Automatic ultrastructure segmentation of reconstructed cryoEM maps of icosahedral viruses.

We present an automatic algorithm to segment all the local and global asymmetric units of a three-dimensional density map of icosahedral viruses. This approach is readily applicable to the structural analysis of a broad range of virus structures that are reconstructed using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) technique. Our algorithm includes three major steps operating on the three dimensional density map: the detection of critical points of the volumetric density function, the detection of global and local symmetry axes, and, finally, the boundary segmentation of all the asymmetric units. We demonstrate the efficacy of our algorithm and report our results on several experimental volumetric datasets, consisting of both reconstructed cryo-EM molecular density maps taken from the European Bioinformatics Institute archive, as well our own synthetically generated (blurred) maps calculated from X-ray resolution molecular structural data taken from the Protein Data Bank.     

Continuous-Wave Operation of a 460-GHz Second Harmonic Gyrotron Oscillator

We report the regulated continuous-wave (CW) operation of a second harmonic gyrotron oscillator at output power levels of over 8 W (12.4 kV and 135 mA beam voltage and current) in the TE(0,6,1) mode near 460 GHz. The gyrotron also operates in the second harmonic TE(2,6,1) mode at 456 GHz and in the TE(2,3,1) fundamental mode at 233 GHz. CW operation was demonstrated for a one-hour period in the TE(0,6,1) mode with better than 1% power stability, where the power was regulated using feedback control. Nonlinear simulations of the gyrotron operation agree with the experimentally measured output power and radio-frequency (RF) efficiency when cavity ohmic losses are included in the analysis. The output radiation pattern was measured using a pyroelectric camera and is highly Gaussian, with an ellipticity of 4%. The 460-GHz gyrotron will serve as a millimeter-wave source for sensitivity-enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance (dynamic nuclear polarization) experiments at a magnetic field of 16.4 T.     

Modeling of in situ monitored laser reflectance during MOCVD growth of HgCdTe

An effective way to in situ monitor the metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of HgCdTe/CdTe/ZnTe on GaAs or GaAs/Si substrates is presented. Specular He-Ne laser reflectance was used to in situ monitor the growth rates, layer thickness, and morphology for each layer in the grown multilayer structure. In situ monitoring has enabled precise measurements of ZnTe nucleation and CdTe buffer layer thicknesses. Monitoring the constancy of reflectance during the thicker CdTe buffer growth where absorption in the CdTe reduces reflectance to just the surface component has led to optimum buffer growth ensuring good quality of subsequently grown HgCdTe. During the interdiffused multilayer process (IMP) HgCdTe growth, because multiple interfaces are present within the absorption length, a periodic reflectance signal is maintained throughout this growth cycle. A theoretical model was developed to extract IMP layer thicknesses from in situ recorded experimental data. For structures that required the growth of a larger band gap HgCdTe cap layer on top of a smaller band gap active layer, in situ monitored reflectance data allowed determination of alloy composition in the cap layer as well. Continuous monitoring of IMP parameters established the stability of growth conditions, translating into depth uniformity of the grown material, and allowed diagnosis of growth rate instabilities in terms of changes in the HgTe and CdTe parts of the IMP cycle. A unique advantage of in situ laser monitoring is the opportunity to perform “interactive” crystal growth, a development that is a key to real time MOCVD HgCdTe feedback growth control.     

Geometric optimization andD P -completeness

In this paper we show a number of natural geometric optimization problems in the plane to becomplete for a classD ^P . The classD ^p contains both NP and Co-NP and is contained in ₂ ^P =P ^NP. Completeness inD ^p is exhibited under many-one and positive reductions. Further anOptP(O(logn)) result is also obtained for some of these optimization problems.Work on this paper by the first author was supported in part by NSF Grant No. MIP 85-21356 and ARO Contract No. DAAG29-85-C-0018 under Cornell/MSI. Work by the second author was supported in part by NSF Grant No. DCR 86-06366 at Ohio State and ONR Grant No. N00014-k-0045 at Harvard.On leave from Ohio State University.     

The structure of malabricol

A single crystal X-ray analysis has confirmed the constitution and established the stereochemistry of the triterpene, malabaricol.     

The stereochemistry of guggulsterol-1

The steroechemistry of guggulsterol-1, a component of the exudate of $\text{Commiphora}$$\text{mukul}$, is shown to be 20(R), 22(R)($\text{3}$).     

A sensitive colorimetric determination of 2,2′-dihydroxybiphenyl

Summary A colorimetric method for the determination of 2,2-dihydroxy-biphenyl in rat urine is described. The ether extract is subjected to thin-layer chromatography on silica gel-G plates in the solvent system benzene-methanol (8020) and spots corresponding to 2,2-dihydroxybiphenyl and its glucuronide derivative are eluted with ethanol. The glucuronide is hydrolysed with HCl and the 2,2-di-hydroxybiphenyl content is determined after colour development with sodium cobaltinitrite, the absorbance being read at 410 nm. The method is sensitive and reproducible. It obeys the Lambert-Beer law in the concentration range 0.7–8.9g/ml.

---

Eine empfindliche kolorimetrische Methode zur Bestimmung von 2,2 -Dihydroxybiphenyl

Zusammenfassung Eine kolorimetrische Methode zur Bestimmung von 2,2-Dihydroxy-biphenyl in Rattenharn wurde beschrieben. Der ätherische Extrakt wird auf Silikagel-G-Platten dünnschicht-chromatographisch mit dem Lösungsmittelsystem Benzol-Methanol (8020) getrennt. Die dem genannten Stoff und seinem Glucuronid entsprechenden Flecken werden mit äthanol eluiert. Das Glucuronid wird mit Salzsäure hydrolysiert und der Gehalt an 2,2-Di-hydroxybiphenyl nach Ausführung der Farbreaktion mit Natriumkobalti-nitrit und Messung bei 410 nm bestimmt. Das Verfahren ist empfindlich und gut reproduzierbar. Es entspricht dem Lambert-Beerschen Gesetz zwischen 0,7 und 8,9g/ml.