Biomedical aspects of pyridoxal 5 -phosphate availability

The biologically active form of vitamin B6, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), is a cofactor in over 160 enzyme activities involved in a number of metabolic pathways, including neurotransmitter synthesis and degradation. In humans, PLP is recycled from food and from degraded PLP-dependent enzymes in a salvage pathway requiring the action of pyridoxal kinase, pyridoxine 5'-phosphate oxidase and phosphatases. Once pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is made, it is targeted to the dozens different apoenzymes that need it as a cofactor. The regulation of the salvage pathway and the mechanism of addition of PLP to the apoenzymes are poorly understood and represent a very challenging research field. Severe neurological disorders, such as convulsions and epileptic encephalopathy, result from a reduced availability of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in the cell, due to inborn errors in the enzymes of the salvage pathway or other metabolisms and to interactions of drugs with PLP or pyridoxal kinase. Multifactorial neurological pathologies, such as autism, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy have also been correlated to inadequate intracellular levels of PLP

Tools for computer graphics applications

Extensive research in computer graphics has produced a collection of basic algorithms and procedures whose utility spans many disciplines. These tools are described in terms of their fundamental aspects, implementations, applications, and availability. Programs which are discussed include basic data plotting, curve smoothing, and depiction of three dimensional surfaces. As an aid to potential users of these tools, particular attention is given to discussing their availability and, where applicable, their cost

The Pioneer spacecraft as a probe carrier

Requirements for Pioneer 10 and 11 designs are provided that are adequate to carry the probes for Jupiter and Saturn explorations. For a Uranus probe mission, additional spacecraft modifications are necessary. Considered are weight availability for carrying the probe, aspects of probe to bus link communications and onboard navigation

Household debt and credit : economic issues and data problems

We survey contributions to the analysis of household liabilities, highlighting relevant theoretical aspects and outlining how data sources may support empirical testing and measurement efforts. Specifically, we classify aspects of household debt, discussing the theoretical and policy relevance of heterogeneity across individual and country dimensions. Aiming to illustrate conceptual and measurement issues, we refer to the approaches and results of some recent relevant country-specific work on administrative and survey data, and we argue that research in this area would greatly benefit from availability of appropriately classified household liabilities data and of cross-country institutional information. JEL Classification: G1, E2

Changing the configuration of business information systems for advanced continuous replenishment implementation : case studies of Indonesian and Dutch retailers on contingency factors that determine the configuration

Business Information Systems (BIS) play an important role in the CR practice. The definition of BIS in this thesis includes the aspects of data, data processing activities, and data processing technologies that support those activities. The BIS configuration in a retail company shows the possibility of CR implementation. The availability of advanced capabilities in a company¿s BIS would enable advanced CR

Living City, A Collaborative Browser-Based Massively Multiplayer Online Game

This work presents the design and implementation of our Browser-based Massively Multiplayer Online Game, Living City, a simulation game fully developed at the University of Messina. Living City is a persistent and real-time digital world, running in the Web browser environment and accessible from users without any client-side installation. Today Massively Multiplayer Online Games attract the attention of Computer Scientists both for their architectural peculiarity and the close interconnection with the social network phenomenon. We will cover these two aspects paying particular attention to some aspects of the project: game balancing (e.g. algorithms behind time and money balancing); business logic (e.g., handling concurrency, cheating avoidance and availability) and, finally, social and psychological aspects involved in the collaboration of players, analyzing their activities and interconnections

Notes on a Bicentennial Constitution: Part I, Processes of Change

With the approach of the Bill of Rights bicentennial, this paper takes the cause for celebration as an equally important occasion for critique. This work argues that the most distinguishing aspects of our Constitution are not the Bill of Rights, federalism, and separation of powers, but rather the availability of judicial review, the political insulation of federal judges, and the limited mechanisms available for constitutional change

Habit and Heterogeneity in the Youthful Demand for Alcohol

Observed patterns of youthful drinking indicate substantial persistence. This paper analyzes how much of that persistence reflects the actual development of a habit, and how much is due to unobserved aspects of the individual and the environment. The role of restrictions on alcohol availability, both in the current period and in adolescence, is also explored. We find that much of the observed persistence represents habit formation, and not unobserved characteristics. Consequently, restrictions on availability, particularly at an early age, alter subsequent patterns of alcohol consumption and abuse.

Availability of Education in Russia and Germany (Comparative Aspects)

Comparison of Russian and German educational systems is in the spotlight of present day research because they are similar. Though Russian educational system is distinctive, it is close to the Western European system both in structure and content. As for the German educational model – it is in the basis of the Russian one. In the hindsight both Russia and Germany have accumulated experience in providing availability of education and its quality. Research of the issue of availability and quality of the education is presupposed by theoretical demands of the education and by economic and political transformations of the society throughout the world. The above mentioned changes are connected with globalization and democratization of national educational systems