The SR proteins, a group of abundant arginine/serine (RS)-rich proteins, are essential pre-mRNA splicing factors that are localized in the nucleus. The RS domain of these proteins serves as a nuclear localization signal. We found that RS domain-bearing proteins do not utilize any of the known nuclear import receptors and identified a novel nuclear import receptor specific for SR proteins. The S...

Tongue diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) assesses the health by investigation of tongue coating. The science and technology of tongue coating analysis have become a significant issue for modernization of TCM. The relationship between microecology of tongue coating and TCM was relevant to the syndrome differentiation in TCM, such as the cold/hot syndrome may exhibit different speci...

The SRP54 and SR alpha subunits of the signal recognition particle (SRP) and the SRP receptor (SR) undergo a tightly coupled GTPase cycle that mediates the signal sequence-dependent attachment of ribosomes to the Sec61 complex. Here, we show that SRP54 and SR alpha are in the empty site conformation prior to contact between the SRP-ribosome complex and the membrane-bound SR. Cooperative binding...

High velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF)coating have shown high resistance to corrosion in fossil energy applications and it is generally accepted that mechanical failure, e.g. cracking or spalling, ultimately will determine coating lifetime. The use of HVOF thermal spray to apply coatings is one of the most commercially viable and allows the control of various parameters including powder particle velocit...

Technology assessment is a vital part of decision process in manufacturing, particularly for decisions on selection of new sustainable manufacturing processes. To assess these processes, a matrix approach is introduced and sustainability assessment models are developed. Case studies show that the matrix-based approach provides a flexible and practical way for sustainability evaluation of new ma...

Yttrium silicate coating[5, 6] is a promising candidate for oxidation resistant coating for its low oxygen diffusion coefficient and similar thermal expansion coefficient with silicon carbide. Webster et. al.[7] had prepared yttrium silicate coating on C/SiC using Y2O3/SiO2 slips by slip casting and sintering. The selected sintering parameters were 3 h at 1600 °C in flowing argon. The coating c...

High precision measurements of Sr/Ca in planktonic foraminifera for the last 150 ka reveal Sr/Ca variations of up to 12% on glacial/interglacial time scales. Although records showing the largest variations appear to be strongly influenced by selective dissolution, other records show Sr/Ca variations of 3–5% that do not covary with indicators of dissolution intensity and that are reproduced in s...

Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) mediates the selective uptake of HDL cholesteryl esters (CEs) and facilitates the efflux of unesterified cholesterol. SR-BI expression in macrophages presumably plays a role in atherosclerosis. The role of SR-BI for selective CE uptake and cholesterol efflux in macrophages was explored. Macrophages and HDL originated from wild-type (WT) or SR-BI knockou...

Altered sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPase and Na+-Ca2+ exchange (NCX) function have been implicated in depressing SR Ca2+ content and contractile function in heart failure (HF). Enhanced diastolic ryanodine receptor (RyR) leak could also lower SR Ca2+ load in HF, but direct cellular measurements are lacking. In this study, we measure SR Ca2+ leak directly in intact isolated rabbit ventric...