Decomposition of the optical transfer function: wavefront coding imaging systems

We describe the mapping of the optical transfer function (OTF) of an incoherent imaging system into a geometrical representation. We show that for defocused traditional and wavefront-coded systems the OTF can be represented as a generalized Cornu spiral. This representation provides a physical insight into the way in which wavefront coding can increase the depth of field of an imaging system and permits analytical quantification of salient OTF parameters, such as the depth of focus, the location of nulls, and amplitude and phase modulation of the wavefront-coding OTF.     

N1...N3 hydrogen bonds of A:U base pairs of RNA are stronger than those of A:T base pairs of DNA

Trans-hydrogen-bond deuterium isotope effects of Watson-Crick A:U and A:T base pairs of 10 homologous RNA and DNA duplexes are compared. The isotope effect at 13C2 of adenosine residues due to deuterium/protium substitution at the imino H3 site, 2hDelta13C2, is larger in RNA than in DNA. The virtually consistent larger isotope effects in RNA suggest that the N1...N3 hydrogen bonds of A:U base pairs of RNA are stronger than those of the A:T base pairs of DNA.     

Recent advances in metal catalysts with hybrid ligands

This review summarises some recent developments of the metal complexes of hetero-functional hybrid ligands of C-, N-, O-, P- and S-donors. It highlights the ligand designs, synthetic pathways, structural motifs and catalytic prowess of these complexes.     

On the geometric form of solutions of a free boundary problem involving galvanization

In [6], T. I. Vogel studied a free boundary problem originating in the galvanization process. He showed that if the given boundary Γ* is starlike or convex, then so is the free boundary solution Γ. Our purpose is to generalize Vogel's second result by showing (under certain assumptions) that Γ cannot have more (local) maxima or minima (relative to a given direction) than Γ*; also that Γ cannot have more inflection points or greater total curvature than Γ*. The author has already proven analogous results for the Bernoulli free boundary problem in [1], [2] and [3].     

Chemical-genetic screen identifies riluzole as an enhancer of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in melanoma

To identify new protein and pharmacological regulators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, we used a cell-based reporter assay to screen a collection of 1857 human-experienced compounds for their ability to enhance activation of the β-catenin reporter by a low concentration of WNT3A. This identified 44 unique compounds, including the FDA-approved drug riluzole, which is presently in clinical trials for treating melanoma. We found that treating melanoma cells with riluzole in?vitro enhances the ability of WNT3A to regulate gene expression, to promote pigmentation, and to decrease cell proliferation. Furthermore riluzole, like WNT3A, decreases metastases in a mouse melanoma model. Interestingly, siRNAs targeting the metabotropic glutamate receptor, GRM1, a reported indirect target of riluzole, enhance β-catenin signaling. The unexpected regulation of β-catenin signaling by both riluzole and GRM1 has implications for the future uses of this drug.