bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Subcellular distribution and characteristics of ciprofibroyl-CoA synthetase in rat liver. Its possible identity with long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase
Authors: Amigo L , McElroy M C , Morales M N , Bronfman M
Published: August 2015

The subcellular distribution and characteristics of ciprofibroyl-CoA synthetase were studied in rat liver and compared with those of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (palmitate as substrate) which, as already known, is distributed among mitochondria, microsomes and peroxisomes. Upon differential centrifugation, the subcellular distribution of ciprofibroyl-CoA synthetase followed closely that of palmitoyl-CoA synthetase and was specifically inactivated in the mitochondrial fraction by freezing and thawing, a behaviour already described for palmitoyl-CoA synthetase. Both enzyme activities were found to co-purify through several steps from rat liver microsomes. By using a partially purified enzyme, the activation of ciprofibrate to its acyl-CoA ester followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with an apparent Km of 0.63 +/- 0.1 mM. Ciprofibroyl-CoA synthetase was competitively inhibited by 25 and 50 microM-palmitic acid. Higher concentrations of the fatty acid resulted in a mixed type of inhibition. Conversely, ciprofibrate up to 0.5 mM was found to inhibit competitively palmitoyl-CoA synthetase, whereas higher concentrations also resulted in a mixed inhibition. The highest activity of ciprofibroyl-CoA synthetase was found in fat and liver homogenates. The distribution of the enzyme in different rat tissues was similar to that of palmitoyl-CoA synthetase. The present results suggest that long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase and ciprofibroyl-CoA synthetase activities reside in identical or closely related proteins.
Hypolipidaemic drugs are activated to acyl-CoA esters in isolated rat hepatocytes. Detection of drug activation by human liver homogenates and by human platelets
Authors: Bronfman M , Morales M N , Amigo L , Orellana A , Nuñez L , Cárdenas L , Hidalgo P C
Published: August 2015

The formation of acyl-CoA esters of the hypolipidaemic peroxisome proliferators clofibric acid, ciprofibrate and nafenopin was studied in isolated rat hepatocytes. The concentration of ciprofibroyl-CoA in the liver of ciprofibrate-treated rats was in the range of 10-30 microM. The three drugs formed acyl-CoA esters when incubated with isolated hepatocytes. Their formation was saturable and reached a plateau after 30 min incubation. Maximal intracellular concentrations of ciprofibroyl-CoA and clofibroyl-CoA (100 microM and 55 microM respectively) were attained at 0.5 mM of the free drugs in the incubation medium, whereas for nafenopin-CoA, the maximal intracellular concentration (9 microM) was reached at 1 mM-nafenopin. At low concentrations of the hypolipidaemic compounds in the incubation medium a significant proportion of the total intracellular drug was present as its acyl-CoA ester (25-35% for ciprofibrate). When isolated hepatocytes were incubated with a ciprofibrate concentration comparable with that observed in the blood of drug-treated rats (0.1 mM), ciprofibroyl-CoA attained an intracellular concentration similar to that previously observed in the liver of treated rats. The formation of ciprofibroyl-CoA by isolated rat hepatocytes was stimulated by the addition of carnitine and partially inhibited by the addition of palmitate. Further, it was shown that human liver homogenates synthesized ciprofibroyl-CoA at a rate similar to that observed for rat liver homogenates. Solubilized human platelets also formed ciprofibroyl-CoA, although at a rate two orders of magnitude lower than that of liver. The results support the view that acyl-CoA esters of hypolipidaemic peroxisome proliferators may be the pharmacologically active species of the drugs.
Cloning and heterologous expression of cDNA encoding class Alpha rat glutathione transferase 8-8, an enzyme with high catalytic activity towards genotoxic α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds
Authors: Stenberg G , Ridderström M , Engström Å , Pemble S E , Mannervik B
Published: August 2015

A cDNA clone, lambda GTRA8, encoding rat glutathione transferase subunit 8 has been isolated from a lambda gt10 rat hepatoma cDNA library. The previously known amino acid sequence of the enzyme was used to design primers for a polymerase chain reaction that yielded a 0.3 kb DNA fragment from the hepatoma library. The 0.3 kb fragment was used as a probe for screening and a 0.9 kb cDNA clone containing a complete open reading frame was obtained. After DNA sequencing and subcloning into an expression vector, the enzyme was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Specific activities and kcat./Km values were determined for a number of substrates, including alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The highest activity was obtained with 4-hydroxyalkenals and with acrolein, genotoxic products of lipid peroxidation. In addition, the rat class Alpha glutathione transferase 8-8 displays high catalytic activity in the reaction between glutathione and the diuretic drug ethacrynic acid, a compound normally considered as a substrate characteristic for class Pi glutathione transferases.
Testing and characterizing enzymes and membrane-bound carrier proteins acting on amphipathic ligands in the presence of bilayer membrane material and soluble binding protein. Application to the uptake of oleate into isolated cells
Authors: Heirwegh K P M , Meuwissen J A T P
Published: August 2015

