The influence of beam defocus on volume growth rates for electron beam induced platinum deposition

Electron beam induced deposition (EBID) is a versatile method for the controlled fabrication of conducting, semi-conducting and non-conducting structures down to the nanometer scale. In contrast to ion beam induced deposition, EBID processes are free of sputter effects, ion implantation and massive heat generation; however, they have much lower deposition rates. To push the deposition efficiency further towards its intrinsic limits, the individual influences of the process parameters have to be explored. In this work a platinum pre-cursor is used for the deposition of conducting nanorods on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. The study shows the influence of a beam defocus during deposition on the volume growth rates. The temporal evolution of volume growth rates reveals a distinct maximum which is dependent on the defocus introduced, leading to an increase of deposited volumes by a factor 2.5 after the same deposition times. The observed maximum is explained by an increasing and saturating electron yield contributing to the final deposition process and constantly decreasing diffusion abilities of the pre-cursor molecules toward the tip of the nanorods, which is further supported by dwell time experiments.     

Treating co-occurring Axis I disorders in recurrently suicidal women with borderline personality disorder: A 2-year randomized trial of dialectical behavior therapy versus community treatment by experts.

This study evaluated whether dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) was more efficacious than treatment by nonbehavioral psychotherapy experts in reducing co-occurring Axis I disorders among suicidal individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Women with BPD and recent and repeated suicidal and/or self-injurious behavior (n = 101) were randomly assigned to 1 year of DBT or community treatment by experts (CTBE), plus 1 year of follow-up assessment. For substance dependence disorders (SDD), DBT patients were more likely to achieve full remission, spent more time in partial remission, spent less time meeting full criteria, and reported more drug- and alcohol-abstinent days than did CTBE patients. These findings suggest that improvements in co-occurring SDD among suicidal BPD patients are specific to DBT and cannot be attributed to general factors associated with nonbehavioral expert psychotherapy. Further, group differences in SDD remission were not explained by either psychotropic medication usage or changes in BPD criterion behaviors. DBT and CTBE did not significantly differ in the reduction of anxiety disorders, eating disorders, or major depressive disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prediction of the weight of Alaskan pollock using image analysis

Determining the size and quality attributes of fish by machine vision is gaining acceptance and increasing use in the seafood industry. Objectivity, speed, and record keeping are advantages in using this method. The objective of this work was to develop the mathematical correlations to predict the weight of whole Alaskan Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) based on its view area from a camera. One hundred and sixty whole Pollock were obtained fresh, within 2 d after catch from a Kodiak, Alaska, processing plant. The fish were first weighed, then placed in a light box equipped with a Nikon D200 digital camera. A reference square of known surface area was placed by the fish. The obtained image was analyzed to calculate the view area of each fish. The following equations were used to fit the view area (X) compared with weight (Y) data: linear, power, and 2nd-order polynomial. The power fit (Y = A · X(B)) gave the highest R(2) for the fit (0.99). The effect of fins and tail on the accuracy of the weight prediction using view area were evaluated. Removing fins and tails did not improve prediction accuracy. Machine vision can accurately predict the weight of whole Pollock. Practical Application: The weight of Alaskan Pollock can be predicted automatically by taking the image of the fish and using it in one of the correlations developed in this study. The removal of the fins or the fins and the tail did not increase the prediction accuracy of the method. Therefore, intact fish images should be used.     

Effects of functional electrical stimulation in denervated thigh muscles of paraplegic patients mapped with T 2 imaging

OBJECT: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) for paraplegic patients, with the long-term goal of ultimately restoring muscle function, is associated with several positive effects: improvement of blood circulation, skin condition, peripheral trophism and metabolism, prophylaxis against decubitus ulcer and better physical fitness. Since fibres of denervated muscles (lacking a supplying nerve) need to be activated directly, the fraction of elicited muscle tissue follows the geometric distribution of the electrical field, which can be simulated using electrophysiological computer models. Experimental validation of these results, however, has not yet been established. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We acquired T (2) parameter images using a multislice multi-spin-echo MR sequence before and immediately after FES in nine denervated paraplegic patients and three healthy subjects in order to visualise the geometric distribution of activation by electrically induced muscle stimulation in denervated versus innervated (healthy) thigh muscle. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After realigning and normalisation, maps of relative T (2) increase were calculated. The results demonstrate that the spatial distribution of short-term effects of FES of denervated muscle tissue of paraplegic patients who regularly perform FES can be visualised by T (2) parameter images. This may be used to refine models of the electrical field of FES in muscle and fibre activation in the future.     

