An effective placement method for the single container loading problem

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This study investigates a three-dimensional single container loading problem, which aims to pack a given set of unequal-size rectangular boxes into a single container such that the length of the occupied space in the container is minimized. Motivated by the practical logistics instances in literature, the problem under study is formulated as a zero-one mixed integer linear programming model. Due to the NP-hardness of the studied problem, a simple but effective loading placement heuristic is proposed for solving large-size instances. The experimental results demonstrate that the developed heuristic is capable of solving the instances with more than two hundred boxes and more efficient than the state-of-the-art mixed integer linear program and existing heuristic methods

Heterogeneous PdAg alloy catalyst for selective methylation of aromatic amines with formic acid under an additive-free and solvothermal one-pot condition

The methylation of amines for the synthesis of methylamines and dimethylamines as platform chemicals has been attempted mostly by homogeneous catalysts with acid additives. However, there are scarcely any reports on heterogeneous catalytic methylation reactions except for a routine approach under high temperature and high pressure of CO2 and H-2 gases for extended reaction times. Here we report a heterogeneously catalyzed selective methylation of aromatic amines using reactive and nontoxic formic acid as the only source for the construction of methyl groups, under ambient pressure in an additive-free one-pot reaction condition. Equal proportions of Pd and Ag in the PdAg/Fe3O4/N-rGO catalyst deliver highly selective amine methylation without aromatic ring hydrogenation, as the strained Pd in the alloy is combined with the graphene-derived support, preventing nanoparticle agglomeration and the action of magnetite as a promoter. Both N-methylation and N, N-dimethylation of various substituted aromatic amines were performed with complete conversion and excellent 90-97% selectivity by controlling the reaction times in the range of 10-24 h at 140 degrees C without unwanted aromatic ring hydrogenation. Furthermore, the developed bimetallic catalyst provided high yields (88-91%) of methylation with CO2+H-2 gas under high pressure, which are as good as the results of homogenous catalysts with an acid additive. To the best of our knowledge, our use of this environmentally friendly methodology is the first time that this durable heterogeneous catalyst has readily performed highly selective methylation at ambient pressure, which is attractive for industrial applications.1193Ysciescopu

iNID: An Analytical Framework for Identifying Network Models for Interplays among Developmental Signaling in Arabidopsis

Integration of internal and external cues into developmental programs is indispensable for growth and development of plants, which involve complex interplays among signaling pathways activated by the internal and external factors (IEFs). However, decoding these complex interplays is still challenging. Here, we present a web-based platform that identifies key regulators and Network models delineating Interplays among Developmental signaling (iNID) in Arabidopsis. iNID provides a comprehensive resource of (1) transcriptomes previously collected under the conditions treated with a broad spectrum of IEFs and (2) protein and genetic interactome data in Arabidopsis. In addition, iNID provides an array of tools for identifying key regulators and network models related to interplays among IEFs using transcriptome and interactome data. To demonstrate the utility of iNID, we investigated the interplays of (1) phytohormones and light and (2) phytohormones and biotic stresses. The results revealed 34 potential regulators of the interplays, some of which have not been reported in association with the interplays, and also network models that delineate the involvement of the 34 regulators in the interplays, providing novel insights into the interplays collectively defined by phytohormones, light, and biotic stresses. We then experimentally verified that BME3 and TEM1, among the selected regulators, are involved in the auxin-brassinosteroid (BR)-blue light interplay. Therefore, iNID serves as a useful tool to provide a basis for understanding interplays among IEFs.X115Ysciescopu

Cdk5 Phosphorylates Dopamine D2 Receptor and Attenuates Downstream Signaling

The dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) is a key receptor that mediates dopamine-associated brain functions such as mood, reward, and emotion. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is a proline-directed serine/threonine kinase whose function has been implicated in the brain reward circuit. In this study, we revealed that the serine 321 residue (S321) in the third intracellular loop of DRD2 (D2i3) is a novel regulatory site of Cdk5. Cdk5-dependent phosphorylation of S321 in the D2i3 was observed in in vitro and cell culture systems. We further observed that the phosphorylation of S321 impaired the agonist-stimulated surface expression of DRD2 and decreased G protein coupling to DRD2. Moreover, the downstream cAMP pathway was affected in the heterologous system and in primary neuronal cultures from p35 knockout embryos likely due to the reduced inhibitory activity of DRD2. These results indicate that Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation of S321 inhibits DRD2 function, providing a novel regulatory mechanism for dopamine signaling.X111111sciescopu

Transformation of zinc-concentrate in surface and subsurface environments: Implications for assessing zinc mobility/toxicity and choosing an optimal remediation strategy

