Design and performance evaluation of polyvinyl alcohol/polyimide coated optical fibre grating-based humidity sensors

Optical fibre grating based sensors make a significant contribution to relative humidity measurement for various applications and a number of different designs and sensor configurations have been produced and discussed in the literature. Recent developments have included using sensitive polymers and indeed other materials that experience a variation of their physical and optical properties as a result of the absorption of moisture and which thus creates a modification of the characteristic spectral features of the gratings used. The strain and the effective refractive index of the gratings are affected by the change induced by the polymer and these effects were calibrated against the relative humidity variations that initially induce variations in the polymer layer. In this work, an evaluation is made of the performance characteristics of two different moisture sensitive polymers, i.e., polyimide and polyvinyl alcohol, as the basis of such sensors, while at the same time using different types of fibre gratings i.e., fibre Bragg gratings and long period gratings. Their performance is discussed in light of the operation of similar types of polymer-coated and other grating based sensors reported in the literature.

Grain boundary character distribution of nanocrystalline Cu thin films using stereological analysis of transmission electron microscope orientation maps

Stereological analysis has been coupled with transmission electron microscope (TEM) orientation mapping to investigate the grain boundary character distribution in nanocrystalline copper thin films. The use of the nanosized (<5 nm) beam in the TEM for collecting spot diffraction patterns renders an order of magnitude improvement in spatial resolution compared to the analysis of electron backscatter diffraction patterns in the scanning electron microscope. Electron beam precession is used to reduce dynamical effects and increase the reliability of orientation solutions. The misorientation distribution function shows a strong misorientation texture with a peak at 60°/[111], corresponding to the Σ3 misorientation. The grain boundary plane distribution shows {111} as the most frequently occurring plane, indicating a significant population of coherent twin boundaries. This study demonstrates the use of nanoscale orientation mapping in the TEM to quantify the five-parameter grain boundary distribution in nanocrystalline materials.

Regulatory mechanisms of long noncoding RNAs in vertebrate central nervous system development and function

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as an important class of molecules that regulate gene expression at epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional levels through a wide array of mechanisms. This regulation is of particular importance in the central nervous system (CNS), where precise modulation of gene expression is required for proper neuronal and glial production, connection and function. There are relatively few functional studies that characterize lncRNA mechanisms, but possible functions can often be inferred based on existing examples and the lncRNA's relative genomic position. In this review, we will discuss mechanisms of lncRNAs as predicted by genomic contexts and the possible impact on CNS development, function, and disease pathogenesis. There is no doubt that investigation of the mechanistic role of lncRNAs will open a new and exciting direction in studying CNS development and function.

The effect of a diet containing grasshoppers and access to free-range on carcase and meat physicochemical and sensory characteristics in broilers

1. Research was conducted to evaluate the impact of a diet containing grasshoppers on the carcase, physicochemical and sensory characteristics in a free-range, grassland-based broiler production system. 2. A total of 80, 28-d-old male broilers were reared on grassland containing a large population of grasshoppers (treatment PB). Control birds were reared intensively on a maize-soybean diet (treatment CB). At 91 d of age, 24 birds from each treatment were slaughtered to evaluate carcase, meat and sensory characteristics. 3. Treatment PB produced birds with significantly lower live weights, breast, wing, thigh and drum weights, and higher dressing percentage and breast percentage of carcase, compared with CB. Treatment PB produced breast meat with significantly higher redness values, shear force and protein content, and lower pH values, cooking loss, moisture and fat content compared with CB. Sensory panel results for breast and thigh meats showed no treatment effect on colour and juiciness, but significantly higher scores for chewiness, flavour, aroma and overall appreciation, and lower scores for tenderness from treatment PB compared with CB. 4. Rearing chickens on rangeland may provide an alternative way to produce poultry meat which is considered superior by modern consumers.

Rapid identification of Sporothrix schenckii in biopsy tissue by PCR

BACKGROUND

The dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii is the etiological agent of sporotrichosis, an important cutaneous mycosis with a worldwide distribution. At present, it is challenging to rapidly discover and identify Sporothrix schenckii in biopsy tissues nowadays.

AIMS

To explore new methods for rapid diagnosis of sporotrichosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We screened specific primers for Sporothrix schenckii using 50 clinical isolates from patients with sporotrichosis. DNA was extracted from the lesions of 30 cases of clinically suspected sporotrichosis using the Graham s method of CTAB and amplified by PCR using the screened specific primers.

RESULTS

The primer S2-R2 was applicable for the identification of S. schenckii from different geographic areas and clinical types with high specificity and sensitivity. Twenty-five out of the thirty cases (83.3%) amplified using the primer S2-R2 showed positive bands. Further positive bands were observed in 95.6% of cases tested positive by fungal culture.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the PCR technique and specific primers, we developed a new diagnostic method that can rapidly diagnose sporotrichosis with tissues obtained from clinical biopsies.

