Optimization of ultrafine entanglement witnesses

The ultrafine entanglement witness, introduced in [F. Shahandeh, M. Ringbauer, J.C. Loredo, and T.C. Ralph, Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{118}, 110502 (2017)], can seamlessly and easily improve any standard entanglement witness. In this paper, by combining the constraint and the test operators, we rotate the hyperplane determined by the test operator and improve further the original ultrafine entanglement witness. In particular, we present a series of new ultrafine entanglement witnesses, which not only can detect entangled states that the original ultrafine entanglement witnesses cannot detect, but also have the merits that the original ultrafine entanglement witnesses have.Comment: 8 page

New Aminocoumarin Antibiotics Formed by a Combined Mutational and Chemoenzymatic Approach Utilizing the Carbamoyltransferase NovN

AbstractFive new aminocoumarin antibiotics were produced by a combined mutational and chemoenzymatic approach. For this purpose, the 3″-carbamoyltransferase NovN from the novobiocin producer Streptomyces spheroides was overexpressed in the heterologous host S. lividans as an N-terminal His6 fusion protein and purified by nickel affinity chromatography. Five different 3″-unsubstituted aminocoumarin derivatives were isolated from mutants of the clorobiocin producer S. roseochromogenes, carrying single or multiple gene defects. All five compounds were readily accepted as substrates by NovN, and the 3″-carbamoylated products were isolated on a preparative scale. Their structures were elucidated by 1H-NMR and mass spectroscopy, and their inhibitory activity on gyrase in vitro as well as their antibacterial activity was determined. The results give further insight into the structure-activity relationships of aminocoumarin antibiotics

Effects of geometric features of highway horizontal alignment on steering behavior of passenger car

In order to elucidate the effects of the features of horizontal curves on the steering behavior of passenger car, the vehicle driving behavior when negotiating simple curves (tangent + circular section + tangent) was investigated. A complete dynamic model of a passenger car was developed using the Automatic Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems (ADAMS) software. Virtual driving tests were conducted on simple curves with different parameters for two driving patterns: curve cutting and lane keeping. Based on the variation in the amplitude of the angle input of the steering wheel, the steering process of a passenger car was divided into three stages: curve entry, maintenance, and curve exit. The steering lengths and steering times corresponding to the vehicle entering, remaining in, and exiting curves were obtained for each driving pattern. The relationship between the two parameters and the curve radius as well as that between the two parameters and the deflection angle was thus determined. On the one hand, this study can be a guide for selecting the parameters for curve geometry design and, in particular, for determining an appropriate value of the spiral length. On the other hand, the correspondence between the steering wheel angle and the trajectory curvature should allow one to identify the three driving states, namely, straight driving, variable-curvature driving, and circular-curve driving. This should help in improving driver behavior and hence driving safety

Coexistence of splenic marginal zone lymphoma with hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report

BACKGROUND: Coexistence of splenic marginal zone lymphoma with hepatocellular carcinoma is rare. Although some reports have suggested the possible pathogenic role of HBV, HCV, chronic and persistent antigenic stimulation in lymphoma, their role in causing lymphomas is still unclear. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a hepatocellular carcinoma with concomitant splenic marginal zone lymphoma in a 64-year-old Chinese man with cirrhosis. Serum hepatitis B virus surface antigen was positive and antihepatitis C virus antibody was negative. The resected liver mass measuring 4 × 3 × 3 cm was grey and soft with a small area of bleeding, necrosis and intact capsule. Cut surface of the spleen was red-purple and had a diffuse reticulonodular appearance indicative of prominent white pulp. On histologic sections, the liver mass was well and moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, and the splenic tumor was a specific low-grade small B-cell lymphoma. Immunohistochemical staining and gene rearrangement studies supported that the splenic tumor represents a clonal B-cell lymphoma. Therefore, the diagnosis of SMZL was made from the splenic specimen. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the second case report describing coexistence of hepatocellular carcinoma and splenic marginal zone lymphoma in the course of chronic HBV infection. However, we cannot assert at present that hepatitis B virus is directly involved in splenic lymphomagenesis until more information is collected from more cases in the future

Evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunospot assay for the immunodiagnosis of atypical spinal tuberculosis (atypical clinical presentation/atypical radiographic presentation) in China

AbstractBackgroundAtypical spinal tuberculosis (TB) usually presents in a slowly indolent manner with nonspecific clinical presentations making the diagnosis a great challenge for physicians. New technologies for the detection of atypical spinal TB are urgently needed. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of an enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay in clinically suspected cases of atypical spinal TB in China.MethodsFrom March 2011 to September 2012, a total of 65 patients with suspected atypical spinal TB were enrolled. In addition to conventional tests for TB, we used ELISPOT assays to measure the IFN-γ response to ESAT-6 and CFP-10 in T-cells in samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Patients with suspected atypical spinal TB were classified by diagnostic category. Data on clinical characteristics of the patients and conventional laboratory results were collected.ResultsOut of 65 patients, 4 were excluded from the study. 18 (29.5%) subjects had culture-confirmed TB, 11 (18.0%) subjects had probable TB, and the remaining 32 (52.5%) subjects did not have TB. Generally, the features of atypical spinal TB include the following aspects: (1) worm-eaten destruction of vertebral endplate; (2) destruction of centricity of the vertebral body or concentric collapse of vertebral body; (3) tuberculous abscess with no identifiable osseous lesion; (4) contiguous or skipped vertebral body destruction. 26 patients with atypical spinal TB had available biopsy or surgical specimens for histopathologic examination and 23 (88.5%) specimens had pathologic features consistent with TB infection. The sensitivities of the PPD skin test and ELISPOT assay for atypical spinal TB were 58.6% and 82.8%, and their specificities were 59.4% and 81.3%, respectively. Malnutrition and age were associated with ELISPOT positivity in atypical spinal TB patients.ConclusionsThe ELISPOT assay is a useful adjunct to current tests for diagnosis of atypical spinal TB

Research progress of computer analysis method of SPECT-CT and PET-CT

多模态成像设备的发展是影像学发展的里程碑，继PET-CT后，美国通用电气公司推出了Discovery NM/CT 670，将CT与SPECT有机整合在一起，形成的SPECT/CT新型分子医学影像设备，随着SPECT-CT和PET-CT日益广泛地受到关注和应用，许多关于SPECT-CT和PET-CT图像分析的计算机方法应运而生，越来越受到临床和影像学科的重视。本文就SPECT-CT和PET-CT的计算机分析方法进行了详细的描述。The development of multi-modality imaging devices marks a milestone of medical imaging. Discovery NM/CT 670 was recently launched by Ge Corp in the United States after the development of PET-CT and it integrated CT and SPECT. The newly formed type of molecular imaging equipment of SPECT/CT is getting wide attention along with the application of SPECT-CT and PET-CT so that computer analysis of SPECT-CT and PET-CT image came into being, which was much valued by clinical and imaging studies. The paper described detailed information of SPECT-CT and PET-CT computer analysis

SPECT-CT和PET-CT计算机分析方法的探索研究

The development of multimodal imaging equipment is milestone in the development of imaging, after the PET-CT, American GE company launched a Discovery 670 NM/CT, CT and SPECT, the organic integration of the formation of SPECT-CT new molecular medical imaging equipment, with SPECT, CT and PET-CT is getting more and more widely attention and application, many of SPECT-CT and PET-CT image analysis computer method arises at the historic moment, getting increasing attention of the clinical and imaging science. The paper carried on the detailed description of the SPECT-CT and PET-CT computer analysis method.多模态成像设备的发展是影像学发展的里程碑，继PET-CT后，美国通用电气公司推出了Discovery NM/CT 670，将CT与SPECT有机整合在一起，形成的SPECT-CT新型分子医学影像设备，随着SPECT-CT和PET-CT日益广泛地受到关注和应用，许多关于SPECT-CT和PET-CT图像分析的计算机方法应运而生，越来越受到临床和影像学科的重视。本文就SPECT/CT和PET-CT的计算机分析方法进行了详细的描述