SCH9, a gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that encodes a protein distinct from, but functionally and structurally related to, cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunits

A new gene, SCH9, was isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by its ability to complement a cdc25ts mutation. Sequence analysis indicates that it encodes a 90,000-dalton protein with a carboxy-terminal domain homologous to yeast and mammalian cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunits. In addition to suppressing loss of CDC25 function, multicopy plasmids containing SCH9 suppress the growth defects of strains lacking the RAS genes, the CYR1 gene, which encodes adenylyl cyclase, and the TPK genes, which encode the cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunits. Cells lacking SCH9 grow slowly and have a prolonged G1 phase of the cell cycle. This defect is suppressed by activation of the cAMP effector pathway. We propose that SCH9 encodes a protein kinase that is part of a growth control pathway which is at least partially redundant with the cAMP pathway

Optimization of the Superconducting Linear Magnetic Bearing of a Maglev Vehicle

Considering the need for cost/performance prediction and optimization of superconducting maglev vehicles, we develop and validate here a 3D finite element model to simulate superconducting linear magnetic bearings. Then we reduce the 3D model to a 2D model in order to decrease the computing time. This allows us to perform in a reasonable time a stochastic optimization considering the superconductor properties and the vehicle operation. We look for the permanent magnet guideway geometry that minimizes the cost and maximizes the lateral force during a displacement sequence, with a constraint on the minimum levitation force. The displacement sequence reproduces a regular maglev vehicle operation with both vertical and lateral movements. For the sake of comparison, our reference is the SupraTrans prototype bearing. The results of the optimization suggest that the bearing cost could be substantially reduced, while keeping the same performances as the initial design. Alternatively, the performances could be significantly improved for the same original cost

Phenotypic indicators to identify methionine rich European grain legumes and the correlation of grain methionine contents with the sulphur supply

Home grown legumes are a valuable protein source for pure on-farm diets for livestock in organic farming. Whereas protein of Glycine max naturally has higher contents of methionine nand also lysine typical European grain legumes (Pisum sativum L., Vicia faba L., Lupinus angustifolius L.) used in organic farms as component of animal food are relatively low in those amino acids

Enhancement and suppression in a lexical interference fMRI-paradigm

Previous picture-word interference (PWI) fMRI-paradigms revealed ambiguous mechanisms underlying facilitation and inhibition in healthy subjects. Lexical distractors revealed increased (enhancement) or decreased (suppression) activation in language and monitoring/control areas. Performing a secondary examination and data analysis, we aimed to illuminate the relation between behavioral and neural interference effects comparing target-related distractors (REL) with unrelated distractors (UNREL). We hypothesized that interference involves both (A) suppression due to priming and (B) enhancement due to simultaneous distractor and target processing. Comparisons to UNREL should remain distractor unspecific even at a low threshold. (C) Distractor types with common characteristics should reveal overlapping brain areas. In a 3T MRI scanner, participants were asked to name pictures while auditory words were presented (stimulus onset asynchrony [SOA] = –200 msec). Associatively and phonologically related distractors speeded responses (facilitation), while categorically related distractors slowed them down (inhibition) compared to UNREL. As a result, (A) reduced brain activations indeed resembled previously reported patterns of neural priming. Each target-related distractor yielded suppressions at least in areas associated with vision and conflict/competition monitoring (anterior cingulate cortex [ACC]), revealing least priming for inhibitors. (B) Enhancements concerned language-related but distractor-unspecific regions. (C) Some wider brain regions were commonly suppressed for combinations of distractor types. Overlapping areas associated with conceptual priming were found for facilitatory distractors (inferior frontal gyri), and areas related to phonetic/articulatory processing (precentral gyri and left parietal operculum/insula) for distractors sharing feature overlap. Each distractor with semantic relatedness revealed nonoverlapping suppressions in lexical-phonological areas (superior temporal regions). To conclude, interference combines suppression of areas well known from neural priming and enhancement of language-related areas caused by dual activation from target and distractor. Differences between interference and priming need to be taken into account. The present interference paradigm has the potential to reveal the functioning of word-processing stages, cognitive control, and responsiveness to priming at the same time

Implementation of a 3D solver for electric arc welding, coupling fluid mechanics with electromagnetics

Paper presented at the 8th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Mauritius, 11-13 July, 2011.This paper describes the implementation of a 3D numerical solver for electric arc welding, where the fluid mechanics of the shielding gas is strongly influenced by the electromagnetic fields. The implementation is done in the OpenFOAM-1.6.x OpenSource Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool (www.openfoam.com). OpenFOAM is basically a general library of C++ classes for numerical simulation of continuum mechanic problems, but it is mainly used in CFD. The basics of high-level programming in OpenFOAM is described briefly, while the main components of the implementation done in the present work are described in high detail. The implementation is validated against an analytical solution of the electromagnetic field of an infinite electrically conducting rod, and against an experimental study of GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding). The numerical results agree very well with both the analytical and experimental results. A grid-dependency study has been made for the GTAW case, showing that the main features of the presented solutions are independent of the mesh size.mp201

