The syntheses of N-alkylated deoxynojirimycin and 1,5-dideoxy-1,5-iminoxylitol derivatives having either a D- or an L-erythritol-3-sulfate functionalized N-substituent are reported. The alkylating agent used was a cyclic sulfate derivative, whereby selective attack of the nitrogen atom at the least hindered primary center afforded the desired ammonium salt. In aqueous solution, these salts were configurationally labile at the ammonium center. Sulfonium and/or selenonium analogues of the ammonium salts were prepared by analogous reactions. The chalcogen salts were obtained as mixtures of diastereomers, separable in some cases, differing only in the stereochemistry at the configurationally stable sulfur or selenium atoms. Proof of configuration and conformation of each compound was obtained by detailed NMR experiments. The compounds are six-membered ring analogues of salacinol, a known sulfonium-salt glucosidase inhibitor. Evaluation of the target compounds for ...
AbstractGenetic-variantanalysis of rabies viruses provides the most sensitive epidemiologic tool for following the spread and persistence of these viruses in their wildlife hosts. Since...Full Text Available
A conformationalanalysis of ethyl azidoformate (EAF) has been carried out by the MINDO/3 quantum-chemical method. It has been shown that EAF exists in the form of two conformers differing with respect to rotation around the C-N bond. Complete optimization of the geometry has been carried out for both conformers. It has been found that the transoid conformation is planar and that the cisoid conformation is nonplanar. The height of the rotation barrier is 15.4 kcal/mole. The optimal geometry of the transition state has been calculated. It has been noted that a significant role in the mechanism of the conformational transition is played by the inversion of a nitrogen, which facilitates the transition. The results of the calculation have been confirmed by IR-spectroscopic data.
BackgroundSelection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) by host immunity has been suggested to give rise to variants with amino acid substitutions at or around the 'a' determinant...Full Text Available
Standard methods in non-linear analysis are used to show that there exists a parabolic branching of solutions of the Lichnerowicz-York equation with an unscaled source. We also apply these methods to the extended conformal thin sandwich formulation and show that if the linearised system develops a kernel solution for sufficiently large initial data then we obtain parabolic solution curves for the conformal factor, lapse and shift identical to those found numerically by Pfeiffer and York. The implications of these results for constrained evolutions are discussed.
Transducin {alpha} subunits are members of a large family of G-proteins and play an important role in phototransduction in rod and cone photoreceptors. We report the localization of the human cone {alpha} transducin (GNAT2) gene using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on chromosome 1 in band p13. The recent assignment of a gene for Stargardt`s disease to the same chromosomal region by linkage analysis prompted us to investigate the possible role of GNAT2 in the pathogenesis of this disease. Stargardt`s disease is characterized by degeneration in late childhood or early adulthood of the macula of the retina, a region rich in cones. We screened patients with Stargardt`s disease, with or without peripheral cone involvement as monitored by the full-field ERG, for mutations in this gene. We investigated 66 unrelated patients including 22 with peripheral cone dysfunction for mutations in the coding region of the GNAT2 gene using polymerase chain reaction-single ...
Recent GWAS studies focused on uncovering novel genetic loci related to AD have revealed associations with variants near CLU, CR1, PICALM and BIN1....Full Text Available
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have established a variant, rs10993994, on chromosome 10q11 as being associated with prostate cancer risk. Since the variant is located outside of a protein-coding...Full Text Available
Purpose: Patients with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) show greatly increased radiation sensitivity and cancer predisposition. Family studies imply that the otherwise clinically silent heterozygotes of this autosomal recessive disease run a 3.5 to 3.8 higher risk of developing cancer. In vitro studies suggest moderately increased cellular radiation sensitivity of A-T carriers. They may also show elevated clinical radiosensitivity. We retrospectively examined patients who presented with severe adverse reactions during or after standard radiation treatment for mutations in the gene responsible for A-T, ATM, considering a potential means of future identification of radiosensitive individuals prospectively to adjust dosage schedules. Material and Methods: We selected 20 cancer patients (breast, 11; rectum, 2; ENT, 2; bladder, 1; prostate, 1; anus, 1; astrocytoma, 1; Hodgkins lymphoma, 1) with Grade 3 to 4 (RTOG) acute and/or late tissue radiation side effects by reaction severity. DNA from the ...
Human erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate is normally quite stable in the presence of 10 #mu#M NADP"+. Certain glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase variants lose virtually all their activity at this concentration of NADP"+ but are reactivated by 200 #mu#M NADP"+. Such variants presumably have a defect in their NADP"+-binding site. The authors analyzed the sequence of cDNA or genomic DNA from seven unrelated patients with hemolytic anemia due to the inheritance of variants that are reactivated by NADP"+. Six patients had substitutions of one of three adjacent amino acids, and the seventh patient had another amino acid substitution 23 residues downstream. These amino acids are highly conserved, all being present in rat and all but one being found also in Drosophila. The anomalous electrophoretic behavior of some of the variants can be explained by their loss of ability to bind NADP"+. The conclude that the ...
Conformationally constrained analogue synthesis was undertaken to aid in pharmacophore mapping and 3D-QSAR analysis of nitrobenzylmercaptopurine riboside (NBMPR) congeners as equilibriative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) inhibitors. In our previous study [J. Med. Chem. 2003, 46, 831-837], novel regioisomeric nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline conformationally constrained analogues of NBMPR were synthesized and evaluated as ENT1 ligands. 7-NO2-1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquino-2-yl purine riboside was identified as the analogue with the nitro group in the best orientation at the NBMPR binding site of ENT1. In the present study, further conformational constraining was introduced by synthesizing 5prime-O,8-cyclo derivatives. The flow cytometrically determined binding affinities indicated that the...
The classification of rational conformal field theories is essentially equivalent to the classification of all possible four-point functions for the primary fields of the theories. An interesting set of parameters appearing in the latter classification is given by the number and the positions of so-called apparent singularities of the differential equations which are obeyed by the four-point functions. The subject of this paper is a detailed analysis of the role played by these parameters. In particular the restrictions imposed on them by general principles of two-dimensional conformal field theory are worked out, and the implications on the classification programme are discussed. (orig.).
Locked nucleic acid (LNA) is a nucleic acid analogue containing one or more LNA nucleotide monomers with a bicyclic furanose unit locked in an RNA mimicking sugar conformation. This conformational restriction results in unprecedented hybridization affinity towards complementary single stranded RNA and thus, makes LNA uniquely suited for mimicking RNA structures and sequence specific targeting of RNA in vitro or in vivo. The focus of this paper is on LNAantisense, LNA-modified siRNA (siLNA), and detection and analysis of microRNAs by LNA-modified oligonucleotide probes.
In this study the results of mathematical simulation and experimental research of texture transition in stress assisted shear phase transformations are discussed. The orientation distribution function (ODF) calculation model to the any type crystalline lattice symmetry materials has been suggested. By crystalline lattice symmetry analysis this computer program determines necessary amount of the initial experimental data. The experimental verification supports this model well. The ODF calculation model after shear phase transformation with equal use of all possible variants of orientation relationship or with various degrees of variant selection worked out. In this study the experimental and calculating data of the direct and reversal shear transformations #alpha# <=> #gamma# in Fe-alloys and B2 <=> B19' in Ti-Ni alloys are discussed. The stress assisted shear phase transformation model and computer program to ...
From out of the numerous technical alternatives the manual develops a waste management concept with emphasis on methods which can be coordinated for maximum ecological use and minimum economic costs. A clear-cut analysis of the present state of waste utilization and waste disposal in the Federal Republic of Germany (chapter 1) is followed by a detailed description of conventional and modern state-of-the-art waste utilization methods based on ecological evaluation criteria (chapter 3). An optimum waste utilization concept for defined quantities of wastes is derived from the ecological and economic comparison of waste utilization techniques given in chapter 3. Chapter 4 points out different variants of waste utilization and waste disposal methods and shows how to determine the optimum variant of the optimum concept for a particular area or community. (orig.).
In experiments designed to detect new mutations affecting hemoglobin, we irradiated the male or female parent in reciprocal crosses of two mouse strains that differ in alleles at the hemoglobin (Hba, Hbb) loci as well as at five other specific loci. Offspring were analyzed for hemoglobin properties (electrophoretic pattern, solubility, crystal pattern), serum albumin differences, erythrocyte lysis, reticulocyte count, and external appearance. Five hemoglobin variants were found among the mutants. In three, the genetic contribution from the irradiated father was not expressed with regard to the #alpha#-chain; one carried a tandem duplication (the first known case in the mouse) involving Hbb; and one probably resulted from double nondisjunction of chromosome 7. The finding that major chromosome aberratios can mimic hemoglobin mutations indicates the need, in similar experiments, to follow F_1 screening with thorough cytogenetic analysis. The ...
Histone H3 mRNAs were found in polyA(+) fractions of total RNA prepared from alfalfa plants, calli and somatic embryos. The sequence analysis of cDNAs revealed the presence of a polyA tail on independent...Full Text Available
The interaction of the herbicide paraquat dichloride (P Q, substrate) with p-tert-butylcalix arenas (L, receptor) was investigated in both the solution and solid states. The isolated paraquat calixarene complexes were characterised by UV-visible, 1H NMR, ESI-Ms, Luminescence and IR spectroscopies and elemental analysis. The stoichiometry of complexes 1 and 2 was 1:1 (1 herbicide: 1 calixarene) and both revealed a biexponential luminescence decay with lifetimes depending on the size and the conformational particularity of the calixarenes. Molecular modelling suggested that both calixarenes interact with the herbicide through cation-? interaction. P Q in included in the p-tert butylcalix a rene cavity, a situation favoured by its pinched conformation in polar solvent while it is partially included in the p-tert butylcalix a rene cavity because of its in-out cone conformation. The theoretical results, in ...
Aims: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine 3; 5-HT3) receptors are involved in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), and 5-HT3 antagonists are part of the `gold standard' antiemetic treatment during chemotherapy. We investigated the correlation of common variants in 5-HT3 receptor subunit genes with the occurrence of CINV. Materials & methods: A total of 110 previously characterized chemotherapy-naive women with primary breast cancer treated with anthracycline-containing chemotherapy served as a study group for mutational analysis by direct sequencing. Eight common SNPs in the 5-HT3 receptor genes, HTR3A, HTR3B, HTR3D and HTR3E, were selected for association analysis. Results: A nonsynonymous variant in HTR3D, p.G36A (rs6443930), was found to be over-represented in nonresponders, assu...
Theft, illegal possession, smuggling, or attempted unauthorized sale of nuclear and radiological materials remains a worldwide problem. The Nuclear Smuggling International Technical Working Group (ITWG) has adopted a model action plan to guide investigation of these cases through a systematic approach to nuclear forensics. The model action plan was recently documented and provides recommendations concerning incident response, collection of evidence in conformance with required legal standards, laboratory sampling and distribution of samples, radioactive materials analysis, including categorization and characterization of samples, forensics analysis of conventional evidence, and case development including interpretation of forensic signatures. (author)
Techniques of chemical analysis, amino acid sequencing and autoradiography are being used to study the frequency of incorporation of normally noncoded amino acids into hemoglobins and seminal fluid proteins. We are studying, by the sequencing of radiolabeled proteins followed by the recovery of ["3H] isoleucine phenylthiohydantoin by high-performance liquid chromatography, the frequency at which normally noncoded isoleucine is incorporated into hemoglobin because of base-substitution mutations versus translational errors. Irradiation increases the isoleucine content of human hemoglobin and the frequency of substitution of isoleucine for specific amino acids in rabbit hemoglobin. Studies to date indicate that these techniques have been developed sufficiently for initial analysis of the potential of drugs and environmental pollutants to induce base-substitution mutations in mammalian somatic cells.
Determination of thermal to fast neutron flux ratio (ffast) and fast neutron flux (phi-fast) is required for fast neutron reactions, fast neutron activation analysis, and for correcting interference reactions. The ffast and subsequently phi-fast were determined using the absolute method. The ffast ranged from 48 to 155, and the phi-fast was found in the range 1.03x1010-4.89x1010 n cm-2 s-1. These values indicate an acceptable conformity and applicable for installation of the fast neutron facility at the MNA research reactor.
We report localization of the human cone transducin (GNAT2) gene using fluorescence in situ hybridization on chromosome 1 in band p13. The recent assignment of a gene for Stargardt disease to the same chromosomal region by linkage analysis prompted us to investigate the possible role of GNAT2 in the pathogenesis of this disease. We investigated 66 unrelated patients for mutations in the coding region of the GNAT2 gene using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) and direct sequencing. No disease-specific mutations were found, indicating that GNAT2 is probably not involved in the pathogenesis of most cases of Stargardt disease. 19 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.
A series of stainless austenitic and ferritic materials was exposed for 100 days to boiling nitric acid which contained no corrosion products; the corrosion rates and depths of the grain boundary attack were observed. - Provided the structure is precipitation-free, the following are suitable for long-term exposure; the austenitic steels X 2 CrNi 19 11, X 1 CrNi 25 21, X 1 CrNiMoN 25 22 2 and X 1 NiCrMoCu 31 27 4, the practically Mo-free and Cu-free development steel X 1 NiCr 31 27, and the highly Mo-alloyed variant X 1 NiCrMoCu 31 27 5. - In the case of alloy NiCr21Mo it is advisable to limit the concentration and/or temperature of the nitric acid. - The 'superferrite' X 1 CrNiMoNb 28 4 2, the Japanese steel X 1 CrNiNb 30 2 and the austenitic steels X 2 CrNiMoN 17 13 3 and X 1 CrNiMoN 25 22 2 in the version with high nickel content are unsuitable. The decisive factor affecting the surface-removal rates is the chromium content of the material. The ...
This paper examines theoretically the effects that restraints on the tertiary structure of a superhelical DNA domain exert on the energetics of linking and the onset of conformational transitions. The...Full Text Available
S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) is a critical enzyme in the polyamine biosynthetic pathway and depends on a pyruvoyl group for the decarboxylation process. The crystal structures of the enzyme with various inhibitors at the active site have shown that the adenine base of the ligands adopts an unusual syn conformation when bound to the enzyme. To determine whether compounds that favor the syn conformation in solution would be more potent AdoMetDC inhibitors, several series of AdoMet substrate analogues with a variety of substituents at the 8-position of adenine were synthesized and analyzed for their ability to inhibit hAdoMetDC. The biochemical analysis indicated that an 8-methyl substituent resulted in more potent inhibitors, yet most other 8-substitutions provided no benefit over the parent compound. To understand these results, we used computational modeling and X-ray crystallography to study C{sup ...
Partially purified UDPgalactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.22) from bovine milk has been used to synthesize millimolar amounts of compounds such as Gal#beta#(1#->#4)Glc, Gal#beta#(1#->#4)GlcNAc-#beta#-hexanolamine, and Gal#beta#(1#->#4)-GlcNAc#beta#(1#->#4)GlcNAc. The same method has been used to prepare similar compounds containing "1"3C-enriched galactopyranosyl moieties. Gal#beta#(1#->#4)GlcNAc-#beta#-hexanolamine was also synthesized in a solid-phase system in which the GlcNAc-#beta#-hexanolamine glycoside was covalently linked to agarose beads. At pH 7.0 and at 1 to 5 mM Mn"2"+"+ the yields of the galactosyl saccharides are greater than 90% by using 10% excess of UDPGal donor. The use of a 90% enriched [1-"1"3C]galactosyl residue allowed the determination of the most abundant conformer about the galactopyranosyl-glycoside linkage by analysis of the carbon-carbon coupling constants from Cl to Gal to the C3', C4', and C5' of GlcNAc ...
Macrophage differentiation antigen associated with complement three receptor function (Mac-1) belongs to #beta#_2 subfamily of integrins that mediate important cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Biochemical studies have indicated that Mac-1 is a constitutive heterodimer in vitro. Here, we detected the heterodimerization of Mac-1 subunits in living cells by means of two fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) techniques (fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy) and our results demonstrated that there is constitutive heterodimerization of the Mac-1 subunits and this constitutive heterodimerization of the Mac-1 subunits is cell-type independent. Through FRET imaging, we found that heterodimers of Mac-1 mainly localized in plasma membrane, perinuclear, and Golgi area in living cells. Furthermore, through analysis of the estimated physical distances between cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) and yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) fused ...
The coal-fired combined cycle with partial gasification and fluidized bed combustion (PGFBC-CC), also referred to as a hybrid cycle, has advantages of staged energy conversion and utilization, which can attain high thermal efficiency with low emissions. Four kinds of PGFBC-CC are studied in this paper, two based on pressurized fluidized bed combustion (PFBC) and two on atmospheric fluidized bed combustion (AFBC). Thermal performance calculations and parametric analyses were performed. On the basis of the results, from the above analyses, the best integration system for China is suggested. In addition, a preliminary exergetic analysis is carried out for three of the PGFBC-CC variants.
Objective A number of effective treatments for bulimia nervosa have been developed, but they are infrequently used, in part due to problems with dissemination. The goal of this study was to examine the cost effectiveness of telemedicine delivery of cognitive behavioral therapy for bulimia nervosa. Method A randomized controlled trial of face-to-face versus telemedicine cognitive behavioral therapy for bulimia nervosa. One hundred twenty eight women with DSM-IV bulimia nervosa or eating disorder, not otherwise specified subsyndromal variants of bulimia nervosa were randomized to 20 sessions of treatment over 16 weeks. A cost effectiveness analysis from a societal perspective was conducted. Results The total cost per recovered (abstinent) subject was $9324.68 for face-to-face CBT, and $7300....
We report about the fabrication and analysis of the properties of Cr/CrO_x/Cr tunnel junctions and SET transistors, prepared by different variants of direct-writing multilayer technique. In all cases, the CrO_x tunnel barriers were formed in air under ambient conditions. From the experiments on single junctions, values for the effective barrier height and thickness were derived. For the Cr/CrO_x/Cr SET transistors we achieved minimal junction areas of 17 x 60 nm^2 using a scanning transmission electron microscope for the e-beam exposure on Si_3N_4 membrane substrate. We discuss the electrical performance of the transistor samples as well as their noise behavior.
The alloy type 'alloy 800' with its different variants is used for numerous components in high-temperature reactor (HTR) plants, e.g. for hot-gas conductors, the high-pressure part of steam generators, superheaters, steam collecting vessels and live steam conductors. This study deals with the evaluation of creep rupture tests on 28 welded joints of alloy 800 with an accumulated test duration of 410 years, with the objective to obtain quantitative information on a possible loss of strength in comparison with the unwelded material. The longest test period of an individual test amounted to 98,000 h and the analyzed test temperature range lay between 550"0 and 1000"0C. (orig./MM).
In this paper we develop a general, systematic, microlocal framework for the Fredholm analysis of non-elliptic problems, including high energy (or semiclassical) estimates, which is stable under perturbations. This framework is relatively simple given modern microlocal analysis, and only takes a bit over a dozen pages after the statement of notation. It resides on a compact manifold without boundary, hence in the standard setting of microlocal analysis, including semiclassical analysis. The rest of the paper is devoted to applications. Many natural applications arise in the setting of non-Riemannian b-metrics in the context of Melrose's b-structures. These include asymptotically Minkowski metrics, asymptotically de Sitter-type metrics on a blow-up of the natural compactification and Kerr-de Sitter-type metrics. The simplest application, however, is to provide a new approach to ...
Copy number variants (CNVs) are an important component of genomic variation in humans and other mammals. Similar de novo deletions and duplications, or copy number changes (CNCs), are now known to be...Full Text Available
Variant alleles of the mannose binding lectin (MBL) gene are associated with increased susceptibility to infection and polymorphisms of tumour necrosis factor and lymphotoxin alpha genes (TNF, LTA)...Full Text Available
BackgroundVariant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) is a prion disease thought to be acquired by the consumption of prion-contaminated beef products. To date, over 200 cases...Full Text Available
The entire genome of rabies virus vaccine strain Flury-LEP-C, a Chinese variant of the rabies virus vaccine strain Flury-LEP, was sequenced. The overall length of the genome of Flury-LEP-C strain was...Full Text Available
Structural variants which cause changes in copy numbers constitute an important component of genomic variability. They account for 0.7% of genomic differences in two individual genomes, of which...Full Text Available
Using institutional and resource dependence theories as the conceptual framework, this study identifies three forms of conformity?political, economic, and social?that can affect the level of private entrepreneurs? formal political participation in a transition economy. Data from a 2004 national-wide survey of 3,012 private firms in China show that political conformity (indicated by membership in the ruling party), economic conformity (amount of taxes paid), and social conformity (amount of charity donated) are each antecedents to private entrepreneurs? formal political participation. Moreover, political conformity negatively moderates the relationship between social conformity and private entrepreneurs? formal political participation?for party members, a lesser amount of charity is associa...
Firstly the so called 'conformal relativity' in the 6-dimensional conformal space is formulated. In particular the concept of dilatational degree of freedom - scale - is introduced. The special conformal transformations are interpreted as the transformations connecting dilatationally moving frames (and objects). The ideas, similar to those by Kaluza and Klein, can be applied to the conformal space to obtain a unification of gravitation and electromagnetism. Lastly the conformal symmetry is extended to imaginary scales and to negative scales. Particles having imaginary scales are shown to be tachyons, whilst particles with negative scales correspond to antiparticles. (Auth.).
As recently shown the conformal affine Toda models can be obtained via hamiltonian reduction from a two-loop Kac-Moody algebra. In this paper we propose a systematic procedure to analyze the higher spin symmetries of the conformal affine Toda models. The method is based on an explicit construction of infinite towers of extended conformal symmetry generators. Two fundamental building blocks of this construction are special spin-one and -two primary fields characterizing the conformal structure of these models. The connection to the algebra of area preserving diffeomorphisms on a two-manifold (w_#infinity# algebra) is established. (orig.).
By a variant version of Fountain Theorem due to Zou [W. Zou, Variant fountain theorems and their applications, Manuscripta Math. 104 (2001) 343-358], the existence of infinitely many solutions is obtained for a class of biharmonic equations where the nonlinearity involves a combination of superlinear and asymptotically linear terms.
In this study, the adoptable essential technologies and reference design concept of the advanced reactor were developed and related basic experiments were performed. (1) Once-through Helical Steam Generator: a performance analysis computer code for heli-coiled steam generator was developed for thermal sizing of steam generator and determination of thermal-hydraulic parameters. (2) Self-pressurizing pressurizer : a performance analysis computer code for cold pressurizer was developed. (3) Control rod drive mechanism for fine control : type and function were surveyed. (4) CHF in passive PWR condition : development of the prediction model bundle CHF by introducing the correction factor from the data base. (5) Passive cooling concepts for concrete containment systems: development of the PCCS heat transfer coefficient. (6) Steam injector concepts: analysis and experiment were conducted. (7) Fluidic diode concepts : ...
The authors report an effort to determine the basis for the altered migration of seven inherited albumin variants detected by one-dimensional electrophoresis in population surveys involving tribal Amerindians and Japanese children. An amino acid substitution has thus far been determined for four of the variants. The randomness in the albumin polypeptide of these and the other sixteen independently ascertained amino acid substitutions of albumin and proalbumin thus far established was analyzed; the clustering of eight of these at two positions in the six-amino acid propeptide sequence seems noteworthy. By comparison with other proteins studied by electrophoresis, albumin exhibits average variability. It is a paradox that individuals who, for genetic reasons, lack albumin exhibit no obvious ill effects; yet, electrophoretic variants of albumin are no more numerous than are variants of proteins, the ...
Radiation damage is considered to be the major problem that still prevents imaging an individual biological molecule for structural analysis. So far, all known mapping techniques using sufficient short wave-length radiation, be it X-rays or high energy electrons, circumvent this problem by averaging over many molecules. Averaging, however, leaves conformational details uncovered. Even the anticipated use of ultra-short but extremely bright X-ray bursts of a Free Electron Laser shall afford averaging over 10^6 molecules to arrive at atomic resolution. Here we present direct experimental evidence for non-destructive imaging of individual DNA molecules. In fact, we show that DNA withstands coherent low energy electron radiation with deBroglie wavelength in the Angstrom regime despite a vast dose of 10^8 electrons/nm^2 accumulated over more than one hour.
Purpose To study the chemical modifications induced upon irradiation of solid human insulin at radiosterilization doses and investigate the influence of the absorbed dose on radiolysis. Materials and Methods Volatile radiolytic products were monitored by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and non-volatile products by two different high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods: the formation of higher molecular weight proteins was assessed by size exclusion liquid chromatography whereas assays for related compounds and chemical potency tests were carried out using reverse-phase HPLC-UV. Conformational changes were investigated by measurements of circular dichroism. Results After gamma irradiation at 10?kGy, the recovery of insulin was 96.8%; higher molecular w...
The crystallography of #alpha#(hcp) precipitates formed on the #beta#(bcc) matrix grain boundaries has been studied with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in a Ti-15V-3Cr-3Sn-3Al alloy. The #alpha# precipitates have a near-Burgers orientation relationship with respect to at least one of the adjacent #beta# grains. Among the possible 12 variants in this orientation relationship, the variant that [11 bar 20]_#alpha# is parallel to the _#beta# closest to the grain boundary plane tends to be preferred by the #alpha# precipitates. Additionally, further variant selections are made so as to minimize the deviation of orientation relationship with respect to the ''opposite'' #beta# grain from the Burgers one. Such rules in variant selection often result in the formation of precipitates with a single variant at a planar grain boundary. Prior small deformation of #beta# matrix changes the ...
The problem of model selection arises in a number of contexts, such as subset selection in linear regression, estimation of structures in graphical models, and signal denoising. This paper generalizes the notion of "incoherence" in the existing literature on model selection and introduces two fundamental measures of coherence---termed as the worst-case coherence and the average coherence---among the columns of a design matrix. It utilizes these two measures of coherence to provide an in-depth analysis of two variants of a simple one-step thresholding (OST) algorithm for model selection and proves that OST is feasible for model selection as long as the design matrix obeys an easily verifiable property. One of the key insights offered by the ensuing analysis in this regard is that if the design matrix has reasonably small worst-case and average coherence then OST performs near-optimally when either (i) the energy of any ...
The process of mouse skin tumor formation is subdivided into three operational stages. These stages include initiation, promotion and progression. Ionizing radiation has been found to be a weak initiating agent in the production of malignant squamous cell carcinomas, a complete carcinogen and an agent effective in causing tumor progression. Four skin tumor histologies have been seen with ionizing radiation: benign papillomas, squamous (SCC) and basal (BCC) cell carcinomas and fibrosarcomas. Distinct non-ras transforming genes have been detected in radiation initiated SCCs. A benign papilloma cell line (308) was used as a model system to study ionizing radiation induced progression. A variant 308 cell line (308 10 Gy 5) derived by irradiation of the parental 308 cell has been characterized. The 308 10 Gy 5 cells unlike the parental 308 cells from malignant tumors in athymic nude mice upon subcutaneous injection. The variant 308 10 Gy 5 cells ...
We have previously shown that avian reovirus (ARV) #sigma#A and #sigma#NS proteins possess dsRNA and ssRNA binding activity and suggested that there are two epitopes on #sigma#A (I and II) and three epitopes (A, B, and C) on #sigma#NS. To further define the location of epitopes on #sigma#A and #sigma#NS proteins and to further elucidate the biological functions of these epitopes by using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) 62, 1F9, H1E1, and 4A123 against the ARV S1133 strain, the full-length and deletion fragments of S2 and S4 genes of ARV generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were cloned into pET32 expression vectors and the fusion proteins were overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 strain. Epitope mapping using MAbs and E. coli-expressed deletion fragments of #sigma#A and #sigma#NS of the ARV S1133 strain, synthetic peptides, and the cross reactivity of MAbs to heterologous ARV strains demonstrated that epitope II on #sigma#A was located at amino acid residues ...
The X-ray crystallographic structural determinations of synthetic estrogens and antiestrogens provide reliable information on the global minimum energy conformation of these molecules or a local minimum...Full Text Available
The conformation of d (CG)n oligomers with n = 2,3 has been studied in aqueous solution in the presence of high salt concentration. A minimum n value of three is necessary to obtain a left-handed Z-helix....Full Text Available
The minimum energy conformations of dApdA have been examined for their suitability as buildings blocks of the single stranded coil form of polynucleotides. Calculations of the characteristic ratio C...Full Text Available
Background and purpose: We evaluate the feasibility of concomitant and adjuvant docetaxel combined with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and androgen deprivation in high-risk prostate carcinomas. Methods: Fifty men with high-risk localized prostate cancer (16), locally advanced (28) or very high-risk prostate cancer (6) were included. Seventy Gy were delivered on prostate and seminal vesicles in 35 fractions, concurrently with weekly docetaxel (20 mg/m"2). Three weeks after the completion of 3D-CRT, docetaxel was given for 3 cycles (60 mg/m"2), every 3 weeks. Patients had to receive LHRH agonist during 3 years. Results: The intent to treat analysis shows that four patients out of 15 stopped prematurely the chemotherapy due to grade 3-4 acute toxicity. In the per protocol analysis, 46 patients completed a full-dose chemoradiation regimen representing 413 cycles: five patients experienced a grade 3 toxicity, ...
The thermodynamic characteristics of adsorption on the surface of graphitized thermal carbon black at 300 K were determined by the molecular statistical method for three phenylalklylamines. The influence of the intramolecular H-bond on the conformation of the molecules compared with structurally related n-alkyl-benzenes was considered. It was shown that the conformations of the molecules could influence chromatographic retention. Conformational isomers stabilized by intramolecular H-bonds were found to retain their structure in adsorption on graphitized thermal carbon black.
The thermodynamic characteristics of adsorption on the surface of graphitized thermal carbon black at 300 K were determined by the molecular statistical method for three phenylalklylamines. The influence of the intramolecular H-bond on the conformation of the molecules compared with structurally related n-alkyl-benzenes was considered. It was shown that the conformations of the molecules could influence chromatographic retention. Conformational isomers stabilized by intramolecular H-bonds were found to retain their structure in adsorption on graphitized thermal carbon black.
Material testing of SPF-sheet is usually done with coupon hot tensile testing. The optimum range of strain rates is determined with stepped strain tests. To overcome the problem of very few available testing facilities and time consuming and costly procedure, cone cup testing has been developed since long. This test can be generated directly in the workshop, no machining of samples is necessary and it is very much related to the real SPF-process. The analysis of suitable temperature and strain rate is done by simple measurement of resulting cone height. This paper describes a unique and novel variant of the above mentioned baseline design. It provides on-line data of the actual status of the cone cup forming resulting from the applied, constant pressure. Strain rate variations as a result from texture or from the alloy-related behaviour is detectable. Thinning and ''hardening'' behaviour of different alloys ...
A review is made of some recent developments in the application of the Bohr Hamiltonian to transitional nulcei. The primary concern is to understand the advantages and limitations inherent to the basic model and its many variants. (author).
BackgroundEmphysematous cholecystitis is a variant of acute cholecystitis which is generally caused by gas-forming organisms. Emphysematous cholecystitis may cause gas spreading...Full Text Available
... which may have embedded remote terminals, and (4 ... model the time-variant or stochastic aspects of ... on such system parameters as queue size, time ...
Mixed carbide fueled driver assembly experiments will be tested in FFTF fuel driver positions as part of the National Advanced Fuel Program. The design of the experiment flow ducts must assure conformance to FFTF functional requirements in addition to service as a test vehicle for the carbide fuel irradiations. Test goals of damage fluence burnup, and fluence to burnup ratio exceed those of the standard oxide fueled drivers. As a consequence, the 20% cold worked type 316 stainless steel material of construction will experience significant irradiation induced creep and swelling. Additionally, the flow duct design must withstand the enhanced thermal transients produced by the action of carbide fuel during reactor scrams. A major FFTF functional requirement is that adjacent flow ducts do not touch each other except at the load pads. This requires a realistic analysis of the creep and swelling deformation of the flow duct during an experiment ...
