Unfolding kinetics of beta-lactoglobulin induced by surfactant and denaturant: a stopped-flow/fluorescence study

The beta ->alpha transition of beta-lactoglobulin, a globular protein abundant in the milk of several mammals, is investigated in this work. This transition, induced by the cationic surfactant dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), is accompanied by partial unfolding of the protein. In this work, unfolding of bovine beta-lactoglobulin in DTAC is compared with its unfolding induced by the chemical denaturant guanidine hydrochloride (GnHCl). The final protein states attained in the two media have quite different secondary structure: in DTAC the alpha-helical content increases, leading to the so-called alpha-state; in GnHCl the amount of ordered secondary-structure decreases, resulting in a random coil-rich final state (denatured, or D, state). To obtain information on both mechanistic routes, in DTAC and GnHCl, and to characterize intermediates, the kinetics of unfolding were investigated in the two media. Equilibrium and kinetic data show the partial accumulation of an on-pathway intermediate in each unfolding route: in DTAC, an intermediate (I-1) with mostly native secondary structure but loose tertiary structure appears between the native (beta) and alpha-states; in GnHCl, another intermediate (I-2) appears between states beta and D. Kinetic rate constants follow a linear Chevron-plot representation in GnHCl, but show a more complex mechanism in DTAC, which acts like a stronger binding species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ANELASTIC EFFECTS IN LUTETIUM CONTAINING HYDROGEN (OR DEUTERIUM) IN SOLID SOLUTION

The internal friction of α-LuH(D)x, with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2, has been measured in the range 4.2 ≤ T ≤ 450 K both in the annealed state and after deformation. Three main peaks were observed and designated according to their characteristics : (1) "H"-peak - at 215-225K, with an x-dependent amplitude and an isotope-dependent temperature ; (2) "d-H"-peak - at 250-260 K, appears after deformation in the H(D)-containing samples only ; (3) "d"-pea

Monte Carlo modelling and comparison with experiment of the nuclide production in thick stony targets isotropically irradiated with 600 mev protons : Cologne, collaboration of the experiment CERN SC96

Depth profiles for the production of stable and radioactive nuclides have been measured for a large variety of target elements in three thick spherical stony targets with radii of 5, 15 and 25 cm isotropically irradiated with 600 MeV protons at the CERN synchrocyclotron. These irradiation experiments (CERN SC96) were intended to simulate the irradiation of meteoroids by galactic cosmic ray protons. In order to combine this experimental approach with a theoretical one the intra-and internuclear cascades were calculated using Monte Carlo techniques via the high energy transport code HET/KFA 1. Together with transport calculations for low energy neutrons by the MORSE-CG code the depth dependent spectra of primary and secondary protons and of secondary neutrons were derived. On the basis of these spectra and a set of evaluated experimental excitation functions for p-induced reactions and of theoretical ones for n-induced reactions, calculated by the code ALICE LIVERMORE 82, theoretical depth profiles for the production of stable and radioactive nuclides in the three thick targets were calculated. This report is a comprehensive survey on all those target/ product combinations for which both experimental and theoretical data are available. It provides the basis for a detailed discussion of the various production modes of residual nuclides and on the depth and size dependence of their production rates in thick stony targets, serving as a simulation of the galactic cosmic ray irradiation of meteoroids in space. On the other hand the comparison of the experimental and theoretical depth profiles validates the high energy transport calculations, making them a promissing tool for further model calulations of the interactions of cosmic rays with matter

Gerando planos de produção através de um problema linear quadrático Gaussiano com restrições nas variáveis de decisão

Neste artigo um problema sequencial de planejamento agregado da produção é formulado como um modelo de otimização sequencial do tipo Linear-Quadrático Gaussiano (LQG) com restrições probabilísticas nas variáveis de estado e controle. Este problema está baseado em um modelo clássico desenvolvido por Holt, Modigliani, Muth e Simon, e conhecido na literatura como modelo HMMS. Como ideia central do trabalho busca-se estender o modelo original HMMS de modo que ele possa levar em conta restrições de chance nas variáveis de decisão e também uma representação do tipo ARMA como modelo de flutuação de demanda. Essencialmente, o artigo examina as principais características que permitem transformar o modelo HMMS para um padrão LQG com restrições de chances. Além disso, duas heurísticas subótimas muito simples são apresentadas como estratégias de resolução para este tipo de problema. Por fim, um exemplo ilustrativo de como gerar planos de produção agregados via o modelo proposto, é apresentado.<br>A single product, multi-period, aggregate production planning problem is formulated as a Linear-Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) optimal control problem with probabilistic constraints on state and control variables. This stochastic problem is based on a classical model developed by Holt, Modigliani, Muth and Simon, and known in the literature as HMMS model. The central idea is to extend the original HMMS model in order to take into account both chance-constraints on the decision variables and an ARMA forecasting model to represent the fluctuation of demand. Essentially, the paper discusses the main features that allow transforming the problem into a chance constrained LQG pattern. In addition, two sub-optimal techniques for solving this kind of problem are briefly described. At last, an illustrative example of how to provide aggregate production plans from the proposed problem is presented

Geração de planos de produção via otimização seqüencial subótima Providing production plans via suboptimal sequential optimization

Neste artigo são discutidos aspectos relacionados à tomada de decisão dentro de um processo hierárquico de planejamento da produção. Neste contexto, foi desenvolvido um modelo agregado para um problema de planejamento estocástico, com restrições de chances nas variáveis de decisão, que serve como meta de produção a ser atingida nos níveis inferiores da hierarquia. Solução ótima global para este tipo de problema seqüencial é muito difícil, a menos em casos de pequena dimensão via algoritmo de programação dinâmica estocástica. Assim, como alternativa, investigou-se a utilização de uma heurística subótima denominada open-loop feedback controller (OLFC), que é muito simples de ser implementada computacionalmente. Como exemplo de aplicação, um problema mono-produto de planejamento agregado da produção foi formulado e a política subótima OLFC foi comparada à solução ótima usando o algoritmo de programação dinâmica estocástica. Além dos aspectos numéricos, algumas propriedades são analisadas, como a quase adaptabilidade do procedimento OLFC.<br>In this paper, the need for developing an aggregate production plan within a hierarchical decision process is discussed. A production planning problem formulated as a sequential stochastic optimal control model with chance constraints is introduced. A global optimal solution is only possible in particular cases with a small number of decision variables. As a consequence, near optimal solutions are usually developed and applied to solve sequential stochastic problems. A suboptimal approach, called Open-Loop Feedback Controller (OLFC), is proposed to solve the aggregate stochastic production planning problem. A simple example is used to evaluate the performance of the OLFC solution computationally in relation to the global (closed-loop) and mean (open-loop) optimal solutions. Quasi-adaptability property of the OLFC procedure is analysed in this example