1. A multiphasic modelling approach [Heirwegh, Meuwissen, Vermeir & De Smedt (1988) Biochem. J. 254, 101-108] is applied to systems containing poorly water-soluble amphipathic reactants, membrane material, soluble binding protein and acceptor protein (enzyme or membrane-bound carrier protein). 2. The field of application is constrained by the assumptions (i) that the amount of acceptor-bound substrate is small compared with the total amount and (ii) that all preceding chemical reactions and steps of mass transport are rapid compared with the chemical change monitored. 3. Initial-rate formulae for systems in which an acceptor interacts with unbound or protein-bound ligand are given. The saturation curves are near-hyperbolic or sigmoidal, depending both (i) on the form of ligand (unbound or protein-bound) acted upon by the acceptor and (ii) on whether the assays are performed at constant concentration of soluble binding protein Cp or at constant substrate/binding-site molar ratio RS. 4. Several diagnostic features permit unequivocal distinction between acceptor action on unbound or protein-bound substrate. In the former case, saturation curves, run at the same constant concentration of one of several binding proteins of increasing binding affinity, will show progressively increasing inhibition, the shape changing from near-hyperbolic at Km′ less than K1′ to sigmoidal at Km′ greater than K1′.Km′ is the effective Michaelis constant of the acceptor and K1′ the effective dissociation constant of the binding sites of the soluble protein (for the sites with the higher binding affinity, if several classes of binding site are present on the protein). Alternatively, the maximum velocity obtained at constant RS less than or equal to 1 should increase hyperbolically with RS/(1-RS) for a binding protein with a single class of binding site. The formula that applies when the binding protein contains two classes of independent binding site is also available. When the acceptor acts on protein-bound ligand, the maximum velocity obtained at constant binding-protein concentration, Cp, increases hyperbolically with Cp. 5. Application of these and additional criteria to initial-rate data on the uptake of oleate into isolated cells supports a mechanism of carrier-mediated uptake of the unbound ligand and allows one to clarify some observations that hitherto had been poorly explained. 6. The influence of soluble binding protein on the reaction and substrate specificities of ligand/acceptor interaction is also discussed. 7. In its present state, data treatment for ‘double binding-protein systems’ generally requires separate determination of the binding parameters of the soluble binding protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Purification and N-terminal sequencing of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans-isomerase from rat liver mitochondrial matrix reveals the existence of a distinct mitochondrial cyclophilin
Authors: Connern C P , Halestrap A P
Published: August 2015

1. Rat liver mitochondrial matrix peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans-isomerase (PPIase) has been purified. The major form of the enzyme has a molecular mass of 18.6 kDa, with a minor active component of 17.6 kDa. 2. The second-order rate constant for cyclosporin A binding to the enzyme was determined from the time-dependence of the inhibition of PPIase by low concentrations of cyclosporin A and found to be 0.9 microM-1.s-1 at 10 degrees C. 3. The Ki for cyclosporin A inhibition of the enzyme was 3.6 nM, and the half-life for dissociation of the enzyme-inhibitor complex was 3.6 min. 4. From the specific activity of the pure enzyme it can be calculated that isolated liver mitochondria contain approx. 45 pmol of enzyme per mg of total mitochondrial protein. Higher values estimated previously [Halestrap & Davidson (1990) Biochem. J. 268, 153-160] are explained by the use of a short (30 s) preincubation period of the enzyme with cyclosporin, which is insufficient to allow full equilibration of the binding of the inhibitor to the PPIase. 5. N-Terminal sequencing of the 18.6 and 17.5 kDa forms of PPIase show the presence of mitochondrial presequences of 13 and three amino acids respectively, with the remaining sequence having a strong sequence similarity to other cyclophilins. 6. Parallel purification and N-terminal sequencing of rat cytosolic PPIase showed the two proteins to have significant differences, implying that they are probably products of separate genes.
Macrophage activation for intracellular killing as induced by a Ca2+ ionophore. Dependence on l-arginine-derived nitrogen oxidation products
Authors: Buchmüller-Rouiller Y , Corradin S B , Mauël J
Published: August 2015

Mouse macrophages activated by interferon-gamma kill intracellular Leishmania by a process that depends on the generation of L-arginine-derived nitrogen oxidation products. Interferon-induced intracellular killing can be mimicked by exposure of macrophages to the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 in the presence of lipopolysaccharide. The mechanisms of this effect were therefore investigated. Destruction of the parasite was accompanied by accumulation of nitrite in the macrophage culture fluids. Leishmanicidal activity and nitrite production in cultures stimulated with ionophore A23187 and lipopolysaccharide were abrogated when cells were activated in medium containing arginase or the L-arginine analogues L-canavanine, guanidine or NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. L-Arginine was required during the lipopolysaccharide-induced triggering phase only. Indeed, macrophage priming with ionophore A23187 in L-arginine-depleted medium led to full microbicidal activity and nitrite generation provided that L-arginine was present during subsequent triggering by lipopolysaccharide. Addition of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine to ionophore-activated macrophages increased O2- production on phorbol myristate stimulation, while inhibiting glucose oxidation through the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway. Leishmanicidal activity and nitrite production were also inhibited when ionophore-treated cultures were incubated with excess iron, implying a role for iron as a defence mechanism against the toxicity of nitrogen derivatives. These results indicate that the ionophore-induced leishmanicidal activity occurs through a process similar to that evoked by interferon-gamma, i.e. the production of L-arginine-derived nitrogen oxidation products.
Purification of PKC-I, an endogenous protein kinase C inhibitor, and types II and III protein kinase C isoenzymes from human neutrophils
Authors: Balazovich K J , McEwen E L , Lutzke M L , Boxer L A , White T
Published: August 2015

