Dipolar-modulated charge-doped trilayer organic semiconductor n-n heterojunction

A novel dipolar-modulated charge-doped trilayer n-n organic heterojunction with a bidirectional tunable energy band discontinuity is constructed. The rectifying mechanism of the trilayer is similar to the rectifying and inverse-rectifying characteristics from n-p and p-n junctions, respectively. Zero-bias optoelectronic behavior and persistent photoconductivity are discovered. These results show that what are viewed as technological hurdles in the development of an organic n-n heterojunction should, in fact, lead to a better approach in organic optoelectronics.     

Comparison of Three Methods for Extraction of Volatile Lipid Oxidation Products from Food Matrices for GC–MS Analysis

The aim of this study was to compare three different collection methods; purge and trap, solid phase micro extraction and automated dynamic headspace/thermal desorption, all followed by GC–MS analysis used for the measurements of concentrations of volatile oxidation products in three different food matrices, namely oil, emulsion and milk. The linearity ranges of calibration curves obtained by the three different methods were compared for oil samples. Overall, the results showed that the three collection methods were comparable, although there were large differences in the linearity range of the calibration curves depending on the collection method. However, some challenges were observed for solid phase micro extraction and automated dynamic headspace/thermal desorption, namely, competition problems and overestimation of concentration by calibration curves, respectively. Based on the results, we suggest mainly to apply solid phase micro extraction on simple matrices and to be cautious with more complex matrices such as enriched milk and highly oxidized oils. Thereby, the study confirmed some challenges observed by other authors regarding competition problems on the fiber when using solid phase micro extraction. Furthermore, we observed that purge and trap, and automated dynamic headspace/thermal desorption were excellent for extraction of volatile compounds in all three matrices. However, automated dynamic headspace/thermal desorption calibration curves did provide an overestimation for oil samples so results must be interpreted with caution.     

Adipose-Derived Stem Cells from Type 2 Diabetic Rats Retain Positive Effects in a Rat Model of Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is a common complication associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and after prostatectomy in relation to cancer. The regenerative effect of cultured adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) for ED therapy has been documented in multiple preclinical trials as well as in recent Pase 1 trials in humans. However, some studies indicate that diabetes negatively affects the mesenchymal stem cell pool, implying that ASCs from T2DM patients could have impaired regenerative capacity. Here, we directly compared ASCs from age-matched diabetic Goto–Kakizaki (ASC_GK) and non-diabetic wild type rats (ASC_WT) with regard to their phenotypes, proteomes and ability to rescue ED in normal rats. Despite ASC_GK exhibiting a slightly lower proliferation rate, ASC_GK and ASC_WT proteomes were more or less identical, and after injections to corpus cavernosum they were equally efficient in restoring erectile function in a rat ED model entailing bilateral nerve crush injury. Moreover, molecular analysis of the corpus cavernosum tissue revealed that both ASC_GK and ASC_WT treated rats had increased induction of genes involved in recovering endothelial function. Thus, our finding argues that T2DM does not appear to be a limiting factor for autologous adipose stem cell therapy when correcting for ED.     

Interactions between EPS-producing Streptococcus thermophilus strains in mixed yoghurt cultures

Mixed cultures of different EPS-producing Streptococcus thermophilus strains in combination with a Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strain with negligible EPS-production were used for yoghurt production. The yoghurt texture was characterised with respect to sensory, rheological and microstructural properties and the EPS-concentrations were determined. The cultures resulted in yoghurts with highly different texture properties, and positive interactions between certain Streptococcus thermophilus strains were observed. The underlying properties of yoghurt texture are multidimensional, but a number of microstructural characteristics were apparent in the yoghurts with the highest mouth thickness, creaminess and viscosity. A strong protein network, not too dense and with medium size pores containing EPS, seems associated with these properties. The presence of capsular polysaccharides (CPS) also appeared to be beneficial as did a combination of EPS types, which were distributed differently in the protein network (in serum pores, respectively in association with protein). Obviously, a certain concentration of EPS must be present to provide for these effects on yoghurt texture, but other factors than concentration per se seem more important.     

Variation in sensory profile of individual rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from the same production batch

The variation in sensory profile of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), belonging to the same aquaculture production batch and handled the same way, was explored by using objective sensory profiling on heat-treated minced fillets. In addition, quality index, mechanical texture, pH, fat, and water content were measured. Different groups of fish were sampled 3 different times during a production day. The results showed significant differences in the sensory profiles of individual fish within all 3 groups as well as significant differences between the groups. Differences in mechanical texture were found between individuals in 2 of the 3 groups and between the groups. No differences were found in quality index neither between individuals nor groups. A significant negative correlation between lipid content and firm texture was observed, but in general, the chemical and physical measurements could not explain the differences in the sensory profiling or in the mechanical texture measurements. The results showed that significant differences in the sensory profiles of individual fish from the same aquaculture production batch may occur. Furthermore, the results also showed sensory differences between groups of samples taken at different times during a production day.     

Organizing and activating effects of sex hormones in homosexual transsexuals.

The cause of transsexualism remains unclear. The hypothesis that atypical prenatal hormone exposure could be a factor in the development of transsexualism was examined by establishing whether an atypical pattern of cognitive functioning was present in homosexual transsexuals. Possible activating effects of sex hormones as a result of cross-sex hormone treatment were also studied. Female-to-male and male-to-female transsexuals were compared with female and male controls with respect to spatial ability before and after treatment. The data were consistent with an organizing effect, but there was no evidence of an activating effect. Homosexual transsexuals, who prior to hormone treatment scored in the direction of the opposite sex, may have reached a ceiling in performance and therefore do not benefit from activating hormonal effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)