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Background: Scavenger receptor class B (SRB) is a multifunctional protein in animals that participates in physiological processes, including recognition of a wide range of ligands. Astaxanthin is a major carotenoid found in shrimp. However, the molecular mechanism of astaxanthin and SRB protein binding has not been reported. Results: In the present study, a member of the SRB subfamily, named PmSRB, was identified from the transcriptome of black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). The open reading frame of PmSRB was 1557 bp in length and encoded 518 amino acids. The structure of PmSRB included a putative transmembrane structure at the N-terminal region and a CD36 domain. Multiple sequence alignment indicated that the CD36 domain were conserved. Phylogenetic analysis showed four separate branches (SRA, SRB, SRC, and croquemort) in the phylogenetic tree and that PmSRB was clustered with SRB of Eriocheir sinensis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that the PmSRB gene was widely expressed in all tissues tested, with the highest expression level observed in the lymphoid organ and brain. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that PmSRB-GFP (green fluorescent protein) fusion proteins were predominantly localized in the cell membrane. The recombinant proteins of PmSRB showed binding activities against astaxanthin in vitro. Conclusions: PmSRB was identified and characterized in this study. It is firstly reported that PmSRB may take as an important mediator of astaxanthin uptake in shrimp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis is one subtype of systemic sclerosis which is characterized by a prototypic multisystem fibrotic disorder. Objective: This study aimed to further investigate the pathological mechanism of limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lcSSc). Methods: The dataset GSE76807 generated from 10 lcSSc patients and five healthy controls was used. After the preprocessing of the original data, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and then performed functional analysis, protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and module analysis. Additionally, the transcription factors (TFs) and miRNAs which potentially regulating DEGs were identified and the co‐regulatory network was constructed. Finally, DEGs targeted by current drugs were identified. Real‐time quantitative PCR analyses of some DEGs in mice with lcSSc were performed. Results: Total 203 up‐regulated and 189 down‐regulated DEGs were obtained. The up‐regulated genes were enriched in protein interactions at the synapses neuronal system, NCAM1 interactions, and CREB phosphorylation through the activation of CaMKII, while, cilium assembly, and endothelial form of nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation were enriched by down‐regulated genes. SCRT2 and RABEP1 regulated by miR‐218 were hub nodes in the network. DRD4 and GRIN2D were the main drug targets. RABEP1 and SSB were found lowly expressed in mice model with lcSSc. Conclusion: Endothelial form of NOS activation would be suppressed, and the process of neuronal migration and outgrowth would be activated to participant in the pathological mechanism of lcSSc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we found out the optimal fuzzy quadrature formulas with given knots and the optimal fuzzy quadrature formulas among all fuzzy quadrature formulas for classes of fuzzy-number-valued functions of Lipschitz type. We also obtain the exact values of the errors of these optimal fuzzy quadrature formulas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A two-degree of freedom seven-bar mechanism, which is composed of a hinged five-bar mechanism and a RPP grade-II Assur group, can realize translation-output if two driving links are appropriately programmed. This type of translation-output mechanisms can generate functions typically obtained in a cam mechanism with a translation follower and is closely related to the characteristics of the coupler reference point. Based on the segment-resolving method, the procedure of obtaining the workspace boundary curves of the coupler reference point of the double-crank seven-bar mechanism and the triple-crank seven-bar mechanism are presented. When the coupler-point angular offset parameter varies from 0° to 360°, the workspace atlases of the double-crank seven-bar mechanism and triple-crank seven-bar mechanism are obtained for every variation of the seven-bar mechanisms. The characteristics of the workspace and the translation-output stroke as a function of the coupler point angular offset β are further analyzed. The analysis results in a theoretical basis with adjustable controlled structural parameters to realize the required translation-output motion rules. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We resolve a long-standing question on L completeness of the time-scale (or wavelet) system generated by the Mexican hat function, when p≥2. Our main result concerns frequency-scale systems generated by modulation and dilation of a single function. The mixed frame operator (analysis followed by synthesis) is shown to be bijective from L(ℝ) to itself, for 1≤ q<∞, so that the frequency-scale synthesis operator is surjective. Tools include the discrete Calderón condition and a generalization of the Daubechies frame criterion in L. Completeness of the Mexican hat and other wavelet systems in L then follows for 2≤ p<∞, by Fourier imbedding of frequency-scale systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In 2001, Harn and Lin proposed a non-repudiation metering scheme. In this paper, we reveal two security weaknesses in their scheme, which could make the scheme either too inefficient or incapable of presenting the exact visiting number of a server. An improved scheme will be presented in this paper to avoid these weaknesses in the metering scheme. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Functional analysis methodology has become the hallmark of behavioral assessment, yielding a determination of behavioral function in roughly 96% of the cases published (Hanley, Iwata, & McCord, 2003). Some authors have suggested that incorporating the results of a descriptive assessment into the design of a functional analysis may be useful in determining behavioral function when initial functional analyses yield undifferentiated results, yet this strategy has little empirical support to date. This study evaluated the effects of incorporating stimuli observed to occasion problem behavior during a descriptive assessment into the design of a functional analysis that had previously resulted in low and undifferentiated levels of problem behavior. Further, the effects of a function-based treatment derived from the results of the "informed" functional analysis were evaluated across settings (therapy room and preschool classroom) and people (therapist and classroom teachers). The somewhat complex relation between descriptive assessments and functional analyses are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the approximation behaviour of the Ko´czy–Hirota (KH) interpolative fuzzy controllers. First, in accordance with the remarks in (Fuzzy Sets and Systems 125(1) (2002) 105), it is pointed out that it is a fuzzy generalization of the Shepard operator. Shepard operator has thoroughly studied by approximation theorist since the mid-1970s. Exploiting the aforementioned relationship, we establish analog results on the approximation rate of KH controllers. The optimal order and class of approximation (saturation problem) are determined for certain values of the exponent λ. Corresponding results on the modified alpha-cut based interpolation method, being an improvement of the KH interpolator, are also provided. The results offer trade-off facilities between approximation accuracy and the number of rules. As a consequence, the necessary and sufficient number of rules can be determined for a prescribed accuracy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]