Proximal Pairs Research Articles

Intramolecular coupling between non-penetrating high molecular Rydberg states

We address a central question in the realm of the dynamics of high-n (= 40- 250) Rydberg states of diatomics and large molecules. What is the coupling responsible for the 'global' l mixing, which results in the breakdown of the n 3 scaling law for the non-radiative lifetimes and for the lifetime lengthening (by two to four orders of magnitude) of these states? To explore the implications of intramolecular interactions on l mixing and on electronic-rotational energy exchange we analysed the intramolecular couplings of the ion core dipole, quadrupole and (anisotropic) polarizability with a non-penetrating (l⩾ 3) Rydberg electron, in conjunction with the energy gaps between proximal pairs of energy levels. Calculations of the energy gaps and the couplings were performed for the high-n non-penetrating Rydberg states of NO and for model 'light' (B = 19 cm-1) and 'heavy' (B = 0⋅05 cm-1) polar molecules. All the intramolecular interactions are of the form of a power law proportional to l -η, with η being determined by the nature of the long-range coupling, by the l dependence of the quantum defects for multipole couplings and by the l dependence of angular integrals. We established a bottleneck effect for the intramolecular couplings between non-penetrating (l⩾3) states. For n- and N+-changing dipole, quadrupole and polarizability interactions the energetics ofthe proximalpairs of levels, in conjunction with the bottleneck effect,prohibit the |n, l, N +, N> - |n', l', N +', N>, l (⩾ 3) couplings (with n ╪ n') and the electronic-rotational energy exchange. For n- and N +-conserving quadrupole and polarizability interactions, the l (⩾ 3) mixing (which prevails only for l N ++ N) is also prohibited by the bottleneck effect. 'Global' intramolecular l mixing (with both n ╪ n' and n = n') in diatomics and in large molecules is precluded, implying that the dramatic lengthening of the non-radiative lifetimes of high-n Rydberg states can be induced only by exterior electric field coupling.

The dynamics of predissociating high Rydberg states of NO

In this paper we present a theoretical study of the predissociation dynamics of the nf(N+=2) (with the principal quantum numbers n=40–95) and the np(N+=0) (n=70–125) Rydberg series of NO, which exhibit a marked lifetime dilution (lengthening) at n≳65 for the f series and at n≳116 for the p series [M.J.J. Vrakking and Y. T. Lee, J. Chem. Phys. 102, 8818 (1995)]. The multichannel effective Hamiltonian with several doorway (for excitation) and escape (for decay) states was constructed using experimental information on the quantum defects and on the decay width constants incorporating both intramolecular coupling and exterior electric field coupling between high Rydbergs. The analysis of the intramolecular Rydberg electron–core dipole long range coupling (HR-D) in conjunction with the energy gaps between proximal pairs of energy levels, which are subjected to appropriate selection rules, reveals that (i) for low l(≤3) core-penetrating Rydbergs only a small number of accidental near-resonances are exhibited, and (ii) for high l(≳3) nonpenetrating Rydbergs the electron-core dipole coupling decreases fast with increasing l, i.e., (HR-D)∝l−7. The general characteristics of the high l(≳3) manifold establish a bottleneck effect, which precludes intramolecular l mixing, implying that high Rydberg lifetime dilution effects can be induced only by exterior electric field coupling (HSTARK). Parameter-free multichannel effective Hamiltonian calculations were conducted under narrow-band excitation conditions, which interrogate the electric field induced mixing in the energetic vicinity of the doorway state. The electric field induced l mixing model accounts semiquantitatively for the electric field dependence of the energy-resolved line shapes of the nf(N+=2) series and for the n and electric field dependence of the lifetimes of the nf(N+=2) and the np(N+=0) series. Accidental near-resonant simultaneous intramolecular and electric field coupling np(N+=0)↔HR-Dn′d(N+=1)↔HSTARKn′ l(≥3)(N+=1) for two sets of proximal states n=92, n′=80 and n=95, n′=82, result in mediated-sequential mixing, which is manifested by slow decay times below the onset of effective electric field mixing by weak (F0≂0.04–0.08 V/cm) stray electric fields.

