Mammalian spermatid specific protein, TP2, is a zinc metalloprotein with two finger motifs

An analysis of the recently reported cDNA derived amino acid sequences of mouse (Kleene and Flynn, J. Biol. Chem. , 17272–17277, 1987) and rat (Luersson Image ,Nucl. Acids Res. Image , 3585, 1989). TP2 has revealed the presence of two potential zinc finger motifs involving cysteine and histidine residues. TP2, as purified from rat elongating spermatids, is shown here to contain 0.2 atoms of zinc bound per molecule of the protein by atomic absorption spectroscopy. On incubation with 10 μM ZnCl2, Image , and subsequent exhaustive dialysis, TP2 had 2 atoms of zinc bound per molecule. The involvement of cysteine residues of TP2 in coordination with zinc was also suggested by the observation that TP2 could be labeled, Image , with iodoacetamidofluorescein only after preincubation of spermatid nuclei with EDTA. The zinc finger domains of TP2 may play an important role in initiation of chromatin condensation and /or cessation of transcriptional activity during mammalian spermiogenesis. DTT, Dithiothreitol; IAF, Iodoacetamido-fluorescein; SDS, Sodium dodecyl sulfate; PAGE, Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; PMSF, Phynyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride

Pheo-type: A diagnostic gene-expression assay for the classification of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma

Context: Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are heritable neoplasms that can be classified into gene-expression subtypes corresponding to their underlying specific genetic drivers. Objective: This study aimed to develop a diagnostic and research tool (Pheo-type) capable of classifying PPGL tumors into gene-expression subtypes that could be used to guide and interpret genetic testing, determine surveillance programs, and aid in elucidation of PPGL biology. Design: A compendium of published microarray data representing 205 PPGL tumors was used for the selection of subtype-specific genes that were then translated to the Nanostring gene-expression platform. A support vector machine was trained on the microarray dataset and then tested on an independent Nanostring dataset representing 38 familial and sporadic cases of PPGL of known genotype (RET, NF1, TMEM127, MAX, HRAS, VHL, and SDHx). Different classifier models involving between three and six subtypes were compared for their discrimination potential. Results: A gene set of 46 genes and six endogenous controls was selected representing six known PPGL subtypes; RTK1–3 (RET, NF1, TMEM127, and HRAS), MAX-like, VHL, and SDHx. Of 38 test cases, 34 (90%) were correctly predicted to six subtypes based on the known genotype to gene-expression subtype association. Removal of the RTK2 subtype from training, characterized by an admixture of tumor and normal adrenal cortex, improved the classification accuracy (35/38). Consolidation of RTK and pseudohypoxic PPGL subtypes to four- and then three-class architectures improved the classification accuracy for clinical application. Conclusions: The Pheo-type gene-expression assay is a reliable method for predicting PPGL genotype using routine diagnostic tumor samples.

Aircraft trajectory clustering techniques using circular statistics

This paper presents a statistical aircraft trajectory clustering approach aimed at discriminating between typical manned and expected unmanned traffic patterns. First, a resampled version of each trajectory is modelled using a mixture of Von Mises distributions (circular statistics). Second, the remodelled trajectories are globally aligned using tools from bioinformatics. Third, the alignment scores are used to cluster the trajectories using an iterative k-medoids approach and an appropriate distance function. The approach is then evaluated using synthetically generated unmanned aircraft flights combined with real air traffic position reports taken over a sector of Northern Queensland, Australia. Results suggest that the technique is useful in distinguishing between expected unmanned and manned aircraft traffic behaviour, as well as identifying some common conventional air traffic patterns.

Influenza hemagglutinin stem-fragment immunogen elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies and confers heterologous protection

Influenza hemagglutinin (HA) is the primary target of the humoral response during infection/vaccination. Current influenza vaccines typically fail to elicit/boost broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs), thereby limiting their efficacy. Although several bnAbs bind to the conserved stem domain of HA, focusing the immune response to this conserved stem in the presence of the immunodominant, variable head domain of HA is challenging. We report the design of a thermotolerant, disulfide-free, and trimeric HA stem-fragment immunogen which mimics the native, prefusion conformation of HA and binds conformation specific bnAbs with high affinity. The immunogen elicited bnAbs that neutralized highly divergent group 1 (H1 and H5 subtypes) and 2 (H3 subtype) influenza virus strains in vitro. Stem immunogens designed from unmatched, highly drifted influenza strains conferred robust protection against a lethal heterologous A/Puerto Rico/8/34 virus challenge in vivo. Soluble, bacterial expression of such designed immunogens allows for rapid scale-up during pandemic outbreaks.

