sp. PL-12 has been successfully overexpressed in active form as a protein complex with a molecular mass of 211 kDa. We have recently used surface induced dissociation (SID) and ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) to release and detect folded subcomplexes for determining subunit connectivity and quaternary structure. The data from the native mass spectrometry experiments led to a plausible structural model of this multicopper oxidase, which has been difficult to study by conventional structural biology methods. It was also revealed that each Mnx subunit binds a variable number of copper ions. Becasue of the heterogeneity of the protein and limited mass resolution, ambiguities in assigning some of the observed peaks remained as a barrier to fully understanding the role of metals and potential unknown ligands in Mnx. In this study, we performed SID in a modified Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer. The high mass accuracy and resolution offered by FTICR unveiled unexpected artificial modifications on the protein that had been previously thought to be iron bound species based on lower resolution spectra. Additionally, isotopically resolved spectra of the released subcomplexes revealed the metal binding stoichiometry at different structural levels. This method holds great potential for in-depth characterization of metalloproteins and protein-ligand complexes. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

  20. Surface Induced Dissociation Coupled with High Resolution Mass Spectrometry Unveils Heterogeneity of a 211 kDa Multicopper Oxidase Protein Complex

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

    Zhou, Mowei; Yan, Jing; Romano, Christine A.

    Manganese oxidation is an important biogeochemical process that is largely regulated by bacteria through enzymatic reactions. However, the detailed mechanism is poorly understood due to challenges in isolating and characterizing these unknown enzymes. A manganese oxidase Mnx from Bacillus sp. PL-12 has been successfully overexpressed in active form, unexpectedly, as a protein complex with a molecular weight of 211 kDa with no homology to known proteins in the database. We have recently used surface induced dissociation (SID) and ion mobility – mass spectrometry (IM-MS) to release and detect folded subcomplexes for determining subunit connectivity and quaternary structure. The data frommore » the native mass spectrometry experiment led to a plausible model of this unknown multicopper oxidase which has been difficult to study by conventional structural biology methods. However, because each subunit of Mnx binds copper ions as cofactor at varying ratios, there were remaining ambiguities in assigning some of the observed peaks to metal-binding species because of the sample heterogeneity and limited mass resolution. In this study, we performed SID in a modified Fourier transform – ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer for obtaining the ultimate resolution on the released subcomplexes of Mnx. The high mass accuracy and resolution unveiled unexpected artificial modifications in the protein that have been previously thought to be iron bound species based on lower resolution data. Additionally, most released subcomplexes were isotopically resolved for defining metal binding stoichiometry at each structural level. This method holds great potential for in-depth characterization of metalloproteins and protein-ligand complexes.« less

  1. The Prion Protein Modulates A-type K+ Currents Mediated by Kv4.2 Complexes through Dipeptidyl Aminopeptidase-like Protein 6*

    PubMed Central

    Mercer, Robert C. C.; Ma, Li; Watts, Joel C.; Strome, Robert; Wohlgemuth, Serene; Yang, Jing; Cashman, Neil R.; Coulthart, Michael B.; Schmitt-Ulms, Gerold; Jhamandas, Jack H.; Westaway, David

    2013-01-01

    Widely expressed in the adult central nervous system, the cellular prion protein (PrPC) is implicated in a variety of processes, including neuronal excitability. Dipeptidyl aminopeptidase-like protein 6 (DPP6) was first identified as a PrPC interactor using in vivo formaldehyde cross-linking of wild type (WT) mouse brain. This finding was confirmed in three cell lines and, because DPP6 directs the functional assembly of K+ channels, we assessed the impact of WT and mutant PrPC upon Kv4.2-based cell surface macromolecular complexes. Whereas a Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease version of PrP with eight extra octarepeats was a loss of function both for complex formation and for modulation of Kv4.2 channels, WT PrPC, in a DPP6-dependent manner, modulated Kv4.2 channel properties, causing an increase in peak amplitude, a rightward shift of the voltage-dependent steady-state inactivation curve, a slower inactivation, and a faster recovery from steady-state inactivation. Thus, the net impact of wt PrPC was one of enhancement, which plays a critical role in the down-regulation of neuronal membrane excitability and is associated with a decreased susceptibility to seizures. Insofar as previous work has established a requirement for WT PrPC in the Aβ-dependent modulation of excitability in cholinergic basal forebrain neurons, our findings implicate PrPC regulation of Kv4.2 channels as a mechanism contributing to the effects of oligomeric Aβ upon neuronal excitability and viability. PMID:24225951

  2. Liquid-gas phase transitions and C K symmetry in quantum field theories

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

    Nishimura, Hiromichi; Ogilvie, Michael C.; Pangeni, Kamal

    A general field-theoretic framework for the treatment of liquid-gas phase transitions is developed. Starting from a fundamental four-dimensional field theory at nonzero temperature and density, an effective three-dimensional field theory is derived. The effective field theory has a sign problem at finite density. Although finite density explicitly breaks charge conjugation C , there remains a symmetry under C K , where K is complex conjugation. Here, we consider four models: relativistic fermions, nonrelativistic fermions, static fermions and classical particles. The interactions are via an attractive potential due to scalar field exchange and a repulsive potential due to massive vector exchange.more » The field-theoretic representation of the partition function is closely related to the equivalence of the sine-Gordon field theory with a classical gas. The thermodynamic behavior is extracted from C K -symmetric complex saddle points of the effective field theory at tree level. In the cases of nonrelativistic fermions and classical particles, we find complex saddle point solutions but no first-order transitions, and neither model has a ground state at tree level. The relativistic and static fermions show a liquid-gas transition at tree level in the effective field theory. The liquid-gas transition, when it occurs, manifests as a first-order line at low temperature and high density, terminated by a critical end point. The mass matrix controlling the behavior of correlation functions is obtained from fluctuations around the saddle points. Due to the C K symmetry of the models, the eigenvalues of the mass matrix are not always real but can be complex. This then leads to the existence of disorder lines, which mark the boundaries where the eigenvalues go from purely real to complex. The regions where the mass matrix eigenvalues are complex are associated with the critical line. In the case of static fermions, a powerful duality between particles and holes allows for

  3. Liquid-gas phase transitions and C K symmetry in quantum field theories

    DOE PAGES

    Nishimura, Hiromichi; Ogilvie, Michael C.; Pangeni, Kamal

    2017-04-04

    A general field-theoretic framework for the treatment of liquid-gas phase transitions is developed. Starting from a fundamental four-dimensional field theory at nonzero temperature and density, an effective three-dimensional field theory is derived. The effective field theory has a sign problem at finite density. Although finite density explicitly breaks charge conjugation C , there remains a symmetry under C K , where K is complex conjugation. Here, we consider four models: relativistic fermions, nonrelativistic fermions, static fermions and classical particles. The interactions are via an attractive potential due to scalar field exchange and a repulsive potential due to massive vector exchange.more » The field-theoretic representation of the partition function is closely related to the equivalence of the sine-Gordon field theory with a classical gas. The thermodynamic behavior is extracted from C K -symmetric complex saddle points of the effective field theory at tree level. In the cases of nonrelativistic fermions and classical particles, we find complex saddle point solutions but no first-order transitions, and neither model has a ground state at tree level. The relativistic and static fermions show a liquid-gas transition at tree level in the effective field theory. The liquid-gas transition, when it occurs, manifests as a first-order line at low temperature and high density, terminated by a critical end point. The mass matrix controlling the behavior of correlation functions is obtained from fluctuations around the saddle points. Due to the C K symmetry of the models, the eigenvalues of the mass matrix are not always real but can be complex. This then leads to the existence of disorder lines, which mark the boundaries where the eigenvalues go from purely real to complex. The regions where the mass matrix eigenvalues are complex are associated with the critical line. In the case of static fermions, a powerful duality between particles and holes allows for

