bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of an inductively coupled nitrogen-argon plasma by Langmuir probe combined with optical emission spectroscopy
Authors: Song M. A. , Lee Y. W. , Chung T. H.
Published: February 2011

The properties of low-pressure inductively coupled nitrogen-argon plasmas were investigated by using a Langmuir probe combined with optical emission spectroscopy (OES) under the conditions of pressures in the range of 1–30 mTorr and applied rf powers of 200–600 W. In the experiments, the argon was introduced as an actinometer and as an adding gas. The effect of the argon content in the gas mixture was examined in the range of 5%–80%. The electron energy probability function (EEPF), the electron density, and the electron temperature were obtained by using an rf-compensated Langmuir probe. The dissociation fractions were obtained from the OES actinometry. The electron temperature was also obtained by OES corona model and compared with that measured by the probe. The second positive and first negative systems of spectral bands from nitrogen molecules were analyzed to estimate the vibrational and rotational temperatures. The effects of the control parameters on the plasma parameters and dissociation fraction were investigated. While the calculated nitrogen atom density increased with power, it exhibited a maximum value near the Ar content of 30%.
Nematic ordering of rigid rod polyelectrolytes induced by electrostatic interactions: Effect of discrete charge distribution along the chain
Authors: Yang Dian , Venev Sergey V. , Palyulin Vladimir V. , Potemkin Igor I.
Published: February 2011

Similar to the Debye–Hückel plasma, charged groups in solutions of rigid rod polyelectrolytes attract each other. We derive expression for the correlation free energy of electrostatic attraction of the rods within the random phase approximation. In this theory, we explicitly take into account positions of charged groups on the chains and examine both charge and polymer concentration fluctuations. The correlation free energies and the osmotic pressures are calculated for isotropic and completely ordered nematic phase. The results of the discrete model are compared with results of a continuous model. The discrete model gives rise to a stronger attraction between the charged groups both in the isotropic and nematic phases and to a stronger orienting action of the electrostatic forces.
Pulse repetition rate up to 92 GHz or pulse duration shorter than 110 fs from a mode-locked semiconductor disk laser
Authors: Klopp P. , Griebner U. , Zorn M. , Weyers M.
Published: February 2011

A semiconductor disk laser based on an InGaAs/AlGaAs quantum-well gain medium was mode-locked by a fast semiconductor saturable absorber mirror. By high-order harmonic mode-locking a 92 GHz pulse train was obtained with a pulse duration of <200 fs. In order to achieve fundamental mode-locking, too strong saturation of the semiconductor elements had to be avoided. In a single-pulse regime, pulses shorter than 110 fs were generated at a wavelength of 1030 nm.
Intersubband spectroscopy probing higher order interminiband transitions in AlN-GaN-based superlattices
Authors: Hofstetter Daniel , Di Francesco J. , Kandaswamy Prem K. , Monroy Eva
Published: February 2011

We investigate midinfrared intersubband photodetectors based on short-period AlN/GaN superlattices with different quantum well thicknesses. Band structure calculations, as well as optical transmission and photovoltage measurements, underline the importance of higher order interminiband transitions. In particular, it was found that optical transitions between the second and third minibands benefit from much larger electron displacements and oscillator strengths than those between the first and second minibands. Our results suggest that optical rectification is therefore much more efficient for devices based on a higher order interminiband transition.
Solution deposition planarization of long-length flexible substrates
Authors: Sheehan Chris , Jung Yehyun , Holesinger Terry , Feldmann D. Matthew , Edney Cynthia , Ihlefeld Jon F. , Clem Paul G. , Matias Vladimir
Published: February 2011

Solution deposition planarization (SDP) is studied for preparing smooth flexible substrates in multimeter lengths. We demonstrate 0.5 nm rms surface roughness starting from unpolished metal tapes and a correlation of substrate roughness with the texture of subsequent ion-beam aligned films. Surface roughness reduction in SDP is modeled via film shrinkage during solution deposition and a residual roughness based on film thickness. Use of solution deposited a-Y2O3 to planarize substrates prior to ion-beam textured MgO growth shows an in-plane texture of MgO down to 4°. Utilizing these templates, we demonstrated superconducting YBa2Cu3Oy coated conductors with critical current densities of 2.8–4.0 MA/cm2 at 75 K.
Aptamer-modified anodized aluminum oxide-based capacitive sensor for the detection of bisphenol A
Authors: Kang Bongkeun , Kim Joo Hyoung , Kim Soyoun , Yoo Kyung-Hwa
Published: February 2011

We describe a rapid, sensitive, and low-cost method to detect bisphenol A (BPA) using an anodized aluminum oxide-based capacitive sensor. BPA is detected by measuring the change in capacitance caused by the biospecific binding of BPA with a BPA aptamer that is immobilized on the electrode surface. For a solution containing 100 pM BPA, the capacitance decreased by approximately 3%. In addition, we fabricated a capacitive sensor array and demonstrated that BPA in environmental samples can be measured using our capacitive sensor.
Effect of liquid spreading due to nano/microstructures on the critical heat flux during pool boiling
Authors: Ahn Ho Seon , Jo Hang Jin , Kang Soon Ho , Kim Moo Hwan
Published: February 2011