AP-1 regulation of the rat bone sialoprotein gene transcription is mediated through a TPA response element within a glucocorticoid response unit in the gene promoter

Bone sialoprotein (BSP), a protein which has been implicated in the initial mineralization of newly-formed bone, provides an early phenotypic marker for differentiated osteoblasts. BSP expression is induced by glucocorticoids in association with osteoblast differentiation, and a glucocorticoid response element (GRE) overlapping a putative TRE (TPA, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate, response element) site has been identified in the rat BSP promoter (Ogata et al., 1995). Since AP-1 and the glucocorticoid receptor have a central role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation, we have studied AP-1 activity, stimulated by 100 ng/ml TPA in normal fetal rat calvarial cells and in transformed rat osteosarcoma cells (ROS 17/2.8). A transient induction of both c-fos and c-jun mRNAs by TPA was observed in both cell populations, together with an associated suppression of BSP mRNA in the fetal rat calvarial cells. Rat BSP promoter constructs, transiently transfected into ROS 17/2.8 cells, were used to show that TPA suppressed transcription of a luciferase construct (-938/+60; pLUC6) that included the GRE/TRE, but not transcription of shorter contructs lacking this element. Notably, suppression of pLUC6 transcription by TPA was abrogated in the presence of the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone. Gel mobility shift analyses were performed using two double-stranded synthetic oligonucleotides. These encompassed the TRE and either the distal pair of GRE half-sites (-936/ -910; GRE3) or the proximal pair of GRE half-sites (-925/-899; GRE 4) that comprise the GRE/AP-1 element. The assay showed binding of both AP-1 complexes and recombinant c-Jun homodimers. Additionally, either the c-Jun or glucocorticoid receptor could displace its counterpart from the GRE/TRE but not from consensus GRE and TRE oligonucleotides, indicating that the abrogation of AP-1-mediated gene suppression by glucocorticoids could involve competitive binding. These studies, therefore, have identified a glucocorticoid response unit through which c-Fos and c-Jun can suppress the expression of BSP in proliferating pre-osteoblastic cells and through which glucocorticoids can ameliorate the effects of AP-1 and promote osteoblast differentiation and the associated expression of BSP.

Promoter Region of the Rat m4 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Gene Contains a Cell Type-specific Silencer Element

We describe here the characterization of the rat m4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor gene and the identification of its regulatory region. Two 5'-noncoding exons are located approximately 5 kilobases upstream from the coding exon, and at least two alternatively spliced variants of m4 mRNA are expressed in the neuronal cell line PC12D. There are two transcription initiation sites. The promoter region is GC-rich, contains no TATA-box, but has two potential CAAT boxes and several putative binding sites for transcription factors Sp1 and AP-2. We assessed the m4 promoter activity functionally in transient expression assays using luciferase as a reporter. The proximal 435-base pair (bp) sequence of the 5'-flanking region produced luciferase activity in both m4-expressing neuronal cell lines (PC12D and NG108-15) and non-neuronal cell lines (L6 and 3Y1B). A longer fragment containing an additional 638-bp sequence produced luciferase activity only in m4-expressing neuronal cell lines. These data suggest that the proximal 435-bp sequence contains a constitutive promoter and that a 638-bp sequence farther upstream contains a cell type-specific silencer element. A consensus sequence for the neural-restrictive silencer element is found within this 638-bp segment.

Intersubunit communication in tryptophan synthase by carbon-13 and fluorine-19 REDOR NMR.

The beta subunits of the 143-kDa alpha2beta2 tetrameric enzyme tryptophan synthase have been labeled by L-[ring-4-19F]phenylalanine and L-[phenol-4-13C]tyrosine in an effort to monitor the positions of these residues on ligand binding. Of the 13 phenylalanine and 11 tyrosine residues in the beta subunit, only three pairs have labels with 13C-19F separations of less than 6 angstrom. The beta subunit residues Tyr279 and Phe280 (each members of one of the three Tyr-Phe proximate pairs) have been suggested as possible conformational gates on ligand binding. The 188-MHz 19F NMR spectrum of the microcrystalline, double-labeled enzyme complex has five resolved lines under 5-kHz magic-angle spinning and 80-kHz proton dipolar decoupling. The distribution of beta-subunit 19F isotropic shifts is altered by addition of L-[3-13C]-serine to the mother liquor in contact with the microcrystals, consistent with a conformational rearrangement. The 13C label from serine is detected at 28 ppm as a methyl tautomer of bound aminoacrylate. The change in aromatic 19F chemical shifts on binding of serine indicates an alteration in local electric field gradients within the beta subunit. However, rotational-echo double-resonance 13C NMR (with 19F dephasing) shows that the average 13C-19F distance for the three phenylalanine-tyrosine proximate pairs in the beta subunit is changed by less than 1 angstrom.