Human neutrophil protein kinase C (PKC) activity is inhibited by an endogenous protein found primarily in the pellet fraction from homogenized specific granules, which was both heat- and proteinase-sensitive [Balazovich, Smolen & Boxer (1986) J. Immunol. 137, 1665-1673]. We now report that two PKC isoenzymes and the endogenous PKC inhibitor, which we named PKC-I, were purified from human neutrophils. A neutrophil soluble fraction that was subjected to DEAE-Sephacel chromatography yielded highly enriched PKC because, by definition, enzymic activity was strictly dependent on Ca2+ and phosphatidylserine. Hydroxyapatite chromatography resolved two peaks of PKC activity. Type II and Type III PKC isoenzymes were each identified on Western blots by using isoenzyme-specific monoclonal antibodies. Unlike rat brain, from which PKC isoenzymes were also purified, Type I PKC was not detected in human neutrophils. Western blots indicated that both Type II and Type III PKC isoenzymes had molecular masses near 80 kDa. In agreement with other reports, PKC was autophosphorylated in vitro. PKC-I, an endogenous neutrophil inhibitor of PKC, was purified to apparent homogeneity by DEAE-Sephacel and S-400 Sephacel chromatography. PKC-I had a molecular mass of 41 kDa. PKC-I inhibited purified PKC activity stimulated by 1,2-diacylglycerols in a concentration-dependent manner, and inhibited PKC-dependent phosphorylation of proteins present in neutrophil cytosol.
Oxidized glutathione causes sensitization of calcium release to inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in permeabilized hepatocytes
Authors: Renard D C , Seitz M B , Thomas A P
Published: August 2015

The effects of GSSG on Ca2+ mobilization by Ins(1,4,5)P3 were studied in permeabilized rat hepatocytes. Incubation with GSSG (2 mM) increased the sensitivity to Ins(1,4,5)P3 for Ca2+ release, with no effect on the size of the Ca2+ pool that could be released with maximal concentrations of Ins(1,4,5)P3. GSSG decreased the EC50 for Ins(1,4,5)P3 from a control value of 578 +/- 23 nM to 137 +/- 21 nM. GSSG had no effect on the metabolism of Ins(1,4,5)P3 in permeabilized cells, and sensitization of Ca2+ release was still observed when the poorly metabolizable analogue inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphorothioate was used. GSSG did not affect the ATP-dependent Ca2+ pump or the extent of loading of intracellular Ca2+ pools. In addition, the enhancement of Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitivity by GSSG occurred under conditions where the Ca2+ pumps were blocked with thapsigargin or by chelation of medium Ca2+ just before Ins(1,4,5)P3 addition. The effect of GSSG was time- and dose-dependent, maximal effects being observed after 5 min incubation with 2 mM-GSSG. Cystine mimicked the GSSG-induced increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitivity, and the effects could be reversed by dithiothreitol (DTT). DTT, GSH glutathione and cysteine had no effect when added alone. Other agents known to react with protein thiols, including N-ethylmaleimide, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and Ag+, did not affect the sensitivity to Ins(1,4,5)P3, but were inhibitors of ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake. The data suggest that the sensitivity of the intracellular Ca2+ pools to release by Ins(1,4,5)P3 can be modulated by the formation of mixed disulphides with GSSG or other oxidized thiols.
Amino acid deprivation leads to the emergence of System A activity and the synthesis of a specific membrane glycoprotein in the bovine renal epithelial cell line NBL-1
Authors: Felipe A , Soler C , McGivan J D
Published: August 2015

1. Amino acid deprivation of confluent monolayers of the bovine renal epithelial cell line NBL-1 causes a stimulation of Na(+)-dependent alanine transport. 2. This stimulation is mediated by a protein-synthesis-dependent induction of 2-(methylamino)isobutyric acid (methyl-AIB)-sensitive alanine transport activity (System A), which was not previously present in these cells. 3. Induction was prevented by the addition of methyl-AIB, alanine or glutamine. 4. Tunicamycin prevented the induction of alanine transport activity. 5. Induction of System A activity was accompanied by incorporation of [3H]mannose into a single membrane protein band of molecular mass 113-140 kDa. 6. These results are consistent with the possibility that induced System A activity in confluent NBL-1 cells is mediated by the synthesis of a 113-140 kDa membrane glycoprotein.
Soluble low-Km 5′-nucleotidase from electric-ray (Torpedo marmorata) electric organ and bovine cerebral cortex is derived from the glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored ectoenzyme by phospholipase C cleavage
Authors: Vogel M , Kowalewski H , Zimmermann H , Hooper N M , Turner A J
Published: August 2015