  4. CCQM-K11.2 determination of glucose in human serum and CCQM-K12.2 determination of creatinine in human serum

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wise, Stephen A.; Phinney, Karen W.; Duewer, David L.; Sniegoski, Lorna T.; Welch, Michael J.; Pritchett, Jeanita; Pabello, Guiomar; Avila Calderon, Marco A.; Balderas, Miryan; Qinde, Liu; Kooi, Lee Tong; Rego, Eliane; Garrido, Bruno; Allegri, Gabriella; de La Cruz, Marcia; Barrabin, Juliana; Monteiro, Tânia; Lee, Hwashim; Kim, Byungjoo; Delatour, Vincent; Peignaux, Maryline; Kawaguchi, Migaku; Bei, Xu; Can, Quan; Nammoonnoy, Jintana; Schild, Katrin; Ohlendorf, Rüdiger; Henrion, Andre; Ceyhan Gören, Ahmet; Yılmaz, Hasibe; Bilsel, Mine; Konopelko, L.; Krylov, A.; Lopushanskaya, E.

    2018-01-01

    Glucose and creatinine are two of the most frequently measured substances in human blood/serum for assessing the health status of individuals. Because of their clinical significance, CCQM-K11 glucose in human serum and CCQM-K12 creatinine in human serum were the fourth and fifth key comparisons (KCs) performed by the Organic Analysis Working Group (OAWG). These KCs were conducted in parallel and were completed in 2001. The initial subsequent KCs for glucose, CCQM-K11.1, and creatinine, CCQM-K12.1, were completed in 2005. Measurements for the next KCs for these two measurands, CCQM-K11.2 and CCQM-K12.2, were completed in 2013. While designed as subsequent KCs, systematic discordances between the participants' and the anchor institution's results in both comparisons lead the OAWG to request reference results from two experienced laboratories that had participated in the 2001 comparisons. Based on the totality of the available information, the OAWG converted both CCQM-K11.2 and CCQM-K12.2 to 'Track C' KCs where the key comparison reference value is estimated by consensus. These comparisons highlighted that carrying out comparisons for complex chemical measurements and expecting to be able to treat them under the approaches used for formal CIPM subsequent comparisons is not an appropriate strategy. The approach used here is a compromise to gain the best value from the comparison; it is not an approach that will be used in the future. Instead, the OAWG will focus on Track A and Track C comparisons that are treated as stand-alone entities. Participation in CCQM-K11.2 demonstrates a laboratory's capabilities to measure a polar (pKow > 2), low molecular mass (100 g/mol to 500 g/mol) metabolite in human serum at relatively high concentrations (0.1 mg/g to 10 mg/g). Participation in CCQM-K12.2 demonstrates capabilities to measure similar classes of metabolites at relatively low concentrations (1 μg/g to 30 μg/g). The capabilities required for the analysis of complex

  5. Semi-synthesis of a HGF/SF kringle one (K1) domain scaffold generates a potent in vivo MET receptor agonist.

    PubMed

    Simonneau, Claire; Bérénice Leclercq; Mougel, Alexandra; Adriaenssens, Eric; Paquet, Charlotte; Raibaut, Laurent; Ollivier, Nathalie; Drobecq, Hervé; Marcoux, Julien; Cianférani, Sarah; Tulasne, David; de Jonge, Hugo; Melnyk, Oleg; Vicogne, Jérôme

    2015-03-01

    The development of MET receptor agonists is an important goal in regenerative medicine, but is limited by the complexity and incomplete understanding of its interaction with HGF/SF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor). NK1 is a natural occurring agonist comprising the N-terminal (N) and the first kringle (K1) domains of HGF/SF. In the presence of heparin, NK1 can self-associate into a "head to tail" dimer which is considered as the minimal structural module able to trigger MET dimerization and activation whereas isolated K1 and N domains showed a weak or a complete lack of agonistic activity respectively. Starting from these structural and biological observations, we investigated whether it was possible to recapitulate the biological properties of NK1 using a new molecular architecture of isolated N or K1 domains. Therefore, we engineered multivalent N or K1 scaffolds by combining synthetic and homogeneous site-specifically biotinylated N and K1 domains (NB and K1B) and streptavidin (S). NB alone or in complex failed to activate MET signaling and to trigger cellular phenotypes. Importantly and to the contrary of K1B alone, the semi-synthetic K1B/S complex mimicked NK1 MET agonist activity in cell scattering, morphogenesis and survival phenotypic assays. Impressively, K1B/S complex stimulated in vivo angiogenesis and, when injected in mice, protected the liver against fulminant hepatitis in a MET dependent manner whereas NK1 and HGF were substantially less potent. These data reveal that without N domain, proper multimerization of K1 domain is a promising strategy for the rational design of powerful MET agonists.

  6. Vertical and horizontal distribution of radionuclides ({sup 232}Th, {sup 238}U and {sup 40}K) in sediment from Manjung coastal water area Perak, Malaysia

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

    Abdullah, Anisa, E-mail: coppering@ymail.com; Hamzah, Zaini; Wood, Ab. Khalik

    Distribution of radionuclides from anthropogenic activities has been widely studied in marine coastal area. Due to rapid population growth and socio-economic development in Manjung area such as coal fired power plant, iron foundries, port development, waste discharged from factories and agriculture runoff may contribute to increase in pollution rate. The radioactive materials from anthropogenic activities could deteriorate the quality of the marine ecosystem and thus lead to possible radiological health risk to the population. Radionuclides ({sup 232}Th, {sup 238}U and {sup 40}K) content in surface and profile sediment from Manjung coastal area was determined in this study. Radionuclides in sedimentmore » from seven locations were collected using sediment core sampling and measurements were carried out using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy. The results show that the concentration of radionuclides in surface sediment and distribution trend of depth vertical profile sediment generally varies depending on locations. Enrichment factors (EF), geo-accumulation index (I{sub geo}) and pollution index (PI) were applied to determine level of pollution of this study area. The radiological risks related to human exposure were evaluated based on external hazard index (H{sub ex})« less

  7. Sol-gel synthesis of K{sub 3}InF{sub 6} and structural characterization of K{sub 2}InC{sub 10}O{sub 10}H{sub 6}F{sub 9}, K{sub 3}InC{sub 12}O{sub 14}H{sub 4}F{sub 18} and K{sub 3}InC{sub 12}O{sub 12}F{sub 18}

