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A paper sliceform or lattice-style pop-up is a form of papercraft that uses two sets of parallel paper patches slotted together to make a foldable structure. The structure can be folded flat, as well as fully opened (popped-up) to make the two sets of patches orthogonal to each other. Automatic design of paper sliceforms is still not supported by existing computational models and remains a challenge. We propose novel geometric formulations of valid paper sliceform designs that consider the stability, flat-foldability and physical realizability of the designs. Based on a set of sufficient construction conditions, we also present an automatic algorithm for generating valid sliceform designs that closely depict the given 3D solid models. By approximating the input models using a set of generalized cylinders, our method significantly reduces the search space for stable and flat-foldable sliceforms. To ensure the physical realizability of the designs, the algorithm automatically generates slots or slits on the patches such that no two cycles embedded in two different patches are interlocking each other. This guarantees local pairwise assembility between patches, which is empirically shown to lead to global assembility. Our method has been demonstrated on a number of example models, and the output designs have been successfully made into real paper sliceforms.

The development of a miniaturized sensing platform tailored for sensitive and selective detection of a variety of biochemical analytes could offer transformative fundamental and technological opportunities. Due to their high surface-to-volume ratios, nanoscale materials are extremely sensitive sensors. Likewise, peptides represent robust substrates for selective recognition due to the potential for broad chemical diversity within their relatively compact size. Here we explore the possibilities of linking peptides to nanosensors for the selective detection of biochemical targets. Such systems raise a number of interesting fundamental challenges: What are the peptide sequences, and how can rational design be used to derive selective binders? What nanomaterials should be used, and what are some strategies for assembling hybrid nanosensors? What role does molecular modeling play in elucidating response mechanisms? What is the resulting performance of these sensors, in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and response time? What are some potential applications? This Account will highlight our early attempts to address these research challenges. Specifically, we use natural peptide sequences or sequences identified from phage display as capture elements. The sensors are based on a variety of nanomaterials including nanowires, graphene, and carbon nanotubes. We couple peptides to the nanomaterial surfaces via traditional surface functionalization methods or self-assembly. Molecular modeling provides detailed insights into the hybrid nanostructure, as well as the sensor detection mechanisms. The peptide nanosensors can distinguish chemically camouflaged mixtures of vapors and detect chemical warfare agents with sensitivities as low as parts-per-billion levels. Finally, we anticipate future uses of this technology in biomedicine: for example, devices based on these sensors could detect disease from the molecular components in human breath. Overall, these results provide a novel platform for the development of highly sensitive and selective "nanoelectronic noses".

Peptides identified from combinatorial peptide libraries have been shown to bind to a variety of abiotic surfaces. Biotic-abiotic interactions can be exploited to create hybrid materials with interesting electronic, optical, or catalytic properties. Here we show that peptides identified from a combinatorial phage display peptide library assemble preferentially to the edge or planar surface of graphene and can affect the electronic properties of graphene. Molecular dynamics simulations and experiments provide insight into the mechanism of peptide binding to the graphene edge.

Background. Hand eczema is common in the nursing profession, and has been reported widely in various parts of the world. Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of hand eczema among nurses working in a regional hospital in Hong Kong, as well as its psychosocial impact and any possible associated risk factors. Patients/materials/methods. The study took the form of a self-report questionnaire survey; 1240 nurses in a regional hospital were asked to participate in the survey by completing the questionnaire and returning it anonymously within 2 weeks. Results. Seven hundred and twenty-four nurses returned the questionnaire (a response rate of 59%). The prevalence of hand eczema among the respondents was 22.1% (160/724). More than 90% had moderate to severe hand eczema. Itchiness and dryness were the most common symptoms. Occupational work, housework, mood, social activities and sleep were particularly affected. Multinomial logistic regressions showed that a personal or family history of atopy and a hand washing frequency of >20 times per day were independent risk factors for hand eczema. Conclusions. Hand eczema is common and severe among Hong Kong nurses. The results of this study suggest that hand eczema is an important problem for nurses and that preventive measures should be emphasized.

DOI: 10.2514/1.C031306 This investigation aims to develop a closed-form analytical model to understand and predict runway stone lofting processes by considering the rigid-body interaction of a tire partially rolling over a stone. Any leading-edge aircraft structures impinging into the path of such stones could experience impacts at speeds up to the aircraft takeoff velocity, despite being some distance from the sides of the wheels. The results of the analytical model provide upperbound envelopes of the vertical loft speeds obtained in previous numerical simulations and modified drop-weight experiments. Parametric studies conclude that the vertical loft speeds rise with increasing stone–tire overlap, stone size, and aircraft speed and with deceasing tire diameter. The outcomes of this model form a basis for vehicle designers to assess the runway stone impact threat by better understanding the physics of lofting.

