A point-in-polygon method based on a quasi-closest point

International audienceThis paper presents a numerically stable solution to a point-in-polygon problem by combining the orientation method and the uniform subdivision technique. We define first a quasi-closest point that can be locally found through the uniform subdivision cells, and then we provide the criteria for determining whether a point lies inside a polygon according to the quasi-closest point. For a large number of points to be tested against the same polygon, the criteria are employed to determine the inclusion property of an empty cell as well as a test point. The experimental tests show that the new method resolves the singularity of a test point on an edge without loss of efficiency. The GIS case study also demonstrates the capability of the method to identify which region contains a test point in a map

Analysis on multi-domain cooperation for predicting protein-protein interactions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Domains are the basic functional units of proteins. It is believed that protein-protein interactions are realized through domain interactions. Revealing multi-domain cooperation can provide deep insights into the essential mechanism of protein-protein interactions at the domain level and be further exploited to improve the accuracy of protein interaction prediction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this paper, we aim to identify cooperative domains for protein interactions by extending two-domain interactions to multi-domain interactions. Based on the high-throughput experimental data from multiple organisms with different reliabilities, the interactions of domains were inferred by a Linear Programming algorithm with Multi-domain pairs (LPM) and an Association Probabilistic Method with Multi-domain pairs (APMM). Experimental results demonstrate that our approach not only can find cooperative domains effectively but also has a higher accuracy for predicting protein interaction than the existing methods. Cooperative domains, including strongly cooperative domains and superdomains, were detected from major interaction databases MIPS and DIP, and many of them were verified by physical interactions from the crystal structures of protein complexes in PDB which provide intuitive evidences for such cooperation. Comparison experiments in terms of protein/domain interaction prediction justified the benefit of considering multi-domain cooperation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>From the computational viewpoint, this paper gives a general framework to predict protein interactions in a more accurate manner by considering the information of both multi-domains and multiple organisms, which can also be applied to identify cooperative domains, to reconstruct large complexes and further to annotate functions of domains. Supplementary information and software are provided in <url>http://intelligent.eic.osaka-sandai.ac.jp/chenen/MDCinfer.htm</url> and <url>http://zhangroup.aporc.org/bioinfo/MDCinfer</url>.</p

Catalytic Asymmetric Dihydroxylation of Olefins Using a Recoverable and Reusable Ligand

A free bis-cinchona alkaloid derivative ligand was prepared by a simple synthetic manipulation. With ligand/olefin mole ratio of 1%, the asymmetric dihydroxylation reactions of six olefins proceeded smoothly to give the chiral vicinal diols in high chemical yields and optical yields. The ligand itself could be recovered quantitatively by a simple operation and reused five times without loss of enantioselectivity

Poly[(μ2-quinoline-3-carboxyl­ato-κ2 N:O)(μ2-quinoline-3-carboxyl­ato-κ3 N:O,O′)cadmium]

In the title compound, [Cd(C10H6NO2)2]n, the CdII atom is coordinated by three O atoms and two N atoms from four quinoline-3-carboxyl­ate (L −) ligands, leading to a distorted trigonal–bipyramidal geometry. The L − ligands link the CdII atoms into a plane parallel to (100), with one ligand being tridentate, coordinating via the N atom and chelating a second Cd atom, and the other being bidentate, bridging two Cd atoms via the N and one O atom.. This two-dimensional network extends into a double-layer network by π–π inter­actions, with centroid–centroid distances of 3.680 (2) and 3.752 (2) Å. Another type of π–π inter­action between pyridine rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.527 (2) Å] leads to a three-dimensional supra­molecular architecture

Galactic Disk Bulk Motions as Revealed by the LSS-GAC DR2

We report a detailed investigation of the bulk motions of the nearby Galactic stellar disk, based on three samples selected from the LSS-GAC DR2: a global sample containing 0.57 million FGK dwarfs out to $\sim$ 2 kpc, a local subset of the global sample consisting $\sim$ 5,400 stars within 150 pc, and an anti-center sample containing $\sim$ 4,400 AFGK dwarfs and red clump stars within windows of a few degree wide centered on the Galactic anti-center. The global sample is used to construct a three-dimensional map of bulk motions of the Galactic disk from the solar vicinity out to $\sim$ 2 kpc with a spatial resolution of $\sim$ 250 pc. Typical values of the radial and vertical components of bulk motion range from $-$15 km s$^{-1}$ to 15 km s$^{-1}$, while the lag behind the circular speed dominates the azimuthal component by up to $\sim$ 15 km s$^{-1}$. The map reveals spatially coherent, kpc-scale stellar flows in the disk, with typical velocities of a few tens km s$^{-1}$. Bending- and breathing-mode perturbations are clearly visible, and vary smoothly across the disk plane. Our data also reveal higher-order perturbations, such as breaks and ripples, in the profiles of vertical motion versus height. From the local sample, we find that stars of different populations exhibit very different patterns of bulk motion. Finally, the anti-center sample reveals a number of peaks in stellar number density in the line-of-sight velocity versus distance distribution, with the nearer ones apparently related to the known moving groups. The "velocity bifurcation" reported by Liu et al. (2012) at Galactocentric radii 10--11 kpc is confirmed. However, just beyond this distance, our data also reveal a new triple-peaked structure.Comment: 27 pages, 17 figures, Accepted for publication in a special issue of Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics on LAMOST science

A new low-voltage plateau of Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ as an anode for Na-ion batteries

A low-voltage plateau at ∼0.3 V is discovered during the deep sodiation of Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ by combined computational and experimental studies. This new low-voltage plateau doubles the sodiation capacity of Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃, thus turning it into a promising anode for Na-ion batteries.The published version of this article lists fewer authors than in the accepted manuscript version displayed here. The financial support information contained in the publisher's version also varies slightly from this manuscript version

Fascin-1 and Digestive System Carcinoma

Invasion and metastasis are major reason for poor prognosis of digestive system carcinoma patients. Motility and migratory capacity are important in contributing to tumor cells’ invasion and metastasis. Fascin is one of actin cross-linking proteins and can participate in forming parallel actin bundles in cell protrusions. Fascin-1 is consequently involved in cell adhesion, motility, and signaling. In cultured cells, over-expression of fascin-1 can increase migration and invasion capacity of cells. Many studies show up-expressions of fascin-1 are significantly associated with worse prognosis, poor differentiation, TNM stage, positive for lymph node metastasis, and positive for distant metastasis in digestive system carcinoma patients. So fascin-1 may have prognostic value as an early biomarker for more aggressive digestive system carcinoma. This review provides detailed account of preclinical studies conducted to determine the utility of fascin-1 as a therapeutic and predictive agent in invasion and metastasis of carcinomas