1,725 research outputs found
Sensitivity Enhancement of a Miniaturized Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Using Combination of Self-Assembled Mono layer and Protein G
No full textThe detection capabilities of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor chips modified with protein G, a self-assembled monolayer (SAM), and a combination of protein G and a SAM were investigated and compared using a miniaturized SPR sensor system. The miniaturized SPR system had two flow channels, with one used as a reference. To immobilize the antibodies on the SPR sensor chip for the detection of C-reactive protein (CRP), different linker molecules were formed on the gold SPR sensor chip at the beginning of the experiment. The CRP has been reported as a biomarker of future cardiovascular events. The antibody of CRP and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were then sequentially injected. The responses to CRP at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 μg/ml were observed and the sensitivities of each system compared. The SPR sensor chips modified with the protein G on the SAM layer exhibited the highest sensitivity and a stable linearity. The results demonstrated the feasibility of using the proposed SPR immunosensors for detecting CRP for early diagnosis without any additional chemical treatments. Copyright © 2012 American Scientific Publishers.
Spectral element formulation for dynamic analysis of a coupled piezoelectric wafer and beam system
No full textA spectral element model is developed to represent the dynamic response of a coupled piezoelectric wafer and beam system (CPBS) in which either a single or collocated piezoelectric wafers are bonded to a base beam. The Mindlin-Herrmann rod theory and the Timoshenko beam theory are employed to represent the displacement field of the base beam. The Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and linear piezoelectricity are used to model the electro-mechanical behavior of the piezoelectric wafer. Detailed spectral element formulation for the CPBS is presented. The validity of the proposed spectral element is demonstrated through numerical examples in time and frequency domains, respectively. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This research is supported by the Radiation Technology Program
under National Research Foundation in Korea (NRF) and the
Ministry of Science and Technology (M20703000015-07N0300-
01510), and the Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the
Korean Government (MOEHRD) (KRF-2008-331-D00590), in which
main calculations were performed by using the supercomputing
resource of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information
(KISTI). The authors would like to appreciate the valuable advices
of Prof. Usik Lee in Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Inha University at the earlier stage of the current research work
Identification of Sorting Motifs of At beta Fruct4 for Trafficking from the ER to the Vacuole Through the Golgi and PVC
No full textAlthough much is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in transporting soluble proteins to the central vacuole, the mechanisms governing the trafficking of membrane proteins remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the mechanism involved in targeting the membrane protein, At beta Fructosidase 4 (At beta Fruct4), to the central vacuole in protoplasts. At beta Fruct4 as a green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein was transported as a membrane protein during transit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through the Golgi apparatus and the prevacuolar compartment (PVC). The N-terminal cytosolic domain of At beta Fruct4 was sufficient for transport from the ER to the central vacuole and contained sequence motifs required for trafficking. The sequence motifs, LL and PI, were found to be critical for ER exit, while the EEE and LCPYTRL sequence motifs played roles in trafficking primarily from the trans Golgi network (TGN) to the PVC and from the PVC to the central vacuole, respectively. In addition, actin filaments and AtRabF2a, a Rab GTPase, played critical roles in vacuolar trafficking at the TGN and PVC, respectively. On the basis of these results, we propose that the vacuolar trafficking of At beta Fruct4 depends on multiple sequence motifs located at the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain that function as exit and/or sorting signals in different stages during the trafficking process.X111213sciescopu
Comparison of several author indices for gauging academic productivity
No full textBackground
Many author indices exist to gauge academic productivity. Several of these indices are calculated based upon an author's scholarly publication record, but the measurement methodology to calculate each index varies considerably, and the precise function being used, as well as the end result, is often complex and difficult to assess.
Method
Two straightforward methods to weigh author productivity from the publication and citation record were evaluated as possible means for providing a clearer assessment of scholarly activity. The author characteristic index (termed c-index) assigns author rank for each publication based upon author position. The characteristic prime (c') -index normalizes author rank from author position, so that the total weight per publication is unity. The top 10 scholars with keyword 'celiac disease' in the Google Scholar database were then assessed using these metrics. Rankings according to total number of publications, h-index, and c- and c'-indices were compared, then tabulated along with total papers included for assessment, and mean values per paper for author position, number of authors, citations, and year of publication.
Results
The order of the top ten authors with keyword 'celiac disease' varied substantially depending upon whether the h-index, c-index, or c'-index was used as a gauge. The characteristic indices assign credit to authors according to their position in an author list. The affiliated metrics provided a more complete picture of scholarly activity.
