Alignment

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Life Sciences

Kinds of Alignment

  • accurate alignment
  • band alignment
  • cell alignment
  • good alignment
  • limb alignment
  • multiple alignment
  • multiple sequence alignment
  • parallel alignment
  • sequence alignment
  • structural alignment
  • structure alignment
  • vertical alignment

  • Terms modified by Alignment

  • alignment analysis
  • alignment layer
  • alignment parameter
  • alignment procedure
  • alignment property

  • Selected Abstracts


    ANGLES OF INTEGRATION: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ALIGNMENT OF INTERNET-BASED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN INTEGRATION

    JOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2010
    JÖRN-HENRIK THUN
    This paper investigates the relationship between the focus and implementation degree of Internet-based information technology (IT) applications and the scope and orientation of process-oriented integration in global supply chains. Using data from 205 plants, which were collected in conjunction with the High Performance Manufacturing project, the degree of supplier and customer integration and its match with the implemented IT instruments supporting interorganizational collaboration are investigated empirically. Different types of integration are differentiated from each other with the help of factor, percentile and cluster analyses. The focus and degree of IT integration is measured for each of the resulting groups and the alignment of both aspects is analyzed with the help of an approach referred to as the angles of integration. With respect to supply chain integration and IT implementation, the analysis of different integration strategies shows that most of the plants do not align their IT implementation with their supply chain strategy. The paper helps companies to evaluate the alignment of their use of IT techniques with their global supply chain management emphases. Additionally, possible reasons for a potential missmatch of functional strategies are discussed giving managers insights for dealing more effectively with a strategic alignment. Furthermore, it refines an existing framework for the comparison of different supply chain integration strategies and applies it with IT. Based on the angles of integration, the match of supply chain integration and IT is investigated by statistical analyses. [source]


    THE DOUET ALIGNMENT ON THE ISLAND OF HOEDIC (MORBIHAN, FRANCE): NEW INSIGHTS INTO STANDING STONE ALIGNMENTS IN BRITTANY

    OXFORD JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
    JEAN-MARC LARGE
    Summary The island of Hoedic in southern Brittany has numerous archaeological remains of later prehistoric date. It became famous through the discovery in the 1930s of a Mesolithic cemetery, but the island also has abundant archaeological evidence from the earliest Neolithic period onwards. These include several megalithic monuments, the most significant being alignments of standing stones. One of these alignments has recently been excavated, and investigation of another is in progress. The discoveries resulting from this work provide new insights into the origin of the phenomenon, its chronological and cultural context and the techniques that were used to create these structures. Above all, it offers a new approach to considering the meaning of these alignments. [source]


    Alignment and structural analysis of membrane polypeptides by 15N and 31P solid-state NMR spectroscopy

    CONCEPTS IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE, Issue 2 2003
    Burkhard Bechinger
    Abstract In contrast to solution NMR spectroscopy, where complete or almost complete averaging leads to isotropic values, the anisotropic character of nuclear interactions is apparent in solid-state NMR spectra. The orientation dependence of chemical shift and dipolar or quadrupolar interactions has been used to obtain dynamic as well as angular information from polypeptides that strongly interact with phospholipid bilayers. This article illustrates the advantageous characteristics of the anisotropic 15N or 31P chemical shift interactions that in a direct manner allow one to obtain information on the alignment of helical polypeptides or of phospholipid head groups with respect to the membrane normal. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson 18A: 130,145, 2003 [source]


    Alignment and Alliances for Research Institutes Engaged in Product Innovation.

    CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2003
    Two Case Studies
    Research institutes mainly engage in product innovation for the purpose of applying, testing and usually also transferring knowledge or technology. Managing product innovation processes in this type of environment leads to various problems with the establishment and managent of alliances and alignment. In this paper a systematic analysis of product innovation at two energy research institutes is presented, paying explicit attention to the strategic alliances in terms of alignment mechanisms. The cases illustrate clearly how the research institutes manage their external networks for product innovation, allowing comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of the two research institutes, and an indication of lessons to be learned from each other. The systematic analysis contributes to the identifying of the appropriate product innovaiton objectives to be pursued through strategic alliances, as well as the determination of suitable alignment mechanisms for product innovation. Lessons learned are presented in the area of context and contingency influences, crossing organizational barriers, differences in culture and the balancing of operational effectiveness and strategic flexibility. [source]


    A FERM domain in a class XIV myosin interacts with actin and tubulin and localizes to the cytoskeleton, phagosomes, and nucleus in Tetrahymena thermophila,

    CYTOSKELETON, Issue 2 2010
    Michael Gotesman
    Abstract Previous studies have shown that Myo1(myosin class XIV) localizes to the cytoskeleton and is involved in amitosis of the macronucleus and trafficking of phagosomes. Myo1 contains a FERM domain that could be a site for interaction between Myo1 and the cytoskeleton. Here, we explore the function of FERM by investigating its cytoskeleton binding partners and involvement in localization of Myo1. Alignment of Myo1 FERM with a talin actin-binding sequence, a MAP-2 tubulin-binding sequence, the radixin FERM dimerization motif, and the SV40 nuclear localization sequence (NLS) revealed putative actin- and tubulin-binding sequences, a putative FERM dimerization motif, and NLS-like sequences in both the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of Myo1 FERM. Alignment of Myo1 with an ERM C-terminal motif revealed a similar sequence in the Myo1 motor domain. GFP-FERM and two truncated FERM domains were separately expressed in Tetrahymena. GFP-FERM contained the entire Myo1 FERM. Truncated Myo1 FERM domains contained either the N-terminal or the C-terminal region of FERM and one putative sequence for actin-binding, one for tubulin-binding, a putative dimerization motif, and a NLS-like sequence. Actin antibody coprecipitated GFP-fusion polypeptides and tubulin from lysate of cells expressing GFP-fusions. Cosedimentation assays performed with either whole cell extracts or anti-actin immunoprecipitation pellets revealed that F-actin (independent of ATP) and microtubules cosedimented with GFP-fusion polypeptides. GFP-FERM localized to the cytoskeleton, phagosomes, and nucleus. Truncated GFP-FERM domains localized to phagosomes but not to the cytoskeleton or nucleus. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Alignment of Mathematics State-Level Standards and Assessments: The Role of Reviewer Agreement

    EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT: ISSUES AND PRACTICE, Issue 2 2007
    Noreen M. Webb
    This article examines the role of reviewer agreement in judgments about alignment between tests and standards. We used case data from three state alignment studies to explore how different approaches to incorporating reviewer agreement changes alignment conclusions. The three case studies showed varying degrees of reviewer agreement about correspondences between objectives and test items. Moreover, taking into account reviewer agreement in the analyses sometimes had a marked effect on alignment conclusions. We discuss reasons for differences across case studies and alignment approaches, as well as implications for future alignment efforts. [source]


    Data processing in metabolic fingerprinting by CE-UV: Application to urine samples from autistic children

    ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 6 2007
    Ana C. Soria
    Abstract Metabolic fingerprinting of biofluids such as urine can be used to detect and analyse differences between individuals. However, before pattern recognition methods can be utilised for classification, preprocessing techniques for the denoising, baseline removal, normalisation and alignment of electropherograms must be applied. Here a MEKC method using diode array detection has been used for high-resolution separation of both charged and neutral metabolites. Novel and generic algorithms have been developed for use prior to multivariate data analysis. Alignment is achieved by combining the use of reference peaks with a method that uses information from multiple wavelengths to align electropherograms to a reference signal. This metabolic fingerprinting approach by MEKC has been applied for the first time to urine samples from autistic and control children in a nontargeted and unbiased search for markers for autism. Although no biomarkers for autism could be determined using MEKC data here, the general approach presented could also be applied to the processing of other data collected by CE with UV,Vis detection. [source]