Superfluid anisotropy in YBCO: Evidence for pair tunneling superconductivity.

Proximity effect and pair tunneling models are applied as alternative scenarios to explain the recently measured $ab$-plane and $c$-axis components of the superfluid tensor in Copper-Oxide superconductors which contain chains, such as $YBa_2Cu_3O_{6.95}$. It is argued that conventional proximity effect models, which couple chains and planes via single electron tunneling only, are incompatible with the experimental observations. On the other hand several surprising features of the experimental data are readily explained by the presence of a microscopic pair tunneling process.

A technique for stable His-bundle recording and pacing: electrophysiological and hemodynamic correlates.

His-bundle electrograms recorded from intracardiac electrode catheters have been a mainstay of basic and clinical electrophysiology. However, consistent His-bundle pacing has not been as readily achieved. In 13 dogs anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (30 mg/kg), we recorded leads II and aVR as well as the His-bundle electrogram from the aortic root. A deflectable tip multipolar catheter (4 rings, 5 mm apart) was introduced via the right jugular vein into the right ventricle (RV). In 7 dogs, using fluoroscopy, the tip was placed under the tricuspid septal leaflet. In the other 6, after thoracotomy, the same placement was made by palpation through the right atrial wall. Stable His-bundle and right bundle (Rb) branch recordings were made from distal and proximal electrode pairs, respectively. H-V intervals measured 35 +/- 6 ms from the aortic root and 33 +/- 5 ms from under the tricuspid leaflet (P = NS). Rb-V measured 25 +/- 4 ms. Consistent His-bundle pacing was accomplished from the aortic root with an average stimulus intensity of 6 +/- 10 mA and from the tricuspid leaflet at 16 +/- 8 mA (P < 0.05). In 7 anesthetized dogs we compared the hemodynamic effects of A-V sequential pacing at the same heart rates using the His-bundle recording site under the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve (A-H pacing) or pacing from the RV apex (A-RV pacing). Under normal conditions there was a significant depression of mean blood pressure when A-RV pacing was compared with atrial pacing (AOO); but no difference was found between AOO and A-H pacing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Factors determining ion-pair formation. Studies of the radical anions of 2,5-bis(tricyanovinyl)furan and 2,5-bis(tricyanovinyl)thiophene

The specificity of ion-pair formation of the radical anions of 2,5-bis(tricyanovinyl)furan (1) and 2,5-bis(tricyanovinyl)thiophene (2) has been studied using solvents covering a broad range on the polarity scale and Li+, Na+, K+ and Cs+ as the counter-ions. The EPR/ENDOR spectra show that 1˙– and 2˙– can exist as the free radical anions in which the tricyanovinyl groups have a syn/anti conformation, but under appropriate conditions 2˙– can also exist in a syn/syn conformation in an ion-pair with the metal cation. This is rationalised in terms of a selectivity for the formation of ion pairs depending on the size of the alkali-metal cation and of the cavity presented by the proximate pair of cyano groups.

Designing and testing an interactive Ranked retrieval system for professional searchers

Reports three explorations of Ranked system design. Two tests used a Cystic Fibrosis test collection with 100 queries. Experiment 1 compared a Boolean with a Ranked interactive system using a subject-qualified trained searcher, and reporting Recall and Precision results. Experiment 2 compared fifteen different Ranked match algo rithms in a batch mode using two test collections, and included some new proximate pairs and term weighting approaches. Experiment 3 is a design plan for an interactive Ranked prototype offering mid-search algorithm choices plus other manual search devices (such as obligatory and unwanted terms), as influenced by thinking-aloud comments from experiment 1.