Zinc oxide field effect transistors (ZnO-FET), covalently functionalized with single stranded DNA aptamers, provide a highly selective platform for label-free small molecule sensing. The nanostructured surface morphology of ZnO provides high sensitivity and room temperature deposition allows for a wide array of substrate types. Herein we demonstrate the selective detection of riboflavin down to the pM level in aqueous solution using the negative electrical current response of the ZnO-FET by covalently attaching a riboflavin binding aptamer to the surface. The response of the biofunctionalized ZnO-FET was tuned by attaching a redox tag (ferrocene) to the 3’ terminus of the aptamer, resulting in positive current modulation upon exposure to riboflavin down to pM levels.

The development of a general approach for the nondestructive chemical and biological functionalization of graphene could expand opportunities for graphene in both fundamental studies and a variety of device platforms. Graphene is a delicate single-layer, two-dimensional network of carbon atoms whose properties can be affected by covalent modification. One method for functionalizing materials without fundamentally changing their inherent structure is using biorecognition moieties. In particular, oligopeptides are molecules containing a broad chemical diversity that can be achieved within a relatively compact size. Phage display is a dominant method for identifying peptides that possess enhanced selectivity toward a particular target. Here, we demonstrate a powerful yet benign approach for chemical functionalization of graphene via comprehensively screened phage displayed peptides. Our results show that graphene can be selectively recognized even in nanometer-defined strips. Further, modification of graphene with bifunctional peptides reveals both the ability to impart selective recognition of gold nanoparticles and the development of an ultrasensitive graphene-based TNT sensor. We anticipate that these results could open exciting opportunities in the use of graphene in fundamental biochemical recognition studies, as well as applications ranging from sensors to energy storage devices.

As part of an investigation to assess the impact threat posed to vehicles by tyre-lofted runway debris, it is important to gain a quantitative understanding of the interaction between inflated tyres and foreign objects. In this paper, experiments involving indentation of an inflated tyre to represent over-rolling of a foreign object were used to estimate the energy that could be transferred to the over-rolled object. The maximum kinetic energy that a 24-mm diameter spherical stone could potentially attain from such an indentation-related loft mechanism by a tyre inflated to 0.34 MPa (50 psi) was 20 J.

The influence of various factors affecting the severity of runway debris lofting mechanisms was investigated by performing numerical simulations and drop-weight impact experiments to assess the likelihood of a stone impact. Geometrical characterisation of stones collected from airfields led to a generic model of a tyre rolling over stones of various shape with different overlaps, orientations, and densities. In numerical simulations of a 0.4 m diameter aircraft tyre rolling at 70 m/s, a 10 mm diameter spherical stone was lofted at a maximum vertical speed of 35 m/s. For equivalent mass prolate spheroid stones, the loft speeds were 11–34% lower depending on the stone orientation. Objects with flat surfaces exhibited different lofting mechanisms and lower angular velocities. The conditions most conducive to stone lofting were very stiff, small diameter, sharp cornered tyres rolling on ground with a high friction coefficient over spherical stones such that just under half the stone diameter was covered by the tyre. The stone loft speed was approximately proportional to the square root of the tyre tread stiffness. Finally, tyre tread grooves could throw stones upwards at the tyre-ground separation speed, which was 17 m/s for the conditions mentioned earlier.

Single-wall carbon nanotube field effect transistors (SWNT-FETs) are ideal candidates for fabricating sensors due to their unique electronic properties and have been widely investigated for chemical and biological sensing applications. The lack of selectivity of SWNT-FETs has prompted extensive research on developing ligands that exhibit specific binding as selective surface coating for SWNTs. Herein we describe the rational design of a peptide recognition element (PRE) that is capable of noncovalently attaching to SWNTs as well as binding to trinitrotoluene (TNT). The PRE contains two domains, a TNT binding domain derived from the binding pocket of the honeybee odor binding protein ASP1, and a SWNT binding domain previously identified from the phage peptide display library. The PRE structure in the presence of SWNT was investigated by performing classical all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Both computational and experimental analyses demonstrate that the peptide retains two functional domains for SWNT and TNT binding. The binding motif of the peptide to SWNT and to TNT was revealed from interaction energy calculations by molecular dynamics simulations. The potential application of the peptide for the detection of TNT is theoretically predicted and experimentally validated using a SWNT-FET sensor functionalized with a designer PRE. Results from this study demonstrate the creation of chemosensors using designed PRE as selective surface coatings for targeted analytes.