Draft genome sequence of Streptomyces coelicoflavus ZG0656 reveals the putative biosynthetic gene cluster of acarviostatin family α-amylase inhibitors

AIMS

The aims of this study are to obtain the draft genome sequence of Streptomyces coelicoflavus ZG0656, which produces novel acarviostatin family α-amylase inhibitors, and then to reveal the putative acarviostatin-related gene cluster and the biosynthetic pathway.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The draft genome sequence of S. coelicoflavus ZG0656 was generated using a shotgun approach employing a combination of 454 and Solexa sequencing technologies. Genome analysis revealed a putative gene cluster for acarviostatin biosynthesis, termed sct-cluster. The cluster contains 13 acarviostatin synthetic genes, six transporter genes, four starch degrading or transglycosylation enzyme genes and two regulator genes. On the basis of bioinformatic analysis, we proposed a putative biosynthetic pathway of acarviostatins. The intracellular steps produce a structural core, acarviostatin I00-7-P, and the extracellular assemblies lead to diverse acarviostatin end products.

CONCLUSIONS

The draft genome sequence of S. coelicoflavus ZG0656 revealed the putative biosynthetic gene cluster of acarviostatins and a putative pathway of acarviostatin production.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

To our knowledge, S. coelicoflavus ZG0656 is the first strain in this species for which a genome sequence has been reported. The analysis of sct-cluster provided important insights into the biosynthesis of acarviostatins. This work will be a platform for producing novel variants and yield improvement.

SU-E-T-596: Choroidal Metastases Irradiation with Volumetric Modulated Arc Radiotherapy

PURPOSE

Intraocular metastases are present in up to 10% of patients with systemic malignancies. With tumor cells spreading hematogenously, the posterior choroid is frequently involved because of its rich vasculature. We treated a woman who developed bilateral choroidal metastases from breast cancer. For the patient, we designed three radiotherapy techniques. The study was to find the dosimetric differences between them.

METHODS

For the patient with bilateral choroidal metastases, three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), inverse intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy (V-MAT) plans were designed. The prescription dose was 60 Gy in 30 fractions. The dose distribution in the target, the dose to the organs at risk, total MU and delivery time were compared.

RESULTS

In 3D-CRT, IMRT and V-MAT plans, the volume of target in 100% prescription dose were 92.5%, 93.3% and 92.0% respectively. V-MAT plan showed the best conformity and homogeneity in target. IMRT plan showed a better homogeneity than 3D-CRT plan. In 3D- CRT, IMRT and V-MAT plans, the max doses on left lens were 975.3 cGy, 739.9cGy, 870.2 cGy respectively. The max doses on right lens were 929.9 cGy, 802.9 cGy and 889.0 cGy respectively. V-MAT plan showed the lowest value for the max dose on left optic nerve and the lower value for the right one compared to 3D-CRT plan. The MUs were 386, 973, 709 and the delivery times were 10 min, 14min and 1.6 min respectively in 3D-CRT, IMRT and V-MAT. V-MAT could significantly reduce the delivery time.

CONCLUSIONS

V-MAT plan showed the best conformity and homogeneity in target. IMRT showed the lowest value in the max doses to lenses though the delivery time was longest. Overall, V-MAT showed a similar or better dose distribution, and most importantly, improved treatment delivery efficiency. With the results, V-MAT technology could be expected to choroidal metastases.

Nanovector delivery of siRNA for cancer therapy

RNA interference holds the promise to knock down expression of every cancer gene. Both academic laboratories and pharmaceutical companies have committed heavily on manpower and financial resources to develop small interfering RNA (siRNA) cancer therapeutics over the last decade. Although significant advances have been made in the design of siRNA therapeutics and mechanism of action on cancer cell killing, there are still many hurdles to overcome including effective delivery of therapeutics in vivo. Nanotechnology has had an important role in the development of delivery vectors so far. This article summarizes current nanovectors for siRNA delivery, discusses technical challenges in overcoming biological barriers, and introduces the multistage vector system for tumor-specific delivery.

Two splice variants of the bovine lactoferrin gene identified in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from mastitis in dairy cattle

Bovine lactoferrin (bLF) is a member of the transferrin family; it plays an important role in the innate immune response. We identified novel splice variants of the bLF gene in mastitis-infected and healthy cows. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and clone sequencing analysis were used to screen the splice variants of the bLF gene in the mammary gland, spleen and liver tissues. One main transcript corresponding to the bLF reference sequence was found in three tissues in both healthy and mastitis-infected cows. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of the LF gene's main transcript were not significantly different in tissues from healthy versus mastitis-infected cows. However, the new splice variant, LF-AS2, which has the exon-skipping alternative splicing pattern, was only identified in mammary glands infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Sequencing analysis showed that the new splice variant was 251 bp in length, including exon 1, part of exon 2, part of exon 16, and exon 17. We conclude that bLF may play a role in resistance to mastitis through alternative splicing mechanisms.