Noninvasive markers for acute heart transplant rejection in children with the use of automatic border detection

A noninvasive method to detect heart transplant rejection would allow for increased monitoring at reduced risk. Automatic border detection is a new method to assess diastolic abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to determine whether automatic border detection of left ventricular filling detects rejection in children. Nineteen episodes of biopsy-proven rejection in 10 children were retrospectively reviewed. Echocardiograms during rejection were compared with those before rejection and during recovery. Automatic border detection indices were percentage of total left ventricular filling as a result of rapid filling, diastasis, and atrial contraction. The percentage of total ventricular filling during diastasis increased significantly during rejection (10% +/- 6% versus 15% +/- 8%, p = 0.02), and the percentage of filling during the rapid filling phase decreased during rejection (82% +/- 8% versus 77% +/- 11%, p = 0.08). These changes were even more marked for the most severe episodes of rejection. These changes resolved at recovery. Automatic border detection of left ventricular filling patterns are altered during cardiac rejection in children. Filling during diastasis increases significantly, and filling during the rapid filling phase decreases. A prospective analysis is needed to determine whether these changes in filling can obviate the need for cardiac biopsy.     

Kinetic evidence for peptide-induced oligomerization of the molecular chaperone DnaK at heat shock temperatures

The pre-steady-state kinetics of the binding of a fluorescent peptide (dansyl-KLIGVLSSLFRPK, fVSV13) to the Escherichia coli molecular chaperone DnaK were investigated over a range of temperatures (25-42 degrees C). At 42 degrees C, over a wide range of peptide concentrations, the fVSV13 peptide bound to DnaK with biphasic kinetics: a rapid burst in the DnaK-fVSV13 signal in the first 5 s was followed by a gradual reduction in the signal over the next 100 s. The descending portion of each biphasic trace followed the equation F(t) = DeltaF exp(-kdt) + Finfinity, where DeltaF, kd, and Finfinity are the amplitude, the apparent first-order rate constant, and the fluorescence end point, respectively. Both DeltaF and kd increased with increasing concentrations of DnaK, which suggests that the loss of the DnaK-fVSV13 signal is caused by a bimolecular reaction. We propose that (i) the fVSV13 peptide binds to and induces a conformational change in the DnaK monomer [E + P right harpoon over left harpoon (EP)*]; and (ii) the conformational change promotes the formation of oligomeric DnaK-peptide complexes [En + (EP)* right harpoon over left harpoon En-EP]. The term (EP)* denotes a monomeric DnaK-peptide complex in which the bound peptide is fluorescent; En-EP denotes an oligomeric DnaK-peptide complex in which the fluorescence of the bound peptide is quenched. Numerical fitting of the stopped-flow data to reactions (i) and (ii) yielded values for the four rate constants. When the proposed kinetic model was tested by conducting experiments in the presence of excess peptide or excess ATP&sbd;conditions which inhibit oligomerization&sbd;DnaK-fVSV13 complex formation proceeded to stable asymptotes, with no reduction in the DnaK-fVSV13 signal at long times.     

Structural and functional analysis of nanopillar spin electronic devices fabricated by 3D focused ion beam lithography

We discuss the fabrication of nanopillar spin electronic devices from metal multilayered heterostructures, utilizing a novel three-dimensional focused ion beam lithography process. Finite element simulation was performed to optimize the geometry of the nanopillar device and to demonstrate that current flow is perpendicular to the plane within the active region of the device. Clear zero-field current induced magnetization switching is observed in our nanopillar devices at room temperature.     

In situ characterization of ceramic cold sintering by small-angle scattering

The first in situ characterization of the pore morphology evolution during the cold sintering process (CSP) is presented using small-angle X-ray scattering methods. For practical reasons, measurements have been made on a model system, KH₂PO₄ (KDP). The scattering signal revealed a striking behavior that could be modeled with nanoscale structural features associated with the dissolution and reprecipitation of KDP close to the grain/pore interface during CSP. The prospects for future more quantitative experiments under a range of temperature and pressure conditions, as well as for studies of more technologically important materials such as ZnO are considered.     

Short communication: Influence of pasteurization on the active compounds in medicinal plants to be used in dairy products

Interest from the dairy industry in adding herbal drugs to milk and yogurt products raises the question of whether these plant materials can be pasteurized. Root material of Rhodiola rosea, Eleutherococcus senticosus, and Panax ginseng, all plants with adaptogenic activities, was pasteurized. The content of active compounds in the root material before and after pasteurization was quantified by HPLC analysis. The results show that the eleutherosides in E. senticosus, and to an extent the ginsenosides from P. ginseng, could withstand pasteurization, whereas salidroside and rosavin from R. rosea did not survive pasteurization. Thus, R. rosea is not suitable for products requiring pasteurization.     