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

    Labeguerie, Jessica; Gredin, Patrick; Marrot, Jerome

    2005-10-15

    K{sub 3}InF{sub 6} is synthesized by a sol-gel route starting from indium and potassium acetates dissolved in isopropanol in the stoichiometry 1:3, with trifluoroacetic acid as fluorinating agent. The crystal structures of the organic precursors were solved by X-ray diffraction methods on single crystals. Three organic compounds were isolated and identified: K{sub 2}InC{sub 10}O{sub 10}H{sub 6}F{sub 9}, K{sub 3}InC{sub 12}O{sub 14}H{sub 4}F{sub 18} and K{sub 3}InC{sub 12}O{sub 12}F{sub 18}. The first one, deficient in potassium in comparison with the initial stoichiometry, is unstable. In its crystal structure, acetate as well as trifluoroacetate anions are coordinated to the indium atom. Themore » two other precursors are obtained, respectively, by quick and slow evaporation of the solution. They correspond to the final organic compounds, which give K{sub 3}InF{sub 6} by decomposition at high temperature. The crystal structure of K{sub 3}InC{sub 12}O{sub 14}H{sub 4}F{sub 18} is characterized by complex anions [In(CF{sub 3}COO){sub 4}(OH{sub x}){sub 2}]{sup (5-2x)-} and isolated [CF{sub 3}COOH{sub 2-x}]{sup (x-1)-} molecules with x=2 or 1, surrounded by K{sup +} cations. The crystal structure of K{sub 3}InC{sub 12}O{sub 12}F{sub 18} is only constituted by complex anions [In(CF{sub 3}COO){sub 6}]{sup 3-} and K{sup +} cations. For all these compounds, potassium cations ensure only the electroneutrality of the structure. IR spectra of K{sub 2}InC{sub 10}O{sub 10}H{sub 6}F{sub 9} and K{sub 3}InC{sub 12}O{sub 12}F{sub 18} were also performed at room temperature on pulverized crystals.« less

  8. The organization of LH2 complexes in membranes from Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

    PubMed

    Olsen, John D; Tucker, Jaimey D; Timney, John A; Qian, Pu; Vassilev, Cvetelin; Hunter, C Neil

    2008-11-07

    The mapping of the photosynthetic membrane of Rhodobacter sphaeroides by atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed a unique organization of arrays of dimeric reaction center-light harvesting I-PufX (RC-LH1-PufX) core complexes surrounded and interconnected by light-harvesting LH2 complexes (Bahatyrova, S., Frese, R. N., Siebert, C. A., Olsen, J. D., van der Werf, K. O., van Grondelle, R., Niederman, R. A., Bullough, P. A., Otto, C., and Hunter, C. N. (2004) Nature 430, 1058-1062). However, membrane regions consisting solely of LH2 complexes were under-represented in these images because these small, highly curved areas of membrane rendered them difficult to image even using gentle tapping mode AFM and impossible with contact mode AFM. We report AFM imaging of membranes prepared from a mutant of R. sphaeroides, DPF2G, that synthesizes only the LH2 complexes, which assembles spherical intracytoplasmic membrane vesicles of approximately 53 nm diameter in vivo. By opening these vesicles and adsorbing them onto mica to form small, < or =120 nm, largely flat sheets we have been able to visualize the organization of these LH2-only membranes for the first time. The transition from highly curved vesicle to the planar sheet is accompanied by a change in the packing of the LH2 complexes such that approximately half of the complexes are raised off the mica surface by approximately 1 nm relative to the rest. This vertical displacement produces a very regular corrugated appearance of the planar membrane sheets. Analysis of the topographs was used to measure the distances and angles between the complexes. These data are used to model the organization of LH2 complexes in the original, curved membrane. The implications of this architecture for the light harvesting function and diffusion of quinones in native membranes of R. sphaeroides are discussed.

  9. U-folds as K3 fibrations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Braun, Andreas P.; Fucito, Francesco; Morales, Jose Francisco

    2013-10-01

    We study four-dimensional flux vacua describing intrinsic non- perturbative systems of 3 and 7 branes in type IIB string theory. The solutions are described as compactifications of a G(ravity) theory on a Calabi Yau threefold which consists of a fibration of an auxiliary K3 surface over an S 2 base. In the spirit of F-theory, the complex structure of the K3 surface varying over the base codifies the details of the fluxes, the dilaton and the warp factors in type IIB string theory. We discuss in detail some simple examples of geometric and non-geometric solutions where the precise flux/geometry dictionary can be explicitly worked out. In particular, we describe non-geometric T-fold solutions exhibiting non-trivial T-duality monodromies exchanging 3- and 7-branes.

  10. Information and material flows in complex networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Helbing, Dirk; Armbruster, Dieter; Mikhailov, Alexander S.; Lefeber, Erjen

    2006-04-01

    In this special issue, an overview of the Thematic Institute (TI) on Information and Material Flows in Complex Systems is given. The TI was carried out within EXYSTENCE, the first EU Network of Excellence in the area of complex systems. Its motivation, research approach and subjects are presented here. Among the various methods used are many-particle and statistical physics, nonlinear dynamics, as well as complex systems, network and control theory. The contributions are relevant for complex systems as diverse as vehicle and data traffic in networks, logistics, production, and material flows in biological systems. The key disciplines involved are socio-, econo-, traffic- and bio-physics, and a new research area that could be called “biologistics”.

  11. High Molecular Weight Forms of Mammalian Respiratory Chain Complex II

    PubMed Central

    Nůsková, Hana; Holzerová, Eliška; Vrbacký, Marek; Pecina, Petr; Hejzlarová, Kateřina; Kľučková, Katarína; Rohlena, Jakub; Neuzil, Jiri; Houštěk, Josef

    2013-01-01

    Mitochondrial respiratory chain is organised into supramolecular structures that can be preserved in mild detergent solubilisates and resolved by native electrophoretic systems. Supercomplexes of respiratory complexes I, III and IV as well as multimeric forms of ATP synthase are well established. However, the involvement of complex II, linking respiratory chain with tricarboxylic acid cycle, in mitochondrial supercomplexes is questionable. Here we show that digitonin-solubilised complex II quantitatively forms high molecular weight structures (CIIhmw) that can be resolved by clear native electrophoresis. CIIhmw structures are enzymatically active and differ in electrophoretic mobility between tissues (500 – over 1000 kDa) and cultured cells (400–670 kDa). While their formation is unaffected by isolated defects in other respiratory chain complexes, they are destabilised in mtDNA-depleted, rho0 cells. Molecular interactions responsible for the assembly of CIIhmw are rather weak with the complexes being more stable in tissues than in cultured cells. While electrophoretic studies and immunoprecipitation experiments of CIIhmw do not indicate specific interactions with the respiratory chain complexes I, III or IV or enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, they point out to a specific interaction between CII and ATP synthase. PMID:23967256

  12. Bamboo tea: reduction of taxonomic complexity and application of DNA diagnostics based on rbcL and matK sequence data

    PubMed Central

    Häser, Annette

    2016-01-01

    Background Names used in ingredient lists of food products are trivial and in their nature rarely precise. The most recent scientific interpretation of the term bamboo (Bambusoideae, Poaceae) comprises over 1,600 distinct species. In the European Union only few of these exotic species are well known sources for food ingredients (i.e., bamboo sprouts) and are thus not considered novel foods, which would require safety assessments before marketing of corresponding products. In contrast, the use of bamboo leaves and their taxonomic origin is mostly unclear. However, products containing bamboo leaves are currently marketed. Methods We analysed bamboo species and tea products containing bamboo leaves using anatomical leaf characters and DNA sequence data. To reduce taxonomic complexity associated with the term bamboo, we used a phylogenetic framework to trace the origin of DNA from commercially available bamboo leaves within the bambusoid subfamily. For authentication purposes, we introduced a simple PCR based test distinguishing genuine bamboo from other leaf components and assessed the diagnostic potential of rbcL and matK to resolve taxonomic entities within the bamboo subfamily and tribes. Results Based on anatomical and DNA data we were able to trace the taxonomic origin of bamboo leaves used in products to the genera Phyllostachys and Pseudosasa from the temperate “woody” bamboo tribe (Arundinarieae). Currently available rbcL and matK sequence data allow the character based diagnosis of 80% of represented bamboo genera. We detected adulteration by carnation in four of eight tea products and, after adapting our objectives, could trace the taxonomic origin of the adulterant to Dianthus chinensis (Caryophyllaceae), a well known traditional Chinese medicine with counter indications for pregnant women. PMID:27957401

  13. Mathematics and complex systems.

    PubMed

    Foote, Richard

    2007-10-19

    Contemporary researchers strive to understand complex physical phenomena that involve many constituents, may be influenced by numerous forces, and may exhibit unexpected or emergent behavior. Often such "complex systems" are macroscopic manifestations of other systems that exhibit their own complex behavior and obey more elemental laws. This article proposes that areas of mathematics, even ones based on simple axiomatic foundations, have discernible layers, entirely unexpected "macroscopic" outcomes, and both mathematical and physical ramifications profoundly beyond their historical beginnings. In a larger sense, the study of mathematics itself, which is increasingly surpassing the capacity of researchers to verify "by hand," may be the ultimate complex system.

