Technical report: Initial experiences with an experimental solid-state universal digital X-ray image detector

This paper presents a brief technical evaluation and first review of clinical experiences with an experimental direct digital X-ray image detector designed to support both dynamic and snap-shot imaging. Derivatives of this type of image detector can potentially fulfil the majority of the fluoroscopic and radiographic imaging requirements of clinical radiology departments, and initial results suggest that imaging systems using the new technology will provide a high quality dose-efficient solution to the search for a universal digital X-ray image detector.     

Short communication: A new bovine milk-protein variant: α-lactalbumin variant D

Capillary zone electrophoresis of 1,948 Holstein-Friesian cows suggested the presence of an unknown protein variant of α-lactalbumin (α-LA) in the milk of 1 cow. Sequencing genomic DNA of this cow showed a polymorphism in the α-LA gene (LAA) that appears to be responsible for this protein variant. This single nucleotide polymorphism g.600G > T was located in exon 2 of LAA and causes the amino acid change 65Gln > His in the α-LA protein. This α-LA protein variant is a new protein variant and should be called α-LA protein variant D. This amino acid change is not expected to affect protein function. Genomic DNA of 156 bulls of various dairy cattle breeds was screened to examine the presence of the new α-LA protein variant D. Single nucleotide polymorphism g.600G > T, responsible for α-LA protein variant D, was not found in any of the 156 bulls. However, 10 other polymorphisms in the coding and promoter regions of LAA were detected that were used to construct haplotypes.     

Molecular modelling and site-directed mutagenesis of the active site of endothelin-converting enzyme

Mammalian endothelin-converting enzyme is a membrane-bound metalloprotease; its C-terminal domain contains sequence motifs characteristic of zinc metalloproteases. We examined residues expected from molecular modelling to be important for substrate binding using selectively mutated recombinant rat ECE-1alpha expressed in CHO cells. A conserved N-A-Ar-Ar (Ar = aromatic) motif is likely to be important for substrate binding. Mutating N550 to Gln or Y552 to Phe reduces Vmax/Km by 8- and 18-fold, respectively. The equivalent residue to Y553 in thermolysin binds the inhibitor through its NH group. Removing this putative interaction by mutating Tyr to Pro destroys activity, but mutating it to Ala or Phe also removes most activity. Mutating G583 (in a conserved GGI motif N-terminal of the zinc-binding helix) to Ala has no measurable effect, but mutating G584 to Ala destroys activity. Changing V583 in the zinc-binding helix to Met, to mimic the sequence pattern in bovine ECE-2, increases Vmax/Km to 1.7-fold that of the wild- type. Assays of phosphoramidon binding follow the pattern of those of substrate binding, but the IC50 of the more potent ECE inhibitor CGS 26303 was not significantly altered by any of these mutations, suggesting that this compound may bind to ECE in a different mode from phosphoramidon.      

尊重斯德哥尔摩的历史中心—骑士岛的激活改造

正瑞典国家财产委员会拥有骑士岛的所有权与管理权,并计划对该岛上所有的公共空间进行更新和开发,以提高其可达性与吸引力。总的来说,从文化历史角度来看骑士岛很有     

Computational Nonlinear Thermomechanical Model of Large Light Partition Walls Based on Experimental Analysis and Probabilistic Models

Abstract: This article is devoted to the construction of a computational nonlinear thermomechanical model of large light partition walls made up of cardboard‐plasterboard‐cardboard (CPC) plates screwed to a metallic frame, and is submitted to mechanical and thermal loadings induced by fire. The computational model, based on experimental analysis and a probabilistic modeling, is developed for the prediction of a large light partition wall for (1) its linear thermal behavior, (2) its nonlinear mechanical behavior, and (3) its nonlinear thermomechanical behavior.