The authors search for the extended conformal algebra with two spin-s (s:integer) and one spin-1 generators. This search is inspired by the existence of chiral algebra in the Gaussian model for rational radius. For odd s, the conformal properties of the three-point functions imply that a general fusion rule can be reduced to those of the Gaussian model. For arbitrary even s, these conditions are weaker. In particular, for s = 2 the authors show that the chiral algebra of the Gaussian model is the unique extended conformal algebra with the value of the central charge fixed to be c = 1. It is also shown that the conformal generator is necessarily a bilinear of the spin-1 generator just as the Gaussian model. The authors conjecture that this remains true for arbitrary value of s.
Partially purified UDPgalactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.22) from bovine milk has been used to synthesize millimolar amounts of compounds such as Gal..beta..(1..-->..4)Glc, Gal..beta..(1..-->..4)GlcNAc-..beta..-hexanolamine, and Gal..beta..(1..-->..4)-GlcNAc..beta..(1..-->..4)GlcNAc. The same method has been used to prepare similar compounds containing /sup 13/C-enriched galactopyranosyl moieties. Gal..beta..(1..-->..4)GlcNAc-..beta..-hexanolamine was also synthesized in a solid-phase system in which the GlcNAc-..beta..-hexanolamine glycoside was covalently linked to agarose beads. At pH 7.0 and at 1 to 5 mM Mn/sup 2 + +/ the yields of the galactosyl saccharides are greater than 90% by using 10% excess of UDPGal donor. The use of a 90% enriched (1-/sup 13/C)galactosyl residue allowed the determination of the most abundant conformer about the galactopyranosyl-glycoside linkage by analysis of the carbon-carbon coupling constants from ...
The ?new variant famine? hypothesis posits links between HIV/AIDS and new patterns of impoverishment, food insecurity and hunger, in southern and eastern Africa. This paper explores the relevance of the NVF hypothesis to understanding Swaziland?s recurrent food crises and high HIV prevalence. Evidence exists that all four markers of NVF are present in Swaziland. The national government and the international community will have to contend with this phenomenon in future planning for the wellbeing of Swazi citizens.
A single Klebsiella pneumoniae strain isolated in a Bulgarian hospital was found to produce CTX-M-71, a new CTX-M variant characterized by one amino acid substitution...Full Text Available
Surveys of the antigenic properties of a wide range of variants of the H3N2 (Hong Kong) influenza virus subtype have revealed complex patterns of variants cocirculating during each of the main epidemic...Full Text Available
The microstructural development inside the stress induced martensite (SIM) variants in Ti-Ni-Nb alloy with various degrees of deformation have been revealed by electron microscopic observations. The orientation relationship between the SIM and the parent phase has been found: [1{bar 1}0]{sub M}{parallel}[11{bar 1}]{sub B2}, (001){sub M} 5{degree} away from (101){sub B2}. The lattice invariant shear of the SIM variants at the slightly deformed stage is dominantly (11{bar 1}) Type I twin. Besides the ordinary slip, the adjustment and development of the internal secondary twinning from (11{bar 1}) Type I twin to {l_angle}011{r_angle} Type II/ or (011) Type I twin, (001)compound twin and (111) Type I twin happen concurrently or in combination inside the SIM variants with the further deformation. The corresponding deformation mechanisms include stress induced reorientation of SIM substructural bands by the most favorably ...
In this study, the complete sequence of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of Atelura formicaria (Hexapoda: Zygentoma) is described. The molecule is 15.205 bp in length and it is the third complete mt genome sequenced from the Zygentoma. The genome organization conforms with the putative ancestral insect gene arrangement. All protein coding genes use standard initiation codons (methionine and isoleucine). The exception is nad4 that starts with GTG, a codon used for this purpose in other insect species. A peculiar strand skew bias is observed, given that the PCGs encoded on the J-strand contain more thymines than adenines and more cytosines than guanines. This trend in nucleotide composition has been observed also in the "firebrat" Thermobia domestica (Zygentoma, Lepismatidae), but differs from that of the majority of hexapod species, including Tricholepidion gertschi (Zygentoma, Lepidotrichidae), where adenines and cytosines outnumber thymines and guanines. The presence ...
In this paper we study half-BPS type IIB supergravity solutions with multiple $AdS_3\\times S^3\\times M_4$ asymptotic regions, where $M_4$ is either $T^4$ or $K_3$. These solutions were first constructed in [1] and have geometries given by the warped product of $AdS_2 \\times S^2 \\times M_4 $ over $\\Sigma$, where $\\Sigma$ is a Riemann surface. We show that the holographic boundary has the structure of a star graph, i.e. $n$ half-lines joined at a point. The attractor mechanism and the relation of the solutions to junctions of self-dual strings in six-dimensional supergravity are discussed. The solutions of [1] are constructed introducing two meromorphic and two harmonic functions defined on $\\Sigma$. We focus our analysis on solutions corresponding to junctions of three different conformal field theories and show that the conditions for having a solution charged only under Ramond-Ramond three-form fields reduce to relations involving the ...
A comparative study on the interaction of different PEG-containing diblock copolymers including SA400, SA600, SA1500 and OA1500 (stearyl and oleyl esters of polyethylene glycol with 400, 600 and 1500 molecular weights, respectively) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was carried out using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), circular dichroism (CD), and fluorescence spectroscopies. ITC data show that SA400, SA600, SA1500 and OA1500 bind to BSA, with association constants of (14.5, 3.16, 50.7 and 17.6)x103M-1, respectively. Results also show that the binding is enthalpically driven, disfavored by conformational entropy. Quantitative analysis of the FTIR absorbance spectra at amide Iprime (1600-1700cm-1) as well as far UV ci...
The product of the human GRO gene is a cytokine with inflammatory and growth-regulatory properties; GRO is also called MGSA for melanoma growth-stimulatory activity. The authors have identified two additional genes, GRO#beta# and GRO#gamma#, that share 90% and 86% identity at the deduced amino acid level with the original GRO#alpha# isolate. One amino acid substitution of proline in GRO#alpha# by leucine in GRO#beta# and GRO#gamma# leads to a large predicted change in protein conformation. Significant differences also exist in the 3' untranslated region, including different numbers of ATTTA repeats associated with mRNA instability. A 122-base-pair region in the 3' region is conserved among the three GRO genes, and a part of it is also conserved in the Chinese hamster genome, suggesting a role in regulation. DNA hybridization with oligonucleotide probes and partial sequence analysis of the genomic clones confirm that the three forms are derived ...
Power plants generate a great amount of ash during coal combustion. From this process two different kinds of ashes are extracted: fly ash (FA) and bottom ash (BA). In this work possible use of both fly and bottom ash as raw material for the ceramic industry is analyzed. The samples were formed by mechanical mixing of both kinds of ashes, and density evolution during conformation as structural ceramic (packing, pressing and sintering) was studied. It was verified that powders with larger fly ash content exhibited higher packing density resulting in compacts with improved green and sintered densities. Preheating treatments at temperatures above 600{sup o}C also increased the green and sintered densities. Dilatometric curves on compacts formed from FA and BA powders were run at constant heating rate and at isothermal cycles. From the analysis of these data it can be established that liquid-phase sintering is the densification mechanism present at ...
Abstract The salts [Cnmim]2[Mo6Cl14] (mim = methylimidazolium; n = 4, 6, 12, 16, 18) have been obtained by reaction of CnmimCl with MoCl2. Thermal analysis shows the melting point decreases with increasing alkyl chain length of the cation. The imidazolium chloromolybdates(II) with n = 6-18 decompose above 340 C; [C18mim]2[Mo6Cl14] is thermally stable up to 390 C. All compounds are insensititve to the constituents of the atmosphere. Of the higher melting salts [Cnmim]2[Mo6Cl14] (n = 4, 6), high-quality single crystals could be obtained. Single-crystal X-ray structural analyses clearly show that the cluster complex anion [Mo6Cl14]2- has an electron-precise octahedral {Mo6} cluster. For [C4mim]2[Mo6Cl14], two polymorphs differing in the cation alkyl-side-chain conformation were obtained. The ...
Modification of DNA and double-stranded deoxyoligonucleotides with antitumor 1,2-diamino-cyclohexanedinitroplatinum(II) (Pt-dach) complexes was investigated with the aid of physico-chemical methods and chemical probes of nucleic acid conformation. The three Pt-dach complexes were used which differed in isomeric forms of the dach non-leaving ligand-Pt(1R,2R-dach), Pt(1S,2S-dach) and Pt(1R,2S-dach) complexes. The latter complex has lower antitumor activity than the other two Pt-dach complexes. Pt(1R,2S-dach) complex exhibits the slowest kinetics of its binding to DNA and of the conversion of monofunctional binding to bifunctional lesions. The anomalously slow electrophoretic mobility of multimers of the platinated and ligated oligomers suggests that bifunctional binding of Pt-dach complexes to a d(GG) site within double-stranded oligonucleotides induces bending of the oligomer. It is proposed that different effects of the Pt-dach complexes on DNA observed in this ...
The authors have previously identified a small-cell lung cancer cell line (NCI-H209) that expresses an aberrant, underphosphorylated form of the retinoblastoma protein RB1. Molecular analysis of RB1 mRNA from this cell line revealed a single point mutation within exon 21 that resulted in a nonconservative amino acid substitution (cysteine to phenylalanine) at codon 706. Stable expression of this mutant RB1 cDNA in a human cell line lacking endogenous RB1 demonstrated that this amino acid change was sufficient to inhibit phosphorylation. In addition, this cysteine-to-phenylalanine substitution also resulted in loss of RB1 binding to the simian virus 40 large tumor and adenovirus E1A transforming proteins. These results confirm the importance of exon 21 coding sequences and suggest that the cysteine residue at codon 706 may play a role in achieving a specific protein conformation essential for protein-protein interactions.
It has been proposed that a hidden conformal field theory (CFT) governs the dynamics of low frequency scattering in a general Kerr black hole background. We further investigate this correspondence by mapping higher order corrections to the massless wave equations in a Kerr background to an expansion within the CFT in terms of higher dimension operators. This implies the presence of infinite towers of CFT primary operators with positive conformal dimensions compatible with unitarity. The exact Kerr background softly breaks the conformal symmetry and the scaling dimensions of these operators run with frequency. The scale-invariant fixed point is dual to a degenerate case of flat spacetime.
On the basis of the analytic continuations of semisimple Lie algebras discovered recently by us we construct manifestly quasiconformal infinite-dimensional algebras AC(so(4, 1)) and PAC(so(3, 2)) extending the conformal algebras in three-dimensional euclidean and Minkowski space-time like the Virasoro algebra extends so(2, 1). Their higher spin generalizations are also constructed. A counterpart of the central extension for D > 2 and possible appplications in exactly solvable conformal quantum field models in D > 2 are discussed. (orig.).
Conformal radiation therapy represents a considerable and attractive challenge in oncology. Its aim is mainly to improve local control by increasing the dose with an acceptable rate of complications. This work overviews the world literature on this subject. The technical and theoretical requirements are highlighted. These requirements include a precise definition of the target volume by digital imaging (essentially CT scan), but also clear view of the target volume and the organs at risk, a specific collimation of the beam, 3-D dose calculations, optimization procedures, and a rigid immobilization of the patient with verification of his position. Moreover, the clinical applications of conformal radiation therapy are reviewed and discussed. (authors). 80 refs., 1 tab.
A dose calculation algorithm for MLC based conformal radiotherapy is described in this paper. The algorithm is formulated by the coordinate of MLC leaves. Verification on the algorithm is made by comparing the dose distributions generated by this algorithm with that generated by a Differential Convolution Superposition algorithm for various regular and irregular fields. The results demonstrate that the present algorithm has suitable accuracy and high computational efficiency, thus it could be useful for the treatment planning process in MLC based conformal radiotherapy, where the workload for interactively or automatically designing the shapes of MLC is heavy. (authors)
A representation of tensors and spinors at a point of space-time as spin and conformally weighted functions on the unit sphere is derived. Methods for performing algebraic operations on tensors and spinors in this representation are discussed. (author).
The effect of counter-ion species on the local conformation of fully-charged poly(L-glutamate) in added-salt aqueous solutions were studied by small-angle X-ray scattering(SAXS). In the case of presence of monovalent counter-ion, the scattering behaviour could be explained by taking into consideration the excluded volume effect and intermolecular-interface interaction on the scattering function of wormlike chain. On the other hand, since SAXS profile of the solution in the presence of divalent counter-ion well fitted to the scattering function of dendrimer, it suggested that the conformation of polymer chain in such solution would be more compact conformation than that of presence of monovalent ion.
Objective: To evaluate the effect of metallic stent combined with stereotactic conformal radiotherapy (SCRT) for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Methods: Fifty-four patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were analyzed, including 31 treated with stent plus stereotactic conformal radiotherapy (combined group) and 23 with metallic stent alone (control group). Results: The mean survival time of combined group was 11.1 #+-# 4.6 months, compared with 5.1 #+-# 2.8 months of the control group, giving a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: The combination of metallic stent and stereotactic conformal radiotherapy is more effective than metallic stent alone for unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. (authors)
Chaperones (stress proteins) are essential proteins to help the formation and maintenance of the proper conformation of other proteins and to promote cell survival after a large variety of environmental...Full Text Available
The penetrance of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) in families with primary mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations is very complex. Matrilineal and nuclear genetic background, as well as environmental factors, have been reported to be involved in different affected pedigrees. Here we describe two large Chinese families that show a striking difference in the penetrance of LHON, in which 53.3% and 15.0% of members were affected (P < 0.02), respectively. Analysis of the complete mtDNA genome of the two families revealed the presence of the primary mutation G11778A and several other variants suggesting the same haplogroup status G2a. The family with higher penetrance contained a previously described secondary mutation G13708A, which presents a polymorphism in normal Chinese samples and does not affect in vivo mitochondrial oxidative metabolism as described in a previous study. Evolutionary analysis failed ...
The penetrance of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) in families with primary mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations is very complex. Matrilineal and nuclear genetic background, as well as environmental factors, have been reported to be involved in different affected pedigrees. Here we describe two large Chinese families that show a striking difference in the penetrance of LHON, in which 53.3% and 15.0% of members were affected (P < 0.02), respectively. Analysis of the complete mtDNA genome of the two families revealed the presence of the primary mutation G11778A and several other variants suggesting the same haplogroup status G2a. The family with higher penetrance contained a previously described secondary mutation G13708A, which presents a polymorphism in normal Chinese samples and does not affect in vivo mitochondrial oxidative metabolism as described in a previous study. Evolutionary analysis failed to indicate ...
Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignant tumor and the fourth-leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The crucial role of fatty acids for a number of important biological processes suggests a more in depth analysis of inter-individual differences in fatty acid metabolizing genes as contributing factor to colon carcinogenesis. We examined the association between genetic variability in 43 fatty acid metabolism-related genes and colorectal risk in 1225 CRC cases and 2032 controls participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. 392 single nucleotide polymorphisms were selected using pairwise tagging with an r(2) cutoff of 0.8 and a minor allele frequency of >5%. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Haplotype analysis was performed using a generalized linear model framework. On the genotype level, HPGD, PLA2G6, and ...
Bombyx mandarina nucleopolyhedrovirus (BomaNPV) is a variant of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV). BomaNPV S1 strain has been reported to be significantly less virulent than the BmNPV T3 strain via the oral infection route in B. mori larvae, but other features of S1 including budded virus (BV) infectivity and virus propagation in cultured cells are still unknown. In this study, we compared BV infectivity of S1 and T3 in B. mori larvae and cultured cells. Larval bioassays by intrahemocoelic BV injection revealed that the median lethal dose of S1's BV was approximately three times lower than that of T3. In addition, S1 produced more BVs and occlusion bodies (OBs) in the hemolymph of B. mori larvae compared with T3. Furthermore, we observed that the locomotion was enhanced earlier and the median lethal time was shorter in S1-infected larvae compared with those in T3-infected larvae. Western blot analysis of S1- and T3-infected BmN cells ...
Abstract Copy number variants (CNVs) are known to be associated with complex neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia and autism) but have not been explored in the isolated features of aggressive behaviors such as intermittent explosive disorder (IED). IED is characterized by recurrent episodes of aggression in which individuals act impulsively and grossly out of proportion from the involved stressors. Previous studies have identified genetic variants in the serotonergic pathway that play a role in susceptibility to this behavior, but additional contributors have not been identified. Therefore, to further delineate possible genetic influences, we investigated CNVs in individuals diagnosed with IED and/or personality disorder (PD). We carried out array comparative genomic hybridizati...
The study of quantum walk process has been widely divided into the two standard variants, the discrete-time quantum walk (DTQW) and the continuous-time quantum walk (CTQW). The connection between the two variants has been established by considering limiting value of the coin operation parameter in the DTQW and the coin degree of freedom is show to be unnecessary [26]. But the coin degree of freedom is an additional resource which can be exploited to control the dynamics of the QW process. In this paper we present a generic quantum walk (QW) model using a quantum coin-embedded unitary shift operation U_{C}. The standard version of the DTQW and the CTQW can be conveniently retrieved from this generic model retaining the features of the coin degree of freedom in both the variants.
One- and two-dimensional NMR techniques have been used to investigate the solution structures of (2S,6S,11S,15S)-2,6,11,15-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane (I) and (2R,3R,11R,12R)-2,3,11,12-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxyacyclooctadecane (II) macrocycle complexes of CaCl{sub 2} and Ca(NO{sub 3}){sub 2} in CDCl{sub 3}. Previous chiroptical studies of these and similar crown complexes by circularly polarized luminescence (CPL), total luminescence (TL), and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy have shown that the macrocycle asymmetric carbons in these complexes constrain the ring such that the sense of the ring twist in the S chiral ring complexes is opposite to that in the R chiral ring complexes. These studies have also shown that there is an added chirality element in the di- and trivalent (alkaline earth and lanthanide metal, respectively) nitrate complexes of I and II associated with the twist of the nitrate anions relative to one another as they sterically ...
This article introduces a predictive capability for Hg retention in any Ca-based wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scrubber, given mercury (Hg) speciation at the FGD inlet, the flue gas composition, and the sulphur dioxide (SO2) capture efficiency. A preliminary statistical analysis of data from 17 full-scale wet FGDs connects flue gas compositions, the extents of Hg oxidation at FGD inlets, and Hg retention efficiencies. These connections clearly signal that solution chemistry within the FGD determines Hg retention. A more thorough analysis based on thermochemical equilibrium yields highly accurate predictions for total Hg retention with no parameter adjustments. For the most reliable data, the predictions were within measurement uncertainties for both limestone and Mg/lime systems operating in both forced and natural oxidation mode. With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Information Collection Request (ICR) database, the ...
BackgroundThe pre-fusion form of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) fusion protein gB undergoes pH-triggered conformational change in vitro and during viral entry (Dollery...Full Text Available
By reformulating the usual free massless field theories in terms of twistors we get systems which are invariant under an infinite dimensional algebra. This algebra contains the two-dimensional conformal algebra and the SU(2, 2) algebra as subalgebras. It turns out that these systems, which possess the four-dimensional complex manifold structure of the twistor space, can lead to a natural generalization of the notion of two-dimensional conformal field theories to four dimensions. (orig.).
Conformational transitions of poly(dA-dC).poly(dG-dT), poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT), and other alternating purine-pyrimidine DNAs were studied in aqueous ethanol solutions containing molar concentrations...Full Text Available
Constraining the SL(3) WZW-model we construct a reduced theory which is invariant with respect to the new chiral algebra W_3"2. This symmetry is generated by the stress-energy tensor, two bosonic currents with spins 3/2 and the U(1) current. We conjecture a Kac formula that describes the highly reducible representation for this algebra. We also discuss the quantum Hamiltonian reduction for the general type of constraints that leads to the new extended conformal algebras. (orig.).
BackgroundTo compare two strategies of dynamic intensity modulated radiation therapy (dIMRT) with 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) in the setting of hypofractionated...Full Text Available
The aim of this study is to compare the dosimetry results that are obtained by using Convolution, Superposition and Fast Superposition algorithms in Conventional Radiotherapy, Three-Dimensional Conformal...Full Text Available
It is formulated Witten's proposal of a covariant open-string theory in terms of oscillator modes and shown that some basic axioms for the noncommutative geometry are obeyed as algebraic operations, which were defined previously from a geometrical point of view. Our strategy is based on the proper bosonization of the conformal ghost fields.
By using linearized conformal transformations in six dimensions, a new unified approach to bradyons (v"2< c"2) and tachyons (v"2>c"2) is suggested, the essential tool being (real and imaginary) dilatations. The usual ''Generalized Lorentz transformations'' are got, In six dimensions the quadrate form is always positive, both for bradyons and for tachyons.
The Ty transposable elements of Saccharomyces cerevisiae form a heterogeneous family within which two broad structural classes (I and II) exist. The two classes differ by two large substitutions and...Full Text Available
To evaluate the role of chronic inflammation in the development of gallstones and biliary tract cancer, we examined the risk associated with 62 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including...Full Text Available
The hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein of influenza virus performs two critical roles during infection: it binds virus to cell surface sialic acids, and under mildly acidic conditions it induces fusion...Full Text Available
HIV-1 nonsubtype B variants account for the majority of HIV infections worldwide. Drug resistance in individuals who have never undergone antiretroviral therapy can lead to early failure and...Full Text Available
The influence of high temperature thermal ageing treatments on the development of intercrystalline creep damage in two variants of Alloy 800 has been investigated. Ageing up to 3000 h and creep testing were carried out at 800 and 900 C. The high temperature behaviour of the 800HT variant is discussed with reference to the effect of heat treatments on the microstructure. The metallographic methods by which the creep damage was quantitatively determined are described. The growth rate of intercrystalline microcracks was described using a statistical model and the dependence of crack growth rate on the thermal history for both 800HT and 800H was determined. The carbide precipitation and growth processes were determined as functions of the exposure temperature and duration. The results showed the three characteristic stages, precipitation, growth and coarsening (Ostwald ripening). The largest increase in the intergranular creep damage was found in ...
BackgroundEpidemiological studies have shown a J- or U-shaped relation between alcohol and type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD). The underlying mechanisms are not clear....Full Text Available
Photosynthetic (Ps) electron transport pathways often contain multiple electron carriers with overlapping functions. Here we focus on two c-type cytochromes (cyt) in facultative phototrophic...Full Text Available
PurposeIt has been demonstrated that mutations in deafness, autosomal recessive 31 (DFNB31), the gene encoding whirlin, is responsible for nonsyndromic hearing loss...Full Text Available
The properties of an atypical Brucella strain isolated from lymph node tissue of a cow slaughtered as a brucellosis reactor were examined. The organism was Gram negative and highly pleomorphic, existing...Full Text Available
Objectives:Copy number variants (CNVs) have been recognized as a source of genetic variation that contributes to disease phenotypes. Alzheimer disease (AD) has high heritability...Full Text Available
In a follow-up to our previously reported genome-wide association study of cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC)1, we describe here several new susceptibility...Full Text Available
BackgroundIndividuals living in malaria endemic areas generally harbour multiple parasite strains. Multiplicity of infection (MOI) can be an indicator of immune status. However,...Full Text Available
PurposeThe size of neuronal populations is modulated by gene variants that influence cell production and survival, in turn influencing neuronal connectivity, function,...Full Text Available
Dyslexia (or reading disability) and specific language impairment (or SLI) are common childhood disorders that show considerable co-morbidity and diagnostic overlaps and have been suggested to share...Full Text Available
Tamoxifen (TAM) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator widely used in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. A major mode of metabolism of the major active metabolites of TAM, 4-OH-TAM...Full Text Available
Pseudoaneurysms related to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) are a recognised complication of trauma to the vessel, and successful treatment with stenting has been previously described. We report...Full Text Available
BackgroundMicroorganisms display vast diversity, and each one has its own set of genes, cell components and metabolic reactions. To assess their huge unexploited metabolic potential...Full Text Available
Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) is a variant of liposarcoma but with a more aggressive course. It occurs most commonly in the retroperitoneum and rarely in any other anatomical location. We describe...Full Text Available
Phosphorus is an essential mineral that maintains cellular energy and mineralizes the skeleton. Because complex actions of ion transporters and regulatory hormones regulate serum phosphorus concentrations,...Full Text Available
The complete nucleotide sequences of two alleles of cellobiose dehydrogenase, cdh-1 (3,627 bp) and cdh-2 (3,623 bp), from Phanerochaete chrysosporium OGC101 are reported. The nucleotide sequences of...Full Text Available
The amyloidoses are the prototype gain of toxic function protein misfolding diseases. As such, several naturally occurring animal models and their inducible variants provided some of the first...Full Text Available
BackgroundBlue nevi that arise from the Müllerian tract are rare melanocytic lesions. Several histopathologic variants of cellular blue nevi have been described. The angiomatoid...Full Text Available
A hitherto unrecognized variant of solid-pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is reported. The tumor presented in the pancreatic tail of a 44-year-old female patient. It was a well-defined, solid...Full Text Available
A comparative study has been carried out of the growth of two lines of Datura innoxia (Mill.) cells, designated DI-6 and NR1, their resistance to chlorate, and their ability to assimilate...Full Text Available
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are leading causes of morbidity across all populations, with heritability estimates of ∼80% indicating a substantial genetic component. Population genetics...Full Text Available
The representation theories of the SU(2).sub(k)-extended N=4 superconformal algebras (SCAs) with arbitrary level k are developed being based on their Feigin-Fuchs representations found recently by the present author. A basic unit of the representation blocks consisting of eight \\lq\\lq boson-like\\rq\\rq\\ and eight \\lq\\lq fermion-like\\rq\\rq\\ conformal fields is found to describe arbitrary representations of the $N$=4 SU(2)$_k$ SCAs, including {\\it unitary} and {\\it nonunitary} representations. The transformation properties of the fundamental sets of the conformal fields under the $N$=4 SU(2)$_k$ superconformal symmetries are given. Then, the whole sets of the charge-screening operators of the $N$=4 SU(2)$_k$ SCAs are identified out of the sixteen conformal fields in the basic unit of the representation blocks. The conditions for the {\\it eligible} charge-screening operators are analyzed in terms of the continuous ...
A plethora of experimental studies use mtDNA as a marker of demographic processes without questioning the possibility that selection may bias their interpretations. We studied four lines of Drosophila melanogaster that have a standardized nuclear DNA but variable mtDNA. We completed the sequencing of the mitochondrial genomes (excluding the A+T rich region) and compiled the differences. We then assayed male influence on oviposition, starvation resistance, lipid proportion and physical activity. We discuss these results in terms of the known differences between the lines and conclude that naturally occurring mtDNA variants in D. melanogaster are expressed at the level of the organismal phenotype. PMID:21757031
Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder share genetic risk, brain vulnerability, and clinical symptoms. The ZNF804A risk variant, rs1344706, confers susceptibility for both disorders. This study aimed to identify neural mechanisms common to both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder through this variant's potential effects on cortical thickness, white matter tract integrity, and cognitive function. Imaging, genetics, and cognitive measures were ascertained in 62 healthy adults aged between 18 and 59 years. High-resolution multimodal MRI/DTI imaging was used to measure cortical thickness and major frontotemporal and interhemispheric white matter tracts. The general linear model was used to examine the influence of the ZNF804A rs1344706 risk variant on cortical thickness, white matter tract integrity, and cognitive measures. Individuals homozygous for the risk variant ('A' allele) demonstrated reduced cortical ...
Three cDNAs, designated IIA3, IIA3v, and IIA4, coding for P450s in the CYP2A gene subfamily were isolated from a {lambda}gt11 library prepared from human hepatic mRNA. Only three nucleotide differences and a single amino acid difference, Leu{sup 160}{yields}His, were found between IIA3 and IIA3v, indicating that they are probably allelic variants. IIA4 displayed 94% amino acid similarity with IIA3 and IIA3v. The three cDNAs were inserted into vaccinia virus, and recombinant viruses were used to infect human hepatoma Hep G2 cells. Only IIA3 was able to produce an enzyme that had a reduced CO-bound spectrum with a {lambda}{sub max} at 450 nm. This expressed enzyme was able to carry out coumarin 7-hydroxylation and ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation. cDNA-expressed IIA3v and IIA4 failed to incorporate heme and were enzymatically inactive. Analysis of IIA proteins in human liver microsomes, using antibody against rat IIA2, revealed two proteins of 49 ...
Three cDNAs, designated IIA3, IIA3v, and IIA4, coding for P450s in the CYP2A gene subfamily were isolated from a #lambda#gt11 library prepared from human hepatic mRNA. Only three nucleotide differences and a single amino acid difference, Leu"1"6"0#->#His, were found between IIA3 and IIA3v, indicating that they are probably allelic variants. IIA4 displayed 94% amino acid similarity with IIA3 and IIA3v. The three cDNAs were inserted into vaccinia virus, and recombinant viruses were used to infect human hepatoma Hep G2 cells. Only IIA3 was able to produce an enzyme that had a reduced CO-bound spectrum with a #lambda#_m_a_x at 450 nm. This expressed enzyme was able to carry out coumarin 7-hydroxylation and ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation. cDNA-expressed IIA3v and IIA4 failed to incorporate heme and were enzymatically inactive. Analysis of IIA proteins in human liver microsomes, using antibody against rat IIA2, revealed two proteins of 49 and 50 ...
As part of The International Northern Sea Route Programme (INSROP), Subprogram III, Trade and Commercial Shipping, a study has been made concerning seaborne export of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the Northern Russia, especially the West Siberian fields in Tyumen. The main purpose of the total project III.0703, part 2 and this study is to evaluate the economic viability of seaborne export from this area to the European region, mainly with the use of a special ice-strengthened LPG vessel, constructed and designed for such seaborne operations. This study concentrates on both seaborne LPG transportation, the demand and supply for seaborne LPG in the world and marine transportation of LPG from the West Siberian fields. Another purpose is to see which regions are potential exporters, importers and buyers of seaborne export of LPG from Tyumen. Currently large quantities of liquefied gas are flared off at the West Siberian fields due to insufficient infrastructure, lack of modern ...
Crenarchaea are ubiquitous and abundant microbial constituents of soils, sediments, lakes and ocean waters, yet relatively little is known about their fundamental evolutionary, ecological, and physiological properties. To better describe the ubiquitous nonthermophilic Crenarchaea, we analyzed the genome sequence of one representative, the uncultivated sponge symbiont, Cenarchaeum symbiosum. C. symbiosum genotypes coinhabiting the same host partitioned into two dominant populations, corresponding to previously described a- and b-type ribosomal RNA variants. Although synthetic, overlapping a- and b-type ribotypes harbored significant genetic variability. A single tiling path comprising the dominant a-type genotype was assembled, and used to explore the biological properties of C. symbiosum and its planktonic relatives. Out of a total of 2,066 predicted open reading frames, 36% were more highly conserved with other Archaea. The remainder partitioned between bacteria ...
The COSA II (computer codes for salt) benchmark problem has been pursued with the ADINA (Automatic Dynamic Incremental Nonlinear Analysis) program code. With the use of this, the code should be validated by means of experimental data and the ability to reproduce real-life calculation results of the KfK (Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe/Nuclear Research Center in Karlsruhe) should be proven. A successful validation of the code then forms the foundation stone for the ability to use different calculation problems in the final (ultimate) storage. This also accompanies the consequent reaction of replacing the STEALTH (Solids and Thermal Hydraulics Code for EPRI Adapted from LAGRANGE TOODY and HEMP) program which has a number of program-specific weaknesses compared to the ADINA computer code. In order to reproduce the approximate values from the KfK, the same values have been used. Differences were evident in the discretion and the selection of the initial values for ...