Soluble and membrane-bound low-Km 5′-nucleotidase was isolated from high-speed supernatants and membrane fractions derived from the electric organ of the electric ray (Torpedo marmorata) or from bovine brain cerebral cortex. Purification of both enzymes included chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose and AMP-Sepharose. The contribution to the total of soluble enzyme activity was lower in electric organ (1.6%) than in bovine cerebral cortex (27.9%). Membrane-bound and soluble forms have very similar Km values for AMP and are inhibited by micromolar concentrations of ATP. Both forms cross-react with, and are inhibited by, an antibody against the membrane-bound surface-located (ecto-) 5′-nucleotidase from electric organ. The HNK-1 carbohydrate epitope is present on both forms of the Torpedo enzyme, but is entirely absent from bovine cerebral-cortex 5′-nucleotidase. An antibody specific for the inositol 1,2-(cyclic)monophosphate that is formed on phospholipase C cleavage of an intact glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor binds to the soluble, but not to the membrane-bound, form of the enzyme from both sources. Our results suggest that soluble low-Km 5′-nucleotidase in both electric organ and bovine brain is derived from the membrane-bound GPI-anchored form of the enzyme by the action of a phospholipase C and is not a soluble cytoplasmic enzyme.
Identification of cytosolic protein tyrosine kinases of human prostate by renaturation after SDS/PAGE
Authors: Durocher Y , Chapdelaine A , Chevalier S
Published: August 2015

The identification of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) was successfully achieved by renaturation in gels after SDS/PAGE. To this effect, samples were mixed with a PTK substrate, namely the polydispersed co-polymer of glutamic acid and tyrosine [poly(Glu, Tyr), M(r) from 30,000 to 94,000], and were simultaneously submitted to electrophoresis. Following guanidine hydrochloride denaturation, renaturation and phosphorylation with [gamma-32P]ATP, kinase activity was detected by autoradiography. When applied to cytosol from human hyperplastic prostate, eleven protein kinases were detected, among which one major (M(r) 50,000) and two minor proteins (M(r) 40,000 and 38,000) were identified as PTKs by the presence of phosphotyrosine. Incubation of the gel in hot alkali after glutaraldehyde cross-linking almost completely eliminated the detection of non-PTK enzymes. On the other hand, in the absence of poly(Glu,Tyr), no PTK activity was detected. Partial purification of cytosolic PTKs indicates that the native M(r) of the major phosphotransferase was 44,000, as estimated by gel filtration following ammonium sulphate precipitation and anion-exchange chromatography. Upon renaturation after electrophoresis, this fraction showed only one major band active on poly(Glu,Tyr) which was associated with the polypeptide of M(r) 50,000. This enzyme was also identified following two-dimensional electrophoresis and renaturation in the presence of poly(Glu,Tyr), allowing the determination of a pI in the range 7.5-7.8. Thus PTKs can be easily renatured following electrophoresis and rapidly identified on the basis of their M(r) and pI in both crude or partially purified preparations. With the crucial role played by PTKs in the activation of cell function and carcinogenesis, this procedure could be useful in the identification of such enzymes and in distinguishing them from their substrates in gels.
Expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) chimeras in renal epithelial cells. Retention of appropriate physiological responsiveness using enhancerless retroviral vectors
Authors: Pollock A S , Lovett D H
Published: August 2015

We used an enhancerless U3 mutant retroviral vector to deliver chimeras of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) promoter region to a renal epithelial cell line capable of expressing PEPCK mRNA. Chimeras consisting of the PEPCK promoter and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, neomycin phosphotransferase or human growth hormone genes were expressed after viral infection of the NRK52E renal epithelial cell line. Virus-delivered sequences in which the direction of PEPCK promoter transcription was antegrade to the normal direction of the long terminal repeat (LTR)-initiated transcription correctly upon stimulation with dexamethasone or 8-bromo cyclic AMP and upon lowering of the extracellular pH. Fluorescent primer extension in situ using primers specific for virus-delivered sequences of antegrade constructs indicated that a large fraction of NRK52E cells could be infected by co-cultivation with virus-producing psi-2 cells without G418 selection. Virus-delivered constructs whose orientation was opposite to that of the LTRs were expressed at very low levels, with transcripts detectable by PCR only in RNA from cyclic AMP-treated cells. Using reverse transcription/PCR, we demonstrated that the chimeric transcripts were from the internal PEPCK promoter rather than a functional or reconstituted Moloney LTR. PEPCK-reporter chimeras delivered by retroviral vectors demonstrated a level of expression more consistent with the level of expression of the native PEPCK gene than did transfected chimeras. This expression system should prove useful for studies of the physiological modulation of gene expression in renal tissues.
cDNA cloning of human and rat brain myo-inositol monophosphatase. Expression and characterization of the human recombinant enzyme
Authors: McAllister G , Whiting P , Hammond E A , Knowles M R , Atack J R , Bailey F J , Maigetter R , Ragan C I
Published: August 2015

Inositol monophosphatase (EC 3.1.3.25) is a key enzyme in the phosphoinositide cell-signalling system. Its role is to provide inositol required for the resynthesis of phosphatidylinositol and polyphosphoinositides. It is the probable pharmacological target for lithium action in brain. Using probes derived from the bovine inositol monophosphatase cDNA we have isolated cDNA clones encoding the human and rat brain enzymes. The enzyme is highly conserved in all three species (79% identical). The coding region of the human cDNA was inserted into a bacterial expression vector. The expressed recombinant enzyme was purified and its biochemical properties examined. The human enzyme is very similar to the bovine enzyme.
Prenylated protein methyltransferases do not distinguish between farnesylated and geranylgeranylated substrates
Authors: Pérez-Sala D , Gilbert B A , Tan E W , Rando R R
Published: August 2015

