Intercellular communication: the Drosophila innexin multiprotein family of gap junction proteins

Gap junctions belong to the most conserved cellular structures in multicellular organisms, from Hydra to man. They contain tightly packed clusters of hydrophilic membrane channels connecting the cytoplasms of adjacent cells, thus allowing direct communication of cells and tissues through the diffusion of ions, metabolites, and cyclic nucleotides. Recent evidence suggests that gap junctions are constructed by three different families of four transmembrane proteins: the Connexins and the Innexins found in vertebrates and in invertebrates, respectively, and the Innexin-like Pannexins, which were recently discovered in humans. This article focuses on the Drosophila Innexin multiprotein family, which is comprised of eight members. We highlight common structural features and discuss recent findings that suggest close similarities in cellular distribution, function, and regulation of Drosophila Innexins and vertebrate gap junction proteins.     

THE 2 x 2 Spectral Nevanlinna-Pick Problem

A method is presented to construct interpolation functions intothe 2 x 2 open spectral unit ball. For the spectral Nevanlinna–Pickproblem, these functions are in some sense extremal, and theset of all these interpolation functions is enough to solveany interpolation problem, with solvable finite interpolationdata. This fact is used to compute the complex geodesics forthe symmetrized bidisc and for the spectral unit ball, and tosolve completely the two-point interpolation problem for thetwo target sets.     

Pressure beneath a Stokes wave

We investigate the pressure within an irrotational fluid in a periodic, steady, two‐dimensional gravity wave above a flat bed. We prove that the pressure in the fluid strictly decreases horizontally away from the crest line. Furthermore, the pressure strictly increases with depth. We also investigate the effect of an underlying current on the paths of the particles. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Azimuthal angle correlations for rapidity separated Hadron pairs in d+Au collisions at square root of sNN=200 GeV

Deuteron-gold (d+Au) collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider provide ideal platforms for testing QCD theories in dense nuclear matter at high energy. In particular, models suggesting strong saturation effects for partons carrying small nucleon momentum fraction (x) predict modifications to jet production at forward rapidity (deuteron-going direction) in d+Au collisions. We report on two-particle azimuthal angle correlations between charged hadrons at forward/backward (deuteron/gold going direction) rapidity and charged hadrons at midrapidity in d+Au and p+p collisions at square root of sNN=200 GeV. Jet structures observed in the correlations are quantified in terms of the conditional yield and angular width of away-side partners. The kinematic region studied here samples partons in the gold nucleus with x~0.1 to ~0.01. Within this range, we find no x dependence of the jet structure in d+Au collisions.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Some New N1‐[4‐(4‐Chlorophenylsulfonyl)benzoyl]‐N 4‐(aryl)‐thiosemicarbazides and Products of Their Cyclization

In the present study, new 1,2,4‐triazoles, 1,3,4‐thiadiazoles, and acylthiosemicarbaz‐ides derived from 4‐(4‐chlorophenylsulfonyl)benzoic acid hydrazide were synthesized and screened for their antimicrobial and analgesic activities. Acylthiosemicarbazides 2–4 were synthesized by a reaction of 4‐(4‐chlorophenyl‐sulfonyl)benzoic acid hydrazide 1 with different arylisothiocyanates.4,5‐Disubstituted‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐thiones 5–7 and 2,5‐disubstituted‐1,3,4‐thiadiazoles 8–10 were obtained by dehydrative cyclization of corresponding acylthiosemicarbazide derivatives 2–4 in basic media (8% aqueous sodium hydroxide) and in acidic media (sulfuric acid or phosphorous oxychloride), respectively. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds have been confirmed on the basis of elemental analysis and spectral studies (IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS). Their antimicrobial activities against some bacteria and yeasts were investigated. The analgesic activity of all compounds was performed with two pharmacological tests: the writhing test induced with acetic acid and hot‐plate test. The results showed that triazole 7 had the best antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus. In the chemical stimulus test, triazoles 6 and 7 were the most active compounds whereas in the hot‐plate test thiadiazoles 9 and 10 exhibited the highest analgesic activity.     

Approximation of Multiple Stratonovich Fractional Integrals

Abstract

We study multiple Riemann-Stieltjes integral approximations to multiple Stratonovich fractional integrals. Two standard approximations (Wong-Zakai and Mollifier approximations) are considered and we show the convergence in the mean square sense and uniformly on compact time intervals of these approximations to the multiple Stratonovich fractional integral.     

On Double Stratonovich Fractional Integrals and Some Strong and Weak Approximations

Abstract

Double Stratonovich integrals with respect to the odd part and even part of the fractional Brownian motion are constructed. The first and the second moments of such integrals are explicitly identified. As application of double Stratonovich integrals a strong law of large numbers for efBm and ofBm is derived.

Riemann–Stieltjes integral approximations to double Stratonovich fractional integrals are also considered. The strong convergence (almost surely and mean square) is obtained for approximations based on explicit series expansions of the fractional Brownian processes. The weak convergence is derived for approximations by processes with absolutely continuous paths which converge weakly to the considered fractional Brownian processes. The above-mentioned convergences are obtained for deterministic integrands which are given by bimeasures.     

Aggregation Behavior of a Six‐Membered Cyclic Frustrated Phosphane/Borane Lewis Pair: Formation of a Supramolecular Cyclooctameric Macrocyclic Ring System

A new six‐membered cyclic frustrated phosphane/borane Lewis pair was liberated from its HB(C₆F₅)₂ adduct by treatment with vinylcyclohexane. The system is an active frustrated Lewis pair that undergoes cycloaddition reactions with suitable π reagents and it splits dihydrogen. At room temperature in solution the new compound is a monomer, however, in the crystal and in solution at low temperature it aggregates to a thermodynamically favoured supramolecular macrocyclic cyclooctamer.     

Preparation of the Borane (Fmes)BH2 and its Utilization in the FLP Reduction of Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide

Treatment of 1,3,5‐tris(trifluoromethyl)benzene with n‐BuLi, followed by H₃B?SMe₂ and subsequent hydride removal gave the (Fmes)BH₂ reagent, which was isolated as a SMe₂ stabilized monomer or a ligand free (μ‐H)₂‐bridged dimer. Reaction with Mes₂P(vinyl) gave the respective ethylene‐bridged P/B(Fmes)H FLP. It reduced carbon monoxide to the formyl stage and carbon dioxide to the formaldehyde oxidation state. Most new compounds were characterized by X‐ray diffraction.