During their catalytic cycle, proteins involved in biological signal transduction undergo unexpectedly large conformational changes, which are at the core of their biological functioning. Until now it has been extremely difficult to obtain experimental insight into the nature of these conformational changes. Mathematical modeling and time-resolved X-ray crystallography have resulted in probable routes along which these conformational changes may take place, but so far this fundamental biological phenomenon has hardly been tackled experimentally. Here, we report on an attempt to observe structural changes in Photoactive Yellow Protein with time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering using diffractometer D22 at the high-flux reactor of the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France.
During their catalytic cycle, proteins involved in biological signal transduction undergo unexpectedly large conformational changes, which are at the core of their biological functioning. Until now it has been extremely difficult to obtain experimental insight into the nature of these conformational changes. Mathematical modeling and time-resolved X-ray crystallography have resulted in probable routes along which these conformational changes may take place, but so far this fundamental biological phenomenon has hardly been tackled experimentally. Here, we report on an attempt to observe structural changes in Photoactive Yellow Protein with time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering using diffractometer D22 at the high-flux reactor of the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France
Grating cloaks are a variation of dielectric carpet (or ground- plane) cloaks. The latter were introduced by Li and Pendry. In contrast to the numerical work involved in the quasi-conformal carpet cloak, the refractive-index profile of a conformal grating cloak follows a closed and exact analytical form. We have previously mentioned that finite-size conformal grating cloaks may exhibit better cloaking than usual finite-size carpet cloaks. In this letter, we directly visualize their performance using photorealistic ray-tracing simulations. We employ a Newtonian approach that is advantageous compared to conventional ray tracing based on Snell's law. Furthermore, we quantify the achieved cloaking quality by computing the cross-correlations of rendered images. The cross-correlations for the grating cloak are much closer to 100% (i.e., ideal) than those for the Gaussian carpet cloak.
The AdS/CFT correspondence is a powerful tool to study the properties of conformal QCD at strong coupling in terms of a higher dimensional dual gravity theory. The power-law falloff of scattering amplitudes in the non-perturbative regime and calculable hadron spectra follow from holographic models dual to QCD with conformal behavior at short distances and confinement at large distances. String modes and fluctuations about the AdS background are identified with QCD degrees of freedom and orbital excitations at the AdS boundary limit. A description of form factors in space and time-like regions and the behavior of light-front wave functions can also be understood in terms of a dual gravity description in the interior of AdS.
In two recent papers, we constructed a new N#->##infinity# limit of the W_N algebras, which we denote W_#infinity# having generators of conformal spins 2, 3, ..., with central terms for all spins. In this paper, we construct another new algebra, which we denote W_1_+_#infinity#, with generators of conformal spins, 1, 2, 3, ..., again with central terms for all spins. The requirement that the algebras be closed requires that one include the spin-1 generators in W_1_+_#infinity#, and prohibits their inclusion in W_#infinity#. Paralleling our analogous construction for W_#infinity#, we show that the new algebra can also be realised as the antisymmetric part of an associative 'lone-star' product, which also closes on the set of generators with conformal spins #>=#1. (orig.).
The commutators of standard Virasoro generators and fields generate various representations of the centreless Virasoro algebra depending on a conformal dimension J of the field in question (J is related to the Bargmann index of SU(1,1) generated by L_m, m=0,#+-#1). We introduce the notion of q-conformal dimension for various oscillator realizations of q-deformed Virasoro (super)algebras proposed earlier. We use the field theoretical approach introduced recently in which the q-Virasoro currents L"#alpha# (z) are expressed as Schwinger-like point-split normally ordered quadratic expressions in elementary fields. We extend this approach and probe the elementary fields A(z) (the q-superstring coordinate, momentum and fermionic field) and their powers by the q-Virasoro generators L"#alpha#_m (i.e. we calculate the commutators [L"#alpha#_m,A(z)]) and show that to all of them can be assigned just the standard non-deformed ...
PurposeWe conducted a comparative study of Clinical Target Volume (CTV) definition of pelvic lymph nodes by multiple GU radiation oncologists looking at the levels...Full Text Available
SummaryIt has been well established that a single amino acid sequence can give rise to several conformationally distinct amyloid states. The extent to which amyloid structures...Full Text Available
The genes which encode glycosomal glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) of Trypanosoma cruzi are arranged as a tandemly repeated pair on a single chromosome and are identical at the level...Full Text Available
A combined approach based on the use of ATR-FT/IR and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy allowed to shed light on the effects of the additive methoxypolyethylene glycol (MePEG) on the hydration,...Full Text Available
We obtain a symmetry algebra for any unitary minimal model by using the representation of conformal field theories. This symmetry algebra can be interpreted as a quantum group. The generalization to non-unitary minimal models is direct. (orig.).
We obtain a symmetry algebra for any unitary minimal model by using the representation of conformal field theories. This symmetry algebra can be interpreted as a quantum group. The generalization to non-unitary minimal models is direct. (orig.).
The parathyroid hormone receptor (PTHR) is a class B G protein-coupled receptor that plays critical roles in bone and mineral ion metabolism. Ligand binding to the PTHR involves interactions to both...Full Text Available
We demonstrate by using low-temperature high-resolution spectroscopy that red-shifted mutants of green fluorescent protein are photo-interconverted among three conformations and are, therefore, not...Full Text Available
The conformation of the self-complimentary DNA dodecamer d(br5CGbr5CGAATTbr5CGbr5CG) has been investigated in a variety of salt and solvent conditions by one and two-dimensional 1H NMR. In low salt...Full Text Available
The sequence-dependent structural variability and conformational dynamics of DNA play pivotal roles in many biological milieus, such as in the site-specific binding of transcription factors to target...Full Text Available
Chemical reactions in living cells are under strict enzyme control and conform to a tightly regulated metabolic program. However, uncontrolled and potentially deleterious endogenous reactions occur,...Full Text Available
To assemble into functional structures, biopolymers search for global minima through their folding potential energy surfaces to find the native conformation. However, this process can be hindered by...Full Text Available
We analyse the relation between the exchange algebra and the separation of the chiralities in classical Toda field theory. We show that there exists a conformally covariant Bloch wave basis such that the two chiralities commute. In terms of this basis we then reconstruct the periodic and local solution of Toda field theory. (orig.).
FXYD1 (phospholemman) is a member of an evolutionarily conserved family of membrane proteins that regulate the function of the Na,K-ATPase enzyme complex in specific tissues and specific physiological...Full Text Available
In many radiotherapy clinics, geometric uncertainties in the delivery of 3D conformal radiation therapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy of the prostate are reduced by aligning the...Full Text Available
Wood usage for cooking and heating is still very relevant in most developing countries especially those of sub-Saharan Africa and many parts of Asia. Therefore, sustainable means of generating it for this and other purposes are necessary bearing in mind the influence of indigenous knowledge/users' perspective on any production method regarding success and sustenance. In conformity with this view, questionnaires were administered on 240 respondents in 8 rural communities of Akinyele and Ido Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Oyo State, Nigeria, to elicit information on species that can be used as fuelwood, preferred by the respondents for incorporation into and/or retention in agroforestry plots, out of which 179 (i.e. 75% of the total number of questionnaires administered) were successfully retrieved for statistical analyses. Twelve woody species namely: Annona senegalensis, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Bridelia ferruginea, Daniellia oliveri, Detarium microcarpum, ...
The lower continental slope of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico is characterized by a hummocky topography with shallow salt masses interspersed by numerous salt-withdrawal basins containing thick Plio-Pleistocene and older sediments. Analysis of over 7500 km of multichannel seismic reflection data from the Keathley Canyon Area and vicinity defined the Wisconsinan-Holocene sequence and its seismic facies. In interbasinal areas and in the southern part of the study area where salt is shallow, the Wisconsinan-Holocene sequence consists mainly of low-amplitude (LA) facies underlain by strong basal-reflection (SBR) facies. The LA facies occasionally show subtle onlaps against SBR facies and grade upward into a draping pattern. Onlapping LA facies are interpreted to be a lowstand systems tract deposited by widespread low-energy turbidity currents. Draping LA facies at the top may consist of hemipelagic or pelagic sediments. The SBR facies are interpreted to consist of ...
The performance of a convolution/superposition based treatment planning system depends on the ability of the dose calculation algorithm to accurately account for physical interactions taking place in the tissue, key components of the linac head and on the accuracy of the photon beam model. Generally the user has little or no control over the performance of the dose calculation algorithm but is responsible for the accuracy of the beam model within the constraints imposed by the system. This study explores the dosimetric impact of limitations in photon beam modeling accuracy on complex 3D clinical treatment plans. A total of 70 photon beam models was created in the Pinnacle(TM) treatment planning system. Two of the models served as references for 6 MV and 15 MV beams, while the rest were created by perturbing the reference models in order to produce specific deviations in specific regions of the calculated dose profiles (central axis and transverse). The beam models were then used to ...
On the basis of accurate crystal structure determination, the mineral phosphuranylite corresponds to the chemical formula KCa(H_3O)_3(UO_2)_7(PO_4)_4O_4.8H_2O. Cmcm, a=15.778 (3)-15.899(2), b=13.702(2)-13.790(5), c=17.253(3)-17.330(3)A, Z=4, D_x=4.575-4.631g cm"-"3, #mu#=287.6-291.1cm"-"1. The presence of potassium (about 1.80wt%K_2O), overlooked until now, has been confirmed by microprobe analysis on samples from four different localities. The best data for structure determination have been obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffraction on specimens from Capoterra, Sardinia, and Bois Noirs, France; here 1453 and 1254 independent reflections, respectively, were used in the refinement, and the corresponding final R index is 0.036 and 0.048. The structure consists of layers of phosphate groups connected with hexagonal, pentagonal and tetragonal dipyramids centered on the U atoms. The Ca and K atoms are located within channels in the uranylphosphate framework, together ...
Radio frequency (RF) sheaths are suspected of limiting the performance of present-day ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRFs) antennas over long pulses and should be minimized in future fusion devices. Within the simplest models, RF-sheath effects are quantified by the integral VRF = ? E|| ? dl where the parallel RF field E|| is linked with the slow wave. On 'long open field lines' with large toroidal extension on both sides of the antenna it was shown that VRF is excited by parallel RF currents j|| flowing on the antenna structure. In this paper, the validity of this simple sheath theory is tested experimentally on the Tore Supra (TS) ITER-like antenna prototype (ILP), together with antenna simulation and post-processing codes developed to compute VRF. The predicted poloidal localization of high-|VRF| zones is confronted to that inferred from experimental data analysis. Surface temperature distribution on ILP front face, as well as ILP-induced modifications of ...
Large rigid-body domain movements are critical to GroEL-mediated protein folding, especially apical domain elevation and twist associated with the formation of a folding chamber upon binding ATP and co-chaperonin GroES. Here, we have modeled the anisotropic displacements of GroEL domains from various crystallized states, unliganded GroEL, ATP?S-bound, ADP-AlFx/GroES-bound, and ADP/GroES bound, using translation-libration-screw (TLS) analysis. Remarkably, the TLS results show that the inherent motions of unliganded GroEL, a polypeptide-accepting state, are biased along the transition pathway that leads to the folding-active state. In the ADP-AlFx/GroES-bound folding-active state the dynamic modes of the apical domains become reoriented and coupled to the motions of bound GroES. The ADP/GroES complex exhibits these same motions, but they are increased in magnitude, potentially reflecting the decreased stability of the complex after nucleotide hydrolysis. Our results ...
Culex mosquitoes introduce the pathogens responsible for filariasis, West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, and other diseases into humans. Currently, traps baited with oviposition semiochemicals play an important role in detection efforts and could provide an environmentally friendly approach to controlling their populations. The odorant binding proteins (OBPs) in the female's antenna play a crucial, if yet imperfectly understood, role in sensing oviposition cues. Here, we report the X-ray crystallography and NMR 3D structures of OBP1 for Culex quinquefasciatus (CquiOBP1) bound to an oviposition pheromone (5R,6S)-6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide (MOP). In both studies, CquiOBP1 had the same overall six-helix structure seen in other insect OBPs, but a detailed analysis revealed an important previously undescribed feature. There are two models for OBP-mediated signal transduction: (i) direct release of the pheromone from an internal binding pocket in a ...
Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) of the n-#pi# and #pi# -#pi# transitions of the amide groups in the ultraviolet has become an indispensable tool for qualitative characterization of proteins in solution. Since the existence of such a spectrum (that is, of natural optical activity) comes from the three dimensional interaction of the chromophores in the molecule, CD is exquisitely sensitive to molecular conformation. However, in proteins, the amide transitions available in the near UV are limited in number and are broads and overlapping. Interactions among them yield information about the polymeric backbone, but since such amide electronic excitation are relatively delocalized, the resulting
Open descendants extend conformal field theory to unoriented surfaces with boundaries. The construction rests on two types of generalizations of the fusion algebra. The first is needed even in the relatively simple case of diagonal models. It leads to a new tensor that satisfies the fusion algebra, but whose entries are signed integers. The second is needed when dealing with non-diagonal models, where Cardy's ansatz does not apply. It leads to a new tensor with positive integer entries, that satisfies a set of polynomial equations and encodes the classification of the allowed boundary operators. (orig.).
Extended conformal algebras with supersymmetry (super-W/sub n/ algebra) is constructed and the algebras are shown to exist for special values of the central charge c. The super-W/sub n/ algebra containing currents of spin (5/2, 3) has a unitary representation (c=10/7) and a non-unitary one (c=-5/2), and the super-W/sub n/ algebra containing currents of spins (2, 5/2) has a non-unitary representation (c=-6/5).
Based on QCD conformal partial wave expansion to leading order conformal spin accuracy, we present the light-cone distribution amplitudes (DAs) of {sigma} and {lambda} baryons up to twist 6. It is concluded that fourteen independent DAs are needed to describe the valence three-quark states of the baryons at small transverse separations. The nonperturbative parameters relevant to the DAs are determined within the framework of QCD sum rule method. With the obtained DAs, a simple investigation on the electromagnetic form factors of these baryons are given. The magnetic moments of the baryons are estimated by fitting the magnetic form factor with the dipole formula.
The crystal and molecular structures of the anti-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome agent 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) have been determined by x-ray diffraction. There are two crystallographically independent AZT molecules in the crystal asymmetric unit; they have similar conformation and differ primarily in the glycosyl torsion angle. Comparisons with a hydrated thymidylate structure indicate that the azido group does not significantly affect the gross conformational preference of the molecule. The comparisons also suggest possible functional roles for the azido group in enzyme binding.
In the last decade, directed evolution has become a routine approach for engineering proteins with novel or altered properties. Concurrently, a trend away from purely 'blind' randomization strategies and towards more 'semi-rational' approaches has also become apparent. In this review, we discuss ways in which structural information and predictive computational tools are playing an increasingly important role in guiding the design of randomized libraries: web servers such as ConSurf-HSSP and SCHEMA allow the prediction of sites to target for producing functional variants, while algorithms such as GLUE, PEDEL and DRIVeR are useful for estimating library completeness and diversity. In addition, we review recent methodological developments that facilitate the construction of unbiased libraries, which are inherently more diverse than biased libraries and therefore more likely to yield improved variants. PMID:16095966
The non-perturbative validity of covariant BRST-quantization of gauge theories on compact Euclidean space-time manifolds is reviewed. BRST-quantization is related to the construction of a Topological Quantum Field Theory (TQFT) of Witten type on the gauge group. The criterion for the non-perturbative validity of the quantization is that the partition function of the corresponding TQFT does not vanish and that its (equi-variant) BRST-algebra is free of anomalies. I sketch the construction of a TQFT whose partition function is proportional to the generalized Euler-characteristic of the coset space S U (n){sub gauge} / SU(n){sub global} with an associated equi-variant BRST-algebra that manifestly preserves translational symmetry. Some non-perturbative consequences of this approach are discussed. (author)
1. The aim of the paper is to investigate the relative importance of three sets of sources of competitive advantages on business performance in a specific industry context, ie the European meat processing industry. The three sets of competitive sources are Firm Specific Advantages (FSAs), Localizational Specific Advantages (LSAs) and Relationship Specific Advantages (RSAs). Based on a literature study, each set of competitive advantages is briefly described in terms of their theoretical antecedents. Seven hypotheses are formulated regarding the direct as well as the indirect relationships between the FSAs, LSAs and RSAs and business performance. Also, the direction of causality between the various sets of explanatory variables is considered. The hypotheses are combined in a structural modelling of firm competition. 2. Data and measurements are derived from a survey in the European meat processing industry in which 133 meat processors from 10 EU countries agreed to participate. A total ...
A 7-kb genomic segment containing the coding sequence for the Drosophila melanogaster Formosa variant of salivary gland secretion protein 3 (sgs3) has been inserted into the snw y, bw, st strain of...Full Text Available
Gastrin and its carboxyl-terminal homolog cholecystokinin (CCK) exert a variety of biological actions in the brain and gastrointestinal tract that are mediated in part through one or more G protein-coupled...Full Text Available
Protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 22 (PTPN22) gene polymorphisms are associated with many autoimmune diseases. The major risk allele encodes an R620W amino acid change that...Full Text Available
Attempts to synthesize YPd[sub 2]Si-type representatives LnPd[sub 2]Al were successful only with Ln triple bond Ce, Pr, Nd. This orthorhombic structure (oP16; space group Pnma) is an ordered variant of the Fe[sub 3]C type. Only NdPd[sub 2]Al undergoes magnetic ordering above 2 K. (orig.)
Inhibition of large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels mediates, in part, oxygen sensing by carotid body type I cells. However, BKCa channels remain active...Full Text Available
It is demonstrated that normal pitting can occur during oxidizing conditions in the repository. It is also concluded that a new theory for pitting corrosion has to be developed, as the present theory is not in accordance with all practical and experimental observations. A special variant of pitting, based on the growth of sulfide whiskers, is suggested to occur during reducing conditions. However, such a mechanism needs to be demonstrated experimentally. A simple calculational model of canister corrosion was developed based on the results of this study. 69 refs, 3 figs.
Mutation breeding in one of the cultigens TMV-5 in Sesamum is undertaken with 5 kr, 10 kr, 15 kr, 20 kr, 60 kr and 80 kr, dosages of gamma-rays. 60 kr and 80 kr dosages were found to be lethal from the complete failure of seed germination. The mutagen had a heterotic effect on the different characters and the promising variants obtained in this programme are proposed to be maintained by pureline breeding for their possible release as new varieties. (author).
Among important candidates for babesial vaccines are apical complex proteins, including rhoptry-associated protein 1 (RAP-1) from Babesia bovis and B. bigemina, which...Full Text Available
A great deal of energy is necessary to manufacture castings, the greater part of which is wasted. Some general instructions are given on how to keep this part as low as possible. This is discussed particularly using the example of a heat recovery plant for foundries, especially in the melting and cooling of castings with the use of cupola furnace stack gas to produce hot gas. Further variants for recovering heat from the individual stages of a foundry process are listed. There are data on using this heat in operation.
Sphingomonas paucimobilis B90A contains two variants, LinA1 and LinA2, of a dehydrochlorinase that catalyzes the first and second steps in the metabolism of hexachlorocyclohexanes (R....Full Text Available
We report the emergence of Salmonella enterica isolates of serotype Concord (and its monophasic variant 6,7:l,v:-) producing the extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) SHV-12...Full Text Available
BackgroundTrisomic variants of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) arise spontaneously in culture. Although trisomic hESCs share many properties with diploid hESCs, they also exhibit...Full Text Available
We study a variant of the Penner-Distler-Vafa model, proposed as a c = 1 quantum gravity: quenched' matrix model with logarithmic potential. The model is exactly soluble, and exhibits a two-cut branching as observed in multicritical unitary matrix models and multicut Hermitian matrix models. Using analytic continuation of the power in the conventional polynomial potential, we also show that both the Penner-Distler-Vafa model and our quenched' matrix model satisfy Virasoro algebra constraints.
Case-parent trios were used in a genome wide association study of cleft lip with/without cleft palate (CL/P). SNPs near two genes not previously associated with CL/P [MAFB:...Full Text Available
Analysis of steady-state and transient photoconductivity measurements at room temperature performed on c-axis oriented GaN nanowires yielded estimates of free carrier concentration, drift mobility, surface band bending, and surface capture coefficient for electrons. Samples grown (unintentionally n-type) by nitrogen-plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy primarily from two separate growth runs were examined. The results revealed carrier concentration in the range of (3-6)x10"1"6 cm"-"3 for one growth run, roughly 5x10"1"4-1x10"1"5 cm"-"3 for the second, and drift mobility in the range of 500-700 cm"2/(V s) for both. Nanowires were dispersed onto insulating substrates and contacted forming single-wire, two-terminal structures with typical electrode gaps of #approx =#3-5 #mu#m. When biased at 1 V bias and illuminated at 360 nm (3.6 mW/cm"2) the thinner (#approx =#100 nm diameter) nanowires with the higher background doping showed an abrupt increase in photocurrent ...
We have studied the application of direct aperture optimization (DAO) as an inverse planning tool for breast IMRT. Additionally, we have analysed the impact of respiratory motion on the quality of the delivered dose distribution. From this analysis, we have developed guidelines for balancing the desire for a high-quality optimized plan with the need to create a plan that will not degrade significantly in the presence of respiratory motion. For a DAO optimized breast IMRT plan, the tangential fields incorporate a flash field to cover the range of respiratory motion. The inverse planning algorithm then optimizes the shapes and weights of additional segments that are delivered in combination with the open fields. IMRT plans were generated using DAO with the relative weights of the open segments varied from 0% to 95%. To assess the impact of breathing motion, the dose distribution for the optimized IMRT plan was recalculated with the isocentre sampled from a predefined ...
NMR and CD studies indicate that Mg/sup 2 +/ and Ca/sup 2 +/ are able to change the conformation of tetracycline in DMSO solution. This may affect the in vivo effect of tetracycline. Using /sup 23/Na NMR, the formation constant of NaLAS (LAS represents the anion of lasalocid A) was found to be 80 M/sup -1/ which is much smaller than that in less polar solvents. Spin-lattice relaxation measurements were made to study the binding sites of Gd/sup 3 +/ on Las in ChCl/sub 3/-DMF mixed solvent system. No intermediate conformation (between cyclic and open-chain) was found. LAS was found to be a good second-sphere ligand to inert transition-metal amines. NMR studies suggest that LAS is in cyclic conformation when bound to these metal amines. A new method for the synthesis of spin-labeled anticancer Pt(II) complexes was developed. It is very simple and gives high yield of pure spin-labeled Pt(II) complexes.
A new algorithm for constructing extensions of the Virasoro algebra by primary fields - so called W-algebras - is presented. With the help of REDUCE all W-algebras with one further primary field up to conformal dimension 9 were calculated. Furthermore I give an interpretation of the obtained results using fusion algebras. The algorithm could also be used for constructing extensions of the super Virasoro algebra which play an important role in superstring theory. I present two examples here. With using representation theory of Kac-Moody algebras I determine the minimal field content of the super W_3 algebra. Finally, the general coset models SU(2)_kxSU(2)_m/SU(2)_k_+_m and SU(3)_kxSU(3)_m/SU(3)_k_+m are investigated. I calculate which W-algebras are likely contained in these cosets. (orig.).
Over the last few years, string theory has changed profoundly. Most importantly, novel duality relations have emerged which involve gauge theories of brane excitations on one side and various closed string backgrounds on the other. In this lecture, we introduce the fundamental ingredients of modern string theory and explain how they are modeled through 2D (boundary) conformal field theory. This so-called `microscopic description' of strings and branes is an active research area with new results ranging from the classification and construction of boundary conditions to studies of 2D renormalization group flows. We shall provide an overview of such developments before concluding the lecture with an extensive outlook on some research that is motivated by current problems in string theory. This includes investigations of non-rational and non-unitary conformal field theories.
The positive-energy unitary irreducible representations of the q-deformed conformal algebra #delta#C_q = U_q(su(2,2)) are obtained by appropriate deformation of the classical ones. When the deformation parameter q is N -th root of unity, all these unitary representations become finite-dimensional. For his case we discuss in some detail the massless representations, which are also irreducible representations of the q-deformed Poincare subalgebra of #delta#C_q. Generically, their dimensions are smaller than the corresponding finite-dimensional non-unitary representation of su(2,2), except when N = 2 modul h + 1, where h is the helicity of the representations. The latter cases include the fundamental representations with h = #+-#1/2. (author). 10 refs.
One of the salient features of human perception is its invariance under dilatation in addition to the Euclidean group, but its non-invariance under special conformal transformation. We investigate a holographic approach to the information processing in image discrimination with this feature. We claim that a strongly coupled analogue of the statistical model proposed by Bialek and Zee can be holographically realized in scale invariant but non-conformal Euclidean geometries. We identify the Bayesian probability distribution of our generalized Bialek-Zee model with the GKPW partition function of the dual gravitational system. We provide a concrete example of the geometric configuration based on a vector condensation model coupled with the Euclidean Einstein-Hilbert action. From the proposed geometry, we study sample correlation functions to compute the Bayesian probability distribution.
We prove a generalization of the Verlinde formula to fermionic rational conformal field theories. The fusion coefficients of the fermionic theory are equal to sums of fusion coefficients of its bosonic projection. In particular, fusion coefficients of the fermionic theory connecting two conjugate Ramond fields with the identity are either one or two. Therefore, one is forced to weaken the axioms of fusion algebras for fermionic theories. We show that in the special case of fermionic W(2, #delta#)-algebras these coefficients are given by the dimensions of the irreducible representations of the horizontal subalgebra on the highest weight. As concrete examples we discuss fusion algebras of rational models of fermionic W(2, #delta#)-algebras including minimal models of the N = 1 super Virasoro algebra as well as N = 1 super W-algebras SW(3/2, #delta#). (orig.).
Most surface-acoustic-wave and thin-film optical devices are made by the planar fabrication process. The exposure of the pattern in the polymer film is the first and most crucial step in ensuring desired device geometry, dimensional control, and freedom from pattern distortion. The methods of exposing the polymer film include: optical projection, conventional contact printing, conformable photomask contact printing, holographic recording, scanning electron beam lithography, projection electron lithography, and x-ray lithography. In this paper scanning electron beam lithography, conformable photomask contact printing, holographic recording, and x-ray lithography are discussed. In the last section, ion beam etching of relief structures is discussed.
Biosorption of uranium (VI) ions by immobilized Aspergillus fumigatus beads was investigated in a batch system. The influences of solution pH, biosorbent dose, U (VI) concentration, and contact time on U (VI) biosorption were studied. The results indicated that the adsorption capacity was strongly affected by the solution pH, the biosorbent dose and initial U (VI) concentration. Optimum biosorption was observed at pH 5.0, biosrobent dose (w/v) 2.5%, initial U (VI) concentration 60 mg L{sup -1}. Biosorption equilibrium was established in 120 min. The adsorption process conformed to the Freunlich and Temkin isothermal adsorption models. The dynamic adsorption model conformed to pseudo-second order model.
New technologies are needed to reduce the current high rate of well abandonment. Improved sweep efficiency, reservoir conformance, and permeability modification can have a significant impact on oil recovery processes. Microorganisms can be used to selectively plug high-permeability zones to improve sweep efficiency and impart conformance control. Studies of a promising microbial system for polymer production were conducted to evaluate reservoir conditions in which this system would be effective. Factors which can affect microbial growth and polymer production include salinity, pH, temperature, divalent ions, presence of residual oil, and rock matrix. Flask tests and coreflooding experiments were conducted to optimize and evaluate the effectiveness of this system. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) was used to visualize microbial polymer production in porous media. Changes in fluid distribution within the pore system of the core were ...
Using the boson-fermion equivalence in 2-d conformal field theory and the boson-boson equivalence of the superconformal bosonic ghost fields of the string theory, the authors construct a level {Kappa} = +1 representation of the affine superalgebra OSp(M*N)/sup 1/ in terms of vertex operators.
We report a pH-dependent conformational transition in short, defined homopolymeric deoxyadenosines (dA15) from a single helical structure with stacked nucleobases at neutral pH to a double-helical,...Full Text Available
Let ${\\mathcal F}_\\lambda(\\mathbb{S}^n)$ be the space of tensor densities on $\\mathbb{S}^n$ of degree $\\lambda$. We consider this space as an induced module of the nonunitary spherical series of the group $\\mathrm{SO}_0(n+1,1)$ and classify $(\\mathrm{so}(n+1,1),\\mathrm{SO}(n+1))$-sim$unitary submodules of ${\\mathcal F}_\\lambda(\\mathbb{S}^n)$ as a function of $\\lambda$.
The implementation of a three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy facility in the radiotherapy department of the Heinrich Heine University is described. Complex radiotherapy techniques with commercially available networked systems are introduced to improve clinical work. Over 18 month we have gained clinical experience with a PHILIPS Multileaf Collimator (MLC) mounted on a SL 25 linear accelerator. For a limited period the MLC was used as a conventional blocking device. The standard MLC-shapes are controlled with a stand-alone computer system. In addition, a three-dimensional treatment planning system (3-D-TPS / TMS-Radix, Helax AB) based on convolution/superposition algorithms was recently installed. Treatment optimization is achieved using static field arrangements with complete volumetric computerized tomographic patient data for 3-D-TPS. Conformal adaptation of the 95%-isodose to the Planning Target Volume (PTV, ICRU 50) results in ...
The possibility of having inflation in a renormalizable cosmological model is investigated. The cosmic no-hair conjecture is proved to hold for all Bianchi types except Bianchi type IX. By the use of a conformal transformation on the metric we show that these models are equivalent to the ones described by the Einstein-Hilbert action for gravity minimally coupled to a set of scalar fields with inflationary potentials. Henceforth, we prove that inflationary solutions behave as attractors in solution space, making it a natural event in the evolution of such models.
The possibility of having inflation in a renormalizable cosmological model is investigated. The cosmic no-hair conjecture is proved to hold for all Bianchi types except Bianchi type IX. By the use of a conformal transformation on the metric we show that these models are equivalent to the ones described by the Einstein-Hilbert action for gravity minimally coupled to a set of scalar fields with inflationary potentials. Henceforth, we prove that inflationary solutions behave as attractors in solution space, making it a natural event in the evolution of such models.
This document describes measurements of the directional spectral emittance of four ceramic mold materials. The work was performed with the samples at {approximately} 900{degree}C in a vacuum vessel pumped to {approximately}3 {times} 10{sup {minus}6}Torr. Results conform to expectations derived from prior work done with similar samples.
The gas composition of recent thermal waters is in perfect conformity with their geologic-tectonic positions. The composition of gas-liquid inclusions in the basic-hyperbasic xenoliths of basaltoid lavas depends on the depth from which xenoliths are supplied. (The depth is determined by using the methods of geological thermobarometers). By comparing available data the conclusion was drawn that the gas compositions of thermal waters reflect the depth of generation of deep fluid which heats them and depends on the penetration depth of the fluid-conducting fissure zones.
Several examples of the 14-membered, para-bridged ring system of the cyclopeptide alkaloids have been synthesized via an active ester cyclization. The yield of monomeric cyclopeptide varied from 1 to 33% and was affected by the amino acid substitution pattern and amide conformation of the linear peptide precursors. Both the synthetic models and a naturally occurring cyclopeptide alkaloid, ceanothine B, bind monovalent (Li"+) and divalent (Ca"2"+, Mg"2"+) cations. 4 figures, 1 table.