    Energy Level Alignment and Interactions at Potential Contacts for Spin Injection into Organic Semiconductors,

    ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 4 2009
    Mandy Grobosch
    The present study provides the interface electronic properties between La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 and two archetype organic semiconductors, CuPc and , -6T using a combined X-ray- and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 is a ferromagnetic metal and can be used to inject spin-polarized current into organic semiconductors. The energy level alignment depends on the cleaning procedure that is applied to the La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 surface prior to deposition of the organic semiconductor. [source]


    MOLECULAR EVIDENCE FOR THE ORIGIN OF WORKERLESS SOCIAL PARASITES IN THE ANT GENUS POGONOMYRMEX

    EVOLUTION, Issue 10 2002
    Joel D. Parker
    Abstract., Speciation of two social parasites from their respective hosts is tested using a molecular phylogeny. Alignment of 711 DNA base pairs of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was used to assess phylogenetic relationships of inquiline species to their hosts and to other members of the genus. We show that the inquiline social parasites of the North American seed harvester ants are monophyletic, descending from one of the known hosts (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) in the recent past and shifting hosts in a pattern similar to that observed in other Hymenopteran social parasites. In addition, the host populations unexpectedly were found to be polyphyletic. Populations of Pogonomyrmex rugosus from an area east of the Chiricahua Mountains in Southern Arizona belong to a mitochondrial clade separate from the more western clade of P. rugosus from the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts. Evidence of mitochondrial DNA introgression between P. rugosus and P. barbatus was also observed. We conclude that Emery's rule does not strictly hold for this system, but that the hosts and parasites are very closely related, supporting a loose definition of Emery's rule. [source]


    An International Comparison of Materiality Guidance for Governments, Public Services and Charities

    FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY & MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2002
    Renée Price
    This article compares international and country,specific guidance associated with the materiality concept as it applies to the public sector and charitable entities. The proliferation of multiple terms with similar meanings is evidenced in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom , England, Ireland and Scotland , and international guidance. Alignment of terminology could enhance harmonization of standards and increase the chances that application of standards is comparable. Conceptual dimensions of materiality in the public sector emphasize qualitative considerations such as legal compliance, fiduciary responsibility, timeliness, and follow,up. [source]


    Planar Alignment of Columnar Discotic Liquid Crystals by Isotropic Phase Dewetting on Chemically Patterned Surfaces

    ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 6 2010
    Jonathan P. Bramble
    Abstract A novel method of creating planar aligned columnar discotic liquid crystals (cDLCs) on surfaces, which also gives control over the azimuthal angle, is presented. Surfaces are chemically patterned with stripes via microcontact printing of organothiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold, or via deep UV patterning of organosilane SAMs on silicon. These are then used to isolate long droplets of cDLCs by dewetting in the isotropic phase. Upon cooling from the isotropic into the hexagonal columnar phase, polarizing microscopy reveals that the cDLC aligns in a planar orientation. Results for three triphenylene derivatives (HAT-6, HHTT, H7T) and for a phthalocyanine derivative (8H2Pc) are presented. H7T and HAT-6 are found to align with the director perpendicular to the stripe direction, but HHTT and 8H2Pc align parallel to the stripe direction. This relatively simple new method for creating planar aligned columnar phases of DLCs gives control over the azimuthal angle: a condition required for organic field-effect transistor applications of cDLCs. [source]


    Copolymer Film Alignment: Spontaneous Lamellar Alignment in Thickness-Modulated Block Copolymer Films (Adv. Funct.

    ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 16 2009
    Mater.
    Self-alignment of lamellar nanodomains is accomplished by imposing thickness modulation to a block copolymer thin film. Real-time atomic-force microscopy imaging reveals that the self-alignment occurs through the directional growth of well-aligned domains along thickness gradients. This novel self-aligning principle, based on a "geometric anchoring" phenomenon, is reported by S. O. Kim, O. D. Lavrentovich and co-workers on page 2584. [source]


    Spontaneous Lamellar Alignment in Thickness-Modulated Block Copolymer Films

    ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 16 2009
    Bong Hoon Kim
    Abstract Here, spontaneous lamellar alignment in a thickness-modulated block copolymer film is presented as a facile, scalable, and general approach for creating a highly aligned lamellar morphology. Thickness-modulated block copolymer films are prepared on neutral surfaces by various methods, such as solution dropping, dewetting-induced self-organized patterning, and thermal imprinting. Regardless of the film preparation method, the self-assembled lamellar domains become spontaneously aligned along the thickness gradient after sufficient thermal annealing. Real-time AFM imaging reveals that spontaneous alignment occurs through the directional growth of well-ordered domains along the thickness gradient, which is accompanied by defect dynamics, with vertical linear defects moving from thicker parts of the film towards the thinner ones, reducing their length and thus the associated energy. The mechanism underlying this interesting self-aligning behavior is provided by a ,geometric anchoring' phenomenon, originally envisioned to account for the liquid crystal alignment under a non-flat geometry of confinement. This novel self-aligning principle offers a valuable opportunity to control nanoscale alignment in block copolymer films by manipulating the, much larger, microscale morphology. [source]


    Liquid-Crystal Patterning: Lithographic Alignment of Discotic Liquid Crystals: A New Time,Temperature Integrating Framework (Adv. Mater.

    ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 46 2009
    46/2009)
    Liquid crystals are a successful example of how the control of self-assembly via chemical design leads to novel applications. Massimiliano Cavallini, Fabio Biscari, and co-workers report on p. 4688 that direct patterning of a continuous metal-free mesogenic phthalocyanine film (discotic LCs) is achieved by spatial control of column orientation using unconventional lithography. These patterned films work as time,temperature integrators at the columnar rectangular,hexagonal transition temperature. [source]


    Lithographic Alignment of Discotic Liquid Crystals: A New Time,Temperature Integrating Framework

    ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 46 2009
    Massimiliano Cavallini
    Liquid crystals are a successful example of how the control of self-assembly via chemical design leads to novel applications. Direct patterning of a continuous metal-free mesogenic phthalocyanine film (discotick liquid crystals) is shown by the spatial control of columns orientation by unconventional lithography. These patterned films work as time,temperature integrators at a columnar rectangular,hexagonal transition temperature. [source]


    Photoluminescent Fibers: Anisotropic Self-Assembly of Photoluminescent Oligo(p -Phenylenevinylene) Derivatives in Liquid Crystals: An Effective Strategy for the Macroscopic Alignment of , -Gels (Adv. Mater.

    ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 40 2009
    40/2009)
    Takashi Kato, Ayyappanpillai Ajayaghosh, and co-workers report on p. 4029 that aligned photoluminescent ,-conjugated fibers are formed through anisotropic self-assembly of oligo(p -phenylenevinylene) gelators in smectic and nematic liquid crystals. The aligned fibers exhibit polarized photoluminescent properties. These self-assembled liquid-crystalline composites may be applicable to new types of electro-optical and photonic materials. [source]


    Anisotropic Self-Assembly of Photoluminescent Oligo(p -Phenylenevinylene) Derivatives in Liquid Crystals: An Effective Strategy for the Macroscopic Alignment of , -Gels

    ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 40 2009
    Yuki Hirai
    Aligned photoluminescent fibers are formed by the self assembly of an oligo-(p-phenylenevinylene) derivative (OPV) in oriented liquid crystals (see figure). The aligned fibers of OPV show polarized yellow emission in the direction of the long axis of fibers. New types of electro-optical and photonic systems can be visualized in the future as the polarized luminescence of these fibers is combined with the dynamic properties of the liquid crystals. [source]


