Characterization of a novel antibody immobilization combining protein G with parylene-H for surface plasmon resonance immunosensors

Here we present a method for selectively and efficiently immobilizing antibodies to enhance the detection performance of surface plasmon resonance immune-sensors (SPRIs) for diagnostic applications. To improve the performance of antibody arrays, protein G was used as antibody-selective linkage layer with aldehyde functionalized poly-(para-xylylene) film. To estimate the efficiency of antibody immobilization, immunoglobulin G (IgG) was measured using the anti-IgG immobilized SPRIs. To demonstrate the proof-of-concept validation, the signal detected from the IgG using parylene-H film was compared with that of a combination of parylene-H and protein G in SPRIs. The results showed that the detection of IgG on the immobilized anti-IgG layer using the combination of parylene-H and protein G has a larger change of signal than that of using parylene-H layer. These results also imply that the anti-IgG was densely and efficiently immobilized on the modified surface with the linkage layer in a combination with parylene-H and protein G. Therefore, we believe that this combinatorial approach could selectively immobilize the antibodies, and also be applied for detection and diagnosis of immune diseases in the field of many SPRIs applications.     

A statistical approach to high-throughput screening of predicted orthologs

Orthologs are genes in different species that have diverged from a common ancestral gene after speciation. In contrast, paralogs are genes that have diverged after a gene duplication event. For many comparative analyses, it is of interest to identify orthologs with similar functions. Such orthologs tend to support species divergence (ssd-orthologs) in the sense that they have diverged only due to speciation, to the same relative degree as their species. However, due to incomplete sequencing or gene loss in a species, predicted orthologs can sometimes be paralogs or other non-ssd-orthologs. To increase the specificity of ssd-ortholog prediction, Fulton et al. [Fulton, D., Li, Y., Laird, M., Horsman, B., Roche, F., Brinkman, F., 2006. Improving the specificity of high-throughput ortholog prediction. BMC Bioinformatics 7 (1), 270] developed Ortholuge, a bioinformatics tool that identifies predicted orthologs with atypical genetic divergence. However, when the initial list of putative orthologs contains a non-negligible number of non-ssd-orthologs, the cut-off values that Ortholuge generates for orthology classification are difficult to interpret and can be too high, leading to decreased specificity of ssd-ortholog prediction. Therefore, we propose a complementary statistical approach to determining cut-off values. A benefit of the proposed approach is that it gives the user an estimated conditional probability that a predicted ortholog pair is unusually diverged. This enables the interpretation and selection of cut-off values based on a direct measure of the relative composition of ssd-orthologs versus non-ssd-orthologs. In a simulation comparison of the two approaches, we find that the statistical approach provides more stable cut-off values and improves the specificity of ssd-ortholog prediction for low-quality data sets of predicted orthologs.     

Proactive thermal management in green datacenters

The increasing demand for faster computing and high storage capacity has resulted in an increase in energy consumption and heat generation in datacenters. Because of the increase in heat generation, cooling requirements have become a critical concern, both in terms of growing operating costs as well as their environmental and societal impacts. Presently, thermal management techniques make an effort to thermally profile and control datacenters’ cooling equipment to increase their efficiency. In conventional thermal management techniques, cooling systems are triggered by the temperature crossing predefined thresholds. Such reactive approaches result in delayed response as the temperature may already be too high, which can result in performance degradation of hardware.     

Analysis on the thermal and electrical characteristics of impregnating materials for the bifilar winding-type superconducting fault current limiter

The resistive type high temperature superconducting fault current limiter (HTSFCL) limits the fault current with the resistance that generated by fault current. The generated resistance by fault current makes large pulse power which makes the operation of HTSFCL unstable. So, the cryogenic cooling system of the resistive type HTSFCL must diffuse and eliminate the pulse energy very quickly. Although the best way is to make wide direct contact area between HTS winding and coolant as much as possible, HTS winding also need the impregnation layer which fixes and protects it from electromagnetic force. This paper deals with thermal conductivity and dielectric strength of some epoxy compounds for the impregnation of high temperature superconducting (HTS) winding at 77 K. The measured data can be used in the optimal design of impregnation for HTS winding. Aluminar filling increased the thermal conductivity of epoxy compounds. Hardener also affected the thermal conductivity and the dielectric strength of epoxy compounds.     