During apoptosis, the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins BAK and BAX form large oligomeric pores in the mitochondrial outer membrane. Apoptotic factors, including cytochrome c, are...Full Text Available
We construct a field theoretic representation of the universal W-algebra proposed by Pope, Romans and Shen, using a free complex boson in two dimensions. The resulting symmetry algebra is generated by conformal fields with spin 2, 3, 4, ... and has central charge c=2. Highest-weight representations are also given in terms of vertex operators. Furthermore, we discuss the relation of this representation to the theory of Z_#infinity# parafermions. (orig.).
Positioning of release factor eRF1 toward adenines and the ribose-phosphate backbone of the UAAA stop signal in the ribosomal decoding site was studied using messenger RNA (mRNA) analogs containing...Full Text Available
Motor proteins couple steps in ATP binding and hydrolysis to conformational switching both in and remote from the active site. In our kinesin·AMPPPNP crystal structure, closure of the active...Full Text Available
We consider a simple model of d families of scalar field interacting with geometry in two dimensions. The geometry is locally flat and has only global degrees of freedom. When d0 it collapses to a one dimensional manifold. The model has some, but not all, of the characteristics believed to be features of the full theory of conformal matter interacting with quantum gravity which has local geometric degrees of freedom.
Protocols were standardized for in vitro propagation of several elite and diverse banana accessions using shoot tip explants. Tissue culture raised plants were field planted at multiple locations. Studies were undertaken for the induction of mutations using multiple shoot cultures of six selected cultivars, Shreemanti (AAA), Basrai (AAA), Lal Kela (AAA), Rasthali (AAB), Karibale Monthan (ABB) and a wild diploid (BB). These shoot cultures were irradiated at different doses of gamma rays (0-100 Gy) and subcultured thrice (up to M_1V_3) to separate shimeras, followed by induction of rooting (M_1V_4). In general, the rate of multiplication had a negative association with the dose of gamma rays. Enhanced multiplication of shoots was noticed at lower doses. The proliferation of shoots was arrested beyond 50 Gy and a dose of 70 Gy was completely lethal for all the genotypes studied. The rooted plantlets were hardened in the green house and in the early stages of field growth, a few ...
A novel single-chain immunotoxin was constructed by combining a CD33-specific single chain Fv (scFv) antibody fragment with an engineered variant of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (ETA). The variant toxin carries the KDEL peptide at its C-terminus, a cellular peptide mediating improved retrograde transport to the endoplasmic reticulum. The purified recombinant fusion protein induced potent apoptosis of the human myeloid cell lines U937, HL-60 and THP-1. Up to 98% of U937 cells were eliminated after treatment for 72 h with a single dose of 500 ng/ml (c. 7 nmol/l). Killing was antigen-specific and occurred by apoptosis. A control protein, consisting of a CD19-specific scFv antibody fragment fused to the ETA-KDEL toxin, failed to induce death of the CD19-negative cell lines U937, HL-60 and THP-1. The CD33-ETA toxin also mediated apoptosis of fresh patient-derived acute myeloid leukaemia cells from bone marrow and peripheral blood. The pronounced ...
In this paper we have investigated the performance of PSO Particle Swarm Optimization based clustering on few real world data sets and one artificial data set. The performances are measured by two metric namely quantization error and inter-cluster distance. The K means clustering algorithm is first implemented for all data sets, the results of which form the basis of comparison of PSO based approaches. We have explored different variants of PSO such as gbest, lbest ring, lbest vonneumann and Hybrid PSO for comparison purposes. The results reveal that PSO based clustering algorithms perform better compared to K means in all data sets.
... (restricted)] 251-260 Revisiting new variant famine: the case of Swaziland by Scott Naysmith & Alex Waal & Alan Whiteside [Downloadable! (restricted)] 261-269 Food prices and the HIV response: findings from rapid regional assessments in eastern and southern Africa in 2008[InlineMediaObject not available: see fulltext.][InlineMediaObject not available: see fulltext.] by Stuart Gillespie & Paul Jere & John Msuya & Scott Drimie [Downloadable! (restricted)] 271-289 Declining global per capita agricultural production and warming oceans ...
A 60-year-old male was bitten by a venomous snake (Vipera ammodytes) and gradually developed signs of an allergic reaction including generalized itching, generalized rash, and chest discomfort. This was followed by severe retrosternal pain with electrocardiographic evidence of an inferior myocardial ischemia progressing to acute myocardial infarction. Cardiac enzymes and troponin, serum tryptase, and histamine were elevated. Coronary arteriography showed normal coronary arteries. This is a characteristic type I variant of Kounis syndrome, which is the concurrence of acute coronary syndromes with conditions associated with mast cell activation including allergic or hypersensitivity reactions as well as anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reactions. This is the first report to show that viper bite...
We study a generalization of the classical Riemannian Tonnetz to N-tone equally tempered scales (for all N) and arbitrary triads. We classify all the spaces that result. The torus turns out to be the most common possibility, especially as N grows. Other spaces include 2-simplices, tetrahedra boundaries, and the harmonic strip (in both its cylinder and Mobius band variants). The final and most exotic space we find is something we call a 'circle of tetrahedra boundaries'. These are the Tonnetze for spaces of triads which contain a tritone. They are closely related to Peck's Klein bottle Tonnetz.
This largely expository paper first gives an introduction to Hilbert stability and its use in Gieseker's GIT construction of $\\overline{M}_g$. Then I review recent work in this area--variants for unpointed curves that arise in Hassett's log minimal model program, starting with Schubert's moduli space of pseudostable curves, and constructions for weighted pointed stable curves and for pointed stable maps due to Swinarski and to Baldwin and Swinarski respectively. The focus is on the steps at which new ideas are needed. Finally, I list open problems in the area, particularly some arising in the log minimal model program that seem inaccessible to current techniques.
This paper describes the study of kinetically controlled enzymatic coupling of N- and O-glycopeptide fragments using subtilisin BPN' and two of its variants developed for use in high concentrations of dimethylformamide and in aqueous solution, respectively. Glycosyl amino acids were exploited as the P[sub 1], P[sub 2], P[sub 3], P'[sub 1], P'[sub 2], or P'[sub 3] residue in the enzymatic coupling. Glycosyltransferase-mediated glycosylation of the glycopeptide fragments obtained prior to or after enzymatic peptide bond formation is demonstrated. 19 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.
The cubature Kalman filter (CKF) is a relatively new addition to derivative-free approximate Bayesian filters built under the Gaussian assumption. This paper extends the CKF theory to address nonlinear smoothing problems; the resulting state estimator is named the fixed-interval cubature Kalman smoother (FI-CKS). Moreover, the FI-CKS is reformulated to propagate the square-root error covariances. Although algebraically equivalent to the FI-CKS, the square-root variant ensures reliable implementation when committed to embedded systems with fixed precision or when the inference problem itself is ill-conditioned. Finally, to validate the formulation, the square-root FI-CKS is applied to track a ballistic target on reentry.
Full text of publication follows: Radiation hardening and embrittlement due to high-energy neutron radiation around 623 K are the important issues on reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic (RAF/M) steels. It is expected that the improvement of radiation hardening might be one of effective ways to control the mechanical properties of RAF/M after irradiation. It has been reported that the weld joint has less hardening than the base metal from the tensile test results of TIG weldments irradiated in HFIR. This report indicated that radiation hardening can be reduced by the optimization of heat treatment condition for F82H. The purposes of this study are to establish the condition of heat treatment for minimum of radiation hardening in F82H steel using Neutron/Ion-irradiation and to examine a correlation between tensile property and micro-hardness before/after irradiation. The materials used in this study were F82H IEA heat and F82H heat treatment variants. Neutron ...
A study conducted at the IHS had the aim to obtain basic information on whether it is possible to build flow turbines following the free jet principle that are on a par with, or superior to, the conventional design, especially in terms of performance and the efficiency curve. Several inflow contours with a ventilated free jet and a conventional flow turbine were studied. The direct comparison of these variants revealed a slightly enhanced peak load efficiency and a very distinct superiority of the free jet contour during partial load. But the efficiency of all variants failed to attain the values claimed by commercial manufacturers. As compared to the initial contour, peak load efficiency was enhanced by 5 per cent. During partial load, the variants studied showed a distinct superiority of the free jet concept over the contour of conventional flow turbines. (orig.) [Deutsch] Am IHS wurde eine Untersuchung mit dem Ziel ...
CORAL-I was an experimental, zero-power, fast-spectrum, high-enriched metal uranium reactor that operated from 1968 until 1988 at the former Junta de Energia Nuclear (JEN), CIEMAT at present. The critical measurements performed at the startup of the reactor are being evaluated as part of the International Critical Safety Benchmark Evaluation Program (ICSBEP) and proposed to be included in its 2001 edition. Additionally, the measurement of the mass reactivity coefficient is compared with MCNP4B calculations. This measurement allows one to perform the approach to critical without the need of a previous control rod calibration, thus enhancing the safety of such an approach. This technique can also be applied to other reactor types. CORAL-I (Ref. 1) is a 90% enriched metal uranium reactor domestically designed and manufactured in the experimental facilities of JEN, now CIEMAT, in Madrid, Spain. The enriched uranium was supplied by the International Atomic Energy Agency as metal ingots and ...
We have performed multicanonical Monte Carlo simulations of C-peptide of ribonuclease A. It is known by CD and NMR experiments that this peptide has high alpha-helix content in aqueous solution and that the side-chain charges of residues Glu-2$^-$ and His-12$^+$ play an important role in the stability of the alpha-helix. In order to confirm these experimental implications, we have used two analogues of the peptide with charged and neutral side chains of Glu-2 and His-12. Two dielectric functions, distance-dependent and constant, are considered to study the effects of solvent contributions. All the simulations were started from random initial conformations. Various thermodynamic quantities such as average helicity as a function of residue number and average distance between two side chains as a function of temperature are calculated. The results are found to be in accord with the implications of CD and NMR experiments. The lowest-energy ...
A complete macromolecule modeling package must be able to solve the simplest structure prediction problems. Despite recent successes in high resolution structure modeling and design, the Rosetta software suite fares poorly on deceptively small protein and RNA puzzles, some as small as four residues. To illustrate these problems, this manuscript presents extensive Rosetta results for four well-defined test cases: the 20-residue mini-protein Trp cage, an even smaller disulfide-stabilized conotoxin, the reactive loop of a serine protease inhibitor, and a UUCG RNA tetraloop. In contrast to previous Rosetta studies, several lines of evidence indicate that conformational sampling is not the major bottleneck in modeling these small systems. Instead, approximations and omissions in the Rosetta all-atom energy function currently preclude discriminating experimentally observed conformations from de novo models at atomic resolution. These molecular ...
Hydrolysis of olive oil by Chromobacterium viscosum lipase was studied in a reverse micellar system of a anionic surfactant Aerosol OT (AOT) and isooctane. Different methods of solubilization of the micellar system afford specific dependence of enzymatic activity of the lipase on the water content in the micelles. In an injection method, water content is controlled by the amount of injected water, which determines the micelle size and hydrophobicity of the micelle without salt addition and changes reversibly the conformation of lipase corresponding to the change of lipase activity. The activity reaches the maximum at a water content (water/AOT)of 7. In a phase transfer method, water content is determined by salt concentration in the aqueous phase in contact with micelles and the water content corresponding to the maximum activity is 12 to 13, below which the activity decrese drastically. Addition of taurodeoxycholic acid to the AOT micelles suppresses the ...
We performed density functional calculations to examine the effects of solvation, hydrogen bonding, backbone conformation, and the side chain on 15N chemical shielding in proteins. We used N-methylacetamide (NMA) and N-formyl-alanyl-X (with X being one of the 19 naturally occurring amino acids excluding proline) as model systems. In addition, calculations were performed for selected fragments from protein GB3. The conducting polarizable continuum model was employed to include the effect of solvent in the density functional calculations. Our calculations for NMA show that the augmentation of the polarizable continuum model with the explicit water molecules in the first solvation shell has a significant influence on isotropic 15N chemical shift but not as much on the chemical shift anisotropy. The difference in the isotropic chemical shift between the standard ?-sheet and ?-helical conformations ranges from 0.8 to 6.2 ppm depending on the residue ...
The computer aided coal structure construction system is proposed, and a computational construction example is presented. The coal structure construction engine of this system fabricates molecular structure by connecting fragments sequentially inputted through a user interface. The best structure candidate is determined using construction knowledge and partial energy evaluation every addition of one fragment, and this process is subsequently repeated. The structure evaluation engine analyzes the 3-D conformation candidate by molecular dynamics, and evaluates the conformation by determining the energy value of an optimum structure. As an example, this system was applied to construction of coal molecular structure based on the actual data of partial structure composed of 26 structures from 2l kinds of aromatic cluster structures, 27 bonds from 2 kinds of bridged bonds, and 16 groups from 2 kinds of terminal substitutional groups. As a result, ...
This Maintenance Implementation Plan has been developed for maintenance functions associated with the Waste Sampling and Characterization Facility (WSCF). This plan is developed from the guidelines presented by Department of Energy (DOE) Order 4330.4A, Maintenance Management Program (DOE 1990), Chapter II. The objective of this plan is to provide baseline information for establishing and identifying WHC conformance programs and policies applicable to implementation of DOE order 4330.4A guidelines. In addition, this maintenance plan identifies the actions necessary to develop a cost-effective and efficient maintenance program at WSCF.
A construction of a W_3-algebra for the SU(3) parafermion is proposed. The details of the calculation are given, in which the Z-algebra technique is used instead of the popular free field realization. We find that the W_3-algebra is closed at level k=3, and the central charge of the underlying algebra is different from known series of Fateev-Lykyanov W-algebras; as a by-product we get a field T"("4")(z), whose conformal dimension is 4, and is null at k=3. ((orig.)).
A generalized integral representation involving two types of charges is explored to construct correlation functions on the plane for c = 1 - 6/(m(m + 1)) < 1 discrete unitary Virasoro series. The various local operator product algebras emerging contain integer, or half-integer, spin fields along with scalar fields. The examples also include a generalization for arbitrary m of the Z/sub 2/sup -// statistics of the Ising model order-disorder fields.
This report is the first revision to ``Radiological Performance Assessment for the E-Area Vaults Disposal Facility, Revision 0'', which was issued in April 1994 and received conditional DOE approval in September 1994. The title of this report has been changed to conform to the current name of the facility. The revision incorporates improved groundwater modeling methodology, which includes a large data base of site specific geotechnical data, and special Analyses on disposal of cement-based wasteforms and naval wastes, issued after publication of Revision 0.
A study is reported of the use of three types of fly ash as a raw material in the production of a potassium silicate fertilizer. The results of high-temperature X-ray diffraction, calcination tests and chemical analyses indicate that a potassium silicate fertilizer conforming with fertilizer specifications can be produced by appropriate regulation of calcining temperature and the amounts of Fe/sub 2/0/sub 3/, Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, MgO and CaO added. The results of tests of fertilizers incorporating red mud are also reported.
The integrity of helium circulation loop flanged joints has been attracting recent attention as a design problem, in the development of high-temperature facilities incorporating helium loops (e.g., the VRG-50 pilot nuclear facility). Elevated temperatures and pressures, and the radiation environment, impose additional requirements on sealant materials. This applies first and foremost to rubber seals, which have found widespread favor on account of its excellent elasticity, its ability to spontaneously conform to possible changes in the clearance in the seal assembly, and the low compressive stresses developed in the flange joint assembly.
We develop a framework based on microeconomic theory from which the ideal gas like market models can be addressed. A kinetic exchange model based on that framework is proposed and its distributional features have been studied by considering its moments. Next, we derive the moments of the CC model (Eur. Phys. J. B 17 (2000) 167) as well. Some precise solutions are obtained which conform with the solutions obtained earlier. Finally, an output market is introduced with global price determination in the model with some necessary modifications.
We discuss various superstring effective actions and, in particular, their common sector which leads to the so-called pre-big-bang cosmology (cosmology in a weak coupling limit of heterotic superstring theory). Using the conformal relationship between these two theories we present Kasner asymptotic solutions of Bianchi type IX geometries within these theories and make predictions about possible emergence of chaos. Finally, we present a possible method of generating Horava-Witten cosmological solutions out of the well-known general relativistic or pre-big-bang solutions.
We discuss various superstring effective actions and, in particular, their common sector which leads to the so-called pre-big-bang cosmology (cosmology in a weak coupling limit of heterotic superstring theory. Using the conformal relationship between these two theories we present Kasner asymptotic solutions of Bianchi type IX geometries within these theories and make predictions about possible emergence of chaos. Finally, we present a possible method of generating Horava-Witten cosmological solutions out of the well-known general relativistic or pre-big-bang solutions.
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of lung perfusions permits to map functioning lung parenchyma with higher sensitivity than CT. Delivering higher radiations doses it used to increase local control in lung carcinoma; this strategy is based on radiobiological and clinical studies. Lung parenchyma is a dose-limiting tissue in patients irradiated for lung cancer. Functional mapping based on SPECT and CT findings permits to design radiation beams such as to minimize irradiation of functioning lung.
The authors investigated phase equilibria in the system carbon dioxide-hexametapol. Vacuum-distilled solvent of ''pure'' grade was used. The solubility of CO/sub 2/ in hexametapol under pressures at various temperatures and the temperature dependence of the Henry's law coefficient is show. It is concluded that the solubility of carbon dioxide in hexametapol in the temperature and pressure ranges corresponding to the operating conditions of industrial equipment for removing CO/sub 2/ from gases conforms to the Krichevskii-II'inskaya equation. The experimental data can be used for equipment design.
The digital AVR must have the level of redundancy and control functions that conform to the configuration of the excitation control system and to the importance of a particular generator for the user. The digital AVR is not simply a digital version of the analog AVR, but can realize sophisticated control functions that were difficult to achieve with analog circuits, thus making it possible to enhance the stability of power system by PSS (power system stabilizer). This paper describes the test results of the digital AVRs applied to power plants, their system configuration and functions, as well as the outline of an auto-tuning PSS or AT-PSS planned to be incorporated in the digital AVR in the future.
A computer-assisted rotation and stationary conformation radiotherapy system with overrunning multileaf collimators has been developed. This system can produce any shape of target volume, including a number of target areas outside the axis of the rotation, regardless of the location of the axis at 360"0 rotation irradiation. In addition, by changing the dose rate and deleting a partial region within a field, multiple stationary irradiation can produce more homogeneous target volumes - thus avoiding excessive irradiation to critical organs - than the rotation technique. (orig.).
Abstract The creation of chirality on Earth and the development of chiral life have been discussed in this highlight. Convincing evidence for the introduction of chirality on Earth is still fragmentary. We believe that by a combination of chiral crystallization and formation of helical polymers with preferred chiral conformational structure is the key to this question. This concept of macromolecular asymmetry has inspired ideas and resulted in possible rules for how chiral life as we know it, could have been introduced. These investigations needed the understanding of the requirements for chiral crystallization, for the stereochemistry of the initial formation of helical polymers, the measurements of optical activity of solids and their coordination with the fundamentals of chirality. Spac...
The adsorption of benzyl alcohol and 1-phenylethanol on graphitized thermal carbon black at 300 K is investigated. Thermodynamic characteristics of the adsorption of conformers stable in the gas phase and in the adsorbed state are determined by a molecular statistics method. The geometry of the molecules is optimized using the MP2 and B3LYP methods with a 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. Using the PBE0/6-31G(d) method, it is established that, in the adsorption of benzyl alcohol, two types of interactions, CH?O and OH??GTCB, occur. It is shown that, in 1-phenylethanol, intramolecular interactions are maintained.
As an International Organization, one the most important issues that CERN has to respect and guarantee is the protection of the environment. Several of ST activities and operations have a direct impact on the environment: civil engineering works, electrical (transformers) and air-cooling operation, chemical products storage, various waste disposal etc.... Important measures, taken in the past, have to be kept and new ones should be applied in order to insure the conformity of the infrastructure with existing legislation, the correct operation of equipment and systems, the constant monitoring of the different situations and the traceability of the events. Moreover good management of the environment would bring large savings to CERN.
The author describes the purpose, classification and main process of acceptance test of full scope simulator of Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant, including the correction of non-conformance items which are discovered during the performance of acceptance tests. The results of the acceptance tests show that the model accepted by the full scope simulator of Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant is fully able to cope with the simulation of normal transients and incidental transients and the performance of the simulator indeed compiled with the technical specifications which are defined n the relevant contracts.
We demonstrate the use of a variational method to determine a quantitative lower bound on the rate of convergence of Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms as a function of the target density and proposal density. The bound relies on approximating the second largest eigenvalue in the spectrum of the MCMC operator using a variational principle and the approach is applicable to problems with continuous state spaces. We apply the method to one dimensional examples with Gaussian and quartic target densities, and we contrast the performance of the basic Metropolis-Hastings algorithms with a ``smart'' variant that incorporates gradient information into the trial moves. We find that the variational method agrees quite closely with numerical simulations. We also see that the smart MCMC algorithm often fails to converge geometrically in the tails of the target density except in the simplest case we examine, and even then care must be taken to choose the appropriate ...
A magnetic rhombohedral PrCo_2C_x (x = 0.05 #approx#0.25) phase (space group Rbar 3m), which is heavily twinned along the #left brace#110#right brace# and #left brace#211#right brace# planes, was identified. The twinning mechanism was explored by analyzing the reduction of crystal symmetry due to the cubic-rhombohedral phase transformation. The origin of the twinning and the formation of four twin variants were attributed to the insertion of carbon interstitials into Co_4 tetrahedrons along the bar 3 axis in the rhombohedral lattice, which corresponds to one of the four equivalent axes of its parent PrCo_2 cubic-lattice.
Many advances have been carried out on the estrogens, GnRH and endocannabinoid system that have impact in the reproductive field. Indeed, estrogens, the generally accepted female hormones, have performed an unsuspected role in male sexual functions thanks to studies on non-mammalian vertebrates. Similarly, these animal models have provided important contributions to the identification of several GnRH ligand and receptor variants and their possible involvement in sexual behavior and gonadal function regulation. Moreover, the use of non-mammalian animal models has contributed to a better comprehension about the endocannabinoid system action in several mammalian reproductive events. We wish to highlight here how non-mammalian vertebrate animal model research contributes to advancements with i...
The discovery that the cosmic expansion is accelerating has been followed by an intense theoretical and experimental response in physics and astronomy. The discovery implies that our most basic notions about how gravity work are violated on cosmological distance scales. One simple fix is the introduction of a cosmological constant into the field equations for general relativity. However, the extremely small value of the cosmological constant, relative to theoretical expectations, has led theorists to explore a wide variety of alternative explanations that involve the introduction of an exotic negative-pressure fluid or a modification of general relativity. Here we briefly review the evidence for cosmic acceleration. We then survey some of the theoretical attempts to account for it, including the cosmological constant, quintessence and its variants, mass-varying neutrinos, and modifications of general relativity, such as scalar-tensor and $f(R)$ theories and ...
A method is proposed for evaluating reliability of planning and calculation of the reliability factor with current planning of open pit mining operations. For a quantitative evaluation of the reliability of fulfilling the planned assignment, laws were defined for distribution of the quality characteristics of the coal. After establishing that coal ash content follows the normal distribution law, the probability was defined that the actual output of coal is greater or equal to the planned. Calculation of the factor of reliability of the current planning of open mining operations makes it possible to determine the optimum planning for this period and the probability of fulfillment of the planned assignments. The technique of planning with regard for reliability makes it possible to select the most reliable variant of the plan within the planning period.
Contradictory reports in the literature on the reliability of lymphography stimulated the authors to test the diagnostic accuracy, employing methods which are approximately analogous to practice, using carcinoma of the cervix as the model on which the study was carried out. Using 21 observers it was found that there was no correlation between their experience and on-target accuracy of the diagnosis. Good observers obtained an accuracy of 85% with good proportions between sensitivity in the recognition of detail, specificity and readiness to arrive at a decision on the basis of discriminatory ability. With the help of the concept of the ROC curves, the position taken up by the observers in respect of diagnostic decisions, and a complex manner of assessing the various characteristic factors determining diagnostic accuracy, are demonstrated. This form of test, which permits manipulation of different variants of diagnosis, is recommended, among other things, for ...
November 1989, marked the beginning of a new three-year cycle of DOE grant support, in connection with which the program underwent a major reorganization. This document presents the progress on the three objectives of the present program which are: to isolate by the technique of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE), proteins of special interest because of the relative mutability of the corresponding gene, establish the identity of the protein, and, for selected proteins, move to a characterization of the corresponding gene; to develop a more efficient approach, based on 2-D PAGE, for the detection of variants in DNA, with special reference to the identification of mutations in the parents of the individual whose DNA is being examined; and, to continue an effective interface with the genetic studies on the children of atomic bomb survivors in Japan, with reference to both the planning and implementation of new studies at the molecular level.
Recently, molecular clusters are the subject of several experimental and computational studies by means of their bonding structures. We studied, first time, small difluorine monoxide clusters such as dimer (linear, cyclic, bifurcated), trimer and tetramer structures using B3LYP variant of density functional theory with cc-pVDZ basis set. On the basis of the optimized geometry, various energy properties such as binding energy, molecular orbital energies, two and three body interaction energies have been calculated. Additionally dipole moment, polarizability, anisotropic polarizability and hyper polarizability have been calculated and compared with monomer structure.
We have demonstrated that, with simple pH adjustment, volatile drugs such as methamphetamine, amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), ketamine, and valproic acid could be analyzed rapidly from raw biofluid samples (e.g. urine and serum) without dilution, or extraction, using atmospheric pressure ionization. The ion source was a variant type of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) that used a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) to generate the metastable helium gas and reagent ions. The sample solution was loaded in a disposable glass pipette, and the volatile compounds were purged by nitrogen gas to be reacted with the metastable helium gas. The electrodes of the DBD were arranged in such a way that the generated glow discharge was confined within the discharge tub...
A kind of metastable beta titanium alloy, i.e. Ti-10Mo-8V-1Fe-3.5Al, was aged under elastic compressive stress. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations revealed that, in the stress-aged samples, precipitated alpha plates were parallel to each other. However, in the conventionally aged samples, alpha plates intersected each other. In other words, variant of alpha plate was selected in the stress-aged samples. Tensile tests showed that, at equivalent tensile strength, the stress-aged samples exhibited higher ductility, compared to the conventionally aged ones.
Methods of automated control of 18-10-type steel inclination to IGC are developed and a corresponding automated testing complex (ATS) is created. 08Kh18N10T steel samples had two variants of thermal treatment: 1) 1200 deg (5 h), 600 deg (50 h); 2) 1200 deg (5 h). Methods of non-destructive automated control of 18-10-type steel inclination to IGC are developed on the basis of potentiodynamic reactivation (PR) principle. Automated testing complex is developed, which has undergone experimental running and demonstrated a high confidence of results, reliability and easy operation.
Dissolved microcystins (MCs) are regularly present in water dominated by microcystin-producing, bloom-forming cyanobacteria. In vitro experiments with environmentally feasible concentrations (5 ? 10?7 M) of the three most common microcystins, MC-LR, MC-RR, and MC-YR, revealed that they influence the metabolism of different representative phytoplanktons. At light intensities that are close to the cyanobacterial bloom environment (50??mol m?2 s?1), they produce morphological and physiological changes in both microcystin-producing and -nonproducing Microcystis aeruginosa strains and also have similar effects on the green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda that is frequently present in cyanobacterial blooms. All three microcystin variants tested induce cell aggregation, increase in cell volume, and ...
In this report we present a suite of subroutines for the solution of sparse unsymmetric sets of linear equations using a variant of Gaussian elimination. The subroutines are divided into three distinct phases. The first phase optionally preorders the matrix to block triangular form and then performs a sparsity oriented factorization, the second factorizes a matrix of a similar sparsity pattern, while the third uses these decompositions to solve the equations. In this revised edition, the actual Fortran listings have been replaced by a reference to their availability in machine readable form. Other changes to the first edition are minor. This revision is essentially a reprint of the 1979 revision, the only changes being that the MA28A specification sheet has been typeset and has a few minor changes and the existence of a version of the package for complex equations is announced. 11 refs., 11 tabs.
In the post Genome era, the aim of behavior genetics has shifted from estimating the relative contributions of genes and environmental factors to (co-)variation in human complex traits, to localization of genes and identification of functional genetic variants. This special issue reflects this transition and presents fifteen papers that report on genome-wide linkage scans for complex traits in humans and on methodological tools and innovations. Six papers focus on cognition and report overlapping linkage peaks on chromosomes 6p and 14p. Papers on addictive behavior, i.e. smoking and alcohol dependence and its endophenotypes, find moderate LOD scores on chromosomes 6p, 5q, 4p and 7q, respectively. Three papers concentrate on emotionality, depression and loneliness and examine chromosomes 2q...
Abstract Introduction: Laparoscopic subtotal adrenalectomy (LSA) has emerged as a treatment option in the management of certain adrenal pathologies. After LSA, a satisfactory blood supply to the adrenal remnant is vital to preserve steroid function. The aim of this study was to review the adrenal blood supply with relevance to LSA. Materials and Methods: The adrenal blood supply was examined in three ways: 1) a review of six previous cadaver studies looking at adrenal blood supply; 2) a review of our 164 consecutive laparoscopic adrenalectomies (LAs) (January 1999?January 2009); the details of the main adrenal veins and variants had been prospectively recorded; and 3) dissection of 4 cadaver specimens (macroscopic and histologic examination was performed). Results: The six cadaver studies ...
A well-known diffuse interface model consists of the Navier-Stokes equations nonlinearly coupled with a convective Cahn-Hilliard type equation. This system describes the evolution of an incompressible isothermal mixture of binary-fluids and it has been investigated by many authors. Here we consider a variant of this model where the standard Cahn-Hilliard equation is replaced by its nonlocal version. More precisely, the gradient term in the free energy functional is replaced by a spatial con- volution operator acting on the order parameter phi. Therefore the coupling with the Navier-Stokes equations is difficult to handle even in two spatial dimensions because of the lack of regularity of phi. We establish the global existence of a weak solution.
Meningococcal disease is an infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis. Genetic factors contribute to host susceptibility and progression to disease, but the genes responsible for disease development are largely unknown. We report here a genome-wide association study for host susceptibility to meningococcal disease using 475 individuals with meningococcal disease (cases) and 4,703 population controls from the UK. We performed, in Western European and South European cohorts (consisting of 968 cases and 1,376 controls), two replication studies for the most significant SNPs. A cluster of complement factor SNPs replicated independently in both cohorts, including SNPs within complement factor H (CFH) (rs1065489 (p.936D
Occurrence of genetic variants during micropropagation is occasionally encountered when the cultures are maintained in vitro for long period. Therefore, the micropropagated multiple shoots of Vanilla planifolia Andrews developed from axillary bud explants established 10 years ago were used to determine somaclonal variation using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and intersimple sequence repeats markers (ISSR). One thousand micro-plants were established in soil of which 95 plantlets (consisting of four phenotypes) along with the mother plant were subjected to genetic analyses using RAPD and ISSR markers. Out of the 45 RAPD and 20 ISSR primers screened, 30 RAPD and 7 ISSR primers showed 317 clear, distinct and reproducible band classes resulting in a total of 30 115 bands. However, no ...
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is the main intermediate filament protein in mature astrocytes, but also an important component of the cytoskeleton in astrocytes during development. Major recent developments in astrocyte biology and the discovery of novel intermediate filament functions enticed the interest in the function of GFAP. The discovery of various GFAP splice variants gave an additional boost to explore this protein in more detail.The structural role of GFAP in astrocytes has been widely accepted for a long time, but over the years, GFAP has been shown to be involved in astrocyte functions, which are important during regeneration, synaptic plasticity and reactive gliosis. Moreover, different subpopulations of astrocytes have been identified, which are likely to have distinc...
