A novel optical burst switching scheme—logical cascaded private subnet with start wavelength assignment policy

Many recent studies have convincingly demonstrated that network traffic exhibits a noticeable self-similar nature, which has a considerable impact on network performance, and most studies of optical burst switching (OBS) networks are under a fundamental assumption that full wavelength conversion is available throughout the network. In practice, however, economic and technical considerations are likely to dictate a more limited and sparse deployment of wavelength converters in the optical network. Therefore, we present a novel scheme for OBS networks, called logical cascaded private subnet (LCPN) with start wavelength assignment policy. We define the concept of canoe relative to cluster in self-similar traffic, and introduce a new device named payload segregator at the edge node as a gateway to the core node in OBS Networks. According to the changes in the edge node framework, we put forward the concept of cluster private subnet and canoe private subnet in the core node correspondingly. A new start wavelength assignment policy is proposed for the absence of (full) wavelength conversion capabilities in the core node of OBS Networks. The performance study indicates that, our new scheme is robust under self-similar traffic and wavelength continuity constraint.     

A new instrument for passive remote sensing: 2. Measurement of leaf and canopy reflectance changes at 531 nm and their relationship with photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence

A previously described passive remote sensing fluorimeter (see companion paper) was modified to detect changes in the reflectance of vegetation. The utility of this remote sensing technique to measure the Physiological Reflectance Index (PRI) is shown at both leaf level under laboratory conditions and at the canopy level in the field. PRI, defined as the relative changes in reflectance at 531 nm with respect to those at 570 nm (PRI=R531−R570/R531+R570), is related to xanthophyll-related, dynamic changes of non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. The robustness of this relationship by simultaneous remote sensing of PRI and chlorophyll fluorescence is strengthened. At the leaf level, the existence of two kinetically distinct components of PRI is shown. A fast (within seconds) component that is partly attributed to ΔpH induced chloroplast shrinkage, and a slow (within minutes), main component that is related to xanthophyll de-epoxidation, as demonstrated by its disappearance in the presence of DTT. Overall, PRI correlated better with non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (NPQ) than with any other measured parameter, including the photochemical efficiency of PSII. Finally, at the canopy level and under field conditions, it is shown that PRI can be a useful tool for remote sensing of water stress in grapevines.     

Purification and structural characterisation of lipid transfer protein from red wine and grapes

Lipid transfer proteins (LTP) play a major role in plant defence and are of particular interest due to their known ability to cause allergic reactions. These proteins are expressed in grapes and also remain detectable after vinification, especially in red wine. However, it remains unknown whether the protein undergoes any changes during the vinification process. Here, we present a purification method for LTPs from Dornfelder grapes and wine. By liquid-chromatography–mass spectroscopy (LC–MS/MS) we identified LTPs from two different species (Vitis vinifera and Vitis aestivalis). Additionally, the purified LTPs were characterised using spectrometric methods, confirming their high purity and structural stability during vinification. We conclude that LTPs are resistant to the alcohol content (13.5 vol%), acidic milieu of wine and other ingredients present during the vinification process, indicating that the allergenic potential of grape LTP is not diminished by the vinification process.     

Conformational changes of Mal d 2, a thaumatin-like apple allergen,induced by food processing

Mal d 2, a thaumatin-like protein from apple was previously described to react to almost 75% of the apple allergic patient sera. Based on the molecular structure of this protein, the present study focused on the conformational stability of Mal d 2 in relation to in vitro IgE-binding under different physico-chemical conditions and proteolysis. The structural integrity of Mal d 2 was monitored using SDS–PAGE, Western blotting using polyclonal antibodies and human sera, fluorescence spectrometry and circular dichroism. Results confirmed the stability of Mal d 2. However, Mal d 2 was reactive to human serum IgEs mainly after reduction of disulphide bridges fixing the α-helical domain II. Contrary to previous assumptions, the current findings suggest that the allergenic epitopes of Mal d 2 are hidden inside the protein structure and none of the rigorous conditions applied in industrial juice processing or digestive proteolysis enhance or reduce the binding to IgE molecules.     

Crinumin,a chymotrypsin-like but glycosylated serine protease from Crinum asiaticum: Purification and physicochemical characterisation

Plant latex could be a potential source of novel proteases usable in the food and feed industries because of broad substrate specificity with high stability in extreme conditions. Crinumin, a glycosylated serine protease with chymotrypsin-like activity was purified from the latex of Crinumasiaticum using cation-exchange column chromatography. Crinumin shows activity over a wide range of pH (4.5–11.5 and optimum at 8.5), temperature (75 °C and optimum at 70 °C) and is also functional against chaotrophs, organic solvents, and detergents, even after prolonged exposure. The molecular mass (67.7 kDa), extinction coefficient (17.7), isoelectric point (6.9), and numbers of tryptophan (13), tyrosine (24) and cysteine (15 with 7 disulphide bridges) residues were estimated. K_m of the enzyme was 31.7 μM with casein and 5 × 10⁴ μM with N-succinyl-l-phenylalanine-p-nitroanilide. Easy availability of the aqueous latex, simple purification procedure, high yield (33%), stability and activity in adverse conditions makes it applicable for the pharmaceutical and food industries.     

