Simulation-Based Approach to the Matching of a Dielectric-Filled Circular Waveguide Aperture.

The circular waveguide aperture or open-end radiator, one of the canonical antenna elements, can be filled with a dielectric material for miniaturization. With dielectric filling, the aperture reflection increases and impedance matching is necessary. This paper presents a simple but innovative simulation-based approach to the aperture matching of a dielectric-filled circular waveguide aperture.

A New Technique for Broadband Matching of Open-Ended Rectangular Waveguide Radiator.

The maximum reflection at an open end of a standard rectangular waveguide is about -10 dB in its operating frequency range. It is often used without matching. For critical applications, it is desirable to further reduce the reflection coefficient.

Design of a Ku-Band Monopulse Antenna with a Truncated Reflector and an Open-Ended Waveguide Feed.

This paper presents a design for a monopulse reflector antenna with asymmetric beamwidths for radar applications at the Ku band. The proposed design features a rectangular waveguide monopulse feed and a truncated parabolic reflector. An array of four open-ended rectangular waveguides were employed to realize a compact monopulse feed.

Kinesin-1-dependent transport of the βPIX/GIT complex in neuronal cells.

Proper targeting of the βPAK-interacting exchange factor (βPIX)/G protein-coupled receptor kinase-interacting target protein (GIT) complex into distinct cellular compartments is essential for its diverse functions including neurite extension and synaptogenesis. However, the mechanism for translocation of this complex is still unknown. In the present study, we reported that the conventional kinesin, called kinesin-1, can transport the βPIX/GIT complex.

Integrin-mediated adhesions in regulation of cellular senescence.

Bioinformatic and functional data link integrin-mediated cell adhesion to cellular senescence; however, the significance of and molecular mechanisms behind these connections are unknown. We now report that the focal adhesion-localized βPAK-interacting exchange factor (βPIX)-G protein-coupled receptor kinase interacting protein (GIT) complex controls cellular senescence in vitro and in vivo. βPIX and GIT levels decline with age.

Clinical outcomes of PFNA-II in the Asian intertrochanteric fracture patients: Comparison of clinical results according to proximal nail protrusion.

Purpose: This study intended to explore the clinical outcomes of PFNA-II, one of the commonly used fixation devices for intertrochanteric fractures and the association of clinical results with the extent of proximal nail protrusion.

Materials And Methods: Of 315 cases that underwent internal fixation using PFNA-II between September 2010 and June 2018 among intertrochanteric fracture patients aged over 65 years, a total of 86 patients with an ability to communicate clearly and a minimum follow-up of 6 months were retrospectively reviewed. We classified the subjects according to PFNA-II protrusion over the greater trochanter area on anteroposterior radiographs.

Corrosion Properties of Ultra-Fine-Grained Cu-3 wt%Ti Alloy Fabricated by Combination of Hot Rolling and Aging Treatment.

Although deformation and aging treatments of Cu-3 wt%Ti alloys dramatically enhance their mechanical properties, the corrosion behavior of ultra-fine grained (UFG) Cu-3 wt%Ti alloys produced by a combination of hot rolling and artificial aging has not been extensively explored yet. To bridge this gap, we herein probe the corrosion behavior of an UFG Cu-3 wt%Ti alloy produced by cold rolling and artificial aging, revealing that cast sample corrosion preferentially occurs around the -Cu₄Ti phase. Compared to that of the coarse-grained Cu-3 wt%Ti alloy, the corrosion resistance of its UFG counterpart is remarkably higher, which is ascribed to the effects of grain refinement and enveloping between the -Cu matrix and -Cu₄Ti in the absence of pitting corrosion.

RNA-seq Reveals Transcriptomic Differences in Inflamed and Noninflamed Intestinal Mucosa of Crohn's Disease Patients Compared with Normal Mucosa of Healthy Controls.

Background: Aberrant gene expression in the gut mucosa might contribute to the initiation and progression of Crohn's disease (CD). RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) provides precise measurements of expression levels of transcripts and their isoforms. The aim of this study was to use RNA-seq to investigate transcriptomic differences and identify significantly differentially expressed transcripts in inflamed and noninflamed intestinal mucosa of CD patients.

Small molecules that allosterically inhibit p21-activated kinase activity by binding to the regulatory p21-binding domain.

p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are key regulators of actin dynamics, cell proliferation and cell survival. Deregulation of PAK activity contributes to the pathogenesis of various human diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders. Using an ELISA-based screening protocol, we identified naphtho(hydro)quinone-based small molecules that allosterically inhibit PAK activity.