    A Novel Protocol Toward Perfect Alignment of Anodized TiO2 Nanotubes

    ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 19 2009
    Daoai Wang
    Perfectly aligned high-aspect-ratio TiO2 nanotubes that are perpendicularly oriented to a substrate are obtained using a two-step anodization process in ethylene glycol containing 0.5,wt% NH4F and 1,vol% HF, overcoming the bundling issue of TiO2 NTs commonly observed in conventional approaches. They are then used as a template for the electrodeposition of Pt nanowires. [source]


    Cloning and molecular characterization of two invertebrate-type lysozymes from Anopheles gambiae

    INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2008
    S. M. Paskewitz
    Abstract We sequenced and characterized two novel invertebrate-type lysozymes from the mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Alignment and phylogenetic analysis of these and a number of related insect proteins identified through bioinformatics strategies showed a high degree of conservation of this protein family throughout the Class Insecta. Expression profiles were examined for the two mosquito genes through semiquantitative and real-time PCR analysis. Lys i-1 transcripts were found in adult females in the fat body and Malpighian tubules, whereas Lys i-2 was detected only in fat bodies. Blood-feeding resulted in significantly increased transcript abundance for both genes in the midguts. Neither gene was upregulated following bacterial challenge. [source]


    Energy-Level Alignment at Organic/Metal and Organic/Organic Interfaces

    ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 14-15 2009
    Slawomir Braun
    Abstract In this Review, we summarize recent work on modeling of organic/metal and organic/organic interfaces. Some of the models discussed have a semiempirical approach, that is, experimentally derived values are used in combination with theory, and others rely completely of calculations. The models are categorized according to the types of interfaces they apply to, and the strength of the interaction at the interface has been used as the main factor. We explain the basics of the models, their use, and give examples on how the models correlate with experimental results. We stress that given the complexity of organic/metal and organic/organic interface formation, it is crucial to know the exact way in which the interface was formed before choosing the model that is applicable, as none of the models presented covers the whole range of interface interaction strengths (weak physisorption to strong chemisorption). [source]


    Centerline Placement and Alignment of Anisotropic Nanotubes in High Aspect Ratio Cylindrical Droplets of Nanometer Diameter

    ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 1 2009
    Richa Sharma
    High aspect ratio cylindrical droplets of carbon-nanotube solutions present interesting hydrodynamic flow patterns during evaporation, where particles are aligned and positioned. The flow inside droplets with diameters <1000,nm positions all the nanotubes along the droplet centerline with 95% precision, while droplets with diameters >3µm align the nanotubes along the droplet edges during evaporation. [source]


    Achieving Perpendicular Alignment of Rigid Polythiophene Backbones to the Substrate by Using Solvent-Vapor Treatment,

    ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 21 2007
    H. Lu
    The rigid backbone of the poly(3-butylthiophene) molecule adopts a perpendicular orientation with respect to the substrate by using a solvent-vapor treatment (see figure). Small and closely contacting spherulites instead of conventional whisker-like crystals are achieved. This could be utilized to improve charge-carrier mobility particularly in the direction normal to the film plane by designing and constructing thick crystalline domains in the functional layer. [source]


    Homeotropic Alignment of Columnar Liquid Crystals in Open Films by Means of Surface Nanopatterning,

    ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 6 2007
    I. Gearba
    Columnar liquid crystals (LCs) are reported to align spontaneously homeotropically,that is, orthogonally to the surface (see figure and inside cover),on a glass surface covered with a layer of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) transferred by friction (rubbing). This strategy for producing macroscopic monodomains of homeotropically aligned LCs may find important applications in the fabrication of LC-based organic solar cells. [source]


    Application of recA and rpoB sequence analysis on phylogeny and molecular identification of Geobacillus species

