Turncoat Polypeptides: We Adapt to Our Environment

A common interpretation of Anfinsen's hypothesis states that one amino acid sequence should fold into a single, native, ordered state, or a highly similar set thereof, coinciding with the global minimum in the folding-energy landscape, which, in turn, is responsible for the function of the protein. However, this classical view is challenged by many proteins and peptide sequences, which can adopt exchangeable, significantly dissimilar conformations that even fulfill different biological roles. The similarities and differences of concepts related to these proteins, mainly chameleon sequences, metamorphic proteins, and switch peptides, which are all denoted herein “turncoat” polypeptides, are reviewed. As well as adding a twist to the conventional view of protein folding, the lack of structural definition adds clear versatility to the activity of proteins and can be used as a tool for protein design and further application in biotechnology and biomedicine.     

Filling the gap between Continuous and Discrete Time Dynamics of Autoregressive Processes

Discretization of continuous time autoregressive (AR) processes driven by a Brownian motion and embedding of discrete time AR sequences driven by a Gaussian white noise are classical issues. The article aims at establishing and using such discretization and embedding formulae between extended AR continuous time processes and discrete time sequences. The continuous-time processes are driven by either Brownian or jump processes, and may have random coefficients depending on time; Lévy-driven processes are also considered. The innovation of the discrete time processes may be of many types – including Gaussian. In one way, observing the continuous time AR process at discrete times leads the AR dynamics of the discretized process to be characterized. The other way round, AR sequences can be embedded, in the almost sure sense, into continuous time AR processes with the same dynamics. Illustration is provided through many examples and simulation.     

基于摄影测量的飞机阻力伞运动参数测量技术

针对某型阻力伞性能鉴定试飞科目要求，需要精确测量阻力伞在稳定工作时的垂直、水平摆角，从而为该产品的技术鉴定提供依据。本文根据加装在飞机机背中段的高速摄像机，获取阻力伞的运动影像，通过图像分析处理识别特征点的亚象素坐标，采用摄影测量的解算算法，推导出数学解算模型，实现了阻力伞运动参数的最优解算。结合真实飞行试验对测量结果进行了分析，数据结论准确。     

阿尔泰南缘泥盆纪火山－沉积盆地形成机制探讨

经过野外观测和室内分析测试，认为阿尔泰南缘三个等间距斜列的麦兹、克朗、冲乎尔火山沉积盆地中，广泛分布着泥盆纪火山沉积建造，它们控制着阿尔泰南缘多金属矿带的展布     

基于视觉暗示的战争纪念建筑设计手法探究

当代建筑中，视觉暗示的设计手法对纪念建筑的营造有着至关重要的作用。现试图从建筑学的视角出发，以当代战争纪念建筑实际案例为研究对象，对战争纪念建筑的设计方法展开讨论。首先着重分析视觉暗示与格式塔心理学的关系，其次阐述视觉暗示给参观者心理带来的微妙变化，之后探讨视觉暗示对空间纪念效果造成的影响，最终归纳为可操作的设计策略：图形暗示、内容暗示、秩序暗示，并明确其如何相互影响。立足于格式塔心理学及心理暗示的理论基础，是对纪念建筑设计方法的补充，亦可为今后的战争纪念馆设计提供启示。     

AMERICAN CODES: A BOOK REVIEW

The auto-correlation function of a shift register sequence as used in cryptology does not correspond to the classical statistical definition. The aim of this paper is to point out the differences and some relations between those twin concepts.     

Use of Repetitive Sequences for Molecular and Cytogenetic Characterization of Avena Species from Portugal

Genomic diversity of Portuguese accessions of Avena species—diploid A. strigosa and hexaploids A. sativa and A. sterilis—was evaluated through molecular and cytological analysis of 45S rDNA, and other repetitive sequences previously studied in cereal species—rye subtelomeric sequence (pSc200) and cereal centromeric sequence (CCS1). Additionally, retrotransposons and microsatellites targeting methodologies—IRAP (inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism) and REMAP (retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphism)—were performed. A very high homology was detected for ribosomal internal transcribed sequences (ITS1 and ITS2) between the species analyzed, although nucleolar organizing regions (NOR) fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed distinct number of Nor loci between diploid and hexaploid species. Moreover, morphological diversity, evidenced by FISH signals with different sizes, was observed between distinct accessions within each species. pSc200 sequences were for the first time isolated from Avena species but proven to be highly similar in all genotypes analyzed. The use of primers designed for CCS1 unraveled a sequence homologous to the Ty3/gypsy retrotransposon Cereba, that was mapped to centromeric regions of diploid and hexaploid species, being however restricted to the more related A and D haplomes. Retrotransposon-based methodologies disclosed species- and accessions-specific bands essential for the accurate discrimination of all genotypes studied. Centromeric, IRAP and REMAP profiles therefore allowed accurate assessment of inter and intraspecific variability, demonstrating the potential of these molecular markers on future oat breeding programs.     

Using lag-sequential analysis for understanding interaction sequences in visualizations

The investigation of how users make sense of the data provided by information systems is very important for human computer interaction. In this context, understanding the interaction processes of users plays an important role. The analysis of interaction sequences, for example, can provide a deeper understanding about how users solve problems. In this paper we present an analysis of sequences of interactions within a visualization system and compare the results to previous research. We used log file analysis and thinking aloud as methods. There is some indication based on log file analysis that there are interaction patterns which can be generalized. Thinking aloud indicates that some cognitive processes occur together with a higher probability than others.     

Effects of layup sequences on stresses of thick composite cantilever tubes

In this study, a new simple-input displacement-based method is used to study effects of layup sequences on stresses, strains, and deformations of thick laminated orthotropic cantilever straight tubes under transverse loading. Three-dimensional stress distributions are obtained based on the most general displacement field of elasticity. A layer-wise theory which includes the full three-dimensional constitutive relations is used. A non-dimensional simple coefficient is introduced to compare interlaminar radial stresses of different layup sequences. Finally, some design guidelines are proposed to consider effects of layup sequences of laminated thick composite tubes subjected to shearing load.     

The Discovery of Aurora Kinase Inhibitor by Multi-Docking-Based Virtual Screening

We report the discovery of aurora kinase inhibitor using the fragment-based virtual screening by multi-docking strategy. Among a number of fragments collected from eMololecules, we found four fragment molecules showing potent activity (>50% at 100 μM) against aurora kinase. Based on the explored fragment scaffold, we selected two compounds in our synthesized library and validated the biological activity against Aurora kinase.