Proteins that are post-translationally modified by prenylation can be either farnesylated (C-15) or geranylgeranylated (C-20) by separate prenyltransferase enzymes. Prenylated proteins are also methylated at their C-terminal residue by S-adenosylmethionine-linked methylation. In this paper we show that the methylation of farnesylated and geranyl-geranylated substrates can be accounted for by the presence of a single enzyme. It is demonstrated that the Km and Vmax. values for the retinal rod outer segment methyltransferase, measured with small molecule farnesylated and geranylgeranylated substrates, are identical. These substrates mutually inhibit each other's methylation, with KI values being equal to their Km values. The Km for S-adenosylmethionine was measured to be the same with either farnesylated or geranylgeranylated substrates. Competitive inhibitors of the methyltransferase containing either a geranylgeranyl or a farnesyl group equally block the methylation of synthetic geranylgeranylated and farnesylated substrates of the enzyme. Importantly, these inhibitors are also equipotent at inhibiting the methylation of the physiological substrates of the rod outer segment methyltransferase. These substrates are both farnesylated and geranylgeranylated. One of these substrates had previously been identified as the farnesylated gamma subunit of transducin. Therefore it appears that the same enzymic activity can methylate both farnesylated and geranylgeranylated substrates.
Caldesmon-phospholipid interaction. Effect of protein kinase C phosphorylation and sequence similarity with other phospholipid-binding proteins
Authors: Vorotnikov A V , Bogatcheva N V , Gusev N B
Published: August 2015

Recently published data [Vorotnikov & Gusev (1990) FEBS Lett. 277, 134-136] indicate that smooth muscle caldesmon interacts with a mixture of soybean phospholipids (azolectin). Continuing this investigation, we found that duck gizzard caldesmon interacts more tightly with acidic (phosphatidylserine) than with neutral (phosphatidylcholine) phospholipids. A high concentration of Ca2+ (50 microM) decreased the interaction of caldesmon with phosphatidylserine. Among chymotryptic peptides of caldesmon, only those having molecular masses of 45, 40, 23, 22 and 20 kDa were able to specifically interact with phospholipids. These peptides, derived from the C-terminal part of caldesmon, contained the sites phosphorylated by Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, and phosphorylation catalysed by this enzyme decreased the affinity of these peptides for phospholipids. In the presence of Ca2+, calmodulin competed with phospholipids for the interaction with the caldesmon peptides. The C-terminal part of caldesmon contains three peptides with a primary structure similar to that of the calmodulin- and phospholipid-binding site of neuromodulin. These sites may be involved in the interaction of caldesmon with calmodulin and phospholipids.
3D fingerprint modelling and synthesis
Authors: Long Shuqin , Li Shuiwang , Zhao Qijun , Song Wanzhong
Published: August 2015

Two‐dimensional (2D) synthetic fingerprint images have been successfully used for evaluating large‐scale automated fingerprint identification systems (AFISs). However, they are limited in assessing the whole process involved in an AFIS, particularly fingerprint image acquisition and fingerprint deformation. Hence, it is desired to develop synthetic 3D fingerprints and 3D fingerprint phantoms. In this reported work, a first attempt to establish a statistical shape model of 3D fingerprints is made by first re‐sampling and aligning a set of training 3D fingerprint data and then applying the principal component analysis method. On the basis of the proposed model, synthetic 3D fingerprint shapes can be generated randomly. By further mapping fingerprint textures onto the shapes, synthetic 3D fingerprints can be obtained. Example results are provided demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed model and method. The model and code will be publicly available for academic purposes.
GRP‐based interleaver for IDMA systems over frequency selective channel
Authors: Belaoura W. , Djeddou M. , Ghanem K.
Published: August 2015

An interleave‐division multiple‐access (IDMA) system supports the presence of multiple users in a cell by resorting to a different interleaver per user. Therefore the choice of the interleaver critically impinges on system performance. A new interleaver structure is proposed for the so‐called STBC–OFDM–IDMA [space‐time block coding (STBC), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and IDMA] architecture, combining the viable features of the STBC, the OFDM and the IDMA techniques. This interleaver is based on the new idea of adopting permutation control keys generated using two cryptography elliptic curves in which the degree of randomness of the interleaved sequence is scalable by using several rounds and a different subkey in each round. In addition to offering a certain degree of data security, it is shows through simulation results that the resulting architecture incorporating the proposed interleaver yields a viable bit error rate performance.
Electron density dependence of impedance probe plasma potential measurements
Authors: Walker D. N. , Blackwell D. D. , Amatucci W. E.
Published: August 2015

In earlier works, we used spheres of various sizes as impedance probes in demonstrating a method of determining plasma potential, φp, when the probe radius is much larger than the Debye length, λD. The basis of the method in those works [Walker et al., Phys. Plasmas 13, 032108 (2006); ibid. 15, 123506 (2008); ibid. 17, 113503 (2010)] relies on applying a small amplitude signal of fixed frequency to a probe in a plasma and, through network analyzer-based measurements, determining the complex reflection coefficient, Γ, for varying probe bias, Vb. The frequency range of the applied signal is restricted to avoid sheath resonant effects and ion contributions such that ωpi ≪ ω ≪ ωpe, where ωpi is the ion plasma frequency and ωpe is the electron plasma frequency. For a given frequency and applied bias, both Re(Zac) and Im(Zac) are available from Γ. When Re(Zac) is plotted versus Vb, a minimum predicted by theory occurs at φp [Walker et al., Phys. Plasmas 17, 113503 (2010)]. In addition, Im(Zac) appears at, or very near, a maximum at φp. As ne decreases and the sheath expands, the minimum becomes harder to discern. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate that when using network analyzer-based measurements, Γ itself and Im(Zac) and their derivatives are useful as accompanying indicators to Re(Zac) in these difficult cases. We note the difficulties encountered by the most commonly used plasma diagnostic, the Langmuir probe. Spherical probe data is mainly used in this work, although we present limited data for a cylinder and a disk. To demonstrate the effect of lowered density as a function of probe geometry, we compare the cylinder and disk using only the indicator Re(Zac).
Electron string ion sources for carbon ion cancer therapy accelerators
Authors: Boytsov A. Yu. , Donets D. E. , Donets E. D. , Donets E. E. , Katagiri K. , Noda K. , Ponkin D. O. , Ramzdorf A. Yu. , Salnikov V. V. , Shutov V. B.
Published: August 2015

