Study on Composition Distribution and Ferromagnetism of Monodisperse FePt Nanoparticles

Monodisperse FePt nanoparticles with size of 4.5 and 6.0 nm were prepared by simultaneous reduction of platinum acetylacetonate and thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl in benzylether. The crystallography structure, size, and composition of the FePt nanoparticles were examined by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry measurements of individual particles indicate a broad compositional distribution in both the 4.5 and 6 nm FePt nanoparticles. The effects of compositional distribution on the phase-transition and magnetic properties of the FePt nanoparticles were investigated.     

Urban Conservation Controls-Emerging Themes at Appeal

Urban conservation controls, whereby a permit is required for any demolition, use or development in affected areas, were introduced into the Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme in April 1984. This paper explores a number of key appeal decisions. It analyzes the relevant planning scheme objectives, the statutory framework, and a number of cases dealing with visual amenity, design solutions and architectural conformity. Some comparisons are then made with the application of similar controls both interstate and overseas.     

Development and characterization of genetic mapping resources for the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

The development and partial characterization of turkey genomic libraries enriched for TG, GAT, and CCT simple sequence repeats (SSR) are described. The primary library, established using conventional methods, was enriched for each of the three SSR by single-primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The three enriched libraries were screened by standard hybridization and washing protocols under moderate to high stringency conditions. The utility of a fraction of the markers was evaluated based on the polymorphism of PCR-amplified products in a backcross reference DNA panel. The panel consisted of genomic DNA samples from three backcrossed families developed from a cross of a wild male turkey to three inbred Orlopp line C females. A total of 181 sequences from positive clones have been characterized and deposited in GenBank. About 60% of the 60 primer pairs designed from SSR-containing sequences detected polymorphism in the reference DNA panel. The turkey genomic DNA reference panel, the enriched libraries, and the markers described here provide an opportunity to begin to characterize the turkey genome and to develop a useful public genetic map for this economically important species.     

Diabetes and mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS): radiolabeled polymerase chain reaction is necessary for accurate detection of low percentages of mutation

A 6-yr-old boy presented with muscle weakness, lactic acidemia, and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Using PCR and restriction enzyme analysis, he was found to have the classical A3248G mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation frequently associated with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). The mutation was confirmed by sequencing muscle mtDNA. The mutation in mtDNA from muscle, lymphoblasts, and blood was clearly demonstrable by standard methods using ethidium bromide staining. His mother also had IDDM, but no A3243G mutation could be detected in her blood or transformed lymphoblasts using the same PCR technique. When PCR was carried out in the presence of [32P]deoxycytidine triphosphate, subsequent autoradiography detected the presence of the mutation at low levels in mtDNA from the mother's lymphoblasts and blood. Study of the mother's muscle showed a mitochondrial myopathy, despite the fact that she was asymptomatic. We emphasize that the increased sensitivity of radiolabeled PCR may be necessary to detect small percentages of heteroplasmic A3243G mtDNA mutation in blood from diabetic subjects. Otherwise the incidence of mtDNA mutations in both IDDM and non-insulin dependent diabetes may be underestimated.     

Norepinephrine release in the human forearm: effects of epinephrine

It has been postulated that delayed facilitation of norepinephrine release by epinephrine is causally related to the development of hypertension. It has been proposed that a brief increase in epinephrine concentrations results in the uptake of epinephrine into the sympathetic nerve terminal. Subsequent rerelease of epinephrine stimulates presynaptic beta-adrenergic receptors, resulting in a prolonged increase in plasma norepinephrine (NE) concentrations, with amplified sympathetic responses and vasoconstriction. To determine whether such epinephrine-induced, delayed facilitation of NE release occurs in a vascular bed draining resistance vessels and, if it occurs, whether that facilitation differs in hypertension, we used a radioisotope dilution method to measure unstimulated and isoproterenol-stimulated forearm NE spillover before, during, and after a 50 ng/min infusion of epinephrine for 30 minutes directly into the brachial artery. No delayed facilitatory effects of epinephrine on forearm NE spillover were observed in either 6 normotensive (NT) or 8 borderline hypertensive (BHT) subjects (NT unstimulated forearm NE spillover preepinephrine 1.79+/-0.41 ng/min versus postepinephrine 2.36+/-0.65 ng/min, P=.38; BHT preepinephrine 2.24+/-0.70 ng/min versus postepinephrine 1.93+/-0.46 ng/min, P=.51; NT isoproterenol-stimulated forearm NE spillover preepinephrine 4.61+/-1.01 ng/min versus postepinephrine 4.4+/-0.98 ng/min, P=.9; BHT preepinephrine 4.04+/-1.36 ng/min versus postepinephrine 4.69+/-1.49 ng/min P=.5). We conclude that the short-term local infusion of epinephrine does not have a delayed facilitatory effect on forearm NE spillover in NT or BHT subjects. Therefore, the prolonged increase in NE concentrations after epinephrine infusion previously shown systemically, and not seen locally in the forearm, suggests that the delayed facilitatory response to epinephrine may occur in other organs.     

Digital image analysis of hematopoietic colonies in vitro

A system for automatic analysis of in vitro hematopoietic colonies is described and evaluated. With the standard resolution provided by video cameras, the improvement in visualization obtained using features other than size and darkness when classifying potential colonies appears to be limited. We confirmed this by comparing results obtained with the test system with those obtained with a commercial one. However, for some applications it may be useful to supplement the system with specific methods, e.g., to separate merged colonies. Digital image analyses provide new possibilities, for instance of measuring the total cellularity of the dish or analyzing colonies according to the size and cell density of each colony. Examples provided are time course studies of colony development, cellularity feedback effects on colony sizes, and bell-shaped dose-response curves for the growth stimulation obtained by certain conditioned media on a subpopulation of progenitor cells that gives rise to large colonies.