An exact algorithm for the capacitated shortest spanning arborescence

We are given a complete and loop-free digraphG=(V, A), whereV={1,...,n} is the vertex set,A={(i, j) :i, j V} the arc set, andr V is a distinguishedroot vertex. For each arc (i, j) A, letc _ij be the associatedcost, and for each vertexi, letq _i 0 be the associateddemand (withq _r =0). Moreover, a nonnegativebranch capacity, Q, is defined.A Capacitated Shortest Spanning Arborescence rooted at r (CSSA _r ) is a minimum cost partial digraph such that: (i) each vertexj r has exactly one entering arc; (ii) for each vertexj r, a path fromr toj exists; (iii) for each branch leaving vertexr, the total demand of the vertices does not exceed the branch capacity,Q. A variant of theCSSA _r problem (calledD-CSSA _r ) arises when the out-degree of the root vertex is constrained to be equal to a given valueD. These problems are strongly NP-hard, and find practical applications in routing and network design. We describe a new Lagrangian lower bound forCSSA _r andD-CSSA _r problems, strengthened in a cutting plane fashion by iteratively adding violated constraints to the Lagrangian problem. We also present a new lower bound based on projection leading to the solution of min-cost flow problems. The two lower bounds are then combined so as to obtain an overall additive lower bounding procedure. The additive procedure is then imbedded in a branch-and-bound algorithm whose performance is enhanced by means of reduction procedures, dominance criteria, feasibility checks and upper bounding. Computational tests on asymmetric and symmetric instances from the literature, involving up to 200 vertices, are given, showing the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Implications of the LHCb evidence for charm CP violation

The LHCb collaboration recently announced preliminary evidence for CP violation in D meson decays. We discuss this result in the context of the standard model (SM), as well as its extensions. In the absence of reliable methods to evaluate the hadronic matrix elements involved, we can only estimate qualitatively the magnitude of the non-SM tree level operators required to generate the observed central value. In the context of an effective theory, we list the operators that can give rise to the measured CP violation and investigate constraints on them from other processes.     

Nonlinear effects of electrolyte diodes and transistors in a polymer gel medium

The polarization curve of an acid-base interface in a hydrogel medium has a diode characteristic. Two of each such electrolyte diodes can be combined to give an electrolyte transistor. When a salt is added to the alkaline or to the acidic part of a reverse biased electrolyte diode, the current response is highly nonlinear. If the salt is added to the acidic side, even bistability can be observed. This bistability can generate complex oscillations in a base-acid-base electrolyte transistor. These nonlinear effects are studied experimentally and theoretically. While the nonlinear salt effect can be explained with the Nernst-Planck equations, to understand the bistable behavior further investigations are necessary. (c) 1999 American Institute of Physics.     

Analysis of the ν1 and ν2 + ν4 bands of 12CH4

Line assignments, positions, strengths, and experimentally determined upper states are reported for the ν₁ and ν₂ + ν₄ infrared bands of ¹²CH₄. The bands have been analyzed using infrared spectra recorded with different optical densities and temperatures at 0.02- and 0.01-cm^?1 resolution using a four-passed grating spectrometer at Florida State University and a Fourier transform spectrometer at Kitt Peak National Observatory. Both ν₁ and ν₂ + ν₄ lines are assigned through J′ = 14. For J′ ≥ 10, the upper state of the vibrationally infrared inactive ν₁ band interacts strongly with ν₂ + ν₄ and is observed in the infrared spectrum with line strengths on the order of 10^?3 cm^?2 atm^?1. The upper-state energies and transition intensities are calculated from the molecular constants and transition moment matrix elements obtained through a simultaneous analysis of ν₁, ν₃, ν₂ + ν₄, 2ν₄, and 2ν₂.     

Claisen-type addition of glycine to pyridoxal in water

The reaction between 5'-deoxypyridoxal and glycine in D2O buffered at pD 7.0 does not result in significant formation of the expected products of pyridoxal-catalyzed transamination or deuterium exchange of the alpha-amino protons of glycine, but rather gives a quantitative yield of the two diastereomeric products of the formal Claisen-type addition of glycine to 5'-deoxypyridoxal. The unexpected extensive formation of these products reflects the extraordinary selectivity of the 5'-deoxypyridoxal-stabilized glycine enolate toward addition to the carbonyl group of 5'-deoxypyridoxal in the protic solvent water.     