Numerical models used to simulate the lofting mechanisms of runway stones were developed to assess the threat to aircraft structures from runway debris impacts. An inflated aircraft tyre model, which was validated by comparison with experimental indentation tests, showed that over-rolling of stones under typical take-off conditions led to only modest vertical loft velocities of less than 5 m/s. Experiments using a drop weight impactor simulated a section of aircraft tyre descending upon stones. These tests demonstrated that lofting was achieved for impacts with low rubber thickness. However, for impacts with greater rubber thickness, lofting was suppressed. Using more realistic tyre geometries resulted in launches with backspin, but only horizontally along the ground in the direction of the tyre axis. The speed at which launches occurred was proportional to the rate of descent of the tyre section and would consequently determine the loft speeds due to potential asperity lofting.

Runway debris lofting by aircraft tires can lead to considerable damage to aircraft structures, yet there is limited understanding of the lofting mechanisms. The aim of this study is to develop accurate physically based models to understand and predict the stone lofting processes. The research entailed both experimental work and finite element modeling of a tire partially rolling over a stone. Parametric studies were conducted to characterize the influence of factors such as stone geometry and tire conditions in the lofting processes. To validate the finite element models, experimental studies were conducted using a modified drop weight impactor covered with rubber to simulate a tire vertically approaching aluminum balls and real stones. A high-speed video camera was used to observe the loft mechanisms and calculate the loft velocities, angles, and spin rates. A finite element model of the impactor demonstrated good agreement with the experimentally observed loft mechanisms.In general, lofting occurred either at high speed and low angles or vice versa, depending on the degree of interaction between the stone and the ground.

Multifunctional composites which can fulfil more than one role within a system have attracted considerable interest. This work focusses on structural supercapacitors which simultaneously carry mechanical load whilst storing/delivering electrical energy. Critical mechanical properties (in-plane shear and in-plane compression performance) of two monofunctional and four multifunctional materials were characterised, which gave an insight into the relationships between these properties, the microstructures and fracture processes. The reinforcements included baseline T300 fabric, which was then either grafted or sized with carbon nanotubes, whilst the baseline matrix was MTM57, which was blended with ionic liquid and lithium salt (two concentrations) to imbue multifunctionality. The resulting composites exhibited a high degree of matrix heterogeneity, with the ionic liquid phase preferentially forming at the fibres, resulting in poor matrix-dominated properties. However, fibre-dominated properties were not depressed. Thus, it was demonstrated that these materials can now offer weight savings over conventional monofunctional systems when under modest loading.

Recently, it has become possible to separate and/or enrich fractions of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) according to type (or otherwise termed "metallicity") and diameter (d(t)). Exposure of acid-treated SWNTs to amines has shown such separation. In this contribution, we describe the underlying mechanism for this separation and provide a better description of the physicochemical properties of charge-stabilized SWNT dispersions in polar aprotic media, such as N,N-dimethylformide (DMF). With the establishment of the reversible nature of the redox chemistry, SWNT(n+) + (n/2)H2O==SWNT + nH(+) + (n/4)O2, amine-induced pH changes as well as variations in H2O and O2 concentration in DMF are shown to cause differential partial-reduction trends according to d(t) and metallicity. At a pH of 10, the (n,m)-SWNTs that resist complete reduction to their undoped state remain in suspension while the rest that lose their charges populate the precipitate. These d(t)- and metallicity-dependent redox and separation trends are modeled based on the Gibbs free energy and charge loss as it pertains to the (n,m)-dependent SWNT integrated density of states (I(DOS)) across the corresponding pH-induced redox jump. At a given redox potential, the relative placement of the van Hove singularities and continuum determines the amount of charge left on various (n,m)-SWNTs that governs their relative dispersion stability in DMF.

