A hinge migration mechanism unlocks the evolution of green-to-red photoconversion in GFP-like proteins.

In proteins, functional divergence involves mutations that modify structure and dynamics. Here we provide experimental evidence for an evolutionary mechanism driven solely by long-range dynamic motions without significant backbone adjustments, catalytic group rearrangements, or changes in subunit assembly. Crystallographic structures were determined for several reconstructed ancestral proteins belonging to a GFP class frequently employed in superresolution microscopy.

Acid-base catalysis and crystal structures of a least evolved ancestral GFP-like protein undergoing green-to-red photoconversion.

In green-to-red photoconvertible fluorescent proteins, a three-ring chromophore is generated by the light-activated incorporation of a histidine residue into the conjugated π-system. We have determined the pH-rate profile and high- and low-pH X-ray structures of a least evolved ancestor (LEA) protein constructed in the laboratory based on statistical sequence analysis. LEA incorporates the minimal number of substitutions necessary and sufficient for facile color conversion and exhibits a maximal photoconversion quantum yield of 0.

Triangular geometry-based novel feature and a novel algorithm for human identification using dental radiographs.

Dental X-ray has played an important role in identification of missing or unidentified persons. Particularly in cases where other identification clues like fingerprint, iris, etc. are not available and, moreover, dental features remain more or less invariant over time.

An unusual case report of erupted odontoma.

Odontomas are the most common of the odontogenic tumors of the jaws, which are benign, slow growing, and nonaggressive. They are usually asymptomatic and found in routine dental radiographic examination. Odontomas are usually associated with tooth eruption disturbances.

ECG signal compression using compressive sensing and wavelet transform.

Compressed Sensing (CS) is a novel approach of reconstructing a sparse signal much below the significant Nyquist rate of sampling. Due to the fact that ECG signals can be well approximated by the few linear combinations of wavelet basis, this work introduces a comparison of the reconstructed 10 ECG signals based on different wavelet families, by evaluating the performance measures as MSE (Mean Square Error), PSNR (Peak Signal To Noise Ratio), PRD (Percentage Root Mean Square Difference) and CoC (Correlation Coefficient). Reconstruction of the ECG signal is a linear optimization process which considers the sparsity in the wavelet domain.

Pleural Empyema due to Group D Salmonella.

Non-typhi Salmonella normally presents as a bacteremia, enterocolitis, and endovascular infection but rarely manifests as pleuropulmonary disease. We present a case of a 66-year-old female with underlying pulmonary pathology, secondary to an extensive smoking history, who presented with a left-sided pleural effusion. The causative agent was identified as being group D Salmonella.

Multi-domain GFP-like proteins from two species of marine hydrozoans.

Proteins homologous to Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) are widely used as genetically encoded fluorescent labels. Many developments of this technology were spurred by discoveries of novel types of GFP-like proteins (FPs) in nature. Here we report two proteins displaying primary structures never before encountered in natural FPs: they consist of multiple GFP-like domains repeated within the same polypeptide chain.

Multi-colored homologs of the green fluorescent protein from hydromedusa Obelia sp.

The presence of green fluorescent protein (GFP) within the bioluminescent system of Obelia (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Campanulariidae) was inferred shortly after the discovery of GFP in Aequorea. Despite the enormous success of Aequorea GFP as a genetically encoded fluorescent label, Obelia GFP thus far has been defeating attempts to clone it from the hydroid life cycle stage. Here, we report cloning of three GFP-like fluorescent proteins (FPs) from Obelia medusa, representing cyan, green, and yellow spectral types.

Does the handling time of unrefrigerated human fecal specimens impact the detection of Clostridium difficile toxins in a hospital setting?

Background: The stability of Clostridium difficile toxins is an important factor in determining the accuracy of the enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The Centers for Disease Control has stated that C. difficile toxins may become undetectable in unrefrigerated stool specimens within 2 h after collection.

Impact of patient education on quality of bowel preparation in outpatient colonoscopies.

Background: High-quality bowel preparation is essential for successful outpatient colonoscopy. Currently, the rate of adequate bowel preparation for outpatient colonoscopy in the USA is low. Patients often fail to adhere to recommended preparation instructions.

Coral fluorescent proteins as antioxidants.

Background: A wide array of fluorescent proteins (FP) is present in anthozoans, although their biochemical characteristics and function in host tissue remain to be determined. Upregulation of FP's frequently occurs in injured or compromised coral tissue, suggesting a potential role of coral FPs in host stress responses.

Methodology/principal Findings: The presence of FPs was determined and quantified for a subsample of seven healthy Caribbean coral species using spectral emission analysis of tissue extracts.