Conclusions
Academic achievement by scholars, based upon quantitative publication characteristics, has recently become of interest for evaluating job candidates, for determining work performance, and for bestowing awards and honors. The characteristic indices as described herein are readily calculated and interpreted, and may improve the assessment of scholarly activity
Organic Scintillator-Fibre Sensors for Proton Therapy Dosimetry: SCSF-3HF and EJ-260
No full textIn proton therapy, the dose from secondary neutrons to the patient can contribute to side effects and the creation of secondary cancer. A simple and fast detection system to distinguish between dose from protons and neutrons both in pretreatment verification as well as potentially in vivo monitoring is needed to minimize dose from secondary neutrons. Two 3 mm long, 1 mm diameter organic scintillators were tested for candidacy to be used in a proton–neutron discrimination detector. The SCSF-3HF (1500) scintillating fibre (Kuraray Co. Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan) and EJ-260 plastic scintillator (Eljen Technology, Sweetwater, TX, USA) were irradiated at the TRIUMF Neutron Facility and the Proton Therapy Research Centre. In the proton beam, we compared the raw Bragg peak and spread-out Bragg peak response to the industry standard Markus chamber detector. Both scintillator sensors exhibited quenching at high LET in the Bragg peak, presenting a peak-to-entrance ratio of 2.59 for the EJ-260 and 2.63 for the SCSF-3HF fibre, compared to 3.70 for the Markus chamber. The SCSF-3HF sensor demonstrated 1.3 times the sensitivity to protons and 3 times the sensitivity to neutrons as compared to the EJ-260 sensor. Combined with our equations relating neutron and proton contributions to dose during proton irradiations, and the application of Birks’ quenching correction, these fibres provide valid candidates for inexpensive and replicable proton-neutron discrimination detectors
U.S. Federal panel on agency, inter-agency, and international EJ initiatives
No full textPresented at the Environmental justice in the Anthropocene symposium held on April 24-25, 2017 at the Lory Student Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins Colorado. This symposium aims to bring together academics (faculty and graduate students), independent researchers, community and movement activists, and regulatory and policy practitioners from across disciplines, research areas, perspectives, and different countries. Our overarching goal is to build on several decades of EJ research and practice to address the seemingly intractable environmental and ecological problems of this unfolding era. How can we explore EJ amongst humans and between nature and humans, within and across generations, in an age when humans dominate the landscape? How can we better understand collective human dominance without obscuring continuing power differentials and inequities within and between human societies? What institutional and governance innovations can we adopt to address existing challenges and to promote just transitions and futures?Includes bibliographical references.Chair: Margaret HerzogA brief overview of Federal-wide Environmental Justice Policy and BIA Tribal focu
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Oriental enlightenment: the problematic military experiences and cultural claims of Count Maurice Auguste comte de Benyowsky in Formosa during 1771
No full textMaurice Benyowsky's colourful version of his global adventures during the heady, expansive days of the late-Enlightenment remains still as an historical account, and is perhaps destined for reification at a time of romantic, postmodernist cultural affirmation. Yet this paper argues that within it there lies a virile and possibly dangerous Orientalism, one at least partially based upon a lurid, opportunistic and self-seeking fabrication of his visit to Taiwan (Formosa) in the year 1771. This paper examines the veracity, provenance and historiography of the Benyowsky account of late-eighteenth century Formosa, both as an exercise in one facet of Taiwanese history and as some exploration of the origin and maintenance of European views of the "other" and of the "orient" as they were transforming during the late-Enlightenment period. Furthermore a principal task is to provide an historiographical analysis that illustrates both the initial reasons for the acceptance of Benyowsky's lurid account as well as the wider contexts of its long life as a seemingly reliable and authentic tale. Questions remain as to the cultural contexts of any general acceptance of otherwise doubtful stories, experiments, claims and "adventures". Here there is little doubt that the original Memoirs were given greater credence by Benyowsky's talent in self-fashioning his character and status as those of a reliable gentleman
Course grades and standardized tests as predictors of successful completion of the associate degree nursing program at Lakeshore Technical College
No full textPlan BDue to the increasingly severe shortage of registered nurses, Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) is now more aware of, and more determined to deal with the issues of student recruitment and retention. Successful completion of the Associate Degree Nursing Program (A.D.N.) at Lakeshore Technical College depends on many factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic to the program. Variables that affect the learner such as family concerns, health, or program related issues might lead to problems in school related areas such as retention. Student records of 174 LTC associate degree nursing students, enrolling in the program in and after January of 1997, who graduated, failed, or withdrew from the program by May 2000, will be analyzed. Grades received in specific required general education courses, pre-nursing required science courses, and scores received on the American College Test (ACT) or Assessment of Student Skills for Entry Test (ASSET) will be studied. This data will be examined to determine if a pattern exists between grades, standardized testing scores, and retention in the LTC associate degree-nursing (A.D.N.) program. Analysis of the data obtained in this research may identify factors that could alert faculty members to academic problems and potential failure of the student. It would also allow for early intervention to aid the student through the use of guidance, faculty or peer assistance, and promote successful completion of the program
Estudios de cronología relativa: el tercer alargamiento compensatorio y la monoptongación de /ej/, /ow/
No full textInternational audienceThis paper deals with the problematic quality of the secondary long-mid vowels as a result of the third compensatory lengthening in Bartonks Doris media and Cyrenaean. The author first examines the data of these dialects in order to stablish the relative chronology between this process and the monophthongization of /ej/, /ow/; secondly, he proposes a new tripartite classification of the greek dialects as far as these two variables are concerned
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