It is well known that nanoparticles deposited on a heating surface during nanofluid boiling can change the characteristics of the heating surface and increase the critical heat flux (CHF) dramatically. We considered a new approach to investigate the nanoparticle surface effect on CHF enhancement using surfaces modified with artificial micro/nanostructures similar to deposited nanoparticle structures. We examined the effect of the surface wettability and liquid spreading ability on the CHF. The results demonstrated that the CHF enhancement on the modified surfaces was a consequence of both the improved surface wettability and the liquid spreading ability of the artificial micro/nanostructures.
Theoretical analysis of postbuckling behavior with experimental validation using electrothermal microbeams
Authors: Chen Xing , Ma LianSheng , Zheng YingMei , Lee Dong-Weon
Published: February 2011

A comprehensive theoretical and experimental investigation of the postbuckling behavior of beams is presented. A nonlinear equation representing thermal postbuckling of beams is solved by deriving a closed-form solution. The proposed analytical method offers a simple yet efficient way to analyze the postbuckling behavior of microbeam structures. Measurements using electrothermal microbeams are performed to validate the theoretical model, and are shown to be superior to conventional measurement techniques. Excellent agreements between exact solutions and experimental results prove the validity of our theoretical analysis, and the potential for applying the proposed method to postbuckling behavior in the field of microelectromechanical systems.
Photo and thermal stability enhancement of amorphous Hf–In–Zn–O thin-film transistors by the modulation of back channel composition
Authors: Maeng W. J. , Park Joon Seok , Kim Hyun-Suk , Lee Kwang-Hee , Park Kyung Bae , Son Kyoung Seok , Kim Tae Sang , Kim Eok Su , Ham Yong Nam , Ryu Myungkwan , Lee Sang Yoon
Published: February 2011

The sensitivity and stability of amorphous Hf–In–Zn–O thin-film transistors with respect to visible light radiation and thermal annealing were studied. The photo and thermal stability of the devices were significantly improved by the application of a double active layer that consists of a low conductivity back channel with reduced indium content. From this double layer, significantly lower shifts in Vturn on upon illumination and thermal annealing could be achieved. However, no degradation in the field-effect mobility and reliability of the devices was observed.
Phonon softening induced by striped antiferromagnetic order in LiFeAs
Authors: Li B. , Xing Z. W. , Liu M.
Published: February 2011

Using first-principles calculations in a supercell model with structural optimization, we investigate the magnetic ground state of LiFeAs and its phonon spectrum. The obtained magnetic ground state is the marginal striped antiferromagnetic state with partial structural relaxations. It is found that the anisotropic spin-lattice coupling in LiFeAs results in phonon softening of Fe–As atomic motion and so enhances the electron-phonon coupling. As a result, the electron-phonon interactions through the spin channel play an important role in the superconductivity of LiFeAs.
Nanostructured glucose-oxidase immobilized SnO2 thin films for glucose sensing
Authors: Dhobale S. , Joshee P. , Deore G. , Laware S. L. , Kale S. N.
Published: February 2011

Polycrystalline rutile films of SnO2 (∼1500 Å) were deposited on Al2O3. Film imaging showed regular ellipsoidal nanostructured growth. Different concentrations (1000–3000 U) of glucose oxidase (GOx) were immobilized on SnO2 surface. Upon interaction with various glucose concentrations (65–300 mg/dl), films showed pronounced change in their sheet resistance with recovery and repeatability. Nanostructured SnO2 surfaces probably enhance adsorption of oxygen moieties. These convert to their ions by extracting electron/s from the conduction band of SnO2, which further interacts with H+, formed during the GOx-glucose interaction. This releases the trapped electron to the conduction band of SnO2, justifying its role as a catalyst.
Structural properties and thermodynamics of water clusters: A Wang–Landau study
Authors: Yin Junqi , Landau D. P.
Published: February 2011

The temperature dependence of structural properties and thermodynamic behavior of water clusters has been studied using Wang–Landau sampling. Four potential models, simple point charge/extended (SPC/E), transferable intermolecular potential 3 point (TIP3P), transferable intermolecular potential 4 point (TIP4P), and Gaussian charge polarizable (GCP), are compared for ground states and properties at finite temperatures. Although the hydrogen bond energy and the distance of the nearest-neighbor oxygen pair are significantly different for TIP4P and GCP models, they approach to similar ground state structures and melting transition temperatures in cluster sizes we considered. Comparing with TIP3P, SPC/E model provides properties closer to that of TIP4P and GCP.
Unchanged thermopower enhancement at the semiconductor-metal transition in correlated FeSb2−xTex
Authors: Sun P. , Søndergaard M. , Sun Y. , Johnsen S. , Iversen B. B. , Steglich F.
Published: February 2011

Substitution of Sb in FeSb2 by less than 0.5% of Te induces a transition from a correlated semiconductor to an unconventional metal with large effective charge carrier mass m∗. Spanning the entire range of the semiconductor-metal crossover, we observed an almost constant enhancement of the measured thermopower compared to that estimated by the classical theory of electron diffusion. Using the latter for a quantitative description one has to employ an enhancement factor of 10–30. Our observations point to the importance of electron-electron correlations in the thermal transport of FeSb2, and suggest a route to design thermoelectric materials for cryogenic applications.
Communication: The criticality of self-assembled rigid rods on triangular lattices
Authors: Almarza N. G. , Tavares J. M. , da Gama M. M. Telo
Published: February 2011

