Prediction of Functional Consequences of Missense Mutations in ANO4 Gene

The anoctamin (TMEM16) family of transmembrane protein consists of ten members in vertebrates, which act as Ca²⁺-dependent ion channels and/or Ca²⁺-dependent scramblases. ANO4 which is primarily expressed in the CNS and certain endocrine glands, has been associated with various neuronal disorders. Therefore, we focused our study on prioritizing missense mutations that are assumed to alter the structure and stability of ANO4 protein. We employed a wide array of evolution and structure based in silico prediction methods to identify potentially deleterious missense mutations in the ANO4 gene. Identified pathogenic mutations were then mapped to the modeled human ANO4 structure and the effects of missense mutations were studied on the atomic level using molecular dynamics simulations. Our data show that the G80A and A500T mutations significantly alter the stability of the mutant proteins, thus providing new perspective on the role of missense mutations in ANO4 gene. Results obtained in this study may help to identify disease associated mutations which affect ANO4 protein structure and function and might facilitate future functional characterization of ANO4.     

Numerical model of gaseous fuel jet injection into a fluidized furnace

The paper presents a fluid-porous medium model, developed for stationary 2D predictions of fluidized bed. Dense phase is considered a fixed porous medium, while gas–particle interactions and bubbling phase are modeled regarding balance of friction forces between gas and particles. Like referent measurements, predictions of lateral jet injection into the bed suggest the jet penetration length is strongly affected by fluid velocity at the nozzle outlet, while influences of the nozzle vertical position and inclination angle are not significant. Also, the fluid velocity and the nozzle vertical position exert pronounced effects on mixing rate of components (fuel and oxidizer).     

Weighted Superimposed Codes and Constrained Integer Compressed Sensing

We introduce a new family of codes, termed weighted superimposed codes (WSCs). This family generalizes the class of Euclidean superimposed codes (ESCs), used in multiuser identification systems. WSCs allow for discriminating all bounded, integer-valued linear combinations of real-valued codewords that satisfy prescribed norm and nonnegativity constraints. By design, WSCs are inherently noise tolerant. Therefore, these codes can be seen as special instances of robust compressed sensing schemes. The main results of the paper are lower and upper bounds on the largest achievable code rates of several classes of WSCs. These bounds suggest that, with the codeword and weighting vector constraints at hand, one can improve the code rates achievable by standard compressive sensing techniques.     

Generalized low-density parity-check codes for optical communication systems

This paper is concerned with investigating the performance of regular and irregular, randomlike and structured generalized low-density parity-check (GLDPC) codes for long-haul transmission. The proposed GLDPC codes outperform currently known turbo and low-density parity-check (LDPC) coding schemes with comparable parameters utilized in optical communication systems. For a GLDPC coding scheme with 23.6% redundancy, the largest so far reported coding gain of at least 11dB (at 40 Gb/s) is demonstrated.     

Constructing strongly convex hulls using exact or rounded arithmetic

One useful generalization of the convex hull of a setS ofn points is the ?-strongly convex δ-hull. It is defined to be a convex polygon with vertices taken fromS such that no point inS lies farther than δ outside and such that even if the vertices of are perturbed by as much as ?, remains convex. It was an open question as to whether an ?-strongly convexO(?)-hull existed for all positive ?. We give here anO(n logn) algorithm for constructing it (which thus proves its existence). This algorithm uses exact rational arithmetic. We also show how to construct an ?-strongly convexO(? + μ)-hull inO(n logn) time using rounded arithmetic with rounding unit μ. This is the first rounded-arithmetic convex-hull algorithm which guarantees a convex output and which has error independent ofn.     

Purinergic Signalling in the Cochlea

The mammalian cochlea is the sensory organ of hearing with a delicate, highly organised structure that supports unique operating mechanisms. ATP release from the secretory tissues of the cochlear lateral wall (stria vascularis) triggers numerous physiological responses by activating P2 receptors in sensory, supporting and neural tissues. Two families of P2 receptors, ATP-gated ion channels (P2X receptors) and G protein-coupled P2Y receptors, activate intracellular signalling pathways that regulate cochlear development, homeostasis, sensory transduction, auditory neurotransmission and response to stress. Of particular interest is a purinergic hearing adaptation, which reflects the critical role of the P2X₂ receptor in adaptive cochlear response to elevated sound levels. Other P2 receptors are involved in the maturation of neural processes and frequency selectivity refinement in the developing cochlea. Extracellular ATP signalling is regulated by a family of surface-located enzymes collectively known as “ectonucleotidases” that hydrolyse ATP to adenosine. Adenosine is a constitutive cell metabolite with an established role in tissue protection and regeneration. The differential activation of A₁ and A_2A adenosine receptors defines the cochlear response to injury caused by oxidative stress, inflammation, and activation of apoptotic pathways. A₁ receptor agonism, A_2A receptor antagonism, and increasing adenosine levels in cochlear fluids all represent promising therapeutic tools for cochlear rescue from injury and prevention of hearing loss.     

An integrated environment for teaching computer architecture

A major problem in teaching computer architecture and organization courses is how to help students make the cognitive leap that connects their theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Numerous researchers involved in computer architecture and organization education have tackled this problem, resulting in a variety of educational tools for computer system simulation. The tools differ greatly in scope, target architecture complexity, simulation level, and user interface. The available educational systems vary in how they handle digital system simulation. They usually offer tools for creating hardware component libraries, viewing simulation results, and conducting statistical analysis of system performance. Available systems range from sophisticated ones, for complex analysis, to simpler ones that are more readily understood by users, both instructors and students. Beyond system simulation, an educational system should support three key objectives. First, it must cover an extensive range of computer architecture and organization topics. Second, it should graphically depict a computer system, from the block level to the register-transfer level. Third, it must provide the means to follow system functions at the program, instruction, and clock cycle levels     

Thermal analysis and microscopic characterization of the piston alloy AlSi13Cu4Ni2Mg

In this research paper, the phases identified by thermal and microscopic analysis of the piston alloy AlSi13Cu4Ni2Mg, which was solidified under different conditions, are presented and compared with different piston alloys. Piston alloys are a group of casting Al–Si alloys, well-known as wear resistant materials, which are widely used as the piston materials for internal combustion engines because of their low thermal expansion coefficient and high wear resistance when alloyed with other elements such as copper, magnesium and nickel. Depending on the combination of alloying elements and other impacting factors, pistons alloys with different mechanical and physical properties are obtained.