Estimation and characterisation of major royal jelly proteins obtained from the honeybee Apis merifera

Royal jelly (RJ) contains many components, including proteins. We focused on major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) under natural conditions, and attempted to determine the content ratios and molecular forms of MRJPs by size-exclusion HPLC, SDS–PAGE, 2-DE and MALDI TOF/TOF MS. Soluble RJ proteins were extracted by dialysis followed by several centrifugation techniques. Soluble RJ proteins were universally separated into five peaks (640 kDa, 280 kDa, 100 kDa, 72 kDa and 4.5 kDa) by size-exclusion HPLC on a Superose 12 column. Among these peaks, both the 280 kDa and 72 kDa peaks were major, but the intensity of the 280 kDa peak differed markedly among original RJ samples (n = 70). The main 280 kDa protein was separated into a 55 kDa band by reducing and non-reducing SDS–PAGE. This protein was also separated into multiple spots ranging from pH 4.2 to 6.5 by 2-DE. These spots were identified as MRJP 1 by MALDI TOF/TOF MS. From these results, MRJP 1 was thought to comprise an oligomer complex linked by non-covalent bonds under natural conditions. Another major protein, the 72 kDa peak on Superose 12 HPLC, was identified as MRJP 2.     

STT and DTT Diagrams of Austenitic Cr–Mn–Ni As‐Cast Steels and Crucial Thermodynamic Aspects of γ → α′ Transformation

The mechanical behavior and microstructure evolution during deformation of novel austenitic Cr–Mn–Ni as‐cast steels with varied Ni content were investigated at various temperatures using static tensile tests, optical microscopy, and the magnetic scale for the detection of ferromagnetic phase fraction. To summarize all knowledge about the deformation‐induced processes, the STT and DTT diagrams were developed for Cr–Mn–Ni steels. The diagrams illustrate the different deformation mechanisms depending on temperature and tension load, and quantify the elongation of the deformation mechanisms. The deformation‐induced ε‐ and α' martensite formation and twinning – the TRIP and TWIP effects – occur in the Cr–Mn–Ni steels depending on the chemical composition and temperature. The differences of deformation‐induced processes depend on thermodynamics and are confirmed by thermodynamic calculations. The nucleation threshold of γ → α′ transformation was determined for the investigated Cr–Mn–Ni steels.     

Neriifolin S, a dimeric serine protease from Euphorbia neriifolia Linn.: Purification and biochemical characterisation

A dimeric serine protease Neriifolin S of molecular mass 94 kDa with milk clotting activity has been purified from the latex of Euphorbia neriifolia by anion exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. It hydrolyses peptidyl substrates l-Ala-pNA with highest affinity (K_m of 0.195 mM) and physiological efficiency (K_cat/K_m of 144.5 mM s). Enzyme belongs to the class of neutral proteases with pI value of 6.8, optimal proteolytic activity displayed at pH 9.5 and temperature 45 °C. Its proteolytic activity is strongly stimulated in the presence of Ca⁺² ions and exclusively inhibited by serine protease inhibitors. Enzyme is fairly stable toward chemical denaturants, pH and temperature. The apparent T_m, was found to be 65 °C. Thermal inactivation follow first order kinetics with activation energy (Ea), activation enthalpy (ΔH∗), free energy change (ΔG∗) and entropy (ΔS∗) of 27.54 kJ mol⁻¹, 24.89 kJ mol⁻¹, −82.34 kJ mol⁻¹ and 337.20 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹.     

Proteomic analysis of responses of a new probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus casei Zhang to low acid stress

Tolerance to acid is an important feature for probiotic bacteria during transition through the gastrointestinal tract. Proteomics analysis of a new probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus casei Zhang, was performed upon 30-min exposure to low acid stress (pH 2.5 vs. pH 6.4) using two-dimensional electrophoresis. Out of 33 protein spots that showed changes of expression between the two pHs, 22 showed 1.5-fold higher expression at pH 2.5 than at pH 6.4, whereas five spots had expression decreased by 1.5-fold at pH 2.5. There were also six protein spots that were exclusively present on different pH maps. Further analysis showed that eight of the enhanced proteins, NagA, NagB, PGM, GlmM, LacC, TDP, GALM and PtsI, were involved in carbohydrate catabolism. Moreover, quantitative RT-PCR showed that the mRNA expression levels of dnaK, nagB, galm, estC, tuf and luxS were consistent with changes in protein expression. We postulate that there might be some relationship between differentially expressed proteins and acid tolerance in L. casei Zhang.     

数字电视DTT技术及实际应用分析

数字地面传输技术（DTT）是数字电视重要部分，由编码、解码、调制、传输和接收等技术部分组成。分析这些技术的核心部分，DVB—T、ISDB—T、ATSC3种系统的对比测试、实际运用的细节以及技术发展的方向和前景。