It has been previously shown that cilostazol (Pletal), a drug for relief of symptoms of intermittent claudication, potently inhibits cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase type 3 (PDE3) and moderately inhibits adenosine uptake. It elevates extracellular adenosine concentration, by inhibiting adenosine uptake, and combines with PDE3 inhibition to augment inhibition of platelet aggregation and vasodilation while attenuating positive chronotropic and inotropic effects on the heart. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that cilostazol combined with a more potent adenosine uptake inhibitor, dipyridamole, synergistically inhibited platelet aggregation in human blood. In the presence of exogenous adenosine (1 microM), the combination of cilostazol and dipyridamole synergistically increased intra-platelet cAMP. Furthermore, cilostazol inhibited platelet aggregation in a washed platelet assay concentration-dependently with IC50s of 0.17 +/- 0.04 microM (P < 0.05 versus plus adenosine alone of 0.38 +/- 0.05 microM), 0.11 +/- 0.06 microM (P < 0.05), and 0.01 +/- 0.01 microM (P < 0.005) when combined with 1, 3, or 10 microM dipyridamole, respectively (n = 5). In whole blood, cilostazol (0.3 to 3 microM) and dipyridamole (1 or 3 microM) synergistically inhibited collagen- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation in vitro. Furthermore, the synergism was confirmed in an open-label, sequential study in healthy human subjects using ex vivo whole-blood collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Four hours after oral co-administration of cilostazol (100 mg) and dipyridamole (200 mg), platelet aggregation was inhibited by 45 +/- 17%, while no significant inhibition was observed from subjects treated with either drug alone. The combination may provide a potential treatment of arterial thrombotic disorders.

Pop-up books are interesting books containing paper pieces that pop-out to form 3D structures when opened. But more than just depicting 3D objects, pop-up artists also use the movement of the paper pieces during the opening process to reproduce animations. Artists have used this technique to create pop-ups of persons swimming, running and objects peeping out. In this work, we study the movement of paper pieces in different pop-up mechanisms with the goal to use this knowledge to automatically design animated pop-ups from the motion of articulated 3D models.

The canonical molecular changes in colorectal tumorigenesis were assessed for correlation with response to chemotherapy, in order to identify candidate markers.In total, 156 patients received adjuvant postoperative fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy and 32 patients received oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based chemotherapy following palliative surgery or for metastatic or recurrent colorectal tumors. Representative molecular changes in tumor tissues, including adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene, wingless-type MMTV integration site family (Wnt), mismatch repair (MMR), RAF, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, bone morphogenetic protein, and p53, had been previously determined, with an additional 42 patients included in this analysis.The disease-free survival period (mean+/-SEM) was significantly longer after fluoropyrimidine-based adjuvant chemotherapy in tumors with TGF-beta2 expression (42+/-1.4 vs. 21+/-4.7 months; p=0.005) and D18S46 loss of heterozygosity or microsatellite instability (45.7+/-1.5 vs. 40.5+/-1.4 months; p=0.048). In the metastatic settings, the high disease-control rate of oxaliplatin and irinotecan regimens correlated significantly with wild-type APC and intact MMR, respectively, relative to mutant APC and defective MMR (p=0.013, respectively). Interestingly, specific molecular steps of tumorigenensis were closely associated with particular toxicities.A subset of molecular changes occurring during colorectal tumorigenesis showed significant associations with therapeutic responses and toxicities to chemotherapy regimens, suggesting that these changes may be candidate predictors of chemoresponsiveness with further validation.

Numerical models used to simulate the lofting mechanisms of runway stones were developed to assess the threat to aircraft structures from runway debris impacts. An inflated aircraft tire model, which was validated by comparison with experimental indentation tests, showed that over-rolling of stones under typical takeoff conditions led to only modest vertical loft velocities of less than 5 m/s. Experiments using a drop weight impactor to simulate a section of aircraft tire descending upon stones, demonstrated that lofting was achieved with impacts with low rubber thicknesses, but with greater rubber thickness lofting was suppressed. Using more realistic tire geometries resulted in launches with backspin, but only horizontally along the ground in the direction of the tire axis. The speed at which launches occurred was proportional to the rate of descent of the tire section and would consequently determine the loft speeds due to potential asperity lofting.

Biomechanical analysis of human movement often requires accurate estimation of body segment parameters (BSP). These values are segmental inertial properties, including mass, center of mass and moments of inertia. They can be measured directly on living subjects using techniques such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT) and gamma-mass scanning. Despite their accuracy, these methods involve high radiation and require expensive scanners that are not always readily available to biomechanics researchers. Another popular way to estimate BSP is by studying regression equations on experimental data, commonly from cadaveric studies. These approaches, however, have been criticized for the limited cadaveric data.