Introduction: The orofacial clefts include 30 variant according to Tessier classification: the number 30 contain mandibular arc damage isolated or associated with damage of surrounding soft tissue. Case report: Our patient was a newborn with median mandibular cleft associated with ankyloglossia, bifid tongue and a top cervical fistula. We have not found polymalformative syndrome. The early surgical management included one time and after-effect were simple within 11months. Discussion: We point up difficulties for antenatal diagnosis and controversy about appropriate time for management of bone defect. The last physiopathologic hypotheses were explicated.
The previous decade has brought a remarkable increase of the interest in applications that deal with querying and mining of time series data. Many of the research efforts in this context have focused on introducing new representation methods for dimensionality reduction or novel similarity measures for the underlying data. In the vast majority of cases, each individual work introducing a particular method has made specific claims and, aside from the occasional theoretical justifications, provided quantitative experimental observations. However, for the most part, the comparative aspects of these experiments were too narrowly focused on demonstrating the benefits of the proposed methods over some of the previously introduced ones. In order to provide a comprehensive validation, we conducted an extensive experimental study re-implementing eight different time series representations and nine similarity measures and their variants, and testing their effectiveness on ...
The transformation mechanism of hexagonal delta phase from the disordered bcc gamma phase has not been reported before in the Zr-rich U-Zr alloy system. With the help of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM analyses it was shown that the gamma to delta conversion takes place by the lattice collapse mechanism of omega transformation. It was also ascertained that a higher aging temperature or time promotes the growth of all four variants of the delta phase within a parent gamma grain. In addition, ab initio electronic structure calculations showed that the bcc to hexagonal transformation, involving partial ordering of the parent bcc phase followed by (111) plane collapse, is energetically favorable.
In eukaryotes, accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis is coordinated by kinetochores, which are unique chromosomal sites for microtubule attachment. Centromeres specify the kinetochore formation sites on individual chromosomes, and are epigenetically marked by the assembly of nucleosomes containing the centromere-specific histone H3 variant, CENP-A. Although the underlying mechanism is unclear, centromere inheritance is probably dictated by the architecture of the centromeric nucleosome. Here we report the crystal structure of the human centromeric nucleosome containing CENP-A and its cognate ?-satellite DNA derivative (147 base pairs). In the human CENP-A nucleosome, the DNA is wrapped around the histone octamer, consisting of two each of histones H2A, H2B, H4 and CENP...
Whereas in part 1 and 2 the detailed observation equations of terrestrial type for an integrated geodetic model are presented this paper will outline how the theory is transferred in an operational program. The main lines of functions of the FORTRAN IV program are discussed. Since the input specifications as well as the data requirements are described in detail and illustrated by example of input and output part 3 can serve as an user-guide for OPERA. OPERA is an acronym for operational adjustment. Besides the integrated determination of 3D-geocentric coordinates and the gravity disturbing potential the program can handle all cases of traditional geodesy (in total 13 variants of solution are provided) equivalent also with adjustments in ellipsoidal coordinates B, L or H, as well as constrained adjustments, pure prediction of the gravity disturbing field, etc.
Starting from the generalized Konishi anomaly equations at the non-perturbative level, we demonstrate that the algebraic consistency of the quantum chiral ring of the N=1 super Yang-Mills theory with gauge group U(N), one adjoint chiral superfield X and N_f<=2N flavours of quarks implies that the periods of the meromorphic one-form Tr dz/(z-X) must be quantized. This shows in particular that identities in the open string description of the theory, that follow from the fact that gauge invariant observables are expressed in terms of gauge variant building blocks, are mapped onto non-trivial dynamical equations in the closed string description.
We describe a large class of chemical reaction networks, those endowed with a subtle structural property called concordance. We show that the class of concordant networks coincides precisely with the class of networks which, when taken with any weakly monotonic kinetics, invariably give rise to kinetic systems that are injective --- a quality that, among other things, precludes the possibility of switch-like transitions between distinct positive steady states. We also provide persistence characteristics of concordant networks, instability implications of discordance, and consequences of stronger variants of concordance. Some of our results are in the spirit of recent ones by Banaji and Craciun, but here we do not require that every species suffer a degradation reaction. This is especially important in studying biochemical networks, for which it is rare to have all species degrade.
Abstract Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is always a devastating and unexpected occurrence. SIDS is the leading cause of death in the first 6 months after birth in the industrialized world. Since the discovery in 1998 of long QT syndrome as an underlying substrate for SIDS, around 10-20% of SIDS cases have been proposed as being caused by genetic variants in either ion channel or ion channel-associated proteins. Until now, 10 cardiac channelopathy susceptibility genes have been found to be implicated in the pathogenesis of SIDS. Four of the genes encode cardiac ion channel a-subunits, 3 genes encode ion channel b-subunits, and 3 genes encode other channel-interacting proteins. All 10 genes have been associated with primary electrical heart diseases. SIDS may hereby be the initial sympt...
A new evaluation of the 1% time strain limit for creep strength and the isochronous stress/strain relationship was to be undertaken for the type 800 alloy, based on up to date experimental data. After the evaluation of the 1% time strain limit curves and time fracture curves of individual melts, multilinear regression analyses were made to clear up the relationship between parameters of the creep behaviour such as creep strength, 1% time strain limit and time fracture strain on the one hand and metallurgical parameters such as C, Ti, Al, Ni, Cr contents or grain size and type of manufacture, on the other hand. Based on the knowledge gained from these calculations, new limits were determined for HTR material specifications for variants of the 800 alloy of the Rk, NT, DE, and HT type. (orig./DG).
In view of the importance of the material Alloy 800 in high-temperature reactor plants (HTR), a material data bank was established which is used for statistical evaluation of mechanical and physical material behaviour. Based on investigations on the interconnection between the mechanical properties at high temperatures and the metallurgical parameters, different types of Alloy 800 were specified in compliance with the component requirements. In addition, aspects of corrosion and toughness behaviour were taken into consideration. The specifications and strength characteristics for the different variants of Alloy 800 were incorporated into draft DIN standards after discussion and approval in expert committees. Further important characteristics of the mechanical and physical material behaviour were summarized in HTR material data sheets so as to furnish an improved basis for the design and stress analyses of Alloy 800 components. (orig.).
In view of the importance of the material Alloy 800 in high-temperature reactor plants (HTR), a material data bank was established which is used for statistical evaluation of mechanical and physical material behaviour. Based on investigations on the interconnection between the mechanical properties at high temperatures and the metallurgical parameters, different types of Alloy 800 were specified in compliance with the component requirements. In addition, aspects of corrosion and toughness behaviour were taken into consideration. The specifications and strength characteristics for the different variants of Alloy 800 were incorporated into draft DIN standards after discussion and approval in expert committees. Further important characteristics of the mechanical and physical material behaviour were summarized in HTR material data sheets so as to furnish an improved basis for the design and stress analyses of Alloy 800 components. (orig.).
We propose a combined experimental (Atomic Force Microscopy) and theoretical study of the structural and dynamical properties of nucleosomes. In contrast to biochemical approaches, this method allows to determine simultaneously the DNA complexed length distribution and nucleosome position in various contexts. First, we show that differences in the nucleo-proteic structure observed between conventional H2A and H2A.Bbd variant nucleosomes induce quantitative changes in the in the length distribution of DNA complexed with histones. Then, the sliding action of remodeling complex SWI/SNF is characterized through the evolution of the nucleosome position and wrapped DNA length mapping. Using a linear energetic model for the distribution of DNA complexed length, we extract the net wrapping energy of DNA onto the histone octamer, and compare it to previous studies.
This paper gives a concise overview of evolutionary algorithms for multiobjective optimization. A substantial number of evolutionary computation methods for multiobjective problem solving has been proposed so far, and an attempt of unifying existing approaches is here presented. Based on a fine-grained decomposition and following the main issues of fitness assignment, diversity preservation and elitism, a conceptual global model is proposed and is validated by regarding a number of state-of-the-art algorithms as simple variants of the same structure. The presented model is then incorporated into a general-purpose software framework dedicated to the design and the implementation of evolutionary multiobjective optimization techniques: ParadisEO-MOEO. This package has proven its validity and flexibility by enabling the resolution of many real-world and hard multiobjective optimization problems.
The paper describes two schemes that follow the model of Lamarckian evolution and combine differential evolution (DE), which is a population-based stochastic global search method, with the local optimization algorithm of conjugate gradients (CG). In the first, each offspring is fine-tuned by CG before competing with their parents. In the other CG is used to improve both parents and offspring in a manner that is completely seamless for individuals that survive more than one generation. Experiments involved training weights of feed-forward neural networks to solve three synthetic and four real-life problems. In six out of seven cases the DE?CG hybrid, which preserves and uses information on each solution?s local optimization process, outperformed two recent variants of DE.
The objective of the project was to develop an infiltration material based on SiC that should have improved corrosion resistance and should permit higher operating temperatures. From a variety of tested doping agents, zirconium silicide and molybdenum proved to be the most appropriate agents. The respective infiltration materials permit a combination of advantages of the SSiC with those of the SiSiC. Silicide SiC, analogous to the SiSiC, is almost nonshrinking, and above all is more corrosion-resistant than SiSiC in the alkaline regime, due to the replacement of free silicon by silicide phases. The operating temperature of the molybdenum-base variant is 1600 C. (orig./CB) [Deutsch] Ziel des Vorhabens war die Entwicklung eines Infiltrationswerkstoffes auf SiC-Basis mit verbesserter Korrosionsbestaendigkeit und hoeherer Einsatztemperatur. Aus einer Vielzahl von getesteten Dotierungsmoeglichkeiten kristallisierten sich Zirkondisilicid und Molybdaen als geeingete ...
Four trypsin inhibitor homologs, the first known from Dendroaspis angusticeps venom, were characterized using a combination of gel filtration, cation exchange, reverse-phase liquid chromatography, Edman degradation and mass spectrometry. The four toxins comprise two 57 residue and two 59 residue isoforms. The long toxins possess a Lys-Gln N-terminal extension lacked by the short toxins. The only other structural difference is an Arg/His replacement at position 55. The long Arg55 variant is identical to trypsin inhibitor E from the venom of Dendroaspis polylepis. The name epsilon-dendrotoxin is suggested so as to follow the nomenclature of Benishin, C.G., Sorensen, R.G., Brown, W.E., Krueger, B.K., Blaustein, M.P., 1988. Four polypeptide components of green mamba venom selectively block certain potassium channels in rat brain synaptosomes. Mol. Pharmacol. 34, 152-159. Among snake venom protease inhibitors, the epsilon-dendrotoxins are structurally most like the ...
Large-scale decommissioning of Russian nuclear-powered submarines (NPS) and their utilization prospects gave rise to numerous complicated scientific and technical, as well as economic, problems. Problems of handling of radioactive equipment from the reactor compartments (RC) are among the vital ones, arousing a growing concern with the public. Without solution of the problems the processes of NPS utilization can not be considered completed. It involves potential hazard, for the environment both from NPS being paid up (temporal on-float storage) with unloaded spent nuclear fuel (SNF), and RC, cut from submarine hull, containing highly radioactive equipment and materials but no SNF. Diverse variations of the concept of reactor compartment handling of NPS subject to, utilization are possible, but, in principle, there are essentially two variants: (1) RC utilization directly in the course of NPS utilization, envisaging removal of radioactive equipment from the reactor ...
Purpose: Various published reports involving intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans developed using automated optimization (inverse planning) have demonstrated highly conformal plans. These reported conformal IMRT plans involve significant target dose inhomogeneity, including both overdosage and underdosage within the target volume. In this study, we demonstrate the development of optimized beamlet IMRT plans that satisfy rigorous dose homogeneity requirements for all target volumes (e.g., #+-#5%), while also sparing the parotids and other normal structures. Methods and Materials: The treatment plans of 15 patients with oropharyngeal cancer who were previously treated with forward-planned multisegmental IMRT were planned again using an automated optimization system developed in-house. The optimization system allows for variable sized beamlets computed using a three-dimensional convolution/superposition dose calculation and flexible cost ...
The effects of D-amino acids at Asp"2"3 and Ser"2"6 residues on the conformational preference of #beta#-amyloid (A#beta#) peptide fragment (A#beta#_2_0_-_2_9) have been studied using different spectroscopic techniques, namely vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), vibrational absorption, and electronic circular dichroism. To study the structure of the A#beta#_2_0_-_2_9, [D-Asp"2"3]A#beta#_2_0_-_2_9, and [D-Ser"2"6]A#beta#_2_0_-_2_9 peptides under different conditions, the spectra were measured in 10 mM acetate buffer (pH 3) and in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE). The spectroscopic results indicated that at pH 3, A#beta#_2_0_-_2_9 peptide takes random coil with #beta#-turn structure, while [D-Ser"2"6]A#beta#_2_0_-_2_9 peptide adopts significant amount of polyproline II (PPII) type structure along with #beta#-turn contribution and D-Asp-substituted peptide ([D-Asp"2"3]A#beta#_2_0_-_2_9) adopts predominantly PPII type structure. The increased propensity for PPII ...
We prove rigorously that the structure constants of the leading (highest spin) linear terms in the commutation relations of the conformal chiral operator algebra W_#infinity# are identical to those of the Diff_0"+ R"2 algebra generated by area preserving diffeomorphisms of the plane. Moreover, all quadratic terms of the W_N algebra are found to be absent in the limit N#->##infinity#. In particular we show that W_#infinity# is a central extension of Diff_0"+ R"2 with non-trivial cocycles appearing only in the commutation relations of its Virasoro subalgebra. We also propose a representation of W_#infinity# in terms of a single scalar field in 2+1 dimensions and discuss its significance in the context of quantum field theory. (orig.).
In virtually all forms of life on earth, proteins in each cell are made according to a genetic blueprint, in the form of DNA. The translation of copies of this genetic blueprint (in the form of messenger RNA) into polypeptides is performed on the ribosome, a highly complex molecular machine composed of RNAs and proteins. To this end, special adaptor molecules called transfer RNAs are lined up by the ribosome in the sequence dictated by the genetic code, such that the amino acids carried by these molecules can be linked into a polypeptide. Several cofactors are involved in these processes, some of which require energy freed up by GTP hydrolysis. Although the ribosome was discovered more than 50 years ago, its structure has only been solved recently by X-ray crystallography. Another technique, cryo-electron microscopy, is starting to contribute toward our understanding of the ribosome's function, by portraying its conformational changes and binding ...
We obtain conformal invariant topological field theories with N = 2 supersymmetry by twisting Sevrin, Troost and Van Proeyen's SU(2) x SU(2) x U(1) extended N = 4 superconformal field theories. We expect that the number of physical states is finite although the original N = 4 theories have continuous spectra. It is shown that the number of physical states is actually finite when the central charge c < 6 in the corresponding N = 4 theories. The physical states inherit the structure of the chiral ring in N = 2 superconformal minimal series which is obtained by the reduction from N = 4 theories. We also show that the algebra contains the topological N = 4 superconformal algebra as subalgebra. Therefore a closed set of a finite number of physical states in the topological N = 1 superconformal algebra can also be obtained. (orig.).
Many human diseases are associated with protein aggregation and fibrillation. We present experiments on in vitro glucagon fibrillation using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, providing real-time measurements of single-fibril growth. We find that amyloid fibrils grow in an intermittent fashion, with periods of growth followed by long pauses. The observed exponential distributions of stop and growth times support a Markovian model, in which fibrils shift between the two states with specific rates. Remarkably, the probability of being in the growing (stopping) state is very close to 1/4 (3/4) in all experiments, even if the rates vary considerably. This finding suggests the presence of 4 independent conformations of the fibril tip; we discuss this possibility in terms of the existing structural knowledge.
This is the second in a series of papers devoted to open string field theory in two dimensions. In this paper we aim to clarify the origin and the role of discrete physical states in the theory. To this end, we study interactions of discrete states and generic tachyons. In particular, we discuss at length four point amplitudes. We show that the behavior of the correlation functions is governed by the number of generic tachyons involved and values of the kinematic invariants [ital s], [ital t], and [ital u]. The divergence of certain classes of correlators is shown to be the consequence of the fact that certain kinematic invariants are nonpositive integers in that case. Explicit examples are included. We check our results by the standard conformal technique.
The term 'health/functional food' (HFF) refers to food supplements containing nutrients or other substances (in a concentrated form) that have a nutritional or physiological effect whose purpose is to supplement the normal diet. The Korean Health/Functional Food Act that came into effect in 2004 requires these products to be marketed in measured doses, such as in pills, tablets, capsules, and liquids. HFFs are of two types: generic and product-specific. There are 37 ingredients listed in the act for generic HFFs, and if an HFF contains a new active ingredient that is not included in the generic 37 products, it is considered a product-specific HFF. The standardization, safety, and efficacy of a new active ingredient are reviewed by the Korean Food and Drug Administration in order to receive approval as a product-specific HFF. Conforming with international standards and protecting public health requires constant upgrading of the Health/Functional Food Act.
The incidence of hilar cholangiocarcinoma is very rare worldwide. Radical resection is the only prognostic factor for long survival in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Postoperative radiation therapy can improve local control and survival rates for patients with palliative resection, but it remains controversial in patients with radical resection. Biliary drainage can effectively release bile duct obstruction for the majority of patients with locally advanced disease, and may even prolong survival when combined with radiation therapy. Radiation therapy includes extrernal beam therapy alone, external beam therapy with intraluminal brachytheapy and new radiation technique, such as three dimentional conformal therapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy. The propective randomized clinical study is needed for further investigation in the role of combined modality therapy especially for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. (authors)
Despite high local control rate in Ewing's sarcoma the exact indication of radiation therapy is still controversial as well as the choice of the target volume and the optimal dose of radiation. The importance of the quality of radiotherapy has been stressed in recently published data and has shown a significant impact on long term local control with adequate radiation therapy. The dramatic improvement of precision allowed by the conformal therapy and three dimensional dosimetry allow to expect a decrease of late effects expected for second malignancies. However, late sequelae and radio-induced osteosarcoma still remain the major side effects after radiotherapy. The authors discuss the results of the main trials on Ewing's sarcoma on the choice of dose and target volume. Surgery is still the preferred choice for small tumors if the foreseen outcome is identical. (authors). 28 refs.
The ubiquitous ADE classification has induced many proposals of often mysterious correspondences both in mathematics and physics. The mathematics side includes quiver theory and the McKay Correspondence which relates finite group representation theory to Lie algebras as well as crepant resolutions of Gorenstein singularities. On the physics side, we have the graph-theoretic classification of the modular invariants of WZW models, as well as the relation between the string theory nonlinear $\\sigma$-models and Landau-Ginzburg orbifolds. We here propose a unification scheme which naturally incorporates all these correspondences of the ADE type in two complex dimensions. An intricate web of inter-relations is constructed, providing a possible guideline to establish new directions of research or alternate pathways to the standing problems in higher dimensions.
Numerical results on the translocation of long biopolymers through mid-sized and wide pores are presented. The simulations are based on a novel methodology which couples molecular motion to a mesoscopic fluid solvent. Thousands of events of long polymers (up to 8000 monomers) are monitored as they pass through nanopores. Comparison between the different pore sizes shows that wide pores can host a larger number of multiple biopolymer segments, as compared to smaller pores. The simulations provide clear evidence of folding quantization in the translocation process as the biopolymers undertake multi-folded configurations, characterized by a well-defined integer number of folds. Accordingly, the translocation time is no longer represented by a single-exponent power law dependence on the length, as it is the case for single-file translocation through narrow pores. The folding quantization increases with the biopolymer length, while the rate of translocated beads at each time step is ...
We show how the formulation of the matrix models as conformal field theories on a Riemann surfaces can be used to compute the genus expansion of the observables. Here we consider the simplest example of the Hermitian matrix model, where the classical solution is described by a hyperelliptic Riemann surface. To each branch point of the Riemann surface we associate an operator which represents a twist field dressed by the modes of the twisted boson. The partition function of the matrix model is computed as a correlation function of such dressed twist fields. The perturbative construction of the dressing operators yields a set of Feynman rules for the genus expansion, which involve vertices, propagators and tadpoles. The vertices are universal, the propagators and the tadpoles depend on the Riemann surface. As a demonstration we evaluate the genus-two free energy using the Feynman rules.
A novel wastewater treatment technique has been investigated, for reactive dye removal, in batch kinetic systems. These experimental studies have indicated that charred dolomite has the potential to act as an adsorbent for the removal of Brilliant Red reactive dye from aqueous solution. The effect of initial dye concentration, adsorbent mass:liquid volume ratio, and agitation speed on dye removal have been determined with the experimental data mathematically described using empirical external mass transfer and intra-particle diffusion models. The experimental data show conformity with an adsorption process, with the removal rate heavily dependent on both external mass transfer and intra-particle diffusion. PMID:12691893
A study was made of the kinetics of L-(/sup 3/H)quinuclidinyl benzilate binding with membrane-bound muscarine cholinoreceptors from the rat brain. Determination was made of the rate constants of this process, and constants as a function of ligand concentration was investigated, indicating that there is a complex mechanism of interaction of antagonists with muscarine receptor. With up to 3.5 nM concentrations of L-(/sup 3/H)quinuclidinyl benzilate, the binding reaction occurs in two stages: rapid equilibrated binding is followed by a slow process of conformational isomerization of the receptor-ligand complex. At higher ligand concentrations, there is additional drastic increase in constant of rate of ligand binding a new plateau is reached. Such dependence of rate constant on ligand concentration is indicative of the cooperative nature of interaction between antagonists and muscarine receptors. This is possible if there are in the receptor complex several binding ...
Jahn-Teller theorem, proposed in 1937, predicts a distortional instability for a molecule that has symmetry based degenerate electronic states. In 1939 Krishnan emphasized the importance of this theorem for the arrangement of water molecules around the transition metal or rare earth ions in aqueous solutions and hydrated saltes, in a short and interesting paper published in Nature by pointing out atleast four existing experimental results in support of the theorem. This paper of Krishnan has remained essentially unknown to the practitioners of Jahn-Teller effect, eventhough it pointed to the best experimental results that were available, in the 30's and 40's, in support of Jahn-Teller theorem. Some of the modern day experiments are also in conformity with some specific suggestions of Krishnan.
A comparative study on the interaction of (PEG-co-P(FA/SC)-co-PEG) triblock copolymer with bovine and human insulins was carried out using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), circular dichroism (CD), and fluorescence spectroscopy. ITC data show that the copolymer has a low affinity for both proteins, with an association constant of about 7?9?103?M ?1. Results also show that binding is enthalpically driven, and disfavored by conformational entropy. CD spectroscopy studies reveal a small increase in the helical content and a decrease in ?-structure as well as random coil in both proteins. Acrylamide quenching experiments display reduced accessibility of tyrosines, while intrinsic fluorescence spectra show lower tyrosine emission. Furthermore, thermal unfolding experiments, studied by far...
Hornification is the loss of fiber wall swelling which is detrimental to subsequent recycling resulting from drying. It is known that dried fibers lose their conformability and swelling capacity. The effect of recycling treatment on the swelling ability of hardwood bleached kraft pulp fibers was determined. Modelling paper recycling, sheets were recycled using heat treatment (23?C, 60?C, 100?C). The results were compared with those for natural fibers from bleached kraft pulp. Swelling kinetics of sheets was measured by a modified method monitoring interactions of pulp with water. Swelling ability decreased during the recycling in comparison with never-recycled pulp at all temperatures. Recycling of sheets caused only small changes in the cupri-ethylene-diamine viscosity, however, the water...
The present Manual provides guidance and illustrative examples for applying a method by which graded quality assurance requirements may be determined and adapted to the items and services of a nuclear power plant in conformance with the requirements of the IAEA Nuclear Safety Standards (NUSS) Code and Safety Guides on quality assurance. The Manual replaces the previous publication IAEA-TECDOC-303 on the same subject. Various methods of grading quality assurance are available in a number of Member States. During the development of the present Manual it was not considered practical to attempt to resolve the differences between those methods and it was preferred to identify and benefit from the good practices available in all the methods. The method presented in this Manual deals with the aspects of management, documentation, control, verification and administration which affect quality. 1 fig., 4 tabs.
Knowledge of subsurface temperatures obtained from heat flow and equilibrium temperature measurements were used as a basis for evaluation of the usefulness of the non-equilibrium temperatures of oil and gas wells for geothermal exploration. We find that the data in the Geothermal Gradient Map of North America do not conform to the thermal regime of Nebraska; and, that if the BHT data were the only data used, we would have underestimated our resource by about 80%. Differences in geological sections and heat flow between Nebraska and the U.S. Gulf coast where the correction data for the USGS map were obtained are the reasons for the discrepency. Some significant inaccuracies in the BHT data may not be correctable.
The determination of conformational preferences in unfolded and disordered proteins is an important challenge in structural biology. We here describe an algorithm to optimize energy functions for the simulation of unfolded proteins. The procedure is based on the maximum likelihood principle and employs a fast and efficient gradient descent method to find the set of parameters of the energy function that best explain the experimental data. We first validate the method by using synthetic reference data, and subsequently apply the algorithms to data from nuclear magnetic resonance spin-labeling experiments on the Delta 131 Delta fragment of Staphylococcal nuclease. A significant strength of the procedure that we present is that it directly uses experimental data to optimize the energy parameters, without relying on the availability of high resolution structures. The procedure is fully general and can be applied to a range of experimental data and energy functions ...
The thermodynamic characteristics of adsorption (the Henry constant, the heat and entropy of adsorption) of amino acids associates with acetic, trifluoroacetic, nonafluoropentanoic acids and formamide with different values of hydrogen bond lengths and various conformations on a graphitized thermal carbon black (GTCB) were calculated. The experimental results, as the Henry constant, lnK1, and the differences in the molar Gibbs energies, d(DG), obtained by a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a carbon sorbent Hypercarb, were compared with the values of thermodynamic characteristics of adsorption of the amino acids on the GTCB surface calculated by a molecular-statistical method. A satisfactory correlation was observed between the experimental and calculated values with a coeffi...
Five arylethylenes with 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, and phenyl groups in 1,2-positions have been studied for singlet-mediated charge-transfer interactions with several amines and paraquat dication. 1-Phenyl-2-(2-naphthyl)ethylene and 1,2-di(2-naphthyl)ethylene exhibit distinct dependence of exciplex emission maxima and lifetimes, and fluorescence quenching constants, on excitation and/or monitoring wavelengths; this is in conformity with the existence of ground-state rotamers for these systems, wtih distinguishable absorption-emission spectra and fluorescence lifetimes. The fluorescence quenching by aromatic amines and paraquat dication occurs with rate constants in the limit of diffusion control and is accompanied by the formation of radical ions in polar solvents (acetonitrile). The transient spectra and kinetics associated with the radical ions, observed by 337.1- and 355-nm laser flash photolysis, are also reported. 10 figures, 4 tables.
Wood usage for cooking and heating is still very relevant in most developing countries especially those of sub-Saharan Africa and many parts of Asia. Therefore, sustainable means of generating it for this and other purposes are necessary bearing in mind the influence of indigenous knowledge/users perspective on any production method regarding success and sustenance. In conformity with this view, questionnaires were administered on 240 respondents in 8 rural communities of Akinyele and Ido Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Oyo State, Nigeria, to elicit information on species that can be used as fuelwood, preferred by the respondents for incorporation into and/or retention in agroforestry plots, out of which 179 (i.e. 75% of the total number of questionnaires administered) were successfully r...
A detailed study has been performed for estimating the orbital energies, positions and shifts of the Lyman lines of C5+, Al12+ and Ar17+ under strongly coupled plasma with a view to understand such line positions and shifts obtained in laser produced plasma experiments. The effect of strongly coupled plasma has been treated within the Ion Sphere (IS) model. Both non-relativistic and relativistic methods have been used for estimating the spectral properties. Theoretical estimates with IS model of the plasma are in conformity with the results of laser plasma experiments on these highly stripped ions. The experimental data for the systems have also been compared with the theoretical estimates using Debye screening model of the plasma with spatial confinements which gives additional restrictions to the wave functions at finite boundaries.
Chitosan (a?-(1-4)-amino-2-deoxy-b?-D-glucan) is a deacetylated form of chitin, a polysaccharide from crustacean shells. Its unique characteristics, such as positive charge, biodegradability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and rigid structure, make this macromolecule ideal for an oral vaccine delivery system. We prepared reverse-phase evaporation vesicles (REVs) sandwiched by chitosan (Chi) and polyvinylic alcohol (PVA). However, in this method, there are still some problems to be circumvented related to protein stabilization. During the inverted micelle phase of protein nanoencapsulation, hydrophobic interfaces are expanded, leading to interfacial adsorption, followed by protein unfolding and aggregation. Here, spectroscopic and immunological techniques were used to ascertain the effects ...
Electrical penetration assemblies mounted on the containment wall are used to carry electrical power and signals from the equipment inside this containment (e.g. recirculation pumps, control rod position indications etc.) Todays BWR nuclear power plants apply epoxy resin sealed electric penetration. Contrariwise, the epoxy resin (organic sealant) was replaced with sodium barium glass (inorganic) by way of trial in search for a quality sealant. The glass sealant has been proved to have high temperature airtightness at 300 degC above from an evaluation test involving full-scale model parts. Environmental tests were conducted continuously as to heat cycle, vibration and LOCA etc. the specimens (module) of five types. They were made certain of conformity to the design requirements for boiling water operation. (author).
The experimental foam treatments conducted on two production wells, each in a different miscible flood pool, were described, including aspects of the laboratory work, numerical coning simulation, well selection process and foam placement strategy. One of the wells was injected with a foam-forming surfactant, as well as with a surface-generated preformed foam. Neither of these treatments had any effect on the performance of this well. In the other well, preformed foam treatment was successful in reducing gas-oil ratio, resulting in improved oil production over a 14-month period. Future foam injection projects are being planned, based on the experiences gained in this field experiment. 13 refs., 21 figs.
Many of the vertical hydrocarbon miscible floods in the Keg River carbonate reefs of the Rainbow Field are at a mature stage of reservoir depletion, and are characterized by thin oil sandwiches. Injection of a gas-blocking foam barrier into a gas cone had the potential to improve oil productivity. Experimental foam treatments were described for two wells, each in a different miscible flood well. One of the wells received foam in an aqueous solution to generate foam in-situ, and as a surface generated foam. These attempt were unsuccessful at improving well performance. The second well was injected with preformed foam only. This treatment reduced GOR and improved oil production over a 14 month period. Field experience from these field trials was expected to improve efficiency in planning, design, implementation and evaluation of future foam projects.
BACKGROUND: It was previously reported that dendrosomes, i.e. neutral, biodegradable, covalent or self-assembled, hyperbranched, spheroidal nano-particles with a size ranging from 15 to 100 nm, provide a convenient and efficient means of gene delivery into various kinds of cells such as human hepatoma and kidney cells as well as animal models.RESULTS: New studies via circular dichroism show that hydrophilic and amphipathic dendrosomes either do not affect the DNA structure or moderately transform it from B- to A-conformation. Gene delivery into human liver, kidney, and endothelial cells as well as other animal cells like Bowes, U-937, Raw, CCRF-CEM, MOLT-4, K562, Huh-7 and VERO reveal that the genes are efficiently expressed and in comparison with other gene porters like Lipofectin or bact...
Within standard quantum field theory of one scalar field we define operators conjugate to the energy-momentum operators of the theory. They are singled out by calculational simplicity in Fock space. In terms of the underlying scalar field they are non-local. We establish their algebra where it turns out that time and space operators do not commute. Their transformation properties with respect to the conformal group are derived. Solving their eigenvalue problem permits to reconstruct the Fock space in terms of the eigenstates. It is indicated how Paulis theorem may be circumvented. As an application we form the analogue of S-matrices which yields information on the structure of the underlying spacetime. Similarly we define fields and look at their equations of motion.