The criticality of self-assembled rigid rods on triangular lattices is investigated using Monte Carlo simulation. We find a continuous transition between an ordered phase, where the rods are oriented along one of the three (equivalent) lattice directions, and a disordered one. We conclude that equilibrium polydispersity of the rod lengths does not affect the critical behavior, as we found that the criticality is the same as that of monodisperse rods on the same lattice, in contrast with the results of recently published work on similar models.
The population dynamics of bacteria in physically structured habitats and the adaptive virtue of random motility
Authors: Wei Yan , Wang Xiaolin , Liu Jingfang , Nememan Ilya , Singh Amoolya H. , Weiss Howie , Levin Bruce R.
Published: February 2011

Why is motility so common in bacteria? An obvious answer to this ecological and evolutionary question is that in almost all habitats, bacteria need to go someplace and particularly in the direction of food. Although the machinery required for motility and chemotaxis (acquiring and processing the information needed to direct movement toward nutrients) are functionally coupled in contemporary bacteria, they are coded for by different sets of genes. Moreover, information that resources are more abundant elsewhere in a habitat would be of no value to a bacterium unless it already had the means to get there. Thus, motility must have evolved before chemotaxis, and bacteria with flagella and other machinery for propulsion in random directions must have an advantage over bacteria relegated to moving at the whim of external forces alone. However, what are the selection pressures responsible for the evolution and maintenance of undirected motility in bacteria? Here we use a combination of mathematical modeling and experiments with
Escherichia coli
to generate and test a parsimonious and ecologically general hypothesis for the existence of undirected motility in bacteria: it enables bacteria to move away from each other and thereby obtain greater individual shares of resources in physically structured environments. The results of our experiments not only support this hypothesis, but are quantitatively and qualitatively consistent with the predictions of our model.
Mammalian target of rapamycin up-regulation of pyruvate kinase isoenzyme type M2 is critical for aerobic glycolysis and tumor growth
Authors: Sun Qian , Chen Xinxin , Ma Jianhui , Peng Haiyong , Wang Fang , Zha Xiaojun , Wang Yanan , Jing Yanling , Yang Hongwang , Chen Rongrong , Chang Long , Zhang Yu , Goto June , Onda Hiroaki , Chen Tong , Wang Ming-Rong , Lu Youyong , You Han , Kwiatkowski David , Zhang Hongbing
Published: February 2011

Although aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect) is a hallmark of cancer, key questions, including when, how, and why cancer cells become highly glycolytic, remain less clear. For a largely unknown regulatory mechanism, a rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) isoform is exclusively expressed in embryonic, proliferating, and tumor cells, and plays an essential role in tumor metabolism and growth. Because the receptor tyrosine kinase/PI3K/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (RTK/PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signaling cascade is a frequently altered pathway in cancer, we explored its potential role in cancer metabolism. We identified mTOR as a central activator of the Warburg effect by inducing PKM2 and other glycolytic enzymes under normoxic conditions. PKM2 level was augmented in mouse kidney tumors due to deficiency of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 and consequent mTOR activation, and was reduced in human cancer cells by mTOR suppression. mTOR up-regulation of PKM2 expression was through hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α)-mediated transcription activation, and c-Myc–heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs)-dependent regulation of PKM2 gene splicing. Disruption of PKM2 suppressed oncogenic mTOR-mediated tumorigenesis. Unlike normal cells, mTOR hyperactive cells were more sensitive to inhibition of mTOR or glycolysis. Dual suppression of mTOR and glycolysis synergistically blunted the proliferation and tumor development of mTOR hyperactive cells. Even though aerobic glycolysis is not required for breach of senescence for immortalization and transformation, the frequently deregulated mTOR signaling during multistep oncogenic processes could contribute to the development of the Warburg effect in many cancers. Components of the mTOR/HIF1α/Myc–hnRNPs/PKM2 glycolysis signaling network could be targeted for the treatment of cancer caused by an aberrant RTK/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
Modulation of behavioral phase changes of the migratory locust by the catecholamine metabolic pathway
Authors: Ma Zongyuan , Guo Wei , Guo Xiaojiao , Wang Xianhui , Kang Le
Published: February 2011

The migratory locust,
Locusta migratoria
, shows a striking phenotypic plasticity. It transitions between solitary and gregarious phases in response to population density changes. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the phase-dependent behavior changes remains elusive. Here we report a genome-wide gene expression profiling of gregarious and solitary nymphs at each stadium of the migratory locust, and we identified the most differentially expressed genes in the fourth stadium of the two phases. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the catecholamine metabolic pathway was the most significant pathway up-regulated in the gregarious phase. We found
pale
,
henna
, and
vat1
, involved in dopamine biosynthesis and synaptic release, were critical target genes related to behavioral phase changes in the locusts. The roles of these genes in mediating behavioral changes in the gregarious individuals were confirmed by RNAi and pharmacological intervention. A single injection of dopamine or its agonist initiated gregarious behavior. Moreover, continuous and multiple injections of a dopamine agonist coupled with crowding resulted in more pronounced gregarious behavior. Our study thus provides insights into the relationships between genes and behavior in phase transition of this important pest species.
Spin-transfer-induced microwave oscillations in spin valves with ferromagnetic nano-contacts in oxide spacer layer
Authors: Doi Masaaki , Endo Hiroaki , Shirafuji Kazushige , Kawasaki Shohei , Sahashi Masashi , Fuke Hiromi Niu , Iwasaki Hitoshi , Imamura Hiroshi
Published: February 2011

