Metaheuristic for Optimal Dynamic K-Coloring Application on Band Sharing for Automotive Radars.

The number of vehicles equipped with radars on the road has been increasing for years and is expected to reach 50% of cars by 2030. This rapid rise in radars will likely increase the risk of harmful interference, especially since radar specifications from standardization bodies (e.g.

Blind Deblurring of Barcodes via Kullback-Leibler Divergence.

Barcode encoding schemes impose symbolic constraints which fix certain segments of the image. We present, implement, and assess a method for blind deblurring and denoising based entirely on Kullback-Leibler divergence. The method is designed to incorporate and exploit the full strength of barcode symbologies.

Effective dynamic properties of random complex media with spherical particles.

The effective dynamic bulk modulus and density are presented for random media consisting of particles in a viscous host fluid, using a core-shell, self-consistent effective medium model, under the large compressional wavelength assumption. These properties are relevant to acoustic or dynamic processes in nano- and micro-particle fluids including particle density determination, resonant acoustic mixing, and acoustic characterisation. Analytical expressions are obtained for the effective bulk modulus and mass density, incorporating the viscous nature of the fluid host into the core-shell model through wave mode conversion phenomena.

Thermal aging characterization of composite plates and honeycomb sandwiches by electromechanical measurement.

After identifying the parameters of the piezoelectric transducer, the mechanical impedance of the front medium is deduced. More particularly, the wave propagation velocity and attenuation are deduced in the inspected plate. By fitting the electrical impedance measurement results, the aging of composite materials is quantified, showing the effectiveness of this means of nondestructive evaluation.

Native metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 depresses synaptic transmission through an unusual Gα transduction pathway.

In cerebellar cortex, mGlu receptors located on parallel fibers play an essential role in normal motor function, but the molecular mechanisms involved are not yet completely understood. Using a strategy combining biochemical and electrophysiological approaches in the rodent cerebellum, we demonstrate that presynaptic mGlu receptors control synaptic transmission through an atypical activation of Gα proteins. First, the Gα subunit, PLC and PKC signaling proteins present in cerebellar extracts are retained on affinity chromatography columns grafted with different sequences of the cytoplasmic domain of mGlu receptor.

High phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P)-dependent ATPase activity for the Drs2p-Cdc50p flippase after removal of its N- and C-terminal extensions.

P4-ATPases, also known as phospholipid flippases, are responsible for creating and maintaining transbilayer lipid asymmetry in eukaryotic cell membranes. Here, we use limited proteolysis to investigate the role of the N and C termini in ATP hydrolysis and auto-inhibition of the yeast flippase Drs2p-Cdc50p. We show that limited proteolysis of the detergent-solubilized and purified yeast flippase may result in more than 1 order of magnitude increase of its ATPase activity, which remains dependent on phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P), a regulator of this lipid flippase, and specific to a phosphatidylserine substrate.

Adhesion characterization and defect sizing of sandwich honeycomb composites.

Defects may appear in composite structures during their life cycle. A 10MHz 128 elements phased array transducer was investigated to characterize join bonds and defects in sandwich honeycomb composite structures. An adequate focal law throughout the composite skin gives the ultrasonic dispersive properties of the composite skin and glue layer behind.

S-palmitoylation and s-oleoylation of rabbit and pig sarcolipin.

Sarcolipin (SLN) is a regulatory peptide present in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) from skeletal muscle of animals. We find that native rabbit SLN is modified by a fatty acid anchor on Cys-9 with a palmitic acid in about 60% and, surprisingly, an oleic acid in the remaining 40%. SLN used for co-crystallization with SERCA1a (Winther, A.

Ultrasonic broadband characterization of a viscous liquid: methods and perturbation factors.

The perturbation factors involved in ultrasonic broadband characterization of viscous fluids are analyzed. Precisely, the normal incidence error and the thermal sensitivity of the properties have been identified as dominant parameters. Thus, the sensitivity of the ultrasonic parameters of attenuation and phase velocity were measured at room temperature in the MHz frequency range for two reference silicone oils, namely 47V50 and 47V350 (Rhodorsil).

First proteomic study of S-glutathionylation in cyanobacteria.

Glutathionylation, the reversible post-translational formation of a mixed disulfide between a cysteine residue and glutathione (GSH), is a crucial mechanism for signal transduction and regulation of protein function. Until now this reversible redox modification was studied mainly in eukaryotic cells. Here we report a large-scale proteomic analysis of glutathionylation in a photosynthetic prokaryote, the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp.

Comparative proteomic analysis of Streptomyces lividans Wild-Type and ppk mutant strains reveals the importance of storage lipids for antibiotic biosynthesis.

Streptomyces lividans TK24 is a strain that naturally produces antibiotics at low levels, but dramatic overproduction of antibiotics occurs upon interruption of the ppk gene. However, the role of the Ppk enzyme in relation to the regulation of antibiotic biosynthesis remains poorly understood. In order to gain a better understanding of the phenotype of the ppk mutant, the proteomes of the wild-type (wt) and ppk mutant strains, grown for 96 h on R2YE medium limited in phosphate, were analyzed.

Study of the resonances of periodic plane media immersed in water: theory and experiment.

The paper deals with the study of the resonances of 1D periodic media composed of N elementary cells formed with two perfectly bonded layers which exhibit a high acoustic impedance contrast. In the case of a periodic bilayer structure constituted of a fluid layer and an elastic plate, it was shown in previous theoretical works that additional modes appear compared to those of a single plate. These are called structure modes.

Native presynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (mGluR4) interacts with exocytosis proteins in rat cerebellum.

