Nucleation rates in a new phenomenological model

In this paper we develop a new theory to evaluate the nucleation rate in the framework of the EMLD-DNT model. Beyond the model, our theory deals with cluster translation and exclusion, effects that have been virtually ignored in classical nucleation theory. We apply the model to the case of 1-pentanol, and compare the predictions with experimental results. We find an excellent agreement between the nucleation rate predicted by our theory and experimental data. The distinguishing feature of the model is its ability to predict successfully the rate of formation of the critical nucleus without the use of an intermolecular potential, employing only macroscopic thermodynamic properties.     

Exploring the functional interaction between POSH and ALIX and the relevance to HIV-1 release

Background

The ALG2-interacting protein X (ALIX)/AIP1 is an adaptor protein with multiple functions in intracellular protein trafficking that plays a central role in the biogenesis of enveloped viruses. The ubiquitin E3-ligase POSH (plenty of SH3) augments HIV-1 egress by facilitating the transport of Gag to the cell membrane. Recently, it was reported, that POSH interacts with ALIX and thereby enhances ALIX mediated phenotypes in Drosophila.

Results

In this study we identified ALIX as a POSH ubiquitination substrate in human cells: POSH induces the ubiquitination of ALIX that is modified on several lysine residues in vivo and in vitro. This ubiquitination does not destabilize ALIX, suggesting a regulatory function. As it is well established that ALIX rescues virus release of L-domain mutant HIV-1, HIV-1Δ_PTAP, we demonstrated that wild type POSH, but not an ubiquitination inactive RING finger mutant (POSH^V14A), substantially enhances ALIX-mediated release of infectious virions derived from HIV-1Δ_PTAP L-domain mutant (YPX_nL-dependent HIV-1). In further agreement with the idea of a cooperative function of POSH and ALIX, mutating the YPX_nL-ALIX binding site in Gag completely abrogated augmentation of virus release by overexpression of POSH. However, the effect of the POSH-mediated ubiquitination appears to be auxiliary, but not necessary, as silencing of POSH by RNAi does not disturb ALIX-augmentation of virus release.

Conclusion

Thus, the cumulative results identified ALIX as an ubiquitination substrate of POSH and indicate that POSH and ALIX cooperate to facilitate efficient virus release. However, while ALIX is obligatory for the release of YPX_nL-dependent HIV-1, POSH, albeit rate-limiting, may be functionally interchangeable.     

Statistical thermodynamic formalism in the solution of information theory problems

This is the first of several papers dealing with the application of statistical thermodynamic methodology to the solution of coding and communication theory problems. Emphasis is placed on the various ensemble techniques of statistical mechanics, the words or samples of a message taking the place of molecules in the prototype physical system. Analogs of temperature, internal energy, pressure, chemical potential, volume, entropy, etc., are developed. The isomorphism with thermodynamics is complete and these quantities transform (for example, by partial differentiation) in exactly the same way as the prototype physical quantities. The methods are nicely applicable to coding cases involving sources with memory, in which case, correlation can be discussed in terms of analog coupling energies between signals or words so that the store of many-body-problem techniques can be used. In addition, the manipulative freedom stemming from the possibility of choosing from a multiplicity of ensembles constrained by intensive parameters proves a distinct advantage. A concrete example dealing with the choice of a compact code for a nonextended source with memory is presented. The compact code is derived, and some discussion is given concerning the breadth of its power spectrum. In a following paper, its autocorrelation function within the framework of pulse code modulation is derived and transformed by Wiener theory so that the power spectrum is directly exhibited (along with the spectra for several other cases).Research supported under AFOSR Grant No. 70-1877. The present work is contribution No. 2643 of the Department of Chemistry, University of California-Los Angeles.     

Axisymmetric buckling of rigidly clamped hemispherical shells

The shell is subjected to a uniform compressive surface load (either a pressure or a centrally directed load). The results of a numerical study are summarized and compared with experiments.     

An adjoint-based pressure correction scheme

Incompressible flows are solenoidal, i. e. the divergence of the flow field is zero. This is an algebraic constraint on the solution in time. The pressure has to be determined, so that the constraint is fulfilled. To calculate the pressure often a Poisson equation is derived, which is then solved by an iterative method. Instead of this the constraint is here formulated as an optimization problem. The objective functional is taken as the square of the norm of the divergence. A gradient based optimization is performed to calculate the pressure in every time step of the simulation. By this an alternative iterative scheme is derived. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)