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Infrared and Raman spectra of molecules, often of vapor samples at high temperatures and/or utilizing special sample cells, have been utilized to investigate molecular structures, conformations, and vibrational potential energy surfaces (PESs) in electronic ground states. Similarly, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and ultraviolet spectra have provided the data for investigating electronic excited states. Theoretical ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) calculations have complemented the experimental work. The focus of the work has been on cyclic and bicyclic molecules that possess large-amplitude motions such as the ring-puckering and ring-twisting vibrations. We first discuss molecules with intramolecular π-type hydrogen bonding in cyclic and bicyclic alcohols and amines. This type of bonding is achieved only when the ring puckering or ring twisting and OH or NH 2 torsional coordinates are at their optimal positions. Second, we review the Raman spectra of 1,3-butadiene that allowed us to calculate the torsional potential energy function for this molecule. Third, we examine the ultraviolet electronic spectra of pyridine and several fluoropyridines and discuss their potential energy functions in electronic excited states. Fourth, we present our experimental data and theoretical calculations for the two-dimensional PESs of three unusual molecules. In each case, the characteristics of the energy levels and their corresponding wave functions are discussed in detail. Fifth, the PESs for the torsional vibrations of stilbenes are reviewed. Sixth, we summarize our results for the ground and excited states of several bicyclic aromatics including the remarkable 1,3-benzodioxole molecule, which possesses the anomeric effect. Lastly, we describe our results on the LIF spectra of cyclic ketones that generally possess double-minimum PESs for the carbonyl inversion vibrations in their S 1 (n, π⁎) excited states.

Multispecialist teleconsultation systems can be particularly useful in obtaining a second opinion from remote medical specialists. In this paper, a multispecialist teleconsultation (MST) system was designed by using multiple unicasting to enable operability over the existing Internet infrastructure and the support of reliable data transmission. The MST was tested over Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and the hospital Local Area Network (LAN) to demonstrate the operability of the designed system over popularly deployed networks that together make up the current Internet. Also, subjective evaluation using induced delay and low quality video coding of sample brain surgery testing videos and two cases of clinical experimentations demonstrated the limiting factors of the MST in terms of quality and delay differences as well as the feasibility of the MST in a real clinical setting.

Two different prototype mobile telemedicine systems were constructed for use in the emergency room. They could transmit physiological signals as well as video pictures and sound. One device, the mobile emergency bed (MEB), was powered by battery and had a wireless connection to the local-area network (LAN). For the other, the mobile emergency server (MES), a patient monitor, video-camera and microphone were connected by a radio-frequency link to a server. A functional evaluation and a clinical evaluation (by 12 emergency doctors in six emergency centres) were performed on both prototypes. The bandwidth and the video quality of the MEB were better than those of the MES, because of the digital transmission of the wireless LAN. The MES was better for directing patient treatment and teleconsultation; the MEB was better for static patients in the emergency centre. In general, the MES was more suitable for practical emergency telemedicine work.

EGCG and quercetin are known as beneficial dietary flavonoid for various diseases including diabetes mellitus. But it is not certain whether they could protect pancreatic beta cell directly. We performed this study to test both EGCG and quercetin could directly protect beta cell line under oxidative stress, and verify the action mechanisms. The protective effect of quercetin on INS-1 cells against oxidative stress was concentration dependent, but EGCG showed specific concentration zone for the protection. The protective effect of EGCG was more pronounced in pre-treatment before oxidative stress, while quercetin showed dramatic improvement of viability in simultaneous incubation with H2O2. In EGCG pre-treatment, antioxidant enzymes and activity were decreased, but the phosphorylated PI3K and Akt were significantly increased. PI3K inhibitor significantly reduced cell viability in EGCG pre-treatment. In conclusion, EGCG and quercetin have protective effect on INS-1 cells against oxidative stress through both antioxidant effect and anti-apoptosis signaling. In EGCG, pre-treatment make its effect better by the enhancement of anti-apoptosis signaling. Quercetin protected INS-1 cells more in simultaneous incubation via strong antioxidant defense.