Synthesis of Small‐Molecule Fluorescent Probes for the In Vitro Imaging of Calcium‐Activated Potassium Channel KCa3.1

Small‐molecule probes for the in vitro imaging of K_Ca3.1 channel‐expressing cells were developed. Senicapoc, showing high affinity and selectivity for the K_Ca3.1 channels, was chosen as the targeting component. BODIPY dyes 15 – 20 were synthesized and connected by a Cu^I‐catalyzed azide–alkyne [3+2]cycloaddition with propargyl ether senicapoc derivative 8 , yielding fluorescently labeled ligands 21 – 26 . The dimethylpyrrole‐based imaging probes 25 and 26 allow staining of K_Ca3.1 channels in NSCLC cells. The specificity was shown by removing the punctate staining pattern by pre‐incubation with senicapoc. The density of K_Ca3.1 channels detected with 25 and by immunostaining was identical. The punctate structure of the labeled channels could also be observed in living cells. Molecular modeling showed binding of the senicapoc‐targeting component towards the binding site within the ion channel and orientation of the linker with the dye along the inner surface of the ion channel.     

Water revealed as molecular mirror when measuring low concentrations of sugar with near infrared light

Near infrared spectroscopy is an overtone spectroscopy regarded as a quick and non-destructive method that provides analytical solutions for components that represent approximately 1% or more of the total mass of the investigated composite samples. Aquaphotomics offers the possibility for disentanglement of information remaining hidden in the spectra when conventional data evaluation methods are used, since this concept utilizes changes of the water structure induced by the measured solute as specific molecular vibrations at water bands. Here, near infrared technique and aquaphotomics are applied for non-destructive identification and quantification of mono- and di-saccharide solutes at 100–0.02 mM concentration that is accepted as unachievable with near infrared spectroscopy. The results presented in this study support the aquaphotomics' water molecular mirror concept that explores spectral changes related to water molecular rearrangements caused by minute changes of the solutes in the aqueous systems. The method provides quick and accurate alternative for classical analytical measurements of saccharides even at millimolar concentration levels.     

A Frequency-Selective pH-Responsive paraCEST Agent

Paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer (paraCEST) agents are well-suited for imaging tissue pH because the basis of CEST, chemical exchange, is inherently sensitive to pH. Several previous pH-sensitive paraCEST agents were based on an exchanging Ln³⁺-bound water molecule as the CEST antenna but this design often added additional line-broadening to the bulk water signal due to T₂ exchange. We report herein a pH-sensitive paraCEST agent that lacks an inner-sphere water molecule but contains one Ln-bound −OH group for CEST activation. The Yb³⁺ complex, Yb( 1 ), displayed a single, highly shifted CEST peak originating from the exchangeable Yb-OH proton, the frequency of which changed over the biologically relevant pH range. CEST images of phantoms ranging in pH from 6 to 8 demonstrate the potential of this agent for imaging pH. Initial rodent imaging studies showed that Gd( 1 ) remains in the vascular system much longer than anticipated but is cleared slowly via renal filtration.     

Small-molecule and mutational analysis of allosteric Eg5 inhibition by monastrol

Background  

A recent crystal structure of monastrol in a ternary complex with the kinesin Eg5 motor domain highlights a novel, induced-fit drug binding site at atomic resolution. Mutational obliteration of the monastrol binding site results in a monastrol-resistant, but otherwise catalytically active Eg5 motor domain. However, considering the conformational changes at this site, it is unclear what specific interactions stabilize the interaction between monastrol and the Eg5 motor domain.     

In Vivo Endoscopic Tissue Identification by Rapid Evaporative Ionization Mass Spectrometry (REIMS)

Gastrointestinal cancers are a leading cause of mortality, accounting for 23 % of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. In order to improve outcomes from these cancers, novel tissue characterization methods are needed to facilitate accurate diagnosis. Rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (REIMS) is a technique developed for the in vivo classification of human tissue through mass spectrometric analysis of aerosols released during electrosurgical dissection. This ionization technique was further developed by utilizing surface induced dissociation and was integrated with an endoscopic polypectomy snare to allow in vivo analysis of the gastrointestinal tract. We tested the classification performance of this novel endoscopic REIMS method in vivo. It was shown to be capable of differentiating between healthy layers of the intestinal wall, cancer, and adenomatous polyps based on the REIMS fingerprint of each tissue type in vivo.