Ligand-Directed Chemistry on Glycoside Hydrolases – A Proof of Concept Study

Selective covalent labelling of enzymes using small molecule probes has advanced the scopes of protein profiling. The covalent bond formation to a specific target is the key step of activity-based protein profiling (ABPP), a method which has become an indispensable tool for measuring enzyme activity in complex matrices. With respect to carbohydrate processing enzymes, strategies for ABPP so far involve labelling the active site of the enzyme, which results in permanent loss of activity. Here, we report in a proof of concept study the use of ligand-directed chemistry (LDC) for labelling glycoside hydrolases near – but not in – the active site. During the labelling process, the competitive inhibitor is cleaved from the probe, departs the active site and the enzyme maintains its catalytic activity. To this end, we designed a building block synthetic concept for small molecule probes containing iminosugar-based reversible inhibitors for labelling of two model β-glucosidases. The results indicate that the LDC approach can be adaptable for covalent proximity labelling of glycoside hydrolases.     

家用清洁剂2004大盘点

2004年家用清洁剂市场整体下滑。为了止住颓势，商家们进行了市场调查，推出了新产品、新技术。“繁忙”是消费者对清洁剂购买力下降的一大原因，由于繁忙，消费者抽不出时间来进行清洁。宝洁等公司首先进行了家用洁具革新，使清洁过程简单化，其次顺应清洁剂市场的绿色化发展潮流，推出天然配方产品。经过一系列的调整后，家用清洁剂市场有望复苏。     

Induced Production of 1-Methoxy-indol-3-ylmethyl Glucosinolate by Jasmonic Acid and Methyl Jasmonate in Sprouts and Leaves of Pak Choi (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis)

Pak choi plants (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis) were treated with different signaling molecules methyl jasmonate, jasmonic acid, linolenic acid, and methyl salicylate and were analyzed for specific changes in their glucosinolate profile. Glucosinolate levels were quantified using HPLC-DAD-UV, with focus on induction of indole glucosinolates and special emphasis on 1-methoxy-indol-3-ylmethyl glucosinolate. Furthermore, the effects of the different signaling molecules on indole glucosinolate accumulation were analyzed on the level of gene expression using semi-quantitative realtime RT-PCR of selected genes. The treatments with signaling molecules were performed on sprouts and mature leaves to determine ontogenetic differences in glucosinolate accumulation and related gene expression. The highest increase of indole glucosinolate levels, with considerable enhancement of the 1-methoxy-indol-3-ylmethyl glucosinolate content, was achieved with treatments of sprouts and mature leaves with methyl jasmonate and jasmonic acid. This increase was accompanied by increased expression of genes putatively involved in the indole glucosinolate biosynthetic pathway. The high levels of indole glucosinolates enabled the plant to preferentially produce the respective breakdown products after tissue damage. Thus, pak choi plants treated with methyl jasmonate or jasmonic acid, are a valuable tool to analyze the specific protection functions of 1-methoxy-indole-3-carbinole in the plants defense strategy in the future.     

Heterogen katalysierte Hydrierung von Kohlendioxid zu Methan unter erhöhten Drücken

Ni‐ and Ru‐containing supported catalysts were prepared and used for the CO₂ hydrogenation to methane (Sabatier reaction) in the gas phase. Tests on the effect of the reaction temperature and pressure were in the focus. ZrO₂ and γ‐Al₂O₃ were used as suitable catalyst supports. CO₂ and H₂ conversions of 70 – 80 % and selectivity to methane of > 99 % were reached. TiO₂ and SiO₂ based catalysts exclusively lead to CO and seem to be not suited for this reaction. The investigations on the pressure effect impressively demonstrated the influence on the chemical equilibrium. CO₂ and H₂ can be nearly completely converted with > 99.9 % selectivity to methane over Ru/ZrO₂.     

Epidermal 1-O-acylceramides appear with the establishment of the water permeability barrier in mice and are produced by maturating keratinocytes

1-O-Acylceramides (1-OACs) have a fatty acid esterified to the 1-hydroxyl of the sphingosine head group of the ceramide, and recently we identified these lipids as natural components of human and mouse epidermis. Here we show epidermal 1-OACs arise shortly before birth during the establishment of the water permeability barrier in mice. Fractionation of human epidermis indicates 1-OACs concentrate in the stratum corneum. During in vitro maturation into reconstructed human epidermis, human keratinocytes dramatically increase 1-OAC levels indicating they are one source of epidermal 1-OACs. In search of potential enzymes responsible for 1-OAC synthesis in vivo, we analyzed mutant mice with deficiencies of ceramide synthases (Cers2, Cers3, or Cers4), diacylglycerol acyltransferases (Dgat1 or Dgat2), elongase of very long fatty acids 3 (Elovl3), lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (Lcat), stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (Scd1), or acidic ceramidase (Asah1). Overall levels of 1-OACs did not decrease in any mouse model. In Cers3 and Dgat2-deficient epidermis they even increased in correlation with deficient skin barrier function. Dagt2 deficiency reshapes 1-OAC synthesis with an increase in 1-OACs with N-linked non-hydroxylated fatty acids and a 60% decrease compared to control in levels of 1-OACs with N-linked hydroxylated palmitate. As none of the single enzyme deficiencies we examined resulted in a lack of 1-OACs, we conclude that either there is functional redundancy in forming 1-OAC and more than one enzyme is involved, and/or an unknown acyltransferase of the epidermis performs the final step of 1-OAC synthesis, the implications of which are discussed.