Delayed Decision-making in Real-time Beatbox Percussion Classification

This is an electronic version of an article published in Journal of New Music Research, 39(3), 203-213, 2010. doi:10.1080/09298215.2010.512979. Journal of New Music Research is available online at: www.tandfonline.com/openurl?genre=article&issn=1744-5027&volume=39&issue=3&spage=20

Expression of Lewis‐a glycans on polymorphonuclear leukocytes augments function by increasing transmigration

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141391/1/jlb0753.pd

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Studies of Succinate:Ubiquinone Oxidoreductase from Paracoccus denitrificans

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of succinate:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (SQR) from Paracoccus denitrificans have been undertaken in the purified and membrane-bound states. Spectroscopic “signatures” accounting for the three iron-sulfur clusters (2Fe-2S, 3Fe-4S, and 4Fe-4S), cytochromeb, flavin, and protein-bound ubisemiquinone radicals have been obtained in air-oxidized, succinate-reduced, and dithionite-reduced preparations at 4–10 K. Spectra obtained at 170 K in the presence of excess succinate showed a signal typical of that of a flavin radical, but superimposed with another signal. The superimposed signal originated from two bound ubisemiquinones, as shown by spectral simulations. Power saturation measurements performed on the air-oxidized enzyme provided evidence for a weak magnetic dipolar interaction operating between the oxidized 3Fe-4S cluster and the oxidized cytochrome b. Power saturation experiments performed on the succinate- and dithionite-reduced forms of the enzyme demonstrated that the 4Fe-4S cluster is coupled weakly to both the 2Fe-2S and the 3Fe-4S clusters. Quantitative interpretation of these power saturation experiments has been achieved through redox calculations. They revealed that a spin-spin interaction between the reduced 3Fe-4S cluster and the cytochrome b (oxidized) may also exist. These findings form the first direct EPR evidence for a close proximity (≤2 nm) of the high potential 3Fe-4S cluster, situated in the succinate dehydrogenase part of the enzyme, and the low potential, low spin b-heme in the membrane anchor of the enzyme

Case Study: Producer concerns and perceptions regarding the effect of methane on cattle production and the environment: A survey of Nebraska producers

Enteric methane production from cattle and its effect on climate change has been a topic of debate. Multiple studies have explored methods to reduce cattle enteric methane production while simultaneously improving performance. However, most strategies developed have not been widely implemented by cattle producers. Knowledge of producer concerns and perceptions on methane production from cattle and its effect on the environment may be limited. Therefore, the objectives of this survey were to determine what Nebraska producers know about methane production by cattle and how it affects performance and to determine whether different age groups, regions of Nebraska, and production size and type affects producer opinions on enteric methane production and climate change. The survey had a response rate of 22%. Regarding climate change, approximately 39% of producers disagreed, 33% were neutral, and 28% agreed they were concerned. However, producers in central and eastern Nebraska were closer to neutral than producers in western Nebraska (P \u3c 0.05). Younger producers perceived cattle to have a more positive effect on the environment and reported that they were more likely to adopt new management techniques that have been shown to improve animal performance than older producers (P \u3c 0.05). Most producers reported receiving production-related information from veterinarians (47.6%), followed by the “other” category (34.9%), the University of Nebraska (15.6%), and state and federal governments, which were the lowest (1.4 and 0.6%, respectively). In the last 3 yr, approximately 57% of producers attended one or fewer extension meetings, but 37% had not attended any extension meetings

Facile Preparation of Fluorescent Neoglycoproteins Using p-Nitrophenyl Anthranilate as a Heterobifunctional Linker

