Cloning and characterization of the genes of the CeqI restriction-modification system

Two genes from Corynebacterium equii, a Gram-positive bacterium producing the CeqI restriction-modification enzymes were cloned and sequenced. In vivo restriction experiments, DNA and amino acid sequence data suggest that the two genes code for the endonuclease and the methyltransferase enzymes. However, when the two genes are expressed in E. coli, practically no enzyme activity can be detected in the supernatants of sonicated cells. Based on the DNA sequence data CeqI restriction endonuclease (an EcoRV izoschizomer) consists of 270 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 31.6 kDa, in good agreement with the previously measured 32 +/- 2 kDa. The methyltransferase is 517 residues long (approx. 60 kDa). The two genes are in opposite orientation and overlap by 37 base pairs on the chromosome. The deduced amino acid sequence of the putative endonuclease gene revealed long stretches of hydrophobic amino acids, that may form the structural basis of the unusual aggregation properties of the restriction endonuclease. The amino acid sequence of the methylase shows homologies with other type II methyltransferases.     

Characterization of ceramic plasma-sprayed coatings, and interaction studies between U-Zr fuel and ceramic coated interface at an elevated temperature

Candidate coating materials for re-usable metallic nuclear fuel crucibles, HfN, TiC, ZrC, and Y₂O₃, were plasma-sprayed onto niobium substrates. The coating microstructure and the thermal cycling behavior were characterized, and U-Zr melt interaction studies carried out. The Y₂O₃ coating layer had a uniform thickness and was well consolidated with a few small pores scattered throughout. While the HfN coating was not well consolidated with a considerable amount of porosity, but showed somewhat uniform thickness. Thermal cycling tests on the HfN, TiC, ZrC, and Y₂O₃ coatings showed good cycling characteristics with no interconnected cracks forming even after 20 cycles. Interaction studies done on the coated samples by dipping into a U-20wt.%Zr melt indicated that HfN and Y₂O₃ did not form significant reaction layers between the melt and the coating while the TiC and the ZrC coatings were significantly degraded. Y₂O₃ exhibited the most promising performance among HfN, TiC, ZrC, and Y₂O₃ coatings.     

Optimization of pH sensing using silicon nanowire field effect transistors with HfO2 as the sensing surface

Silicon nanowire field effect transistor sensors with SiO(2)/HfO(2) as the gate dielectric sensing surface are fabricated using a top down approach. These sensors are optimized for pH sensing with two key characteristics. First, the pH sensitivity is shown to be independent of buffer concentration. Second, the observed pH sensitivity is enhanced and is equal to the Nernst maximum sensitivity limit of 59 mV/pH with a corresponding subthreshold drain current change of ～ 650%/pH. These two enhanced pH sensing characteristics are attributed to the use of HfO(2) as the sensing surface and an optimized fabrication process compatible with silicon processing technology.     

Finding least-weight subsequences with fewer processors

By restricting weight functions to satisfy the quadrangle inequality or the inverse quadrangle inequality, significant progress has been made in developing efficient sequential algorithms for the least-weight subsequence problem [10], [9], [12], [16]. However, not much is known on the improvement of the naive parallel algorithm for the problem, which is fast but demands too many processors (i.e., it takesO(log² n) time on a CREW PRAM with n³/logn processors). In this paper we show that if the weight function satisfies the inverse quadrangle inequality, the problem can be solved on a CREW PRAM in O(log² n log logn) time withn/log logn processors, or in O(log² n) time withn logn processors. Notice that the processor-time complexity of our algorithm is much closer to the almost linear-time complexity of the best-known sequential algorithm [12].     

Microscopic measurement of cellular infiltration in the rheumatoid arthritis synovial membrane: a comparison of semiquantitative and quantitative analysis

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of burn patients with inhalation injuries incur difficulties with airway protection, dysphagia, and aspiration. In assessing the need for intubation in burn patients, the efficacy of fiberoptic laryngoscopy was compared with clinical findings and the findings of diagnostic tests, such as arterial blood gas analysis, measurement of carboxyhemoglobin levels, pulmonary function tests, and radiography of the lateral aspect of the neck. OBJECTIVE: To determine if these patients were at risk for aspiration or dysphagia, barium-enhanced fluoroscopic swallowing studies were performed. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTINGS: Burn intensive care unit in an academic tertiary referral center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Need for endotracheal intubation and potential for aspiration. RESULTS: Six (55%) of 11 patients had clinical findings and symptoms that indicated, under traditional criteria, endotracheal intubation for airway protection. Visualization of the upper airway with fiberoptic laryngoscopy obviated the need for endotracheal intubation in all 11 patients. These patients also failed to evidence an increased risk of aspiration or other swallowing dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with other diagnostic criteria, fiberoptic laryngoscopy allows differentiation of those patients with inhalation injuries who, while at risk for upper airway obstruction, do not require intubation. These patients may be safely observed in a monitored setting with serial fiberoptic examinations, thus avoiding the possible complications associated with intubation of an airway with a compromised mucosalized surface. In these patients, swallowing abnormalities do not manifest.     

External Cavity Lasers Composed of Higher Order Gratings and SLDs Integrated on PLC Platform

Very compact 4‐channel 200‐GHz‐spacing external cavity lasers (ECLs) were fabricated by hybrid integration of reflection gratings and superluminescent laser diodes on a planar lightwave circuit chip. The fifth‐order gratings as reflection gratings were formed using a conventional contact‐mask photo‐lithography process to achieve low‐cost fabrication. The lasing wavelength of the fabricated ECLs matched the ITU grid with an accuracy of ×0.1 nm, and optical powers were more than 0.4 mW at the injection current of 80 mA for all channels. The ECLs showed single mode operations with more than 30 dB side lobe suppression.     

Correlation between Barkhausen-noise and corrugation of railway rails

The magnetic Barkhausen-noise has been investigated on the running surface of a railway rail and a good correlation has been found between the noise and corrugation. The Barkhausen-noise showed minima and maxima at the hill and valley positions, respectively. This correlation can be used to observe or preindicate the corrugation process.     

A Rigorous 2D Approximation Technique for 3D Waveguide Structures for BPM Calculations

We propose a rigorous 2D approximation technique for the 3D waveguide structures; it can minimize the well‐known approximation errors of the commonly used effective index method. The main concept of the proposed technique is to compensate for the effective cladding index in the equivalent slab model of the original channel waveguide from the modal effective index calculated by the nonuniform 2D finite difference method. With simulations, we used the proposed technique to calculate the coupling characteristics of a directional coupler by the 2D beam propagation method, and the results were almost exactly the same as the results calculated by the 3D beam propagation method.