We observed microwave oscillations induced by spin-transfer torque in spin valves with ferromagnetic nano-contacts in oxide spacer layer near the antiparallel magnetic moment configuration between the free and the reference layers. The frequency of the microwave oscillation ranges from 4.2 to 9.7 GHz and the Q-value of the level peak reaches as high as around 300. We showed that the frequency of the oscillation depends on the applied current and magnetic field, which can be qualitatively explained by considering the response of the domain walls confined in nano-contacts to the applied current and magnetic field.
Post-discharge treatment of air effluents polluted by butyl-mercaptan: the role of nitrate radical
Authors: Liu Y N , Braci L , Cavadias S , Ognier S
Published: February 2011

Dry air polluted by butyl-mercaptan was treated in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor at atmospheric pressure using air as plasmagene gas in discharge and post-discharge modes. The energy density was varied between 200 and 1300 J l−1. To assess the treatment efficiency, the concentrations of butyl-mercaptan, total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and SO2 were determined in the exhaust gas. Whatever the energy density was, the treatment efficiency was better in the post-discharge mode. Butyl-mercaptan could be completely eliminated from 400 J l−1 and SO2 selectivity was always low, below 10%. Measurements of CO, CO2 and total VOCs indicated that 50–70% of the reaction products were condensed on the reactor wall in the form of micro-droplets, depending on the energy density. FTIR and XPS techniques were used to characterize the reaction products which were soluble in water. These analyses indicated that the reaction products contained oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur in an oxidized form. A reaction mechanism involving hydrogen abstraction from the –SH bond by the nitrate radical was proposed, pointing out the important role of nitrate radicals NO3 in the reactivity of air flowing post-discharge.
Infrared transmission of Na+-doped γ-La2S3 ceramics densified by hot pressing
Authors: Li Peisen , Jie Wanqi , Li Huanyong
Published: February 2011

Na-doped γ-La2S3 powders with various Na/La ratios were synthesized by the gas–solid reaction method. Then they were sintered by hot pressing to study the effects of Na+ ions on the microstructures and optical properties of γ-La2S3 ceramics. A phase analysis indicated that the least appropriate Na+ dose to stabilize γ-La2S3 was Na/La = 1 : 20. IR transmission measurements showed that the pellet with Na/La = 1 : 20 had a higher infrared transmittance than other pellets, and the maximum transmittance reached 64.5% at 13 µm, which was near the theoretical transmittance of a γ-La2S3 crystal.
Tellurite glass thin films on silica and polymer using UV (193 nm) pulsed laser ablation
Authors: Zhao Zhanxiang , Jose Gin , Steenson Paul , Bamiedakis Nikos , Penty Richard V , White Ian H , Jha Animesh
Published: February 2011

Erbium-doped tellurite glass thin films were deposited using excimer (193 nm) laser ablation onto two different types of substrates: silica and polymer-coated silica for engineering optical integrated active–passive devices. The deposition conditions were optimized for both substrates in order to produce high-quality rare-earth (Er3+) ion-doped glass thin films with low propagation loss. The optical and spectroscopic properties of the deposited films, namely transmittance, fluorescence, lifetime as well as refractive indices at 633 nm were measured and analysed in detail.
An algebraic classification of some even-dimensional spherical knots. I
Authors: Farber M. Š.
Published: February 2011

The main result of the paper is the classification of simple even-dimensional spherical knots in terms of their algebraic invariants.
Sensitive gene fusion detection using ambiguously mapping RNA-Seq read pairs
Authors: Kinsella Marcus , Harismendy Olivier , Nakano Masakazu , Frazer Kelly A. , Bafna Vineet
Published: February 2011

Motivation: Paired-end whole transcriptome sequencing provides evidence for fusion transcripts. However, due to the repetitiveness of the transcriptome, many reads have multiple high-quality mappings. Previous methods to find gene fusions either ignored these reads or required additional longer single reads. This can obscure up to 30% of fusions and unnecessarily discards much of the data.

Results: We present a method for using paired-end reads to find fusion transcripts without requiring unique mappings or additional single read sequencing. Using simulated data and data from tumors and cell lines, we show that our method can find fusions with ambiguously mapping read pairs without generating numerous spurious fusions from the many mapping locations.

Availability: A C++ and Python implementation of the method demonstrated in this article is available at http://exon.ucsd.edu/ShortFuse.

