cAMP- and rapamycin-sensitive regulation of the association of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E and the translational regulator PHAS-I in aortic smooth muscle cells.

Incubating rat aortic smooth muscle cells with either platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF) or insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) increased the phosphorylation of PHAS-I, an inhibitor of the mRNA cap binding protein, eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E. Phosphorylation of PHAS-I promoted dissociation of the PHAS-I-eIF-4E complex, an effect that could partly explain the stimulation of protein synthesis by the two growth factors. Increasing cAMP with forskolin decreased PHAS-I phosphorylation and markedly increased the amount of eIF-4E bound to PHAS-I, effects consistent with an action of cAMP to inhibit protein synthesis. Both PDGF and IGF-I activated p70S6K, but only PDGF increased mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. Forskolin decreased by 50% the effect of PDGF on increasing p70S6K, and forskolin abolished the effect of IGF-I on the kinase. The effects of PDGF and IGF-I on increasing PHAS-I phosphorylation, on dissociating the PHAS-I-eIF-4E complex, and on increasing p70S6K were abolished by rapamycin. The results indicate that IGF-I and PDGF increase PHAS-I phosphorylation in smooth muscle cells by the same rapamycin-sensitive pathway that leads to activation of p70S6K.

Total chemical synthesis of a ribozyme derived from a group I intron.

We describe the complete chemical synthesis of a ribozyme that catalyzes template-directed oligonucleotide ligation. The specific activity of the synthetic ribozyme is nearly identical to that of the same enzyme generated by in vitro transcription with T7 RNA polymerase. The ribozyme is derived from a group I intron and consists of three RNA fragments of 36, 43, and 59 nt that self-assemble to form a catalytically active complex. We have site-specifically substituted ribonucleotide analogs into this enzyme and have identified two 2'-hydroxyl groups that are required for full catalytic activity. In contrast, neither the 2'-hydroxyl nor the exocyclic amino group of the conserved guanosine in the guanosine binding site is necessary for catalysis. By allowing the ribozyme to be modified as easily as its substrates, this synthetic ribozyme system should be useful for testing specific hypotheses concerning ribozyme-substrate interactions and tertiary interactions within the ribozyme.

Crystal structure of an H-2Kb-ovalbumin peptide complex reveals the interplay of primary and secondary anchor positions in the major histocompatibility complex binding groove.

Sequence analysis of peptides naturally presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules has revealed allele-specific motifs in which the peptide length and the residues observed at certain positions are restricted. Nevertheless, peptides containing the standard motif often fail to bind with high affinity or form physiologically stable complexes. Here we present the crystal structure of a well-characterized antigenic peptide from ovalbumin [OVA-8, ovalbumin-(257-264), SIINFEKL] in complex with the murine MHC class I H-2Kb molecule at 2.5-A resolution. Hydrophobic peptide residues Ile-P2 and Phe-P5 are packed closely together into binding pockets B and C, suggesting that the interplay of peptide anchor (P5) and secondary anchor (P2) residues can couple the preferred sequences at these positions. Comparison with the crystal structures of H-2Kb in complex with peptides VSV-8 (RGYVYQGL) and SEV-9 (FAPGNYPAL), where a Tyr residue is used as the C pocket anchor, reveals that the conserved water molecule that binds into the B pocket and mediates hydrogen bonding from the buried anchor hydroxyl group could not be likewise positioned if the P2 side chain were of significant size. Based on this structural evidence, H-2Kb has at least two submotifs: one with Tyr at P5 (or P6 for nonamer peptides) and a small residue at P2 (i.e., Ala or Gly) and another with Phe at P5 and a medium-sized hydrophobic residue at P2 (i.e., Ile). Deciphering of these secondary submotifs from both crystallographic and immunological studies of MHC peptide binding should increase the accuracy of T-cell epitope prediction.

The ionized gas in the CALIFA early-type galaxies I. Mapping two representative cases: NGC 6762 and NGC 5966

