Anticathepsin D Antibody-Sepharose Chromatography of Human Cathepsin D

Cathepsin D was isoilated from human tissues by anticatheipsin D antibo:dy-Serpharose 4B .chromatoigraphy. Caithepsin D, rele1ased from the immunoaffinity column formed one precipitin line with specif.ic antibody in immwnod:Lffusion and in immunoe1ectropholl1esis. The isolated proteinase is shown to be prure cathepsin D by actiivity and by inhibition with peipstatin. The quanititative determinati.on o:f cathepsin D in human tissue, taiken by bio.psy from sco,Uotic patients 1rl ivery small amount, is desert.bed. It was demonstrated that cathepsin D from human muscle and human gingival fluid was indistinguishable in immunodiffus ion from the human liver catheps iirl D

Red variables in the OGLE-II data base -- III. Constraints on the three-dimensional structures of the LMC and SMC

We present an analysis of the 3-D structure of the Magellanic Clouds, using period-luminosity (P-L) relations of pulsating red giants in the OGLE-II sample. By interpreting deviations from the mean P-L relations as distance modulus variations, we examine the three-dimensional distributions of the sample. The results for the Large Magellanic Cloud, based solely on stars below the tip of the Red Giant Branch, confirm previous results on the inclined and possibly warped bar of the LMC. The depth variation across the OGLE-II field is about 2.4 kpc, interpreted as the distance range of a thin but inclined structure. The inclination angle is about 29 deg. A comparison with OGLE-II red clump distances revealed intriguing differences that seem to be connected to the red clump reddening correction. A spatially variable red clump population in the LMC can explain the deviations, which may have a broader impact on our understanding of the LMC formation history. For the Small Magellanic Cloud, we find a complex structure showing patchy distribution scattered within 3.2 kpc of the mean. However, the larger range of the overall depth on every line-of-sight is likely to smooth out significantly the real variations.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS (online Letters

Eclipsing binaries in the MACHO database: New periods and classifications for 3031 systems in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Eclipsing binaries offer a unique opportunity to determine fundamental physical parameters of stars using the constraints on the geometry of the systems. Here we present a reanalysis of publicly available two-color observations of about 6800 stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud, obtained by the MACHO project between 1992 and 2000 and classified as eclipsing variable stars. Of these, less than half are genuine eclipsing binaries. We determined new periods and classified the stars, 3031 in total, using the Fourier parameters of the phased light curves. The period distribution is clearly bimodal, reflecting refer to the separate groups of more massive blue main sequence objects and low mass red giants. The latter resemble contact binaries and obey a period-luminosity relation. Using evolutionary models, we identified foreground stars. The presented database has been cleaned of artifacts and misclassified variables, thus allowing searches for apsidal motion, tertiary components, pulsating stars in binary systems and secular variations with time-scales of several years.Comment: 11 figures, 9 pages, accepted for publication in Ap

Some Characteristics of Cathepsin Band a-N-Benzoylarginine- B-Naphthylamide Hydrolase From Bovine Lymph Nodes

Some properties of cathepsin B and a-N-benzoylarginine-~- naphthylamide (BANA) hydrolase from bovine lymph nodes have been studies. a-N-benzoylarginine-~-naphthylamide was a sensitive substrate for both enzymes. Leucine-2-naphthylamide was cleaved only by BANA hydrolase. Degradation of low molecular weight substrates was optimal at pH = 6.0. At this pH value, the enzymes were most stable. Cathepsin B inactivated aldolase, was inhibited by 1 μM leupeptin and by thiol blocking compounds. BANA hydrolase was not inhibited by 1 μM leupeptin but showed that it required thiol compounds and EDTA for full activation. It was concluded that BANA hydrolase is very similar or identical to cathepsin H from rat liver lysosomes

Shoulder Strength and Range of Motion Between Collegiate Pitchers and Position Players in Baseball

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(6): 123-130, 2020. Baseball is a sport that places excessive strain on the shoulder complex caused from repetitive overhead throws. In the sport of baseball, shoulder strength and range of motion (ROM) are paramount for success on the field. The purpose of this study was to determine strength and ROM differences between collegiate baseball pitchers and position players. It was hypothesized that pitchers would have higher strength and ROM values, due to the volume of throwing a pitcher performs.A total of nine collegiate baseball pitchers and position players (n= 18) volunteered for the study (age = 20.94 ± 1.21 years, height = 183.42 ± 4.74 cm, and mass = 89.56 ± 10.76 kg). Shoulder strength was measured using a Humac Norm isokinetic dynamometer at 180ºsec-1 and 300ºsec-1and ROM was measured using a goniometer. All participants completed a five-minute warm-up at 50 rpm on an upper body ergometer. Following the warm-up, passive internal and external ROM were measured for the throwing (dominant) arm. No statistical differences were found in external ROM (p = 0.319), internal ROM (p= 0.258), external peak torque @180ºsec-1(p= 0.467), internal peak torque @180ºsec-1(p= 0.156), external peak torque @300ºsec-1(p= 0.225), or internal peak torque @300ºsec-1(p= 0.137). The findings indicate similar isokinetic strength and flexibility in the throwing shoulder of collegiate athletes who perform repeated overhead throwing motions. Thus, in this study the player’s baseball position (pitchers vs. position player) did not influence throwing shoulder strength and ROM characteristics