A nonlinear free boundary-value problem of supercavitating flow past n + 1 hydrofoils is analyzed. To describe the cavities' closure mechanism, the Tulin-Terentev single-spiral-vortex model is employed. The flow domain is considered as the image of an (n + 1)-connected circular domain. The conformal map is constructed in terms of the solutions to two Riemann-Hilbert problems of the theory of symmetric automorphic functions. One of the problems is homogeneous and its coefficients are continuous functions while the second problem is inhomogeneous and has discontinuous coefficients. The exact solutions to the problems are found by using quasiautomorphic and quasimultiplicative analogs of the Cauchy kernel. The case of a single plate is considered in detail and the numerical results are report...
The potential of the yeast Candida tropicalis and Candida guillermondii was evaluated and an isolated partnership of microorganisms of waters of the Medellin River, conformed by two bacteria and one leavening, to degrade the content of organic matter present in wine produced by the factory of Licores and Alcoholes de Antioquia (FLA) in aerobic process with biomass production. For each one of the microorganisms in study this capacity of removal in units of chemical demand of oxygen was quantified (CDO); in addition, parameters were analyzed such as yield of the biomass in relation to the removed CDO and to total reducing sugars (TRS) consumed, time of fermentation and speed of growth different dilutions from wine. Also the possible inhibition was analyzed that the present phenolic compounds in this wine can cause in the biological process of degradation.
Assembly of icosahedral capsids of proper size and symmetry is not understood. Residue F170 in bacteriophage P22 coat protein is critical for conformational switching during assembly. Substitutions at this site cause assembly of tubes of hexamerically arranged coat protein. Intragenic suppressors of the ts phenotype of F170A and F170K coat protein mutants were isolated. Suppressors were repeatedly found in the coat protein telokin-like domain at position 285, which caused coat protein to assemble into petite procapsids and capsids. Petite capsid assembly strongly correlated to the side chain volume of the substituted amino acid. We hypothesize that larger side chains at position 285 torque the telokin-like domain, changing flexibility of the subunit and intercapsomer contacts. Thus, a sing...
How does one assure that both quality and creativity are obtained in basic research environments QA theoreticians have attempted to develop workable definitions of quality, but in more reflective moments, these definitions often fail to capture the deeper essence of the idea of quality.'' This paper asserts that creativity (as a product of the human mind) is a concrete interface between perfunctory definitions of quality (conformance to specifications) and more philosophical speculations about the nature of quality- related ultimates'' like elegance or beauty. In addition, we describe the distinction between creative ideas and creative acts and highlight one of the major inhibitors of creativity, fear. Finally we show that highly creative people often have an irreverent attitude toward boundaries and established authority, and discuss how one can allow for this when designing a QA program in a basic research environment.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor-associated protein (GABARAP) belongs to a family of small ubiquitin-like adaptor proteins implicated in intracellular vesicle trafficking and autophagy. We have used diffusion-ordered nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study the temperature and concentration dependence of the diffusion properties of GABARAP. Our data suggest the presence of distinct conformational states and provide support for self-association of GABARAP molecules. Assuming a monomer-dimer equilibrium, a temperature-dependent dissociation constant could be derived. Based on a temperature series of {sup 1}H{sup 15}N heteronuclear single quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, we propose residues potentially involved in GABARAP self-interaction. The possible biological significance of these observations is discussed with respect to alternative scenarios of oligomerization.
The purpose of this study was to compare 2 adaptive radiotherapy strategies with helical tomotherapy. A patient having mesothelioma with mediastinal nodes was treated using helical tomotherapy with pretreatment megavoltage CT (MVCT) imaging. Gross tumor volumes (GTVs) were outlined on every MVCT study. Two alternatives for adapting the treatment were investigated: (1) keeping the prescribed dose to the targets while reducing the dose to the OARs and (2) escalating the target dose while maintaining the original level of healthy tissue sparing. Intensity modulated radiotherapy (step-and-shoot IMRT) and 3D conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) plans for the patient were generated and compared. The primary lesion and nodal mass regressed by 16.2% and 32.5%, respectively. Adapted GTVs and reduced plan...
The progression of hip dysplasia was investigated in 116 military working dogs. Serial pelvic radiographs were graded for degree of dysplasia and degenerative joint disease (DJD). Norberg angles, angles of inclination, and joint space widths were measured. There was a significant correlation between the Norberg angle and the degree of dysplasia (p less than 0.0001). Angles of inclination and joint space width measurements did not demonstrate a correlation to canine hip dysplasia. Dysplastic dogs had a significant estimated risk for development of DJD compared to normal dogs (p less than 0.0001; odds ratio of 70.2). Dogs with normal hip conformation at 24 months of age or older did not develop moderate nor severe DJD. PMID:8875357
Uridine phosphorylase (UPP) catalyzes the reversible conversion of uridine to uracil and ribose-1-phosphate and plays an important pharmacological role in activating fluoropyrimidine nucleoside chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil and capecitabine. Most vertebrate animals, including humans, possess two homologs of this enzyme (UPP1 & UPP2), of which UPP1 has been more thoroughly studied and is better characterized. Here, we report two crystallographic structures of human UPP2 (hUPP2) in distinctly active and inactive conformations. These structures reveal that a conditional intramolecular disulfide bridge can form within the protein that dislocates a critical phosphate-coordinating arginine residue (R100) away from the active site, disabling the enzyme. In vitro activity measurem...
The model compounds, 8-methoxypsoralen-CH_2O(CH_2)_n-adenine (MOPCH_2OC_nAd, n=2,3,5,6,8, and 10) in which 5 position of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) is linked by various lengths of polymethylene bridge to N"9 of adenine. UV absorption spectra are identical with the sum of MOPCH_2OC3 and adenine absorption spectra. Solvent effect on the UV absorption and fluorescence emission spectra indicate that the lowest excited singlet state is the (#pi##->##pi#"*) state. The spectral characteristics of the fluorescence of MOPCH_2OC_nAd are strongly dependent upon the nature of the solvents. The fluorescence emission spectra in aprotic solvents are broad and structrueless due to the excimer formation through the folded conformation accelerated by hydrophobic #pi#-#pi# stacking interaction. Increasing polarity of the protic solvents leads to higher population of unfolded conformation stabilized through favorable solvation and H-bonding, and consequently to ...
Background and purpose: the recent RTOG guidelines for future clinical developments in gynecologic malignancies included the investigation of dose escalation in the paraaortic (PO) region which is, however, very difficult to target due to the presence of critical organs such as kidneys, liver, spinal cord, and digestive structures. The aim of this study was to investigate intensity-modulated radiotherapy's (IMRT) possibilities of either increasing, in a safe way, the dose to 50-60 Gy in case of macroscopic disease or decreasing the dose to organs at risk (OR) when treatment is given in an adjuvant setting. Material and methods: the dosimetric charts of 14 patients irradiated to the PO region at the department of radiation oncology, university hospital of Liege, Belgium, in 2000 were analyzed in order to compare six-field conformal external-beam radio-therapy (CEBR) and five-beam IMRT approaches. Both CEBR and IMRT investigations were planned to theoretically ...
'The objective of this project is to provide a means to optimize ligand architecture for f-block metal recognition. The authors strategy builds on an innovative and successful molecular modeling approach in developing polyether ligand design criteria for the alkali and alkaline earth cations. The hypothesis underlying this proposal is that differences in metal ion binding with multidentate ligands bearing the same number and type of donor groups are primarily attributable to intramolecular steric factors. They propose quantifying these steric factors through the application of molecular mechanics models. The research involves close integration of theoretical and experimental chemistry. The experimental work entails synthesizing novel ligands and experimentally determining structures and binding constants for metal ion complexation by series of ligands in which architecture is systematically varied. The theoretical work entails using electronic structure calculations to ...
A factor produced by the plerocercoid stage of S. mansonoides mimics some, but not all, of the actions reported for hGH. The biological actions of plerocercoid growth factor (PGF) suggest structural similarity to human GH (hGH). Plerocercoid membranes were solubilized, and PGF was purified more than 1000-fold by hGH receptor affinity chromatography. The ability of purified PGF to displace [125I]hGH from monoclonal antibodies specific for four distinct nonoverlapping antigenic determinants of hGH and from an anti-hGH polyclonal antibody was tested in liquid phase RIA. All of the hGH antibodies cross-reacted with PGF, with potencies ranging from more than 60% to less than 1% that of the hGH standard. Of the four major epitopes of hGH defined by the monoclonal antibodies used in this study, only one is not represented to a significant extent in PGF. The epitope of hGH that is only marginally present in PGF is highly conformationally dependent, and a minor difference ...
Purpose: An inverse treatment planning algorithm for tomotherapy is described. Methods and Materials: The algorithm iteratively computes a set of nonnegative beam intensity profiles that minimizes the least-squares residual dose defined in the target and selected normal tissue regions of interest. At each iteration the residual dose distribution is transformed into a set of residual beam profiles using an inversion method derived from filtered backprojection image reconstruction theory. These 'residual' profiles are used to correct the current beam profile estimates resulting in new profile estimates. Adaptive filtering is incorporated into the inversion model so that the gross structure of the dose distribution is optimized during initial iterations of the algorithm, and the fine structure corresponding to edges is obtained at later iterations. A three dimensional, kernel based, convolution/superposition dose model is used to compute dose during each iteration. Results: Two clinically ...
Directed evolution of proteins depends on the production of molecular diversity by random mutagenesis. While a number of methods have been developed for introducing this diversity, the best ways to sample it are not always clear. Here we used simple statistics to analyse completeness and diversity in randomized libraries generated by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, error-prone polymerase chain reaction (epPCR) and in vitro recombination of highly homologous sequences. For oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, we derive equations to estimate how complete a given library is expected to be and also to predict the size of library required to give a fixed probability of being 100% complete. We describe the statistical bases for computer programs which estimate the number of distinct variants represented in epPCR and shuffled libraries, dubbed PEDEL and DRIVeR, respectively. These programs allow the user to calculate (rather than guess) the diversity represented in ...
The authors investigated the development of tribochemical reaction layers and surface-level structural changes in a fuel-lubricated roller bearing steel 100Cr6 in the limiting friction range, using two different variants of surface treatment and heat treatment. Tribological experiments were carried out in a laboratory test stand with reversing sliding wear under varying loads and with a varying number of friction cycles. [German] Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, die Entstehung von tribochemischen Reaktionsschichten und oberflaechennahen Gefuegeaenderungen am Waelzlagerstahl 100Cr6 bei Kraftstoffschmierung im Grenzreibungsbereich fuer je zwei Oberflaechenbearbeitungen und Waermebehandlungen zu untersuchen. Dazu wurden tribologische Kurzversuche in einem Laborpruefstand mit reversierender Gleitbeanspruchung unter Variation der Last und der Anzahl der Reibzyklen durchgefuehrt. (orig.)
subsequent to its in-reactor dwell time, spent fuel still contains large amounts of materials that are recoverable, for value-added energy purposes (uranium, plutonium), together with fission products, and minor actinides, making up the residues from nuclear reactions. The treatment and recycling of spent nuclear fuel, as implemented in France, entail that such materials be chemically partitioned. The development of the process involved, and its deployment on an industrial scale stand as a high achievement of French science, and technology. Treatment and recycling allow both a satisfactory management of nuclear waste to be implemented, and substantial savings, in terms of fissile material. Bolstered of late as it has been, due to spectacularly skyrocketing uranium prices, this strategy is bound to become indispensable, with the advent of the next generation of fast reactors. This Monograph surveys the chemical process used for spent fuel treatment, and its ...
Describes progress made with the new economic system in the USSR coal industry since full self-financing was introduced on 1 January 1989, pointing out that mining is now being carried out at greater depths than before (515 m in 1988, 457 m in 1981 on the average) and that an increasing proportion of coal is being produced by mines liable to coal and gas bursts (62.3% in 1988, 59.6% in 1981). More difficult conditions means that mining costs are increasing. Explains system of agreements between teams of workers and mine management regarding output and extraction costs. Reveals that on 1 January 1990 a new list of coal prices will include 90% price rises on average, as a result of need for mines to finance themselves. There are to be 2 variants of this price list: one containing standard nationwide prices, the other based on mining areas, taking into account different geological and other conditions. Concludes by emphasizing the need to improve productivity, by ...
In an adiabatic low-pressure calorimeter, the temperature dependence of the standard molar heat capacity of paramagnetic dicarbonyl rhodium complex with o-semiquinone (CO){sub 2}Rh(SQ) has been determined in the range from T=(6 to 355)K mainly with an accuracy of about 0.3%. Over the ranges from T=(205 to 234) K, T=(266 to 315)K and T=(316 to 345)K physical transformations have been revealed and their enthalpies and entropies have been estimated. The experimental data were used to calculate the thermodynamic functions C{sub p,m}{sup o}/R,{delta}{sub 0}{sup T}H{sub m}{sup o}/(R.K),{delta}{sub 0}{sup T}S{sub m}{sup o}/R and {phi}{sub m}{sup o}={delta}{sub 0}{sup T}S{sub m}{sup o}-{delta}{sub 0}{sup T}H{sub m}{sup o}/T (where R is the universal gas constant) between T=(0 and 355)K. The fractal dimension D in the heat capacity function of the fractal variant of Debye heat capacity theory has been evaluated.
The present study has examined for #alpha#/#beta#-Ti alloys the relationship between the morphology and crystallography of Widmanstaetten plates of #alpha#-Ti in colonies within a prior grain of #beta#-Ti. Thus, optical metallography, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy have been used to characterize the morphological features of the microstructure, whereas orientation-imaging microscopy (OM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been employed to reveal crystallographic information. It has been discovered that within a prior #beta#-Ti grain, although the growth direction of the Widmanstaetten plates in given colonies may differ by large angles from #alpha#-plates in other colonies, they may exhibit very close crystallographic relationships. For example, inclined #alpha#-plates may share common basal planes and be related by a rotation of #approx#10.5 deg. about the c-axis of the crystals. This phenomenon has been interpreted on the basis of ...
In the future even more than in the past, nuclear power will be indispensable in the present industrialized countries and in those still under development. The safe, nonpolluting, and economic supply of energy to mankind in the future includes so many different problems that the technology of the high-temperature reactor at its present level of development, and with the possibilities is offers above and beyond those provided by other, established, technologies, does not have to mark the end of some old line of development, but rather should be seen as the starting point of a development offering promise for the future. It is for this very reason that the extensive, valuable knowledge and experience accumulated in the construction, operation, and decommissioning of the AVR and THTR plants, the development of the HTR module and other variants and, last, but not least, the valuable results of projects such as PNP, NFE, and HHT, must be preserved at the research ...
The paper presents the progress of the Radioactive Waste Management Plan which accompanies the Decommissioning Plan for research reactor WWR-S located in Magurele, Ilfov, near Bucharest, Romania. The new variant of the Decommissioning Plan was elaborated taking into account the IAEA recommendation concerning radioactive waste management. A new feasibility study for WWR-S decommissioning was also developed. The preferred safe management strategy for radioactive wastes produced by reactor decommissioning is outlined. The strategy must account for reactor decommissioning, as well as rehabilitation of the existing Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant and the upgrade of the Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility at Baita-Bihor. Furthermore, the final rehabilitation of the laboratories and reusing of cleaned reactor building is envisaged. An inventory of each type of radioactive waste is presented. The proposed waste management strategy is selected in accordance with the IAEA ...
The iron hormone hepcidin is inhibited by matriptase-2, a liver serine-protease encoded by TMPRSS6 gene. Cleaving the BMP-coreceptor hemojuvelin, matriptase-2 impairs the BMP/SMAD signaling pathway, downregulates hepcidin and facilitates iron absorption. TMPRSS6 inactivation causes iron-deficiency-anemia refractory to iron administration both in humans and mice. Genome wide association studies have shown that the SNP rs855791, which causes the matriptase-2 V736A amino acid substitution, is associated with variations of serum iron, transferrin saturation, hemoglobin and erythrocyte traits. Here we show that in vitro matriptase-2 736(A) inhibits hepcidin more efficiently than 736(V). Moreover, in a genotyped population, after exclusion of samples with iron deficiency and inflammation, hepcidin, hepcidin/transferrin saturation and hepcidin/ferritin ratios were significantly lower and iron parameters were consistently higher in homozygotes 736(A) than in 736(V). Our results indicate that ...
An original device and a method of its application for restoring of the function of relatively incompetent valves (both patented) are elaborated. Application of the new device allows to lower the difficulty of surgical treatment, to decrease the duration of operation and post-operative period. The long-term results of six-year long experience of its application are presented. The patients examination after 2,5-3,0-year post-operation period shows perfect vein valve correction. A device for stone extraction from tubular organs (patented) fabricated with titanium nickelide superelastic alloy is presented. The new suggested design is free of the drawback inherent in the previous one. The working element of the device is formed as a truncated cone or a truncated cone coaxial with the cylinder (the previous design was formed as a full cone) that prevents overstraining and residual strain accumulation during the manipulation process. Since the first publication the design of spiral stent and ...
The nature of the 5f electronic structure of plutonium (Pu) remains unclear. [1] Despite many recent attempts to resolve the issue, a plethora of important unanswered questions remain. While many theoretical approaches to the problem have been promulgated, the real source of the difficulty is the absence of sufficient experimental benchmarking. This paucity of impact on the part of experimental results is driven in part by the difficulties of working with Pu: it is highly radioactive, biologically toxic, chemically reactive and restricted in its distribution and permitted access to user facilities. The results of these liabilities include the following: (1) it is very difficult, if not impossible, to get large single crystals of single phase samples and; (2) many state of the art experiments can not be done because general user facilities are not available for use with Pu samples. Additionally, there is the apparently bizarre nature of Pu, which seems to defeat the efforts to analyze ...
Until now, monitoring of power transformers focussed mainly large generator and network transformers. Siemens goes a step ahead and provides a system especially developed and designed for small and medium power transformers, e.g. for the 100 kV level. This low cost version could be achieved by restriction to really necessary measuring quantities. This allows to realize also for small and medium power transformers an online monitoring including an estimation of aging and as an option an early warning to avoid unexpected failures. (orig.) [German] Die Ueberwachung (Monitoring) von Leistungstransformatoren war bisher vor allem fuer Maschinentransformatoren und grosse Netzkuppeltransformatoren in der Diskussion. Siemens geht einen Schritt weiter und stellt nun auch ein System bereit, das speziell fuer kleine und mittlere Leistungstransformatoren, z.B. der 110-kV-Spannungsebene, konzipiert ist. Diese kostenguenstige Variante wurde durch Beschraenkung auf die aus ...
We show that a general variant of the Wick theorems can be used to reduce the time ordered products in the Gell-Mann and Low formula for a certain class on non local quantum field theories, including the case where the interaction Lagrangian is defined in terms of twisted products. The only necessary modification is the replacement of the Stueckelberg-Feynman propagator by the general propagator (the 'contractor' of Denk and Schweda) D(y-y';#tau#-#tau#')=(1)/i(#DELTA#_+(y-y')#theta#(#tau#-#tau#')+#DELTA#+(y'-y)#theta#(#tau#'-#tau#)), where the violations of locality and causality are represented by the dependence of #tau#,#tau#' on other points, besides those involved in the contraction. This leads naturally to a diagrammatic expansion of the Gell-Mann and Low formula, in terms of the same diagrams as in the local case, the only necessary modification concerning the Feynman rules. The ordinary local theory is easily recovered as a special case, and there is a ...
The effects of neutron irradiation on the superconducting and normal state properties of alloys and compounds are presented. Particular emphasis is placed on the A-15 compounds where the effects of neutron irradiation on Tsub(c), Hsub(c_2), long range order parameter and lattice parameter are described. Large depressions (up to 80%) in Tsub(c) are observed for all the A-15 compounds studied with the exception of Mo_3Os where much smaller decreases in Tsub(c) are seen. Along with the decrease in Tsub(c) and increase in lattice parameter, the degree of long range order, as measured by X-ray and neutron diffraction, decreases. Also presented are the results of isothermal and isochronal anneals up to 900"0C. The unirradiated value of Tsub(c) can be restored by annealing, and for those systems where measurements have been made, recovery of the lattice parameter and order parameter also takes place. The effects observed in irradiated material, together with those observed in unirradiated but ...
High resolution Monte-Carlo simulations show that the neutron spectrum, fuel burnup and fuel temperature feedback effect of a PWR core loaded with Thoria-based fuel (Th/Pu-O_2) do not significantly differ from the MOX fuelled one due to the similar neutronic characteristics of both fertile materials (Th-232, U-238). The core physics of this fuel variant is characterized by an enhanced moderator/void temperature coefficient (by factor 2.4) and high incineration rate for Pu (approx. 60 %). A PWR core loaded with the Molybdenum-based inert matrix fuel (IMF) - in contrast to MOX-, shows a harder spectrum, resulting in small temperature coefficients of reactivity and particularly in a higher fuel depletion rate as well as an enhanced TRU reduction performance. The incineration of Pu amounts to 46 % resulting, in turn, in generation of minor actinides of about 10 % of the total Pu consumption. The higher excess reactivity resulting from the initial Pu contents is ...
Purpose: To determine the value of MRI in the preoperative evaluation of chronic paranasal sinusitis and to compare the results with CT and intraoperative findings. Method/Materials: 42 patients with clinical signs of chronic paranasal sinusitis underwent MRI after CT evaluation on one day, with subsequent functional endoscopic sinus surgery on the next day. Coronary CT was obtained with 5-mm slices and table-feed in the prone position, while MRI was performed in the supine position with coronary T_2-TSE+pd and coronary and transverse HASTE, each with 5-mm slice thickness. Aquisition time in MRI was less than 8 minutes. Two radiologists reviewed the CT and MRI scans for signs of sinusitis and detection of anatomical landmarks. The results were correlated with the intraoperative findings. Results: MRI offered no artifacts of dental work and showed more often high quality pictures than CT. CT and MRI demonstrated a good correlation in the detection of mucosal pathologies ...
Endoreduplication represents a cell cycle variant during which multiple rounds of DNA replication occur without subsequent chromosome separation and cytokinesis, resulting into a cellular increase of the DNA content. Although the DNA ploidy level of cells is controlled by external stimuli such as light, currently limited knowledge is available on how environmental signals regulate the endoreduplication cycle at the molecular level. Previously, we have demonstrated that the conversion from the mitotic cell cycle into an endoreduplication cycle is mediated by the atypical E2F transcription factor DEL1 that operates as a repressor of endocycle onset. Here, we identified DEL1 as a transcriptional target of the classical E2Fb and E2Fc transcription factors that antagonistically control DEL1 transcript levels through competition for a single E2F cis-acting binding site. Correspondingly with the reported opposite effect of light on the E2Fb and E2Fc protein levels, the ...
An investigation was carried out to determine the significance of a large input of cogeneration units for the electric power generation, next to the input of coal and uranium. Thereto a production plant has been set up to generate heat and electric power. The plant serves as a basis for a number of comparative calculations: basic calculations to investigate the influence of some strategies on the cogeneration input, and sensitivity calculations to determine the influence of a few changes in the starting points. Some variants have been deduced from this plant, which is based on prognosis for the year 2000. By means of the computer calculation program OPINIE (Optimale Inzet en Instelling van Eenheden: Optimal Input and Installation of Units) the minimal variable costs were calculated for different situations. Finally for each considered situation the total annual costs have been calculated. 53 figs., 13 refs., 30 tabs., 3 apps.
Aims: The present study explored the integrative effect of genes encoding methadone pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic pathways on methadone maintenance doses in Han Chinese Patients. Materials & methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from 321 opioid-dependent patients and 202 healthy controls, and realtime-PCR and PCR-RFLP were conducted to determine the genotypes. Results: Pair-wise comparisons revealed that carriers of the variants ABCB1 3435C>T or CYP2B6 516G>T alleles were more likely to require a higher methadone dose than noncarriers (both p G or 939C>T allele had a two-fold chance of requiring a lower methadone dose than noncarriers (p = 0.001). Proportional odds regression with adjustment of cofactors demonstrated that ...
Chemical analyses were done on the abnormal hemoglobins of the five (101 x SEC)F_1 offspring of X- irradiated adult SEC mice to determine which hemoglobin genes were expressed in each hemoglobin variant. Three offspring of irradiated SEC males did not express either of the two kinds of #alpha#-chains normally found in all SEC mice. The deficient #alpha#-chain synthesis caused these mice to exhibit an #alpha#-thalassemia similar to human #alpha#-thalassemia. Scanning electron microscopy was used to show that many erythrocytes of mice with #alpha#-thalassemia have bizarre shapes; e.g. many erythrocytes appeared flattened or had thorny projections (acanthocytes). One mutant with a tandem duplication of a segment of chromosome 7 (site of locus determining #beta#-chain structure) produced twice as much SEC as 101 #beta#-chain polypeptides. One mutant that probably arose by non-disjunction of chromosome 7's in its unirradiated 101 mother and loss of chromosome 7 from the ...
The Cahn-Hilliard-Navier-Stokes system is based on a well-known diffuse interface model and describes the evolution of an incompressible isothermal mixture of binary fluids. A nonlocal variant consists of the Navier-Stokes equations suitably coupled with a nonlocal Cahn-Hilliard equation. The authors, jointly with P. Colli, have already proven the existence of a global weak solution to a nonlocal Cahn-Hilliard-Navier-Stokes system subject to no-slip and no-flux boundary conditions. Uniqueness is still an open issue even in dimension two. However, in this case, the energy identity holds. This property is exploited here to define, following J.M. Ball's approach, a generalized semiflow which has a global attractor. Through a similar argument, we can also show the existence of a (connected) global attractor for the convective nonlocal Cahn-Hilliard equation with a given velocity field, even in dimension three. Finally, we demonstrate that any weak solution fulfilling ...
To analyze and review the most common focal lesions of the external auditory canal (EAC), describing the computed tomography (CT) findings. The CT images of EAC were reviewed in a series of 167 patients. Abnormal findings were recorded in 13 cases. The CT images were correlated with otoscopic and/or intraoperative findings. There were four cases of osteoma (one located outside the EAC); all of which were treated surgically, as was the one case of exostosis. Six patients presented debris in EAC, coinciding with clinical evidence of external otitis. There were two cholesteatomas derived from EAC, one of them secondary to survery to treat osteoma. On patient was diagnosed as having a basal cell carcinoma of the ear, extending to EAC, but refused to undergo surgery. Five patients presented small triangular laminae of dense bone arising from the upper wall of the EAC which were defined as abnormal variants of the fusion of the temporal squamous epithelium to the ...
Certain 6000-series extrusions may develop susceptibility to intergranular corrosion (IGC) by improper heat treatment, especially if copper is present as an alloying element. Although occurrence of IGC in such cases is documented, the underlying mechanisms are not adequately explained. We present corrosion data for two model alloys, having different Cu content and Mg:Si ratio, showing that the susceptibility to IGC depended primarily on the Cu content and secondly on thermal processing. Low Cu samples (0.0005 wt.% Cu) were essentially resistant to IGC. High Cu samples (0.12 wt.% Cu), which were air cooled after extrusion, exhibited significant IGC. However, IGC susceptibility was reduced significantly as a result of artificial aging to peak strength. Water quenched high Cu samples were essentially resistant to IGC. However, slight IGC susceptibility was introduced after aging. Electron optical characterisation revealed Al_4Mg_8Si_7Cu_2 (Q-phase) grain boundary precipitates on all the ...
Modern text retrieval systems often provide a similarity search utility, that allows the user to find efficiently a fixed number k of documents in the data set that are most similar to a given query (here a query is either a simple sequence of keywords or the identifier of a full document found in previous searches that is considered of interest). We consider the case of a textual database made of semi-structured documents. Each field, in turns, is modelled with a specific vector space. The problem is more complex when we also allow each such vector space to have an associated user-defined dynamic weight that influences its contribution to the overall dynamic aggregated and weighted similarity. This dynamic problem has been tackled in a recent paper by Singitham et al. in in VLDB 2004. Their proposed solution, which we take as baseline, is a variant of the cluster-pruning technique that has the potential for scaling to very large corpora of documents, and is far ...
The authors present tensile data and creep-rupture data out to approximately 40,000 h duration on low-carbon Alloy 800. Each of the four casts was heat treated to three conditions in tube form. When the test programme was originally conceived, the prime object was to obtain 100,000 hour design data; the programme was designed prior to some of the more recently discovered effects such as that of #gamma#' on ductility. Therefore no specific attempt was made to control to a low level, the Al and Ti contents of the casts. A subsequent programme was embarked upon in 1976 where these factors were taken into account. The bulk data obtained show many characteristics which are probably typical of the low-carbon variant of this material and both the quantity and duration of the data are a contribution to the knowledge of the long-term behaviour of this class of alloy, whose future use lies, inter alia, in nuclear applications over the temperature range for which ERA data ...
Abstract Common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SMAD7 (18q21) have been linked to colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in genome-wide association studies, but little is known about their effects on survival. SMAD7 regulates gastrointestinal inflammation by inhibiting transforming growth factor- (TGFB), which can act as both a tumor suppressor and a promoter of metastasis. Regular use of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) inhibitors, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), reduces the risk of developing CRC. Because COX2 overexpression reduces the growth suppressing effects of TGFB, we hypothesized that survival may depend on both SMAD7 genotype and prediagnostic NSAID use. Postmenopausal women, ages 50-74, diagnosed with incident invasive CRC from 1997 to 2002 were identified using t...
A first-principles task-based approach to the design of medical ultrasonic imaging systems for breast lesion discrimination is described. This study explores a new approximation to the ideal Bayesian observer strategy that allows for object heterogeneity. The new method, called iterative Wiener filtering, is implemented using echo data simulations and a phantom study. We studied five lesion features closely associated with visual discrimination for clinical diagnosis. A series of human observer measurements for the same image data allowed us to quantitatively compare alternative beamforming strategies through measurements of visual discrimination efficiency. Employing the Smith-Wagner model observer, we were able to breakdown efficiency estimates and identify the processing stage at which performance losses occur. The methods were implemented using a commercial scanner and a cyst phantom to explore development of spatial filters for systems with shift-variant ...
The subjects covered in this Symposium range through almost every clinical medical specialty. From an average of one paper in each of the past three Symposiums, the explosive interest in cerebral amyloidosis has led to the presentation of 12 papers on this subject in the present volume. The genetically predisposed familial amyloidotic processes, such as the polyneuropathies and familial Mediterranean fever have also stimulated extensive and intriguing investigations which have revealed the striking effect of a single amino acid substitution in transforming a normal protein into a lethal ''amyloidogenic'' one. This Symposium clearly depicts the advances since the first amyloid fibril protein was definitively identified and defined 14 years ago. Since all amyloid fibril proteins so far described are variants of normal proteins, attention to gene abnormalities now becomes a significant focus as well as the pathogenic sequences which lead in these cases to twisted ...
Shell Solar GmbH is working on a variant of the so-called stacked elemental layer process for CIGSSe absorber production. The metal films resp. the selenium are deposited on the Mb electrode at room temperature by DC sputtering (CIG) or evaporation (Se) and then processed into semiconductors by rapid thermal annealing (RTP). Currently, the mean efficiency of the pilot plant is i 12.6 {+-} 0.2 % for non-sealed 30 x 30 cm{sup 2} modules, the key efficiency is 13.0 %. In addition to the 30 x 30 cm{sup 2} pilot line, a small series of 60x90cm2 modules was constructed in December 2004. Here, the mean efficiency was 13.0 percent while the average module power was higher than 60 W. The contribution also describes investigations of ceramically sputtered n-ZnO:Al layers with reduced Al concedntrations of 1 percent and on reactively sputtered n-ZnO.Al layers from the double roller magnetron. (orig.) [German] Bei Shell Solar GmbH wird eine Variante des ...