Chemical quality of depositional sediments and associated soils in New Orleans and the Louisiana peninsula following Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Louisiana peninsula south of New Orleans on Aug 29, 2005. The resulting storm surge caused numerous levy breaches in the parishes of New Orleans as well as on the Louisiana peninsula. This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of inorganic and organic constituents in sediments and associated soils in New Orleans parishes and the Louisiana peninsula after the floodwaters had been removed and/or receded following Hurricane Katrina. A total of 46 sediment and soil samples were analyzed that were collected throughout New Orleans and the Louisiana peninsula. Approximately 20% of the sediment samples were analyzed, including shallow sediment samples from locations that included the top and beneath automobiles, in residential and commercial areas, and near refineries. Gasoline constituents, pesticides, and leachable heavy metals were analyzed using headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), organic extraction GC/MS, and inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry, respectively. A significant number of samples had leachable As and Pb concentrations in excess of drinking water standards. The remaining metals analyzed (i.e., Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, and V) generally had much lower leachable levels. Of the gasoline constituents, only benzene was observed above the limit of detection (of 5 microg/kg), with no samples observed as being above the method detection limits of 10 microg/kg. For the 18 pesticides analyzed, most were in the nondetectable range and all were in trace amounts that were orders of magnitude below regulatory guidelines.     

Hardening the Target

As enterprises increasingly depend on digitized data and seek commercial opportunities from accelerated digital access and transmission, senior management and boards of directors haven't sufficiently updated their enterprises' security protections on digitally stored information. Consequently, new and increasingly frequent attacks have occurred against their digital information assets. Enterprises must harden the target to protect against attacks against these assets.     

Beseitigung von Weizenstärkeindustrie-Abwässern – Ein Wirtschaftlichkeitsvergleich

Removal of Waste Water from Wheat Starch Industry – An Economic Comparison. The portion of wheat starch production in the total production of starch out of corn, potatoes and wheat was only of minor importance in the past. Based on new process engineering for the production of wheat starch as well as EC market regulations the production of starch from wheat or wheat flour recently appears more interesting. Due to higher outputs in wheat starch plants there is a demand in methods for waste water engineering alternative to agricultural utilization of waste water. The completely biological waste water treatment in an aeration basin, the evaporation, filtration, protein coagulation. sale for cattle fodder, fermentation, and the anaerob purification are to be indicated. It does not only depend on the process engineering and the efficiency but most essentially on the economic efficiency which of these methods of waste water treatment will prevail in large-scale technique. The anaerobic waste water treatment of highly organic load waste water recently comes to the force more and more. A comparison of the different methods for waste water treatment shows that the charges very much depend on the waste water factor, i. e., the quantity of waste water per ton processed flour and the charges for electricity and fossil sources of energy. The calculation of the charges has to include the charges for an advanced waste water treatment in a sewage treatment as well as the profit for the digester gas or the concentrate.     

From Type I to Type II: Design,Synthesis, and Characterization of Potent Pyrazin‐2‐ones as DFG‐Out Inhibitors of PDGFRβ

Reversible protein kinase inhibitors that bind in the ATP cleft can be classified as type I or type II binders. Of these, type I inhibitors address the active form, whereas type II inhibitors typically lock the kinase in an inactive form. At the molecular level, the conformation of the flexible activation loop holding the key DFG motif controls access to the ATP site, thereby determining an active or inactive kinase state. Accordingly, type I and type II kinase inhibitors bind to so‐called DFG‐in or DFG‐out conformations, respectively. Based on our former study on highly selective platelet‐derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) pyrazin‐2‐one type I inhibitors, we expanded this scaffold toward the deep pocket, yielding the highly potent and effective type II inhibitor 5 (4‐[(4‐methylpiperazin‐1‐yl)methyl]‐N‐[3‐[[6‐oxo‐5‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)‐1H‐pyrazin‐3‐yl]methyl]phenyl]benzamide). In vitro characterization, including selectivity panel data from activity‐based assays (300 kinases) and affinity‐based assays (97 kinases) of these PDGFRβ type I ( 1 ; 5‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐phenyl)‐3‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)‐1H‐pyrazin‐2‐one) and II ( 5 ) inhibitors showing the same pyrazin‐2‐one chemotype are compared. Implications are discussed regarding the data for selectivity and efficacy of type I and type II ligands.     

Integration of thin electroless copper films in copper interconnect metallization

Deposition of a thin electroless copper films on PVD copper seed layers in interconnect metallization was investigated for formation of a composite seed layer. Issues such as film stress, adhesion, electrical reliability, and hydrogen incorporation were addressed to determine feasibility of the process for the fabrication of real device structures. The formation of blisters between the copper films and underlying barrier layer were observed due to hydrogen incorporation and high level of compressive stress as a result of the electroless deposition process. Optimization of the electroless copper bath and process flow were investigated to minimize blister formation and improve fill enhancement effectiveness. Low temperature postelectroless anneal was found to remove incorporated hydrogen but also decreased overall fill effectiveness. Post-CMP electrical reliability of thin PVD/electroless/copper fill process was found to be equivalent to thick PVD/copper fill process. Potential reliability issues with electroless deposition on poorly seeded features were suggested by via yield degradation following final anneal.