The type of the Electron String Ion Sources (ESIS) is considered to be the appropriate one to produce pulsed C4+ and C6+ ion beams for cancer therapy accelerators. In fact, the new test ESIS Krion-6T already now provides more than 1010 C4+ ions per pulse and about 5 × 109 C6+ ions per pulse. Such ion sources could be suitable to apply at synchrotrons. It has also been found that Krion-6T can provide more than 1011 C6+ ions per second at the 100 Hz repetition rate, and the repetition rate can be increased at the same or larger ion output per second. This makes ESIS applicable at cyclotrons as well. ESIS can be also a suitable type of ion source to produce the 11C radioactive ion beams. A specialized cryogenic cell was experimentally tested at the Krion-2M ESIS for pulse injection of gaseous species into the electron string. It has been shown in experiments with stable methane that the total conversion efficiency of methane molecules to C4+ ions reached 5%÷10%. For cancer therapy with simultaneous irradiation and precise dose control (positron emission tomography) by means of 11C, transporting to the tumor with the primary accelerated 11C4+ beam, this efficiency is preliminarily considered to be large enough to produce the 11C4+ beam from radioactive methane and to inject this beam into synchrotrons.
Spatiotemporal chaos from bursting dynamics
Authors: Berenstein Igal , De Decker Yannick
Published: August 2015

In this paper, we study the emergence of spatiotemporal chaos from mixed-mode oscillations, by using an extended Oregonator model. We show that bursting dynamics consisting of fast/slow mixed mode oscillations along a single attractor can lead to spatiotemporal chaotic dynamics, although the spatially homogeneous solution is itself non-chaotic. This behavior is observed far from the Hopf bifurcation and takes the form of a spatiotemporal intermittency where the system locally alternates between the fast and the slow phases of the mixed mode oscillations. We expect this form of spatiotemporal chaos to be generic for models in which one or several slow variables are coupled to activator-inhibitor type of oscillators.
Information processing in parallel through directionally resolved molecular polarization components in coherent multidimensional spectroscopy
Authors: Yan Tian-Min , Fresch Barbara , Levine R. D. , Remacle F.
Published: August 2015

We propose that information processing can be implemented by measuring the directional components of the macroscopic polarization of an ensemble of molecules subject to a sequence of laser pulses. We describe the logic operation theoretically and demonstrate it by simulations. The measurement of integrated stimulated emission in different phase matching spatial directions provides a logic decomposition of a function that is the discrete analog of an integral transform. The logic operation is reversible and all the possible outputs are computed in parallel for all sets of possible multivalued inputs. The number of logic variables of the function is the number of laser pulses used in sequence. The logic function that is computed depends on the chosen chromophoric molecular complex and on its interactions with the solvent and on the two time intervals between the three pulses and the pulse strengths and polarizations. The outputs are the homodyne detected values of the polarization components that are measured in the allowed phase matching macroscopic directions, kl, kl=∑iliki where ki is the propagation direction of the ith pulse and {li} is a set of integers that encodes the multivalued inputs. Parallelism is inherently implemented because all the partial polarizations that define the outputs are processed simultaneously. The outputs, which are read directly on the macroscopic level, can be multivalued because the high dynamical range of partial polarization measurements by nonlinear coherent spectroscopy allows for fine binning of the signals. The outputs are uniquely related to the inputs so that the logic is reversible.
Hybrid (Vlasov-Fluid) simulation of ion-acoustic solitons chain formation including trapped electrons
Authors: Behjat E. , Aminmansoor F. , Abbasi H.
Published: August 2015

Disintegration of a Gaussian profile into ion-acoustic solitons in the presence of trapped electrons [H. Hakimi Pajouh and H. Abbasi, Phys. Plasmas 15, 082105 (2008)] is revisited. Through a hybrid (Vlasov-Fluid) model, the restrictions associated with the simple modified Korteweg de-Vries (mKdV) model are studied. For instance, the lack of vital information in the phase space associated with the evolution of electron velocity distribution, the perturbative nature of mKdV model which limits it to the weak nonlinear cases, and the special spatio-temporal scaling based on which the mKdV is derived. Remarkable differences between the results of the two models lead us to conclude that the mKdV model can only monitor the general aspects of the dynamics, and the precise picture including the correct spatio-temporal scales and the properties of solitons should be studied within the framework of hybrid model.
Development of a high-speed impedance measurement system for dual-frequency capacitive-coupled pulsed-plasma
Authors: Lee Hohyoung , Lee Jeongbeom , Park Gijung , Han Yunseok , Lee Youngwook , Cho Gunhee , Kim Hanam , Chang Hongyoung , Min Kyoungwook
Published: August 2015

