Association of INAD with NORPA is essential for controlled activation and deactivation of Drosophila phototransduction in vivo

Visual transduction in Drosophila is a G protein-coupled phospholipase C-mediated process that leads to depolarization via activation of the transient receptor potential (TRP) calcium channel. Inactivation-no-afterpotential D (INAD) is an adaptor protein containing PDZ domains known to interact with TRP. Immunoprecipitation studies indicate that INAD also binds to eye-specific protein kinase C and the phospholipase C, no-receptor-potential A (NORPA). By overlay assay and site-directed mutagenesis we have defined the essential elements of the NORPA-INAD association and identified three critical residues in the C-terminal tail of NORPA that are required for the interaction. These residues, Phe-Cys-Ala, constitute a novel binding motif distinct from the sequences recognized by the PDZ domain in INAD. To evaluate the functional significance of the INAD-NORPA association in vivo, we generated transgenic flies expressing a modified NORPA, NORPAC1094S, that lacks the INAD interaction. The transgenic animals display a unique electroretinogram phenotype characterized by slow activation and prolonged deactivation. Double mutant analysis suggests a possible inaccessibility of eye-specific protein kinase C to NORPAC1094S, undermining the observed defective deactivation, and that delayed activation may similarly result from NORPAC1094S being unable to localize in close proximity to the TRP channel. We conclude that INAD acts as a scaffold protein that facilitates NORPA-TRP interactions required for gating of the TRP channel in photoreceptor cells.     

Gastric mucosal biopsy via a nasogastric tube: a nonendoscopic method for diagnosing fundic and antral mucosal gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection in man

Synthesis of poly(gamma-glutamate) metabolites of natural folates and antifolates is a critical process. Folypolyglutamates are essential for cell proliferation. Polyglutamates of glutamate (Glu)-containing antifolates are often critical for their cytotoxic action and are relevant to antifolate resistance. However, the role of polyglutamate synthesis in selectivity is less clear. We have undertaken a research program to further define the significance of polyglutamate metabolism and to devise ways to exploit this metabolism to achieve greater therapeutic selectivity in cancer chemotherapy. This article briefly reviews several approaches tested thus far. Inhibition of folypolyglutamate synthesis should lead to cell death. Current ornithine (Orn)-containing folate-based inhibitors of the enzyme responsible for their synthesis, folypolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS), are poorly transported, apparently because of interference by the protonated delta-amine. Replacement of Orn with 4, 4-difluoroOrn, the delta-amine of which has a much lower pKa and is thus less protonated at physiological pH, was explored. Since it is unclear how polyglutamylation contributes to selectivity, we explored generic means either to eliminate or to enhance polyglutamylation. The data indicate that substitution for Glu in an antifolate by some Glu analogs in which the gamma-COOH is either altered or replaced (e.g., gamma-tetrazole-Glu) leads to loss of both FPGS substrate activity and binding; antifolate target specificity is unchanged, while uptake is actually enhanced. Substitution of 3,3-difluoroGlu for Glu leads to enhanced polyglutamylation (although probably only to the diglutamate), retention of target specificity, and at least equal uptake. Comparative studies of the same antifolate containing different replacements for Glu, such as gamma-tetrazole-Glu (no polyglutamylation) or 3,3-difluoroGlu (enhanced polyglutamylation), will be useful in exploring the role and significance of polyglutamylation.     

Catalytic behavior of YBa2Cu3O7-x in the partial oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde

The partial oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde was studied over YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x catalyst in a flow reactor. The structural change of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x before and after the reaction was measured by means of XRD and iodometric titration method. The catalytic characteristics of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x for the partial oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde was due to copper ions. It was found that Cu⁺² was responsible for the higher selectivity for formaldehyde.     