As part of the ongoing CALIFA survey, we have conducted a thorough bidimensional analysis of the ionized gas in two E/S0 galaxies, NGC 6762 and NGC 5966, aiming to shed light on the nature of their warm ionized ISM. Specifically, we present optical (3745–7300 Å) integral field spectroscopy obtained with the PMAS/PPAK integral field spectrophotometer. Its wide field-of-view (1′ × 1′) covers the entire optical extent of each galaxy down to faint continuum surface brightnesses. To recover the nebular lines, we modeled and subtracted the underlying stellar continuum from the observed spectra using the STARLIGHT spectral synthesis code. The pure emission-line spectra were used to investigate the gas properties and determine the possible sources of ionization. We show the advantages of IFU data in interpreting the complex nature of the ionized gas in NGC 6762 and NGC 5966. In NGC 6762, the ionized gas and stellar emission display similar morphologies, while the emission line morphology is elongated in NGC 5966, spanning ~6 kpc, and is oriented roughly orthogonal to the major axis of the stellar continuum ellipsoid. Whereas gas and stars are kinematically aligned in NGC 6762, the gas is kinematically decoupled from the stars in NGC 5966. A decoupled rotating disk or an “ionization cone” are two possible interpretations of the elongated ionized gas structure in NGC 5966. The latter would be the first “ionization cone” of such a dimension detected within a weak emission-line galaxy. Both galaxies have weak emission-lines relative to the continuum[EW(Hα) ≲ 3 Å] and have very low excitation, log([OIII]λ5007/Hβ) ≲ 0.5. Based on optical diagnostic ratios ([OIII]λ5007/Hβ, [NII]λ6584/Hα, [SII]λ6717, 6731/Hα, [OI]λ6300/Hα), both objects contain a LINER nucleus and an extended LINER-like gas emission. The emission line ratios do not vary significantly with radius or aperture, which indicates that the nebular properties are spatially homogeneous. The gas emission in NGC 6762 can be best explained by photoionization by pAGB stars without the need of invoking any other excitation mechanism. In the case of NGC 5966, the presence of a nuclear ionizing source seems to be required to shape the elongated gas emission feature in the “ionization cone” scenario, although ionization by pAGB stars cannot be ruled out. Further study of this object is needed to clarify the nature of its elongated gas structure.

Binap-gold (I) versus Binap-silver trifluoroacetate complexes as catalysts in 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of axomethine ylides

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between azomethine ylides and alkenes is efficiently catalysed by [{(Sa)-Binap-Au(tfa)}2] (Binap=2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl; tfa=trifluoroacetyl). Maleimides, 1,2-bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene, chalcone and nitrostyrene were suitable dipolarophiles even when using sterically hindered 1,3-dipole precursors. The results obtained in these transformations improve the analogous ones obtained in the same reactions catalysed by [Binap–Ag(tfa)]. In addition, computational studies have also been carried out to demonstrate both the high enantioselectivity exhibited by the chiral gold(I) complex, and the non-linear effect observed in this transformation.

Neutrosophic and Modal Components of Relations in Complex Systems

Semiotic components in the relations of complex systems depend on the Subject. There are two main semiotic components: Neutrosophic and Modal. Modal components are alethical and deontical. In this paper the authors applied the theory of Neutrosophy and Modal Logic to Deontical Impure Systems.

Rigorous Design of Complex Distillation Columns Using Process Simulators and the Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

We present a derivative-free optimization algorithm coupled with a chemical process simulator for the optimal design of individual and complex distillation processes using a rigorous tray-by-tray model. The proposed approach serves as an alternative tool to the various models based on nonlinear programming (NLP) or mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) . This is accomplished by combining the advantages of using a commercial process simulator (Aspen Hysys), including especially suited numerical methods developed for the convergence of distillation columns, with the benefits of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) metaheuristic algorithm, which does not require gradient information and has the ability to escape from local optima. Our method inherits the superstructure developed in Yeomans, H.; Grossmann, I. E.Optimal design of complex distillation columns using rigorous tray-by-tray disjunctive programming models. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.2000, 39 (11), 4326–4335, in which the nonexisting trays are considered as simple bypasses of liquid and vapor flows. The implemented tool provides the optimal configuration of distillation column systems, which includes continuous and discrete variables, through the minimization of the total annual cost (TAC). The robustness and flexibility of the method is proven through the successful design and synthesis of three distillation systems of increasing complexity.

Generation of representation models for complex systems using Lagrangian functions

In this article, a new methodology is presented to obtain representation models for a priori relation z = u(x1, x2, . . . ,xn) (1), with a known an experimental dataset zi; x1i ; x2i ; x3i ; . . . ; xni i=1;2;...;p· In this methodology, a potential energy is initially defined over each possible model for the relationship (1), what allows the application of the Lagrangian mechanics to the derived system. The solution of the Euler–Lagrange in this system allows obtaining the optimal solution according to the minimal action principle. The defined Lagrangian, corresponds to a continuous medium, where a n-dimensional finite elements model has been applied, so it is possible to get a solution for the problem solving a compatible and determined linear symmetric equation system. The computational implementation of the methodology has resulted in an improvement in the process of get representation models obtained and published previously by the authors.