A high-speed impedance measurement system was developed, which enables the measurement of various characteristics of CW and pulsed plasmas with time resolution of less than a microsecond. For this system, a voltage and current sensor is implemented in a printed circuit board to sense the radio frequency signals. A digital board, which has a high-speed analog to digital converter and a field-programmable gate-array, is used to calculate the impedance of the signal. The final output of impedance is measured and stored with a maximum speed of 3 Msps. This sensor system was tested in a pulsed-plasma by applying it to the point between the matching box and the plasma chamber. The experimental equipment was constructed connecting the matching box, a 13.56 MHz generator, a 2 MHz generator that produced pulsed power, and a pulse-signal generator. From the temporal behavior of the measured impedance, we were able to determine the time intervals of transient states, especially of the initial active state. This information can be used to set the pulse frequency and duty for plasma processing.
The evolution of swirling axisymmetric vortex rings
Authors: Gargan-Shingles C. , Rudman M. , Ryan K.
Published: August 2015

Swirling vortex rings form in any turbulent flow where a swirling component is present, such as in combustion chambers or the downwash of helicopter blades. Instabilities on initially non-swirling vortex rings result in a localized swirl velocity being generated within the core. The presence of a swirl component of velocity in a vortex ring modifies the relaxation and evolution of numerical Gaussian cores in a manner that is currently unknown. The evolution of Gaussian axisymmetric vortex rings of size 0.2 < Λ < 0.5, with Gaussian swirls of magnitude 0.0 < W < 0.5, is analyzed with reference to the governing equations. A relaxation time, at which the initial Gaussian approximation has minimal influence on the subsequent evolution, has been estimated for each case. An axial vortex forms along the axis of the ring and is responsible for the growth of a shear layer that is found to form at the leading edge. The circulation based Reynolds number is set at 10 000 to encourage the growth of shear layer instabilities from within this region. Secondary vortex rings are subsequently shown to evolve from the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability for shear layers of sufficient strength and are convected around the original ring and shed from the system. It is shown that complete settling of the strain rate within the core does not occur until all sheddings have ceased. Increasing the swirl magnitude past that considered in this paper is expected to result in the original ring losing its structure before the instability can occur. The evolution is found to be qualitatively similar to that of a piston generated axisymmetric vortex ring with swirl, with both cases eventually reaching a similar quasi-steady state.
Stability of synchronization in dissipatively driven Frenkel-Kontorova models
Authors: Slijepčević Siniša
Published: August 2015

We rigorously show that dissipatively driven Frenkel-Kontorova models with either uniform or time-periodic driving asymptotically synchronize for a wide range of initial conditions. The main tool is a new Lyapunov function, as well as a 2D representation of the attractor. We then characterize dynamical phase transitions and outline new algorithms for determining them.
High resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy with two-dimensional energy and momentum mapping
Authors: Zhu Xuetao , Cao Yanwei , Zhang Shuyuan , Jia Xun , Guo Qinlin , Yang Fang , Zhu Linfan , Zhang Jiandi , Plummer E. W. , Guo Jiandong
Published: August 2015

High resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) is a powerful technique to probe vibrational and electronic excitations at surfaces. The dispersion relation of surface excitations, i.e., energy as a function of momentum, has in the past, been obtained by measuring the energy loss at a fixed angle (momentum) and then rotating sample, monochromator, or analyzer. Here, we introduce a new strategy for HREELS, utilizing a specially designed lens system with a double-cylindrical Ibach-type monochromator combined with a commercial VG Scienta hemispherical electron energy analyzer, which can simultaneously measure the energy and momentum of the scattered electrons. The new system possesses high angular resolution (<0.1°), detecting efficiency and sampling density. The capabilities of this system are demonstrated using Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ. The time required to obtain a complete dispersion spectrum is at least one order of magnitude shorter than conventional spectrometers, with improved momentum resolution and no loss in energy resolution.
Vortex dynamics of in-line twin synthetic jets in a laminar boundary layer
Authors: Wen Xin , Tang Hui , Duan Fei
Published: August 2015

An experimental investigation is conducted on the vortices induced by twin synthetic jets (SJs) in line with a laminar boundary layer flow over a flat plate. The twin SJs operating at four different phase differences, i.e., Δϕ = 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°, are visualized using a stereoscopic color dye visualization system and measured using a two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (PIV) system. It is found that depending on the phase difference of twin SJs, three types of vortex structures are produced. At Δϕ = 90°, the two hairpin vortices interact in a very constructive way in terms of the vortex size, strength, and celerity, forming one combined vortex. At Δϕ = 270°, the two individual hairpin vortices do not have much interaction, forming two completely separated hairpin vortices that behave like doubling the frequency of the single SJ case. At Δϕ = 0° and 180°, the two hairpin vortices produced by the twin SJ actuators are close enough, with the head of one hairpin vortex coupled with the legs of the other, forming partially interacting vortex structures. Quantitative analysis of the twin SJs is conducted, including the time histories of vortex circulation in the mid-span plane as well as a selected spanwise-wall-normal plane, and the influence of the twin SJs on the boundary layer flow filed. In addition, dynamic mode decomposition analysis of the PIV data is conducted to extract representative coherent structures. Through this study, a better understanding in the vortex dynamics associated with the interaction of in-line twin SJs in laminar boundary layers is achieved, which provides useful information for future SJ-array applications.
Room temperature ferromagnetism in liquid-phase pulsed laser ablation synthesized nanoparticles of nonmagnetic oxides
Authors: Singh S. C. , Kotnala R. K. , Gopal R.
Published: August 2015

