Use of FBG optical sensors for structural health monitoring: Practical application

This paper describes the development of FBG Optical sensors for their practical application on structural health monitoring. The sensors were installed on the Tsing Ma Bridge for a trial run. The results using FBG sensors were in excellent agreement with those acquired by the bridge WASHMS

Skin banking in Hong Kong - the development and experience in Queen Mary Hospital

published_or_final_versio

Improved management of the donor site of free radial forearm flap

Conference Theme: Challenges to specialists in the 21st centurypublished_or_final_versio

Use of deltopectoral flap for head and neck reconstruction

Theme: Challenges to specialists in the 21st centurypublished_or_final_versio

Autumnal biomass and potential productivity of salt marsh fungi from 29 degrees to 43 degrees North latitude along the United States Atlantic coast

It has been established that substantial amounts of fungal mass accumulate in standing decaying smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) marshes in the southeastern United States (e.g., in standing decaying leaf blades with a total fungal organic mass that accounts for about 20% of the decay system organic mass), but it has been hypothesized that in marshes farther north this is not true. We obtained samples of autumnal standing decaying smooth cordgrass from sites in Florida to Maine over a 3-year period. The variation in latitude could not explain any of the variation in the living fungal standing crop las determined by ergosterol content) or in the instantaneous rates of fungal growth las determined by acetate incorporation into ergosterol at a standard temperature, 20 degrees C), which led to the conclusion that the potential levels of fungal production per unit of naturally decaying grass are not different in northern and southern marshes. Twenty-one percent of the: variation in the size of the living fungal standing crop could be explained by variation in the CIN ratio (the higher the CIN ratio the smaller the fungal crop), but the C/P ratio was not related to the size of the fungal crop. Instantaneous rates of fungal growth were negatively related to the size of the living fungal crop (r = -0.35). but these rates were not correlated with C/nutrient ratios. The same two predominant species of ascomycetes tone Phaeosphaeria species and one Mycosphaerella species) were found ejecting ascospores from standing decaying smooth cordgrass blades at all of the sites examined from Florida to Maine

Nevus of Ota: a new classification based upon the response to laser treatment

published_or_final_versio

Identification of “sarsasapogenin-aglyconed” timosaponins as novel Aβ-lowering modulators of amyloid precursor protein processing

published_or_final_versio

Quantum oscillations in quasi-one-dimensional metals with spin-density-wave ground states

We consider the magnetoresistance oscillation phenomena in the Bechgaard salts (TMTSF)(2)X, where X = ClO4, PF6, and AsF6 in pulsed magnetic fields to 51 T. Of particular importance is the observation of a new magnetoresistance oscillation for X = ClO4 in its quenched state. In the absence of any Fermi-surface reconstruction due to anion order at low temperatures, all three materials exhibit nonmonotonic temperature dependence of the oscillation amplitude in the spin-density-wave (SDW) state. We discuss a model where, below a characteristic temperature T* within the SDW state, a magnetic breakdown gap opens. [S0163-1829(99)00904-2]

A comprehensive characterization of chronic norovirus infection in immunodeficient hosts.

Letter to the edito

Coevolved mutations reveal distinct architectures for two core proteins in the bacterial flagellar motor

Switching of bacterial flagellar rotation is caused by large domain movements of the FliG protein triggered by binding of the signal protein CheY to FliM. FliG and FliM form adjacent multi-subunit arrays within the basal body C-ring. The movements alter the interaction of the FliG C-terminal (FliGC) "torque" helix with the stator complexes. Atomic models based on the Salmonella entrovar C-ring electron microscopy reconstruction have implications for switching, but lack consensus on the relative locations of the FliG armadillo (ARM) domains (amino-terminal (FliGN), middle (FliGM) and FliGC) as well as changes during chemotaxis. The generality of the Salmonella model is challenged by the variation in motor morphology and response between species. We studied coevolved residue mutations to determine the unifying elements of switch architecture. Residue interactions, measured by their coevolution, were formalized as a network, guided by structural data. Our measurements reveal a common design with dedicated switch and motor modules. The FliM middle domain (FliMM) has extensive connectivity most simply explained by conserved intra and inter-subunit contacts. In contrast, FliG has patchy, complex architecture. Conserved structural motifs form interacting nodes in the coevolution network that wire FliMM to the FliGC C-terminal, four-helix motor module (C3-6). FliG C3-6 coevolution is organized around the torque helix, differently from other ARM domains. The nodes form separated, surface-proximal patches that are targeted by deleterious mutations as in other allosteric systems. The dominant node is formed by the EHPQ motif at the FliMMFliGM contact interface and adjacent helix residues at a central location within FliGM. The node interacts with nodes in the N-terminal FliGc α-helix triad (ARM-C) and FliGN. ARM-C, separated from C3-6 by the MFVF motif, has poor intra-network connectivity consistent with its variable orientation revealed by structural data. ARM-C could be the convertor element that provides mechanistic and species diversity.JK was supported by Medical Research Council grant U117581331. SK was supported by seed funds from Lahore University of Managment Sciences (LUMS) and the Molecular Biology Consortium