Topological structures of complex belief systems

The concepts of substantive beliefs and derived beliefs are defined, a set of substantive beliefs S like open set and the neighborhood of an element substantive belief. A semantic operation of conjunction is defined with a structure of an Abelian group. Mathematical structures exist such as poset beliefs and join-semilattttice beliefs. A metric space of beliefs and the distance of belief depending on the believer are defined. The concepts of closed and opened ball are defined. S′ is defined as subgroup of the metric space of beliefs Σ and S′ is a totally limited set. The term s is defined (substantive belief) in terms of closing of S′. It is deduced that Σ is paracompact due to Stone's Theorem. The pseudometric space of beliefs is defined to show how the metric of the nonbelieving subject has a topological space like a nonmaterial abstract ideal space formed in the mind of the believing subject, fulfilling the conditions of Kuratowski axioms of closure. To establish patterns of materialization of beliefs we are going to consider that these have defined mathematical structures. This will allow us to understand better cultural processes of text, architecture, norms, and education that are forms or the materialization of an ideology. This materialization is the conversion by means of certain mathematical correspondences, of an abstract set whose elements are beliefs or ideas, in an impure set whose elements are material or energetic. Text is a materialization of ideology.

Topological structures of complex belief systems (II): Textual materialization

Mythical and religious belief systems in a social context can be regarded as a conglomeration of sacrosanct rites, which revolve around substantive values that involve an element of faith. Moreover, we can conclude that ideologies, myths and beliefs can all be analyzed in terms of systems within a cultural context. The significance of being able to define ideologies, myths and beliefs as systems is that they can figure in cultural explanations. This, in turn, means that such systems can figure in logic-mathematical analyses.

Introduction to Coding Theory for Flow Equations of Complex Systems Models

The modeling of complex dynamic systems depends on the solution of a differential equations system. Some problems appear because we do not know the mathematical expressions of the said equations. Enough numerical data of the system variables are known. The authors, think that it is very important to establish a code between the different languages to let them codify and decodify information. Coding permits us to reduce the study of some objects to others. Mathematical expressions are used to model certain variables of the system are complex, so it is convenient to define an alphabet code determining the correspondence between these equations and words in the alphabet. In this paper the authors begin with the introduction to the coding and decoding of complex structural systems modeling.

Jordi de Manuel i el futur: la justa transgressió

Article que analitza l’obra de Jordi de Manuel, creador de la nissaga de l’inspector de policia Marc Sergiot. Una veu original, plenament consolidada, que representa la modernitat, la permeabilitat i la capacitat de reinvenció del gènere en llengua catalana. Una producció arriscada, que adquireix l’excel·lència en la seva dimensió de conjunt, com un corpus complet i complex d’indubtable densitat intel·lectual.

Disipation Functions of Flow Equations in Models of Complex Systems

In an open system, each disequilibrium causes a force. Each force causes a flow process, these being represented by a flow variable formally written as an equation called flow equation, and if each flow tends to equilibrate the system, these equations mathematically represent the tendency to that equilibrium. In this paper, the authors, based on the concepts of forces and conjugated fluxes and dissipation function developed by Onsager and Prigogine, they expose the following hypothesis: Is replaced in Prigogine’s Theorem the flow by its equation or by a flow orbital considering conjugate force as a gradient. This allows to obtain a dissipation function for each flow equation and a function of orbital dissipation.

Paraconsistent Multivalued Logic and Coincidentia Oppositorum: Evaluation with Complex Numbers

Paraconsistent logic admits that the contradiction can be true. Let p be the truth values and P be a proposition. In paraconsistent logic the truth values of contradiction is . This equation has no real roots but admits complex roots . This is the result which leads to develop a multivalued logic to complex truth values. The sum of truth values being isomorphic to the vector of the plane, it is natural to relate the function V to the metric of the vector space R2. We will adopt as valuations the norms of vectors. The main objective of this paper is to establish a theory of truth-value evaluation for paraconsistent logics with the goal of using in analyzing ideological, mythical, religious and mystic belief systems.

Saint Mathew Law and Bonini Paradox in Textual Theory of Complex Models

The mathematical models of the complex reality are texts belonging to a certain literature that is written in a semi-formal language, denominated L(MT) by the authors whose laws linguistic mathematics have been previously defined. This text possesses linguistic entropy that is the reflection of the physical entropy of the processes of real world that said text describes. Through the temperature of information defined by Mandelbrot, the authors begin a text-reality thermodynamic theory that drives to the existence of information attractors, or highly structured point, settling down a heterogeneity of the space text, the same one that of ontologic space, completing the well-known law of Saint Mathew, of the General Theory of Systems and formulated by Margalef saying: “To the one that has more he will be given, and to the one that doesn't have he will even be removed it little that it possesses.