AN UNUSUAL SUSPECT IN CYTOKINESIS, DISCOIDIN I, HELPS ASSEMBLE THE CONTRACTILE MACHINERY IN THE CYTOPLASM AND IMPLICATIONS OF THIS SYSTEM IN CANCER

Many biological processes entail the ability of cells to sense and adapt to its physical surroundings. This ability, in turn, requires cells to exert robust cell shape changes. Processes ranging from cytokinesis and migration to more complex events such as multi-cellular development require robust and constant integration of internal and external mechanical cues to exert these physical modifications. To complete such modifications, cells need to integrate internal and external cues through a contractility machinery that includes actin filaments, myosin II (MyoII) motors, crosslinkers, and other scaffolding proteins. These proteins compose a mechanoresponsive system that allows cells to receive as well as respond to chemical and mechanical signals through accumulation to direct cell shape change events. We define this extensive network as the contractile machinery. Several key proteins of the mechanosensory system preassemble in the cytoplasm, forming mechanoresponsive and non-mechanoresponsive contractility kits (CKs). This network of proteins includes several other proteins, including the Discoidin 1 (Dsc1) proteins. Discoidin 1 belongs to the N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-binding lectins found in the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. How it functions intracellularly in vegetative cells has been elusive. Here, we find that DscI ensures robust cytokinesis through regulating intracellular components of the contractile machinery. Specifically, DscI is necessary for normal cytokinesis, cortical tension, membrane-cortex connections, and cortical distribution and mechanoresponsiveness of cortexillin I. We also find that absence of DscI weakens the interactions within the CK complex. Furthermore, the activity of DscI inside cell is tightly governed by components of the non-mechanoresponsive CKs, providing a layer of feedback regulation that ensures balance in the contractility system. Overall, this work re-emphasizes the point that many proteins contribute in multiple diverse ways to the function of the cell, and it is increasingly apparent that proteins may not be described as providing a single function for the cell. Since many important cellular processes are under the regulation of this system, elucidation of the molecular network that drives this system helps provide great insights into normal cell behaviors as well as any diseases that might stem from malfunctioning of the system

Further Improvements in Decoding Performance for 5G LDPC Codes Based on Modified Check-Node Unit

One of the most important units of Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) decoders is the Check-Node Unit. Its main task is to find the first two minimum values among incoming variable-to-check messages and return check-to-variable messages. This block significantly affects the decoding performance, as well as the hardware implementation complexity. In this paper, we first propose a modification to the check-node update rule by introducing two optimal offset factors applied to the check-to-variable messages. Then, we present the Check-Node Unit hardware architecture which performs the proposed algorithm. The main objective of this work aims to improve further the decoding performance for 5th Generation (5G) LDPC codes. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm achieves essential improvements in terms of error correction performance. More precisely, the error-floor does not appear within Bit-Error-Rate (BER) of 10^(-8), while the decoding gain increases up to 0.21 dB compared to the baseline Normalized Min-Sum, as well as several state-of-the-art LDPC-based Min-Sum decoders

A Simple Linear Time Algorithm for Computing a 1-Median on Cactus Graphs

We address the problem of finding a 1-median on a cactus graph. The problem has already been solved in linear time by the algorithms of Burkard and Krarup (1998), and Lan and Wang (2000). These algorithms are complicated and need efforts. Hence, we develop in this paper a simpler algorithm. First, we construct a condition for a cycle that contains a 1-median or for a vertex that is indeed a 1-median of the cactus. Based on this condition, we localize the search for deriving a 1-median on the underlying cactus. Complexity analysis shows that the approach runs in linear time

An experiment in Interactive Retrieval for the lifelog moment retrieval task at imageCLEFlifelog2020.

The development of technology has led to an increase in mobile devices’ use to keep track of individual daily activities, as known as Lifelogging. Lifelogging has raised many research challenges, one of which is how to retrieve a specific moment in response to a user’s information need. This paper presents an efficient interactive search engine for large multimodal lifelog data which is evaluated in the ImageCLEFlifelog2020 Lifelog Moment Retrieval task (LMRT). The system is the modified version of the Myscéal demonstrator used in the Lifelog Search Challenge 2020, with the addition of visual similarity and a new method of visualising results. In interactive experimentation, our system achieved an F1@ 10 score of 0.48 in the official submission but can be significantly improved by implementing a number of post-processing steps

Tin Dioxide Nanocrystals as an Effective Sensitizer for Erbium Ions in Er-Doped SnO 2

Undoped SnO2 and erbium-doped SnO2 powders were successfully prepared by precipitation method. The effect of the heat treatment and doping contents on the structure of tin oxide and optical properties was also studied. The XRD data and Raman spectra indicate that the SnO2 crystals have formed after being heat-treated at 400°C and the average size of grains is about 8 nm for doping content of 1 mol%. An increase of doping concentration has controlled the growth of nanocrystals. The principle of the visible and infrared emissions of SnO2 and SnO2:Er is also discussed. All photoluminescence study shows that the Er3+ ions can be located in SnO2 nanocrystals and that there is energy transfer from defect levels of SnO2 nanoparticles to neighboring Er3+ ions of crystals

Improving the quality of set yoghurt using milk fat globule membrane fragments

Lacprodan PL20, a dairy ingredient that is rich in protein and polar lipids, was added into set yoghurts produced from nonhomogenized raw milk. The set yoghurts were prepared using concentrations of 2%, 4%, and 6% Lacprodan PL20, while the control sample was only supplemented with skim milk powder. The effect of Lacprodan PL20 concentrations on the physical and chemical properties, rheology, and microstructure of set yoghurt was thoroughly investigated to determine some likely improvement or changes in quality. Consequently, Lacprodan PL20 showed a gradual improvement in the set yoghurt nutritive values, water holding capacity, and apparent viscosity. The results indicated that the firmness of set yoghurt was altered which steadily improved the gel strength, especially at 4% and 6% concentrations. The fermentation process was slightly delayed at 4% and 6% concentrations and pH values were raised as Lacprodan PL20 concentration increased. The microstructures of the set yoghurts produced with Lacprodan PL20, as examined by scanning electron microscopy, revealed compacted structures with fewer and smaller holes in the gel matrices. Also, a slight color change was observed in set yoghurt using a colorimeter. These results vividly showed that Lacprodan PL20, an enriched milk fat globule membrane fragment, has the potential to improve set yoghurt quality by reducing some defects associated with set yoghurt, such as low gel strength, low dry solids, and the likes