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
    F.Y. Weng
    Abstract Aims:, Some Geobacillus species have highly similar 16S rRNA gene sequences, making 16S rDNA sequence analysis-based identification problematic. To overcome this limitation, recA and rpoB sequence analysis was evaluated as an alternative for distinguishing Geobacillus species. Methods and Results:, The phylogram of 16S rRNA gene sequences inferred from the neighbour-joining method showed that nine clusters of Geobacillus species were characterized with bootstrap values >90%. The recA and rpoB sequences of 10 reference strains in clusters V, VIb and VIc were amplified and sequenced using consensus primers. Alignment of recA sequences in clusters V, VIb and VIc revealed three types of recA genes, consistent with the putative amino acid sequences and in vivo recA splicing analysis. The phylogram constructed from rpoB sequences showed more divergence than that constructed from 16S rRNA gene sequences. Conclusions:,recA and rpoB sequence analysis differentiated closely-related Geobacillus species and provided direct evidence for reclassifying some species dubiously categorized as Geobacilli. Additionally, this study revealed three types of recA genes in the different Geobacillus species. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This study highlights the advantage of recA and rpoB sequence analysis to supplement 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis for efficient and convenient determination of Geobacillus species. [source]


    Cloning, sequencing, and characterization of CYP1A1 cDNA from leaping mullet (Liza Saliens) liver and implications for the potential functions of its conserved amino acids

    JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY, Issue 5 2001
    Alaattin Sen
    Abstract A 2,037 bp CYP1A1 cDNA (GenBank AF072899) was cloned through screening of a ,ZipLox cDNA library constructed from the liver of a leaping mullet (Liza saliens) fish captured from Izmir Bay on the Aegean coast of Turkey using rainbow trout CYP1A1 cDNA as a probe. This clone has a 130 bp 5'-flanking region, a 1,563 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 521-amino acid protein (58,972 Da), and a 344 bp 3'-untranslated region without a poly (A) tail. Alignment of the deduced amino acids of CYP1A1 cDNAs showed 58% and 69,96% identities with human and 12 other fish species, respectively. Southern blot analysis suggested that this CYP1A1 cDNA was from a single-copy gene. Based on the comparison with CYP1A1 genes reported for fish and mammals, the leaping mullet CYP1A1 gene is probably split into 7 exons. The intron insertion sites were predicted. Alignment of the CYP1A1 cDNA encoded amino acids from 13 fish and 7 mammalian species disclosed differences in highly conserved amino acids between aquatic and land vertebrates. The possible associated secondary structure; conserved motifs and substrate-binding sites were discussed. The phylogenetic relationships of CYP1A1s among 13 fish species were analyzed by a distance method. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 15:243,255, 2001 [source]


    The Role of Cardiac Tissue Alignment in Modulating Electrical Function

    JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 12 2007
    CHIUNG-YIN CHUNG M.S.
    Introduction:,Most cardiac arrhythmias are associated with pathology-triggered ion channel remodeling. However, multicellular effects, for example, exaggerated anisotropy and altered cell-to-cell coupling, can also indirectly affect action potential morphology and electrical stability via changed electrotonus. These changes are particularly relevant in structural heart disease, including hypertrophy and infarction. Recent computational studies showed that electrotonus factors into stability by altering dynamic properties (restitution). We experimentally address the question of how cell alignment and connectivity alter tissue function and whether these effects depend on the direction of wave propagation. Methods and Results:,We show that cardiac cell arrangement can alter electrical stability in an in vitro cardiac tissue model by mechanisms both dependent and independent of the direction of wave propagation, and local structural remodeling can be felt beyond a space constant. Notably, restitution of action potential duration (APD) and conduction velocity was significantly steepened in the direction of cell alignment. Furthermore, prolongation of APD and calcium transient duration was found in highly anisotropic cell networks, both for longitudinal and transverse propagation. This is in contrast to expected correlation between wave propagation direction and APD based on electrotonic effects only, but is consistent with our findings of increased cell size and secretion of atrial natriuretic factor, a hypertrophy marker, in the aligned structures. Conclusion:,Our results show that anisotropic structure is a potent modulator of electrical stability via electrotonus and molecular signaling. Tissue alignment must be taken into account in experimental and computational models of arrhythmia generation and in designing effective treatment therapies. [source]


