Oxidant damage to erythrocyte membrane in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: correlation with in vivo reduced glutathione concentration and membrane protein oxidation

Chronic nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia has been observed in a recently described glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) variant, G6PDWayne. The mechanical properties of these erythrocytes and other G6PD variants were examined. The deformability of G6PD-deficient erythrocytes was normal, as determined by osmotic scan ektacytometry, and was not significantly affected by hemolytic crisis. In the common varieties of G6PD deficiency, the mechanical stability of the red blood cell (RBC) membrane was greater than normal, but G6PDWayne membranes were abnormally susceptible to shear-induced fragmentation. There was no evidence for a concurrent genetic defect in spectrin, because self-association constants and tryptic digests were normal. The fragility of G6PDWayne membranes appeared to be a consequence of oxidative damage to membrane thiol groups associated with a low glutathione (GSH) level in these RBCs. Associations among GSH level, thiol oxidation, and membrane instability were also found when a larger group of G6PD-deficient RBCs were examined. In normal erythrocytes, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was used to reduce GSH levels by 50%. Membrane thiol oxidation and membrane fragility both increased when these cells were kept at 4 degrees C for 3 to 5 days. Our findings suggest that chronic depletion of GSH leads to the destabilization of membrane skeleton through oxidation of membrane protein thiols.     

On the Evolutionary Optimization of Many Conflicting Objectives

This study explores the utility of multiobjective evolutionary algorithms (using standard Pareto ranking and diversity-promoting selection mechanisms) for solving optimization tasks with many conflicting objectives. Optimizer behavior is assessed for a grid of mutation and recombination operator configurations. Performance maps are obtained for the dual aims of proximity to, and distribution across, the optimal tradeoff surface. Performance sweet-spots for both variation operators are observed to contract as the number of objectives is increased. Classical settings for recombination are shown to be suitable for small numbers of objectives but correspond to very poor performance for higher numbers of objectives, even when large population sizes are used. Explanations for this behavior are offered via the concepts of dominance resistance and active diversity promotion.     

Testing the robustness of CIECAM02

CIE TC8‐01 has adopted a new color appearance model: CIECAM02¹ replaces the CIECAM97s.² The new model consists of a number of refinements and simplifications of the CIECAM97s color appearance model. This article describes further tests to the robustness of the forward and reverse modes. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 30, 99–106, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.20087     

In-situ birefringence microscopy of uniaxially stretched metal-polymer laminate

This paper concentrates on revealing the local deformation as a function of applied strain in a polymer coating supported by a plastically deforming and roughening metal substrate. To this end in-situ birefringence microscopy measurements have been executed. The measurements are performed in reflection and an alternative unwrapping scheme for the optical path difference is proposed. From the characterization of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) coated stainless steel it is concluded that strain localization appears below the macroscopic strain at yield and that the surface roughness of the substrate is the driving force of the localization.     

Total Energy Shaping Control of Mechanical Systems: Simplifying the Matching Equations Via Coordinate Changes

Total energy shaping is a controller design methodology that achieves (asymptotic) stabilization of mechanical systems endowing the closed-loop system with a Lagrangian or Hamiltonian structure with a desired energy function - that qualifies as Lyapunov function for the desired equilibrium. The success of the method relies on the possibility of solving two PDEs which identify the kinetic and potential energy functions that can be assigned to the closed loop. Particularly troublesome is the partial differential equation (PDE) associated to the kinetic energy which is nonlinear and inhomogeneous and the solution, that defines the desired inertia matrix, must be positive-definite. In this note, we prove that we can eliminate or simplify the forcing term in this PDE by modifying the target dynamics and introducing a change of coordinates in the original system. Furthermore, it is shown that, in the particular case of transformation to the Lagrangian coordinates, the possibility of simplifying the PDEs is determined by the interaction between the Coriolis and centrifugal forces and the actuation structure. The examples of pendulum on a cart and Furuta's pendulum are used to illustrate the results.     

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