Arf6-independent GPI-anchored protein-enriched early endosomal compartments fuse with sorting endosomes via a Rab5/phosphatidylinositol-3 '-kinase-dependent machinery

In the process of internalization of molecules from the extracellular milieu, a cell uses multiple endocytic pathways, consequently generating different endocytic vesicles. These primary endocytic vesicles are targeted to specific destinations inside the cell. Here, we show that GPI-anchored proteins are internalized by an Arf6-independent mechanism into GPI-anchored protein-enriched early endosomal compartments (GEECs). Internalized GPI-anchored proteins and the fluid phase are first visualized in GEECs that are acidic, primary endocytic structures, negative for early endosomal markers, Rab4, Rab5, and early endosome antigen (EEA)1. They subsequently acquire Rab5 and EEA1 before homotypic fusion with other GEECs, and heterotypic fusion with endosomes containing cargo from the clathrin-dependent endocytic pathway. Although, the formation of GEECs is unaffected by inhibition of Rab5 GTPase and phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinase (PI3K) activity, their fusion with sorting endosomes is dependent on both activities. Overexpression of Rab5 reverts PI3K inhibition of fusion, providing evidence that Rab5 effectors play important roles in heterotypic fusion between the dynamin-independent GEECs and clathrin- and dynamin-dependent sorting endosomes.

The sorting behaviour of olfactory and vomeronasal axons during regeneration

In order to begin to understand how primary olfactory and vomeronasal organ (VNO) axons target specific regions of the olfactory bulb, we examined the sorting behaviour of these axons following neonatal unilateral olfactory bulbectomy. Bulbectomy induced widespread ipsilateral death of the primary olfactory and VNO neurons. After 4 weeks, many new sensory axons had re-grown into the cranial cavity and established a prominent plexus with evidence of dense tufts that were similar in gross appearance to glomeruli. Axons expressing the cell adhesion molecule OCAM, which normally innervate the ventrolateral and rostral halves of the main and accessory olfactory bulbs, respectively, sorted out and segregated from those axons not expressing this molecule within the plexus. In addition, VNO axons formed large discrete bundles that segregated from main olfactory axons within the plexus. Thus, VNO and primary olfactory axons as well as discrete subpopulations of both are able to sort out and remain segregated in the absence of the olfactory bulb. Sorting and convergence of axons therefore occur independently of the olfactory bulb and are probably attributable either to inherent properties of the axons themselves or to interactions between the axons and accompanying glial ensheathing cells.

Detecting and sorting targeting peptides wtih neural networks and support vector machines

This paper presents a composite multi-layer classifier system for predicting the subcellular localization of proteins based on their amino acid sequence. The work is an extension of our previous predictor PProwler v1.1 which is itself built upon the series of predictors SignalP and TargetP. In this study we outline experiments conducted to improve the classifier design. The major improvement came from using Support Vector machines as a "smart gate" sorting the outputs of several different targeting peptide detection networks. Our final model (PProwler v1.2) gives MCC values of 0.873 for non-plant and 0.849 for plant proteins. The model improves upon the accuracy of our previous subcellular localization predictor (PProwler v1.1) by 2% for plant data (which represents 7.5% improvement upon TargetP).

Teaching Sorting in ICT

This article is aimed at considering how an algorithmic problem - more precisely a sorting problem - can be used in an informatics class in primary and secondary education to make students mobilize the largest possible amount of their intellectual skills in the problem solving process. We will be outlining a method which essentially forces students to utilize their mathematical knowledge besides algorithmization in order to provide an efficient solution. What is more, they are expected to use efficiently a tool that has so far not been associated with creative thinking. Sorting is meant to be just an example, through which our thoughts can easily be demonstrated, but - of course the method of education outlined can be linked to several other algorithmic problems, as well.

Bit-index sort: A fast non-comparison integer sorting algorithm for permutations

This paper describes a fast integer sorting algorithm, herein referred to as Bit-index sort, which does not use comparisons and is intended to sort partial permutations. Experimental results exhibit linear complexity order in execution time. Bit-index sort uses a bit-array to classify input sequences of distinct integers, and exploits built-in bit functions in C compilers, supported by machine hardware, to retrieve the ordered output sequence. Results show that Bit-index sort outperforms quicksort and counting sort algorithms when compared in their execution time. A parallel approach for Bit-index sort using two simultaneous threads is also included, which obtains further speedups of up to 1.6 compared to its sequential case.

