Isolation and DNA sequence of the STE14 gene encoding farnesyl cysteine: Carboxyl methyltransferase

We isolated a mutant defective in C-terminal farnesyl cysteine:carboxyl methyltransferase activity from a screen for mutations causing a -specific sterility. A genomic fragment was cloned from a yeast multi-copy library that restored mating. Both the cloned gene and the sterile mutation were allelic to the STE14 gene. A ste14-complementing 2·17 kb BamHI fragment subclone was sequenced and found to encode a 239 amino acid protein with a molecular weight of 27,887 Daltons. The hydrophobicity profile of the methyltransferase reveals the presence of at least five potential transmembrane domains. In comparisons of the C-terminal methyltransferase amino acid sequence with those in the PIR and Swiss protein databases, no significantly similar sequences were found nor were conserved regions from other methyltransferases present.     

A tight upper bound on discrete entropy

The standard upper bound on discrete entropy was derived based on the differential entropy bound for continuous random variables. A tighter discrete entropy bound is derived using the transformation formula of Jacobi theta function. The new bound is applicable only when the probability mass function of the discrete random variable satisfies certain conditions. Its application to the class of binomial random variables is presented as an example     

Complexity theory of parallel time and hardware

The parallel resources time and hardware and the complexity classes defined by them are studied using the aggregate model. The equivalence of complexity classes defined by sequential space and uniform aggregate hardware is established. Aggregate time is related to (bounded fanin) circuit depth and, similarly, aggregate hardware is related to circuit width. Interelationships between aggregate time and hardware follow as corollaries. Aggregate time is related to the sequential resource reversal. Simultaneous relationships from aggregate hardware and time to sequential space and reversal are shown (and conversely), and these are used as evidence for an “extended parallel computation thesis.” These simultaneous relationships provide new characterizations for the simultaneous parallel complexity class NC and for the complementary class SC. The evaluation of monotone planar circuits is shown to be in NC, in fact in LOGCFL.     

Multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock wavelengths and transition rates in the X-ray spectra of highly charged Ga-like ions from Yb to U

A multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock (MCDF) technique has been used for computing the wavelengths and transition probabilities for lines in the X-ray spectra of the gallium-like ions from Yb XL to U LXII. Results are presented for the 4s²4p-4s²4d and 4s²4p-4s4p² allowed transitions (E1) as well as for the forbidden transitions (M1 and E2) within the ground configuration 4s²4p. A comparison of the calculated wavelengths with the few experimental results available is also presented.     

Theoretical analysis of a fractal surface radiation

We compare, in this paper, the far field radiated by two fractal distributions of current. The first one is obtained by a fractal cut following the Cantor arrangement, the second one keeps the length of each previous current element, but modifies the distance between the elements which is now taken as a constant. We establish the analytical formulations of the far field at any step n of the Cantor set. Then, we extract the array factor and we analyse and compare the following properties : convergence of the radiation pattern, wide of the main lobe, side lobes level and directivity.     

Asymptotic angular stability in non-linear systems: rotation numbers and winding numbers

The asymptotic angular stability of a dynamical system may be quantified by its rotation number or its winding number. These two quantities are shown to result from different assumptions, made about the flow generating the Poincaré map which results from the sequence of homeomorphisms in S ^l. An ergodic theorem of existence a.s. of the rotation number for non-linear systems is given. The advantages and disadvantages of both the rotation and winding numbers are discussed. Numerical calculations of the distribution of rotation number and winding number arising from different initial conditions are presented for three different chaotic maps.     

Targeting T cells against brain tumors with a bispecific ligand-antibody conjugate

Haemophilus influenzae is a bacterium of medical interest of which the entire genome has been sequenced. The proteome of the microorganism has been analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, during which immobilized pH 3-10 gradient strips were used and approximately 300 proteins were identified. In order to detect additional, basic proteins, we analyzed the soluble protein fraction of H. influenzae and the proteins of fractions collected from affinity chromatography on heparin, by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, using for the first-dimensional separation immobilized pH gradient strips comprising the pH region of 6-11. The protein spots were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry. One hundred and two proteins were identified, of which 58 were identified for the first time. A large percentage of the basic proteins represent nucleic acid binding and, in particular, ribosomal proteins. The locations of the identified basic proteins of H. influenzae are indicated in a two-dimensional map.     

A comparison between intravenous iron polymaltose complex (Ferrum Hausmann) and oral ferrous fumarate in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy

The costs of remedial work, and the radon level reduction achieved, have been studied in a series of domestic properties in Northamptonshire, which is a radon affected area. The cost-effectiveness of the series is similar to published theoretical estimates for proposed national remediation programmes, and five times more effective than our similar analysis for the National Health Service workplace, if it is assumed that 100% of householders discovering levels above 300 Bq m-3 implement remediation. In practice, in the UK, far fewer of those who arrange an initial radon test proceed to remediation, but this domestic programme could be cost effective if more than 5% carry out remediation. Our series confirms that a considerable number of householders with radon levels in the 200 to 300 Bq m-3 range do not seek or implement remediation work.