  14. Electronic structure of transition metal-cysteine complexes from X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Leung, Bonnie O; Jalilehvand, Farideh; Szilagyi, Robert K

    2008-04-17

    The electronic structures of HgII, NiII, CrIII, and MoV complexes with cysteine were investigated by sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy and density functional theory. The covalency in the metal-sulfur bond was determined by analyzing the intensities of the electric-dipole allowed pre-edge features appearing in the XANES spectra below the ionization threshold. Because of the well-defined structures of the selected cysteine complexes, the current work provides a reference set for further sulfur K-edge XAS studies of bioinorganic active sites with transition metal-sulfur bonds from cysteine residues as well as more complex coordination compounds with thiolate ligands.

  15. Porcine colonization of the Americas: a 60k SNP story

    PubMed Central

    Burgos-Paz, W; Souza, C A; Megens, H J; Ramayo-Caldas, Y; Melo, M; Lemús-Flores, C; Caal, E; Soto, H W; Martínez, R; Álvarez, L A; Aguirre, L; Iñiguez, V; Revidatti, M A; Martínez-López, O R; Llambi, S; Esteve-Codina, A; Rodríguez, M C; Crooijmans, R P M A; Paiva, S R; Schook, L B; Groenen, M A M; Pérez-Enciso, M

    2013-01-01

    The pig, Sus scrofa, is a foreign species to the American continent. Although pigs originally introduced in the Americas should be related to those from the Iberian Peninsula and Canary islands, the phylogeny of current creole pigs that now populate the continent is likely to be very complex. Because of the extreme climates that America harbors, these populations also provide a unique example of a fast evolutionary phenomenon of adaptation. Here, we provide a genome wide study of these issues by genotyping, with a 60k SNP chip, 206 village pigs sampled across 14 countries and 183 pigs from outgroup breeds that are potential founders of the American populations, including wild boar, Iberian, international and Chinese breeds. Results show that American village pigs are primarily of European ancestry, although the observed genetic landscape is that of a complex conglomerate. There was no correlation between genetic and geographical distances, neither continent wide nor when analyzing specific areas. Most populations showed a clear admixed structure where the Iberian pig was not necessarily the main component, illustrating how international breeds, but also Chinese pigs, have contributed to extant genetic composition of American village pigs. We also observe that many genes related to the cardiovascular system show an increased differentiation between altiplano and genetically related pigs living near sea level. PMID:23250008

  16. Local Area Networking Handbook

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-06-01

    Number of dcvices IO’s-lOOO’s 10’s. I00Ys W0"s-10O’s supported Attachment cost S500-S50U) S40k-$ 56k S250-SIOOU C. LOCAL AREA NETWORKS Due to the...broadband cable by substituting RF modems for the conventional modems or line drivers. Then control may be imposed through conventional communications link...Ref. 11:p. 33] In a typical broadband bus configuration using FDM, channels are allocated dynamically, using frequency agile RF modems , rather than

  17. s-core network decomposition: A generalization of k-core analysis to weighted networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eidsaa, Marius; Almaas, Eivind

    2013-12-01

    A broad range of systems spanning biology, technology, and social phenomena may be represented and analyzed as complex networks. Recent studies of such networks using k-core decomposition have uncovered groups of nodes that play important roles. Here, we present s-core analysis, a generalization of k-core (or k-shell) analysis to complex networks where the links have different strengths or weights. We demonstrate the s-core decomposition approach on two random networks (ER and configuration model with scale-free degree distribution) where the link weights are (i) random, (ii) correlated, and (iii) anticorrelated with the node degrees. Finally, we apply the s-core decomposition approach to the protein-interaction network of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the context of two gene-expression experiments: oxidative stress in response to cumene hydroperoxide (CHP), and fermentation stress response (FSR). We find that the innermost s-cores are (i) different from innermost k-cores, (ii) different for the two stress conditions CHP and FSR, and (iii) enriched with proteins whose biological functions give insight into how yeast manages these specific stresses.

  18. Complexity in language learning and treatment.

    PubMed

    Thompson, Cynthia K

    2007-02-01

    To introduce a Clinical Forum focused on the Complexity Account of Treatment Efficacy (C. K. Thompson, L. P. Shapiro, S. Kiran, & J. Sobecks, 2003), a counterintuitive but effective approach for treating language disorders. This approach espouses training complex structures to promote generalized improvement of simpler, linguistically related structures. Three articles are included, addressing complexity in treatment of phonology, lexical-semantics, and syntax. Complexity hierarchies based on models of normal language representation and processing are discussed in each language domain. In addition, each article presents single-subject controlled experimental studies examining the complexity effect. By counterbalancing treatment of complex and simple structures across participants, acquisition and generalization patterns are examined as they emerge. In all language domains, cascading generalization occurs from more to less complex structures; however, the opposite pattern is rarely seen. The results are robust, with replication within and across participants. The construct of complexity appears to be a general principle that is relevant to treating a range of language disorders in both children and adults. While challenging the long-standing clinical notion that treatment should begin with simple structures, mounting evidence points toward the facilitative effects of using more complex structures as a starting point for treatment.

  19. ESTIMATING PROPORTION OF AREA OCCUPIED UNDER COMPLEX SURVEY DESIGNS

    EPA Science Inventory

    Estimating proportion of sites occupied, or proportion of area occupied (PAO) is a common problem in environmental studies. Typically, field surveys do not ensure that occupancy of a site is made with perfect detection. Maximum likelihood estimation of site occupancy rates when...

  20. 3.5-kHz Data Collected in the Wilmington Canyon Area During 1980, Endeavor Cruise 80-EN-056

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    McGregor, B.A.

    1982-01-01

    During 1980, geophysical data were collected seaward of New Jersey in the vicinity of Wilmington Canyon on three cruises, GYRE 80-G-7B, GYRE 80-G-BB, and ENDEAVOR 80-EN-056 (discussed here). The objectives of these surveys of the Continental Slope and upper Rise, including Wilmington Canyon and the adjacent margin, were to extend existing geophysical coverage to the south of Wilmington Canyon and to provide detailed geologic and geophysical data on the poss.ible origin and evolution of submarine canyons and on sediment transport and other processes within the canyon domain. The geology of this area near Wilmington Canyon was discussed by McGregor, Stubblefield, and others and Stubblefield and others.On ENDEAVOR Cruise 80-EN-056, during October 9-10, 1980, a series of 3.5-kHz profiles was collected. The objective of acquiring these data was to supplement data from GYRE 80-G-7B so that a bathymetric map based on 1-km-spaced grid of data could be constructed. The 3.5-k.Hz system consisted of a hull-mounted transducer and a signal correlator. Ship's speed during the survey was 10 knots (18 km/hr). Data were recorded on a strip chart at a 1-second sweep rate. Navigational control for the cruise was based on Loran C. All times given on the data and navigation plots are in Greenwich mean time (GMT or Z).The quality of the records is very good, although time marks had to be added manually. Maximum subbottom penetration was approximately 100 m.Original records may be viewed at the u.s. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA 02543. Microfilms of the data and 1:40,000 scale trackcharts can be purchased only from the National Geophysical and Solar-Terrestr.ial Data Center, NOAA/EDIS/NGSDC, Code D621, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado, 80303 (303-497-6338).

