Itaconic acid is a mammalian metabolite induced during macrophage activation

Itaconic acid (ITA), or methylenesuccinic acid, is not generally classified as a mammalian metabolite. Using NMR-based metabolomics and (13)C-labeling, we have detected ITA in both macrophage-like VM-M3 and RAW 264.7 tumor cell lines as well as stimulated and unstimulated primary murine macrophages. Macrophage activation by addition of lipopolysaccharide and IFN-γ markedly increased ITA production and secretion. Crude cell extracts synthesize ITA via decarboxylation of cis-aconitate, indicative of a novel mammalian cis-aconitic decarboxylase activity. Our results highlight a previously unidentified biosynthetic pathway related to TCA cycle metabolism in mammalian cells and a novel metabolite that likely plays a role in macrophage-based immune response.     

Multivariable passive RFID vapor sensors: roll-to-roll fabrication on a flexible substrate

We demonstrate roll-to-roll (R2R) fabrication of highly selective, battery-free radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymeric substrate. Selectivity of our developed RFID sensors is provided by measurements of their resonance impedance spectra, followed by the multivariate analysis of spectral features, and correlation of these spectral features to the concentrations of vapors of interest. The multivariate analysis of spectral features also provides the ability for the rejection of ambient interferences. As a demonstration of our R2R fabrication process, we employed polyetherurethane (PEUT) as a "classic" sensing material, extruded this sensing material as 25, 75, and 125-μm thick films, and thermally laminated the films onto RFID inlays, rapidly producing approximately 5000 vapor sensors. We further tested these RFID vapor sensors for their response selectivity toward several model vapors such as toluene, acetone, and ethanol as well as water vapor as an abundant interferent. Our RFID sensing concept features 16-bit resolution provided by the sensor reader, granting a highly desired independence from costly proprietary RFID memory chips with a low-resolution analog input. Future steps are being planned for field-testing of these sensors in numerous conditions.     

On normal 2-geodesic transitive Cayley graphs

We investigate connected normal 2-geodesic transitive Cayley graphs Cay(T,S). We first prove that if Cay(T,S) is neither cyclic nor K_4[2], then 〈a〉?{1}??S for all a∈S. Next, as an application, we give a reduction theorem proving that each graph in this family which is neither a complete multipartite graph nor a bipartite 2-arc transitive graph, has a normal quotient that is either a complete graph or a Cayley graph in the family for a characteristically simple group. Finally we classify complete multipartite graphs in the family.     

The Infrared and 1H-NMR Spectra of 8-Hydroxyquinoline Adducts of 8-Hydroxyquinoline Complexes of Dioxouranium(VI), Thorium(IV) and Scandium(III)

The ¹H-nmr and infrared spectra of the complexes [M(ox)_n(Hox)] where M = UO₂ (n = 2), Th (n = 4) or Sc (n = 3) and Hox = 8-hydroxyquinoline are discussed. The nmr spectra of the adducts are uninformative with respect to the bonding and structure of these molecules since they dissociate in solution. The solid state ir spectra show that the adducted molecule of 8-hydroxyquinoline is bound to the metal through the phenolic oxygen, the proton forming an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the nitrogen atom of the adducted molecule and the oxygen atom of a neighbouring chelate ring. The mid-and far-ir spectra are reported for the first time and assignments for the δN-H, νM-O and νM-N modes have been made.     

Accelerated passive MR catheter tracking into the carotid artery of canines

Background

Using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for navigating catheters has several advantages when compared with the current “gold standard” modality of X-ray imaging. A significant drawback to interventional MR is inferior temporal and spatial resolutions, as high spatial resolution images cannot be collected and displayed at rates equal to X-ray imaging. In particular, passive MR catheter tracking experiments that use positive contrast mechanisms have poor temporal imaging rates and signal-to-noise ratio. As a result, with passive methods, it is often difficult to reconstruct motion artifact-free tracking images from areas with motion, such as the thoracic cavity.