Fast automated analysis of hyperspectral imagery can inform ... hyperspectral image analysis. .... atmospheric correction with the Crism Analysis Tool [11]. ...
BackgroundOrthology analysis is an important part of data analysis in many areas of bioinformatics such as comparative genomics and molecular phylogenetics. The ever-increasing flood...Full Text Available
This article proposes Bayesian analysis of mediation effects. Compared to conventional frequentist mediation analysis, the Bayesian approach has several advantages. First, it allows researchers...Full Text Available
X-ray scattering from lyophilized proteins or protein-rich samples is characterized by the presence of two characteristic broad peaks at scattering angles equivalent to momentum transfer values of 0.27 and 0.6 nm{sup -1}, respectively. These peaks arise from the interference of coherently scattered photons. Once the conformation of a protein is changed, these two peaks reflect such change with considerable sensitivity. The present work examines the possibility of characterizing the most common cause of hemolytic anaemia in Egypt and many Mediterranean countries; {beta}-thalassemia, from its X-ray scattering profile. This disease emerges from a genetic defect causing reduced rate in the synthesis of one of the globin chains that make up hemoglobin. As a result, structurally abnormal hemoglobin molecules are formed. In order to detect such molecular disorder, hemoglobin samples of {beta}-thalassemia patients are collected, lyophilized and measured using a ...
The sequential layer-by-layer adsorption of polyanions and polycations to build polyelectrolyte multilayers has triggered enormous interest in their potential uses in a wide range of fields, from photonic to pharmaceutical applications. We show that the conformation of the solvent swollen films - prior to drying - is determined by the initial adsorption conditions, but can be altered ex-situ by exposure to a liquid phase of very high ionic strength. Recently it has been observed that the swelling depends on the charge of the outermost layer. In the PAH/PSS system we saw that assemblies with PSS as the outermost layer swell more than those with PAH outside. A neutron reflectivity study of this effect in addition indicated the existence of two kinds of water, bound with different strength within the films. Beside an unexpected two-step kinetics of swelling, the reflectivity curves of the layers against vacuum before and after re-hydration in D{sub 2}O vapor did not ...
Myostatin is a member of the transforming growth factor-{beta} (TGF-{beta}) family and a strong negative regulator of muscle growth. Here, we present the crystal structure of myostatin in complex with the antagonist follistatin 288 (Fst288). We find that the prehelix region of myostatin very closely resembles that of TGF-{beta} class members and that this region alone can be swapped into activin A to confer signalling through the non-canonical type I receptor Alk5. Furthermore, the N-terminal domain of Fst288 undergoes conformational rearrangements to bind myostatin and likely acts as a site of specificity for the antagonist. In addition, a unique continuous electropositive surface is created when myostatin binds Fst288, which significantly increases the affinity for heparin. This translates into stronger interactions with the cell surface and enhanced myostatin degradation in the presence of either Fst288 or Fst315. Overall, we have identified several ...
The reaction of the retinylidene Schiff base in bacteriorhodopsin (bR) to the water-soluble reagent hydroxylamine is enhanced by greater than 2 orders of magnitude under illumination. We have used this reaction as a probe for changes in Schiff base reactivity during the photocycle of wild-type bR and mutants defective in proton transport. We report here that under illumination at pH 6, the D85N mutant has a 20-fold lower rate and the D212N mutant has a greater than 4-fold higher rate for the light-dependent reaction with hydroxylamine compared with wild-type bR. In contrast, the reactivities of wild-type bR and the D96N and T46V mutants are similar. It has been previously shown that the D96N and T46V replacements have no significant effect on the kinetics of M formation but have dramatic effects on rate of the decay of M. We therefore conclude that the hydroxylamine reaction occurs before formation of the M intermediate. Most likely it occurs at the L stage of the cycle and reflects ...
The influence of low-frequency electromagnetic field irradiating by high-voltage transmission lines on signal transduction of cell in spleen cells of the rates have been studied by molecular-biology techniques. The spleen cells are extracted from skilled rates, which are exposed in the electromagnetic field of high-voltage transmission lines with 4000 V/m and 0.09-0.1 G about 400 days. The quantity or level of phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) in JAK-STAT signal transduction pathway of spleen cells, which are stimulated and unstimulated by IL-2, respectively, are detected by the immunoblotting and immunobiochemistry. The results show that the expression of phospho-STAT3 in spleen cell stimulated by IL-2 differ not from that in the unstimulated cell. The former is significantly large than the latter. This shows that signal transduction of cell is affected by this electromagnetic field. The spectra of infrared absorption for the general ...
The CALPHAD (calculations of phase diagrams) method is used to examine the effects of applied magnetic fields on the {alpha}/{gamma} phase boundary in the Fe-Si system in the paramagnetic state. The reported susceptibility data for pure Fe is first re-evaluated. The contributions to the total Gibbs energy of the ferrite ({alpha}) and austenite ({gamma}) from the external fields are calculated based on the Curie-Weiss law and the re-evaluated susceptibility data. The Fe-Si phase diagram on the Fe-rich side as a function of applied field is calculated using the Thermo-Calc(TM) package. With increasing field strength, the {gamma} loop shrinks monotonically; that is, the {alpha}/{gamma}-Fe transition temperature increases while that for {gamma}/{delta}-Fe transition decreases, albeit more slowly. Finally, in conformance with the existing CALPHAD databank, Redlich-Kister polynomials are proposed to account for the compositional and temperature dependence of the ...
This paper describes TENT, a system designed for integrating the various tools and parts of a CFD simulation system (CFD - Computational Fluid Dynamics) and the simulation code itself in one interactive simulation environment. Initially the system was intended to be a TEstbed for Numerical Turbine simulation but it turned out that the approach was general enough to be suitable for more complex simulation tasks in the field of aircraft simulation. The paper will give a brief description of a CFD simulation system and its component interactions, which are the basis for describing the Component Architecture based on CORBA. This includes the control architecture using an event model and data flow considerations. Because most CFD codes use parallelization techniques based on Message Passing, a so called MIMD Object Abstraction is described in order to abstract the parallel computation threads to a single CORBA conform instance. The main goal for TENT is realizing a ...
In this study, free electron laser (FEL) with selective wavelength was used to induce structure changes of biomolecules, which were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. For understanding of the interactions between FEL and biomolecules as well as biological tissues, the biomolecules investigated are ATP, ADP, AMP, t-RNA, D-ribose and the complex of SmCl_3-D-ribose. Their FTIR spectra before and after irradiation of FEL show molecular structure variations of the samples after irradiation of FEL, especially the rearrangement of their hydrogen bond networks. Along with the various irradiation wavelengths, irradiation time and molecular structures, the changes after irradiation are different for these molecules. In the FTIR spectra after irradiation, the phenomenon that the bands split into several peaks indicates the existence of several structures, conformations and configurations, which may be prompted by multiple photons process induced by FEL. After irradiation, ...
The retention indices of cycloalkenes and cycloalkadienes with C/sub 6/-C/sub 13/ rings are determined by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) on glass capillary columns coated with OV-1 and Ucon LB 550X and by gas-solid chromatrography (GSC) on a microcolumn packed with uncoated graphitized thermal carbon black (GTCB). Structure-retention correlations are derived on using index differences such as H/sup OV/, H/sup GTCB/ and ..delta..I values, considering the differences in the stereochemistry of these compounds. It is shown that the combined application of index increments obtained in GLC and GSC provides more detaled structure informations. The value of the retention index units agree with the most stable conformations of the alicyclic compounds. The high value for the energy equivalent to an index unit (..delta..G/sub I.U./ = 4.18 kJ/mol) confirms that graphitized thermal carbon black causes much stronger dispersive interactions than any nonpolar liquid phase.
In the present study, the authors examine the interactions of pentavalent technetium ions (TcO/sup 3+/) with the basic form of the lasalocid A in pure methanol solvent and in methanol-water mixtures. There are a number of reasons for such a study. First, the interactions of technetium ions with biologically important compounds are of considerable importance owing to the widespread use of /sup 99m/Tc in diagnostic radio-imaging. Second, lasalocid A is known to transport metal ions across phospholipid bilayer membranes and between the aqueous cores of phospholipid inverse micelles. Third, lasalocid A is known to bind and solubilize metal ions in bulk organic liquid phases. Fourth, the conformation adopted by lasalocid A on interaction with TcO/sup 3+/ appears to be different than those found in most other cases and circumstances. Fifth, it may also be possible to use the competition of TcO/sup 3+/ with other, physiologically relevant cations (Na/sup +/, K/sup +/, ...
The surface coverage of amorphous silica gels used in the synthesis of silica polyamine composites has been investigated by 29Si NMR. By diluting the polyamine anchor silane, chloropropyl trichlorosilane, with methyl trichlorosilane it was found that surface coverage could be markedly improved for a range of amine polymers after grafting to the silica surface. The commensurate decrease in the number of anchor points and increase in the number of free amines results in an increase in metal capacity and/or an improvement in capture kinetics. Solid state CPMAS-13C NMR has been employed to investigate the structure and metal ion binding of a series of these composite materials. It is reported that the highly branched polymer, poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) exhibits much broader 13C NMR resonances than the linear polymers poly(allylamine) (PAA) and poly(vinylamine) (PVA). These results are understood in terms of the low energy conformations calculated from molecular modeling ...
The effects of muscarinic agonists and diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) on muscarinic receptor density and muscarinic receptor-mediated responses was assessed in mouse brain and mouse neuroblastoma cells (clone N1E-115). Utilizing the antagonist ({sup 3}H)quinuclidinyl benzilate (({sup 3}H)QNB), there was no difference in the maximal binding capacity (B{sub max}) or equilibrium dissociation constant (K{sub d}) between untreated and 24 hour DFP-treated mice. However, one administration of DFP produced a 24% and 33% decrease in B{sub max} measured by ({sup 3}H)N-methylscopolamine (({sup 3}H)NMS) after 18 and 24 hours which was rapidly reversible within 36 hours after DFP treatment. The loss of ({sup 3}H)NMS binding sites following acute DFP treatment was not accompanied by a change in a particular muscarinic receptor binding conformation. Furthermore, the magnitude of muscarinic receptor-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis was unchanged following short-term DFP ...
GSTD1 is one of several insect glutathione S-transferases capable of metabolizing the insecticide DDT. Here we use crystallography and NMR to elucidate the binding of DDT and glutathione to GSTD1. The crystal structure of Drosophila melanogaster GSTD1 has been determined to 1.1 {angstrom} resolution, which reveals that the enzyme adopts the canonical GST fold but with a partially occluded active site caused by the packing of a C-terminal helix against one wall of the binding site for substrates. This helix would need to unwind or be displaced to enable catalysis. When the C-terminal helix is removed from the model of the crystal structure, DDT can be computationally docked into the active site in an orientation favoring catalysis. Two-dimensional {sup 1}H,{sup 15}N heteronuclear single-quantum coherence NMR experiments of GSTD1 indicate that conformational changes occur upon glutathione and DDT binding and the residues that broaden upon DDT binding support the ...
Site-specific recombination is an important cellular process that yields a variety of knotted and catenated DNA products on supercoiled circular DNA. Twist knots are some of the most common conformations of these products. They are also one of the simplest families of knots and catenanes. Yet, our systematic understanding of their implication in DNA and important cellular processes like site-specific recombination is very limited. Here we present a topological model of site-specific recombination characterising all possible products of site-specific recombination on twist knot substrates, extending previous work of Buck and Flapan. We illustrate how to use our model to examine previously uncharacterized experimental data. We show how our model can help determine the sequence of products in multiple rounds of processive recombination and distinguish between products of processive and distributive recombination. Companion paper (arXiv:1007.2115v1 math.GT) provides ...
Poster session: Abstract is full text. Track membranes are thin polymer foils irradiated by heavy ions. The defects created by the heavy ions are located along the ions trajectory, the track. It is possible to open channels by etching with a chemical agent. These channels are very uniform. Small Angle Scattering (of X rays and neutrons) give global information about the characteristics of the channel shape. As the nanochannels are strictly parallel, an excellent sample orientation is required to obtain interpretable spectra. Then shoulders due to the oscillations of the Bessel function (radial part of the channel shape Fourier transform) are easily seen in the scattered intensity in the PXY data treatment software of SAS spectra allow to determine the channel diameter with its dispersion law, to demonstrate the existence of a wall thickness with a linearly varying density, and to assess the roughness. PXY can also detect non cylindric shapes like single or double cones or spindles. ...
This report contains the results of the Photovoltaic (PV) Industry Manufacturing Technology Assessment performed by the Automation and Robotics Research Institute (ARRI) of the University of Texas at Arlington for the National Renewable Energy laboratory. ARRI surveyed eleven companies to determine their state-of-manufacturing in the areas of engineering design, operations management, manufacturing technology, equipment maintenance, quality management, and plant conditions. Interviews with company personnel and plant tours at each of the facilities were conducted and the information compiled. The report is divided into two main segments. The first part of the report presents how the industry as a whole conforms to ``World Class`` manufacturing practices. Conclusions are drawn from the results of a survey as to the areas that the PV industry can improve on to become more competitive in the industry and World Class. Appendix A contains the questions asked in the ...
The Department prepared the Fiscal Year 1998 Accountability Report to combine critical financial and program performance information in a single report. The Department`s consolidated financial statements and the related audit reports are included as major components of the Accountability Report. The Office of Inspector General audited the Department`s consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended September 30, 1998 and 1997. In the opinion of the Office of Inspector General, except for the environmental liabilities lines items in Fiscal year 1998, these financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Department as of September 30, 1998 and 1997, and its consolidated net cost, changes in net position, budgetary resources, financing activities, and custodial activities for the years then ended in conformity with Federal accounting standards. In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, the Office of ...
This guide explained the requirements for Off-Road Compression Ignition Engine Emission Regulations established under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The regulations are enforced by Environment Canada, which authorizes and monitors the use of the national emissions mark. The regulations prescribe standards for off-road engines that operate as reciprocating, internal combustion engines, other than those that operate under characteristics similar to the Otto combustion cycle and that use a spark plug or other sparking device. The regulations apply to engines that are typically diesel-fuelled and found in construction, mining, farming and forestry machines such as tractors, excavators and log skidders. Four different types of persons are potentially affected by the regulations: Canadian engine manufacturers; distributors of Canadian engines or machines containing Canadian engines; importers of engines or machines for the purpose of sale; and persons not in companies importing ...
This guide explained the requirements for Off-Road Compression Ignition Engine Emission Regulations established under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. The regulations are enforced by Environment Canada, which authorizes and monitors the use of the national emissions mark. The regulations prescribe standards for off-road engines that operate as reciprocating, internal combustion engines, other than those that operate under characteristics similar to the Otto combustion cycle and that use a spark plug or other sparking device. The regulations apply to engines that are typically diesel-fuelled and found in construction, mining, farming and forestry machines such as tractors, excavators and log skidders. Four different types of persons are potentially affected by the regulations: Canadian engine manufacturers; distributors of Canadian engines or machines containing Canadian engines; importers of engines or machines for the purpose of sale; and persons not in companies importing ...
The complex ghost introduced previously by the present author is studied from a standpoint whether its effects are observable by experiments or not. According to the theory of complex ghost the scattering cross section of two real particles shows some particular properties. It has a kind of resonance peak at a certain energy which does not conform to the Breit-Wigner formula. It has also a peak for a certain energy transfer, if there exist tachyons. The tachyon is a kind of ghost and is allowed to exist in the theory. Using these properties the complex ghosts are expected to be detected by experiments. The recently observed resonance psi(3.1) is supposed to be the complex ghost of photon, since they have the same quantum numbers. If it is assumed, some properties of the resonance known by experiments are explained naturally to a certain extent. Along the same line it is not unnatural to expect that the photon is also accompanied by a tachyon as a ghost. An ...
The crystal structure of outer surface protein A (OspA) from Borrelia burgdorferi contains a single-layer #beta#-sheet connecting the N- and C-terminal globular domains. The central #beta#-sheet consists largely of polar amino acids and it is solvent-exposed on both faces, which so far appears to be unique among known protein structures. We have accomplished nearly complete backbone H, C and N and C";/H"#beta# assignments of OspA (28 kDa) using standard triple resonance techniques without perdeuteration. This was made possible by recording spectra at a high temperature (45 "oC ). The chemical shift index and "1"5N T_1/T_2 ratios show that both the secondary structure and the global conformation of OspA in solution are similar to the crystal structure, suggesting that the unique central #beta#-sheet is fairly rigid.
This Maintenance Implementation Plan (MIP) has been developed for maintenance functions associated with the B Plant/WESF (Waste Encapsulation Storage Facility) complex. The objective of this plan is to provide baseline information for establishing and identifying WHC conformance programs and policies applicable to implementation of DOE order 4330.4B guidelines. In addition, this maintenance plan identifies the actions necessary to develop a cost-effective and efficient maintenance program at B Plant/WESF. The B Plant WESF facility complex consists of three main facilities and several support structures located in the 200 East Area of the Hanford site. B Plant is a transition facility that is required to ensure safe storage and management of WESF (operating facility) cesium and strontium capsules. B Plant/WESF also contains substantial radiological inventory from previous campaigns. There are no production activities at B Plant, but several of its operating systems ...
We study the condensation of localized closed string tachyons in C{sup 3}/Z{sub N} non-supersymmetric noncompact orbifold singularities via renormalization group flows that preserve supersymmetry in the worldsheet conformal field theory and their interrelations with the toric geometry of these orbifolds. We show that for worldsheet supersymmetric tachyons, the endpoint of tachyon condensation generically includes 'geometric' terminal singularities (orbifolds that do not have any marginal or relevant Kahler blowup modes) as well as singularities in co-dimension two. Some of the various possible distinct geometric resolutions are related by flip transitions. For Type II theories, we show that the residual singularities that arise under tachyon condensation in various classes of Type II theories also admit a Type II GSO projection. We further show that Type II orbifolds entirely devoid of marginal or relevant blowup modes (Kahler or otherwise) cannot ...
Radiation protection programs for workers are based, in the United States, on a hierarchy of limitations stemming from Federal guidance approved by the President. This guidance, which consists of principles, policies, and numerical primary guides, is used by Federal agencies as the basis for developing and implementing their own regulatory standards. The primary guides are usually expressed in terms of limiting doses to workers. The protection of workers against taking radioactive materials into the body, however, is accomplished largely through the use of regulations based on derived guides expressed in terms of quantities or concentrations of radionuclides. The values of these derived guides are chosen so as to assure that workers in work environments that conform to them are unlikely to receive radiation doses that exceed the primary guides. The purpose of the present report is to set forth derived guides that are consistent with current Federal radiation ...
As with mammalian enzymes, green crab (Scylla serrata) alkaline phosphatase can be activated by Mg2+ through a time-dependent course. The activation is mainly a Vmax effect. Tsou's method was used to study the kinetic course of activation. The results show that the enzyme was activated by a complexing scheme that had not been previously identified: the enzyme first reversibly and quickly binds Mg2+ and then undergoes a slow reversible course to activation, with a relatively high activation energy (78 +/- 4 kJ/mol) and a slow conformational change. The activation reaction is a single molecule reaction, and the apparent activation rate constant is independent of Mg2+ concentration if the concentration is sufficiently high. The microscopic rate constants of activation and the association constant were determined from the measurements. The proposed scheme may also be applied to the Mg2+ activation mechanism for mammalian enzyme, to explain why the activation rate is ...
We present new results from BRAVA, a large-scale radial velocity survey of the Galactic bulge, using M giant stars selected from the Two Micron All Sky Survey catalog as targets for the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory 4 m Hydra multi-object spectrograph. The purpose of this survey is to construct a new generation of self-consistent bar models that conform to these observations. We report the dynamics for fields at the edge of the Galactic bulge at latitudes b = -8 deg. and compare to the dynamics at b = -4 deg. We find that the rotation curve V(r) is the same at b = -8 deg. as at b = -4 deg. That is, the Galactic boxy bulge rotates cylindrically, as do boxy bulges of other galaxies. The summed line-of-sight velocity distribution at b = -8 deg. is Gaussian, and the binned longitude-velocity plot shows no evidence for either a (disk) population with cold dynamics or for a (classical bulge) population with hot dynamics. The observed kinematics are well modeled ...
Megavoltage photon intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is typically used in the treatment of prostate cancer at our institution. Approximately 1% to 2% of patients with prostate cancer have hip prostheses. The presence of the prosthesis usually complicates the planning process because of dose perturbation around the prosthesis, radiation attenuation through the prosthesis, and the introduction of computed tomography artifacts in the planning volume. In addition, hip prostheses are typically made of materials of high atomic number, which add uncertainty to the dosimetry of the prostate and critical organs in the planning volume. When the prosthesis is bilateral, treatment planning is further complicated because only a limited number of beam angles can be used to avoid the prostheses. In this case study, we will report the observed advantages of using noncoplanar beams in the delivery of IMRT to a prostate cancer patient with bilateral hip prostheses. The treatment was planned ...
A high sensitivity (titer 60-150,000) radioimmunoassay for arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been developed using synthetic AVP as antigen and standard. The specificity of the antiserum has been characterized in detail by measuring the relative binding affinities of 29 analogs and fragments of AVP. In general, single amino acid substitution or deletion in the AVP molecule caused a reduction in binding to the antiserum; binding was further impaired for analogs which had multiple substitutions. ''Ring'' and ''tail'' fragments of the neurohypophysial hormones did not bind to the antiserum, and the only analog which the antiserum could not differentiate from AVP was deamino-AVP. More specifically, the antiserum exhibited the following properties: position 1, no requirement for a position charge at "1/_2 Cys; positions 2 and 3, requirements for #pi#-#pi# interacting pair of aromatic side chains and for Tyr at position 2; position 4, requirement for Gln (>Thr > Val); position 8, ...
US Department of Energy (DOE) Order 5400.1 requires the preparation of environmental monitoring plans and implementation of environmental monitoring programs for all DOE facilities. The order identifies two distinct components of environmental monitoring, namely effluent monitoring and environmental surveillance. In general, effluent monitoring has the objectives of characterizing contaminants and demonstrating compliance with applicable standards and permit requirements, whereas environmental surveillance has the broader objective of monitoring the effects of DOE activities on on- and off-site environmental and natural resources. The purpose of this document is to support the Environmental Monitoring Plan for the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) by describing the groundwater component of the environmental surveillance program for the DOE facilities on the ORR. The distinctions between groundwater effluent monitoring and groundwater surveillance have been defined in the Martin Marietta ...
The phase transition behaviour of polyethylene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PE-b-PEO) diblock copolymer with relatively short chain lengths has been studied on the basis of temperature dependent infrared and Raman spectral measurements and synchrotron WAXD/SAXS simultaneous measurements, from which the concrete structural changes were deduced successfully from the various levels of molecular chain conformation, chain packing mode and higher-order structure. The higher-order structure has been found to transform between lamella, perforated lamella, gyroid, cylinder and sphere structures. The inner structural changes occurring in the polyethylene and poly(ethylene oxide) parts have been related with these morphological changes. The morphological transition from lamella to gyroid occurs with keeping the crystalline state of polyethylene parts. This apparently curious transition can be interpreted reasonably by assuming the thermally-activated chain motion in the crystal ...
The dosimetric characteristics for a new brachytherapy seed source (I-Plant"T"M model 3600) were measured using LiF thermoluminescent dosimeters and appropriate phantom materials in conformance with the methodology and guidance provided by the AAPM Task Group 43. The I-Plant"T"M model 3600 is the successor to the I-Plant"T"M model 3500. The major difference between these sources is that the model 3600 contains a leaded-glass core to provide radio-opacity (while the model 3500 contains a silver core), which does not produce spectral contamination upon neutron activation. The dose rate constant #LAMBDA# for the model 3600 was determined to be 1.00 Gy h"-"1 U"-"1 (with a 6% overall relative standard deviation), compared to 1.01 cGy h"-"1 U"-"1 reported for the model 3500 in previous studies. The remaining dosimetric characteristics also are similar for both sources.
This paper presents a method for analyzing the seismic response of a flat bottomed cylindrical liquid storage tank to vertical earthquake excitation. Here, vertical earthquake acceleration is considered to correspond to an increase in the density of a stored liquid. Taking into account the vertical and horizontal earthquake loads, hydrostatic pressure, and considering restrictive moment and shear forces at shell-bottom welded joint, the author has calculated circumferential and longitudinal stresses. These are combined to more accurately approximate the stresses at the base shell course. The calculated result closely conforms to the actual damage, termed ''elephant's foot,'' observed in the fuel storage tanks damaged in the Tangshan earthquake. This result shows that the ''elephant's foot'' phenomenon is not caused by buckling of the tank shell due to longitudinal compressive ...
The analytical treatment of the nonperturbative QCD dynamics is one of the main open questions of the strong interactions. Currently, it is only possible to get some qualitative information about this regime considering other QCD-like theories, as, for example, the N=4 super Yang-Mills theory, where one can perform calculations in the nonperturbative limit of large 't Hooft coupling using the anti-de Sitter space/conformal field theory (AdS/CFT). Recently, the high energy scattering amplitude was calculated in the AdS/CFT approach, applied to deep-inelastic scattering and confronted with the F_2 HERA data. In this work we extend the nonperturbative AdS/CFT inspired model for diffractive processes and compare its predictions with a perturbative approach based on the Balitsky-Kovchegov equation. We demonstrate that the AdS/CFT inspired model is not able to describe the current F_2"D"("3") HERA data and predicts a similar behavior to that from the Balitsky-Kovchegov ...
Development status of small direct injection diesel engine at Isuzu Motors Ltd. is reviewed. There is much difficulty in combustion optimization of small DI engines, due to small combustion chamber volume, large surface to volume ratio, wide engine speed range and so on. Novel ideas in the area of injection system, combustion chamber and induction swirl were tried to solve these problems and their effects are presented here. Our prototype DI engines which adopted some of these ideas has turned out to have better fuel economy by about 15 percent, 2 - 3 dB(A) higher noise level than IDI and almost the same power output performance as IDI. As to exhaust emissions, they have a possibility to conform to '86 California emission standards, in inertia weight classes up to 2625 LBS. The remaining problem areas are noise emission, durability of injection pump and cabin heater performance. These problems must be solved by further innovation, before DI engines will be ...
South of Byrd Glacier, central Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica, Lower Cambrian Shackleton Limestone (Byrd Group) is divided into four informal members. The transition from Shackleton carbonates to clastics of Starshot Formation is conformable, with alternating units of limestone and argillite, and a thick succession of pillow basalt. Douglas Conglomerate is interbedded with and overlies Starshot Formation, and overlies folded Shackleton Limestone unconformably. Lower amphibolite-grade Selborne Group is composed of Madison Marble and Contortion Schist. The contact between the two formations is interbedded marble and schist, and includes metabasalt. We correlate Byrd Group with Selborne Group, Shackleton Limestone with Madison Marble, and Starshot Formation and Douglas Conglomerate with Contortion Schist. These correlations and the lack of equivalent lithologies to the north of Byrd Glacier imply that Byrd Glacier is the northern boundary of the Byrd ...
There may be circumstances when a sector has to be partially or totally warmed-up to temperatures above 80 K, that is when thermal dilatation starts to play a role. Some equipment have been identify as presenting a risk, like the non-conform "plug-in" modules in the arcs. Because of motion induced by thermal dilatation, the electrical (ElQA) quality control may also have to be done again after cool-down. The main reason identified so far for partial warm-up is the required maintenance of the cooling towers and the cryogenics plants. There is also the request from the vacuum group to periodically warm-up the beam screen to temperatures in the 100 K region to release and pump-out the gas crysorbed on the surface of the beam screen. Observed and expected temperature conditions and statistics on failures of PIMs in sectors which have been warmed-up will be presented in this contribution. Methods to detect buckled PIMs will be described, as well as a recommended ...
In 18 piglets, weighing 10-15 kg, third-degree burns or full-thickness skin excisions of 4 X 4 cm were inflicted. The effect of five dressing materials on adhesiveness to the wounds, appearance, conformability, wound contraction, bacterial count, and morphology of the wound was studied at the end of the seventh and fourteenth days without dressing changes. In 11 piglets with a burn wound, the most adherent dressing was collagen sponge(CS), followed by polyurethane sponge (PU), pigskin xenograph (PS), and xeroform. CS more effectively debrided the wound from coagulated necrotic tissue than the other dressings. Wound contraction was maximal with CS dressing (52%), followed by PU (44%), xeroform (32%), and PS (27%). In another seven piglets with full-thickness excised wounds, a velour dressing made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or PU adhered significantly more than CS or PS. Wound contraction was greater with CS (37%) or PTFE (35%) than with PS (23%) or PU (18%). ...
An improved lockout assembly for locking a circuit breaker in a selected off or on position is provided. The lockout assembly includes a lock block and a lock pin. The lock block has a hollow interior which fits over the free end of a switch handle of the circuit breaker. The lock block includes at least one hole that is placed in registration with a hole in the free end of the switch handle. A lock tab on the lock block serves to align and register the respective holes on the lock block and switch handle. A lock pin is inserted through the registered holes and serves to connect the lock block to the switch handle. Once the lock block and the switch handle are connected, the position of the switch handle is prevented from being changed by the lock tab bumping up against a stationary housing portion of the circuit breaker. When the lock pin installed, an apertured-end portion of the lock pin is in registration with another hole on the lock block. Then a special scissors ...
We report a simple method for the label-free detection of double-stranded DNA using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). We prepared cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-capped silver nanoparticles and a DNA-nanoparticle complex by adding silver nanoparticles to {lambda}-DNA solutions. In the present study, the utilization of CTAB-capped silver nanoparticles facilitates the electrostatic interaction between DNA molecules and silver nanoparticles; at the same time, the introduction of DNA avoids adding aggregating agent for the formation of nanoparticle aggregates to obtain large enhancement of DNA, because the DNA acts as both the probe molecules and aggregating agent of Ag nanoparticles. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies show that the morphology of DNA-Ag nanoparticle complexes seems to be determined by the concentrations of the DNA and the nanoparticles. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) studies show that the morphology of the complexes plays a significant role in ...
Orientational constraints obtained from solid state NMR experiments on anisotropic samples are used here in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for determining the structure and dynamics of several different membrane-bound molecules. The new MD technique is based on the inclusion of orientation dependent pseudo-forces in the COSMOS-NMR force field. These forces drive molecular rotations and re-orientations in the simulation, such that the motional time-averages of the tensorial NMR properties approach the experimentally measured parameters. The orientational-constraint-driven MD simulations are universally applicable to all NMR interaction tensors, such as chemical shifts, dipolar couplings and quadrupolar interactions. The strategy does not depend on the initial choice of coordinates, and is in principle suitable for any flexible molecule. To test the method on three systems of increasing complexity, we used as constraints some deuterium quadrupolar couplings from the literature on ...
Orientational constraints obtained from solid state NMR experiments on anisotropic samples are used here in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for determining the structure and dynamics of several different membrane-bound molecules. The new MD technique is based on the inclusion of orientation dependent pseudo-forces in the COSMOS-NMR force field. These forces drive molecular rotations and re-orientations in the simulation, such that the motional time-averages of the tensorial NMR properties approach the experimentally measured parameters. The orientational-constraint-driven MD simulations are universally applicable to all NMR interaction tensors, such as chemical shifts, dipolar couplings and quadrupolar interactions. The strategy does not depend on the initial choice of coordinates, and is in principle suitable for any flexible molecule. To test the method on three systems of increasing complexity, we used as constraints some deuterium quadrupolar couplings from the literature on ...