Unified equation of state based on the lattice fluid theory for phase equilibria of complex mixtures part I. Molecular thermodynamic framework

Consistent calculation of fugacities of fluid mixtures remains as one of the most important subjects in contemporary molecular thermodynamics. In practice, equations of state (EOSs) and g^E-models have been used. However, most EOSs are erroneous for condensed phases at high densities and g^E-models are inapplicable for pressuresensitive systems. Recently to remedy the shortcomings in both approaches, there has been a surge of new g^E-EOS mixing rules. By equating any set of EOS and g^E-models, the limitations in both approaches could be resolved significantly. However, the self-consistency in the underlying concept of those mixing rules remains controversial. During the last several years, the present authors proposed a new lattice-fluid EOS and its simplification relevant to phase equilibrium calculations. Without employing any g^E-EOS mixing rule and with only two parameters for a pure component and one adjustable interaction energy parameter for a binary mixture, results obtained to date demonstrated that the EOSs are quantitatively applicable to a great variety of phase equilibrium properties of mixtures, especially, for complex and/or macromolecular systems. In the present article we summarize the EOSs and extended the applications to liquid-liquid Equilibria. In part I, we discussed briefly the molecular thermodynamic aspects of general derivation of the EOS and a brief discussion of applying the EOSs to pure fluids while the illustrative application to various real mixture systems is discussed in part II.     

Improved performances of a S-SEED using extremely shallowquantum-wells and asymmetric Fabry-Perot cavity structure

The authors report significantly improved performances of a symmetric self-electrooptic-effect device (S-SEED), with high on-off contrast ratio (>30:l) and large optical bistability loop widths (ΔP=44%) at an applied bias of V_a=0 V, i.e., with no power supply. The S-SEED is made of extremely shallow quantum wells (ESQWs) in an asymmetric Fabry-Perot (AFP) cavity structure. At V_a =5 V ΔP increased by up to 95%, preserving the high contrast ratio. The reflectivity changes at V_a=0 and 5 V were about 15% and 30%, respectively. These are believed to be the largest values ever reported for such structures     

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of covariance matrices for signalsclosely spaced in frequency

The eigenstructures of common covariance matrices are identified for the general case of M closely spaced signals. It is shown that the largest signal-space eigenvalue is relatively insensitive to signal separation. By contrast, the ith largest eigenvalue is proportional to δω^2(i-1) or δω^4(i-1), where δω is a measure of signal separation. Therefore, matrix conditioning degrades rapidly as signal separation is reduced. It is also shown that the limiting eigenvectors have remarkably simple structures. The results are very general, and apply to planar far-field direction-finding problems involving almost arbitrary scenarios, and also to time-series analysis of sinusoids, exponentials, and other signals     

Efficacy of surgical treatment in traumatic central cord syndrome

BACKGROUND: Controversy surrounds the treatment of traumatic central cord syndrome (TCCS), as there are strong advocates for nonsurgical treatment for most patients. However, conservative treatment has been shown to yield a longer period of discomfort from pain and weakness in certain cases. METHODS: In a retrospective review of 114 patients presenting with acute or chronic TCCS from 1988-94, four different age groups were separately observed under different treatments. Motor and sensory recovery were assessed. RESULTS: Better results were achieved in younger patients, with or without radiographic abnormalities, and in patients with clinically correlated encroaching cord lesions who received early surgical decompression. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical intervention for TCCS must be addressed with careful clinical and radiographic survey. Removal of offending lesions in the subacute period results in significant motor and sensory improvement in short-term and long-term follow-up.     

The nature of localized deformation in 6111-T6 aluminium alloy and polycarbonate

The nature of localized deformation that occurs both in metal and polymer samples was examined under uniaxial tension by measuring the complete strain distribution of a deforming specimen at a constant crosshead speed. The development of localized deformation in 6111-T6 aluminium alloy and polycarbonate was recorded along both the longitudinal and lateral directions as the specimen was stretched until it fractured. Determination of the true strain at various points on the tensile specimens was made by using an automated, vision-based image processing method using a CCD camera to measure the deformation of a silk-screened grid on the specimen. This vision-based system produced accurate results, allowing for careful analysis of the entire necking process from initiation to propagation. It has been observed that localized deformation develops principally in the longitudinal direction. The major and minor true strain are uniform for the uniform section specimens, however, these strains peak in the centre of the hourglass specimens in the longitudinal direction for both materials. For both specimen geometries, the major strain is uniform while the minor strain is non-uniform in the lateral direction. The longitudinal true strain to lateral true strain ratio remains at about two for the uniform section specimens, but this ratio increases to between 3 and 5 for the hourglass specimens, due to the constraining effect of the sample geometry.