Methods

In this study, several accelerated MR acquisition strategies, including parallel imaging and compressed sensing (CS), were evaluated to determine which method is most effective at improving the frame rate and passive detection of catheters in regions of physiological motion. Device navigation was performed both in vitro, through the aortic arch of an anthropomorphic chest phantom, and in vivo from the femoral artery, up the descending aorta into the supra-aortic branching vessels in canines.

Results and Discussion

The different parallel imaging methods produced images of low quality. CS with a two-fold acceleration was found to be the most effective method for generating tracking images, improving the image frame rate to 5.2 Hz, while maintaining a relatively high in-plane resolution. Using CS, motion artifact was decreased and the catheters were visualized with good conspicuity near the heart.

Conclusions

The improvement in the imaging frame rate by image acceleration was sufficient to overcome motion artifacts and to better visualize catheters in the thoracic cavity with passive tracking. CS preformed best at tracking. Navigation with passive MR catheter tracking was demonstrated from the femoral artery to the carotid artery in canines.     

Solving an Inverse First-Passage-Time Problem for Wiener Process Subject to Random Jumps from a Boundary

We study an inverse first-passage-time problem for Wiener process X(t) subject to random jumps from a boundary c. Let be given a threshold S > X(0); and a distribution function F on [0, + ∞). The problem consists of finding the distribution of the jumps which occur when X(t) hits c, so that the first-passage time of X(t) through S has distribution F.     

The finite simple groups with at most two fusion classes of every order

Elements a,b of a group G are said to be fused if a = b^σ and to be inverse-fused if a =(b^-1)^σ for some σ ? Aut(G). The fusion class of a ? G is the set {a^σ | σ ? Aut(G)}, and it is called a fusion class of order i if a has order iThis paper gives a complete classification of the finite nonabelian simple groups G for which either (i) or (ii) holds, where:

(i) G has at most two fusion classes of order i for every i (23 examples); and

(ii) any two elements of G of the same order are fused or inversenfused.

The examples in case (ii) are: A₅, A₆,L₂(7),L₂(8), L₃(4), Sz(8), M₁₁ and M₂₃An application is given concerning isomorphisms of Cay ley graphs.     

Finite line-transitive linear spaces: Theory and search strategies

The paper summarises existing theory and classifications for finite line-transitive linear spaces, develops the theory further, and organises it in a way that enables its effective application. The starting point is a theorem of Camina and the fifth author that identifies three kinds of line-transitive automorphism groups of linear spaces. In two of these cases the group may be imprimitive on points, that is, the group leaves invariant a nontrivial partition of the point set. In the first of these cases the group is almost simple with point-transitive simple socle, and may or may not be point-primitive, while in the second case the group has a non-trivial point-intransitive normal subgroup and hence is definitely point-imprimitive. The theory presented here focuses on point-imprimitive groups. As a non-trivial application a classification is given of the point-imprimitive, line-transitive groups, and the corresponding linear spaces, for which the greatest common divisor gcd（k, v - 1） ≤ 8, where v is the number of points, and k is the line size. Motivation for this classification comes from a result of Weidong Fang and Huffing Li in 1993, that there are only finitely many non-trivial point-imprimitive, linetransitive linear spaces for a given value of gcd（k, v - 1）. The classification strengthens the classification by Camina and Mischke under the much stronger restriction k ≤ 8： no additional examples arise. The paper provides the backbone for future computer-based classifications of point-imprimitive, line- transitive linear spaces with small parameters. Several suggestions for further investigations are made.     

Laser mechanisms and processes in the p-GE far IR laser

Laser mechanisms in the p-Ge far IR laser are identified and models presented to make laser line assignments in the three laser spectral regions: (A) multiple frequencies non-tunable with E and B, (B) multiple frequencies tunable with B, and (CR) single cyclotron frequencies tunable with B. Brief reviews of the classical and quantum theories of the p-Ge laser are given to support and explain the laser models.