A Parallel Method for Earth Mover’s Distance

We propose a new algorithm to approximate the Earth Mover’s distance (EMD). Our main idea is motivated by the theory of optimal transport, in which EMD can be reformulated as a familiar \(L_1\) type minimization. We use a regularization which gives us a unique solution for this \(L_1\) type problem. The new regularized minimization is very similar to problems which have been solved in the fields of compressed sensing and image processing, where several fast methods are available. In this paper, we adopt a primal-dual algorithm designed there, which uses very simple updates at each iteration and is shown to converge very rapidly. Several numerical examples are provided.     

Wet air oxidation of p-coumaric acid over promoted ceria catalysts

The catalytic wet air oxidation (WAO) of p-coumaric acid (PCA) has been investigated over Fe- and Zn-promoted ceria catalysts. The catalysts have been prepared by the coprecipitation method and have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area, SEM–EDX and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). The oxidation reaction was carried out in a batch reactor under an air pressure of 2 MPa and in the temperature range 353–403 K. Fe-CeO₂ catalysts, with 20–50 mol% of iron, were found more effective than the unpromoted and Zn-promoted ceria catalysts. On the basis of characterization data, it has been suggested that the higher activity of the Fe-promoted catalysts is related to the modification of the structural and redox properties of the ceria oxide catalyst on addition of iron.     

Selection of single domain binding proteins by covalent DNA display

Selection technologies such as phage and ribosome display, which provide a physical linkage between genetic information and encoded polypeptide, are important tools for the engineering of proteins for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. We have recently described a selection strategy called covalent DNA display, in which individual proteins are covalently linked to the cognate encoding DNA template in separate droplets of a water-in-oil emulsion. We here report on the optimization of several experimental steps in covalent DNA display technology, such as the elution conditions and the PCR strategy used for the amplification of selected DNA templates. A PCR assembly strategy was developed, which allows the amplification of the DNA templates over repeated rounds of selection. In addition, we could demonstrate that approximately 50% of the DNA templates form a covalent adduct with the corresponding proteins in the compartments of a water-in-oil emulsion. In model selection experiments, differences in recovery efficiency <100 000 per round of selection could be observed when comparing a specific binding polypeptide with a binder of irrelevant specificity. Furthermore, the optimized protocol was successfully applied for the selection of single domain proteins, capable of specific binding to mouse serum albumin (MSA). A mutant derived from the SH3 domain of the Fyn kinase, with millimolar affinity to MSA, was affinity matured using covalent DNA display and yielded several MSA binding FynSH3 variants with dissociation constants in the 100 nM range.     

Substantial improvement of nanotube processability by freeze-drying

As-produced carbon nanotubes often contain a fraction of impurities such as metal catalysts, inorganic supports, and carbon by-products. These impurities can be partially removed by using acidic dissolution. The resulting nanotube materials have to be dried to form a powder. The processability of nanotubes subjected to regular (thermal vaporisation) drying is particularly difficult because capillary forces pack and stick the nanotubes irreversibly, which limits their dispersability in polymeric matrices or solvents. We show that this dramatic limitation can be circumvented by using freeze-drying instead of regular-drying during nanotube purification process. In this case, the nanotubes are trapped in frozen water which is then sublimated. As a result the final powder is significantly less compact and, more important, the nanotubes can be easily dispersed with no apparent aggregates, thereby greatly enhancing their processability, e.g., they can be used to make homogeneous composites and fibers. Results from coagulation spinning from water-based dispersions of regularly-dried and freeze-dried nanotubes are compared. We also show that freeze-dried materials, in contrast to regularly-dried materials, can be dissolved in organic polar solvents using alkali-doped nanotubes. High resolution TEM and XRD analysis demonstrate that the nanotube structure and quality are not affected at the nanoscale by freeze-drying treatments.     

