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Assume that$n, \\delta ,k$are integers with$0 \\leq k < \\delta < n$ . Given a graph$G=(V,E)$with$|V|=n$ . The symbol$G-F, F \\subseteq V$ , denotes the graph with$V(G-F)=V-F$ , and$E(G-F)$obtained by$E$after deleting the edges with at least one endvertex in$F$ .$G$is called$k$ -vertex fault traceable,$k$ -vertex fault Hamiltonian, or$k$ -vertex fault Hamiltonian-connected if$G-F$remains traceable, Hamiltonian, and Hamiltonian-connected for all$F$with$0 \\leq |F| \\leq k$ , respectively. The notations$h_1(n, \\delta ,k)$ ,$h_2(n, \\delta ,k)$ , and$h_3(n, \\delta ,k)$denote the minimum number of edges required to guarantee an$n$ -vertex graph with minimum degree$\\delta (G) \\geq \\delta$to be$k$ -vertex fault traceable,$k$ -vertex fault Hamiltonian, and$k$ -vertex fault Hamiltonian-connected, respectively. In this paper, we establish a theorem which uses the degree sequence of a given graph to characterize the$k$ -vertex fault traceability/hamiltonicity/Hamiltonian-connectivity, respectively. Then we use this theorem to obtain the formulas for$h_i(n, \\delta ,k)$for$1 \\leq i \\leq 3$ , which improves and extends the known results for$k=0$ .

Overproduction of N-terminal pyroglutamate (pGlu)-modified proteins utilizing Escherichia coli or eukaryotic cells is a challenging work owing to the fact that the recombinant proteins need to be recovered by proteolytic removal of fusion tags to expose the N-terminal glutaminyl or glutamyl residue, which is then converted into pGlu catalyzed by the enzyme glutaminyl cyclase. Herein we describe a new method for production of N-terminal pGlu-containing proteins in vivo via intracellular self-cleavage of fusion tags by tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease and then immediate N-terminal cyclization of passenger target proteins by a bacterial glutaminyl cyclase. To combine with the sticky-end PCR cloning strategy, this design allows the gene of target proteins to be efficiently inserted into the expression vector using two unique cloning sites (i.e., SnaB I and Xho I), and the soluble and N-terminal pGlu-containing proteins are then produced in vivo. Our method has been successfully applied to the production of pGlu-modified enhanced green fluorescence protein and monocyte chemoattractant proteins. This design will facilitate the production of protein drugs and drug target proteins that possess an N-terminal pGlu residue required for their physiological activities.

This study investigates the application of PTFE wicks to flat-plate loop heat pipes (FLHPs). PTFE’s low heat transfer coefficient effectively prevents heat-leakage, which is a problem with using metal wicks, lowering the operating temperature and pressure. This paper uses PTFE particles to form wicks, and the effect of PTFE on flat-plate LHP performance is investigated. Experimental results shows that the highest heat load reached was 100W, with lowest thermal resistance of 0.61°C/W, and heat flux of about 10W/cm2, For the wick properties, the wick had an effective pore radius of the wick was around 9.2μm, porosity of 47%, and permeability of 1.0 x 10-12m2. Compared to the highest heat flux reported in literature thus far for PTFE flat-plate LHPs, the heat flux in this study was enhanced by around 50%.

Overproduction of N-terminal pyroglutamate (pGlu)-modified proteins utilizing Escherichia coli or eukaryotic cells is a challenging work owing to the fact that the recombinant proteins need to be recovered by proteolytic removal of fusion tags to expose the N-terminal glutaminyl or glutamyl residue, which is then converted into pGlu catalyzed by the enzyme glutaminyl cyclase. Herein we describe a new method for production of N-terminal pGlu-containing proteins in vivo via intracellular self-cleavage of fusion tags by tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease and then immediate N-terminal cyclization of passenger target proteins by a bacterial glutaminyl cyclase. To combine with the sticky-end PCR cloning strategy, this design allows the gene of target proteins to be efficiently inserted into the expression vector using two unique cloning sites (i.e., SnaB I and Xho I), and the soluble and N-terminal pGlu-containing proteins are then produced in vivo. Our method has been successfully applied to the production of pGlu-modified enhanced green fluorescence protein and monocyte chemoattractant proteins. This design will facilitate the production of protein drugs and drug target proteins that possess an N-terminal pGlu residue required for their physiological activities.

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death for notifiable diseases in Taiwan. The incidence rate of tuberculosis for aborigines is 3.1 times higher than the general population, and the mortality rate for the aboriginal population is 3.2 times higher than the rate for the rest of Taiwan. The proportion of tuberculosis retreatment cases among aborigines is higher than the general population, and this is why tuberculosis is widespread in aboriginal communities. To determine the risk factors for retreatment cases living in an aboriginal village, a case-control study was performed. From January 2000 to June 2004, a total of 60 confirmed tuberculosis cases were enrolled. Tuberculosis was diagnosed by chest radiograph, sputum-smear microscopy, and culture. Epidemiological data were collected by structured questionnaires. Comparisons of proportions were done by chi-square test. Of the 60 cases, 19 were retreatment patients. Most education levels among the study subjects were elementary and junior high school. The majority of occupations were farmer and laborers. The Odds Ratios (ORs) of 'poor compliance' and 'not receiving DOTS' in the retreatment-patient group were significantly increased compared with the new patient group. In March 24, 2005, CDC-Taiwan vowed to halve the tuberculosis incidence and mortality by 2015. To accomplish this goal, CDC-Taiwan is investing funds and personnel in the National Tuberculosis Plan (2005-2015). The plan commits the government to implementing DOTS, to enhance the public health and medical networks for the country, especially for aboriginal villagers.

Heterogeneous distribution of components in the biological membrane is critical in the process of cell polarization. However, little is known about the mechanisms that can generate and maintain the heterogeneous distribution of the membrane components. Here we report that the propagating wave patterns of the bacterial Min proteins can impose corresponding steric pressure on the membrane to establish a directional accumulation of the membrane components, resulting in segregation of the components in the membrane. The diffusivity, influenced by the membrane anchor of the component, and the repulsed ability, influenced by the steric property of the soluble region of the component and molecular crowding, determine the differential spatial distribution of the component in the membrane. Thus, transportation of the membrane components by the Min proteins follows a simple physical principle, which resembles a linear peristaltic pumping process, to selectively segregate and maintain heterogeneous distribution of materials in the membrane.