Identification of Two Palmitoyl Groups in Octopus Rhodopsin

Abstract— We determined the structure and site of fatty acid incorporated in octopus rhodopsin using a combination of fluorescence label and enzymatic cleavage methods in conjunction with fast-atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry. A single peptide containing two adjacent cysteines, Cys337 and Cys338, was successfully isolated using the fluorescence from a dye conjugated to Cys345. The FAB mass spectrometric analysis of the peptide (323phe-³⁴⁰phe) revealed that two palmitoyl groups are linked to Cys337 and Cys338 via thioester bonds in octopus rhodopsin as in bovine rhodopsin.     

GAS PERMEABILITY OF COPOLY(1-TRIMETHYL-SILYL-1-PROPYNE-PENTAMETHYL-DISILYL-1-PROPYNE) MEMBRANE

The permeability of copoly (1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne-pentamethyldisilyl-1-propyne) membrane for twelve gases (0_2, N_2, CO_2, H_2, D_2, He, At, CH_4, C_2H_4, C_2H_6, C_3H_6 and C_3H_8) was examined. The basic laws of solution and diffusion of the gases in the membrane were expounded preliminarily. It was found that a linear relationship between logarithm of diffusion coefficient (D) and critical molar volume (V_c) of the gases. The permeation characteristics of the gases in the copoly (1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne-pentamethyldisilyl-1-propyne) membrane was also discussed.     

Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Phytochemicals and Related Stable Paramagnetic Species in Different Parts of Dragon Fruit

In this study, we investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals and paramagnetic species in dragon fruit using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). HPLC analysis demonstrated that dragon fruit is enriched with bioactive phytochemicals, with significant variations between each part of the fruit. Anthocyanins namely, cyanidin 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-glucoside, and pelargonidin 3-glucoside were detected in the dragon fruit peel and fresh red pulp. Epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, caffeine, and gallic acid were found in the dragon fruit seed. Additionally, 25–100 mg × L⁻¹ of dragon fruit pulp and peel extracts containing enrichment of cyanidin 3-glucoside were found to inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in cell-based studies without exerted cytotoxicity. EPR primarily detected two paramagnetic species in the red samples. These two different radical species were assigned as stable radicals and Mn²⁺ (paramagnetic species) based on the g-values and hyperfine components. In addition, the broad EPR line width of the white peel can be correlated to a unique moiety in dragon fruit. Our EPR and HPLC results provide new insight regarding the phytochemicals and related stable intermediates found in various parts of dragon fruit. Thus, we suggest here that there is the potential to use dragon fruit peel, which contains anthocyanins, as a natural active pharmaceutical ingredient.     

2′,4′-BNA/LNA with 9-(2-Aminoethoxy)-1,3-diaza-2-oxophenoxazine Efficiently Forms Duplexes and Has Enhanced Enzymatic Resistance**

Artificial nucleic acids are widely used in various technologies, such as nucleic acid therapeutics and DNA nanotechnologies requiring excellent duplex-forming abilities and enhanced nuclease resistance. 2′-O,4′-C-Methylene-bridged nucleic acid/locked nucleic acid (2′,4′-BNA/LNA) with 1,3-diaza-2-oxophenoxazine (BNAP ( B^H )) was previously reported. Herein, a novel B^H analogue, 2′,4′-BNA/LNA with 9-(2-aminoethoxy)-1,3-diaza-2-oxophenoxazine (G-clamp), named BNAP-AEO ( B^AEO ), was designed. The B^AEO nucleoside was successfully synthesized and incorporated into oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs). ODNs containing B^AEO possessed up to 10⁴-, 152-, and 11-fold higher binding affinities for complementary (c) RNA than those of ODNs containing 2′-deoxycytidine ( C ), 2′,4′-BNA/LNA with 5-methylcytosine ( L ), or 2′-deoxyribonucleoside with G-clamp ( P^AEO ), respectively. Moreover, duplexes formed by ODN bearing B^AEO with cDNA and cRNA were thermally stable, even under molecular crowding conditions induced by the addition of polyethylene glycol. Furthermore, ODN bearing B^AEO was more resistant to 3′-exonuclease than ODNs with phosphorothioate linkages.     

The asymptotic relative generation distribution of the closest common ancestor of the multitype Galton–Watson tree conditioned on non-extinction

We extend Geiger’s size-biased tree method to the multitype case to give another proof of Zubkov’s result that the asymptotic relative generation distribution of the closest common ancestor of the multitype Galton–Watson branching process conditioned on non-extinction is uniform.     

Public policy structuring incorporating reciprocal expectation analysis

This paper proposes a method of structuring public policy by incorporating reciprocal expectation analysis. The proposed method is characterized by three components: identification of the problem structure perceived by stakeholders using cognitive maps, policy structuring analysis with a value–driver matrix and a reciprocal expectation matrix, and feasibility analysis of agreements among the stakeholders. The three types of relationship among stakeholders are derived from the feasibility analysis, which are “Dosho-imu”, “Isho-imu”, and “Domu”. Three tests of feasibility to reach the agreement are then proposed: “information-sharing test”, “bargaining test”, and “reframing test”. A case study is presented, applying the method to strategic transportation planning in the Kanto region of Japan. Finally, the potential functions of the proposed method in practice are discussed.     

Optimal charging times of a battery for memory backup

This paper considers the following charging policy for a battery to back up memories of a computer system: If the voltage of a battery is lower than a prespecified threshold level when the power is on, a battery is charged for a fixed time T. Using the probability theory, an availability of the system is derived and an optimal time T^* to maximize it is discussed. A numerical example is finally given.     

Optimal block length for Basic mode data transmission control procedure

This paper considers two models of BASIC mode data transmission: When we transmit data with length l

1. (1) data are divided into N blocks and each block is transmitted individually

2. (2) data are divided into N sub-blocks and all sub-blocks are transmitted together.

We derive total average transmission data lengths of each model and discuss optimal numbers N* and block length B* which minimize them. In model 1, the length of one block is approximately determined independently of l. It is shown in a numerical example that when l is large, model 2 is better than model 1.     

Three-dimensional elastic wave scattering by a layer containing vertical periodic fractures

Elastic wave scattering off a layer containing a single set of vertical periodic fractures is examined using a numerical technique based on the work of Hennion et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 87, 1861-1870 (1990)]. This technique combines the finite element method and plane wave method to simulate three-dimensional scattering off a two-dimensional fractured layer structure. Each fracture is modeled explicitly, so that the model can simulate both discrete arrivals of scattered waves from individual fractures and multiply scattered waves between the fractures. Using this technique, we examine changes in scattering characteristics of plane elastic waves as a function of wave frequency, angle of incidence, and fracture properties such as fracture stiffness, height, and regular and irregular spacing.