The determination of pea leaves, leaflets, and tendrils

Pea leaf determination was examined by culturing excised leaf, leaflet, and tendril primordia of different ages on a nutrient medium. Pinna primordia were designated as 1) determined, if they grew normally in culture; 2) undetermined, if they grew into differentiated structures that were morphologically and anatomically different from either leaflet or tendril; or 3) partially determined, if the two pinnae of an opposite pair developed unequally in isolation, or for leaflet pinnae only, if laminae were initiated but did not develop completely. The compound pea leaf as a whole is determined over four plastochrons of development. Proximal pinnae are determined during the second leaf plastochron, approximately 0.8 plastochron after their initiation. The second most proximal pair of pinnae is determined during the third plastochron, and the terminal portion of the rachis is determined last, during the fourth plastochron. Determination of leaflet dorsiventrality is gradual, requiring a critical minimum period with the leaf in physiological contact with the shoot system. The rachis primordium, when isolated from the shoot, does not affect determination of its pinnae as leaflets or tendrils. Afila and tendril-less homeotic mutations do not alter the timing of pinna determination.

Functional analysis of the promoter of a sea urchin metallothionein gene.

The 5'-flanking region of the metallothionein (MT) gene LpMT1 of the sea urchin Lytechinus pictus includes three copies of a conserved sequence that includes the metal-responsive element (MRE) consensus core sequence required for heavy metal induction of other MT genes, a GC box, a G box of a putative basal level enhancer element which includes another MRE core element, and a poly(C) tract. A fragment of LpMT1 DNA from nucleotides +31 to -309 fused to a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene was inducible with cadmium after injection into L. pictus embryos. This induced activity was greatly reduced in a deletion mutant which retained only 195 base pairs of 5'-flanking sequence, including the proximal pair of MREs and the G box, but excluding the poly(C) tract, GC box, and distal MRE. A potent human hMT-IIA gene promoter is marginally functional in L. pictus embryos. In contrast, the LpMT1 promoter is active in HeLa cells and in embryos of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. The hMT-IIA gene may lack a cis-acting sequence element required for expression of MT genes in L. pictus embryos. The LpMT1 promoter is a powerful, inducible, promiscuous promoter useful for driving the expression of heterologous genes in sea urchin embryos.

Ablation of ventricular tachycardia using multiple sequential transcatheter application of radiofrequency energy.

Multiple sequential radiofrequency energy was applied in the left and right ventricles of 24 dogs to produce large ablated areas limited to endocardial and subendocardial regions. Endocardial ablation was performed in nine dogs with normal ventricles and 15 that had survived remote myocardial infarcts, three with inducible sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia. A quadripolar catheter was positioned either at the site of earliest ventricular activation during induced monomorphic ventricular tachycardia or at circumscribed areas of the left ventricle. Radiofrequency energy was delivered between two adjacent poles of the catheter, successively applying radiofrequency energy to the distal, middle, and proximal electrode pairs; this was repeated 9 to 11 times with the catheter in a slightly different position. A cumulative energy of 9,688 +/- 4,191 joules resulted in an ablated endocardial/subendocardial surface area of 4.7 +/- 2.2 cm2 (range 2.4-10 cm2, maximum depth 4 mm). Sustained tachycardia was not inducible by aggressive programmed ventricular stimulation in the dogs with previously inducible tachycardia, indicating successful ablation of the tachycardia foci. Only seven normal dogs were available for electrophysiological studies; three were used in acute and four in chronic studies. Ventricular tachycardia was not induced in the remaining dogs either before or after radiofrequency ablation, indicating the lack of an arrhythmogenic effect of this method. Histologic examination was performed in all nine normal dogs (five were sacrificed for acute pathological examination) as well as in the 15 with myocardial infarction. The late pathological examination of the radiofrequency lesion in these 19 animals showed homogeneous areas of coagulation necrosis and endocardial proliferation. Thus, this modified technique of radiofrequency ablation produced large homogeneous endocardial/subendocardial scars suitable for treating ventricular tachycardia and showed no evidence of an arrhythmogenic influence.