Hemagglutinin sequence conservation guided stem immunogen design from influenza A H3 subtype

Seasonal epidemics caused by influenza A (H1 and H3 subtypes) and B viruses are a major global health threat. The traditional, trivalent influenza vaccines have limited efficacy because of rapid antigenic evolution of the circulating viruses. This antigenic variability mediates viral escape from the host immune responses, necessitating annual vaccine updates. Influenza vaccines elicit a protective antibody response, primarily targeting the viral surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA). However, the predominant humoral response is against the hypervariable head domain of HA, thereby restricting the breadth of protection. In contrast, the conserved, subdominant stem domain of HA is a potential ``universal'' vaccine candidate. We designed an HA stem-fragment immunogen from the 1968 pandemic H3N2 strain (A/Hong Kong/1/68) guided by a comprehensive H3 HA sequence conservation analysis. The biophysical properties of the designed immunogen were further improved by C-terminal fusion of a trimerization motif, ``isoleucine-zipper'', or ``foldon''. These immunogens elicited cross-reactive, antiviral antibodies and conferred partial protection against a lethal, homologous HK68 virus challenge in vivo. Furthermore, bacterial expression of these immunogens is economical and facilitates rapid scale-up.

A inteligência cristalizada em diferentes contextos socioculturais

Um primeiro objetivo desse estudo foi apresentar uma revisão sobre o que a literatura científica atual fala acerca da bateria de inteligência WISC-III. Os referenciais teóricos que embasam a construção dos testes de inteligência, tais como o modelo de Cattell- Horn Caroll e abordagens mais recentes foram explicitados. A partir das concepções de inteligência fluída (Gf) e cristalizada (Gc), buscou-se um dialógo com pressupostos básicos da psicologia evolucionista do desenvolvimento, considerando os planos de análise ontogenético e filogenético. Foram apresentados aspectos culturais que influenciam desenvolvimento do nosso percurso cognitivo. Teoricamente discutiu-se sobre as causas culturais que embasam o efeito Flynn, efeito de defasagem de escalas, buscando evidencias se nos subtestes da Escala Verbal da bateria WISC-III, adaptada ao contexto brasileiro, existiu sua incidência. Um segundo objetivo deste estudo foi identificar se haveria correlação entre variáveis tais como o uso de tecnologias, o acesso a mídias pelas crianças, práticas de criação e nos resultados obtidos em subtestes da escala WISC-III em crianças de 6 a 11 anos que residem no Rio de Janeiro. Participaram do estudo 25 crianças e seus respectivos responsáveis. Os resultados indicaram que aspectos do cuidado parental e maior acesso a recursos tecnológicos correlacionaram-se com os índices de QI na escala verbal da bateria WISC-III, sugerindo uma indissociável relação entre cultura e inteligência. Acredita-se que tais exposições podem contribuir para ampliar a compreensão da interpretação dos escores fornecidos pela escala WISC-III adaptada ao contexto brasileiro.

