Fluorescent Probes and Quenchers in Studies of Protein Folding and Protein-Lipid Interactions

Fluorescence spectroscopy provides numerous methodological tools for structural and functional studies of biological macromolecules and their complexes. All fluorescence-based approaches require either existence of an intrinsic probe or an introduction of an extrinsic one. Moreover, studies of complex systems often require an additional introduction of a specific quencher molecule acting in combination with a fluorophore to provide structural or thermodynamic information. Here, we review the fundamentals and summarize the latest progress in applications of different classes of fluorescent probes and their specific quenchers, aimed at studies of protein folding and protein-membrane interactions. Specifically, we discuss various environment-sensitive dyes, FRET probes, probes for short-distance measurements, and several probe-quencher pairs for studies of membrane penetration of proteins and peptides. The goals of this review are: (a) to familiarize the readership with the general concept that complex biological systems often require both a probe and a quencher to decipher mechanistic details of functioning and (b) to provide example of the immediate applications of the described methods.     

Almost Extrinsically Homogeneous Submanifolds of Euclidean Space

Consider a closed manifold M immersed in R^m. Suppose that the trivial bundle M × R^m = T M ⊗ ν M is equipped with an almost metric connection ~ ∇ which almost preserves the decomposition of M × R^m into the tangent and the normal bundle. Assume moreover that the difference Γ = ∂~∇ with the usual derivative ∂ in R^m is almost ~∇-parallel. Then M admits an extrinsically homogeneous immersion into R^m. Mathematics Subject Classifications (2000): 53C20, 53C24, 53C30, 53C42, 53C40.     

Influence of annealing conditions on impurity species in arsenic-doped HgCdTe grown by molecular beam epitaxy

Based on our previous work,the influence of annealing conditions on impurity species in in-situ arsenic (As)-doped Hg 1 x Cd x Te (x ≈ 0.3) grown by molecular beam epitaxy has been systematically investigated by modulated photoluminescence spectra.The results show that (i) the doped-As acting as undesirable shallow/deep levels in as-grown can be optimized under proper annealing conditions and the physical mechanism of the disadvantage of high activation temperature,commonly assumed to be more favourable for As activation,has been discussed as compared with the reports in the As-implanted HgCdTe epilayers (x ≈ 0.39),(ii) the density of V Hg has an evident effect on the determination of bandgap (or composition) of epilayers and the excessive introduction of V Hg will lead to a short-wavelength shift of epilayers,and (iii) the V Hg prefers forming the V Hg-As Hg complex when the inactivated-As (As Hg or related) coexists in a certain density,which makes it difficult to annihilate V Hg in As-doped epilayers.As a result,the bandedge electronic structures of epilayers under different conditions have been drawn as a brief guideline for preparing extrinsic p-type epilayers or related devices.     

Electronic transport in LCMO/BTO composites

A series of (1 ? x)La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃/(x)BaTiO₃ composites has been synthesized by the solid state route. Microstructural and transport studies on these samples show a complete immiscibility between metallic ferromagnet, La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ (LCMO) and insulating ferroelectric, BaTiO₃ (BTO). Temperature dependent electrical transport studies show evidence of both intrinsic and extrinsic colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effects. Inclusion of BTO in LCMO phase results in high resistive samples with a metal-insulator transition at temperature T_{p 1} originating from intrinsic effect and another dominant metal-insulator transition at temperature T_{p 2} caused because of extrinsic effect. T_{p 2} decreases up to a certain percentage of BTO content above which this trend of variation is reversed.     