Sorting Test, Tower Test, and BRIEF-SR do not predict school performance of healthy adolescents in preuniversity education

Executive functions (EF) such as self-monitoring, planning, and organizing are known to develop through childhood and adolescence. They are of potential importance for learning and school performance. Earlier research into the relation between EF and school performance did not provide clear results possibly because confounding factors such as educational track, boy-girl differences, and parental education were not taken into account. The present study therefore investigated the relation between executive function tests and school performance in a highly controlled sample of 173 healthy adolescents aged 12–18. Only students in the pre-university educational track were used and the performance of boys was compared to that of girls. Results showed that there was no relation between the report marks obtained and the performance on executive function tests, notably the Sorting Test and the Tower Test of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Functions System (D-KEFS). Likewise, no relation was found between the report marks and the scores on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function—Self-Report Version (BRIEF-SR) after these were controlled for grade, sex, and level of parental education. The findings indicate that executive functioning as measured with widely used instruments such as the BRIEF-SR does not predict school performance of adolescents in preuniversity education any better than a student's grade, sex, and level of parental education.

Evaluating Form and Functionality of Pay-For-Performance Plans: The Relative Incentive and Sorting Effects of Merit Pay, Bonuses, and Long-Term Incentives

Using two-year longitudinal data from a large sample of US employees from a service-related organization, the present study investigates the relative effects of three forms of pay-for-performance plans on employees’ job performance (incentive effects) and voluntary turnover (sorting effects). The study differentiates between three forms of pay: merit pay, individual-based bonuses, and long-term incentives. By definition, these PFP plans have different structural elements that distinguish them from each other (i.e., pay plan form) and different characteristics (functionality), such as the degree to which pay and performance are linked and the size of the rewards, which can vary both within and across plan types. Our results provide evidence that merit raises have larger incentive and sorting effects than bonuses and long-term incentives in multi-PFP plan environments where the three PFP plans are operating simultaneously. Only merit pay has both incentive and sorting effects among the three PFP plans. The implications for the PFP-related theory, as well as for the design and implementation of PFP plans, are discussed.

Prevalence of Aspergillus fumigatus complex in waste sorting and incineration plants: an occupational threat

Aspergillus fumigatus is one of the major ubiquitous saprophytic fungi and it is considered one of the fungal species with higher clinical relevance. This study aimed at characterising the prevalence of A. fumigatus complex in one waste-sorting plant and also in one incineration plant. Conventional and molecular methodologies were applied in order to detect its presence. Aspergillus fumigatus complex was the second most frequently found in the air from the waste-sorting plant (16.0%) and from the incineration plant (18.0%). Regarding surfaces, it ranked the third species most frequently found in the waste-sorting plant (13.8%) and the second in the incineration plant (22.3%). In the waste-sorting plant, it was possible to amplify by qPCR DNA from the A. fumigatus complex in all culture-positive sampling sites plus one other sampling site that was negative by culture analysis. Considering the observed fungal load, it is recommended to apply preventive and protective measures in order to avoid or minimise worker's exposure.

Design and fabrication of electro-thermal microcantilevers for ultrafast molecular sorting and delivery

Improvements to the current state of the art in microfabricated cantilevers are investigated in order to realize enhanced functionality and increased versatility for use in ultrafast electrophoretic molecular sorting and delivery. Design rationale and fabrication process flow are described for six types of electro-thermal microcantilevers. Devices have been tailored for the process of separating mixtures of heterogeneous molecules into discrete detectable bands based on electrophoretic mobility, and delivering them to a conductive substrate using electric fields. Four device types include integrated heating elements capable of warming samples to catalyze reactions or cleaning the device for reuse. Similar devices have been shown to be capable of targeting temperatures between ambient conditions and the melting point of silicon, to within 0.1˚C precision or better. All microcantilevers types are equipped with a highly doped conductive silicon tip capable of interacting with a conductive substrate to deliver molecules under the presence of an electric field. Devices are equipped with additional electrodes to aid in sorting molecules on the surface of the probe end. Two designs contain two legs and one additional sorting electrode while four designs contain three legs and have two sorting electrodes. Devices having two sorting electrodes are designed to be capable of sorting three or more molecular species, a distinctive advancement in the state of the art. A detailed process flow of the fabrication process for all six electro-thermal cantilever designs are explained in detail.

The role of automated sorting in the recovery of aluminium alloys waste

Selected papers from the 3rd Edition of the International Conference on Wastes: Solutions, Treatments and Opportunities

Avaliação de danos mecânicos causados em banana Nanicão durante as etapas de beneficiamento, transporte e embalagem

This study had as objective the evaluation of mechanical damages occurred in banana Nanicão during the improvement process, packing and distribution, identifying the probable critical points. The mechanical damages caused by transport, first cleaning; cleanness and sorting; preservation in the packing, transport, and mature were evaluated. The studied packing had been: torito wooden packing (18 kg), wood type ½ box, (13 kg) and cardboard (18 kg). The stage of preservation and transport of the fruits to the distribution center duplicated the light defects and quintupled the serious defects, causing rottenness after the acclimatization. The cardboard packing did not support the piling up and presented deformations, that resulted in the kneading the fruits of the inferior packing, causing a significant increase of the serious defects. The fruits conditioned in the involved packing of plastic bubble had presented an inferior number of serious damages when compared with the others packing, without the plastic.