Contact:  mckinsel@ucsd.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Laboratory Milling Method for Whole Grain Soft Wheat Flour Evaluation
Authors: Guttieri Mary J. , Souza Edward J. , Sneller Clay
Published: February 2011

Whole grain wheat products are a growing portion of the foods marketed in North America, yet few standard methods exist to evaluate whole grain wheat flour. This study evaluated two flour milling systems to produce whole grain soft wheat flour for a wire‐cut cookie, a standard soft wheat product. A short‐flow experimental milling system combined with bran grinding in a Quadro Comil produced a whole grain soft wheat flour that made larger diameter wire‐cut cookies than whole grain flour from a long‐flow experimental milling system. Average cookie diameter of samples milled on the short‐flow mill was greater than samples milled on the long‐flow system by 1 cm/two cookies (standard error 0.09 cm). The long‐flow milling system resulted in more starch damage in the flour milling than did the short‐flow system. The short‐flow milling system produced flours that were useful for discriminating among wheat cultivars and is an accessible tool for evaluating whole grain soft wheat quality.
Starch Damage and Pasting Properties of Rice Flours Produced by Dry Jet Grinding
Authors: Hossen Md. Sharif , Sotome Itaru , Takenaka Makiko , Isobe Seiichiro , Nakajima Mitsutoshi , Okadome Hiroshi
Published: February 2011

Milling method and particle size affect some properties of rice flour. To prepare ultra‐fine rice flour of <30 μm, hammer and dry jet grinding methods were examined and the effect of particle size on starch damage and pasting properties of the flour were elucidated. A jet mill could make finer flour (<10 μm mean size) with a narrower particle size distribution than a hammer mill could. Starch damage increased dramatically at a mean size of <10 μm. Particles of a similar size (<60 μm) had different levels of starch damage between mills. Not only the particle size, but also the milling method affected the level of damaged starch. Flour samples of ≥45 μm mean size had similar viscosity curves, but samples of <20 μm had different curves. Peak viscosity and final viscosity decreased sharply at <10 μm. Setback viscosity for particles of 3 μm from both brown rice and white rice were higher than the peak viscosity. Stability to heat and shearing stress were decreased for <20 μm flours as the breakdown viscosities decreased. Starch damage and pasting properties of flour ground from the nonwaxy japonica cultivar Koshihikari changed dramatically at a mean size of <10 μm.
Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Content of Air‐Classified Corn Bran
Authors: Inglett George E. , Chen Diejun
Published: February 2011

The effectiveness of extracting free and bound phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities from air‐classified corn bran was evaluated by various extracting methods. Free phenolic contents and antioxidant activities decreased significantly with increasing particle sizes for all methods used in the study. Also, the oil, protein, and ash contents were noticeably decreased with increasing particle sizes. By contrast, bound phenolic content and antioxidant activities increased with increasing particle sizes. Free phenolic contents were much lower than those of bound phenolic contents for the same fraction. The free antioxidant activities were similar to bound antioxidant activities for the same fraction. It suggests that some phenolic compounds may not exhibit antioxidant activity, and some antioxidant activities were not extractable or released during alkaline extraction. Considerable higher free antioxidant activities were found in both direct and double extractions when compared to the single neutral extraction using samples <30 μm. Similar free antioxidant activities were observed for directed extraction and double extraction. For corn bran fractions, the direct method may be suitable for free phenolic content and antioxidant activity, while the sequential method may be proper for bound phenolic content and antioxidant activity.
Composition and Regiodistribution of Fatty Acids in Triacylglycerols and Phospholipids from Red and Black Rices
Authors: Yoshida Hiromi , Yoshida Naoko , Tomiyama Yuka , Mizushina Yoshiyuki
Published: February 2011

Regiospecific profiles of fatty acids (FA) of triacylglycerols (TAG) and phospholipids (PL) isolated from red and black rices were investigated. The lipids extracted from red and black rices were separated by thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) into eight subfractions, respectively. With a few exceptions, the major lipid components were TAG (76.4–80.5%), free FA (7.2–9.8%), and phospholipids (3.5–3.6%), while hydrocarbons, steryl esters, diacylglycerols (1,3‐DAG and 1,2‐DAG), and monoacylglycerols were present in minor proportions (0.1–4.1%). The PL components isolated from the two cultivars were phosphatidyl choline (52.3–53.7%), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (22.3–23.1%), phosphatidyl inositol (20.6–21.3%), and others (<3.4%). No significant differences (P < 0.05) in FA distribution were found when these cultivars were compared. The principal characteristics of the FA distribution in the TAG and PL were evident in the rices between the two cultivars: unsaturated FA were predominantly located at the sn‐2 position (77.3–96.8%), while saturated FA primary occupied the sn‐1 or the sn‐3 position (35.0–78.7%) in these lipids. The results of this study could provide useful information to both consumers and producers during manufacture of traditional rice foods in Japan.
Insertion Sequence- and Tandem Repeat-Based Genotyping Techniques for Xanthomonas citri pv. mangiferaeindicae
Authors: Pruvost O. , Vernière C. , Vital K. , Guérin F. , Jouen E. , Chiroleu F. , Ah-You N. , Gagnevin L.
Published: February 2011

