The secondary bile acid lithocholic acid (LCA) and its derivatives act as selective modulators of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), although their structures fundamentally differ from that of the natural hormone 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3)]. Here, we have determined the crystal structures of the ligand-binding domain of rat VDR (VDR-LBD) in ternary complexes with a synthetic partial pep...

We study the problem of finding lowest common ancestors (LCA) in trees and directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). Specifically, we extend the LCA problem to DAGs and study the LCA variants that arise in this general setting. We begin with a clear exposition of Berkman and Vishkin’s simple optimal algorithm for LCA in trees. Their ideas lay the foundation for our work on LCA problems in DAGs. We presen...

Sustainability of a bioenergy project depends on precise assessment of biomass resource, planning of cost-effective logistics and evaluation of possible environmental implications. In this context, this paper reviews the role and applications of geo-spatial tool such as Geographical Information System (GIS) for precise agro-residue resource assessment, biomass logistic and power plant design. F...

It is important to know to what extent the outcome of an LCA is affected by various types of uncertainty, such as parameter, scenario and model uncertainty. These types may occur in the goal and scope definition, the inventory analysis and the impact assessment of an LCA. Information on the uncertainty of the model outcomes provides useful information to assess the reliability of LCA-based deci...

Two kinds of individual eye models, involving and without involving the angle between visual axis and optical axis, are established by means of optical design. We use them to study the properties of the transverse chromatic aberration (TCA) and longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) over the visible spectrum. Then the effects of the LCA and TCA on the visual quality of human eyes are evaluated...

This report presents automotive applications of life cycle assessment (LCA) which has attracted public attention as an e!ective tool for evaluating environmental burdens quantitatively. It also reviews the background of how LCA has been introduced, and discusses future possibilities of LCA applications to automobiles as well as important aspects of LCA. ( 1999 Society of Automotive Engineers of...

Splenic littoral cell angioma (LCA) is a comparatively rare vascular neoplasm of the spleen. LCA always presents with thrombocytopenia, fever, weight loss, and abdominal pain, and may also involve splenic rupture. To our knowledge, however, splenic LCA is rarely accompanied by severe hypoproteinemia. This report describes a 36-year-old woman with multiple splenic LCA, accompanied by severe hypo...

International corporations in an increasingly globalized economy exert a major influence on the planet's land use and resources through their product design and material sourcing decisions. Many companies use life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate their sustainability, yet commonly-used LCA methodologies lack the spatial resolution and predictive ecological information to reveal key impacts on...

BACKGROUND Herbs might affect the homeostasis of bile acids through influence of multiple metabolic pathways of bile acids. OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibition of cryptotanshinone towards the glucuronidation of LCA, trying to indicate the possible influence of cryptotanshinone-containing herbs towards the homeostasis of bile acids. METHODS The LCA-3-glucuronidation and LCA-24-glucuronid...