XIV. Yeast sequencing reports. Sequence of MKT1, needed for propagation of M2 satellite dsRNA of the L-A virus of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

MKT1 is required for m aintenance of K₂ above 30°C in strains with the L-A-HN variant of the L-A double-stranded RNA virus of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We report that MKT1 encodes a 92 979 Da protein with serine-rich regions and the retroviral protease signature, DTG, but with no substantial homology to proteins presently in the databases. This sequence is available from GenBank under Accession Number U09129.     

Stability of a second-order differential equation with retarded argument

Effective criteria for exponential stability of second-order linear equations based on the positivity of the Cauchy function are proposed. Bounds of the 'smallness' of the deviation of the argument are established under which the equation with retarded argument is still stable if the ordinary differential equation with the same coefficients is stable. Based on the criteria obtained, an applied problem on the regulation of concentration is analyzed     

Shunting neural network photodetector arrays in analog CMOS

This paper describes a custom analog CMOS photodetector array IC that exploits nonlinear lateral inhibition to achieve dynamic range compression, edge enhancement, and adaptation to mean input intensity. The neural net array architecture, characterized by nearest-neighbor connections and multiplicative cell interaction, is modeled after biological vision systems. The fabricated IC successfully implements a portion of the compact and powerful nonlinear signal processing performed in the outer layers of the vertebrate retina. Measured results are presented for an optical input intensity range of nearly six decades. A scanning architecture that allows for preferential directional sensitivity is also demonstrated. Measured data agree well with models created using a spreadsheet program     

Approximation of certain functions given by integrals with highlyoscillatory integrands

There is often a need to approximate integrals of highly oscillatory functions when studying scattering and diffraction of electromagnetic waves. This paper presents a method of estimating certain types of these integrals by evaluating one interpolating function and performing one or two relatively easy numerical integrations. The method is demonstrated for the case of a Fresnel integral     

Measuring efficiency of power plants in Israel by data envelopmentanalysis

An application of data envelopment analysis (DEA) for measuring and evaluating the operating efficiency of power plants in the Israeli Electric Corporation (IEC) is presented. Emphasis is placed on the process of screening the list of potential input and output factors and determining the most relevant ones. Special attention is given to the qualitative factor concerning air pollution, which is treated as a categorical variable. The incorporation of `standard data' is examined and the results are analyzed     

Classification of life distributions in multivariate models

In reliability theory, lifetimes of systems and components are frequently studied through univariate concepts of ageing. By considering suitable multivariate generalizations of the univariate ageing properties, some multivariate ageing classes of life distributions are defined. Properties of these classes with their equivalent definitions and chain of implications are presented along with a few characterizing properties. These results are useful for obtaining reliability bounds (when component lives are independent) at the early stage of product design. Also for model selection, characterization results can be important. Moreover, the underlying mathematical treatment is univariate when viewed through conditional distributions     

Tests of univariate and bivariate stochastic ageing

Concepts of ageing describe how a population of units or systems improves or deteriorates with age. Many classes of life distributions are categorized and defined in the literature according to their ageing properties. An important aspect of such classifications is that the exponential distribution is nearly always a member of each class. The notion of stochastic ageing is important in any reliability analysis, and many test statistics have been developed for testing exponentiality against various ageing alternatives. This paper is an overview of these developments. The author begins with a table of ageing classes together with key references, followed by a brief discussion on the characterization of exponentiality. Test procedures are summarized, and followed by the main review. Tests of exponentiality against other alternatives are explained for randomly censored data. Finally, tests of multivariate ageing properties are listed. Some of the life classes have been derived more recently and, as far as is known, no test statistics have been proposed. On the other hand, several tests are available for some classes. Relative efficiency of a test is discussed whenever appropriate     

Induction of hapten-specific tolerance by interleukin 10 in vivo

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is released during the induction phase of contact sensitivity and was shown in prior functional studies to convert epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) from potent inducers of primary immune responses to specifically tolerizing cells in vitro. To investigate whether IL-10 also subserves the function of a tolerizing agent in vivo ears of BALB/c or C3H mice were injected intradermally with 1-2 micrograms of recombinant mouse (rm)IL-10 8 h before epicutaneous application of 3% trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB; a contact allergen). As a control, mice were injected with phosphate-buffered saline or IL-10 plus neutralizing amounts of anti-IL-10 mAb. 5 d later, mice were challenged with 1% TNCB on contralateral ears and ear swelling response was measured 24 h later. Whereas control-treated mice showed a normal ear swelling response to epicutaneous challenge (delta mm-2 = 25 +/- 5), ear swelling response of IL-10-treated animals was significantly inhibited (delta mm-2 = 3 +/- 2). Coinjection of IL-10-specific mAb together with rmIL-10 completely abrogated this effect. To differentiate between a state of nonresponsiveness and induction of tolerance by IL-10, mice initially treated with IL-10 and TNCB were resensitized with 3% TNCB in the absence of any treatment after 14 d of rest (group 1). Again mice were challenged 5 d later and ear swelling responses were tested. Whereas control mice treated with allergen alone (group 2) showed a good swelling response (delta mm-2 = 28 +/- 6), IL-10-treated mice (group 1) showed a minimal response towards application of allergen (delta mm-2 = 4 +/- 2). To show that anergy induction by IL-10 was antigen-specific, mice initially treated with IL-10 plus TNCB were exposed to 0.5% dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) 14 d later (group 1). After challenge with 0.1% DNFB, IL-10-treated mice showed an ear swelling response (delta mm-2 = 13 +/- 3; group 1) similar to that of control mice only sensitized with DNFB (delta mm-2 = 14 +/- 3; group 3). In an attempt to show the induction of antigen-specific tolerance in these mice in vitro, regional lymph nodes of mice initially treated with TNCB plus IL-10 (group 1) and control-treated mice (groups 2 and 3) were prepared and cultured in the presence of TNBS, dinitrobenzene sulfonate (DNBS), or medium to measure antigen-specific proliferation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)