The eight pre- or/and post-synaptic metabotropic glutamatergic receptors (mGluRs) modulate rapid excitatory transmission sustained by ionotropic receptors. They are classified in three families according to their percentage of sequence identity and their pharmacological properties. mGluR4 belongs to group III and is mainly localized presynaptically.

Biochemical disclosure of the mycolate outer membrane of Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Corynebacterineae is a specific suborder of Gram-positive bacteria that includes Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Corynebacterium glutamicum. The cell wall of these bacteria is composed of a heteropolymer of peptidoglycan (PG) linked to arabinogalactan (AG), which in turn is covalently associated with an atypical outer membrane, here called mycomembrane (M). The latter structure has been visualized by cryo-electron microscopy of vitreous sections, but its biochemical composition is still poorly defined, thereby hampering the elucidation of its physiological function.

Ultrasonic characterization of a fluid layer using a broadband transducer.

A measurement method is proposed for the ultrasonic characterization of a fluid layer, corresponding to the resin transfer molding (RTM) manufacturing process. The ultrasonic velocity and attenuation of the silicone oil are measured in three samples having different viscosities. The measurement method is established on the basis of the attenuation of ultrasonic waves in fluids.

Thioredoxin targets in Arabidopsis roots.

The importance of redox-regulation in Arabidopsis thaliana roots has been investigated through the identification of the proteins interacting with thioredoxin (TRX), an ubiquitous thiol-disulfide reductase. We have applied a proteomic approach based on affinity chromatography on a monocysteinic mutant of plastidial y-type TRX used as a bait to trap putative partners in a crude extract of root proteins. Seventy-two proteins have been identified, functioning mainly in metabolism, detoxification and response to stress, protein processing and signal transduction.

Plant thioredoxin CDSP32 regenerates 1-cys methionine sulfoxide reductase B activity through the direct reduction of sulfenic acid.

Thioredoxins (Trxs) are ubiquitous enzymes catalyzing the reduction of disulfide bonds, thanks to a CXXC active site. Among their substrates, 2-Cys methionine sulfoxide reductases B (2-Cys MSRBs) reduce the R diastereoisomer of methionine sulfoxide (MetSO) and possess two redox-active Cys as follows: a catalytic Cys reducing MetSO and a resolving one, involved in disulfide bridge formation. The other MSRB type, 1-Cys MSRBs, possesses only the catalytic Cys, and their regeneration mechanisms by Trxs remain unclear.

Regeneration mechanisms of Arabidopsis thaliana methionine sulfoxide reductases B by glutaredoxins and thioredoxins.

Methionine oxidation leads to the formation of S- and R-diastereomers of methionine sulfoxide (MetSO), which are reduced back to methionine by methionine sulfoxide reductases (MSRs) A and B, respectively. MSRBs are classified in two groups depending on the conservation of one or two redox-active Cys; 2-Cys MSRBs possess a catalytic Cys-reducing MetSO and a resolving Cys, allowing regeneration by thioredoxins. The second type, 1-Cys MSRBs, possess only the catalytic Cys.

Regulation of ldh expression during biotin-limited growth of Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Corynebacterium glutamicum is a biotin-auxotrophic bacterium and some strains efficiently produce glutamic acid under biotin-limiting conditions. In an effort to understand C. glutamicum metabolism under biotin limitation, growth of the type strain ATCC 13032 was investigated in batch cultures and a time-course analysis was performed.

Dynamic Organization of Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase Complexes in the Cytoplasm of Human Cells.

The localization in space and in time of proteins within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells is a central question of the cellular compartmentalization of metabolic pathways. The assembly of proteins within stable or transient complexes plays an essential role in this process. Here, we examined the subcellular localization of the multi-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex in human cells.

Dissection of the structural organization of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex.

The spatio-temporal organization of proteins within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells rests in part on the assembly of stable and transient multiprotein complexes. Here we examined the assembly of the multiaminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex (MARS) in human cells. This complex contains nine aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and three auxiliary proteins and is a hallmark of metazoan species.

Large-scale study of phosphoproteins involved in long-term potentiation in the rat dentate gyrus in vivo.

The mechanisms underlying the induction of synaptic plasticity and the formation of long-term memory involve activation of cell-signalling cascades and protein modifications such as phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Based on a protein candidate strategy, studies have identified several protein kinases and their substrates, which show an altered phosphorylation state during the early phases of long-term potentiation (LTP), yet only a limited number of synaptic phosphoproteins are known to be implicated in LTP. To identify new phosphoproteins associated with LTP, we have undertaken a proteomic study of phosphoproteins at different time points following the induction of LTP in the dentate gyrus in vivo (0, 15 and 90 min).

In vivo targets of S-thiolation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Glutathionylation is the major form of S-thiolation in cells. This reversible redox post-translational modification consists of the formation of a mixed disulfide between a free thiol on a protein and a molecule of glutathione. This recently described modification, which is considered to occur under oxidative stress, can protect cysteine residues from irreversible oxidation, and alter positively or negatively the activity of diverse proteins.

A novel mutant of the Sup35 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae defective in translation termination and in GTPase activity still supports cell viability.

Background: When a stop codon is located in the ribosomal A-site, the termination complex promotes release of the polypeptide and dissociation of the 80S ribosome. In eukaryotes two proteins eRF1 and eRF3 play a crucial function in the termination process. The essential GTPase Sup35p, the eRF3 release factor of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is highly conserved.

Lens-focused transducer modeling using an extended KLM model.

The goal of this work was to develop an extended ultrasound transducer model that would optimize the trade-off between accuracy of the calculation and computational time. The derivations are presented for a generalized transducer model, that is center frequency, pulse duration and physical dimensions are all normalized. The paper presents a computationally efficient model for lens-focused, circular (axisymmetric) single element piezoelectric ultrasound transducer.