Search results for "structures"
showing 10 items of 4815 documents
Peripherin-2 couples rhodopsin to the CNG channel in outer segments of rod photoreceptors.
2014
Outer segments (OS) of rod photoreceptors are cellular compartments specialized in the conversion of light into electrical signals. This process relies on the light-triggered change in the intracellular levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which in turn controls the activity of cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels in the rod OS plasma membrane. The rod CNG channel is a macromolecular complex that in its core harbors the ion-conducting CNGA1 and CNGB1a subunits. To identify additional proteins of the complex that interact with the CNGB1a core subunit we applied affinity purification of mouse retinal proteins followed by mass spectrometry. In combination with in vitro and in viv…
Differential expression and interaction with the visual G-protein transducin of centrin isoforms in mammalian photoreceptor cells.
2004
Photoisomerization of rhodopsin activates a heterotrimeric G-protein cascade leading to closure of cGMP-gated channels and hyperpolarization of photoreceptor cells. Massive translocation of the visual G-protein transducin, Gt, between subcellular compartments contributes to long term adaptation of photoreceptor cells. Ca(2+)-triggered assembly of a centrin-transducin complex in the connecting cilium of photoreceptor cells may regulate these transducin translocations. Here we demonstrate expression of all four known, closely related centrin isoforms in the mammalian retina. Interaction assays revealed binding potential of the four centrin isoforms to Gtbetagamma heterodimers. High affinity b…
Chromatin-associated RNA interference components contribute to transcriptional regulation in Drosophila
2009
RNA interference (RNAi) pathways have evolved as important modulators of gene expression that operate in the cytoplasm by degrading RNA target molecules through the activity of short (21-30 nucleotide) RNAs1-6. RNAi components have been reported to have a role in the nucleus, as they are involved in epigenetic regulation and heterochromatin formation(7-10). However, although RNAi-mediated post-transcriptional gene silencing is well documented, the mechanisms of RNAi-mediated transcriptional gene silencing and, in particular, the role of RNAi components in chromatin dynamics, especially in animal multicellular organisms, are elusive. Here we show that the key RNAi components Dicer 2 (DCR2) a…
Current-induced domain wall motion in nanoscale ferromagnetic elements
2011
The manipulation of a magnetic domain wall (DW) by a spin polarized current in ferromagnetic nanowires has attracted tremendous interest during the last years due to fundamental questions in the fields of spin dependent transport phenomena and magnetization dynamics but also due to promising applications, such as DW based magnetic memory concepts and logic devices. We comprehensively review recent developments in the field of geometrically confined domain walls and in particular current induced DW dynamics. We focus on the influence of the magnetic and electronic transport properties of the materials on the spin transfer effect in DWs. After considering the different DW structures in ferrom…
Risk based Fatigue Inspection Planning – State of the Art
2013
AbstractThe present paper presents the methodology and the practical calculations for risk based inspection planning of fatigue cracks in welded offshore steel structures. Due to the uncertainty in the variables involved in the problem the planning has to be carried out by stochastic modeling and risk based assessments. Scatter in potential crack growth has to be analyzed by applied probabilistic facture mechanics and the uncertainty in the performance of the actual inspection technique has to be determined. With given risk acceptance criteria the practical outcome of the analyses is recommended inspection techniques and associated planned inspection time intervals. The classical theory is …
Heat Shock Protein-60 and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
2011
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is growing evidence that molecularchaperones, many of which are heat shock proteins HSPs, are involved in CVD pathogenesis. In this review we focus on HSP60,the human mitochondrial chaperone that also displays extramitochondrial and extracellular functions. HSP60 is typically cytoprotectivebut a number of stress conditions determine its conversion to a potentially toxic molecule for cells and tissues. We present illustrative examplesof specific subtypes of CVD where HSP60 is implicated in the initiation and/or progression of disease. The data not only indicatea pathogenic role for HSP60 but also its …
Scour on alluvial bed downstream of grade-control structures
2004
This paper describes an approach for predicting local scour downstream of grade control structures. The developed analysis applies the incomplete self-similarity (ISS) theory for deducing some physically based dimensionless groups controlling the geometrical pattern of the scour profile. The scour measurements available in the literature in conjunction with numerous unpublished data allow a multiregressive calibration of the ISS relationships. The experimental sample includes different bed grain-size distributions and scales of the erosive phenomenon. The results prove that the ratio between the upstream water head and the weir height is able to explain the measurements of scour depth carri…
Experimental observation of horizontal coherent turbulent structures in a straight flume
2009
The present paper describes results of laboratory experiments carried out to investigate the evolution of horizontal coherent turbulent structures for different roughness conditions of channel walls. The occurrence of turbulent events (inward interaction, ejection, sweep and burst) is identified through the conditioned quadrant analysis. The filtered data set is used to determine the probability density distribution of each turbulent event. Particular attention is focused on sweep and ejection events and peculiar maps showing the distributions of the horizontal Reynolds shear stress, for each examined experimental condition, are also presented and discussed.
Intraocular lens centration and stability: efficacy of current technique and technology
2008
Purpose of review The manuscript presents a review of recently published studies analyzing different methodologies to assess centration and stability of intraocular lenses after implantation. Recent findings Considering that there is no current gold standard for centration and stability of intraocular lenses after implantation, we have summarized the different techniques used clinically for intraocular lenses centration and stability estimation. We have described the use of Scheimpflug imaging, the anterior segment optical coherence tomography and photography analysis used for lens position estimation. Techniques used to assess lens rotation are based on image analysis on digital retroillum…
Prevalence of early and late age-related macular degeneration in India: the INDEYE study.
2010
Purpose.: To estimate the prevalence of early and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in India. Methods.: Of 7518 people aged 60 years and older identified from randomly sampled villages in North and South India, 5853 (78%) attended an eye examination including fundus photography. Fundus images were graded according to the Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System. Results.: Fundus images were ungradable in 1587 people, mainly because of cataract. People 80 years of age and older were less likely to attend the eye examination and more likely to have ungradable images. For ages 60 to 79 years, the percent prevalence (95% confidence interval [CI]) were late AMD 1.2 (0.8–1.5); a…