聚β－羟基丁酸酯的化学修饰及其特性

针对聚β一经基丁酸酷(PHB)加工窗口窄、脆性严重等不足，本论文采用在PHB分子链上接枝极性小分子顺丁烯二酸醉（MA）和将PHB与聚8一已内醋（PCL）进行醋交换的方法对其分子链进行化学修饰，试图通过PHB的分子结构变化改变其聚集态结构，从而使PHB在性能上有较大幅度的提高。获得的主要研究结果如下：1．本工作采用自由基引发聚合方法研究了PHB与MA的接枝反应。讨论了各种反应条件，如溶剂种类、单体浓度、引发剂浓度、反应时间和温度等对接枝反应的影响，确定了PHB接枝MA的最佳反应条件。采用对酸配基团进行化学滴定和~(13)C NMR方法对接枝产物的接枝率和结构进行了表征。结果表明，M八接枝到PHB的叔碳原子上，接枝率可以控制在0.2∽0.85%的范围内。2.采用DSC、WARD、POM和TGA等方法对PHB及其接枝顺丁烯二酸配共聚物（PHB-g-MA）的结晶行为、·热稳定性和生物降解特性进行了研究。结果表明：接枝产物的热稳定性明显优于PHB，热分解温度随接枝率不同提高了20-40℃。接枝后，MA基团阻碍了PHB的结晶，降低了PHB的结晶能力，使得PHB的结晶行为发生很大的变化。结晶温度降低，冷结晶温度升高，结晶焙略有下降。与PHB相比，PHB-g-MA的球晶环带结构变得清晰规整，随着接枝率的提高，球晶的环带宽度逐渐增加。在 DSC升温过程中PHB-g-MA发生重结晶，产生熔融双峰现象。但是WAXD的实验结果表明，PHB接枝MA并没有改变它的结晶结构。J . PHB接枝MA后，PHB的力学性能保持不变，并且MA基团能够促进PHB的生物降解和改善PHB的溶解性。4.采用FTIR和‘~1H NMR研究了PHB-g-MA的热分解机理。结果表明，PHB-g-MA的热分解机理与PHB相同：在高温条件下，PHB分子链的醋基部分形成六元环结构，断链时夺取亚甲基氢，生成竣基和双键两种端基。5．采用TGA方法选择不同的升温速率研究了PHB和不同接枝率的PHB-g-MA的热分解行为。PHB-g-MA的热分解温度随着接枝率的增加逐渐增加，然后逐渐下降。接枝率为0.56%时，PHB-g-MA的热分解温度最高，达到256.6℃。由Flynn-Wall-Ozawa方法得到的PHB的热分解活化能随着热失重率的增加而逐渐下降；而PHB-g-MA的热分解活化能随着接枝率和热失重率的不同，表现出不同的规律。接枝率为0.56%时，它的热分解活化能达到最大，为116.51kJ/mol．采用DSC方法对PHB和PHB-g-MA的等温结晶动力学和熔融行为进行了研究。用Avrarnl方程分析的结果表明，MA的引入使得PHB的结晶能力下降，但是并没有改变它的结晶成核机理和生长方式。随着接枝率的增加，结晶活化能增加。等温结晶后的PHB-g-MA表现出双熔融行为，这是在升温过程中发生熔融重结晶的结果。这种熔融行为不仅与样品的接枝率有关，而且也会受到结晶温度的影响7．在不同的冷却速率下用DSC方法研究了PHB和PHB-g-MA的非等温结晶动力学和熔融行为。结果表明，PHB和PHB-g-MA在非等温结晶过程中的结晶行为与冷却速率和接枝率密切相关。用Jeziorny方法改进的Avrami方程分析了PHB和PHB-g-MA的非等温结晶行为。当冷却速率较低时，PHB-9-MA的结晶机理与PHB不同。非等温结晶后的PHB-g-MA的熔融行为表现出熔融双峰，这是在升温过程中发生熔融重结晶的结果。8．用DSC方法研究了甲壳胺（CS）的热行为，测得CS的玻璃化转变温度（Tg）为80.4'C。考察了不同组成的PHB/CS和PHB-g-MA/CS共混体系的热行为。在PHB/CS=20/80, 40/60的共混体系中有单一的Tg出现；而 PHB-g-MA/CS=20/80, 40/60, 60/40的共混体系中也有单一的Tgo随着共混体系中PHB含量的减少，T_g逐渐增加，表明这些共混体系具有相容性。在共混体系中，随着CS含量的增加，PHB和PHB-g-MA组分的熔点和熔融烩显著降低。与对PHB相比，CS对PHB-g-MA熔点和熔融焙的抑止作用更大。9．通过FTIR, WAXD和XP S研究了相容共混体系中PHB, PHB-g-MA与CS组．分间的特殊相互作用。FTIR结果表明两组．分间形成较弱的氢键。这种氢键作用比CS自身分子内的氢键作用小，以至于很难“破坏”CS自身的聚集态结构，但是它可以“扰乱”PHB, PHB-g-MA和CS原有的结晶形貌。这一结果被WAXD进一步证实。XPS的结果清楚地表明分子间氢键作用是通过CS中的-NH_2与PHB-g-MA的C＝O产生的。在PHB分子链中接枝MA基团，可以增强这种相互作用，使PHB-g-MAICS-共混体系的Nls和C1s结合能和谱型发生明显改变。10．用熔融法和溶液法将PHB和PCL进行醋交换反应，制备PHB和PCL的共聚醋(PHB-co-PCL).讨论了各种反应条件，如组分、反应时间和温度、催化剂种类和用量等对醋交换反应的影响。采用~(13)C NMR和FTIR方法对醋交换产物的结构进行了表征。结果表明，提高反应温度和延长反应时间有利于酷交换反应的发生。调整反应条件，共聚酷中PCL的含量可以控制在0.95-4.81%的范围内。在本实验条件下，制备的PHB-co-PCL均为嵌段共聚物。11．采用DSC、WARD、POM和TGA等方法对PHB-co-PCL的热行为、晶体结构和热稳定性进行了研究。随着酷交换量的增加，PHB-co-PCL的结晶行为发生很大的变化。冷结晶温度、结晶一温度和熔点均降低。并且 PHB-co-PCL在升温过程中表现出熔融双峰，这是共聚酷在结晶过程中结晶不完善导致在升温过程中发生熔融重结晶的结果，。PCL链段的引入并没有改变PHB的晶体结构，却使得共聚酷的结晶规整性下降。而且PHB-co-PCL的热稳定性基本保持不变。

