Casein kinase 1 is tightly associated with paired-helical filaments isolated from Alzheimer's disease brain

The protein kinase activity tightly associated with paired helical filaments (PHFs) purified from the brain tissue of individuals with Alzheimer's disease has been characterized in vitro. The activity is shown to phosphorylate casein, an exogenous substrate, with a maximal velocity of approximately 2 nmol/min/mg, suggesting it comprises a significant component of the total protein in the PHF preparation. On the basis of substrate selectivity, isoquinoline sulfonamide inhibitor selectivity, in-gel renaturation assays, and western analysis, the activity consists of closely related members of the alpha branch of the casein kinase 1 family of protein kinases. Because of its tight association with PHFs and its phosphate-directed substrate selectivity, casein kinase 1 is positioned to participate in the pathological hyperphosphorylation of tau protein that is observed in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.     

Kriging interpolation methods in geostatistics and DACE model

In recent study on design of experiments, the complicate metamodeling has been studied because defining exact model using computer simulation is expensive and time consuming. Thus, some designers often use approximate models, which express the relation between some inputs and outputs. In this paper, we review and compare the complicate metamodels, which are expressed by the interaction of various data through trying many physical experiments and running a computer simulation. The prediction model in this paper employs interpolation schemes known as ordinary kriging developed in the fields of spatial statistics and kriging in Design and Analysis of Computer Experiments (DACE) model. We will focus on describing the definitions, the prediction functions and the algorithms of two kriging methods, and assess the error measures of those by using some validation methods.     

Thermal-hydraulic assessment of high heat flux removal techniques for fusion applications

This paper is an assessment of three possible thermal-hydraulic high heat flux heat removal techniques which will result in adequate heat removal from fusion components with minimum penalty. The heat removal alternatives are: (1) subcooled flow boiling (SFB) with water, (2) high velocity helium gas convection (HGC), and (3) liquid metal (LM) heat transfer in the presence of a transverse magnetic field (TM). Advantages and disadvantages of each technique are delineated. Each heat removal technique is examined for a case study applicable to near-term fusion components such as limiters and divertors.Comparisons are made for the selected case study involving heat removal from a 1.5 m long, 1.0 cm diameter (inside) coolant channel which is subjected to a unifirm steady-state heat flux of 0.5 kW/cm². The results show that SFB has the greatest heat removal capability, with the lowest coolant channel wall temperature and pumping power, followed by HGC and LMTM. Critical research and development needs for each technique are also summarized.     

Amplified protein detection through visible plasmon shifts in gold nanocrystal solutions from bacteriophage platforms

A new method to engineer unique, solution-based protein diagnostics with femotomole sensitivies from modified bacteriophage is reported. These sensors are highly facile to use, rapid to run, possible to read without any spectroscopic or microscopic analysis, and do not require thermally unstable enzymes. These sensing platforms should be functional in locations with limited access to equipment and facilities.     

Effects of interfacial layer on characteristics of TiN/ZrO2 structures

To minimize the formation of unwanted interfacial layers, thin interfacial layer (ZrCN layer) was deposited between TiN bottom electrode and ZrO2 dielectric in TiN/ZrO2/TiN capacitor. Carbon and nitrogen were also involved in the layer because ZrCN layer was thermally deposited using TEMAZ without any reactant. Electrical characteristics of TiN/ZrO2/TiN capacitor were improved by insertion of ZrCN layer. The oxidation of TiN bottom electrode was largely inhibited at TiN/ZrCN/ZrO2 structure compared to TiN/ZrO2 structure. While the sheet resistance of TiN/ZrCN/ZrO2 structure was constantly sustained with increasing ZrO2 thickness, the large increase of sheet resistance was observed in TiN/ZrO2 structure after 6 nm ZrO2 deposition. When ZrO2 films were deposited on ZrCN layer, the deposition rate of ZrO2 also increased. It is believed that ZrCN layer acted both as a protection layer of TiN oxidation and a seed layer of ZrO2 growth.