A facile preparation of neoglycoconjugates has been developed with a commercially available chemical, p-nitrophenyl anthranilate (PNPA), as a heterobifunctional linker. The two functional groups of PNPA, the aromatic amine and the p-nitrophenyl ester, are fully differentiated to selectively conjugate with glycans and other biomolecules containing nucleophiles. PNPA is efficiently conjugated with free reducing glycans via reductive amination. The glycan−PNPA conjugates (GPNPAs) can be easily purified and quantified by UV absorption. The active p-nitrophenyl ester in the GPNPA conjugates readily reacts with amines under mild conditions, and the resulting conjugates acquire strong fluorescence. This approach was used to prepare several fluorescent neoglycoproteins. The neoglycoproteins were covalently printed on activated glass slides and were bound by appropriate lectins recognizing the glycans

Case Study: Producer concerns and perceptions regarding the effect of methane on cattle production and the environment: A survey of Nebraska producers

Enteric methane production from cattle and its effect on climate change has been a topic of debate. Multiple studies have explored methods to reduce cattle enteric methane production while simultaneously improving performance. However, most strategies developed have not been widely implemented by cattle producers. Knowledge of producer concerns and perceptions on methane production from cattle and its effect on the environment may be limited. Therefore, the objectives of this survey were to determine what Nebraska producers know about methane production by cattle and how it affects performance and to determine whether different age groups, regions of Nebraska, and production size and type affects producer opinions on enteric methane production and climate change. The survey had a response rate of 22%. Regarding climate change, approximately 39% of producers disagreed, 33% were neutral, and 28% agreed they were concerned. However, producers in central and eastern Nebraska were closer to neutral than producers in western Nebraska (P \u3c 0.05). Younger producers perceived cattle to have a more positive effect on the environment and reported that they were more likely to adopt new management techniques that have been shown to improve animal performance than older producers (P \u3c 0.05). Most producers reported receiving production-related information from veterinarians (47.6%), followed by the “other” category (34.9%), the University of Nebraska (15.6%), and state and federal governments, which were the lowest (1.4 and 0.6%, respectively). In the last 3 yr, approximately 57% of producers attended one or fewer extension meetings, but 37% had not attended any extension meetings

The effect of monomer evaporation on a simple model of submonolayer growth

We present a model for thin film growth by particle deposition that takes into account the possible evaporation of the particles deposited on the surface. Our model focuses on the formation of two-dimensional structures. We find that the presence of evaporation can dramatically affect the growth kinetics of the film, and can give rise to regimes characterized by different ``growth'' exponents and island size distributions. Our results are obtained by extensive computer simulations as well as through a simple scaling approach and the analysis of rate equations describing the system. We carefully discuss the relationship of our model with previous studies by Venables and Stoyanov of the same physical situation, and we show that our analysis is more general.Comment: 41 pages including figures, Revtex, to be published in Physical Review

Double-Stranded RNA Attenuates the Barrier Function of Human Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells

Circulating RNA may result from excessive cell damage or acute viral infection and can interact with vascular endothelial cells. Despite the obvious clinical implications associated with the presence of circulating RNA, its pathological effects on endothelial cells and the governing molecular mechanisms are still not fully elucidated. We analyzed the effects of double stranded RNA on primary human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (hPAECs). The effect of natural and synthetic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) on hPAECs was investigated using trans-endothelial electric resistance, molecule trafficking, calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis, gene expression and proliferation studies. Furthermore, the morphology and mechanical changes of the cells caused by synthetic dsRNA was followed by in-situ atomic force microscopy, by vascular-endothelial cadherin and F-actin staining. Our results indicated that exposure of hPAECs to synthetic dsRNA led to functional deficits. This was reflected by morphological and mechanical changes and an increase in the permeability of the endothelial monolayer. hPAECs treated with synthetic dsRNA accumulated in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Additionally, the proliferation rate of the cells in the presence of synthetic dsRNA was significantly decreased. Furthermore, we found that natural and synthetic dsRNA modulated Ca2+ signaling in hPAECs by inhibiting the sarco-endoplasmic Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) which is involved in the regulation of the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and thus cell growth. Even upon synthetic dsRNA stimulation silencing of SERCA3 preserved the endothelial monolayer integrity. Our data identify novel mechanisms by which dsRNA can disrupt endothelial barrier function and these may be relevant in inflammatory processes