Molecular fingerprinting techniques that have the potential to identify or subtype bacteria at the strain level are needed for improving diagnosis and understanding of the epidemiology of pathogens such as Xanthomonas citri pv. mangiferaeindicae, which causes mango bacterial canker disease. We developed a ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction targeting the IS1595 insertion sequence as a means to differentiate pv. mangiferaeindicae from the closely related pv. anacardii (responsible for cashew bacterial spot), which has the potential to infect mango but not to cause significant disease. This technique produced weakly polymorphic fingerprints composed of ≈70 amplified fragments per strain for a worldwide collection of X. citri pv. mangiferaeindicae but produced no or very weak amplification for pv. anacardii strains. Together, 12 tandem repeat markers were able to subtype X. citri pv. mangiferaeindicae at the strain level, distinguishing 231 haplotypes from a worldwide collection of 299 strains. Multilocus variable number of tandem repeats analysis (MLVA), IS1595-ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction, and amplified fragment length polymorphism showed differences in discriminatory power and were congruent in describing the diversity of this strain collection, suggesting low levels of recombination. The potential of the MLVA scheme for molecular epidemiology studies of X. citri pv. mangiferaeindicae is discussed.
Multilocus Sequence Typing of Pseudomonas syringae Sensu Lato Confirms Previously Described Genomospecies and Permits Rapid Identification of P. syringae pv. coriandricola and P. syringae pv. apii Causing Bacterial Leaf Spot on Parsley
Authors: Bull Carolee T. , Clarke Christopher R. , Cai Rongman , Vinatzer Boris A. , Jardini Teresa M. , Koike Steven T.
Published: February 2011

Since 2002, severe leaf spotting on parsley (Petroselinum crispum) has occurred in Monterey County, CA. Either of two different pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae sensu lato were isolated from diseased leaves from eight distinct outbreaks and once from the same outbreak. Fragment analysis of DNA amplified between repetitive sequence polymerase chain reaction; 16S rDNA sequence analysis; and biochemical, physiological, and host range tests identified the pathogens as Pseudomonas syringae pv. apii and P. syringae pv. coriandricola. Koch's postulates were completed for the isolates from parsley, and host range tests with parsley isolates and pathotype strains demonstrated that P. syringae pv. apii and P. syringae pv. coriandricola cause leaf spot diseases on parsley, celery, and coriander or cilantro. In a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) approach, four housekeeping gene fragments were sequenced from 10 strains isolated from parsley and 56 pathotype strains of P. syringae. Allele sequences were uploaded to the Plant-Associated Microbes Database and a phylogenetic tree was built based on concatenated sequences. Tree topology directly corresponded to P. syringae genomospecies and P. syringae pv. apii was allocated appropriately to genomospecies 3. This is the first demonstration that MLST can accurately allocate new pathogens directly to P. syringae sensu lato genomospecies. According to MLST, P. syringae pv. coriandricola is a member of genomospecies 9, P. cannabina. In a blind test, both P. syringae pv. coriandricola and P. syringae pv. apii isolates from parsley were correctly identified to pathovar. In both cases, MLST described diversity within each pathovar that was previously unknown.
Delaying Blood Transfusion in Experimental Acute Anemia with a Perfluorocarbon Emulsion
Authors: Cabrales Pedro , Carlos Briceño Juan
Published: February 2011

Background

To avoid unnecessary blood transfusions, physiologic transfusion triggers, rather than exclusively hemoglobin-based transfusion triggers, have been suggested. The objective of this study was to determine systemic and microvascular effects of using a perfluorocarbon-based oxygen carrier (PFCOC) to maintain perfusion and oxygenation during extreme anemia.

Methods

The hamster (weight, 55-65 g) window chamber model was used. Two isovolemic hemodilution steps were performed using hydroxyethyl starch, 10%, at normoxic conditions to a hematocrit of 19% (hemoglobin, 5.5 g/dl), the point at which the transfusion trigger was reached. Two additional hemodilution exchanges using the PFCOC (Oxycyte) and increasing the fraction of inspired oxygen to 1.0 were performed to reduce the hematocrit to 11% (hemoglobin, 3.8 g/dl) and 6% (hemoglobin, 2.0 g/dl), respectively. No control group was used in the study because this concentration of hemodilution is lethal with conventional plasma expanders. Systemic parameters, microvascular perfusion, functional capillary density, and oxygen tensions across the microvascular network were measured.

Results

At 6% hematocrit, the PFCOC maintained mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, systemic oxygen delivery, and oxygen consumption. As hematocrit was decreased from 11% to 6%, functional capillary density, calculated microvascular oxygen delivery, and oxygen consumption decreased; and the oxygen extraction ratio was close to 100%. Peripheral tissue oxygenation was not predicted by systemic oxygenation.