  1. The perception of complex tones by a false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens).

    PubMed

    Yuen, Michelle M L; Nachtigall, Paul E; Breese, Marlee; Vlachos, Stephanie A

    2007-03-01

    Complex tonal whistles are frequently produced by some odontocete species. However, no experimental evidence exists regarding the detection of complex tones or the discrimination of harmonic frequencies by a marine mammal. The objectives of this investigation were to examine the ability of a false killer whale to discriminate pure tones from complex tones and to determine the minimum intensity level of a harmonic tone required for the whale to make the discrimination. The study was conducted with a go/no-go modified staircase procedure. The different stimuli were complex tones with a fundamental frequency of 5 kHz with one to five harmonic frequencies. The results from this complex tone discrimination task demonstrated: (1) that the false killer whale was able to discriminate a 5 kHz pure tone from a complex tone with up to five harmonics, and (2) that discrimination thresholds or minimum intensity levels exist for each harmonic combination measured. These results indicate that both frequency level and harmonic content may have contributed to the false killer whale's discrimination of complex tones.

  2. Folding Behaviors of Protein (Lysozyme) Confined in Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelle.

    PubMed

    Wu, Fu-Gen; Jiang, Yao-Wen; Chen, Zhan; Yu, Zhi-Wu

    2016-04-19

    The folding/unfolding behavior of proteins (enzymes) in confined space is important for their properties and functions, but such a behavior remains largely unexplored. In this article, we reported our finding that lysozyme and a double hydrophilic block copolymer, methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)5K-block-poly(l-aspartic acid sodium salt)10 (mPEG(5K)-b-PLD10), can form a polyelectrolyte complex micelle with a particle size of ∼30 nm, as verified by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The unfolding and refolding behaviors of lysozyme molecules in the presence of the copolymer were studied by microcalorimetry and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Upon complex formation with mPEG(5K)-b-PLD10, lysozyme changed from its initial native state to a new partially unfolded state. Compared with its native state, this copolymer-complexed new folding state of lysozyme has different secondary and tertiary structures, a decreased thermostability, and significantly altered unfolding/refolding behaviors. It was found that the native lysozyme exhibited reversible unfolding and refolding upon heating and subsequent cooling, while lysozyme in the new folding state (complexed with the oppositely charged PLD segments of the polymer) could unfold upon heating but could not refold upon subsequent cooling. By employing the heating-cooling-reheating procedure, the prevention of complex formation between lysozyme and polymer due to the salt screening effect was observed, and the resulting uncomplexed lysozyme regained its proper unfolding and refolding abilities upon heating and subsequent cooling. Besides, we also pointed out the important role the length of the PLD segment played during the formation of micelles and the monodispersity of the formed micelles. Furthermore, the lysozyme-mPEG(5K)-b-PLD10 mixtures prepared in this work were all transparent, without the formation of large aggregates or precipitates in solution as frequently observed in other protein

  3. Aerial photo shows Launch Complex 39 Area

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2000-01-01

    This aerial photo shows the areas recently opened as part of KSC's Safe Haven project. The curved road in the center is the newly restored crawlerway leading around the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and Orbiter Processing Facility 3 (OPF-3) into the VAB high bay 2 (open on the lower right), where a mobile launcher platform/crawler-transporter currently sits. The Safe Haven project will enable the storage of orbiters during severe weather. OPF1 and OPF-2 are at the lower right. The crawlerway also extends from the east side of the VAB out to the two launch pads. Launch Pad 39A is visible to the left of the crawlerway. In the distance is the Atlantic Ocean. To the right of the VAB is the turn basin, into which ships tow the barge for offloading new external tanks from Louisiana.

  4. Progress in Cochlear Physiology after Békésy

    PubMed Central

    Guinan, John J.; Salt, Alec; Cheatham, Mary Ann

    2012-01-01

    In the fifty years since Békésy was awarded the Nobel Prize, cochlear physiology has blossomed. Many topics that are now current are things Békésy could not have imagined. In this review we start by describing progress in understanding the origin of cochlear gross potentials, particularly the cochlear microphonic, an area in which Békésy had extensive experience. We then review progress in areas of cochlear physiology that were mostly unknown to Békésy, including: (1) stereocilia mechano-electrical transduction, force production, and response amplification, (2) outer hair cell (OHC) somatic motility and its molecular basis in prestin, (3) cochlear amplification and related micromechanics, including the evidence that prestin is the main motor for cochlear amplification, (4) the influence of the tectorial membrane, (5) cochlear micromechanics and the mechanical drives to inner hair cell stereocilia, (6) otoacoustic emissions, and (7) olivocochlear efferents and their influence on cochlear physiology. We then return to a subject that Békésy knew well: cochlear fluids and standing currents, as well as our present understanding of energy dependence on the lateral wall of the cochlea. Finally, we touch on cochlear pathologies including noise damage and aging, with an emphasis on where the field might go in the future. PMID:22633944

  5. Modes of Interaction of KMT2 Histone H3 Lysine 4 Methyltransferase/COMPASS Complexes with Chromatin

    PubMed Central

    Bochyńska, Agnieszka; Lüscher-Firzlaff, Juliane

    2018-01-01

    Regulation of gene expression is achieved by sequence-specific transcriptional regulators, which convey the information that is contained in the sequence of DNA into RNA polymerase activity. This is achieved by the recruitment of transcriptional co-factors. One of the consequences of co-factor recruitment is the control of specific properties of nucleosomes, the basic units of chromatin, and their protein components, the core histones. The main principles are to regulate the position and the characteristics of nucleosomes. The latter includes modulating the composition of core histones and their variants that are integrated into nucleosomes, and the post-translational modification of these histones referred to as histone marks. One of these marks is the methylation of lysine 4 of the core histone H3 (H3K4). While mono-methylation of H3K4 (H3K4me1) is located preferentially at active enhancers, tri-methylation (H3K4me3) is a mark found at open and potentially active promoters. Thus, H3K4 methylation is typically associated with gene transcription. The class 2 lysine methyltransferases (KMTs) are the main enzymes that methylate H3K4. KMT2 enzymes function in complexes that contain a necessary core complex composed of WDR5, RBBP5, ASH2L, and DPY30, the so-called WRAD complex. Here we discuss recent findings that try to elucidate the important question of how KMT2 complexes are recruited to specific sites on chromatin. This is embedded into short overviews of the biological functions of KMT2 complexes and the consequences of H3K4 methylation. PMID:29498679

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

    PubMed Central

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

    2000-01-01

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

  7. Exploring PHD fingers and H3K4me0 interactions with molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations: AIRE-PHD1, a comparative study.