Zinc contamination in near- and sub-surface environments is a serious threat to many ecosystems and to public health. Sufficient understanding of Zn speciation and transport mechanisms is therefore critical to evaluating its risk to the environment and to developing remediation strategies. The geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of contaminated soils in the vicinity of a Zn ore transportation route were thoroughly investigated using a variety of analytical techniques (sequential extraction, XRF, XRD, SEM, and XAFS). Imported Zn-concentrate (ZnS) was deposited in a receiving facility and dispersed over time to the surrounding roadside areas and rice-paddy soils. Subsequent physical and chemical weathering resulted in dispersal into the subsurface. The species identified in the contaminated areas included Zn-sulfide, Zn-carbonate, other O-coordinated Zn-minerals, and Zn species bound to Fe/Mn oxides or clays, as confirmed by XAFS spectroscopy and sequential extraction. The observed transformation from S-coordinated Zn to O-coordinated Zn associated with minerals suggests that this contaminant can change into more soluble and labile forms as a result of weathering. For the purpose of developing a soil washing remediation process, the contaminated samples were extracted with dilute acids. The extraction efficiency increased with the increase of O-coordinated Zn relative to S-coordinated Zn in the sediment. This study demonstrates that improved understanding of Zn speciation in contaminated soils is essential for well-informed decision making regarding metal mobility and toxicity, as well as for choosing an appropriate remediation strategy using soil washing

Molecular lens of the nonresonant dipole force

A cylindrical molecular lens is formed by focusing a nanosecond IR laser pulse. Trajectories of a CS2 molecular beam deflected by the lens are traced using the velocity map imaging technique. The characteristic lens parameters including the focal length, minimum beam width, and distance to the minimum-width position are determined. The laser intensity dependence of the parameters is in good agreement with theoretical predictions. Exciting possibilities for molecular optics and a new type of optical chromatography are opened up.open394

Inactivation of myosin binding protein C homolog in zebrafish as a model for human cardiac hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction

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Generation and chromosome mapping of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from a human infant thymus

In an effort to identify novel genes that are expressed differentially in an infant thymus, we constructed an oligo-d(T) primed cDNA library from a human infant thymus followed by single-run partial sequencing to generate expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Characterization of more than 1400 sequences enabled us to convert human thymus transcripts into 1223 useful ESTs. These ESTs consisted of 613 (50.1%) showing homology to known human genes, 51 (4.2%) matching to genes from other species, 289 (23.6%) matching ESTs of unknown functions, and 182 (14.9%) being novel transcripts. The expression profile of an infant thymus features a high number of genes related to cell division-DNA synthesis and gene-protein expression, indicating the active growth stage of an infant thymus. To identify the chromosomal localization of 43 thymus ESTs, PCR-based mapping was performed using a human-rodent somatic cell hybrid or radiation hybrid mapping panel. The results indicated that several novel genes were determined to be located in the vicinity of previously mapped disease loci; histidinemia loci, plasminogen Tochigi disease loci, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hypertriglyceridemia, thyroid resistance locus, ocular albinism, galactosemia, porphyria variegata, Charcot-Marie-tooth disease, FEOM (fibrosis of extraocular muscles), Prader-Willi syndrome.published_or_final_versio

Grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering studies on templating nanopores in networked polymer thin films with a multi-armed porogen

The mechanism of thermal pore generation in organosilicate thin films loaded with a six-armed star-shaped poly(epsilon-caprolactone) porogen was quantitatively investigated by using in-situ grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering and thermogravimetry. These analyses found that the blend components have a limited miscibility that depends on the compositionfor porogen loadings up to only 20 wt%, molecularly miscible blend films were obtained. Even for the miscible blend films, heating the films produced a curing reaction of the precursor matrix component, leading to the phase separation of the porogen component. This phase separation was found to begin at 393 K for 10 wt% porogen loaded films and at 373 K for 20 wt% porogen loaded films, and to continue for temperatures up to 423 K. The porogen aggregates remained and were confined within the matrix film without any further growth or movement until complete thermal decomposition above 564 K.ope

Structure of the ArgRS-GlnRS-AIMP1 complex and its implications for mammalian translation

In higher eukaryotes, one of the two arginyl-tRNA synthetases (ArgRSs) has evolved to have an extended N-terminal domain that plays a crucial role in protein synthesis and cell growth and in integration into the multisynthetase complex (MSC). Here, we report a crystal structure of the MSC subcomplex comprising ArgRS, glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (GlnRS), and the auxiliary factor aminoacyl tRNA synthetase complex-interacting multifunctional protein 1 (AIMP1)/p43. In this complex, the N-terminal domain of ArgRS forms a long coiled-coil structure with the N-terminal helix of AIMP1 and anchors the C-terminal core of GlnRS, thereby playing a central role in assembly of the three components. Mutation of AIMP1 destabilized the N-terminal helix of ArgRS and abrogated its catalytic activity. Mutation of the N-terminal helix of ArgRS liberated GlnRS, which is known to control cell death. This ternary complex was further anchored to AIMP2/p38 through interaction with AIMP1. These findings demonstrate the importance of interactions between the N-terminal domains of ArgRS and AIMP1 for the catalytic and noncatalytic activities of ArgRS and for the assembly of the higher-order MSC protein complex.open111315Ysciescopu