Non-muscle myosin II regulates neuronal actin dynamics by interacting with guanine nucleotide exchange factors.

Background: Non-muscle myosin II (NM II) regulates a wide range of cellular functions, including neuronal differentiation, which requires precise spatio-temporal activation of Rho GTPases. The molecular mechanism underlying the NM II-mediated activation of Rho GTPases is poorly understood. The present study explored the possibility that NM II regulates neuronal differentiation, particularly morphological changes in growth cones and the distal axon, through guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) of the Dbl family.

Phosphorylation of β-catenin at serine 663 regulates its transcriptional activity.

β-Catenin, a component of Wnt signaling, plays a key role in colorectal carcinogenesis. The phosphorylation status of β-catenin determines its fate and affects its cellular function, and serine 675 (S675) was previously identified as a common target of p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) and protein kinase A. In the present study, we explored the PAK1-specific phosphorylation site(s) in β-catenin.

Myosin II directly binds and inhibits Dbl family guanine nucleotide exchange factors: a possible link to Rho family GTPases.

Cell migration requires the coordinated spatiotemporal regulation of actomyosin contraction and cell protrusion/adhesion. Nonmuscle myosin II (MII) controls Rac1 and Cdc42 activation, and cell protrusion and focal complex formation in migrating cells. However, these mechanisms are poorly understood.

Involvement of betaPIX in angiotensin II-induced migration of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulates migration of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) in addition to its contribution to contraction and hypertrophy. It is well established that Rho GTPases regulate cellular contractility and migration by reorganizing the actin cytoskeleton. Ang II activates Rac1 GTPase, but its upstream guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) remains elusive.

Phosphorylation of RhoGDI1 by p21-activated kinase 2 mediates basic fibroblast growth factor-stimulated neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells.

We previously showed that p21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2), a major PAK isoform expressed in PC12 cells, mediates neurite outgrowth via Rac1 GTPase. RhoGDI1 forms a complex with Rac1, resulting in its inhibition. Rac1 activation requires dissociation from RhoGDI1.

betaPak-interacting exchange factor-mediated Rac1 activation requires smgGDS guanine nucleotide exchange factor in basic fibroblast growth factor-induced neurite outgrowth.

Neuritogenesis requires active actin cytoskeleton rearrangement in which Rho GTPases play a pivotal role. In a previous study (Shin, E. Y.

bPAK-interacting exchange factor may regulate actin cytoskeleton through interaction with actin.

p21-activated kinase (PAK)-interacting exchange factor (PIX) is known to be involved in regulation of Cdc42/Rac GTPases and PAK activity. PIX binds to the proline-rich region of PAK, and regulates biological events through activation of Cdc42/Rac GTPase. To further investigate the role of PIX we produced monoclonal antibodies (Mab) against bPIX.

Basic fibroblast growth factor stimulates activation of Rac1 through a p85 betaPIX phosphorylation-dependent pathway.

In a previous study (Shin, E. Y., Shin, K.

Phosphorylation of p85 beta PIX, a Rac/Cdc42-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor, via the Ras/ERK/PAK2 pathway is required for basic fibroblast growth factor-induced neurite outgrowth.

Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) have been implicated in growth factor-induced neuronal differentiation through the activation of small GTPases. Although phosphorylation of these GEFs is considered an activation mechanism, little is known about the upstream of PAK-interacting exchange factor (PIX), a member of the Dbl family of GEFs. We report here that phosphorylation of p85 betaPIX/Cool/p85SPR is mediated via the Ras/ERK/PAK2 pathway.

Basic fibroblast growth factor-induced translocation of p21-activated kinase to the membrane is independent of phospholipase C-gamma1 in the differentiation of PC12 cells.

p21-activated kinase (PAK) targeting to the plasma membrane is essential for PC12 cell neurite outgrowth. Phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1) can mediate the PAK translocation in response to growth factors, since PLC-gamma1 binds to both tyrosine-phosphorylated receptor tyrosine kinases and PAK through its SH2 and SH3 domain, respectively. In the present study, we examined a potential role for PLC-gamma1 in the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced PAK translocation using stable PC12 cell lines that overexpress in a tetracycline-inducible manner either the wild-type FGFR-1 or the Y766F FGFR-1 mutant.