    PubMed

    Spiliotopoulos, Dimitrios; Spitaleri, Andrea; Musco, Giovanna

    2012-01-01

    PHD fingers represent one of the largest families of epigenetic readers capable of decoding post-translationally modified or unmodified histone H3 tails. Because of their direct involvement in human pathologies they are increasingly considered as a potential therapeutic target. Several PHD/histone-peptide structures have been determined, however relatively little information is available on their dynamics. Studies aiming to characterize the dynamic and energetic determinants driving histone peptide recognition by epigenetic readers would strongly benefit from computational studies. Herein we focus on the dynamic and energetic characterization of the PHD finger subclass specialized in the recognition of histone H3 peptides unmodified in position K4 (H3K4me0). As a case study we focused on the first PHD finger of autoimmune regulator protein (AIRE-PHD1) in complex with H3K4me0. PCA analysis of the covariance matrix of free AIRE-PHD1 highlights the presence of a "flapping" movement, which is blocked in an open conformation upon binding to H3K4me0. Moreover, binding free energy calculations obtained through Molecular Mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM/PBSA) methodology are in good qualitative agreement with experiments and allow dissection of the energetic terms associated with native and alanine mutants of AIRE-PHD1/H3K4me0 complexes. MM/PBSA calculations have also been applied to the energetic analysis of other PHD fingers recognizing H3K4me0. In this case we observe excellent correlation between computed and experimental binding free energies. Overall calculations show that H3K4me0 recognition by PHD fingers relies on compensation of the electrostatic and polar solvation energy terms and is stabilized by non-polar interactions.

  8. Hirota equations associated with simply laced affine Lie algebras: The cuspidal class E{sub 6} of e{sub 6}{sup (1)}

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

    Dodd, R. K.

    2014-02-15

    In this paper we derive Hirota equations associated with the simply laced affine Lie algebras g{sup (1)}, where g is one of the simply laced complex Lie algebras a{sub n},d{sub n},e{sub 6},e{sub 7} or e{sub 8}, defined by finite order automorphisms of g which we call Lepowsky automorphisms. In particular, we investigate the Hirota equations for Lepowsky automorphisms of e{sub 6} defined by the cuspidal class E{sub 6} of the Weyl group W(E{sub 6}) of e{sub 6}. We also investigate the relationship between the Lepowsky automorphisms of the simply laced complex Lie algebras g and the conjugate canonical automorphisms definedmore » by Kac. This analysis is applied to identify the canonical automorphisms for the cuspidal class E{sub 6} of e{sub 6}.« less

  9. DNA as a Target for Anticancer Phen-Imidazole Pd(II) Complexes.

    PubMed

    Heydari, Maryam; Moghadam, Mahboube Eslami; Tarlani, AliAkbar; Farhangian, Hossein

    2017-05-01

    Imidazole ring is a known structure in many natural or synthetic drug molecules and its metal complexes can interact with DNA and do the cleavage. Hence, to study the influence of the structure and size of the ligand on biological behavior of metal complexes, two water-soluble Pd(II) complexes of phen and FIP ligands (where phen is 1,10-phenanthroline and FIP is 2-(Furan-2-yl)-1H-Imidazo[4,5-f][1, 10]phenanthroline) with the formula of [Pd(phen)(FIP)](NO 3 ) 2 and [Pd(FIP) 2 ]Cl 2 , that were activated against chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line, K562, were selected. Also, the interaction of these anticancer Pd(II) complexes with highly polymerized calf thymus DNA was extensively studied by means of electronic absorption, fluorescence, and circular dichroism in Tris-buffer. The results showed that the binding was positive cooperation and [Pd(phen)(FIP)](NO 3 ) 2 (K f  = 127 M -1 G = 1.2) exhibited higher binding constant and number of binding sites than [Pd(FIP) 2 ]Cl 2 (K f  = 13 M -1 G = 1.03) upon binding to DNA. The fluorescence data indicates that quenching effect for [Pd(phen)(FIP)](NO 3 ) 2 (K SV  = 58 mM -1 ) was higher than [Pd(FIP) 2 ]Cl 2 (K SV  = 12 mM -1 ). Also, [Pd(FIP) 2 ]Cl 2 interacts with ethidium bromide-DNA, as non-competitive inhibition, and can bind to DNA via groove binding and [Pd(phen)(FIP)](NO 3 ) 2 can intercalate in DNA. These results were confirmed by circular dichroism spectra. Docking data revealed that longer complexes have higher interaction energy and bind to DNA via groove binding. Graphical Abstract Two anticancer Pd(II) complexes of imidazole derivative have been synthesized and interacted with calf thymus DNA. Modes of binding have been studied by electronic absorption, fluorescence, and CD measurements. [Pd(FIP) 2 ]Cl 2 can bind to DNA via groove binding while intercalation mode of binding is observed for [Pd(phen)(FIP)](NO 3 ) 2 .

  10. The Einstein Observatory: A New Public/Private Observatory Complex for Community Education and Scientific Research

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sowell, J.

    1999-12-01

    The Development Authority of Cherokee County (Georgia) is leading a public/private partnership of business/industry professionals, educators, and university scientists that seeks to develop a national prototype educational and scientific research facility for grades K-12, as well as college-level research, that will inspire our youth to become literate in science and technology. In particular, the goal is to make this complex a science, math, and engineering magnet learning facility and to raise the average SAT scores of local area students by 100 points. A dark-site mountain, nestled on the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at the northern-most edge of Atlanta, will become the home for the "Einstein" Observatory. The complex will have four telescopes: one 50-inch, one 24-inch, and two 16-inch telescopes. Each telescope will have digital cameras and an optic-fiber feed to a single, medium-resolution spectroscope. All four telescopes will be electronically accessible from local schools. Professional astronomers will establish suitable observational research projects and will lead K-12 and college students in the acquisition and analysis of data. Astronomers will also assist the local area schoolteachers in methods for nurturing children's scientific inquiry. The observatory mountain will have 100 platform locations for individual viewing by visiting families, school groups, and amateur astronomers. The Atlanta Astronomer Club will provide numerous evening programs and viewing opportunities for the general public. An accompanying Planetarium & Science Center will be located on the nearby campus of Reinhardt College. The Planetarium & Science Center will be integrated with Reinhardt College's theme of learning focused upon studying the past and present as a basis for projecting the future.

  11. Polymorphisms in the K13 Gene in Plasmodium falciparum from Different Malaria Transmission Areas of Kenya.

    PubMed

    de Laurent, Zaydah R; Chebon, Lorna J; Ingasia, Luicer A; Akala, Hoseah M; Andagalu, Ben; Ochola-Oyier, Lynette Isabella; Kamau, Edwin

    2018-05-01

    The development of artemisinin (ART)-resistant parasites in Southeast Asia (SEA) threatens malaria control globally. Mutations in the Kelch 13 (K13)-propeller domain have been useful in identifying ART resistance in SEA. ART combination therapy (ACT) remains highly efficacious in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, it is crucial that the efficacy of ACT is closely monitored. Toward this effort, this study profiled the prevalence of K13 nonsynonymous mutations in different malaria ecological zones of Kenya and in different time periods, before (pre) and after (post) the introduction of ACT as the first-line treatment of malaria. Nineteen nonsynonymous mutations were present in the pre-ACT samples ( N = 64) compared with 22 in the post-ACT samples ( N = 251). Eight of these mutations were present in both pre- and post-ACT parasites. Interestingly, seven of the shared single-nucleotide polymorphisms were at higher frequencies in the pre-ACT than the post-ACT parasites. The A578S mutation reported in SSA and the V568G mutation reported in SEA were found in both pre- and post-ACT parasites, with their frequencies declining post-ACT. D584Y and R539K mutations were found only in post-ACT parasites; changes in these codons have also been reported in SEA with different amino acids. The N585K mutation described for the first time in this study was present only in post-ACT parasites, and it was the most prevalent mutation at a frequency of 5.2%. This study showed the type, prevalence, and frequency of K13 mutations that varied based on the malaria ecological zones and also between the pre- and post-ACT time periods.

