The problem on domains with piecewise smooth boundaries with applications

Let be a bounded domain in such that has piecewise smooth boudnary. We discuss the solvability of the Cauchy-Riemann equation

where is a smooth -closed form with coefficients up to the bundary of , and . In particular, Equation (0.1) is solvable with smooth up to the boundary (for appropriate degree if satisfies one of the following conditions:

i)

is the transversal intersection of bounded smooth pseudoconvex domains.

ii)

where is the union of bounded smooth pseudoconvex domains and is a pseudoconvex convex domain with a piecewise smooth boundary.

iii)

where is the intersection of bounded smooth pseudoconvex domains and is a pseudoconvex domain with a piecewise smooth boundary.

The solvability of Equation (0.1) with solutions smooth up to the boundary can be used to obtain the local solvability for on domains with piecewise smooth boundaries in a pseudoconvex manifold.

     

Orderh 2 method for a singular two-point boundary value problem

A method is described based on auniform mesh for the singular two-point boundary value problem:y+(/x)y+f(x, y)=0, 0<x1,y(0)=0,y(1)=A, and it is shown to be orderh ² convergent forall 1.     

Ultrafast dynamics in a nanocage of enzymes: solvation and fluorescence resonance energy transfer in reverse micelles

In this contribution we report studies of the nature of solvation and resonance energy transfer processes in a reverse micelle (RM) upon encapsulation of a digestive enzyme, alpha-chymotrypsin (CHT). We have used one donor, Coumarin 500 (C500), and three acceptors Rhodamine 123 (R123, cationic), ethidium bromide (EtBr, cationic), and Merocyanine 540 (MC540, anionic). By selectively exciting the donor at the surface of the RM with a proper excitation wavelength we have examined solvation dynamics in the microenvironment. The solvation correlation function in the RM without CHT exhibits single-exponential decay with time constant approximately 660 ps, which is similar to that of the CHT-included RM. However, in the case of CHT-included RM (w(0)=10), the time-resolved anisotropy and spectral linewidth analysis of the surface-bound donor reveal the existence of an annular aqueous channel of thickness approximately 2.5 A between the enzyme surface and the inner surface of the RM. The aqueous channel is a potential host for the water-soluble substrate and also is involved in maintaining the proper functionality of RM encapsulated CHT. The studies use both steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) techniques to measure donor-acceptor distances in the RM and also emphasize the danger of using steady-state fluorescence quenching as a method in careful estimation of the distances. The local geometrical restriction on the donor and acceptor molecules was estimated from time-resolved polarization (anisotropy) measurements. The time-resolved anisotropy of the donor and acceptor molecules also revealed significant randomization of the relative orientation of transition dipoles of the donor and acceptor, justifying the use of 2/3 as the value of the orientation factor kappa2. These studies attempt to elucidate the excellence of the RM as a nanohost of biological macromolecules.     

DNA triangles and self-assembled hexagonal tilings

We have designed and constructed DNA complexes in the form of triangles. We have created hexagonal planar tilings from these triangles via self-assembly. Unlike previously reported structures self-assembled from DNA, our structures appear to involve bending of double helices. Bending helices may be a useful design option in the creation of self-assembled DNA structures. It has been suggested that DNA self-assembly may lead to novel materials and efficient computational devices.     

Electrophoretic behaviour of oligonucleotides and mono-, di- and triphosphate nucleotides by capillary zone electrophoresis

A systematic investigation has been made into the mechanisms of the capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) separation of 12 common nucleotides (mono-, di- and triphosphorylated) and polydeoxythymidylic acid oligonucleotides (pd(T)5-18) using electrophoretic mobility values calculated from migration time data. Relationships between electrophoretic mobility and the physicochemical characteristics of the analytes (charge, dissociation constants, charge-to-mass ratio) and the background electrolyte conditions (buffer strength, percentage organic modifier and buffer pH) were characterised. Nucleotide migration was dominated by the negatively charged phosphate groups. Additionally, there were important contributions to migration behaviour from the ionised amide groups of the nucleobases guanine and uracil at higher buffer pH values or with the presence of methanol in the electrolyte. Calculated electrophoretic mobility values for the nucleotides showed a substantially improved (5-fold) inter-run repeatability compared with migration time data. These studies show the value of representing nucleotide migration data as electrophoretic mobility in CZE for obtaining a more thorough analysis of separation mechanisms and to compensate for variation in migration time data caused by small changes in electrosmotic flow. Oligonucleotides pd(T)5-11 could be adequately resolved from their nearest neighbour, but the limit of single-base separation was pd(T)10 from pd(T)11 under the conditions used. It was calculated that a difference in charge-to-mass ratio of 2.64 x 10(-5) was required for resolution under the CZE conditions used.     

