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Being planar and having many applications of microstrip patch antennas, nowadays these also have applications in biomedical field (for detection of cancer). As EM radiations are hazardous so direct experiments on human body and EM radiation are impossible. So this paper is focused on a breast model to detect the presence of tumor inside it along with antenna structure as a radiation source. HFSS simulation software is used for designing and simulation part. Antenna is resonating at 2.46 GHz in frequency range 2.41-2.5 GHz of ISM band suitable for medical purpose. Two models, one of which has microstrip patch antennas along with breast model without tumor and the other with tumor, are designed and simulated, and their radiation properties are compared. For cancer detection near E-field results are important, so near Efield plots for both models are shown in this paper. The differences in these results of two models can be used to diagnose tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influencing customers' perception of service quality through service interaction is becoming imperative for organizations to sustain competitive advantage. As a result, the critical challenge before many organizations is to retain employees in service occupations and promote their well-being. This study examined the relationship of organizational identification and emotional dissonance with turnover intention and well-being among a sample of 468 medical representatives in the Indian pharmaceutical industry. Drawing from the conservation of resource theory, this study shows that apart from its direct effect, emotional dissonance has a mediating effect on the relationship of organizational identification with turnover intention and emotional well-being. Contributions of this study to the theory and practice of human resource management (HRM) are discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Begomoviruses have increased pathogenicity because of their adaptation to a wide host range; consequently, these viruses cause a major loss to agroeconomic crops worldwide. In this study, we designed a gene construct representing an antisense coat protein gene. We also analyzed the efficacy of the induced resistance against Croton yellow vein mosaic virus (CrYVMV) affecting papaya in Nicotiana tabacum plants. Positive control plants developed typical leaf curl symptoms, whereas transgenic plants were symptomless. Moreover, the key component (i.e., short interfering RNA) of the antisense pathway was upregulated in transgenic plants. This finding demonstrates the activation of the gene silencing mechanism in transgenic plants. Thus, these results confirm that our construct is functional and effectively induces transient resistance against CrYVMV infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screening of gene manipulation events (transgenic, mutation/genome editing, etc.) is a cost/labor-intensive and time-consuming process in plant science research. While polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most commonly used method for screening, the process still requires efficient DNA extraction and subsequent confirmation. However, PCR cannot predict gene expression. To screen a larger number of transgenic plants, it would be ideal to develop a quick and reliable screening procedure. We have applied a Liberty®leaf-painting method (againstbargene under 4x35S promoter) to screen transgenic maize (Zea maysL.) plants and validated the results through PCR and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Liberty leaf painting at 500 mg L−1a.i. was > 95% accurate in identifying transgenic events that agreed with the PCR results. Further investigation of bar gene expression in sensitive lines that were PCR positive shows very low expression of the bar gene. We have provided a simple, and rapid assay to determine the transgene expression potential of maize plants expressing the bar gene. The herbicide can be applied to a fully expanded leaf and evaluated one week after application. Green or partially green leaf blades indicate high or moderately high expression of the bar gene and a total yellowing indicates absence or extremely low expression of the bar gene in the transgenic plants. A small volume of Liberty solution is adequate to test hundreds of maize plants, and the assay is reproducible with a high frequency (> 95%) and also displays good correlation with gene expressionin planta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.Objective: We report the effects of total energy intake on the IGF system in two populations with markedly different dietary macronutrient intake and cardiovascular event rate.Design, Subjects and Setting: Dietary macronutrient intake was measured in a specific Gujarati migrant community in Sandwell, UK (n=205) compared with people still resident in the same villages of origin in India (n=246). Fasting IGF-I, IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-1 and IGFBP-3, insulin and glucose (0 and 2-hour) were measured.Results: Total energy and total fat intake were higher in UK migrants, as were IGFBP-3 and IGF-I (mean (95% confidence interval): 145.9 (138.1-153.6) vs. 100.9 (94.6-107.3) ng ml(-1); F=76.6, P<0.001). IGFBP-1 was lower in UK migrants (29.5 (25.9-33.0) vs. 56.5 (50.6-62.5) microg l(-1); F=48.4, P<0.001). At both sites, IGF-I correlated positively with total energy (Spearman's rho=0.45, P<0.001) and total fat (rho=0.44, P<0.001) as did IGFBP-3 with total energy (rho=0.21, P<0.05) and fat (rho=0.26, P<0.001). Conversely, in Indian Gujaratis, IGFBP-1 fell with increasing