Identification of archaeal proteins that affect the exosome function in vitro

Background  

The archaeal exosome is formed by a hexameric RNase PH ring and three RNA binding subunits and has been shown to bind and degrade RNA in vitro. Despite extensive studies on the eukaryotic exosome and on the proteins interacting with this complex, little information is yet available on the identification and function of archaeal exosome regulatory factors.     

Radiation efficiency of a guitar top plate linked with edge or corner modes and intercell cancellation

This paper was based on a theoretical framework to determine strong and weak radiation by a guitar top plate, vibrating through deflections hard to analyze: multipolar mode shapes. The air-structure interaction was examined in terms of edge modes or corner modes, and considering even or odd number modes. A numerical model was implemented and experimentally calibrated, exhibiting several advantages exploring the coupling between vibratory and acoustic waves in a top plate. Two analyses were applied detecting high or low radiation efficiency for the structure. First, the addition of volume velocity for odd numbers of poles and cancellation for even numbers were examined. In fact, both behaviors can happen at the same time, as it was shown for a corner radiator case used as an example. Second, the ratio between bending and acoustic wavenumbers was explored. To illustrate the importance of this ratio, some theoretical features of a more efficient radiator than the corner mode were exposed in an edge mode example. Labeling multipolar mode shapes as efficient or inefficient radiators showed to be a useful alternative analyzing the top plate behavior. It can be applied knowing the nodal lines of the vibration pattern and estimating the bending and acoustic wavelengths.     

Modulation of humoral immune response to oral BCG vaccination by Mycobacterium bovis BCG Moreau Rio de Janeiro (RDJ) in healthy adults

We hypothesize that the energy strategy of a cell is a key factor for determining how, or if, the immune system interacts with that cell. Cells have a limited number of metabolic states, in part, depending on the type of fuels the cell consumes. Cellular fuels include glucose (carbohydrates), lipids (fats), and proteins. We propose that the cell's ability to switch to, and efficiently use, fat for fuel confers immune privilege. Additionally, because uncoupling proteins are involved in the fat burning process and reportedly in protection from free radicals, we hypothesize that uncoupling proteins play an important role in immune privilege. Thus, changes in metabolism (caused by oxidative stresses, fuel availability, age, hormones, radiation, or drugs) will dictate and initiate changes in immune recognition and in the nature of the immune response. This has profound implications for controlling the symptoms of autoimmune diseases, for preventing graft rejection, and for targeting tumor cells for destruction.     

The effect of data scaling on dual prices and sensitivity analysis in linear programs

In many practical situations scaling the data is necessary to solve linear programs. This note explores the relationships in translating the sensitivity analysis between the original and the scaled problems.     

Long-term average spectrum of Spanish

The long-term average spectrum of Spanish, as spoken in Mexico, was obtained for thirty subjects—fifteen men and fifteen women. To obtain the average spectrum, use was made of a digital system comprised of an FFT analyzer interfaced to a microcomputer. All data acquisition, storage and processing was thus digital. The main features of the average spectrum are: peaks in the region of 240 Hz and 500 Hz, a ?20 dB/octave slope from 0·5 kHz to 1 kHz; a flat region between 1 kHz and 2 kHz, a further decline of ?10 dB/octave to ≈3 kHz and, finally, a large flat region (within 5 dB) from 3 kHz up to 10 kHz. These results agree reasonably well with some other studies for English. The technique employed here is thus adequate for this kind of study, being relatively fast and easy to implement.     

An airborne parametric array

The development of a prototype parametric speaker comprised of 37 piezo-speakers, also known as “acoustic flashlight” is described. The sound pressure along the axis was measured for both the primary (38.5 kHz ultrasonic) signal and the secondary (demodulated) signal. Comparison with the theory for an equivalent piston radiating at the same frequency and the simulation of the piezo speakers as simple sources in the same hexagonal arrangement was made. The absorption coefficient and the radiation patterns of the primary and secondary signal were also measured. All the measurements and the simulation agree with the corresponding theories. The demodulated (audio frequency) signal behaves in the near field of the speaker in the same way (that of an equivalent piston) as the primary (ultrasonic frequency) signal, which results in the inheritance of its high directivity.     

Modulation of humoral immune response to oral BCG vaccination by Mycobacterium bovis BCG Moreau Rio de Janeiro (RDJ) in healthy adults

Background  

Oral administration of BCG was the route initially used by Calmette and Guérin, but was replaced by intradermal administration in virtually all countries after the Lubeck accident. However, Brazil continued to administer oral BCG Moreau RDJ, which was maintained until the mid-1970s when it was substituted by the intradermal route. Although BCG vaccination has been used in humans since 1921, little is known of the induced immune response. The aim of this study was to analyse immunological responses after oral vaccination with M. bovis BCG Moreau RDJ.     

Effect of substitution of Ce on superconducting properties of Bi1.7Pb0.3Sr2Ca2−x Ce x Cu3O10+δ system

We have investigated the superconducting properties of the Bi_1.7 Pb_0.3Sr₂Ca_2−xCe _x Cu₃O_10+δ system with x=0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08 and 0.1 by X-ray diffraction and magnetic susceptibility. The substitution of Ce for Ca has been found to drastically change the superconducting properties of the system. X-ray diffraction studies on these compounds indicate decrease in the c-parameter with increased substitution of Ce at Ca site and volume fraction of high T _c (2 : 2 : 2 : 3) phase decreases and low T _c phase increases. The magnetic susceptibility of this compound shows that the diamagnetic on set superconducting transition temperature (onset) varies from 109 K to 51 K for x=0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08 and 0.1. These results suggest the possible existence of Ce in a tetravalent state rather than a trivalent state in this system; that is, Ca²⁺ → Ce⁴⁺ replacement changes the hole carrier concentration. Hole filling is the cause of lowering T _c of the system.