Comparison Between Amylose-free and Amylose Containing Potato Starches

This paper describes the comparison of potato amylose-free starches obtained by two different approaches: mutation induction of the gene encoding the key-enzyme in amylose biosynthesis Granule Bound Starch Synthase (GBSS) and antisense inhibition of the expression of GBSS, with that of normal amylose containing potato starch. One of the most prominent differences between the amylose-free and amylose-containing starches was their phenotype after staining with iodine. The amylose-free starch obtained via mutation induction stained completely red whereas the amylose-free starch obtained by the antisense approach always had a very small dark-blue staining core in a further entirely red staining granule. Amylose-containing starch stained blue with iodine. Differences were also observed with regard to the absence of GBSS protein and activity in the amylose-free potatoes. Furthermore the lambda max and the blue value of the amylose-free starches was markedly different as would be expected since they almost completely lacked (< 0.1%) amylose in both types of amylose-free starches. Determination of a number of different chemical parameters including particle size distribution, ion content, as well as phosphate levels of the starch indicated that these were not different in the amylose-free containing starches as compared to the normal amylose containing starches. The absence of amylose resulted in improved gel stability and paste clarity of gels even after prolonged durations at 5°C and at room temperature.     

Large-scale ATM multistage switching network with shared buffermemory switches

The configuration of an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch architecture using a shared buffer memory switch (SBMS) is discussed. The scaling factors of the ATM switching network under a condition of mixed applications, including a conventional mix and telecommunication with video, are analyzed. The use of the SBMS as the unit switch for a multistage switching network is examined. A prototype system and its performance evaluation and experimental data are presented. The data indicate excellent performance under a burst cell arrival condition. The buffer size of the SBMS can be reduced in comparison with that of an individual (nonshared) buffer memory switch. A configuration for a large-scale ATM switching network with multistage switches is proposed     

Face detection evaluation: a new approach based on the golden ratio {Phi}

Face detection is a fundamental research area in computer vision field. Most of the face-related applications such as face recognition and face tracking assume that the face region is perfectly detected. To adopt a certain face detection algorithm in these applications, evaluation of its performance is needed. Unfortunately, it is difficult to evaluate the performance of face detection algorithms due to the lack of universal criteria in the literature. In this paper, we propose a new evaluation measure for face detection algorithms by exploiting a biological property called Golden Ratio of the perfect human face. The new evaluation measure is more realistic and accurate compared to the existing one. Using the proposed measure, five haar-cascade classifiers provided by Intel^©OpenCV have been quantitatively evaluated on three common databases to show their robustness and weakness as these classifiers have never been compared among each other on same databases under a specific evaluation measure. A thoughtful comparison between the best haar-classifier and two other face detection algorithms is presented. Moreover, we introduce a new challenging dataset, where the subjects wear the headscarf. The new dataset is used as a testbed for evaluating the current state of face detection algorithms under the headscarf occlusion.     

Heterogeneous distributions of histamine H3, dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in rat brain

The changes of the histamine H3 and dopamine D1 or D2 receptor binding sites induced by quinolinic acid treatment were studied in order to discriminate the comparative distribution. This treatment resulted in similar decreases in histamine H3 and dopamine D1 receptor binding sites in the striatum and ipsilateral substantia nigra. Dopamine D2 receptor binding sites were relatively well conserved, whereas H3 receptors decreased considerably. These results suggest that histamine H3 and dopamine D1 receptor binding sites are localized on the striatonigral projection neurones which are together sensitive to quinolinic acid, and that the distributional compartment of dopamine D2 receptor binding sites is quite different from those of histamine H3 and dopamine D1 receptors.     

NUMERICAL CALCULATIONS FOR COMBINED CONDUCTION AND RADIATION TRANSIENT HEAT TRANSFER IN A SEMITRANSPARENT MEDIUM

A numerical computer code was developed for calculating the combined conduction and radiation transient heat transfer in cylindrical, semitransparent materials that have temperature-dependent thermal properties. The radiative component is combined with the equation of conduction heat transfer by adding it as a heat source. The finite element method (FEM) was used for calculating the radiative component and for solving the temperature field in the medium. Very good agreement was observed between results obtained by using our code and those that exist in the literature for several steady-state cases. The advantage of the code is due to the fact that it incorporates temperature-dependent properties; thus it leads to more realistic and accurate results. The code was applied to calculate the cooling path of a large cylindrical sapphire boule while using varying, transient, temperature-dependent, combined heat transfer coefficients.     