Trace element fractionation between PM10 and PM2.5 in coal mine dust: Implications for occupational respiratory health

This is the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordInvestigations into the respiratory health impacts of coal mine particulate matter (PM) face the challenge of understanding its chemical complexity. This includes highly variable concentrations of trace metals and metalloids such as Fe, Ti, Mn, Zn, Ni, V, Cr, Cu, Pb, Cd, Sb, As and Sn, which may be capable of inducing cell damage. Analysis of PM10 and PM2.5 samples size-separated from deposited coal mine dusts collected on PVC flat surfaces at a height of 1.5-2 m inside the second level in the Velenje lignite mine, Slovenia, demonstrates that some of these metallic elements (in this case Cu, Sb, Sn, Pb, Zn, As, Ni) can be concentrated in PM2.5, the most deeply inhalable and therefore potentially most bioreactive size fraction. These elements are likely to be mainly present in silicates, oxides, and perhaps antimonides and arsenides, rather than in the calcareous, carbonaceous or sulphide components which show no obvious affinity for PM2.5. Whereas in the Velenje lignites concentrations of these metallic elements are low and so do not present any obvious extra health risk to the miners, this is unlikely to be the case in mines where unusually metal-enriched coals are being excavated. We therefore recommend that levels of potentially toxic elements in PM2.5 should be assessed where metal- and metalloid-rich coals are being mined worldwide, especially given uncertainties relating to the efficiency of current dust suppression and respiratory protective equipment for such fine particle sizes.European Commission Research Fund for Coal and Stee

Oil palm leaf fibre and its suitability for paper-based products

Due to the shortage of wood as origin materials for paper-based production, agro-residue materials have been explored in the quest of finding the best alternative fibre. Oil palm leaf (OPL) is one of agro-residue that has potential due to its comparable characteristics with wood fibre. Studies on chemical compositions, fibre morphology, and mechanical property of OPL have been carried out aiming to evaluate its potential as a substitute raw material for pulp and paper-based production. The chemical compositions were analysed according to the TAPPI standard, Kurscher-Hoffner and chlorite methods accordingly. The mechanical property (tensile, tearing and bursting strengths) were determined as described in TAPPI test methods. Fibre dimensions were determined using Franklin method and analysed under the optical microscope. The content of cellulose in the OPL is determined to be 43.8%. Although, this result is lower than wood fibre (53%), OPL has higher hemicellulose content (36.4%) than the wood fibre (27.5%). In addition, the lignin content (19.7%) of OPL is in the low range of those in wood resources (18 - 25%). These parameters are important components to produce good quality pulp and will provide high mechanical strength of the paper-based products. The measured fibre length of oil palm leaf (1.13 mm) is shorter than the wood fibre (1.90 mm). Meanwhile, the mechanical property of OPL showed lower indexes than wood resources, however, tear (1.80 mN.m2/g) and burst (0.95 kPa.m2/g) indexes of OPL are higher than other published and successful wood resources (Eucalyptus). Based on the analyses, the oil palm leaf is indeed a suitable alternative of raw material for pulp and paper-based industries

Spectroscopic Survey of Red Giants in the SMC. I: Kinematics

We present a spectroscopic survey of 2046 red giant stars, distributed over the central 4x2 kpc of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). After fitting and removing a small velocity gradient across the SMC (7.9 km/s/deg oriented at 10 deg E of N), we measure an rms velocity scatter of 27.5+-0.5 km/s. The line of sight velocity distribution is well-characterized by a Gaussian and the velocity dispersion profile is nearly constant as a function of radius. We find no kinematic evidence of tidal disturbances. Without a high-precision measurement of the SMC's proper motion, it is not possible to constrain the SMC's true rotation speed from our measured radial-velocity gradient. However, even with conservative assumptions, we find that v < sigma and hence that the SMC is primarily supported by its velocity dispersion. We find that the shape of the SMC, as measured from the analysis of the spatial distribution of its red giant stars, is consistent with the degree of rotational flattening expected for the range of allowed v/sigma values. As such, the properties of the SMC are consistent with similar low luminosity spheroidal systems. We conclude that the SMC is primarily a low luminosity spheroid whose irregular visual appearance is dominated by recent star formation. A simple virial analysis using the measured kinematics implies an enclosed mass within 1.6 kpc of between 1.4 and 1.9x10^9 Mo, and a less well constrained mass within 3 kpc of between 2.7 and 5.1x10^9 Mo.Comment: 31 pages, 12 Figures. Accepted to AJ. Full ASCII version of Table 2 available at http://marvin.as.arizona.edu/~jharris/SMCGiant