Characterization of cores of assignment games

We consider the assignment game of Shapley and Shubik (1972). We prove that the class of possible cores of such games (expressed in terms of payoffs for players on one side of the market) is exactly the same as a special class of polytopes, called 45-lattices. These results parallel similar work done by Conway (in Knuth, 1976) and Blair (1984) for marriage markets.Research supported by the Office of Naval Technology.     

Characterization of the Reaction of Chloroacetaldehyde with Single and Double Stranded DNA

Chloroacetaldehyde reacts with viral M13mp18 single and double stranded DNA to form the highly fluorescent adducts, etheno-AMP and etheno-CMP.

Absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to monitor and characterize these reactions. Both single and double stranded DNA showed increases in the absorbance following reaction with the aldehyde. The fluorescence also increased in these two groups and continued to rise with increasing time of incubation until a point of saturation was reached. The fluorescence of the double stranded moiety was considerably enhanced following reaction with the aldehyde while that of the single stranded population was not, making this method appropriate for the separation of small quantities of the two populations of DNA.     

Raman Imaging: An Impending Approach Towards Cancer Diagnosis

In accordance with the recent studies, Raman spectroscopy is well experimented as a highly sensitive analytical and imaging technique in biomedical research, mainly for various disease diagnosis including cancer. In comparison with other imaging modalities, Raman spectroscopy facilitate numerous assistances owing to its low background signal, immense spatial resolution, high chemical specificity, multiplexing capability, excellent photo stability and non-invasive detection capability. In cancer diagnosis Raman imaging intervened as a promising investigative tool to provide molecular level information to differentiate the cancerous vs non-cancerous cells, tissues and even in body fluids. Anciently, spontaneous Raman scattering is very feeble due to its low signal intensity and long acquisition time but new advanced techniques like coherent Raman scattering (CRS) and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) gradually superseded these issues. So, the present review focuses on the recent developments and applications of Raman spectroscopy-based imaging techniques for cancer diagnosis.     

Smooth and Nonsmooth Lipschitz Controls for a Class of Vector Differential Equations

This paper is devoted to the study of a class of control problems associated to a nonlinear second-order vector differential equation with pointwise state constraints. The control is realized via a function of the state. We extend the results of Akkouchi, Bounabat, and Goebel to vector differential equations and furthermore consider the more general case. Under proper conditions, we prove the existence of optimal controls in the class of Lipschitz functions and obtain an optimality condition which looks somehow like the Pontryagin maximum principle for a smooth optimal control function. For a nonsmooth optimal control function, we derive a suboptimality condition by means of the Ekeland variational principle.Communicated by M. J. BalasThis work was supported by 985 Project of Jilin University. The author thanks Professor Yong Li for valuable suggestions. He also thanks Professor M. J. Balas and the anonymous referees for their comments.     

Characterization of the Nonemptiness and Compactness of Solution Sets in Convex and Nonconvex Vector Optimization

As a consequence of an abstract theorem proved elsewhere, a vector Weierstrass theorem for the existence of a weakly efficient solution without any convexity assumption is established. By using the notion (recently introduced in an earlier paper) of semistrict quasiconvexity for vector functions and assuming additional structure on the space, new existence results encompassing many results appearing in the literature are derived. Also, when the cone defining the preference relation satisfies some mild assumptions (but including the polyhedral and icecream cones), various characterizations for the nonemptiness and compactness of the weakly efficient solution set to convex vector optimization problems are given. Similar results for a class of nonconvex problems on the real line are established as well.Research supported in part by Conicyt-Chile through FONDECYT 104-0610 and FONDAP-Matemáticas Aplicadas II.     

Biomimetic Peptide Catalytic Bond-Forming Utilizing a Mild Brønsted Acid

Since the global peptide drug market demand has been predicted to increase, highly efficient and inexpensive mass scale peptides are required. However, the production process raises questions about the cost of energy input, scale-up production, raw materials, and solvents treatment. This paper introduces 2 methods for the 2–4 mer oligopeptides bond formation for batch reaction utilizing 50–100 mol% of a mild Brønsted acid under the mild condition. One of the methods has been capably adapted to flow synthesis at room temperature using organic solvents with boiling points below 100 °C. The method applies the tert-butoxycarbonyl amino methoxy group, forming the desired dipeptide without solvent at mild temperatures. Furthermore, the conversion of the carboxylic acid leaving the group to phenyl ester promotes peptide bond formation, and the reaction were applied to di, tri, and tetrapeptide bond formation in excellent yield without notable racemization at ambient temperature (up to >99 % yield and 99 : 1 dr). Finally, this study proposes this new production method to overcome the limited scale-up production by reaction device scale: liquid phase biomimetic catalytic peptide flow synthesis utilizing a mild Brønsted acid.     

Phonetogram Changes for Trained Singers Over a Nine-Month Period of Vocal Training

Professional vocalists encounter demands requiring voluntary control of phonation, while utilizing a considerable range of frequency and intensity. These quantifiable acoustic events can be measured and represented in a phonetogram. Previous research has compared the phonetograms of trained and untrained voices and found significant differences between these groups. This study was designed to assess the effects of vocal training for singers over a period of nine months. Phonetogram contour changes were examined, with the primary focus on expansion of frequency range and/or intensity control. Twenty-one first-year, master's level, vocal music students, who were engaged in an intensive vocal performance curriculum, participated in this study. Following nine months of vocal training, significant differences were revealed in the subjects' mean frequency range and minimum vocal intensity across frequency levels. There was no significant difference for the mean maximum vocal intensity across frequency levels following vocal training.     

Spectral Changes Due to Performance Environment in Singers, Nonsingers, and Actors

From postrecording interviews of professional singers, it was hypothesized that recording environments, i.e., sound-treated environment versus an auditorium, may induce different vocal behaviors. To test this hypothesis, three groups consisting of nonsingers, singers, and actors were recorded in two different recording environments: a sound-treated booth (IAC) and an auditorium (AUD). Three recordings were obtained from each participant: recording one (IAC) and two (AUD1) required the participants to read in a normal voice; recording three (AUD2) required participants to pretend that they were "performing" before a full house. Results indicated that only the singers and the actors exhibited significant spectral and/or frequency/duration differences from one recording environment to another, with the most dramatic differences exhibited by the singers. It was concluded that the environment in which we record experimental samples from professional voice users, especially singers, should be considered as a variable that can affect results.