  12. Quantifying annual changes in built-up area in complex urban-rural landscapes from analyses of PALSAR and Landsat images

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qin, Yuanwei; Xiao, Xiangming; Dong, Jinwei; Chen, Bangqian; Liu, Fang; Zhang, Geli; Zhang, Yao; Wang, Jie; Wu, Xiaocui

    2017-02-01

    Built-up area supports human settlements and activities, and its spatial distribution and temporal dynamics have significant impacts on ecosystem services and global environment change. To date, most of urban remote sensing has generated the maps of impervious surfaces, and limited effort has been made to explicitly identify the area, location and density of built-up in the complex and fragmented landscapes based on the freely available datasets. In this study, we took the lower Yangtze River Delta (Landsat Path/Row: 118/038), China, where extensive urbanization and industrialization have occurred, as a case study site. We analyzed the structure and optical features of typical land cover types from (1) the HH and HV gamma-naught imagery from the Advanced Land Observation Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR), and (2) time series Landsat imagery. We proposed a pixel- and rule-based decision tree approach to identify and map built-up area at 30-m resolution from 2007 to 2010, using PALSAR HH gamma-naught and Landsat annual maximum Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVImax). The accuracy assessment showed that the resultant annual maps of built-up had relatively high user (87-93%) and producer accuracies (91-95%) from 2007 to 2010. The built-up area was 2805 km2 in 2010, about 16% of the total land area of the study site. The annual maps of built-up in 2007-2010 show relatively small changes in the urban core regions, but large outward expansion along the peri-urban regions. The average annual increase of built-up areas was about 80 km2 per year from 2007 to 2010. Our annual maps of built-up in the lower Yangtze River Delta clearly complement the existing maps of impervious surfaces in the region. This study provides a promising new approach to identify and map built-up area, which is critical to investigate the interactions between human activities and ecosystem services in urban-rural systems.

  13. KEY COMPARISON: Final report on APMP.M.P-K6.1 pneumatic key comparison from 20 kPa to 105 kPa in gauge mode

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hung, Chen-Chuan; Jian, Wu; Changpan, Tawat

    2009-01-01

    This report describes the key comparison APMP.M.P-K6.1 among the three national metrology institutes, Center for Measurement Standards-ITRI (CMS-ITRI, Taiwan), SPRING Singapore and National Institute of Metrology (NIMT), in the pressure range from 20 kPa to 105 kPa in gas media and gauge mode executed during the period April 2003 to April 2004. This comparison was conducted by CMS-ITRI and was based on the calibration procedure of APMP pneumatic pressure comparison APMP.M.P-K6. We intended to link to the CCM.P-K6 key comparison through the APMP.M.P-K6 key comparison by using the proposed linkage method in the APMP.M.P-K6 key comparison to determine a linking factor that can transform the quantities measured in the APMP.M.P-K6.1 key comparison. All three participating institutes used pneumatic piston gauges as their pressure standards. The Ruska 2465 gas-operated piston-cylinder assembly TL-1409 used as transfer standard offered by CMS-ITRI was calibrated three times by the pilot institute during the comparison period and showed that it was very stable after evaluation. The comparison was conducted on the basis of cross-float experiments to determine the effective area of transfer standards from the national standards of three institutes. The comparison results (as shown in Table 6) were equivalent to the CCM.P-K6 comparison and the relative bilateral degrees of equivalence between two laboratories were smaller than 39.7 × 10-6 from 20 kPa to 105 kPa. These results showed all participating institutes measuring the same quantity in the whole pressure range lay within their expanded uncertainty with confidence level 95%. 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 CCM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).

  14. Experimental investigation of 4 K pulse tube refrigerator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gao, J. L.; Matsubara, Y.

    During the last decades superconducting electronics has been the most prominent area of research for small scale applications of superconductivity. It has experienced quite a stormy development, from individual low frequency devices to devices with high integration density and pico second switching time. Nowadays it offers small losses, high speed and the potential for large scale integration and is superior to semiconducting devices in many ways — apart from the need for cooling by liquid helium for devices based on classical superconductors like niobium, or cooling by liquid nitrogen or cryocoolers (40K to 77K) for high-T c superconductors like YBa 2Cu 3O 7. This article gives a short overview over the current state of the art on typical devices out of the main application areas of superconducting electronics.

  15. Molecular interaction between K-Ras and H-REV107 in the Ras signaling pathway.

    PubMed

    Han, Chang Woo; Jeong, Mi Suk; Jang, Se Bok

    2017-09-16

    Ras proteins are small GTPases that serve as master moderators of a large number of signaling pathways involved in various cellular processes. Activating mutations in Ras are found in about one-third of cancers. H-REV107, a K-Ras binding protein, plays an important role in determining K-Ras function. H-REV107 is a member of the HREV107 family of class II tumor suppressor genes and a growth inhibitory Ras target gene that suppresses cellular growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Expression of H-REV107 was strongly reduced in about 50% of human carcinoma cell lines. However, the specific molecular mechanism by which H-REV107 inhibits Ras is still unknown. In the present study, we suggest that H-REV107 forms a strong complex with activating oncogenic mutation Q61H K-Ras from various biochemical binding assays and modeled structures. In addition, the interaction sites between K-Ras and H-REV107 were predicted based on homology modeling. Here, we found that some structure-based mutants of the K-Ras disrupted the complex formation with H-REV107. Finally, a novel molecular mechanism describing K-Ras and H-REV107 binding is suggested and insights into new K-Ras effector target drugs are provided. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. The topological matter of holonomy displacement on the principal U(n) -bundle over Dn,m , related to complex surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Byun, Taechang

    2018-04-01

    Consider U(n) → U(n , m) / U(m) → π Dn,m , where Dn,m = U(n , m) /(U(n) × U(m)) . Given a nontrivial X ∈Mm×n(C) and g ∈ U(n , m) , consider a complete oriented surface S = S(X , g) with a complex structure in Dn,m and a "new" area form ω (X , g) on the surface S . Let c : [ 0 , 1 ] → S be a smooth, simple, closed, orientation-preserving curve and c ˆ : [ 0 , 1 ] → U(n , m) / U(m) its horizontal lift. Then the holonomy displacement is given by the right action of eΨ for some Ψ ∈SpanR { i(X∗ X)k }k=1p ⊂ u(n) , p =the number of distinct positiveeigenvalues ofX∗ X , such that

