Chicken acidic leucine-rich EGF-like domain containing brain protein (CALEB), a neural member of the EGF family of differentiation factors, is implicated in neurite formation

Chicken acidic leucine-rich EGF-like domain containing brain protein (CALEB) was identified by combining binding assays with immunological screens in the chicken nervous system as a novel member of the EGF family of differentiation factors. cDNA cloning indicates that CALEB is a multidomain protein that consists of an NH2-terminal glycosylation region, a leucine-proline-rich segment, an acidic box, a single EGF-like domain, a transmembrane, and a short cytoplasmic stretch. In the developing nervous system, CALEB is associated with glial and neuronal surfaces. CALEB is composed of a 140/130-kD doublet, an 80-kD band, and a chondroitinsulfate-containing 200-kD component. The latter two components are expressed in the embryonic nervous system and are downregulated in the adult nervous system. CALEB binds to the extracellular matrix glycoproteins tenascin-C and -R. In vitro antibody perturbation experiments reveal a participation of CALEB in neurite formation in a permissive environment.     

Control Routh Array And Its Applications

In this paper the Routh stability criterion [16] has been developed into control Routh array. Some formulas for calculating the array are provided. Certain properties are investigated. Using it, the problem of stabilization of bilinear systems via constant controls is solved. Then by converting the problems, the method of control Routh array is also used to solve some other stability related problems, such as the stabilization of control systems, the stability of uncertain Hurwitz matrix and the stability of interval matrices. Several algorithms have been developed to provide numerical solutions.     

Feature significance for multivariate kernel density estimation

Multivariate kernel density estimation provides information about structure in data. Feature significance is a technique for deciding whether features-such as local extrema-are statistically significant. This paper proposes a framework for feature significance in d-dimensional data which combines kernel density derivative estimators and hypothesis tests for modal regions. For the gradient and curvature estimators distributional properties are given, and pointwise test statistics are derived. The hypothesis tests extend the two-dimensional feature significance ideas of Godtliebsen et al. [Godtliebsen, F., Marron, J.S., Chaudhuri, P., 2002. Significance in scale space for bivariate density estimation. Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics 11, 1-21]. The theoretical framework is complemented by novel visualization for three-dimensional data. Applications to real data sets show that tests based on the kernel curvature estimators perform well in identifying modal regions. These results can be enhanced by corresponding tests with kernel gradient estimators.     

Differential immediate early gene expression in conditional hepatitis B virus pX-transforming versus nontransforming hepatocyte cell lines

We report construction and characterization of tetracycline-controlled hepatitis B virus pX-expressing hepatocyte (AML12) cell lines. These cell lines were constructed in AML12 clonal isolates (clones 3 and 4), which express constitutively the tetracycline-controlled transactivator. Since pX is implicated in HCC, this immortalized hepatocyte model system was used to investigate the mechanism of pX in transformation. Clonal isolates of 3pX and 4pX lineages display conditional synthesis of pX mRNA and protein and a 2-fold increase in growth saturation density following tetracycline removal, implicating pX in monolayer overgrowth. Interestingly, only 3pX clones display pX-dependent anchorage independence. Clone 3 lineages express hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha and hepatocyte-specific marker genes; clone 4 lineages express hepatocyte nuclear factor-1beta and reduced levels of hepatocyte-specific marker genes, suggesting the importance of the differentiated hepatocyte in pX-mediated oncogenic transformation. Importantly, 3pX and 4pX lineages display differential expression of immediate early genes c-fos and ATF3. The pX-transforming 3pX lineage displays early, pX-dependent induction of ATF3 and prolonged induction of c-fos. The nontransforming 4pX cells display an absence of pX-dependent ATF3 induction and transient induction of c-fos. Our results support the direct link of pX expression to oncogenic transformation in 3pX lineage clones and underscore the advantage of this conditional cellular model system for studying mechanisms of pX-mediated oncogenesis.     

Fundamental solutions for an anisotropic medium with a notch or an inclusion

Abstract

A fundamental solution for an anisotropic medium with a notch or a rigid inclusion of arbitrary shape is derived based on the complex potential formulation of anisotropic elasticity. The solutions for a crack, for a circular hole or inclusion, and for a half plane are obtained as special cases. The solution can be applied to the analysis of crack, notch and inclusion problems of anisotropic materials.     

Global Normal Forms for MIMO Nonlinear Systems, with Applications to Stabilization and Disturbance Attenuation

A geometric characterization of a class of square invertible nonlinear systems that can be molded into a normal form by a global diffeomorphism is detailed. Then additional conditions are fashioned that permit the implementation of the recursive design method known as “backstepping.” Date received: November 12, 1997. Date revised: December 2, 1998.     

Upper-Bound Elemental Technique (UBET) with convex circular parallelepiped and convex spherical elements for three-dimensional forging analysis

In this study, two kinematically admissible velocity fields are derived for the proposed three-dimensional convex circular parallelepiped and convex spherical UBET elements. Those elements are applied to three-dimensional closed-die forging having convex curve surfaces; the capability of the proposed elements is then demonstrated. From the derived velocity fields, the upper-bound loads on the upper die and the velocity field are determined by minimizing the total energy consumption with respect to some chosen parameters. Also, experiments of two closed-die forgings are performed with commercial pure lead billets at the ambient temperature. The theoretical predictions of the forming load correlated well with the experimental results. The results in this study confirm that the elements proposed in this work can effectively be used to predict the forming load accurately in three-dimensional closed-die forging with convex curve surfaces.     

Singular systems: A new approach in the time domain

A new approach in the time domain is developed for the study of singular linear systems of the formEdot{x} = Ax + Bu, y = CxwithEsingular. Central to the approach is the fundamental triple((alpha E - A)^{-1}E, (alphaE - A)^{-1}B, C)with α a real number satisfying det(alpha E - A) neq 0. Controllability and observability matrices are expressed in terms of the fundamental triple. New tests for impulse controllability and impulse observability are also established. Feedback control problems including pole placement, decoupling, and disturbance localization are studied by use of a modified proportional and derivative feedback of the state in the form ofu = F(alpha x - dot{x})+ v.