Identification of Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Data Normalization in Cannabis sativa Stem Tissues

Gene expression profiling via quantitative real-time PCR is a robust technique widely used in the life sciences to compare gene expression patterns in, e.g., different tissues, growth conditions, or after specific treatments. In the field of plant science, real-time PCR is the gold standard to study the dynamics of gene expression and is used to validate the results generated with high throughput techniques, e.g., RNA-Seq. An accurate relative quantification of gene expression relies on the identification of appropriate reference genes, that need to be determined for each experimental set-up used and plant tissue studied. Here, we identify suitable reference genes for expression profiling in stems of textile hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), whose tissues (isolated bast fibres and core) are characterized by remarkable differences in cell wall composition. We additionally validate the reference genes by analysing the expression of putative candidates involved in the non-oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway and in the first step of the shikimate pathway. The goal is to describe the possible regulation pattern of some genes involved in the provision of the precursors needed for lignin biosynthesis in the different hemp stem tissues. The results here shown are useful to design future studies focused on gene expression analyses in hemp.     

Chemical Bond Between Stabilizers and HTPB Binders in Propellants

The character of the chemical bond between stabilizers and isocyanates used to cure the HTPB binder was determined. The aim was to explain, why it is not possible to extract some stabilizers from the binder of rocket motors. Investigations were performed by ¹H‐NMR‐spectroscopy on various combinations of stabilizers and isocyanates used to cure HTPB. It was demonstrated that stabilizes of some type can be attached to the polymeric network via a reaction with the di‐isocyanate. Criteria to evaluate the possibility of bonding the stabilizer to the network are derived. Finally the implication of the chemical bonding on the stabilizing effect is discussed.     

Structural and morphological control of aligned nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (CN_x-NTs) were prepared using a floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition method. Melamine precursor was employed to effectively control nitrogen content within the CN_x-NTs and modulate their structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the nitrogen bonding demonstrates the nitrogen-incorporation profile according to the precursor amount, which indicates the correlation between the nitrogen concentration and morphology of nanotubes. With the increase of melamine amount, the growth rate of nanotubes increases significantly, and the inner structure of CN_x-NTs displayed a regular morphology transition from straight and smooth walls (0 at.% nitrogen) to cone-stacked shapes or bamboo-like structure (1.5%), then to corrugated structures (3.1% and above). Both XPS and CHN group results indicate that the nitrogen concentration of CN_x-NTs remained almost constant even after exposing them to air for 5 months, revealing superior nitrogen stability in CNTs. Raman analysis shows that the intensity ratio of D to G bands (I_D/I_G) of nanotubes increases with the melamine amount and position of G-band undergoes a down-shift due to increasing nitrogen doping. The aligned CN_x-NTs with modulated morphology, controlled nitrogen concentration and superior stability may find potential applications in developing various nanodevices such as fuel cells and nanoenergetic functional components.     

A multiscale parallel computing architecture for automated segmentation of the brain connectome

Several groups in neurobiology have embarked into deciphering the brain circuitry using large-scale imaging of a mouse brain and manual tracing of the connections between neurons. Creating a graph of the brain circuitry, also called a connectome, could have a huge impact on the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Although considerably smaller than a human brain, a mouse brain already exhibits one billion connections and manually tracing the connectome of a mouse brain can only be achieved partially. This paper proposes to scale up the tracing by using automated image segmentation and a parallel computing approach designed for domain experts. We explain the design decisions behind our parallel approach and we present our results for the segmentation of the vasculature and the cell nuclei, which have been obtained without any manual intervention.     