Characterization studies of a multi-enzyme-antibody-carbon nanotube bioconjugate designed for the amplification of electrochemical immunosensing are described. Secondary antibodies for prostate specific antigen (PSA) were covalently linked to highly carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) along with multiple horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme labels. These bioconjugates provide ultra-sensitive amperometric detection of PSA on a single-wall carbon nanotube forest sandwich immunosensor platform. A single layer of HRP on the surface of the CNT was suggested by images from atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). HRP on the bioconjugate surface was visualized by confocal microscopy using in-situ HRP-catalyzed polymerization yielding a fluorescent product, and HRP activity was estimated in a conventional assay. Binding of quantum-dot labeled PSA to antibodies on the bioconjugate was used for visualization by TEM. Combining TEM and enzyme activity results gave estimates of approximately 82 HRPs and 30 +/- 15 secondary antibodies per 100 nm of antibody-HRP-CNT bioconjugate.

Body segment parameters (BSP) are essential inputs in the kinetic analysis of human motion. These data include mass, center of mass and moments of inertia, and are usually obtained from population-specific predictive equations. Several limitations remained with the use of cadaveric measurement. These include limited sample size, as well as discrepancies in age and morphology. The limitations motivated the development of direct BSP measurements on living subjects. However, other limitations such as exposure to radiation, high cost and sheer lack of facilities that are readily available evolved. In addition, some methods provide only twodimensional (2-D) measurements while others require intensive tomographic images for three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction. This article proposes a novel technique for reconstructing subject-specific 3-D body mass distribution using from Dual Energy Absorptiometry X-ray imaging and 3-D exterior geometry. The accuracy of our method was assessed by calculating percent error between the criterion based on total body mass and our proposed total body mass measurements (TBM). We found less than one percent error between the criterion and our TBM measurements for subjects of four different body types: endormorph, mesomorph, ectomorph and central. We found significant differences between our proposed method as compared to cadaver-based and livingbased models for segment mass (SM) at the hand; center of mass (CM) at the thigh, shank, foot, head and neck, trunk, upper arm, forearm and hand; and moments of inertia at the hand, shank, foot and trunk. Extensions of the research could further examined the influence of other BSP measurements derived from our proposed method and the four selected estimation models, as well as their impact on the inverse dynamics solutions in human motion.

Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have attracted attention because of their potential in a vast range of applications, including transistors and sensors. However, immense technological importance lies in enhancing the purity and homogeneity of SWNTs with respect to their chirality for real-world electronic applications. In order to achieve optimal performance of SWNTs, the diameter, type, and chirality have to be effectively sorted. Any employed strategy for sorting SWNTs has to be scalable, nondestructible, and economical. In this paper, we present a solubilization and chirality enrichment study of commercially available SWNTs using genomic DNA. On the basis of the comparison of the photoluminescence (PL) and near-infrared absorption measurements from the SWNTs dispersed with salmon genomic DNA (SaDNA) and d(GT)20, we show that genomic DNA specifically enriches (6,5) tubes. Circular dichroism and classical all-atom molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the genomic double-stranded SaDNA prefers to interact with (6,5) SWNTs as compared to (10,3) tubes, meanwhile single-stranded d(GT)20 shows no or minimal chirality preference. Our enrichment process demonstrates enrichment of >86% of (6,5) SWNTs from CoMoCat nanotubes using SaDNA.

Despite leaps in motion capture technology, the dichotomy between unencumbered vision-based motion recovery and the prevailing marker-assisted motion capture solution remains largely pertinent. This paper bridges the gap by introducing an attachment-free, full-body motion capture technique that employs multiple high-speed cameras and a customized bodysuit. The flexible bodysuit allows free movements while providing marker data for guided reconstruction of pose and motion. Our method overcomes several practical problems in existing systems, including long preparation time and displaced markers. The network of markerized pattern provides connectivity information and enhances robustness in feature tracking, model matching and 3D reconstruction.

This paper demonstrates the use of DNA based biopolymers as semiconducting thin films in organic field effect transistors. The "doping" of the DNA molecules with conductive polymers leads to a significant decrease of the overall resistivity in the blend with effective free charge carrier mobilities comparable to other conductive polymers such as Pentacene and P3HT. Baytron P as well as single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) have been explored as "doping" conductive polymers.