Implementation of a 3D solver for electric arc welding, coupling fluid mechanics with electromagnetics

Paper presented at the 8th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Mauritius, 11-13 July, 2011.This paper describes the implementation of a 3D numerical solver for electric arc welding, where the fluid mechanics of the shielding gas is strongly influenced by the electromagnetic fields. The implementation is done in the OpenFOAM-1.6.x OpenSource Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool (www.openfoam.com). OpenFOAM is basically a general library of C++ classes for numerical simulation of continuum mechanic problems, but it is mainly used in CFD. The basics of high-level programming in OpenFOAM is described briefly, while the main components of the implementation done in the present work are described in high detail. The implementation is validated against an analytical solution of the electromagnetic field of an infinite electrically conducting rod, and against an experimental study of GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding). The numerical results agree very well with both the analytical and experimental results. A grid-dependency study has been made for the GTAW case, showing that the main features of the presented solutions are independent of the mesh size.mp201

The class III PI(3)K Vps34 promotes autophagy and endocytosis but not TOR signaling in Drosophila

Degradation of cytoplasmic components by autophagy requires the class III phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI(3))–kinase Vps34, but the mechanisms by which this kinase and its lipid product PI(3) phosphate (PI(3)P) promote autophagy are unclear. In mammalian cells, Vps34, with the proautophagic tumor suppressors Beclin1/Atg6, Bif-1, and UVRAG, forms a multiprotein complex that initiates autophagosome formation. Distinct Vps34 complexes also regulate endocytic processes that are critical for late-stage autophagosome-lysosome fusion. In contrast, Vps34 may also transduce activating nutrient signals to mammalian target of rapamycin (TOR), a negative regulator of autophagy. To determine potential in vivo functions of Vps34, we generated mutations in the single Drosophila melanogaster Vps34 orthologue, causing cell-autonomous disruption of autophagosome/autolysosome formation in larval fat body cells. Endocytosis is also disrupted in Vps34−/− animals, but we demonstrate that this does not account for their autophagy defect. Unexpectedly, TOR signaling is unaffected in Vps34 mutants, indicating that Vps34 does not act upstream of TOR in this system. Instead, we show that TOR/Atg1 signaling regulates the starvation-induced recruitment of PI(3)P to nascent autophagosomes. Our results suggest that Vps34 is regulated by TOR-dependent nutrient signals directly at sites of autophagosome formation

Desulfovibrio idahonensis sp. nov., sulfatereducing bacteria isolated from a metal(loid)-contaminated freshwater sediment

Two novel sulfate-reducing bacteria, strains CY1 and CY2, were isolated from heavy-metal-contaminated sediments of Lake Coeur d\u27Alene, Idaho, USA. Strains CY1 and CY2 were found to contain c-type cytochromes and to reduce sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, DMSO, anthraquinone disulfonate and fumarate using lactate as an electron donor. In a comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences, CY1 and CY2 were found to be 100% identical, but only 97 and 92.4% similar, respectively, to the type strains of Desulfovibrio mexicanus and Desulfovibrio aminophilus. Unlike these species, however, CY1 was neither able to disproportionate thiosulfate nor able to use yeast extract or amino acids as electron donors. These data, considered in conjunction with differences among strain CY1 and the two related type strains in chemotaxonomy, riboprint patterns, temperature and pH optima, support recognition of a distinct and novel species within the genus Desulfovibrio, Desulfovibrio idahonensis sp. nov., with the type strain CY1 (=DSM 15450 =JCM 14124 ). © 2009 IUMS. T T T T T T T

Quantification of Ophthalmic Changes After Long-Duration Spaceflight, and Subsequent Recovery

A subset of crewmembers are subjected to ophthalmic structure changes due to long-duration spaceflight (>6 months). Crewmembers who experience these changes are described as having Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS). Characteristics of SANS include optic disk edema, cotton wool spots, choroidal folds, refractive error, and posterior globe flattening. SANS remains a major obstacle to deep-space and planetary missions, requiring a better understanding of its etiology. Quantification of ocular, structural changes will improve our understanding of SANS pathophysiology. Methods were developed to quantify 3D optic nerve (ON) and ON sheath (ONS) geometries, ON tortuosity, and posterior globe deformation using MR imaging