Three dimensional fixed charge bi-criterion indefinite quadratic transportation problem

The three-dimensional fixed charge transportation problem is an extension of the classical three-dimensional transportation problem in which a fixed cost is incurred for every origin. In the present paper three-dimensional fixed charge bi-criterion indefinite quadratic transportation problem, giving the same priority to cost as well as time, is studied. An algorithm to find the efficient cost-time trade off pairs in a three dimensional fixed charge bi-criterion indefinite quadratic transportation problem is developed. The algorithm is illustrated with the help of a numerical example

An early auxin-responsive Aux/IAA gene from wheat (Triticum aestivum) is induced by epibrassinolide and differentially regulated by light and calcium

The plant hormone auxin plays a central role in regulating many aspects of plant growth and development. This largely occurs as a consequence of changes in gene expression. The Aux/IAA genes are best characterized among the early auxin-responsive genes, which encode short-lived transcriptional repressors. In most plants examined, including Arabidopsis, soybean, and rice, the Aux/IAA genes constitute a large gene family. By screening the available databases, at least 15 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) have been identified from wheat (Triticum aestivum), which exhibit high sequence identity with Aux/IAA homologues in other species. One of these Aux/IAA genes, TaIAA1, harbouring all the four conserved domains characteristic of the Aux/IAA proteins, has been characterized in detail. The expression of TaIAA1 is light-sensitive, tissue-specific, and is induced within 15-30 min of exogenous auxin application. Also, the TaIAA1 transcript levels increase in the presence of a divalent cation, Ca2+, and this effect is reversed by the calcium-chelating agent, EGTA. The TaIAA1 gene qualifies as the primary response gene because an increase in its transcript levels by auxin is unaffected by cycloheximide. In addition to auxin, the TaIAA1 gene is also induced by brassinosteroid, providing evidence that interplay between hormones is crucial for the regulation of plant growth and development

A Novel approach for Agrobacterium-mediated germ line transformation of Indian Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Pasta wheat (Triticum durum)

Recalcitrance of wheat towards tissue culture procedures has hampered the wide use of conventional transformation techniques for its improvement. In the present study, a novel, non-tissue culture, cost effective approach has been established for the introduction of transgenes in wheat. Dry, mature seeds of two Indian varieties of wheat, Triticum aestivum cv. HD2329 (bread wheat), and Triticum durum cv. PDW215 (pasta wheat), were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium strain GV2260 (p35SGUSINT) and LBA4404 (pCAMBIA 3301), respectively, in the presence of 200 μM acetosyringone. The plantlets testing gus positive were raised till maturity in garden pots. T0 lines were screened by PCR for presence of selectable markers in the transformed plants followed by confirmation with Southern hybridization. In bread wheat, nptII was detected in five primary transformed lines (T0) (ws1, ws2, ws3, ws4, ws5) and the bar gene in three putatively transformed durum wheat lines (wsb1, wsb2, wsb3). The transformation efficiency was calculated as 1.16%, and 0.84% for T. aestivum and T. durum, respectively.Â

The Adaptor Protein AP-3 Is Required for CD1d-Mediated Antigen Presentation of Glycosphingolipids and Development of Vα14i NKT Cells

Relatively little is known about the pathway leading to the presentation of glycolipids by CD1 molecules. Here we show that the adaptor protein complex 3 (AP-3) is required for the efficient presentation of glycolipid antigens that require internalization and processing. AP-3 interacts with mouse CD1d, and cells from mice deficient for AP-3 have increased cell surface levels of CD1d and decreased expression in late endosomes. Spleen cells from AP-3–deficient mice have a reduced ability to present glycolipids to natural killer T (NKT) cells. Furthermore, AP-3–deficient mice have a significantly reduced NKT cell population, although this is not caused by self-tolerance that might result from increased CD1d surface levels. These data suggest that the generation of the endogenous ligand that selects NKT cells may also be AP-3 dependent. However, the function of MHC class II–reactive CD4+ T lymphocytes is not altered by AP-3 deficiency. Consistent with this divergence from the class II pathway, NKT cell development and antigen presentation by CD1d are not reduced by invariant chain deficiency. These data demonstrate that the AP-3 requirement is a particular attribute of the CD1d pathway in mice and that, although MHC class II molecules and CD1d are both found in late endosomes or lysosomes, different pathways mediate their intracellular trafficking

Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein lipidation and control of CD1d on antigen-presenting cells

Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone that loads lipids onto apolipoprotein B, also regulates CD1d presentation of glycolipid antigens in the liver and intestine. We show MTP RNA and protein in antigen-presenting cells (APCs) by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and by immunoblotting of mouse liver mononuclear cells and mouse and human B cell lines. Functional MTP, demonstrated by specific triglyceride transfer activity, is present in both mouse splenocytes and a CD1d-positive mouse NKT hybridoma. In a novel in vitro transfer assay, purified MTP directly transfers phospholipids, but not triglycerides, to recombinant CD1d. Chemical inhibition of MTP lipid transfer does not affect major histocompatibility complex class II presentation of ovalbumin, but considerably reduces CD1d-mediated presentation of α-galactosylceramide (α-galcer) and endogenous antigens in mouse splenic and bone marrow–derived dendritic cells (DCs), as well as in human APC lines and monocyte-derived DCs. Silencing MTP expression in the human monocyte line U937 affects CD1d function, as shown by diminished presentation of α-galcer. We propose that MTP acts upstream of the saposins and functions as an ER chaperone by loading endogenous lipids onto nascent CD1d. Furthermore, our studies suggest that a small molecule inhibitor could be used to modulate the activity of NKT cells