  17. Cascade production in the reactions γp→K+K+(X) and γp→K+K+π-(X)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, L.; Weygand, D. P.; Battaglieri, M.; Vita, R. De; Kubarovsky, V.; Stoler, P.; Amaryan, M. J.; Ambrozewicz, P.; Anghinolfi, M.; Asryan, G.; Avakian, H.; Bagdasaryan, H.; Baillie, N.; Ball, J. P.; Baltzell, N. A.; Batourine, V.; Battaglieri, M.; Bedlinskiy, I.; Bellis, M.; Benmouna, N.; Berman, B. L.; Biselli, A. S.; Blaszczyk, L.; Bouchigny, S.; Boiarinov, S.; Bradford, R.; Branford, D.; Briscoe, W. J.; Brooks, W. K.; Bültmann, S.; Burkert, V. D.; Butuceanu, C.; Calarco, J. R.; Careccia, S. L.; Carman, D. S.; Chen, S.; Cole, P. L.; Collins, P.; Coltharp, P.; Crabb, D.; Crannell, H.; Crede, V.; Cummings, J. P.; Dashyan, N.; Masi, R. De; Vita, R. De; Sanctis, E. De; Degtyarenko, P. V.; Deur, A.; Dharmawardane, K. V.; Dickson, R.; Djalali, C.; Dodge, G. E.; Donnelly, J.; Doughty, D.; Dugger, M.; Dzyubak, O. P.; Egiyan, H.; Egiyan, K. S.; Fassi, L. El; Elouadrhiri, L.; Eugenio, P.; Fedotov, G.; Feldman, G.; Funsten, H.; Garçon, M.; Gavalian, G.; Gilfoyle, G. P.; Giovanetti, K. L.; Girod, F. X.; Goetz, J. T.; Gonenc, A.; Gordon, C. I. O.; Gothe, R. W.; Griffioen, K. A.; Guidal, M.; Guler, N.; Gyurjyan, V.; Hadjidakis, C.; Hafidi, K.; Hakobyan, H.; Hakobyan, R. S.; Hanretty, C.; Hardie, J.; Hersman, F. W.; Hicks, K.; Hleiqawi, I.; Holtrop, M.; Hyde-Wright, C. E.; Ilieva, Y.; Ireland, D. G.; Ishkhanov, B. S.; Isupov, E. L.; Ito, M. M.; Jenkins, D.; Johnstone, R.; Jo, H. S.; Joo, K.; Juengst, H. G.; Kalantarians, N.; Kellie, J. D.; Khandaker, M.; Kim, W.; Klein, A.; Klein, F. J.; Klimenko, A. V.; Kossov, M.; Krahn, Z.; Kramer, L. H.; Kuhn, J.; Kuhn, S. E.; Kuleshov, S. V.; Lachniet, J.; Laget, J. M.; Langheinrich, J.; Lawrence, D.; Lee, T.; Li, Ji; Livingston, K.; Lu, H. Y.; MacCormick, M.; Markov, N.; Mattione, P.; McKinnon, B.; Mecking, B. A.; Melone, J. J.; Mestayer, M. D.; Meyer, C. A.; Mibe, T.; Mikhailov, K.; Minehart, R.; Mirazita, M.; Miskimen, R.; Mokeev, V.; Moriya, K.; Morrow, S. A.; Moteabbed, M.; Munevar, E.; Mutchler, G. S.; Nadel-Turonski, P.; Nasseripour, R.; Niccolai, S.; Niculescu, G.; Niculescu, I.; Niczyporuk, B. B.; Niroula, M. R.; Niyazov, R. A.; Nozar, M.; Osipenko, M.; Ostrovidov, A. I.; Park, K.; Pasyuk, E.; Paterson, C.; Pereira, S. Anefalos; Pierce, J.; Pivnyuk, N.; Pocanic, D.; Pogorelko, O.; Pozdniakov, S.; Price, J. W.; Prok, Y.; Protopopescu, D.; Raue, B. A.; Riccardi, G.; Ricco, G.; Ripani, M.; Ritchie, B. G.; Ronchetti, F.; Rosner, G.; Rossi, P.; Sabatié, F.; Salamanca, J.; Salgado, C.; Santoro, J. P.; Sapunenko, V.; Schumacher, R. A.; Serov, V. S.; Sharabian, Y. G.; Sharov, D.; Shvedunov, N. V.; Smith, E. S.; Smith, L. C.; Sober, D. I.; Sokhan, D.; Stavinsky, A.; Stepanyan, S. S.; Stepanyan, S.; Stokes, B. E.; Strakovsky, I. I.; Strauch, S.; Taiuti, M.; Tedeschi, D. J.; Thoma, U.; Tkabladze, A.; Tkachenko, S.; Todor, L.; Tur, C.; Ungaro, M.; Vineyard, M. F.; Vlassov, A. V.; Watts, D. P.; Weinstein, L. B.; Williams, M.; Wolin, E.; Wood, M. H.; Yegneswaran, A.; Zana, L.; Zhang, J.; Zhao, B.; Zhao, Z. W.

    2007-08-01

    Photoproduction of the cascade resonances has been investigated in the reactions γp→K+K+(X) and γp→K+K+π-(X). The mass splitting of the ground state (Ξ-,Ξ0) doublet is measured to be 5.4±1.8 MeV/c2, consistent with existing measurements. The differential (total) cross sections for the Ξ- have been determined for photon beam energies from 2.75 to 3.85 (4.75) GeV and are consistent with a production mechanism of Y*→K+Ξ- through a t-channel process. The reaction γp→K+K+π-[Ξ0] has also been investigated to search of excited cascade resonances. No significant signal of excited cascade states other than the Ξ-(1530) is observed. The cross-section results of the Ξ-(1530) have also been obtained for photon beam energies from 3.35 to 4.75 GeV.

  18. Interaction of the dietary pigment curcumin with hemoglobin: energetics of the complexation.

    PubMed

    Basu, Anirban; Kumar, Gopinatha Suresh

    2014-08-01

    Thermodynamics of the interaction of the chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive dietary pigment, curcumin, with hemoglobin was studied by isothermal titration calorimetry. The binding was characterized to be exothermic. At 293.15 K, the equilibrium constant for curcumin-Hb complexation was found to be (4.88 ± 0.06) × 10(5) M(-1). The binding stoichiometry was calculated to be 1.08 ± 0.05, confirming a 1:1 complexation. The binding was driven by a large negative standard molar enthalpy change (ΔH(0) = -118.45 ± 0.05 kJ mol(-1)) and an unfavorable standard molar entropy change (TΔS(0) = -86.53 ± 0.01 kJ mol(-1)) at 293.15 K. Increasing the temperature favoured the binding, and the magnitude of the negative standard molar heat capacity change suggested the involvement of significant hydrophobic forces in the binding process. With increasing salt concentration, the magnitude of the equilibrium constant decreased slightly; and the complexation mostly involved non-polyelectrolytic forces contributing about 92-94% of the standard molar Gibbs energy change. DSC studies revealed that curcumin binding caused a partial unfolding of the protein.

  19. Teacher Knowledge: A Complex Tapestry

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Adoniou, Misty

    2015-01-01

    Teachers need to know a great deal, in many areas and in multiple ways. Teacher knowledge is a complex tapestry, and teachers must successfully weave the multiple threads. In this article, I present a conceptualisation of teacher knowledge that provides a framework for describing the complexity of teacher knowledge. The framework describes three…

  20. Being pragmatic about healthcare complexity: our experiences applying complexity theory and pragmatism to health services research.

    PubMed

    Long, Katrina M; McDermott, Fiona; Meadows, Graham N

    2018-06-20

    The healthcare system has proved a challenging environment for innovation, especially in the area of health services management and research. This is often attributed to the complexity of the healthcare sector, characterized by intersecting biological, social and political systems spread across geographically disparate areas. To help make sense of this complexity, researchers are turning towards new methods and frameworks, including simulation modeling and complexity theory. Herein, we describe our experiences implementing and evaluating a health services innovation in the form of simulation modeling. We explore the strengths and limitations of complexity theory in evaluating health service interventions, using our experiences as examples. We then argue for the potential of pragmatism as an epistemic foundation for the methodological pluralism currently found in complexity research. We discuss the similarities between complexity theory and pragmatism, and close by revisiting our experiences putting pragmatic complexity theory into practice. We found the commonalities between pragmatism and complexity theory to be striking. These included a sensitivity to research context, a focus on applied research, and the valuing of different forms of knowledge. We found that, in practice, a pragmatic complexity theory approach provided more flexibility to respond to the rapidly changing context of health services implementation and evaluation. However, this approach requires a redefinition of implementation success, away from pre-determined outcomes and process fidelity, to one that embraces the continual learning, evolution, and emergence that characterized our project.