Pressure effects on the stability of lipoxygenase: Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and enzyme activity studies

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) studies of lipoxygenase at pressures of up to 1.2 GPa have shown changes in the amide I' band which correlate to structural changes of the enzyme. The shift of the frequency maximum of the amide I' band at about 600 MPa suggests a cooperative change in the secondary structure of the protein. Studies of the changes in band width have shown the structural changes at 600 MPa to be irreversible. This has been confirmed by studies of enzyme activity after pressure treatment: exposure to 600 MPa for 30 min (40°C) clearly reduced the activity of lipoxygenase. Anodic gel electrophoresis under non-denaturating conditions revealed a decrease in native protein parallel to the activity loss. A pressure-temperaturephase diagram for soybean lipoxygenase was established.     

Crystal field effects using polarised neutron spectroscopy

Crystal field transitions and quasielastic magnetic scattering were observed in PrAl₃ using a polarised neutron diffractometer/spectrometer. These were positively identified using neutron polarisation analysis. Transitions were observed at 3.5 and 4.5 meV, and both magnetic and nuclear elastic scattering were successfully separated.     

C-HEAP: A Heterogeneous Multi-Processor Architecture Template and Scalable and Flexible Protocol for the Design of Embedded Signal Processing Systems

The key issue in the design of Systems-on-a-Chip (SoC) is to trade-off efficiency against flexibility, and time to market versus cost. Current deep submicron processing technologiesenable integration of multiple software programmable processors (e.g., CPUs,DSPs) and dedicated hardware components into a single cost-efficient IC. Ourtop-down design methodology with various abstraction levels helps designingthese ICs in a reasonable amount of time. This methodology starts with a high-levelexecutable specification, and converges towards a silicon implementation.A major task in the design process is to ensure that all components (hardwareand software) communicate with each other correctly. In this article, we tacklethis problem in the context of the signal processing domain in two ways: wepropose a modular, flexible, and scalable heterogeneous multi-processor architecturetemplate based on distributed shared memory, and we present an efficient andtransparent protocol for communication and (re)configuration. The protocolimplementations have been incorporated in libraries, which allows quick traversalof the various abstraction levels, so enabling incremental design. The designdecisions to be taken at each abstraction level are evaluated by means of(co-)simulation. Prototyping is used too, to verify the system's functionalcorrectness. The effectiveness of our approach is illustrated by a designcase of a multi-standard video and image codec.He currently works with Magma Design Automation. E-mail:     

Architecture-driven synthesis techniques for VLSI implementation ofDSP algorithms

The state of the art of compiling digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms into silicon is discussed. It is indicated how digital signal processing differs from numerical data processing, including the consequences for the synthesis tools. On the basis of a broad range of DSP applications, four classes of architectures are then distinguished to serve as templates for four different synthesis systems. Although each of these four silicon compilers is tuned to a specific class of applications in order to generate area-efficient chips, they all accept as input the same behavioral DSP specification. The four selected architectural styles are best characterized by hard-wired bit-serial data-paths, microcoded multiprocessors, cooperating bit-parallel data-paths, and regular arrays. The characteristics of the first three architectures are treated in more detail in a discussion of three different Cathedral synthesis environments for their respective design. A fourth Cathedral environment, aiming at the synthesis of regular arrays, is still in an early stage of development and is not discussed. The claims for the compilers are substantiated by typical designs     

Basic need satisfaction and identity formation: Bridging self-determination theory and process-oriented identity research.

The fulfillment of the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness as postulated within self-determination theory was hypothesized to play an energizing role in identity formation, conceptualized as multiple dimensions of exploration and commitment. Two studies among high school and college students (N = 714) were conducted to investigate (a) the cross-sectional relationships between need satisfaction and the identity dimensions and (b) the direction of effects using cross-lagged analyses. Three competing longitudinal models were tested: a need satisfaction main-effects model, an identity main-effects model, and a reciprocal effects model. All 3 needs had meaningful relationships with the identity dimensions, and, although there was a predominance of paths from the needs to the identity dimensions, the reciprocal effects model received most support. Further, identity statuses (representing multivariate combinations of the identity dimensions) were meaningfully related to satisfaction of the 3 needs, with identity achievement scoring highest on all 3 indices of need satisfaction. Suggestions for future research and counseling implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rheological properties of bimodal polyethylenes produced with silica nanoparticle supported catalysts

The rheological properties of bimodal ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylenes (UHMWPEs) are investigated with an emphasis on the influence of the catalyst support. Bimodal UHMWPEs were produced in a single reactor with double support (DS) and single support (SS) catalyst systems. Dynamic measurements showed that the SS samples have a higher storage modulus at low frequencies than the DS samples with the same weight average molecular weight. After extrusion, the storage modulus of the bimodal DS samples increased to an identical value. The results indicate that the SS sample has a higher homogeneity than the DS sample. The steady-shear viscosities were measured to determine zero shear viscosities (η₀) of the bimodal samples. The results show that the SS samples follow the relation η₀ = KM_w^α with α = 3.19 . However, the DS samples exhibit a substantial deviation from this relation especially in the intermediate M_w range around 1000 kg mol⁻¹. The reason for the deviation is attributed to the heterogeneity in DS samples. The results demonstrate that the DS systems do not produce bimodal PEs with an intimate degree of mixing of short and long polymer chains even if silica nanoparticles are used as the support. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47577.     

Monte Carlo Simulation Study of Diffuse Scattering in PZT,Pb(Zr,Ti)O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Transverse polarized diffuse streaks have been observed in diffraction patterns of Pb(Zr_1?x Ti _x )O₃ (PZT) ceramics for compositions ranging from x = 0.3 (rhombohedral phase) to x = 0.7 (tetragonal phase) including the important morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) region (x = 0.48). The streaks correspond to diffuse planes of scattering in three dimensions, and these are oriented normal to the (cubic) \( \langle 111\rangle_{c} \) directions. A Monte Carlo (MC) model has been developed that convincingly reproduces the observed diffraction patterns. In this model, the displacements of Pb ions running in chains along each of the \( \langle 111\rangle_{c} \) directions are directed along the chain and are strongly correlated from cell to cell. There is no evidence of lateral correlation. Neighboring chains are essentially independent. At this stage, it is not clear what role the local order revealed by the scattering might play in governing the exceptional piezo-electric properties of the material, but its presence requires the currently accepted models for the average structure to be reassessed.     

基于荷兰老年人社会关系结构特征的用户角色构建

目的 从社会关系的视角分析老年人的差异化特征,定义与老年人的社交需求相关的用户特征,输出典型的用户角色类型、用户角色构建框架,指导老年人社交类产品的设计,促进社会的健康老龄化.方法 以荷兰当地的十一名68～72岁的老年人为研究对象,通过结构化访谈了解老年人的日常生活和社会关系结构,通过质性分析定义一组与老年社交产品设计相关的用户角色特征要素.结论 得出基于血缘、地缘和业缘(趣缘)关系的三种用户角色类型,包括家人依赖型、朋友陪伴型和事业兴趣型老年人;定义了一组与识别老年人社交需求相关的用户特征要素,形成了用户角色构建框架.典型用户角色类型、用户角色构建框架有助于协助设计研究人员识别老年人的社会关系和社交需求,从而设计出更匹配老年人需求的社交产品.     

Severe encephalopathy in a child: an uncommon cause

We report the unusual fixed cutaneous variety of sporotrichosis in a patient hailing from Uttarkashi (Uttar Pradesh) in the north-western part of India.