Conclusions

The PFCOC, in conjunction with hyperoxia, was able to sustain organ function and partially provide systemic oxygenation during extreme anemia during the observation period. The PFCOC can work as a bridge until erythrocytes are available for transfusion or when additional oxygen is required, despite the possible limitations in peripheral tissue oxygenation.
Successful Intraoperative Reversal of Heparin with Factor VII in a Patient with Protamine Reaction
Authors: Jean Chen Kuan-Chin , Payne Darrin , Lazo-Langner Alejandro , Ross Ian , Kiaii Bob
Published: February 2011

Factor VII has been utilized to treat post-operative bleeding after cardiac surgery refractory to other intervention. We report the case of a patient who developed intractable bleeding after a severe protamine reaction following emergency repair of type A aortic dissection and was successfully treated with factor VII.
Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients Operated with the Symmetry Proximal Connector Device
Authors: Bergsland Jacob , Hol Per Kristian , Lingaas Per Snorre , Lundblad Runar , Rein Kjell Arne , Fosse Erik
Published: February 2011

Objective

The Symmetry proximal connector device was introduced as a facilitator for construction of proximal anastomosis in coronary bypass surgery. Use of the connector made it unnecessary to clamp the ascending aorta. Early results were promising, but a controlled study performed in our center demonstrated poor angiographic patency of saphenous veins attached with the connector. The objective of this study was to investigate long-term clinical results in patients operated with connector or traditional suture technique.

Methods

At a minimum of 5 years after surgery, medical records of 46 patients who had undergone off-pump coronary bypass with Symmetry (n = 23) or traditional suture (n = 23) were examined, and the patients were interviewed personally by phone. Patients were asked about the presence of angina pectoris, hospital admission for cardiac conditions, or the need for new interventions. The Norwegian population registry was used to document survival status.

Results

Two control patients and five Symmetry patients died during the observation period (P = 0.414). Seven Symmetry and one control patient required reintervention (P = 0.015). Of the patients who were interviewed, 8 of 19 Symmetry patients suffered from angina and none of 20 control patients (P = 0.003).

Conclusions

Patients who were operated with the Symmetry connector device have a high chance of having cardiac ischemia in the intermediate to long term after surgery, despite of relatively frequent reintervention. Patients operated with this connector requires close clinical follow-up.
The Techniques of Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration
Authors: Nakajima Takahiro , Yasufuku Kazuhiro
Published: February 2011

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a minimally invasive modality for mediastinal lymph node staging in lung cancer patients as well as for the diagnosis of mediastinal and hilar adenopathy. The high diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA for lymph node staging has been shown in systematic reviews and meta-analysis. It has attracted physicians and surgeons as an alternative modality to surgical biopsy for the assessment of patients with enlarged mediastinal and/or hilar lymph nodes. Cell blocks obtained by EBUS-TBNA can be applicable not only for pathologic diagnosis but also for further investigations such as immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization. In addition, samples obtained by EBUS-TBNA can also be used for molecular analysis. Unlike regular bronchoscopy, EBUS-TBNA uses the convex probe EBUS with an ultrasound probe on the tip of a flexible bronchoscope. It is important for the bronchoscopist to fully understand the mediastinal anatomy and be able to correlate it with the ultrasound images for a successful EBUS-TBNA. The dedicated transbronchial needle used for EBUS-TBNA is somewhat different from an ordinary transbronchial biopsy forceps. Training is mandatory for achieving high diagnostic yield without complications. The learning curve of EBUS-TBNA is different from each physician, and continuous training program will be needed for impartiality. This article explains the detailed techniques of EBUS-TBNA to master this innovative procedure.
Yolk androgen deposition without an energetic cost for female rockhopper penguins: a compensatory strategy to accelerate brood reduction?
Authors: Poisbleau Maud , Carslake David , Demongin Laurent , Eens Marcel , Chastel Olivier , Quillfeldt Petra
Published: February 2011

Whether androgen deposition in eggs is physiologically costly for female birds has remained a crucial but unsolved question, despite a broad use of this assumption in functional studies. We tested whether females depositing high androgen concentrations experienced higher mass losses than females depositing low androgen concentrations. Analysing female body mass change during egg formation in rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome), we observed no energetic cost to androgen deposition. Nevertheless, lighter females laid eggs with higher yolk androgen concentrations. This relationship existed only for the second-laid egg (B-egg), but not for the first-laid egg (A-egg). Since the B-egg is usually the first to hatch and the only one to produce a fledging chick, we hypothesize that differential yolk androgen deposition may be an adaptive strategy for females to affect brood reduction.
Olfaction-based anthropophily in a mosquito-specialist predator
Authors: Cross Fiona R. , Jackson Robert R.
Published: February 2011

Evarcha culicivora
is an unusual salticid spider because it feeds indirectly on vertebrate blood by choosing blood-carrying mosquitoes as preferred prey. Its preferred mosquitoes are
Anopheles
, the genus to which all human malaria vectors belong. Here, we show that human odour, which is known to be salient to malaria vectors, is also salient to the adults and juveniles of
E. culicivora
. Test spiders spent more time in the vicinity of a source of human odour (previously worn socks) when the alternative was unworn socks.
Coevolving parasites enhance the diversity-decreasing effect of dispersal
Authors: Vogwill Tom , Fenton Andy , Brockhurst Michael A.
Published: February 2011

High dispersal rates between patches in spatially structured populations can impede diversification and homogenize diversity. These homogenizing effects of dispersal are likely to be enhanced by coevolving parasites that impose strong selection on hosts for resistance. However, the interactive effects of dispersal and parasites on host diversification have never been tested. We used spatially structured, experimental populations of the bacteriumPseudomonas fluorescens, cultured with or without the phage SBW25Ф2 under three levels of dispersal (none, localized or global), and quantified diversity in terms of evolved bacterial colony morphologies after approximately 100 bacterial generations. We demonstrate that higher levels of colony morphology richness evolved in the presence of phage, and that dispersal reduced diversity most strongly in the presence of phage. Thus, our results suggest that, while parasites can drive host diversification, host populations coevolving with parasites are more prone to homogenization through dispersal.
Biomimicry in textiles: past, present and potential. An overview
Authors: Eadie Leslie , Ghosh Tushar K.
Published: February 2011