Molecular analysis of 11q13 breakpoints in multiple myeloma

The t(11;14)(q13;q32) chromosomal translocation, which is the hallmark of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), is found in approximately 30% of multiple myeloma (MM) tumors with a 14q32 translocation. Although the overexpression of cyclin D1 has been found to be correlated with MM cell lines carrying the t(11;14), rearrangements of the BCL-1/cyclin D1 regions frequently involved in MCL rarely occur in MM cell lines or primary tumors. To test whether specific 11q13 breakpoint clusters may occur in MM, we investigated a representative panel of primary tumors by means of Southern blot analysis using probes derived from MM-associated 11q13 breakpoints. To this end, we first cloned the breakpoints and respective germ-line regions from a primary tumor and the U266 cell line, as well as the germ-line region from the KMS-12 cell line. DNA from 50 primary tumors was tested using a large panel of probes, but a rearrangement was detected in only one case using the KMS-12 breakpoint probe. Our results confirm previous findings that the 11q13 breakpoints in MM are scattered throughout the 11q13 region encompassing the cyclin D1 gene, thus suggesting the absence of 11q13 breakpoint clusters in MM.     

Changes in olive oil composition due to microwave heating

The effects of microwave heating on some components of extra-virgin olive oil were studied. Traditional parameters, including free acidity, peroxide value and ultraviolet absorbance values at 232 and 268 nm, were determined in six extra-virgin olive oil samples before and after the microwave treatment. Significant differences (P<0.01) were detected for free acidity, peroxide, and ultraviolet absorbance at 268 nm; also, the absorbances at 232 nm showed significant differences (P<0.05) between treated and untreated samples. The glycerolic fractions, triacylglycerols (TAG), diacylglycerols (DAG), and monoacylglycerols (MAG), were isolated by thin-layer chromatography. The respective percentage fatty acid (FA) composition and percentage amount were obtained by high-resolution gas chromatography with an internal standard. For the most abundant TAG fraction, the stereospecific analysis was carried out to obtain the FA percentage compositions of the three sn-positions. Small but significant modifications were observed regarding the decrease in the TAG percentage and increases in the DAG and MAG percentage amounts. No significant changes were observed for the FA compositions of TAG, DAG, and MAG fractions before and after the treatment. Nevertheless, the results of TAG stereospecific analysis showed losses of unsaturated FA in all sn-positions. Higher percentage changes in the sn-1- than in sn-2-position of TAG were observed. Regarding the volatile fraction, different profiles were obtained after the treatment.     

Graphitization in high carbon commercial steels

Graphitization kinetics in two commercial high carbon steels, AISI types 1075 and 1095, are studied by conducting a series of isothermal annealing treatments in the temperature range of 560 to 680‡ C for periods of time ranging from 20 to 500 h. The samples selected were collected along the processing route in a commercial production line dedicated to the fabrication of thin strip. The structures studied were those of hot rolling (consisting of fine pearlite), cold rolling (spheroidized carbides within a deformed ferritic matrix), and subcritical annealing (spheroidized carbides in undeformed ferrite). The samples obtained from hot rolled coils do not graphitize, whereas those cold rolled graphitize at a rate that depends on the type of steel and degree of deformation. No graphite was found in samples from the lower carbon steel, which were subcritically annealed, although they were observed in specimens from the other steel, which were cold rolled to a reduction of 50% prior to the subcritical annealing.     

Identification of cocoa butter equivalents added to cocoa butter by fatty acid composition of the triacylglycerol sub-fractions separated by Ag+-HPLC – II –

 In a previous study the fatty acid compositions of triacylglycerol sub-fractions, separated by Ag⁺-HPLC, were studied in samples of cocoa butter, cocoa butter equivalents (CBE) and some of their mixtures. In this paper similar research is described which was carried out on three other CBE (Illexao 30–61, Illexao 30–63, Illexao 30–71). The results show the particular significance of the fully saturated sub-fraction, in which notable percentage changes in C16 : 0 and C18 : 0 contents were also detectable in the two mixtures with the lowest CBE content (5% or 15%, w/w) relative to genuine cocoa butter. Multiple regression analysis was used to verify the percentages changes of fatty acid contents in the fully saturated sub-fraction as a function of the percentage of CBE added to genuine cocoa butter. Received: 19 December 1997 / Revised version: 25 June 1998     

Proto-Design: Architecture's Primordial Soup and the Quest for Units of Synthetic Life

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Neri Oxman is engaged on the Material-Based Computation project. It takes an approach that can be regarded as analogous to protocells. It places a similar emphasis on material properties as intermediary agents for the built environment, containing the information for behaviour and evolution. Here she outlines three methods that define her research. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.