Some aspects of proximity searching in text retrieval systems

Describes and evaluates the proximity search facili ties in external online systems and in-house retrieval software Discusses and illustrates capabilities, syntax and circum stances ot use. Presents measurements of the overheads re quired by proximity for storage, record import time and search time The search strategy narrowing effect of proximity is illustrated by Recall and Precision test results. Usage and problems lead to a number ot design ideas for better imple mentation. some based on existing Boolean strategies. one on the use of weighted proximity to automatically produce ranked output A comparison of Boolean, quorum and proximate term pairs distance is included

Studies of Growth in the Clonal Herb Glechoma Hederacea. I. Patterns of Physiological Integration

The stoloniferous clonal herb Glechoma hederacea (Labiatae) has a decussate phyllotaxy. Each node bears two leaves which emerge from the opposite faces of a quadrangular stolon. Anatomical studies showed that the vascular tissue of the stolon is concentrated into four major bundles, and leaf traces connect each leaf of a ramet to the proximal pair of vascular bundles. These two vascular bundles also provide the vascularization for the secondary stolon developing from the axial of that leaf. Transport of resources in the vascular system was analysed using acid fuchsion dye and 14 C-labelled photoassimilate. All transport of dye in the xylem was acropetal (...)

Differential ability of proximal and remote element pairs to cooperate in activating RNA polymerase II transcription.

To investigate the synergism or cooperative interaction between transcription elements, we have designed and constructed a series of synthetic polymerase II promoters with different combinations of elements. These include three different CCAAT boxes, which correspond to the binding sites for CP1, CP2, and NFI, a GC box, a CACCC box, and an ATF/CREB-binding site. The synthetic promoters containing these elements in proximal positions were linked to a test gene (CAT). Tandem repeats of AP1- and AP2-binding sites, the simian virus 40 enhancer, and DNA-binding sites for GAL-estrogen receptor were cloned downstream of the test gene. The strength of these promoters was then tested in transient-expression assays in HeLa TK- cells. In the context of the adenovirus major late promoter TATA box, the promoters containing only certain combinations of elements are active in this assay. Some elements appear to cooperate nearly universally, but others exhibit strong selectivity. These results indicate strongly selective synergistic interactions between elements and suggest that levels of promoter strength may be determined by the extent of compatibility between factors bound to proximal and enhancer sites.

Differential Ability of Proximal and Remote Element Pairs To Cooperate in Activating RNA Polymerase II Transcription

To investigate the synergism or cooperative interaction between transcription elements, we have designed and constructed a series of synthetic polymerase II promoters with different combinations of elements. These include three different CCAAT boxes, which correspond to the binding sites for CP1, CP2, and NFI, a GC box, a CACCC box, and an ATF/CREB-binding site. The synthetic promoters containing these elements in proximal positions were linked to a test gene (CAT). Tandem repeats of AP1- and AP2-binding sites, the simian virus 40 enhancer, and DNA-binding sites for GAL-estrogen receptor were cloned downstream of the test gene. The strength of these promoters was then tested in transient-expression assays in HeLa TK- cells. In the context of the adenovirus major late promoter TATA box, the promoters containing only certain combinations of elements are active in this assay. Some elements appear to cooperate nearly universally, but others exhibit strong selectivity. These results indicate strongly selective synergistic interactions between elements and suggest that levels of promoter strength may be determined by the extent of compatibility between factors bound to proximal and enhancer sites.

THE USE OF TERM POSITION DEVICES IN RANKED OUTPUT EXPERIMENTS

Term position information, as provided in some Boolean systems in the form of field restriction and term proximity, is reviewed and its value assessed. Non‐Boolean retrieval in the form of the ranked output experiment has not so far used term position information but has concentrated on schemes of term weighting. The use of term proximity devices is proposed here by analogy with Boolean techniques and seven algorithms are devised to incorporate the ideas of sentence matching, proximate terms, term order specification and term distance computations. It is hypothesised that term position will act as a precision device. A new search experiment is then described in which a test collection is processed into sentences and then output ranking using term position is obtained. Results are given for five algorithms compared against quorum searching as the benchmark. The best result increased the precision ratio by 18% and used proximate matching term pairs in sentences plus a distance component.