Thermal degradation kinetics of poly(propylene carbonate) obtained from the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and propylene oxide

The kinetics of the thermal degradation of poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) were investigated with different kinetic methods with data from thermogravimetric analysis under dynamic conditions. The apparent activation energies obtained with different integral methods (Ozawa-Flynn-Wall and Coats-Redfern) were consistent with the values obtained with the Kinssinger method (99.93 kJ/mol). The solid-state decomposition process was a sigmoidal A(3) type in terms of the Coats-Redfern and Phadnis-Deshpande results. The influence of the heating rate on the thermal decomposition temperature was also studied. The derivative thermogravimetry curves of PPC confirmed only one weight-loss step.

The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and maleated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

The thermal decomposition mechanism of maleated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) was investigated by FTIR and H-1 NMR. The results of experiments showed that the random chain scission of maleated PHB obeyed the six-membered ring ester decomposition process. The thermal decomposition behavior of PHB and maleated PHB with different graft degree were studied by thermogravimetry (TGA) using various heating-up rates. The thermal stability of maleated PHB was evidently better than that of PHB. With increase in graft degree, the thermal decomposition temperature of maleated PHB gradually increased and then declined. Activation energy E. as a kinetic parameter of thermal decomposition was estimated by the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and Kissinger methods, respectively. It could be seen that approximately equal values of activation energy were obtained by both methods.

Battling Reality

In the four years that the MIT Mobile Robot Project has benn in existence, we have built ten robots that focus research in various areas concerned with building intelligent systems. Towards this end, we have embarked on trying to build useful autonomous creatures that live and work in the real world. Many of the preconceived notions entertained before we started building our robots turned out to be misguided. Some issues we thought would be hard have worked successfully from day one and subsystems we imagined to be trivial have become tremendous time sinks. Oddly enough, one of our biggest failures has led to some of our favorite successes. This paper describes the changing paths our research has taken due to the lessons learned from the practical realities of building robots.

Olympic Robot Building Manual

The 1989 AI Lab Winter Olympics will take a slightly different twist from previous Olympiads. Although there will still be a dozen or so athletic competitions, the annual talent show finale will now be a display not of human talent, but of robot talent. Spurred on by the question, "Why aren't there more robots running around the AI Lab?", Olympic Robot Building is an attempt to teach everyone how to build a robot and get them started. Robot kits will be given out the last week of classes before the Christmas break and teams have until the Robot Talent Show, January 27th, to build a machine that intelligently connects perception to action. There is no constraint on what can be built; participants are free to pick their own problems and solution implementations. As Olympic Robot Building is purposefully a talent show, there is no particular obstacle course to be traversed or specific feat to be demonstrated. The hope is that this format will promote creativity, freedom and imagination. This manual provides a guide to overcoming all the practical problems in building things. What follows are tutorials on the components supplied in the kits: a microprocessor circuit "brain", a variety of sensors and motors, a mechanical building block system, a complete software development environment, some example robots and a few tips on debugging and prototyping. Parts given out in the kits can be used, ignored or supplemented, as the kits are designed primarily to overcome the intertia of getting started. If all goes well, then come February, there should be all kinds of new members running around the AI Lab!