    Exclusive expression of a membrane-bound Spink3-interacting serine protease-like protein TESPL in mouse testis

    JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2010
    Chung-Mao Ou
    Abstract We identified a testis-specific protease-like protein tentatively named TESPL and a pancreatic trypsinogen Prss2 from the clones of a yeast two-hybrid screen against a mouse testicular cDNA library using the trypsin inhibitor Spink3 from male accessory sexual glands as bait. The enzymatic motifs and the cysteine patterns in serine proteases are highly conserved in these two proteins. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, Prss2 duplicated recently and TESPL underwent distant evolution without gene duplication from the progenitor of trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like proteases. We found that TESPL transcription was restricted to the testis and that the level of transcription was positively correlated with animal maturation. In contrast, Prss2 was constitutively expressed in many tissues including testis. Alignment of the cDNA-deduced sequences of serine proteases showed the replacement of an essential serine residue in the catalytic triad of serine proteases by a proline residue in TESPL, which was demonstrated to be a membrane-bound protein devoid of proteolytic activity. The immunohistochemical staining patterns of seminiferous tubules in the testis revealed TESPL mainly on postmeiotic cells such as spermatids and spermatozoa. On the mouse sperm from caudal epididymis, TESPL was localized mainly on the plasma membrane overlaying the acrosomal region. Further, orthology group for mouse TESPL was identified in the conserved gene family of eutherian testis serine protease 5. J. Cell. Biochem. 110: 620,629, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Automated Alignment and Nomenclature for Consistent Treatment of Polymorphisms in the Human Mitochondrial DNA Control Region

    JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 5 2010
    Bruce Budowle Ph.D.
    Abstract:, Naming mtDNA sequences by listing only those sites that differ from a reference sequence is the standard practice for describing the observed variations. Consistency in nomenclature is desirable so that all sequences in a database that are concordant with an evidentiary sequence will be found for estimating the rarity of that profile. The operational alignment and nomenclature rules, i.e., "Wilson Rules," suggested for this purpose do not always guarantee a single consistent sequence description for all observed polymorphisms. In this work, the operational alignment/nomenclature rules were reconfigured to better reflect traditional user preferences. The rules for selecting alignments are described. In addition, to avoid human error and to more efficiently name mtDNA sequence variants, a computer-facilitated method of aligning mtDNA sample sequences with a reference sequence was developed. There were 33 differences between these hierarchical rules and the data in SWGDAM, which translates into a 99.92% consistency between the new rules and the manual historical nomenclature approach. The data support the reliability of the current SWGDAM database. As the few discrepancies were changed in favor of the new hierarchical rules, the quality of the SWGDAM database is further improved. [source]


    Alignment with basic sciences beneficial

    JOURNAL OF PROSTHODONTICS, Issue 1 2002
    Donald A. Curtis DMD
    [source]


    Tailoring Texture of ,-Y2Si2O7 by Strong Magnetic Field Alignment and Two-Step Sintering

    JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 8 2008
    Z. Q. Sun
    In this study, a well-dispersed ,-Y2Si2O7 ethanol-based suspension with 30 vol% solid loading was prepared by adding 1 dwb% polyethylene imine dispersant, which allows feeble magnetic ,-Y2Si2O7 particles with anisotropic magnetic susceptibility to rotate in a 12 T strong magnetic field during slip casting, resulting in the development of a strongtexture in green bodies. Pressureless sintering gives rise to more pronounced grain growth in the textured sample than in the untextured sample prepared without the magnetic field due to the rapid migration of the grain boundaries of the well-oriented grains, which was revealed by constant-heating-rate sintering kinetics. It was found that the use of two-step sintering is very efficient not only for inhibiting the grain growth but also for enhancing thetexture. This implies that controlled grain growth is crucial for enhancing texture development in ,-Y2Si2O7. [source]