Tyrosine-dependent basolateral sorting signals are distinct from tyrosine-dependent internalization signals

Converting cysteine 543 to tyrosine in the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) introduces both a basolateral sorting signal and an internalization signal into the HA cytoplasmic domain. Another HA mutant, HA+8, contains eight additional amino acids at the end of the cytoplasmic domain that include a powerful internalization signal. HA+8 was also sorted efficiently to the basolateral surface of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. The simplest explanation for the observation that multiple sorting phenotypes depend upon the same small amino acid sequence is that certain tyrosine-based internalization signals might also function as basolateral sorting signals. To test this hypothesis, second-site mutations were introduced into HA C543Y or HA+8 to determine if the internalization and basolateral sorting functions can be separated. For HA C543Y, the same sequence positions were important for both basolateral sorting and internalization, but the two functions responded differently to individual amino acid replacements, indicating that they were distinct. For HA+8, the basolateral sorting signal required the same tyrosine as the internalization signal, but did not share any other characteristics. Thus, even when basolateral sorting signals that depend on tyrosine overlap or are co-linear with internalizations signals, the two sorting processes are sensitive to different characteristics of the sequence.     

Optimal Locations of Groundwater Extractions in Coastal Aquifers

A regional water supply management model for coastal aquifers was developed. One of its outcomes is the definition of the optimized locations for groundwater withdrawal. Such a tool permits the analysis of alternative plans for groundwater extraction and the sustainable use of water resources in a coastal aquifer subject to saltwater intrusion. The principal components are the evolutionary optimization and the analytical/numerical simulation models. The optimization technique looks for the best well locations taking into consideration the economic results and the satisfaction of the societal water demand. However these two concerns are conditioned by trying to control the saltwater intrusion, i.e., preserving the environmental equilibrium. The simulation model uses the governing mathematical equations for groundwater movement to find the interface between freshwater and saltwater. Because of the non-linearity in the system and the possibility of a jumping interface, a security distance was defined. This is a controlling variable which can be set by the decision makers. The model was applied to a typical case with interesting results. For example, diagrams showing the relationship between the location of the wells and the security distance(s) are of importance to the managers. It was also crucial to have an understanding of the tradeoffs between groundwater withdrawals, positions of the wells from the coast line, and the security distance. The model was also applied to a real case in order to relate the extractions, distances and artificial recharge (not presented in this paper).     

Chidamber and Kemerer's metrics suite: a measurement theoryperspective

The metrics suite for object-oriented design put forward by Chidamber and Kemerer (1994) is partly evaluated by applying principles of measurement theory. Using the object coupling measure (CBO) as an example, it is shown that failing to establish a sound empirical relation system can lead to deficiencies of software metrics. Similarly, for the object-oriented cohesion measure (LCOM) it is pointed out that the issue of empirically testing the representation condition must not be ignored, even if other validation principles are carefully obeyed. As a by-product, an alternative formulation for LCOM is proposed     

An incentive scheduling mechanism for peer-to-peer video streaming

P2P video streaming networks are found as a scalable solution and an alternative for traditional client–server based video streaming over the Internet. One of the significant issues affecting the success of any P2P streaming network is cooperation between peers. Practical observations have proved the prevalence of free riders in P2P networks that degrade their performance. To solve this problem, using incentive mechanisms, which encourage peers to contribute more in the network, is necessary. In this paper, we designed and proposed a distributed and scalable incentive mechanism for mesh based P2P video streaming networks. In the proposed approach the contribution of the peers is measured and maintained in a distributed fashion. Furthermore, we proposed an incentive sending side scheduler in which peers are served based on their contribution in the network. Our simulation evaluations show the efficiency of the proposed approach in improving the overall perceived video quality by the non-free rider nodes and consequently in the whole network.     

Spray-Coating of Superhydrophobic Coatings for Advanced Applications

Superhydrophobic coatings are widely applicable, e.g., as self-cleaning surfaces or water–oil separation membranes, yet their wider usage is impeded due to costs of fabrication, size, or substrate limitation. Spray-coating is a versatile coating procedures and might offer a good solution for the fabrication of these superhydrophobic coatings, due to the fact that coatings can be fabricated on various materials in a simple, fast, and inexpensive manner. Most procedures rely on hybrid coatings of hydrophobized nanoparticles and a polymeric matrix, which have several drawbacks including the easy loss of nanoparticles and difficult waste handling. Here, the fabrication of the superhydrophobic material, called Fluoropor, for the first time, by spray-coating on various substrates including metals, tissues, concrete, and glass is presented. It is fabricated by spray-coating a mixture of a highly fluorinated monomer blended with porogens followed by photopolymerization. The superhydrophobicity of the material relies on the porous structure on the micro-/nanoscale across the bulk material and does not require any nanoparticles. Excellent self-cleaning ability of these coatings, resistance against thermal and abrasive impact, and their application as oil–water separation membranes are shown. This versatile applicability is highly promising for real-world application as self-cleaning coatings or oil–water separating membranes.     

Structural Properties of Networked Control Systems With Bandwidth Limitations and Delays

The structural properties of networked control systems with both bandwidth limitations and delays are investigated. Sufficient conditions are given for controllability (stabilizability) and reconstructibility (detectability). Our results enhance previous works by capturing bandwidth limitations and delays simultaneously. The adopted modeling framework could be readily used in control and estimation methods, including optimal and predictive schemes. It also facilitates the use of scheduling optimization algorithms in conjunction with the control scheme presented.     

Computation considerations and fast algorithms for calculating the diffraction integral

Abstract

One of the most basic optical ‘components’ is free-space propagation. A common approximation used when calculating the resultant field distribution after propagation is the Fresnel integral. This integral can be evaluated in two ways: directly or by using the angular spectrum. In this paper, we estimate the regions in which each mode of evaluation is preferable according to computing efficiency and accuracy considerations. A fast numerical algorithm is introduced for each region. The result is relevant also for the evaluation of the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction formula.     

Describing a strategy to estimate the CO2-heavy oil minimum miscibility pressure based on the experimental methods

To measure MMP, slim tube method is time consuming, especially for heavy oils. In this study, a strategy is considered to measure the MMP in one of the Iranian heavy oil reservoirs. The strategy steps were done through; partial data of slim tube, coupling numerical model (CNM), full slim tube, and VIT test. The results showed that CNM technique with two experimental data obtains the MMP value faster than running a full slim tube with low error result. However, VIT determined MMP faster and its results illustrated that miscibility pressure for heavy oil occurs at zero IFT, unlike light oils.