In this paper, we report the first results on DNA based thin film field effect transistors (TFFET). The DNA molecules are extracted from Salmon's milt and roe sacs and purified to 96%. DNA based thin films are obtained using different techniques including spin coating, molecular beam deposition (MBD), pulse laser deposition (PLD)...etc. An increase in the overall charge carrier mobility was achieved by blending the DNA molecules with conductive polymers such as PEDOT:PSS as well as conductive nanoparticles such as single wall carbon nanotubes. MOSFETs with bottom gate, bottom contact structures using DNA based thin films as the semi-conductive layer have been developed.

We address the volumetric reconstruction problem that takes as input a series of orthographic multi-energy X-ray images, producing as output a reconstructed model space consisting of uniform-size mass density voxels. Our approach solves the non-linear constrained optimization for mulation problem by constructing a compliant estimate of volumetric distribution, subject to projective and domain constraints, and minimizes variational irregularities. To resolve the inherent ambiguities of single-view formulation, an optional shape model may be introduced to aid the reconstruction process. We demonstrate our methodpsilas practical usage as a new in-vivo method for estimating three dimensional body segmental compositions, and compare its results with those of existing methods.

A fully automatic 3D-2D articulated registration algorithm for aligning a whole-body human geometry to a 2D X-ray image is presented. Domain prior in the form of a hierarchical model encapsulating the kinematic structure of the human body is exploited. A deformation operator is then defined with respect to the hierarchical model. An iterative search using ICP is performed to estimate the optimal deformation parameters. Empirical results indicate good matching rates of 94% and above. Requiring minimal user intervention, the method is suited for large-scale data acquisition in human anthropometric studies.

We describe herein the combination of electrochemical immunosensors using single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) forest platforms with multi-label secondary antibody-nanotube bioconjugates for highly sensitive detection of a cancer biomarker in serum and tissue lysates. Greatly amplified sensitivity was attained by using bioconjugates featuring horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labels and secondary antibodies (Ab(2)) linked to carbon nanotubes (CNT) at high HRP/Ab(2) ratio. This approach provided a detection limit of 4 pg mL(-)(1) (100 amol mL(-)(1)), for prostate specific antigen (PSA) in 10 microL of undiluted calf serum, a mass detection limit of 40 fg. Accurate detection of PSA in human serum samples was demonstrated by comparison to standard ELISA assays. PSA was quantitatively measured in prostate tissue samples for which PSA could not be differentiated by the gold standard immunohistochemical staining method. These easily fabricated SWNT immunosensors show excellent promise for clinical screening of cancer biomarkers and point-of-care diagnostics.

Several techniques were recently reported for the bulk separation of metallic (M) and semiconducting (S) single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), using optical absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) as a proof of the separation. In the present work, we develop a method for the quantitative evaluation of the M to S separation ratio, and also for the SWNT diameter selectivity of the separation process, based on RRS. The relative changes in the integrated intensities of the radial-breathing mode (RBM) features, with respect to the starting material, yield the diameter probability distribution functions for M and S SWNTs in the separated fractions, accounting for the different resonance conditions of individual SWNTs, while the diameter distribution of the starting material is obtained following the fitting procedure developed by Kuzmany and coworkers. Features other than the RBM are generally less effective for characterization of the separation process for SWNTs.

The cell division cycle have been shown to be regulated by a closely-related family of protein kinases named CDKs (by cyclin-dependent kinases). Using a PCR-based cloning technique, we have isolated cDNAs encoding a human CDC2-related protein kinase. The full-length cDNA accommodates an open reading frame that does not contain any ATG initiation codon upstream of the sequence encoding the catalytic domain of this putative kinase. Three putative non-ATG initiation codons have been detected. Starting at the most 5' non-ATG initiation site, the encoded product is 316 amino acids long with a predicted molecular weight of 35.8 kDa. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence showed it to contain the XI subdomains present in all known protein kinases and a PSTAIRE-like motive, PISSLRE, which temporarily names this kinase. PISSLRE is most related to p58/GTA (55% identity in the catalytic domain), the galactosyl transferase associated protein, which has been shown to inhibit entry into S-phase when over-expressed in CHO cells. PISSLRE shares 38-45% identity with all CDKs and contains the regulatory Tyr and Thr residues present in most of the members of the CDK family of protein kinases, which suggests similar modes of regulation. PISSLRE is expressed in all human tissues tested, including those which contain high proportion of terminally differentiated cells. However, the levels of the PISSLRE transcripts are dissimilar among different tissues.