Identification of novel transmembrane gene sequence and its use for cell-surface targeting of beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin

We identified a 685-nucleotide gene fragment that codes for the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of glycoprotein of the LEP strain rabies virus and carried out experiments designed to express a novel fusion protein on the cell surface. The cDNA encoding the membrane anchor sequence was fused in the correct reading frame to the 3' end of the cDNA encoding the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta(h)CG), a secretory glycoprotein that is used as an antigen for a contraceptive vaccine being developed in our laboratory. The fusion gene cassette was placed under the control of a vaccinia virus early promoter and cloned in a host-restricted fowlpox viral vector. The recombinants, when used to infect mammalian cells that do not allow the replication of fowlpox virus, expressed the N-terminal 135 amino acid residues of beta(h)CG anchored in the cell membrane by the 75-amino acid C-terminal sequence derived from rabies virus glycoprotein. This hybrid protein is correctly processed post-translationally and transported efficiently to the plasma membrane of non-permissive cells such that the anchored beta(h)CG molecule retains the correctly folded native antigenic epitope(s).     

Modeling the Interaction Between Fly Ash and Lime Under Water Curing by an Artificial Neural Network

An artificial neural network was used to model the chemical interaction between fly ash and lime with different ratios in water-cured compacts. As inputs for the model, different process parameters like pozzolanicity, surface area, unburnt carbon content of the ash samples, water-curing periods, and the proportion of initial lime content in the fly ash–lime mixes were used. Free lime remaining in the compacts after different curing periods was used as the output parameter. A generalized feedforward back-propagation three-layered neural network model was used with a tanhyperbolic transfer function at both the input and the output layer with 400 exemplars. For the training data, after 3500 iterations, the error value was found to be the minimum for the prediction mode. When the model was tested for the test data, the difference between the actual value of the strength and the predicted value of the strength was found to be within ±15%.     

Integrated directional couplers with photodetectors by hydridevapour phase epitaxy

The hydride vapour-phase-epitaxial crystal growth technique has been used to realise integrated waveguide-photodetectors and, for the first time, integrated directional coupler-photodetectors for detection in the 1.3 μm to 1.55 μm wavelength range. The GaInAsP waveguides which formed the directional couplers had propagation losses of 2±0.5 dB/cm and more than 90% of the guided light was coupled into the photodetectors. The directional couplers were symmetric with respect to the launch port and had 3 dB coupling lengths of about 1.45 mm     

Reliability analysis of multistorey frames

The paper presents a parametric study of different independent variables to study their effect on final rotations, sidesway, end moments and reactions. It is found that while there is practically no effect on final end moments and reactions, the displacements varied. Later, the distribution function of different dependent variables; namely rotation, sidesway, end moment and reaction is obtained. The estimation of these dependent variables is also made. It is found that the maximum variation from the mean value is in the case of rotation. The minimum variation is found to be in the case of vertical reactions.     

Quadratic Approximation to Linear Loss Integrals for Some Non-Normal Distributions

This paper develops an estimate of the linear loss integral for three distributions: Student's t, Beta, and Negative Binomial. The proposed estimating equation is a multivariable nonlinear function which is developed in two stages. First, the integral is approximated by a quadratic function of the right-tail probability. Next, the estimated coefficients of the quadratic equation are regressed on the parameters of the distribution. Limitations, extensions, and applications of the estimates are fully discussed, and tables are provided to display sample accuracy.     

Protein and gossypol extractability from cottonseed flour

The extractability of protein and free-gossypol from fully gossypolised cottonseed flour was investigated. The various parameters studied include (i) effect of pH (ii) effect of salts and (iii) the combined effect of pH and salts. The results indicated that it is possible to obtain a protein isolate free from free-gossypol by alkaline extraction at pH values of 9 and 10. Highest protein extraction (57%), highest protein recovery (96%) and highest protein content of the precipitate (75%) occurred at pH 10. In general, dilute aqueous electrolytes did not accomplish significantly higher extracta-bilities although they resulted in comparatively lower free-gossypol contents in the protein precipitate. However, with 1.0m CaCl2 protein extraction was 75% but both protein recovery (61%) and the protein content of the precipitate (61%) was comparatively low. Extraction in the presence of salts and alkali did not improve protein extractability and gave a protein isolate high in free-gossypol content.     

Inventory control for lognormal demand

This paper develops an explicit but approximate solution to the reorder point inventory model for lognormal lead time demand. Solution to the same model under a constraint on fraction of demands backordered is also obtained. Both solutions are extended to cover the three- and four-parameter lognormal families, and the methods are illustrated with hypothetical data.     

High field conduction in a double layer polymeric photoreceptor

Xerographic characteristics such as (i) maximum acceptance potential, (ii) quantum efficiency, (iii) reciprocity nature and (iv) dynamic law have been evaluated for a polymeric double layer system. The double layer consists of poly(9-vinyl anthracene) base on aluminium substrate, having an over-layer of 1.0μm poly(n-vinyl carbazole). It was found to have good xerographic properties and can be used effectively in xerography.     

Curing kinetics of medium reactive unsaturated polyester resin used for liquid composite molding process

The cure kinetics of medium reactivity unsaturated polyester resin formulated for Liquid Composite Molding process simulation was studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) under isothermal conditions over a specific range of temperature. For isothermal curing reactions performed at 100, 110, and 120°C, several influencing factors were evaluated using the heat evolution behavior of curing process. We propose two‐ and three‐parameter kinetic models to describe the cure kinetics of thermoset resins. Comparisons of the model solutions with our experimental data showed that the three‐parameter model was the lowest parameter model capable of capturing both the degree of cure and the curing rate qualitatively and quantitatively. The model parameters were evaluated by a non‐linear multiple regression method and the temperature dependence of the kinetic rate constants thus obtained has been determined by fitting to the Arrhenius equation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009