Capital Region Collaborative Community Survey Project to Document Disparate Impacts of COVID-19

The Capital Region Collaborative Community Survey project was undertaken in December 2020- January 2021 to document the social, economic and health impacts of COVID-19 on residents in the Capital Region, particularly in the city of Albany with an emphasis on the impacts on Black and African American (B/AA) communities (n=239). Key findings included B/AA participants reported experiencing general racism or racial discrimination significantly more than other racial groups as did Hispanics. The pandemic impacted employment of Capital Region residents significantly as half of the respondents either lost their jobs or had their hours reduced. B/AA individuals were more likely than others to have both their work hours reduced and increased, which aligns with their status as frontline workers in healthcare, food service, groceries and transportation. B/AA were more concerned about losing housing in the near future. Of respondents with children (n=80) 71% reported that the pandemic had affected their child’s emotions very or somewhat negatively with similar percentages reporting that it had affected their child’s school work and child’s social activities very or somewhat negatively. There were no differences between B/AA and Others (members of all other respondent groups combined) in these domains. Reported high rates of regular mask-wearing and vaccine intent were promising, although 19% of B/AA individuals were extremely or somewhat unlikely to receive a vaccine vs only 11.8% of Others. Vaccine safety was the most frequent reason for hesitancy among B/AA respondents. Even though the internet and social media were common sources of information, they were not deemed as trustworthy as doctors, state and federal health organizations, and community clinics. Internet access was very high in this sample of Albany residents. The authors recommend 1) More transparency in communication from public officials; 2) More localization in the distribution of resources – including food, testing, and vaccination; 3) Expansion of community based mental health services and funding of research to determine if there are barriers to obtaining a primary care provider or physician outside of a lack of health insurance: 4) Funding of research into how individuals access the internet and their online information-seeking behaviors, including barriers to information seeking; 5) Supports to address food insecurity (caused by suspension of subsidized school breakfasts and lunches, and low-quality substitutions; and/or having additional family members in households who had been displaced from their housing), and housing insecurity (e.g., rent support); and 6) Supports for children suffering from isolation, lack of physical activity, and supports for parents to assist children with online learning, including guidance and recommendations on how to best support their child’s emotional stability, mental health, and coping strategies

Lipid and carbohydrate modifications of α-galactosylcer-amide differently influence mouse and human type I natural killer T cell activation

The ability of different glycosphingolipids (GSLs) to activate type I natural killer T cells (NKT cells) has been known for 2 decades. The possible therapeutic use of these GSLs has been studied in many ways; however, studies are needed in which the efficacy of promising GSLs is compared under identical conditions. Here, we compare five unique GSLs structurally derived from alpha-galactosylceramide. We employed biophysical and biological assays, as well as x-ray crystallography to study the impact of the chemical modifications of the antigen on type I NKT cell activation. Although all glycolipids are bound by the T cell receptor of type I NKT cells in real time binding assays with high affinity, only a few activate type INKT cells in in vivo or in vitro experiments. The differences in biological responses are likely a result of different pharmacokinetic properties of each lipid, which carry modifications at different parts of the molecule. Our results indicate a need to perform a variety of assays to ascertain the therapeutic potential of type I NKT cell GSL activators

Invariant NKT cells are required for airway inflammation induced by environmental antigens

House dust contains antigens capable of activating mouse and human iNKT cells, contributing to allergen-induced airway inflammation

Optimasi Portofolio Resiko Menggunakan Model Markowitz MVO Dikaitkan dengan Keterbatasan Manusia dalam Memprediksi Masa Depan dalam Perspektif Al-Qur`an

Risk portfolio on modern finance has become increasingly technical, requiring the use of sophisticated mathematical tools in both research and practice. Since companies cannot insure themselves completely against risk, as human incompetence in predicting the future precisely that written in Al-Quran surah Luqman verse 34, they have to manage it to yield an optimal portfolio. The objective here is to minimize the variance among all portfolios, or alternatively, to maximize expected return among all portfolios that has at least a certain expected return. Furthermore, this study focuses on optimizing risk portfolio so called Markowitz MVO (Mean-Variance Optimization). Some theoretical frameworks for analysis are arithmetic mean, geometric mean, variance, covariance, linear programming, and quadratic programming. Moreover, finding a minimum variance portfolio produces a convex quadratic programming, that is minimizing the objective function ðð¥with constraintsð ð 𥠥 ðandð´ð¥ = ð. The outcome of this research is the solution of optimal risk portofolio in some investments that could be finished smoothly using MATLAB R2007b software together with its graphic analysis

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good