Interleaver design for trellis-coded differential 8-PSK modulation with non-coherent detection

The effect of finite interleaver size on bit error rate (BER) performance of coded 8-DPSK is determined by means of computer simulations. The losses evaluated in this way include the SNR degradation due to the timing and frequency errors of the symbol synchronizer and the automatic frequency control (AFC) of the receiver. BER measurements are presented using a conventional 2/3 rate convolutional 8-state trellis-code for typical Rayleigh and Rician fading channels. It is shown that for a Rician channel with a Rician parameter of 7 dB, a Doppler spread of 100 Hz and a data rate of 2400 bps, an interleaver with size 16 x 16 symbols performs nearly as well as a very large interleaver. It is also shown that for very fast Rayleigh channels, the BER-curves flatten out at large SNR

Assembly, trafficking and function of gamma-secretase

gamma-Secretase catalyzes the final cleavage of the beta-amyloid precursor protein to generate amyloid-beta peptide, the principal component of amyloid plaques in the brains of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Here, we review the identification of gamma-secretase as a protease complex and its assembly and trafficking to its site(s) of cellular function. In reconstitution experiments, gamma-secretase was found to be composed of four integral membrane proteins, presenilin (PS), nicastrin (NCT), PEN-2 and APH-1 that are essential and sufficient for gamma-secretase activity. PS, which serves as a catalytic subunit of gamma-secretase, was identified as a prototypic member of novel aspartyl proteases of the GxGD type. In human cells, gamma-secretase could be further defined as a heterogeneous activity consisting of distinct complexes that are composed of PS1 or PS2 and APH-1a or APH-1b homologues together with NCT and PEN-2. Using green fluorescent protein as a reporter we localized PS and gamma-secretase activity at the plasma membrane and endosomes. Investigation of gamma-secretase complex assembly in knockdown and knockout cells of the individual subunits allowed us to develop a model of complex assembly in which NCT and APH-1 first stabilize PS before PEN-2 assembles as the last component. Furthermore, we could map domains in PS and PEN-2 that govern assembly and trafficking of the complex. Finally, Rer1 was identified as a PEN-2-binding protein that serves a role as an auxiliary factor for gamma-secretase complex assembly. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Editors' Introduction to Issue 2 of Artifacts

The second issue of Artifacts features articles on a range of topics, from an historical narrative of Mizzou's medical school to a critical analysis of engineering failure during Hurricane Katrina. These texts reflect sophisticated research skills, including archival and discipline-specific research. Every piece in Issue 2 developed from assignments in undergraduate writing classes at The University of Missouri

Editor's Introduction to Issue 3 of Artifacts

All Mizzou students have one important thing in common: they are writers. Thanks to the writing intensive courses across the University, students have the opportunity to experience different writing situations in every discipline. Mizzou students learn that different writing contexts demand different sets of strategies. Not only does the content change, but the way research and arguments are presented also change. The essays featured in Artifacts Issue 3 reflect the variety of writing that Mizzou students create every day. From technical reports to historical research to literary analysis, these essays are all snapshots of the Mizzou writer at work

Clinical Guidelines in Practice: How Well are Primary Care Providers Following National Chronic Kidney Disease Recommendations?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), prevalent in more the 10% of the United States population is a progressive, degenerative disease affecting the renal function of afflicted individuals. In recent decades CKD has gained awareness among clinicians and medical professional due to growing concern for the many complications that arise in patients with CKD. For providers, CKD patient populations pose a significant challenge in terms of quality treatment because of the many associated risk factors and co-morbidities associated with a CKD diagnosis. The KDIGO (Kidney Disease; Improving Global Outcomes) 2012 clinical guidelines for the treatment of CKD were published under the sponsorship of the National Kidney Foundation in order to create uniform measures aimed to improve quality care and effective treatment of the CKD population. The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which these measures are being implemented and adhered to among providers at the practice level. Analysis of adherence to six specific measures of the KDIGO guidelines offers insight into the areas of implementation strengths and weaknesses. Results of this study indicate a widespread variation in the level of adherence to each measure on the practice level as well as variation among individual providers to each measure. While adherence levels were high among providers for certain measures, high adherence was not uniform across all six measures. Results of this study indicate the potential for improvement in CKD treatment through the use of centralized implementation structures such as practice based research networks (PBRN) or practice facilitation in order to generate higher adherence to all six KDIGO measures

miR-132, an experience-dependent microRNA, is essential for visual cortex plasticity