Photoexchange products of cytosine and 5-methylcytosine with N alpha-acetyl-L-lysine and L-lysine

The photoinduced exchange reactions of cytosine (Ia) and 5-methylcytosine (IIa) with N alpha-acetyl-L-lysine, a derivative of the common amino acid L-lysine, were studied. These reactions of Ia and IIa at pH 7.5 produce, respectively, 2-N-acetylamino-6-(1-cytosinyl)hexanoic acid (Ib) and 2-N-acetylamino-6-(1-(5-methylcytosinyl]hexanoic acid (IIb) as major final products. In addition, small amounts of the corresponding deamination products were formed in the 5-methylcytosine-N alpha-acetyl-L-lysine and cytosine-N alpha-acetyl-L-lysine systems, namely 2-N-acetylamino-6-(1-thyminyl)-hexanoic acid and 2-N-acetylamino-6-(1-uracilyl)hexanoic acid. The compounds Ib and IIb were deacetylated by acid hydrolysis to yield the corresponding lysine products: 2-amino-6-(1-cytosinyl)hexanoic acid (Ic) and 2-amino-6-(1-(5-methylcytosinyl]hexanoic acid (IIc). The compound Ic was identified as a product in the photoreaction of cytosine with L-lysine at near neutral pH, while IIc is found as a product in the corresponding reaction of 5-methylcytosine. The occurrence of the above photoexchange reactions at pH values near those found in physiological systems could have biological implications; in particular, our observations suggest that cytosine and 5-methylcytosine residues, contained in DNA, might react with the epsilon-amino groups of lysine residues in proteins upon UV irradiation of nucleosomes and other DNA-protein complexes under physiological conditions.     

Ring-modified carbon fiber microelectrodes and multi-microelectrode devices

Two new types of modified microelectrodes were used alone and in multi-microelectrode devices. Carbon fibers with diameters of 7.2 μm were modified either by electropolymerization, or by thermal polymerization of a mixture of monomers to give a thick coating of modifier around the cylindrical fiber. The modified fibers were then coated with an insulating layer. The tips of the electrodes were polished perpendicular to the axis of the fiber to give ring-modified disk electrodes. Copolymers of poly(vinylferrocene) and poly(vinylpyridine) with crosslinked polystyrene were used, and demonstrated behavior similar to that for surface modified electrodes, except that the electrodes could be polished to renew the surface. Multi-microelectrode devices were prepared. For example, a ring-modified working electrode, a silver/silver chloride coated practical reference electrode, and a platinum auxiliary electrode were used in a molded epoxy probe in electrolyte solution to give cyclic voltammograms that were similar to those expected for a ring-modified working electrode using traditional reference and auxiliary electrodes.     

Implementation of ISO 9001 in a medical testing laboratory

 The Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Genetics, within the Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research at Westmead Hospital, is a medical testing laboratory operating within the public sector health system of New South Wales, Australia. It provides acute-care pathology services to Westmead Hospital (a 900-bed tertiary referral university teaching hospital) as well as to three district hospitals and three rural hospitals. In addition to these core clinical chemistry services, it offers approximately 150 specialised biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, trace metal and molecular genetics assays as a reference laboratory service. In 1993, the Department became Australia's first medical testing laboratory to be registered to ISO 9001-1987/AS3901-1987. In 1995, this certification was extended to AS/NZS ISO 9001-1994. We are currently preparing for further accreditation to ISO/IEC Guide 25-1990, with additional supplementary requirements for medical testing. This paper describes the Quality System that the Department developed and which has been successfully maintained and extended since original certification. Important features of the Quality System are: 1. Primary design of the Quality System to meet medical and customer needs, with subsequent addition of required ISO elements. 2. Use of national Quality Award criteria to identify key business processes. 3. Development of integrated technical non-conformance, customer complaint, staff suggestion, and quality system corrective action procedures. 4. Implementation without external resources. Our conclusions are that ISO 9000 Quality Systems can be applied to medical testing laboratories, and can be implemented with minimum resource costs. Improvements in technical and service quality and business performance have resulted from this process. However, implementation of ISO 9000 at the level of individual Departments is not ideal. Greater improvements are possible when this process is undertaken at the level of the entire organisation. Received: 9 September 1996 Accepted: 5 October 1996