Hemispherical Brillouin zone imaging of a diamond-type biological photonic crystal

The brilliant structural body colours of many animals are created by three-dimensional biological photonic crystals that act as wavelength-specific reflectors. Here, we report a study on the vividly coloured scales of the diamond weevil, Entimus imperialis. Electron microscopy identified the chitin and air assemblies inside the scales as domains of a single-network diamond (Fd3m) photonic crystal. We visualized the topology of the first Brillouin zone (FBZ) by imaging scatterometry, and we reconstructed the complete photonic band structure diagram (PBSD) of the chitinous photonic crystal from reflectance spectra. Comparison with calculated PBSDs indeed showed a perfect overlap. The unique method of non-invasive hemispherical imaging of the FBZ provides key insights for the investigation of photonic crystals in the visible wavelength range. The characterized extremely large biophotonic nanostructures of E. imperialis are structurally optimized for high reflectance and may thus be well suited for use as a template for producing novel photonic devices, e.g. through biomimicry or direct infiltration from dielectric material.     

Optimal temperature input design for estimation of the square root model parameters: parameter accuracy and model validity restrictions

As part of the model building process, parameter estimation is of great importance in view of accurate prediction making. Confidence limits on the predicted model output are largely determined by the parameter estimation accuracy that is reflected by its parameter estimation covariance matrix. In view of the accurate estimation of the Square Root model parameters, Bernaerts et al. have successfully applied the techniques of optimal experiment design for parameter estimation [Int. J. Food Microbiol. 54 (1-2) (2000) 27]. Simulation-based results have proved that dynamic (i.e., time-varying) temperature conditions characterised by a large abrupt temperature increase yield highly informative cell density data enabling precise estimation of the Square Root model parameters. In this study, it is shown by bioreactor experiments with detailed and precise sampling that extreme temperature shifts disturb the exponential growth of Escherichia coli K12. A too large shift results in an intermediate lag phase. Because common growth models lack the ability to model this intermediate lag phase, temperature conditions should be designed such that exponential growth persist even though the temperature may be changing. The current publication presents (i) the design of an optimal temperature input guaranteeing model validity yet yielding accurate Square Root model parameters, and (ii) the experimental implementation of the optimal input in a computer-controlled bioreactor. Starting values for the experiment design are generated by a traditional two-step procedure based on static experiments. Opposed to the single step temperature profile, the novel temperature input comprises a sequence of smaller temperature increments. The structural development of the temperature input is extensively explained. High quality data of E. coli K12 under optimally varying temperature conditions realised in a computer-controlled bioreactor yield accurate estimates for the Square Root model parameters. The latter is illustrated by means of the individual confidence intervals and the joint confidence region.     

Trimmed bagging

Bagging has been found to be successful in increasing the predictive performance of unstable classifiers. Bagging draws bootstrap samples from the training sample, applies the classifier to each bootstrap sample, and then averages over all obtained classification rules. The idea of trimmed bagging is to exclude the bootstrapped classification rules that yield the highest error rates, as estimated by the out-of-bag error rate, and to aggregate over the remaining ones. In this note we explore the potential benefits of trimmed bagging. On the basis of numerical experiments, we conclude that trimmed bagging performs comparably to standard bagging when applied to unstable classifiers as decision trees, but yields better results when applied to more stable base classifiers, like support vector machines.     

Damage Detection and Base Flipping in Direct DNA Alkylation Repair

The foreign lesion : The mechanistic questions for DNA base damage detection by repair proteins are discussed in this Minireview. Repair proteins could either probe and locate a weakened base pair that results from base damage, or passively capture an extrahelical base lesion in the first step of damage searching on double‐stranded DNA. How some repair proteins, such as AGT (see figure), locate base lesions in DNA is still not fully understood.

     

IMEC Industrial Affiliation Program (IIAP) as IPR model to set up nanotechnology research and patenting

The IP policy of IMEC is to avoid IP blocking among its research and business partners, to secure IPR for partners and to enable publications for researchers. This is achieved by setting up a specially designed Industrial Affiliation Program (referred to as IIAP) with licensing and/or co-ownership of IP between the partners. The business IP model applied within the IIAP model at IMEC is characterised by an open, multi-party approach with non-exclusive licensing as a base-line. The IIAP model is further characterized as an IP model in which dilution of IP is minimized in view of further transferability of technology. Using the cost-based and risk sharing approach of the IIAP program, an enhanced progress within new technology domains such as nanotechnology is obtained.     

Effect of posture on hand preference during experimental food reaching in bonobos (Pan paniscus).

The effect of posture on hand preferences was examined in an experiment with 5 bonobos (Pan paniscus). To obtain a food reward, the animals had to adopt 1 out of 7 different postures. These postures represented an increasing problem to the maintenance of body equilibrium. It was expected that an increasing demand for equilibrium maintenance would elicit individual preferences and a population-level bias. All animals showed an increasing trend toward left-handedness while shifting to a bipedal posture from a seated posture by way of a quadrupedal posture. The importance of bipedalism in the evolution of left- and right-handedness is discussed briefly. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The kinetics of acrylamide formation/elimination in asparagine–glucose systems at different initial reactant concentrations and ratios

The effect of initial reactant concentration and ratio on the kinetics of acrylamide formation and elimination was studied using diluted asparagine–glucose model systems, heated at temperatures between 120 and 200 °C. By means of single response modelling, acrylamide concentrations measured could be modelled using a simplified kinetic model, in which acrylamide formation and elimination reactions were included. Changing the reactant concentration in equimolar systems did not affect significantly the kinetic parameters (k_Fref and E_aF) for acrylamide formation, whereas the rate constant for acrylamide elimination increased with increasing reactant concentration, in the range from 0.01 M to 0.125 M. Modifying the reactant ratio, while keeping one of the reactants at a fixed concentration (0.125 M), did not affect the estimated parameters as compared to the equimolar system. In addition, multiresponse modelling was applied on three model systems with a different initial reactant ratio. Besides acrylamide, the concentration of the reactants and fructose and the level of browning were quantified. By means of deduction, a mechanistic model was proposed which was able to model all responses simultaneously in an adequate way. It appeared that caramelisation has a predominant role in browning, however, only in the system with an excess of sugar. The corresponding kinetic parameters estimated were in some cases significantly different, but in the same order of magnitude.     

In vitro performance of lipid-PLGA hybrid nanoparticles as an antigen delivery system: lipid composition matters

Due to the many beneficial properties combined from both poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) and liposomes, lipid-PLGA hybrid NPs have been intensively studied as cancer drug delivery systems, bio-imaging agent carriers, as well as antigen delivery vehicles. However, the impact of lipid composition on the performance of lipid-PLGA hybrid NPs as a delivery system has not been well investigated. In this study, the influence of lipid composition on the stability of the hybrid NPs and in vitro antigen release from NPs under different conditions was examined. The uptake of hybrid NPs with various surface charges by dendritic cells (DCs) was carefully studied. The results showed that PLGA NPs enveloped by a lipid shell with more positive surface charges could improve the stability of the hybrid NPs, enable better controlled release of antigens encapsulated in PLGA NPs, as well as enhance uptake of NPs by DC.