Orientational constraints obtained from solid state NMR experiments on anisotropic samples are used here in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for determining the structure and dynamics of several different membrane-bound molecules. The new MD technique is based on the inclusion of orientation dependent pseudo-forces in the COSMOS-NMR force field. These forces drive molecular rotations and re-orientations in the simulation, such that the motional time-averages of the tensorial NMR properties approach the experimentally measured parameters. The orientational-constraint-driven MD simulations are universally applicable to all NMR interaction tensors, such as chemical shifts, dipolar couplings and quadrupolar interactions. The strategy does not depend on the initial choice of coordinates, and is in principle suitable for any flexible molecule. To test the method on three systems of increasing complexity, we used as constraints some deuterium quadrupolar couplings from the literature on ...
This document describes the results of accelerated aging tests to determine the long-term effectiveness of selected impoundment liner materials in a uranium mill tailings environment. The study was sponsored by the US Department of Energy under the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project. The study was designed to evaluate the need for, and the performance of, several candidate liners for isolating mill tailings leachate in conformance with proposed Environmental Protection Agency and Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements. The liners were subjected to conditions known to accelerate the degradation mechanisms of the various liners. Also, a test environment was maintained that modeled the expected conditions at a mill tailings impoundment, including ground subsidence and the weight loading of tailings on the liners. A comparison of installation costs was also performed for the candidate liners. The laboratory testing and cost information prompted the ...
This Maintenance Improvement Plan has been developed for maintenance functions associated with the 222-S Laboratory. This plan is developed from the guidelines presented by Department of Energy (DOE) Order 4330.4B, Maintenance Management Program (DOE 1994), Chapter 11. The objective of this plan is to provide information for establishing and identifying WMH conformance programs and policies applicable to implementation of DOE Order 4330.4B guidelines. In addition, this maintenance plan identifies the actions necessary to develop a cost effective and efficient maintenance program at 222-S Laboratory. Maintenance activities are mainly going to be performed by existing maintenance organizations within Waste Management Federal Services of Hanford (WMH). Most maintenance performed at 222-S Laboratory is performed by the 222-S Laboratory maintenance organization. This 222-S Laboratory Maintenance Implementation Plan provides the interface requirements and ...
In the treatment of prostatic cancer using a newly proposed intermittent multiportal therapy (DIMT), acute reactions, change in tumor marker levels, and complications more than 6 months after treatment were evaluated. From June 1989 to September 1990, 26 patients with prostatic cancer (stage A2, 3 patients; B, 9; C, 2; D, 10; recurrence, 2) were treated. Fifteen patients were followed up for more than one year, with a mean period of 11.6 months. The treatment schedule is 52.5 Gy in 16 fractions in 4 weeks for radical treatment, and 30.0 Gy in 8 fractions in 2 weeks for palliative treatment. The 360 degree rotation about the patient was divided into 16 fractions, and 2 opposing fractions were used in one day as parallel opposed portals to treat the target volume. The fractions were serially treated one per day, so that 8 treatment days produced a total dose of distribution similar to that for conventional conformational therapy. The size of the irradiation field ...
Background and purpose: the recent RTOG guidelines for future clinical developments in gynecologic malignancies included the investigation of dose escalation in the paraaortic (PO) region which is, however, very difficult to target due to the presence of critical organs such as kidneys, liver, spinal cord, and digestive structures. The aim of this study was to investigate intensity-modulated radiotherapy's (IMRT) possibilities of either increasing, in a safe way, the dose to 50-60 Gy in case of macroscopic disease or decreasing the dose to organs at risk (OR) when treatment is given in an adjuvant setting. Material and methods: the dosimetric charts of 14 patients irradiated to the PO region at the department of radiation oncology, university hospital of Liege, Belgium, in 2000 were analyzed in order to compare six-field conformal external-beam radio-therapy (CEBR) and five-beam IMRT approaches. Both CEBR and IMRT investigations were planned to ...
The data set consists of the following: - Biochemical analysis of Deschampsia leaves and root; - Chromatographic Analysis of membrane lipids (lipid profile) ...
In this study, a probabilistic seismic risk analysis of the Wolsung NPP containment building was performed by a seismic hazard analysis and a seismic fragility analysis based on the nonlinear dynamic time-history analyses. The conventional seismic fragility analysis of the safety related structures in a NPP have been performed by using the linear elastic analysis results. The probabilistic seismic risk of the containment building was 5.19e-8.
In this study, a probabilistic seismic risk analysis of the Wolsung NPP containment building was performed by a seismic hazard analysis and a seismic fragility analysis based on the nonlinear dynamic time-history analyses. The conventional seismic fragility analysis of the safety related structures in a NPP have been performed by using the linear elastic analysis results. The probabilistic seismic risk of the containment building was 5.19e-8.
High energy ion backscattering analysis in combination with recently-developed resonance scattering analysis is described, with a stress on precise and quantitative oxygen analysis and its successful application to the characterization and quality estimation of high T_c oxide superconductors. Particularly, the present status of high energy ion backscattering analysis, the review of analytical results for YBa_2Cu_3O_7 _- _x, the estimation of composition and crystalline quality of (La_1 _- _xSr_x)_2CuO_4 by 7 MeV alpha particle backscattering analysis are described.
The evolution of "humanized" (i.e., free of animal sourced reagents) and ultimately chemically defined culture systems for human embryo stem cell (hESC) isolation and culture is of importance to improving their efficacy and safety in research and therapeutic applications. This can be achieved by integration of a multitude of individual approaches to replace or eliminate specific animal sourced reagents into a single comprehensive protocol. In the present study our objective was to integrate strategies obviating reliance on some of the most poorly defined and path-critical factors associated with hESC derivation, namely the use of animal immune compliment to isolate embryo inner cell mass, and animal sourced serum products and feeder cells to sustain hESC growth and attachment. As a result we report the derivation of six new hESC lines isolated by outgrowth from whole blastocysts on an extracellular matrix substrate of purified human laminin (Ln) with transitional reliance on ...
An increase in forest production will be necessary in the future when wood becomes a major renewable source of energy and chemicals along with its traditional role of fibre source. This increase could eventually by achieved be proper selection and breeding of trees. Clonal forestry by vegetative propagation of cuttings is becoming a viable alternative to a seedling-based forestry with many advantages, and cutting could be used to quickly propagate large numbers of clones of control-pollinated seedlings. Most forest trees are propagated sexually and seed orchards were started in the US and Canada in the last 40-50 years for breeding purposes. Forests could ultimately be established with improved seedlings instead of from seed with unknown genetic potential, or by natural regeneration. Micropropagation is the term used to refer to the propagation of plants raised by tissue culture methods rather than from seeds or cuttings. Many clonal plantlets could be regenerated asexually in the ...
The ternary zirconium palladium silicide ZrPd{sub 3}Si{sub 3} has been synthesized by arc-melting of the elemental components. It adopts a new structure type and crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm with a = 3.8127(4){angstrom}, b = 15.551(1){angstrom}, c = 7.0390(5){angstrom}, and Z = 4 (Pearson symbol oC28). The structure can be regarded as being built up of Re{sub 3}B-type slabs of composition Pd{sub 3}Si alternating with {alpha}-FeSi{sub 2} slabs of composition ZrSi{sub 2}. Notable features include the presence of Si{sub 2} pairs, square pyramidal and tetrahedral coordination of Pd centers by Si atoms, an unusual distorted cubic coordination of the Zr atoms by the Si{sub 2} pairs, and an extensive network of Zr-Zr, Zr-Pd, and Pd-Pd metal-metal bonds. ZrPd{sub 3}Si{sub 3} is weakly metallic with a room-temperature resistivity of 1.7 x 10{sup {minus}3} {Omega} cm. Extended Hueckel band structure calculations confirm the metallic behavior; support the simultaneous ...
In neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's and prion disease it has been shown that host genetic background can have a significant effect on susceptibility. Indeed, human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have implicated several candidate genes. Understanding such genetic susceptibility is relevant to risks of developing variant CJD (vCJD) in populations exposed to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and understanding mechanisms of neurodegeneration. In mice, aspects of prion disease susceptibility can be modelled by examining the incubation period following experimental inoculation. Quantitative trait linkage studies have already identified multiple candidate genes; however, it is also possible to take an individual candidate gene approach. Rarb and Stmn2 were selected as candidates based on the known association with vCJD. Because of the increasing overlap described between prion and Alzheimer's diseases we also chose Clu, Picalm and Cr1, which ...
Different technological procedures used for the chemical mining of uranium differ for one thing with a level of the deposit exploitation and for another with the expenditures. It is necessary to find out the highest acceptable value of the costs per unit of production - limit unit costs. This criterion serves both for selection of the minable parts of deposit, and for determination of the exploitation level of the deposit parts. The paper describes a calculation of the costs and their decomposition into the fixed and variable costs. An evaluation of the different variants of the deposit exploitation is based on the variable costs, expressed in the dependence on the parameters of technological procedure. These parameters are either primary, e.g. density of the wells or dosage of reagents, or secondary, e.g. the uranium production. A relation between primary and secondary variables is defined by the technological models. The first economic optimization calculations ...
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) causes 25-30% of cases of antibiotic associated diarrhea and most cases of pseudomembranous colitis. Patients presenting with diarrhea after hospitalization for 3 or more days should be tested for C. difficile. There are many options available for testing, each of which has inherent advantages and disadvantages. Most laboratories perform toxin testing using an enzyme immunoassay method. In general these tests have sensitivities ranging from 60 to 70% and specificities of 98%. When using these methods, symptomatic patients with negative tests should be tested by another more sensitive method. Until recently, cell culture cytotoxicity neutralization assays (CCNAs) were considered the gold standard in the U.S. A two-step algorithm using an EIA for glutamate dehydrogenase detection followed by testing positives using CCNA, offered an improved alternative until the availability of molecular assays. Although early studies that compared the GDH assay to ...
A single round of Edman degradation was employed to remove the NH_2-terminal valine from isolated #alpha# chains of human hemoglobin. Reconstitution of normal #beta# chains with truncated or substituted #alpha# chains was used to form truncated (des-Val"1-#alpha#1) and substituted ([[1-"1"3C]Gly"1]#alpha#1) tetrameric hemoglobin analogs. Structural homology of the analogs with untreated native hemoglobin was established by using several spectroscopic and physical methods. Functional studies indicate that the reconstituted tetrameric protein containing des-Val"1-#alpha# chains has a higher affinity for oxygen, is less influenced by chloride ions or 2,3-biphosphoglycerate, and shows lower cooperativity than native hemoglobin. These results confirm the key functional role of the #alpha#-chain NH_2 terminus in mediating cooperative oxygen binding across the dimer interface. The NH_2-terminal pK/sub 1/2/ value was determined for the ["1"3C]glycine-substituted analog to be 7.46 +/- 0.09 at ...
Consistent application of a newly developed coincidence technique to determine activation products in the operation and demolition of nuclear facilities results in very new perspectives in contamination monitoring and clearance measurement of plant components. In particular, it is possible to avoid the critical spread of point-source Co-60 contamination, the so-called hot particles. The CCM (Cobalt Coincidence Measurement) technique includes the coincident detection of prompt-prompt gamma cascades with "6"0Co and other activation products ("1"1"0"mAg, "1"2"4Sb, "2"2Na) with low mass-specific limits for unrestricted clearance. Special features of the technique are the short measurement times, excellent signal-to-noise ratio, and focusing in space achieved. Compared to conventional integral gamma-measurements, the signal-to-background ratio can be improved by 1-2 orders of magnitude. The method can be employed especially where conventional integral or spectroscopic methods suffer from ...
Assessment of the roles of the carboxyl-terminal #beta#146 histidyl residues in the alkaline Bohr effect in human and normal adult hemoglobin by high-resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy requires assignment of the resonances corresponding to these residues. By a careful spectroscopic study of human normal adult hemoglobin, enzymatically prepared des(His146#beta#)-hemoglobin, and the mutant hemoglobins Cowtown (#beta#146His #-># Leu) and York (#beta#146His #-># Pro), the authors have resolved some of these conflicting results. By a close incremental variation of pH over a wide range in chloride-free 0.1 M N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid buffer, a single resonance has been found to be consistently missing in the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of these hemoglobin variants. The results indicate that the contribution of the #beta#146 histidyl residues is 0.52 H"+/hemoglobin tetramer at pH 7.6, markedly less ...
Synthetic atrial natriuretic peptide (carperitide) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP; nesiritide) are used to treat congestive heart failure. However, despite beneficial cardiac unloading properties, reductions in renal perfusion pressures limit their clinical effectiveness. Recently, CD-NP, a chimeric peptide composed of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) fused to the C-terminal tail of Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP), was shown to be more glomerular filtration rate-enhancing than BNP in dogs. However, the molecular basis for the increased responsiveness was not determined. Here, we show that the DNP tail has a striking effect on CNP, converting it from a non-agonist to a partial agonist of natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR)-A while maintaining the ability to activate NPR-B. This effect is specific for human receptors because CD-NP was only a slightly better activator of rat NPR-A due to the promiscuous nature of CNP in this species. Interesting, the DNP tail alone had no effect ...
This study is a contribution to the growing body of work on the influence of changes in the composition of an acrylic bone cement on various properties of the curing and cured material. The focus is on one commercially-available acrylic bone cement brand, Surgical Simplex P, and three variants of it and a series of properties, namely, setting time, maximum exotherm temperature, activation energy and frequency factor for the polymerization reaction, diffusion coefficient for the uptake of phosphate buffered saline, at 37 degrees C, ultimate compressive strength (UCS), plane-strain fracture toughness, fatigue life (under fully-reversed tension-compression stress), hardness (H) and elastic modulus (both determined using quasi-static nanoindentation), and the variation of the storage and loss moduli with frequency of the applied force in a dynamic nanoindentation test. It was found that (a) a 68% reduction in the volume of the activator, N,N dimethyl-4-toluidine, ...
Extracellular ATP stimulates transmembrane ion fluxes in the mouse macrophage cell line J774. In the presence of Mg2+, nonhydrolyzable ATP analogs and other purine and pyrimidine nucleotides do not elicit this response, suggesting the presence of a specific receptor for ATP on the macrophage plasma membrane. One candidate for such a receptor is the ecto-ATPase expressed on these cells. We, therefore, investigated the role of this enzyme in ATP-induced /sup 86/Rb+ efflux in J774 cells. The ecto-ATPase had a broad nucleotide specificity and did not hydrolyze extracellular ATP in the absence of divalent cations. /sup 86/Rb+ efflux was not blocked by inhibition of the ecto-ATPase and did not require Ca2+ or Mg2+. In fact, ATP-stimulated /sup 86/Rb+ efflux was inhibited by Mg2+ and correlated with the availability of ATP4- in the medium. In the absence of divalent cations, the slowly hydrolyzable ATP analogs adenosine 5'-(beta, gamma-imido)triphosphate (AMP-PNP) and adenosine ...
A 2009 paper considered possibilities for applying a common display suite to various front-line bubble canopy fighters, whereas further research suggests the cost savings, post Milestone C production/deployment, might not be advantageous. The situation for military cargo and tanker aircraft, may offer a different paradigm. The primary objective of Defense acquisition is to acquire quality products that satisfy user needs with measurable improvements to mission capability and operational support, in a timely manner, and at a fair and reasonable price. DODD 5000.01 specifies that all participants in the acquisition system shall recognize the reality of fiscal constraints, viewing cost as an independent variable. DoD Components must therefore plan programs based on realistic projections of the dollars and manpower likely to be available in future years and also identify the total costs of ownership, as well as the major drivers of total ownership costs. In theory, therefore, this has ...
The cavum septum pellucidum is an anatomical variants of the septum pellucidum, and lying between two lateral ventricles and this is referred to as the fifth ventricle. Occasionally, posterior extension of the cavum septum pellucidum towards the splenium is seen and this is known as the cavum vergae, or sixth ventricle. The septum is double membrane and occasionally a narrow cavity containing CSF is present between these membrane. The roof of the cavum septum pellucidum is formed by the corpus callosum and its floor by the anterior pillars of the fornix. This cavum outlined with air is occasionally seen in the pneumoencephalography. Brain CT scans of 1000 patients were performed, and the diagnosis could be made on the basis of the characteristic shape, density and location. Other diagnostic procedure are not necessary in these cases. Patients were examined with CT scanner from June-80' to Dec-80', at department of radiology, Maryknoll Hospital, ...
Molecular biologists, geneticists, and other life scientists use the BLAST homology search package as their first step for discovery of information about unknown or poorly annotated genomic sequences. There are two main variants of BLAST: BLASTP for searching protein collections and BLASTN for nucleotide collections. Surprisingly, BLASTN has had very little attention; for example, the algorithms it uses do not follow those described in the 1997 BLAST paper and no exact description has been published. It is important that BLASTN is state-of-the-art: Nucleotide collections such as GenBank dwarf the protein collections in size, they double in size almost yearly, and they take many minutes to search on modern general purpose workstations. This paper proposes significant improvements to the BLASTN algorithms. Each of our schemes is based on compressed bytepacked formats that allow queries and collection sequences to be compared four bases at a time, permitting very fast ...
This paper discusses the structural and compositional changes at the nanometer scale associated with the nucleation and growth of #alpha# precipitates in the #beta# titanium alloy Ti-5553 (Ti-5Al-5Mo-5 V-3Cr-0.5Fe) with #omega# precipitates acting as heterogeneous nucleation sites. The microstructural evolution in this alloy, during #beta#-solutionizing, quenching and aging type heat-treatments, has been investigated by combining results from scanning electron microscopy, orientation imaging microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution TEM and three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) tomography. Athermal #omega# precipitates form in this alloy on quenching from above the #beta# transus temperature. On isothermal annealing at low temperatures, these #omega# precipitates coarsen to form chemically ordered #omega# precipitates, accompanied by the nucleation of the stable #alpha# phase. Annealing at higher temperatures leads to dissolution of #omega# and further growth of ...
The CMS Physics Analysis Toolkit (PAT) is presented. The PAT is a high-level analysis layer enabling the development of common analysis efforts across and within Physics Analysis Groups. It aims at fulfilling the needs of most CMS analyses, providing both ease-of-use for the beginner and flexibility for the advanced user. The main PAT concepts are described in detail and some examples from physics analyses are given.
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The authors have developed a complex of activation methods of analysis using a nuclear reactor (nuclear activation analysis) and a cyclotron (charged-particle activation analysis). The methods have been used to determine the concentrations of more than 20 elements in five medicinal plants native to Uzbekistan: Syrian rue (Peganum harmala L.), plantain (Plantago lanceolata), peppermint (Mentha piperata L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.), and ziziphora (Ziziphora bungeana Yur.). The results of radio-activation analysis were compared with the results of standard spectral analysis performed in another laboratory and the accuracy of the procedures developed was evaluated on the basis of the results.
To get a better understanding of the condensation oscillation and chugging process during blowdown of a BWR after a LOCA a large number of large scale pressure suppression experiments have been performed in several countries. ECN has performed a detailed analysis of the results of one of these experiments, e.g. the DAS M10 experiment of GKSS. This analysis includes the following aspects: Power Spectral Density (PSD) analysis of the data, analysis of the acoustic frequencies of the downcomers and an analysis of the eigenfrequencies of the downcomers. The results of these analyses and an evaluation are given in this paper. It is shown that all dominant frequencies in the experimental results can be correlated with the vent-acoustic or eigenfrequencies. (orig.).
analysis of NaMBT in ethylene glycol-water solutions with high accuracy. It reduces analysis time, requires smaller samples, and is able to detect extremely ...
PurposeTo investigate the utility of consistency metrics, such as inverse consistency, in contour based deformable registration error analysis.Full Text Available
Thermal-fluid flow analysis and demonstration test were performed for a spent fuel storage system. The commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, FLUENT was used for the numerical analysis. Effective thermal conductivities of a spent fuel assembly and a fuel basket were derived to optimize a thermal analysis model. Also, a porous model, which can simplify a complex configuration of a fuel assembly, was used in the thermal analysis. Demonstration test were performed to verify the thermal analysis method and procedure using a half scaled-down model and an electrically heated dummy fuel. The numerical analysis results were compared with the experimental data. Thermal analyses of the storage system were carried out for normal and off-normal conditions by using the verified analysis method.
The Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior was founded in 1958 by a group of male psychologists, mainly from the northeastern USA and connected with either Harvard or Columbia....Full Text Available
The present article examines the nature of and relations among the domains of behavior analysis. It first proposes a set of annotated, descriptive criteria to aid in distinguishing the experimental...Full Text Available
Project methodology, analysis of the occupational and training situation, task analysis process, design process for a systematic training plan specific to the job position are described.
... The variogram analysis of the high resolution imagery has shown that although more spatial scales have been identified than from the SPOT image ...
Oct 30, 2006 ... Pigment Analysis by HPLC at Horn Point Laboratory. Laurie Van Heukelem. Crystal Thomas. Meg Maddox. University of Maryland Center for ...
In this paper we present a complete solution to the problem of multifractal analysis of multiple ergodic averages in the case of symbolic dynamics for functions of two variables depending on the first coordinate.
The general methods used to complete measurements of human exposures are identified and illustrations are provided for the cases of indirect and direct methods used for exposure analysis. The application...Full Text Available
We present interactive computer programs for the analysis of nucleic acid sequences. In order to handle these programs, minimum computer experience is sufficient. The nucleotide sequence of the human...Full Text Available
Over the past decade, dramatic increases in computational power and improvement in image analysis algorithms have allowed the development of powerful computer-assisted analytical approaches...Full Text Available
Motivation: DNA sequences can be represented by sequences of four symbols, but it is often useful to convert the symbols into real or complex numbers for further analysis. Several mapping...Full Text Available
Two problems of Fourier analysis on GL(n,R) are studied. The first concerns the decomposition of the additive Fourier operator in terms of the group representation...Full Text Available
Advances in modern neuroscience require the identification of principles that connect different levels of experimental analysis, from molecular mechanisms to explanations of cellular functions,...Full Text Available
... to the actual size base on the terminal semicolon counting ... I Queue and stack control. ... analysis: highly accurate analysis of noisy, stochastic data. ...
Mar 1, 2011 ... analysis of NaMBT in ethylene glycol-water solutions with high accuracy. It reduces analysis time, requires smaller samples, and is able to ...
The methods are described of determining natural radionuclides, viz., thorium, uranium, radium, radon, polonium, actinium, and protactinium. The analysis is also described of ores, rocks, minerals, water, air. (M.D.).
The action of the Virasoro algebra on integrable hierarchies of non-linear equations and on related objects ('Schroedinger' differential operators) is investigated. The method consists in pushing forward the Virasoro action to the wave function of a hierarchy, and then reconstructing its action on the dressing and Lax operators. This formulation allows one to observe a number of suggestive similarities between the structures involved in the description of the Virasoro algebra on the hierarchies and the structure of conformal field theory on the world-sheet. This includes, in particular, an 'off-shell' hierarchy version of operator products and of the Cauchy kernel. In relation to matrix models, which have been observed to be effectively described by integrable hierarchies subjected to Virasoro constraints, I propose to define general Virasoro-constrained hierarchies also in terms of dressing operators, by certain equations which carry the information of the ...
We report on the effect of potato maltodextrins with variable dextrose equivalent (Paselli SA-2, SA-6 and SA-10) on the surface behavior at the air-water interface of the mixture: legumin+small-molecule surfactant. Distinct in nature small-molecule surfactants (model: sodium salt of capric acid, Na-caprate; and commercially important: a citric acid ester of monoglyceride, CITREM) have been under our consideration. The role of the structure of both of the maltodextrins and the small-molecule surfactants in the effect studied has been elucidated by measurements in a bulk aqueous medium of the enthalpy of their interaction from mixing calorimetry, value of weight average molecular weight of the maltodextrins and the thermodynamics of the pair maltodextrin-solvent and maltodextrin-protein interactions from laser static light scattering. The combined data of mixing calorimetry and light scattering suggest some complex formation between the small-molecule surfactants and the maltodextrins. ...
A rigorous solution for the spectrum of a quasioptical cylindrical cavity resonator with a randomly rough side boundary has been obtained. To accomplish this task, we have developed a method for the separation of variables in a wave equation, which enables one, in principle, to rigorously examine any limiting case-from negligibly weak to arbitrarily strong disorder at the resonator boundary. It is shown that the effect of disorder-induced scattering can be properly described in terms of two geometric potentials, specifically, the "amplitude" and the "gradient" potentials, which appear in wave equations in the course of conformal smoothing of the resonator boundaries. The scattering resulting from the gradient potential appears to be dominant, and its impact on the whole spectrum is governed by the unique sharpness parameter ?, the mean tangent of the asperity slope. As opposed to the resonator with bulk disorder, the distribution of nearest-neighbor spacings (NNS) ...
In radiation therapy with hadron beams, conformal irradiation to a tumour can be achieved by using the properties of incident ions such as the high dose concentration around the Bragg peak. For the effective utilization of such properties, it is necessary to evaluate the volume irradiated with hadron beams and the deposited dose distribution in a patient's body. Several methods have been proposed for this purpose, one of which uses the positron emitters generated through fragmentation reactions between incident ions and target nuclei. In the previous paper, we showed that the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) method could be applicable to the estimation of beam end-point from the measured positron emitting activity distribution for mono-energetic beam irradiations. In a practical treatment, a spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) beam is used to achieve a uniform biological dose distribution in the whole target volume. Therefore, in the present paper, we proposed ...
This report documents the results of the routine environmental audit of the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12 Plant), Anderson County, Tennessee. During this audit, the activities conducted by the audit team included reviews of internal documents and reports from previous audits and assessments; interviews with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), State of Tennessee regulatory, and contractor personnel; and inspections and observations of selected facilities and operations. The onsite portion of the audit was conducted August 22-September 2, 1994, by the DOE Office of Environmental Audit (EH-24), located within the Office of Environment, Safety and Health (EH). DOE 5482.1 B, {open_quotes}Environment, Safety, and Health Appraisal Program,{close_quotes} establishes the mission of EH-24 to provide comprehensive, independent oversight of DOE environmental programs on behalf of the Secretary of Energy. The ultimate goal of EH-24 is enhancement of environmental protection and minimization of risk to ...
PURPOSE: To determine the recommended dose of radiotherapy when combined with full-dose gemcitabine and erlotinib for unresected pancreas cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with unresected pancreatic cancer (Zubrod performance status 0-2) were eligible for the present study. Gemcitabine was given weekly for 7 weeks (1,000 mg/m(2)) with erlotinib daily for 8 weeks (100 mg). A final toxicity assessment was performed in Week 9. Radiotherapy (starting at 30 Gy in 2-Gy fractions, 5 d/wk) was given to the gross tumor plus a 1-cm margin starting with the first dose of gemcitabine. A standard 3 plus 3 dose escalation (an additional 4 Gy within 2 days for each dose level) was used, except for the starting dose level, which was scheduled to contain 6 patients. In general, Grade 3 or greater gastrointestinal toxicity was considered a dose-limiting toxicity, except for Grade 3 anorexia or Grade 3 fatigue alone. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients were treated (10 men and 10 women). Nausea, ...
The present project examined the operating characteristics and application possibilities of a new, compact combined heating and electricity generating unit with a thermal output of 14,5 kW and a generating capacity of 5,5 kW. Such a module was installed in a plant in Arlesheim (Canton of Basel-Country) and subject to performance measurements. The small heating and generating plant is designed for cyclic operation (without heat storage) and is very compact and low in cost. The heating and generating unit conforms to all Swiss regulations relating to electrical installations and air pollution control. The NO{sub x} emissions of the unit (400 mg/m{sup 3} in steady state operation) are above the limits of LRV 92 (80 mg/m{sup 3}), but the regulation does not apply for units in this power range. The electricity generation costs are approximately CHF 0.16/kWh. It therefore makes sense to install the module in regions with average supply tariffs of at least CHF 0.16/kWh. ...
Radiopharmaceuticals for brain imaging are used for the detection of ischemia, tumours and dementia associatied with disorders of the blood flow in the brain. The current radiopharmaceuticals for brain imaging have various limitations: 2-(F-18)fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) has a very short half-life. The physical properties of di-#beta#-(piperidinoethyl)-(Se-75)selenide (Se-75-PIPSE) and di-#beta#-(morpholinoethyl)-(Se-75)-selenide (Se-75-MOSE) are not ideal. Thallium-201 diethyldithricarbamate (T1-201-DDC) has unfavourable nuclidic characteristics, limited availability, a long half-life and high cost. I-123 in N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine (I-123-IMP) and N,N,N'-trimethyl-N'-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-5-iodobenzyl)-1,3-propanediamine (I-123-HIPDM) are not freely available and are expensive. N-13-labelled ammonia has a very short half-life. Technetium-99m hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime (Tc-99m-HM-PAO) is unstable both in vitro and in vivo and has a low brain-to-blood ratio. These ...
A Siemens Mevatron KV2 accelerator installed at the Royal Adelaide Hospital employs cylindrical solid-walled electron cones for some electron collimation. The cones being used at present result in treatment fields that do not always conform with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standards (particularly at high energies). The aim of this project was to simulate the existing cones using Monte Carlo methods in order to evaluate potential cone modifications required to overcome the field irregularities. Simulations were performed using the EGS4 (Electron Gamma Shower version 4, distribution II) Monte Carlo code installed on a DEC Alpha workstation at the University of South Australia. To rigorously simulate the existing electron cones it was necessary to also simulate various components within the treatment head of the linear accelerator. Results of simulations for existing cones were found to be consistent with experimental data. (obtained from Royal ...
Incorporation of /sup 32/P from (gamma-32P)ATP into tyrosine residues of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II receptor was observed in a Triton X-100-insoluble fraction of rat adipocyte plasma membranes. IGF-II receptor phosphorylation proceeded to a stoichiometry of approximately 0.5 mol of phosphate/IGF-II binding site after 10 min of incubation at 4 degrees C. A Km for ATP of 6 microM was calculated for this phosphorylation reaction. Addition of IGF-II caused an approximately 2-fold increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of the IGF-II receptor in this preparation. In contrast, phosphorylation of angiotensin II by the Triton X-100 washed membranes was not stimulated by IGF-II. Incubation of purified receptor immobilized on IGF-II agarose or of receptor-enriched low density microsomal membranes with (gamma-32P)ATP did not result in appreciable incorporation of (/sup 32/P)phosphate into the IGF-II receptor nor into exogenous substrates. These data suggest that the IGF-II receptor is ...
When Silk fibre derived from Bombyx mori, a native biopolymer, was dissolved in highly concentrated neutral salts such as CaCl{sub 2}, the regenerated liquid silk, a gradually degraded peptide mixture of silk fibroin, could be obtained. The silk fibroin nanoparticles were prepared rapidly from the liquid silk by using water-miscible protonic and polar aprotonic organic solvents. The nanoparticles are insoluble but well dispersed and stable in aqueous solution and are globular particles with a range of 35-125 nm in diameter by means of TEM, SEM, AFM and laser sizer. Over one half of the {epsilon}-amino groups exist around the protein nanoparticles by using a trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) method. Raman spectra shows the tyrosine residues on the surface of the globules are more exposed than those on native silk fibers. The crystalline polymorph and conformation transition of the silk nanoparticles from random-coil and {alpha}-helix form (Silk I) into ...
Cosmological N-body and hydrodynamic simulations start with a realization of a random density fluctuation field representing a cosmological model at an early epoch. The density field is often replaced by a set of particles whose positions and velocities are set to conform to the desired density field. Each particle represents a cloud of huge number of real particles. Positions and velocities of particles are subsequently integrated by various numerical codes. We have simulated a set of collisionless collapses of Gaussian density peaks by using the PM and P(3) M codes. We find that in cosmological simulations the physics at scales below the mean particle separation(MPS) is dominated by inaccuracies in describing the initial density field, and cannot be studied even by the high force-resolution codes. Since density fluctuations are ill-defined at scales smaller than MPS, it is desirable not to amplify this problem during the evolution. The P(3) M code is shown to ...