Modified atmosphere packaging of fresh produce using microporous earthenware material

Microporous earthenware sheets of 5.5–5.6mm thickness were fabricated with or without a glazing treatment by passing through a sequential firing procedure in a furnace. Their microstructure and gas permeability against oxygen and carbon dioxide were measured and examined for their usability in modified atmosphere packaging of fresh produce. Compared with plastic packaging materials, earthenware sheets with a high proportion of micropores had very high gas permeability and gave CO₂:O₂ permeability ratios close to 1. Glazing treatment smoothed the surface by clogging the pores on the surface and significantly decreased gas permeability, without affecting the internal microstructure of the earthenware. When the earthenware sheet was combined with a plastic box and used in packaging for strawberries and enoki mushrooms at 5°C, its unique permeability properties developed a modified atmosphere that was beneficial for preserving the quality of the produce. Changes in the earthenware's permeability characteristics due to moisture adsorption and condensation need to be resolved so that the dynamic changes occurring in package atmosphere over time can be better understood. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of electron beam irradiation on microbial inactivation and quality of kimchi paste during storage

The effects of electron beam irradiation on microbial inactivation and quality of noninoculated and inoculated (Listeria monocytogenes) kimchi pastes were examined. Kimchi paste samples were irradiated at doses of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 kGy and stored for 21 days at 4 °C. Irradiation (10 kGy) reduced the populations of total aerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, and yeast and moulds in the samples by 1.72, 2.24 and 0.86 log CFU g^?1, respectively, compared to the control. In particular, coliforms were not detected at 8 and 10 kGy, and the population of L. monocytogenes in inoculated samples was significantly decreased by 2.67 log CFU g^?1. Electron beam irradiation delayed the changes in O₂ and CO₂ concentrations, pH, acidity and reducing sugar content observed in kimchi paste during storage. These results suggest that electron beam irradiation can be used to improve the microbiological safety and shelf life of kimchi paste.     

Two additional cases of metformin‐associated encephalopathy in patients with end‐stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis

We report on two additional cases of metformin‐associated encephalopathy in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis. Two patients were seen at our hospital with abnormal neurological signs and symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the same pattern of high signal intensity in both basal ganglia in T2‐weighted images in the two patients. The two patients had started taking metformin 5 and 6 weeks earlier at the same dose of 1000 mg per day. Metformin was immediately stopped, and regular hemodialysis was conducted. Their signs and symptoms resolved completely after these measures. The high signal intensity in both ganglia in T2‐weighted MRI also disappeared. We should suspect metformin‐induced encephalopathy and withdraw the drug when presented with diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease and neurological signs and symptoms of unknown cause.     

Analysis of Plasma Reaction for Decomposition of CHF3 in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge

The decomposition of CHF₃ in a mixture with O₂ and Ar was investigated in a coaxial dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure. CHF₃ decomposition increased linearly in regard to specific energy input (SEI), whereas energy efficiency decreased. The main product was CO_2, and its selectivity increased with high SEI and the presence of O₂ in the feed, but an increase of O₂ in the feed led to a decrease in decomposition rate. An increase in total flow rate led to an increase of the absolute amount of CHF₃ decomposition and energy efficiency; however, the decomposition of CHF₃ decreased. A complete CHF₃ decomposition occurred under an SEI of 1.54 kJ/L with the selectivity of CO₂ and CO as 89.87% and 7.00%, respectively. Optical emission spectroscopic analysis could explain the available reaction pathways for CHF₃ decomposition in the CHF₃/O₂/Ar atmospheric plasma and show the possibility of F₂ and HF formation.     

Isolation and structural elucidation of a new tadalafil analogue in health supplements: bisprenortadalafil

A new tadalafil analogue was found, along with nortadalafil, using HPLC-DAD during the inspection of a health product sold without official approval. The analogue was separated using a semi-preparative HPLC system and its structure was determined by a combination of mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. The compound was identified as a tadalafil analogue in which the N-methyl group of tadalafil was replaced with a tadalafil precursor moiety. Nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy experiments suggested a cis-relationship between the substituents on a piperidine ring in the tadalafil moiety.