The 5'-flanking region of the mouse vascular smooth muscle alpha-actin gene contains evolutionarily conserved sequence motifs within a functional promoter.

The 5'-flanking, 5'-untranslated, and amino-terminal protein coding regions of the single-copy 13-kilobase mouse vascular smooth muscle (VSM) alpha-actin gene have been cloned and sequenced. Respectively, there is 73 and 89% homology from the start of transcription (+1) to a point 206 base pairs upstream when comparing mouse to chicken and mouse to human VSM alpha-actin 5'-flanking region sequences. Two proximal 16-base pair motifs containing putative cis-acting regulatory elements having the configuration CC(A/T)6GG were found to be 100% conserved and present in the same position upstream from the transcription start site in all three species. A third more distal CC(A/T)6GG-like motif was 100% conserved between only the mouse and human genes whereas a fourth motif was unique to the mouse gene. The two upstream motifs may be important in controlling VSM alpha-actin gene transcription in mammals. Cell transfection assays using hGH reporter gene fusion plasmids showed that all four CC(A/T)6GG elements were required for tissue-specific, core promoter activity and were able to direct hGH expression in both mouse BC3H1 myogenic cells and early-passage rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells. The core promoter was not active in mouse fibroblasts suggesting that the region between -372 and -143 may mediate tissue-restrictive expression of the VSM alpha-actin gene. A putative "cell density responsive element" may be located between -1074 and -372 since fusion plasmids containing this portion of the VSM alpha-actin 5'-flanking region were significantly more active in promoting hGH expression in inducible, density-activated BC3H1 myoblasts compared to aortic smooth muscle cells which are largely constitutive for VSM alpha-actin expression.

Effect of Intraesophageal Electrode Position on Signal Amplitude of the Crural Diaphragm Electromyogram

We studied the effect of electrode position relative to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) on the crural diaphragm electromyogram (EMG) recording in 15 healthy human subjects. Three coil electrodes, each 1 cm in axial length and spaced 1 cm apart, were positioned on the distal 5 cm of a 6‐cm‐long Dent sleeve device. Bipolar EMG signals were recorded simultaneously from proximal and distal pairs of electrodes during spontaneous respiration, maximum inspiration with open airway, and maximum inspiration with closed airway. The catheter was positioned so that the side hole at the proximal margin of the sleeve recorded esophageal pressure just above the upper end of the LES. During spontaneous inspiration, the amplitude of the proximal diaphragm EMG signal was significantly higher than the distal. There was a significant difference in the amplitude of the two diaphragm EMG signals during maximum inspiration with open airway, and nearly significant differences in the two EMG signals during maximum inspiration with closed airway. We found that electrode position strongly influences the amplitude of the crural diaphragm EMG signals as measured by intraesophageal electrodes. Assessment of the crural diaphragm EMG with only one pair of electrodes may underestimate the signal amplitude.

Measurements from light and polarised light microscopy of human coronary arteries fixed at distending pressure.

With the long term goal of improving our understanding of the mechanisms involved in coronary artery spasm, we have undertaken a two part study of the artery structure. We have made a comparison of the relative proportions of the different layers in proximal and distal regions of the main coronary arteries, and have quantitatively assessed their three dimensional structural fabric. Major coronary arteries from nine hearts were prepared for histological examination after fixation at a transmural pressure of 120 mm Hg. Measurements from 14 proximal and distal pairs of the cross sectioned arteries showed a dominant subendothelial layer, which diminished in thickness distally, with a small fraction of muscle cells interspersed with collagen. Three dimensional orientation measurements of the collagen and muscle components, which are birefringent, were obtained from one pair of segments from each of the left anterior descending, circumflex and right coronary arteries, using the polarising light microscope and Universal stage. Findings showed (1) a single circumferential order of adventitial collagen, with a mean circular standard deviation (CSD) of 22.3 degrees; (2) very highly ordered medial smooth muscle, mean CSD of 5.0 degrees (both findings are quantitatively similar between proximal and distal segments of artery, and between arteries); and (3) a multilayered fabric of collagen in the subendothelium in all vessel segments. The principal contributor to functional differences between proximal and distal regions may be the prominent and structurally varied subendothelial layer of the coronary arteries.