MCT technology challenges for mass production

Second generation infrared (IR) detectors are now mature at the production level. These detectors are mostly based on HgCdTe (MCT) materials technology. The main second generation detectors at the mass production level are the 288 4 long wave length for most of the European forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and the 480 6 long wave length for the U.S. Army SADA applications. As far as the 288 4 is concerned, SOFRADIR has delivered more than 3000 units already and the market is estimated to be 15,000 units at least! The market is also very large for SADA II units and SOFRADIR has produced them since the end of 1999. Thus, SOFRADIR produces large quantities of mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) detectors and has a unique experience for MCT detectors in mass production. MCT materials technology challenges for mass production concern the main following issues: Quality and reproducibility, MCT wafer size increase, array yield level increase, and the collective manufacturing approach. These issues are discussed in detail in this paper as well as future trends.     

Microwave Sintering of Bi2Te3- and PbTe-Based Alloys: Structure and Thermoelectric Properties

Microwave sintering is well known as an expeditious process in applications involving ceramics and biomaterials. For powders in the nanometer range, rapid microwave heating could reduce material exposure to elevated temperatures, thus preserving nanostructures in the resulting materials. To investigate the potential of this technique for thermoelectric (TE) materials, we have prepared samples of bismuth-telluride- and lead-telluride-based alloys from powders, for both materials, having sizes of partially agglomerated particles distributed from 0.15 μm to 7 μm. Sintering of the cold-pressed powders was carried out in a microwave furnace for 900 s at temperatures in the range of 583 K to 623 K for bismuth telluride and 793 K to 813 K for lead telluride specimens. For optimized sintering times and temperatures, the samples obtained showed relative densities of almost 95%. Scanning electron microscopy shows some residual porosity and a reduction of grain size, up to a factor of 5 for PbTe, compared with optimized hot-extruded specimens. For bismuth telluride samples, the TE performance in the range of 300 K to 460 K is poor, which is attributed to the arbitrary texture obtained from cold pressing of a highly anisotropic alloy prior to its sintering. In contrast, PbTe exhibits isotropic properties, hence deficiency of texturing is not expected to have a negative impact on its TE properties. Harman measurements show a value of ZT = 0.42 at 617 K for PbTe p-type sintered samples, which is comparable to hot-extruded alloys from similar powders. The present work demonstrates that microwave sintering is a promising alternative to other powder consolidation techniques for polycrystalline materials exhibiting isotropic TE properties.     

Architectural Control of Freeze-Cast Ceramics Through Additives and Templating

The freezing of concentrated colloidal suspensions is a complex physical process involving a large number of parameters. These parameters provide unique tools to manipulate the architecture of freeze-cast materials at multiple length scales in a single processing step. However, we are still far from developing predictive models to describe the growth of ice crystals in concentrated particle slurries. In order to exert reliable control over the microstructural formation of freeze-cast materials, it is necessary to reach a deeper understanding of the basic relationships between the experimental conditions and the microstructure of the growing solid. In this work, we explore the role of several processing variables (e.g., composition of the suspension, freezing rate, and patterning of the freezing surface) that could affect the formulation strategies for the architectural manipulation of freeze-cast materials. We also demonstrate, using freeze-cast lamellar structures, that reducing the lamellar thickness by less than half increases the compressive strength by more than one order of magnitude.     

In Situ X-Ray Radiography and Tomography Observations of the Solidification of Aqueous Alumina Particle Suspensions—Part I: Initial Instants

This paper investigates by in situ high-resolution X-ray radiography and tomography the behavior of colloidal suspensions of alumina partic les during directional solidification by freezing. The combination of these techniques provided both qualitative and quantitative information about the propagation kinetic of the solid/liquid interface, the particle redistribution between the crystals and a particle-enriched phase, and the three-dimensional organization of the ice crystals. In this first part of two companion papers, the precursor phenomena leading to directional crystallization during the first instants of solidification are studied. Mullins–Sekerka instabilities are not necessary to explain the dynamic evolution of the interface pattern. Particle redistribution during these first instants is dependent on the type of crystals growing into the suspension. The insights gained into the mechanisms of solidification of colloidal suspensions may be valuable for the materials processing routes derived for this type of directional solidification (freeze-casting), and of general interest for those interested in the interactions between solidification fronts and inert particles.