The Effects of Nectar–Nicotine on Colony Fitness of Caged Honeybees

Nectar of many bee flowers contains secondary compounds, which are considered toxic for honeybees on repeated exposure. Although many anecdotal reports indicate the toxicity of secondary compounds to bees, only a few studies have tested the extent of toxicity at different honeybee ages, especially at the larval stages. Honeybees encounter nicotine at trace concentrations (between 0.1 and 5 ppm) in floral nectar of a few Nicotiana spp. and in Tilia cordata. Adult honeybee workers tolerate these nicotine concentrations. In controlled nonchoice feeding experiments with caged bees, we investigated the effect of nicotine on hatching success and larval and forager survival. Naturally occurring concentrations of nectar–nicotine did not affect hatching success of larvae or their survival, but the latter was negatively affected by higher concentrations of nicotine (50 ppm). Concentrations of nicotine in fresh honey samples from the hives were 90% lower than the concentrations in the offered experimental sucrose solutions. Our results indicate that honeybees can cope with naturally occurring concentrations of nicotine, without notable mortality, even when consumed in large quantities for more than 3 weeks.     

Two-photon 3D FIONA of individual quantum dots in an aqueous environment

We report the first two-photon (2P) microscopy of individual quantum dots (QDs) in an aqueous environment with both widefield and point-scan excitations at nanometer accuracy. Thiol-containing reductants suppress QD blinking and enable measurement of the 36 nm step size of individual Myosin V motors in vitro. We localize QDs with an accuracy of 2-3 nm in all three dimensions by using a 9 × 9 matrix excitation hologram and an array detector, which also increases the 3D scan imaging rate by 80-fold. With this 3D microscopy we validate the LamB receptor distribution on E. coli and the endocytosis of EGF-receptors in breast cancer cells.     

Foliar Application of dsRNA Targeting Endogenous Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Isoamylase Genes ISA1, ISA2, and ISA3 Confers Transgenic Phenotype

Isoamylase (ISA) is a debranching enzyme found in many plants, which hydrolyzes (1-6)-α-D glucosidic linkages in starch, amylopectin, and β-dextrins, and is thought to be responsible for starch granule formation (ISA1 and ISA2) and degradation (ISA3). Lipid-modified PEI (lmPEI) was synthesized as a carrier for long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA, 250-bp), which targets the three isoamylase isoforms. The particles were applied to the plant via the foliar spray and were differentially effective in suppressing the expressions of ISA1 and ISA2 in the potato leaves, and ISA3 in the tubers. Plant growth was not significantly impaired, and starch levels in the tubers were not affected as well. Interestingly, the treated plants had significantly smaller starch granule sizes as well as increased sucrose content, which led to an early sprouting phenotype. We confirm the proposal of previous research that an increased number of small starch granules could be responsible for an accelerated turnover of glucan chains and, thus, the rapid synthesis of sucrose, and we propose a new relationship between ISA3 and the starch granule size. The implications of this study are in achieving a transgenic phenotype for endogenous plant genes using a systemic, novel delivery system, and foliar applications of dsRNA for agriculture.     

Entropic Ligand Mixing for Engineering 2D Layered Perovskite from Colloidal Monolayer Building Blocks

Layered 2D perovskites are solution-processed quantum-wells. Their effective band-gap is determined via the inorganic perovskite layer thickness and exciton quantum confinement effects. Alternatively, by changing the organic moieties, one can tune the dielectric constant and distance between the monolayers modifying the excitonic interactions. In colloidal perovskites, a dynamic equilibrium exists between the free organic moieties in the solution and the surface of the nanocrystal. Colloidal synthesis is used to make single monolayer L₂PbBr₄ platelets and assemble these into layered 2D stacks. In the experiment, L is an alkylamine surface ligand whose length (4-18 carbons) determines the interlayer distances between the quantum-wells. The dynamic equilibrium of ligand mixtures in solution and perovskite surfaces leads to optimal mixing of the molecules. During the self-assembly of monolayers, the distance between the inorganic layers is thus engineered. The interlayer distance is proportional to the average ligand mixture length. This results in controlled interactions between the 2D-excitons, enabling red-shifted absorption and emission and extended lifetimes for longer alkyl chains. Using entropic mixing of ligands for the engineering of 2D excitonic interactions is therefore demonstrated. Formation of layered 2D perovskites from colloidal building blocks allows intermixing of dissimilar materials opening possibilities for new heterostructures and junctions.