Compact Argumentation Frameworks

Abstract argumentation frameworks (AFs) are one of the most studied formalisms in AI. In this work, we introduce a certain subclass of AFs which we call compact. Given an extension-based semantics, the corresponding compact AFs are characterized by the feature that each argument of the AF occurs in at least one extension. This not only guarantees a certain notion of fairness; compact AFs are thus also minimal in the sense that no argument can be removed without changing the outcome. We address the following questions in the paper: (1) How are the classes of compact AFs related for different semantics? (2) Under which circumstances can AFs be transformed into equivalent compact ones? (3) Finally, we show that compact AFs are indeed a non-trivial subclass, since the verification problem remains coNP-hard for certain semantics.Comment: Contribution to the 15th International Workshop on Non-Monotonic Reasoning, 2014, Vienn

Selective Oxidation of Clopidogrel by Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and Sodium Halide (NaX) System: An NMR Study

A selective transformation of clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate (CLP) by reactive halogen species (HOX) generated from peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and sodium halide (NaX) is described. Other sustainable oxidants as well as different solvents have also been investigated. As result of this study, for each sodium salt the reaction conditions were optimized, and four different degradation products were formed. Three products were halogenated at C-2 on the thiophene ring and have concomitant functional transformation, such as N-oxide in the piperidine group. A halogenated endo-iminium product was also observed. With this condition, a fast preparation of known endo-iminium clopidogrel impurity (new counterion) was reported as well. The progress of the reaction was monitored using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as an analytical tool and all the products were characterized by 1D-, 2D-NMR and HRMS

ATP binding to bovine serum albumin

AbstractSpecific binding or ATP to bovine serum albumin (BSA) is demonstrated employing ATP derivatives spin-labeled at either N6 or C8 of adenine ring or at the ribose moiety. Based on a 1:1 stoichiometry binding constants are in the 50–100 μM range. Binding is largely competitive with ATP or stearic acid. A small fraction of the labeled nucleotides could not be liberated by these ligands. Binding of AMP is in the millimolar range, only

SrAlSi4N7:Eu2+

The new nitridoalumosilicate phosphor SrAlSi4N7:Eu2+ has been synthesized under nitrogen atmosphere at temperatures up to 1630°C in a radio-frequency furnace starting from Sr metal, α-Si3N4, AlN, and additional Eu metal. The crystal structure of the host compound SrAlSi4N7 has been solved and refined on the basis of single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction data. In the solid, there is a network structure of corner-sharing SiN4 tetrahedra incorporating infinite chains of all edge-sharing AlN4 tetrahedra running along [001] (SrAlSi4N7: Pna21 (No. 33), Z = 8, a = 11.742(2) Å, b = 21.391(4) Å, c = 4.966(1) Å, V = 12.472(4) Å3, 2739 reflections, 236 refined parameters, R1 = 0.0366). The Eu2+-doped compound SrAlSi4N7:Eu2+ shows typical broadband emission originating from dipole-allowed 4f6(7FJ)5d1 → 4f7 (8S7/2) transitions in the orange-red spectral region (λmax = 632 nm for 2% Eu doping level, 450 nm excitation) with a spectral width of FWHM = 2955 (± 75) cm−1 and a Stokes shift ΔS = 4823 (± 100) cm−1. The luminescence properties make the phosphor an attractive candidate material as red component in trichromatic warm white light LEDs with excellent color rendition properties

Expression of defensins in non-infected araneomorph spiders

Defensins are a major family of antimicrobial peptides found throughout the phylogenetic tree. From the spider species: Cupiennius salei, Phoneutria reidyi, Polybetes pythagoricus, Tegenaria atrica, and Meta menardi, defensins belonging to the ‘ancestral' class of invertebrate defensins were cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequences contain the characteristic six cysteines of this class of defensins and reveal precursors of 60 or 61 amino acid residues. The mature peptides consist of 37 amino acid residues, showing up to 70% identities with tick and scorpion defensins. In C. salei, defensin mRNA was found to be constitutively expressed in hemocytes, ovaries, subesophageal nerve mass, hepatopancreas, and muscle tissue. This is the first report presenting and comparing antimicrobial peptides belonging to the family of defensins from spider

AmOct2R: Functional Characterization of a Honeybee Octopamine Receptor Inhibiting Adenylyl Cyclase Activity

The catecholamines norepinephrine and epinephrine are important regulators of vertebrate physiology. Insects such as honeybees do not synthesize these neuroactive substances. Instead, they use the phenolamines tyramine and octopamine for similar physiological functions. These biogenic amines activate specific members of the large protein family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Based on molecular and pharmacological data, insect octopamine receptors were classified as either - or -adrenergic-like octopamine receptors. Currently, one - and four -receptors have been molecularly and pharmacologically characterized in the honeybee. Recently, an 2-adrenergic-like octopamine receptor was identified in Drosophila melanogaster (DmOct2R). This receptor is activated by octopamine and other biogenic amines and causes a decrease in intracellular cAMP ([cAMP]i). Here, we show that the orthologous receptor of the honeybee (AmOct2R), phylogenetically groups in a clade closely related to human 2-adrenergic receptors. When heterologously expressed in an eukaryotic cell line, AmOct2R causes a decrease in [cAMP]i. The receptor displays a pronounced preference for octopamine over tyramine. In contrast to DmOct2R, the honeybee receptor is not activated by serotonin. Its activity can be blocked eciently by 5-carboxamidotryptamine and phentolamine. The functional characterization of AmOct2R now adds a sixth member to this subfamily of monoaminergic receptors in the honeybee and is an important step towards understanding the actions of octopamine in honeybee behavior and physiology