A microbubble-powered bioparticle actuator

We present the results of a device that uses controllable microbubble actuation to manipulate bioparticles. In order to create a useful device for controlling the position of bioparticles, predictable microfluidic actuation is crucial. The goal of this project was to develop fundamental technology that can be used to manipulate single bioparticles (e.g., cells). We use a thermal bubble actuation method to accomplish this goal. Microbubbles have the advantages of relatively simple electronics and fabrication but can be difficult to control. In this paper, we describe two specific accomplishments: the use of micromachined nucleation cavities to precisely localize thermal bubbles and to achieve controllable bubble formation temperatures and bubble dissipation and the demonstration of controllable microbubbles in a new device for particle sorting.     

Two-dimensional map of Haemophilus influenzae following protein enrichment by heparin chromatography

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis separates several hundred protein molecules in one single experiment and is efficiently used to study the products expressed by different genomes. Low-copy-number gene products are invisible on a stained two-dimensional map and must be enriched such that sufficient amounts are present for visualization and identification. We investigated the enrichment of proteins of the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae by chromatography on immobilized heparin which has affinity for growth and protein biosynthesis factors. Total soluble proteins of the microorganism were fractionated on Heparin-Actigel which resulted in enrichment of approximately 160 proteins. The eluates, representing about 40% of the applied proteins, were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and the protein spots were characterized by amino acid composition analysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. The proteins enriched by chromatography on the heparin gel were not exclusively low-copy-number gene products and they did not exclusively belong to one single class of proteins. The proteins that bound to the heparin gel are indicated in a two-dimensional protein map which includes more than 110 newly identified proteins.     

The heroic cancer patient: A critical analysis of the relationship between illusion and mental health.

Examines, in the context of cancer illness, S. E. Taylor and J. D. Brown's (see record 1988-16903-001) claim that mental health is to a degree predicated on illusory beliefs about the self, one's control, and the future. The Heroic Model (HM), a stance toward cancer characterized by belief that positive thoughts and feelings, a fighting spirit, and an optimistic outlook will promote cancer remission, is presented as paradigmatic of Taylor and Brown's thesis. Strong and weak formulations of the HM (the former affirming a direct influence of mental states over physical processes, and the latter affirming indirect effects only) are examined with respect to their potential adaptive value as true or false beliefs, with different consequences for well-being. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Female house crickets, Acheta domesticus, prefer the chirps of large males

This study demonstrates that invertebrate acoustic signals can provide information about male phenotypic attributes, and that females can use this acoustic information in mate choice to select a phenotypically superior mate. I investigated the relationships between a male acoustic sexual signal, the phenotype of the signaller, and the female response to signal variation. I recorded and analysed the calling songs of male house crickets, Acheta domesticus. The analyses showed that chirps convey information about male size. With the exception of amplitude, the mean number of pulses per chirp was the best predictor of male size. I performed a laboratory tape-playback experiment to determine female preference during phonotaxis. Females preferred tapes playing the chirps of large males, specifically chirps with a greater number of pulses per chirp. Selection on the female preference is discussed.Copyright 1997 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour     

Efficient generation of a reshaped human mAb specific for the {alpha} toxin of Clostridium perfringens

We have used the technique of antibody reshaping to producea humanized antibody specific for the a toxin of Clostridiumperfringens. The starting antibody was from a mouse hybridomafrom which variable (V) region nucleo-tide sequences were determined.The complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) from these Vregions were then inserted into human heavy and light chainV region genes with human constant region gene fragments subsequentlyadded. The insertion of CDRs alone into human frameworks didnot produce a functional reshaped antibody and modificationsto the V region framework were required. With minor frameworkmodifications, the affinity of the original murine mAb was restoredand even exceeded. Where affinity was increased, an alteredbinding profile to overlapping peptides was observed. Computermodelling of the reshaped heavy chain V regions suggested thatamino acids adjacent to CDRs can either contribute to, or distort,CDR loop conformation and must be adjusted to achieve high bindingaffinity.     

Pollination-enhanced expression of a receptor-like protein kinase related gene in tobacco styles

We have isolated a putative serine/threonine receptor kinase gene with an expression pattern indicating that it may play a role in the stylar response to pollination. Differential display PCR was used to select tobacco mRNAs with increased accumulation following pollination. NTS16, a cDNA identified by this method, is homologous to a ca. 2.4 kb mRNA primarily expressed in pistil tissues. Levels of this mRNA increase during floral development and are further increased by pollination reaching maximal accumulation 12-18 hours after pollination and then declining. mRNA levels can also be increased by the application of ethylene to unpollinated flowers. A polypeptide encoded by the NTS 16 open reading frame has sequence similarity to the catalytic domain of several receptor protein kinases from plants including the S-receptor kinases implicated in the rejection of self-pollen in Brassica species and the Pto gene product of tomato which confers resistance to a bacterial pathogen.     

Intellectual performance and ego depletion: Role of the self in logical reasoning and other information processing.

Some complex thinking requires active guidance by the self, but simpler mental activities do not. Depletion of the self's regulatory resources should therefore impair the former and not the latter. Resource depletion was manipulated by having some participants initially regulate attention (Studies 1 and 3) or emotion (Study 2). As compared with no-regulation participants who did not perform such exercises, depleted participants performed worse at logic and reasoning (Study 1), cognitive extrapolation (Study 2), and a test of thoughtful reading comprehension (Study 3). The same manipulations failed to cause decrements on a test of general knowledge (Study 2) or on memorization and recall of nonsense syllables (Study 3). Successful performance at complex thinking may therefore rely on limited regulatory resources. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Downward comparison, prejudice, and evaluations of others: Effects of self-esteem and threat.

In two studies, we explored the effects of trait self-esteem and threats to the self-concept on evaluations of others. In Study 1, subjects high, moderate, and low in self-esteem received either success, failure, or no feedback on a test and later evaluated three pairs of targets: ingroups and outgroups based on a minimal intergroup manipulation, those who scored above average and those who scored below average on the test, and themselves and the average college student. Study 2 explored the effects of self-esteem and threat on ingroup favoritism in a real-world setting, campus sororities. Together, the results of these studies indicate that individuals high in self-esteem, but not those low in self-esteem, respond to threats to the self-concept by derogating outgroups relative to the ingroup when the group boundaries have evaluative implications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)