Quantitative detection system for maize sample containing combined-trait genetically modified maize

Various countries have established regulations that stipulate the labeling of agricultural commodities, feed, and food products that contain or are made from genetically modified (GM) material or that contain adventitious GM material in amounts that exceed certain threshold levels. While regulations in some countries refer to GM material on a weight per weight (w/w) percentage, the currently applied detection methods do not directly measure the w/w percentage of the GM material. Depending on the particular method and the sample matrix it is applied to, the conversion of analytical results to a w/w percentage is challenging or not possible. The first rapid PCR system for GM maize detection on a single kernel basis has been developed. The equipment for the grinding of individual kernels and a silica membrane-based 96-well DNA extraction kit were both significantly revised and optimized for this particular purpose, respectively. We developed a multiplex real-time PCR method for the rapid quantification of GM DNA sequences in the obtained DNA solutions. In addition, a multiplex qualitative PCR detection method allows for the simultaneous detection of different GM maize traits in each kernel and thereby for identification of individual kernels that contain a combination of two or more GM traits. Especially for grain samples that potentially contain combined-trait GM maize kernels, the proposed methods can deliver informative results in a rapid, precise, and reliable manner.     

Development of a frequency-detuned interferometer as a prototype experiment for next-generation gravitational-wave detectors

We report on our prototype experiment that uses a 4-m detuned resonant sideband extraction interferometer with suspended mirrors, which has almost the same configuration as the next-generation, gravitational-wave detectors. We have developed a new control scheme and have succeeded in the operation of such an interferometer with suspended mirrors for the first time ever as far as we know. We believe that this is the first such instrument that can see the radiation pressure signal enhancement, which can improve the sensitivity of next-generation gravitational-wave detectors.     

Rumen epithelium cell proliferation accelerated by propionate and acetate.

Ruminal papillae were biopsied from fasted adult sheep given 18 m mole/kg body weight per day of sodium propionate or sodium acetate intraruminally via fistula. The mitotic index of the epithelial cells in the papillae was estimated for the mitogenic effect of the acids. Before the administrations, mitotic indices were lower than .53%. They increased after a few days' propionate-administration, then declined. The peak values appeared on 2 or 4 days of the administration and were 1.64%, 1.38%, 1.73%, and 1.54% in four trials. Mitotic indices also increased from acetate and declined. The peak values appeared on 3 or 4 days of the administration and were 2.04%, 2.49%, 1.70%, and 2.03% in four trials. Mitotic indices of the control sheep given the same amount of .9% saline were lower than .28%. The mitogenic effect of propionate and acetate on the rumen epithelial cells was apparent, but it seems to be weaker than that of butyrate judged from the relatively slow rise of the index in this study.     

Endothelial cells actively synthesize and secrete adrenomedullin

This study demonstrates active production of adrenomedullin (AM) in cultured vascular endothelial cells (ECs). To identify the origin of plasma AM and its functional relationship to vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), we checked production of AM in a series of tissues and cell lines and found immunoreactive (ir-) AM in culture media of rat, porcine, human and bovine ECs. Ir-AM was accumulated linearly for up to 48 hours in the culture medium of rat ECs, and the secretion rate of AM was almost comparable to that of endothelin-1. By gel filtration and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, ir-AM in the culture medium was shown to have chromatographic behavior indistinguishable from that of synthetic rat AM. By RNA blot analysis of rat tissue, the most highly positive band was detected in cultured ECs, at an intensity 20 to 40 fold higher than that in adrenal gland. Based on these data as well as the presence of AM specific receptor on VSMCs, AM secreted from ECs is deduced to act directly on VSMCs, regulating vascular tone.     

Studies on crack growth rate under high temperature creep,fatigue and creep-fatigue interaction—II: On the role of fracture mechanics parameter aeffσg

For high temperature creep, fatigue and creep-fatigue interaction, several authors have recently attempted to express crack growth rate in terms of stress intensity factor $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{I}}\text{= α}\text{aσ}{}_{\mathrm{g}}$, where a is the equivalent crack length as the sum of the initial notch length a₀ and the actual crack length $\text{a}{}^1$, that is, $\text{a = a}{}_0\text{+ a}{}^1$. On the other hand, it has been shown by Yokobori and Konosu that under the large scale yielding condition, the local stress distribution near the notch tip is given by the fracture mechanics parameter of $\text{aσ}{}_{\mathrm{g}}\text{?(σ}{}_{\mathrm{g}}$), where a is the cycloidal notch length, σ_g is the gross section stress and $\text{?(σ}{}_{\mathrm{g}}$) is a function of σ_g. Furthermore, when the crack growth from the initial notch is concerned, it is more reasonable to use the effective crack length a_eff taking into account of the effect of the initial notch instead of the equivalent crack length a. Thus we believe mathematical formula for the crack growth rate under high temperature creep, fatigue and creep-fatigue interaction conditions may be expressed at least in principle as function of $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{eff}}\text{σ}{}_{\mathrm{g}}\text{, σ}{}_{\mathrm{g}}$ and temperature.In the present paper, the geometrical change of notch shape from the instant of load application was continuously observed during the tests without interruption under high temperature creep, fatigue and creep-fatigue interaction conditions. Also, the effective crack length a_eff was calculated by the finite element method for the accurate estimation of local stress distribution near the tip of the crack initiated from the initial notch root. Furthermore, experimental data on crack growth rates previously obtained are analysed in terms of the parameter of $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{eff}}\text{σ}{}_{\mathrm{g}}$ with gross section stresses and temperatures as parameters, respectively.     

A surface acoustic wave on a ferroelectric layer-structure oxide

As a piezoelectric application of a ferroelectric material of layer-structure type, a surface acoustic wave device using a ceramic Pb_0.15 (NaBi)_0.425Bi₄Ti₄O₁₅, produced by a hot-forging technique is described. The surface acoustic wave on the substrate with the poling axis parallel to the free surface is Blustein-Gulyaev type and its velocity is 2812 m/s.     

A design and simulation tool for ground source heat pump system using energy piles with large diameter

Calculation of the underground temperature resulting from heat injection/extraction into/from ground heat exchangers (GHEXs) with hourly variation is one of the most noteworthy challenges to address when simulating and designing a ground source heat pump (GSHP). In order to overcome this challenge, the authors introduce a method to calculate the underground temperature, by considering heat injection/extraction into/from GHEXs with hourly variation. The method applies the superposition of the infinite cylindrical source (ICS) solution and the infinite line source (ILS) solution to calculate the temperature change due to heat injection/extraction into/from the considered GHEX and other neighboring GHEXs, respectively. The calculation method also considers heat injection/extraction from GHEXs with different heat injection/extraction rates and is able to accommodate GHEXs with large diameters such as energy piles. The calculation method was evaluated by applying it to calculate the temperature variation of the heat carrier fluid in a GSHP system with energy piles.     

In-fibre LP11–LP21 mode conversion using force-induced long-period fibre gratings with polarization controllers

ABSTRACT

Mode conversion between higher-order modes is attained in a step-index four mode fibre using an in-line polarization controller followed by a force-induced long period fibre grating. By adjusting the field orientation of the LP₁₁ mode to the antisymmetric fibre grating, the LP₁₁ mode is converted to the LP₂₁ mode with a spatially periodic force of 50 N along the fibre length of 50?mm. The mode conversion is evaluated by observing the far-field and near-field patterns of the fibre output and by comparing the transmitted optical power with and without the additional two-mode fibre. The phase-matching grating period is required of the accuracy of roughly ±5?μm and the radiation loss during the mode conversion is as low as 0.01?dB.