Using quantitative analyses, we identified microRNAs (miRNAs) that were abundantly expressed in visual cortex and that responded to dark rearing and/or monocular deprivation. The most substantially altered miRNA, miR-132, was rapidly upregulated after eye opening and was delayed by dark rearing. In vivo inhibition of miR-132 in mice prevented ocular dominance plasticity in identified neurons following monocular deprivation and affected the maturation of dendritic spines, demonstrating its critical role in the plasticity of visual cortex circuits.National Eye Institute (Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellowship 1F32EY020066-01)Simons Foundation (Postdoctoral Fellowship)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (EY017098)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (EY007023

Editor's Introduction : First year writing special issue

First-Year Composition at the University of Missouri--English 1000-- is characterized above all by its diversity. While broad guidelines and goals underwrite what a phalanx of instructors implement in nearly 200 sections each year, the freedom instructors possess to teach to their strengths and interests is a hallmark that, if the essays in this issue are any indication, is a boon to MU students

Досвід створення та функціонування Державної системи правової інформації Республіки Білорусь

Щодо досвіду створення та особливостей функціонування білоруської моделі державної системи правової інформації.Относительно опыта создания и особенностей функционирования белорусской модели государственной системы правовой информации.In relation to the experience of foundation and Рeculiarities of the Belorussia model state system of the legal information functioning

Everyday intensities: rhetorical theory, composition studies, and the affective field of culture

textCulture is not only constructed by articulated discourses and social forms, but also through lived experience, embodied processes, and public feelings that are best described as what Raymond Williams calls the “practical consciousness” and “structures of feeling” of everyday life. Rhetorical theory has yet to account adequately for this operation of rhetoric through circulating affective channels. This dissertation addresses three key concepts of rhetorical theory, and recontextualizes them within an affective field: rhetorical situation, rhetorical analysis, and epistemic rhetoric. Drawing from Spinozan theory to delineate the connections between affect and culture, I begin from the premise that rhetoric is a means of production within culture, as well as a hermeneutic tool for reading culture. Yet our theories and pedagogies have tended to privilege the latter over the former. By locating three specific instances of this tendency (in theories of rhetorical situation, textual analysis, and epistemic rhetoric), and reconsidering them in light of contemporary scholarship on affect and culture, this project seeks to broaden our pedagogical and theoretical vocabularies, making them more suitable for describing the full range of rhetorical practice in culture.Englis

MicroRNA-9 controls dendritic development by targeting REST

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are conserved noncoding RNAs that function as posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression. miR-9 is one of the most abundant miRNAs in the brain. Although the function of miR-9 has been well characterized in neural progenitors, its role in dendritic and synaptic development remains largely unknown. In order to target miR-9 in vivo, we developed a transgenic miRNA sponge mouse line allowing conditional inactivation of the miR-9 family in a spatio-temporal-controlled manner. Using this novel approach, we found that miR-9 controls dendritic growth and synaptic transmission in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrate that miR-9-mediated downregulation of the transcriptional repressor REST is essential for proper dendritic growth.Fil: Giusti, Sebastian Alejandro. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry; AlemaniaFil: Vogl, Annette M.. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry; AlemaniaFil: Brockmann, Marina M.. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry; AlemaniaFil: Vercelli, Claudia Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires - Instituto Partner de la Sociedad Max Planck; ArgentinaFil: Rein, Martin L.. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry; AlemaniaFil: Trümbach, Dietrich. Helmholtz Zentrum München; AlemaniaFil: Wurst, Wolfgang. Helmholtz Zentrum München; AlemaniaFil: Cazalla, Demian. University of Utah; Estados UnidosFil: Stein, Valentin. Universitaet Bonn; AlemaniaFil: Deussing, Jan M.. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry; AlemaniaFil: Refojo, Damian. Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry; Alemani