Automated leukocyte recognition using fuzzy divergence

This paper aims at introducing an automated approach to leukocyte recognition using fuzzy divergence and modified thresholding techniques. The recognition is done through the segmentation of nuclei where Gamma, Gaussian and Cauchy type of fuzzy membership functions are studied for the image pixels. It is in fact found that Cauchy leads better segmentation as compared to others. In addition, image thresholding is modified for better recognition. Results are studied and discussed.     

Measurement of 1J(Ni,Calpha(i)), 1J(Ni,C'i-1), 2J(Ni,Calpha(i-1)), 2J(H(N)i,C'i-1) and 2J(H(N)i,Calpha(i)) values in 13C/15N-labeled proteins

Use of partial or selective (13)C/(15)N labeling of specific amino acid residues in a given protein to measure the values of (1)J((15)N(i),(13)C(alpha) (i)), (2)J((1)H(N),(13)C(alpha) (i)), (2)J((15)N(i),(13)C(alpha) (i-1)), (1)J((15)N(i),(13)C'(i-1)) and (2)J((1)H(N),(13)C'(i-1)) is described. This was achieved by recording a sensitivity-enhanced 2D [(15)N-(1)H] HSQC experiment, without mixing the spin states of C(alpha) and C' during the course of entire experiment.     

Computational aero-acoustics for fan duct propagation and radiation. Current status and application to turbofan liner optimisation

Novel techniques are presented to reduce noise from turbofan aircraft engines by optimising the acoustic treatment in engine ducts. The application of Computational Aero-Acoustics (CAA) to predict acoustic propagation and absorption in turbofan ducts is reviewed and a critical assessment of performance indicates that validated and accurate techniques are now available for realistic engine predictions. A procedure for integrating CAA methods with state of the art optimisation techniques is proposed in the remainder of the article. This is achieved by embedding advanced computational methods for noise prediction within automated and semi-automated optimisation schemes. Two different strategies are described and applied to realistic nacelle geometries and fan sources to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach for industry scale problems.     

Structure and conformation of bis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium(IV) and bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV) in solution determined by electron nuclear double resonance spectroscopy

The structure and conformation of bis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium(IV) [VO(acac)(2)] and bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV) [VO(malto)(2)] in frozen methanol have been determined by application of electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy. The positions of inner- and outer-sphere-coordinated solvent were assigned by ENDOR through use of selectively deuterated analogues of methanol. Similarly, the methyl and methylinyl proton resonance features of VO(acac)(2) were identified by site-selective deuteration. For VO(acac)(2), the ENDOR-determined metal-proton distances were best accounted for by a complex of tetragonal-pyramidal geometry, essentially identical to that determined by X-ray crystallography [Dodge, R. P.; Templeton, D. H.; Zalkin, A. J. Chem. Phys. 1961, 35, 55] but with an inner-sphere solvent molecule coordinated trans to the vanadyl oxygen and an axially positioned solvent molecule hydrogen-bonded to the vanadyl oxygen. In contrast to its trans conformation in crystals [Caravan, P.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 12759], the VO(malto)(2) complex was found in a cis conformation whereby the donor oxygen atoms of one maltolato ligand occupied equatorial coordination sites. One of the donor oxygen atoms of the second maltolato ligand occupied the axial coordination site opposite the vanadyl oxygen atom, and the other an equatorial position. An inner-sphere-coordinated methanol molecule in the equatorial plane and a solvent molecule hydrogen-bonded to the vanadyl oxygen were also identified. No evidence for the trans isomer was observed.     

Mixed-Integer Linear-Programming Formulation of a Multi-Attribute Threshold Model of Choice

This article presents a mixed-integer linear-programming formulation and solution of the multi-attribute threshold model of choice. The model includes appropriate integer decision variables so that the solution would indicate whether a particular alternative of choice is acceptable or not. The technique is illustrated by a numerical example.     

Chromophoric spin-labeled beta-lactam antibiotics for ENDOR structural characterization of reaction intermediates of class A and class C beta-lactamases

The chromophoric spin-label substrate 6-N-[3-(2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-oxypyrrolin-3-yl)-propen-2-oyl]penicillanic acid (SLPPEN) was synthesized by acylation of 6-aminopenicillanic acid with the acid chloride of 3-(2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-oxypyrrolinyl)-2-propenoic acid and characterized by physical methods. By application of angle-selected electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), we have determined the molecular structure of SLPPEN in solution. SLPPEN exhibited UV absorption properties that allowed accurate monitoring of the kinetics of its enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis. The maximum value of the (substrate-product) difference extinction coefficient was 2824 M(-1) cm(-1) at 275 nm compared to 670 M(-1) cm(-1) at 232 nm for SLPEN [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 117 (1995) 6739]. For SLPPEN, the steady-state kinetic parameters kcat and kcat/KM, determined under initial velocity conditions, were 637 +/- 36 s(-1) and 13.8 +/- 1.4 x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1), respectively, for hydrolysis catalyzed by TEM-1 beta-lactamase of E. coli, and 0.5 +/- 0.04 s(-1) and 3.9 +/- 0.4 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) for hydrolysis catalyzed by the beta-lactamase of Enterobacter cloacae P99. We have also observed "burst kinetics" for the hydrolysis of SLPPEN with P99 beta-lactamase, indicative of formation of an acylenzyme reaction intermediate. In DMSO:H2O (30:70, v:v) cryosolvent mixtures buffered to pH* 7.0, the half-life of the acylenzyme intermediate formed with the P99 enzyme at -5 degrees C was > or = 3 min, suitable for optical characterization. The observation of burst kinetics in the hydrolysis of SLPPEN catalyzed by P99 beta-lactamase suggests that this chromophoric spin-labeled substrate is differentially sensitive to active site interactions underlying the cephalosporinase and penicillinase reactivity of this class C enzyme.     

Structure and conformation of nitroxyl spin-label compounds in frozen solutions by electron nuclear double resonance spectroscopy

The structure and conformation of carboxylic acid, formyl, and propenoic acid derivatives of the nitroxyl spin-label 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-oxypyrroline have been determined by electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy. From ENDOR spectra of the spin-label compounds in frozen solutions, we have assigned the resonance absorption features for each class of protons. The ENDOR spectra were analyzed on the basis of their dependence onH ₀. The maximum and minimum ENDOR shifts for each proton were shown to correspond to axially symmetric principal hyperfine coupling (hfc) components, from which the dipolar contributions were estimated to calculate electron-proton separations. Conformational analysis on the basis of torsion angle search calculations constrained by the ENDOR determined electron-proton distances revealed that in all three spin-label compounds the side chains are in a planar conformation with respect to the oxypyrrolinyl ring. In the carboxylic acid and formyl derivatives the C=O group is in as-trans conformation with respect to the vinyl group of the spin-label, while in the spin-labeled propenoic acid the conformation is found to be all planartrans-s-cis.