The natural world around us provides excellent examples of functional systems built with a handful of materials. Throughout the millennia, nature has evolved to adapt and develop highly sophisticated methods to solve problems. There are numerous examples of functional surfaces, fibrous structures, structural colours, self-healing, thermal insulation, etc., which offer important lessons for the textile products of the future. This paper provides a general overview of the potential of bioinspired textile structures by highlighting a few specific examples of pertinent, inherently sustainable biological systems. Biomimetic research is a rapidly growing field and its true potential in the development of new and sustainable textiles can only be realized through interdisciplinary research rooted in a holistic understanding of nature.
Nanogel surface coatings for improved single-molecule imaging substrates
Authors: Tessler Lee A. , Donahoe Casey D. , Garcia Daniel J. , Jun Young-Shin , Elbert Donald L. , Mitra Robi D.
Published: February 2011

Surfaces that resist protein adsorption are important for many bioanalytical applications. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) coatings and multi-arm poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) coatings display low levels of non-specific protein adsorption and have enabled highly quantitative single-molecule (SM) protein studies. Recently, a method was developed for coating a glass with PEG–BSA nanogels, a promising hybrid of these two low-background coatings. We characterized the nanogel coating to determine its suitability for SM protein experiments. SM adsorption counting revealed that nanogel-coated surfaces exhibit lower protein adsorption than covalently coupled BSA surfaces and monolayers of multi-arm PEG, so this surface displays one of the lowest degrees of protein adsorption yet observed. Additionally, the nanogel coating was resistant to DNA adsorption, underscoring the utility of the coating across a variety of SM experiments. The nanogel coating was found to be compatible with surfactants, whereas the BSA coating was not. Finally, applying the coating to a real-world study, we found that single ligand molecules could be tethered to this surface and detected with high sensitivity and specificity by a digital immunoassay. These results suggest that PEG–BSA nanogel coatings will be highly useful for the SM analysis of proteins.
Surface plasmon resonance imaging detection of silver nanoparticle-tagged immunoglobulin
Authors: Paul Sharmistha , Paul Deepen , Fern George R. , Ray Asim K.
Published: February 2011

The detection sensitivity of silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-tagged goat immunoglobulin G (gIgG) microarrays was investigated by studying surface plasmon resonance (SPR) images captured in the visible wavelength range with the help of a Kretchmann-configured optical coupling set-up. The functionalization of anti-gIgG molecules on the AgNP surface was studied using transmission electron microscopy, photon correlation measurements and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy. A value of 1.3 × 10
7
M
−1
was obtained for the antibody–antigen binding constant by monitoring the binding events at a particular resonance wavelength. The detection limit of this SPR imaging instrument is 6.66 nM of gIgG achieved through signal enhancement by a factor of larger than 4 owing to nanoparticle tagging with the antibody.
A computer simulation study of the interaction between passivated and bare gold nanoclusters
Authors: Lal Moti , Plummer Martin , Purton John , Smith William
Published: February 2011

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed with the objective of understanding the phenomenon of nanoparticle aggregation. We have attempted to calculate the free energy associated with the interaction between two 38-atom gold nanocores, with attached passivating thiol chains, in a supercritical ethane solvent and in the vacuum, and without passivating chains in ethane at the critical density and twice the critical density. Our model differs from those used by others in that each gold nanocore is bound by a realistic metal potential that is not formally rigid. In the case of the passivated nanoparticles, we observe profound structural changes in the nanocores, which radically affect the nature of the interaction between them—to the extent that fusion of the two gold nanocores cannot be prevented under the conditions examined. Bare nanocores, on the other hand, do not exhibit much structural change until close contact occurs. The fused nanocores in the passivated and bare nanocore systems have significantly different morphologies. There is evidence that at higher solvent density, the interaction between bare nanocores is slightly repulsive.
Models of stoichiometric and oxygen-deficient surfaces of subnanoporous 12CaO·7Al
2
O
3
Authors: Sushko Peter V. , Shluger Alexander L. , Toda Yoshitake , Hirano Masahiro , Hosono Hideo
Published: February 2011

Surface structures of stoichiometric and oxygen-deficient complex subnanoporous oxide 12CaO·7Al
2
O
3
(C12A7) are generated by simulating lattice rupture under the influence of an external strain. Extra-framework anions are found to serve as buffers, maintaining stability of the lattice cages in both elastic and inelastic stretching regimes. Modification of the local atomic structure in the near-surface region reduces the band gap in stoichiometric insulating C12A7. On the contrary, the band gap appears in the oxygen-deficient form of C12A7, which is metallic in the bulk. This is due to formation of the surface electron traps, which differ both in the type of the local atomic structure and stability of the electronic states. The implications of this electronic structure for the surface chemical and electron emission properties are discussed.