HIV-1 TAT-mediated protein transduction and subcellular localization using novel expression vectors11The nucleotide sequences of vectors pETAT-1/2/11/12, pNB-3/13, pHis-TAT-GFP, pHis-TAT-m-GFP and pHis-GFP have been deposited in GenBank under accession numbers AF525441–525449.

AbstractSeveral novel prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression vectors were constructed for protein transduction and subcellular localization. These vectors employed an N-terminal stretch of 11 basic amino acid residues (47–57) from the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) TAT protein transduction domain (PTD) for protein translocation and cellular localization. The vectors also contained a six-histidine (His6) tag at the N- or C-terminus for convenient purification and detection, and a multiple cloning site for easy insertion of foreign genes. Some heterologous genes including HSV-TK, Bcl-rambo, Smac/DIABLO and GFP were fused in-frame to TAT PTD and successfully overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The purified TAT-GFP fusion protein was able to transduce into the mammalian cells and was found to locate mainly in the cytosol when exogenously added to the cell culture medium. However, using a transfection system, mammalian-expressed TAT-GFP predominantly displayed a nuclear localization and nucleolar accumulation in mammalian cell lines. This discrepancy implies that the exact subcellular localization of transduced protein may depend on cell type, the nature of imported proteins and delivery approach. Taken together, our results demonstrate that a TAT PTD length of 11 amino acids was sufficient to confer protein internalization and its subsequent cellular localization. These novel properties allow these vectors to be useful for studying protein transduction and nuclear import

Isolation and selection of Bradyrhizobium from the root nodules of indigo plants (Indigofera tinctoria L.)

This research was conducted from 2004 to 2005 to isolate and select Bradyrhizobium from the root nodules of indigo plants (Indigofera tinctoria L.). For isolation of Bradyrhizobium, root nodules were collected from indigo plants. Fourteen Bradyrhizobium isolates were identified depending on colony, morphological and biochemical characteristics. Out of fourteen isolates, six (HSTU-IR2, HSTU-IR3, HSTU-IR4, HSTU-IR9, HSTU-IR10 and HSTU-IR14) were found promising with respect to nodulation, shoots and roots weights and N fixation by the indigo plants grown inside the Leonard Bottle Jar Assembly (LBJA).Key words: Bradyrhizobium, isolation, selection, root nodules, indigo plants

Computation Tree Logic Model Checking of Multi-Agent Systems Based on Fuzzy Epistemic Interpreted Systems

Model checking is an automated formal verification method to verify whether epistemic multi-agent systems adhere to property specifications. Although there is an extensive literature on qualitative properties such as safety and liveness, there is still a lack of quantitative and uncertain property verifications for these systems. In uncertain environments, agents must make judicious decisions based on subjective epistemic. To verify epistemic and measurable properties in multi-agent systems, this paper extends fuzzy computation tree logic by introducing epistemic modalities and proposing a new Fuzzy Computation Tree Logic of Knowledge (FCTLK). We represent fuzzy multi-agent systems as distributed knowledge bases with fuzzy epistemic interpreted systems. In addition, we provide a transformation algorithm from fuzzy epistemic interpreted systems to fuzzy Kripke structures, as well as transformation rules from FCTLK formulas to Fuzzy Computation Tree Logic (FCTL) formulas. Accordingly, we transform the FCTLK model checking problem into the FCTL model checking. This enables the verification of FCTLK formulas by using the fuzzy model checking algorithm of FCTL without additional computational overheads. Finally, we present correctness proofs and complexity analyses of the proposed algorithms. Additionally, we further illustrate the practical application of our approach through an example of a train control system

CP Violation in γγ→t tˉ\gamma \gamma \to t~\bar{t} within the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

The complete analysis of the CP violation in the process $\gamma \gamma \to t \bar{t}$ in frame of the Minimal Supersymmetric Model(MSSM) is presented. The CP-odd observables for describing the CP violating effects in polarized and unpolarized photon collisions, are calculated. We investigate the possible CP violation sources induced by the complex soft breaking parameters and study the CP violating effects contributed by gluino, neutralino and chargino sectors appearing in the loop diagrams. We find that it is possible to observe the CP violation effects in top quark pair production via polarized and unpolarized photon fusions by using optimal observables and favorable parameters.Comment: 15 pages, LaTex, including 14 figures in eps file

Does lending behaviour of banks in emerging economies vary by ownership? Evidence from the Indian banking sector

While much has been discussed about the relationship between ownership and financial performance of banks in emerging markets, literature about cross-ownership differences in credit market behaviour of banks in emerging economies is sparse. Using bank-level data from India, and a portfolio-choice model, for nine years (1995-96 to 2003-04), we examine banks’ behaviour in the context of emerging credit markets. Our results indicate that, in India, the data for the domestic banks fit well the aforementioned portfolio-choice model, especially for private banks, but the model cannot explain the behaviour of foreign banks. In general, allocation of assets between risk-free government securities and risky credit is affected by past allocation patterns, stock exchange listing (for private banks), risk averseness of banks, regulations regarding treatment of NPA, and ability of banks to recover doubtful credit. It is also evident that banks deal with changing levels of systematic risk by altering the ratio of securitized to non-securitized credit. These results have implications for disbursal of credit to small and medium enterprises in India