一种非本征光纤法布里-珀罗传感器的信号解调算法

给出了一种基于均方误差估计的非本征光纤法布里-珀罗(EFPI)传感器的腔长解调算法。在参量估计方面, 均方误差将估计子的方差和偏差结合在一起, 具有更高的估计精度和准确度。如果给出某一个真值的一系列估计子, 则具有最小均方误差的估计子比其他估计子更为有效。在非本征光纤法-珀传感器的腔长解调方面, 则实际腔长对应于腔长均方误差估计取最小值时的腔长估计子。对一个非本征光纤法-珀压力传感器的测试结果表明, 腔长解调分辨率为0.18 nm, 对应的压力分辨率可达2.99 kPa。与传统的解调算法相比, 通过该算法可在较宽的动态范围内获得高的解调分辨率, 并实现绝对腔长的解调。     

一种获取摄像机安装高度及倾角的简易标定方法

提出了一种在摄像机内参数已知的情况下,通过地面上已知的4个及以上共面点求解出摄像机安装高度和安装倾角的标定方法.选定地面为X-O-Y面,则Z轴方向的平移因子即为摄像机的安装高度.方法借鉴了利用共面点进行标定的方法,在计算过程中利用投影矩阵元素间的比值关系,巧妙地消除了深度因子的影响,求解出了旋转角度和摄像机的安装高度,进而得到了摄像机的外参数矩阵.将多组实验计算出的安装高度结果和实际测量值相对比,得到的误差非常小,证明了该算法计算简便且具有较高的准确性.     

一种新的白光光纤传感系统波长解调方法

提出了一种新的白光非本征法布里-珀罗干涉（EFPI）光纤传感系统的干涉谱处理方法,在白光法布里-珀罗干涉光纤传感系统中,一个中心波长为850nm的发光二极管（LED）作为宽谱光源,HR2000高分辨力微型光谱仪用来测量返回的干涉光谱。通过跟踪干涉光谱中的特定谱峰点,法布里-珀罗干涉传感器的腔长值可以被解调出来。应用反向传播神经网络,解决了单峰测量方式的级次模糊问题。反向传播神经网络能够分辨出干涉谱中不同谱峰的干涉级次,因而可以进行多个谱峰的连续跟踪。从而实现了高精密度、大动态范围的测量。进行了基于这种干涉谱处理方法的白光法布里-珀罗干涉传感系统的应变测量实验。利用该传感系统实现了精密度达0．1με,500με范围的应变测量。     

速率无损失的空间耦合LDPC码

空间耦合（spatially coupled）LDPC码为通信系统提供了一种全新的接近容量限的方式,但在耦合过程中需要额外添加校验节点,因此存在一定的码率损失.为了消除码率损失,提出了一种新型的耦合方式,首位置变量节点的边展开方式不变,中间位置的边连接到前一个位置的校验节点并依次向后展开,末位置的边与首位置的边成对称分布,从而得到了一种无需添加额外校验节点,码率无损失的SC-LDPC码变体结构.在AWGN信道中通过外部信息转移（extrinsic information transfer）理论分析及误比特率性能仿真,结果表明：相对于SC-LDPC码的传统结构,本文提出的SC-LDPC码变体结构在链长较短时不仅能避免码率损失,并且具有更优的阈值和译码性能,在未来通信系统中更具优势.     

用于强度解调型非本征法布里-珀罗腔光纤传感器的光电转换卡

利用双光路加参考臂的方法设计了运用于强度解调型非本征法布里-珀罗腔光纤传感器的新型光电转换卡,以有效地抑制或消除光源和光路中其他有源及无源器件的不稳定性对传感器精度和稳定性的负面影响。在26℃28℃的环境温度条件下,设计的光电转换卡短期不稳定性不大于0.0702%,测量精度好于0.1%。     

一种乘积码译码器设计方案的研究

介绍了一种乘积码迭代译码器的硬件设计方案。基于软判决译码规则,使用VHDL硬件描述语言,提出了基于Modelsim6.Oa仿真平台的两维乘积码的EDA实现方法,给出了仿真波形,迭代次数为四次时最大译码速率可达到50Mbit/s,并通过了在Xilinx公司的FPGA芯片XC2S200上的综合验证实验。该译码器的功能仿真和硬件实现都证明了这种方案的可行性和正确性。