Intrinsic Room Temperature Ferromagnetism (RTF) has been observed in undoped/uncapped zinc oxide and titanium dioxide spherical nanoparticles (NPs) obtained by a purely green approach of liquid phase pulsed laser ablation of corresponding metal targets in pure water. Saturation magnetization values observed for zinc oxide (average size, 9 ± 1.2 nm) and titanium dioxide (average size, 4.4 ± 0.3 nm) NPs are 62.37 and 42.17 memu/g, respectively, which are several orders of magnitude larger than those of previous reports. In contrast to the previous works, no postprocessing treatments or surface modification is required to induce ferromagnetism in the case of present communication. The most important result, related to the field of intrinsic ferromagnetism in nonmagnetic materials, is the observation of size dependent ferromagnetism. Degree of ferromagnetism in titanium dioxide increases with the increase in particle size, while it is reverse for zinc oxide. Surface and volume defects play significant roles for the origin of RTF in zinc oxide and titanium dioxide NPs, respectively. Single ionized oxygen and neutral zinc vacancies in zinc oxide and oxygen and neutral/ionized titanium vacancies in titanium dioxide are considered as predominant defect centres responsible for observed ferromagnetism. It is expected that origin of ferromagnetism is a consequence of exchange interactions between localized electron spin moments resulting from point defects.
The possibly important role played by Ga2O3 during the activation of GaN photocathode
Authors: Fu Xiaoqian , Wang Honggang , Zhang Junju , Li Zhiming , Cui Shiyao , Zhang Lejuan
Published: August 2015

Three different chemical solutions are used to remove the possible contamination on GaN surface, while Ga2O3 is still found at the surface. After thermal annealing at 710 °C in the ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) chamber and activated with Cs/O, all the GaN samples are successfully activated to the effective negative electron affinity (NEA) photocathodes. Among all samples, the GaN sample with the highest content of Ga2O3 after chemical cleaning obtains the highest quantum efficiency. By analyzing the property of Ga2O3, the surface processing results, and electron affinity variations during Cs and Cs/O2 deposition on GaN of other groups, it is suggested that before the adsorption of Cs, Ga2O3 is not completely removed from GaN surface in our samples, which will combine with Cs and lead to a large decrease in electron affinity. Furthermore, the effective NEA is formed for GaN photocathode, along with the surface downward band bending. Based on this assumption, a new dipole model Ga2O3-Cs is suggested, and the experimental effects are explained and discussed.
Ion thermal and dispersion effects in Farley-Buneman instabilities
Authors: Litt S. K. , Smolyakov A. I. , Hassan E. , Horton W.
Published: August 2015

Farley-Buneman modes are an example of the collisional instability, which is thought to be the dominant mechanism for the irregularities in low ionosphere region. Despite high collisionality due to electron-neutral and ion-neutral collisions, the kinetic effects associated with finite temperature are important for determination of the mode frequencies and growth rate. This is especially important for ion component that is largely unmagnetized due to low ion cyclotron frequency. The ion thermal effects are strongly pronounced for shorter wavelengths and are crucial for the growth rate cut-off at high wavenumbers. We develop an extended fluid model for ion dynamics to incorporate the effects of ion thermal motion. The model is based on the extended MHD model that includes the evolution equations for higher order moments such as ion viscosity and ion heat flux. We also develop the generalized Chapman-Enskog closure model that provides exact linear closures based on the linearized kinetic equation. The results of these models are compared and tested against the linear kinetic model. The dispersion of Farley-Buneman modes and growth rate behavior are investigated in the short wavelength region.
Schmidt number effects on Rayleigh-Taylor instability in a thin channel
Authors: Koberinski Adam , Baglaenko Anton , Stastna Marek
Published: August 2015

The classical gravitational instability of a layer of denser fluid overlying a layer of less dense fluid, commonly known as the Rayleigh-Taylor instability, has been studied for well over a hundred years. In this article, we present the results of numerical simulations of a variant of this instability in which a plug of dense fluid is released from rest in a thin channel between two flat, vertical walls, causing a downward acceleration of the entire fluid column and formation of boundary layers near the walls. The plug of dense fluid undergoes distinctly different evolution near the walls and in the fluid interior. The instability in the interior, which we label the “hammerhead” instability based on its shape, is robust over a range of physical parameters, but disappears below a threshold Schmidt number. Fluid near the wall is slowed, and thin tendrils that link the near wall fluid to the main body of the fluid plug form, and in some cases undergo their own instability. We characterize the fully three-dimensionalized state, finding that while bulk measures of kinetic energy three-dimensionalization do not discriminate between low and high Schmidt number cases, the geometric distributions of the dynamical parameters Q and R from the turbulence literature are profoundly different in the high Schmidt number case. Finally, we consider the role of shear in situations in which the two plates are not exactly vertical, demonstrating that shear diminishes the importance of three-dimensionalization, while the hammerhead instability remains relevant.