total energy (rho=-0.27, P<0.001) and fat intake (rho=-0.26, P<0.01) but not in UK Gujaratis. Multiple linear regression modelling showed that increasing quartiles of fat intake were associated with higher IGF-I (beta=0.42, P=0.007) independent of age, body mass index, plasma insulin, fatty acids and 2-hour glucose.Conclusion: In these genetically similar groups, migration to the UK and adoption of a different diet is associated with marked changes in the IGF system, suggesting that environmental factors profoundly modulate serum concentrations and actions of IGFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dielectric properties of cobalt ferrite, prepared by sol-gel auto combustion technique, were studied from low frequencies to microwave frequencies. The single phase cubic spinel structure has been confirmed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The dielectric properties of the sample were studied in the low frequency range from 100 Hz to 120 MHz as well as in the high frequency range from 3.95 GHz to 5.85 GHz at room temperature. The dielectric dispersion observed at lower frequency region is due to Maxwell-Wagner two layer model, which is in agreement with Koops phenomenological theory. There is a strong co-relation between the conduction mechanism and the dielectric behaviour of ferrites. The dielectric constant remains almost constant at microwave frequencies due to the fact that it is contributed by atomic and electronic polarization. The dielectric loss tangent shows two dielectric loss peaks at about 4.332 GHz and 4.525 GHz frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxins are toxic secondary metabolites predominantly produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxin-contaminated corn is toxic to domestic animals when ingested in feed and is a known carcinogen associated with liver and lung cancer in humans. Consequently, aflatoxin levels in food and feed are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which allows 20 ppb (parts per billion) limits in food and 100 ppb in feed for interstate commerce. Currently, aflatoxin detection and quantification methods are based on analytical tests, including thin-layer chromatography (TCL) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These analytical tests require the destruction of samples and are costly and time consuming. Thus, the ability to detect aflatoxin in a rapid, nondestructive way is crucial to the grain industry, particularly the corn industry. Hyperspectral imaging technology offers a non-invasive approach to screening for food safety inspection and quality control based on spectral signatures. The focus of this study was to classify aflatoxin-contaminated single corn kernels using fluorescence hyperspectral imagery. Fieldinoculated corn kernels were used in the study. Contaminated and control kernels under long-wavelength ultraviolet excitation were imaged using a visible near-infrared (VNIR) hyperspectral camera. The imaged kernels were chemically analyzed to provide reference information for image analysis. This article describes a procedure for processing corn kernels located in different images for statistical training and classification. Two classification algorithms (maximum likelihood and binary encoding) were used to classify each corn kernel as "control" or "contaminated" through pixel classification. The binary encoding approach had a slightly better performance, with accuracy equal to 87% or 88% when 20 ppb or 100 ppb, respectively, was used as the classification threshold. In addition, three narrow-band fluorescence indices were developed and tested in this study. It was found that the highest correlation was -0.81 with the normalized difference fluorescence index (NDFI). The two bands used for the NDFI were 437 and 537 nm. The use of key wavelengths for contamination detection would be helpful for developing rapid and non-invasive inspection systems. This study demonstrated the potential of using fluorescence hyperspectral imagery for aflatoxin contamination detection in corn kernels infected with A. flavus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue light (470 nm) LED antimicrobial properties were studied alone against bacteria and with or without the food grade photosensitizer, erythrosine (ERY) against filamentous fungi. Leuconostoc mesenteroides (LM), Bacillus atrophaeus (BA) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) aliquots were exposed on nutrient agar plates to Array 1 (AR1, 0·2 mW cm-2) or Array 2 (AR2, 80 mW cm-2), which emitted impure or pure blue light (0-300 J cm-2), respectively. Inoculated control (room light only) plates were incubated (48 h) and colonies enumerated. The antifungal properties of blue light combined with ERY (11·4and 22·8 µmol l-1) on Penicillium digitatum (PD) and Fusarium graminearum (FG) conidia were determined. Conidial controls consisted of: no light, room light-treated conidia and ERY plus room light. Light-treated (ERY + blue light) conidial samples were exposed only to AR2 (0-100 J cm-2), aliquots spread on potato dextrose agar plates, incubated (48 h, 30°C) and colonies counted. Blue light alone significantly reduced bacterial and FG viability. Combined with ERY, it significantly reduced PD viability. Blue light is lethal to bacteria and filamentous fungi although effectiveness is dependent on light purity, energy levels and microbial genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiation performance of broadband circularly polarized gap-coupled arrangement of rectangular patches is reported in this article. This arrangement of patches is designed on glass epoxy FR-4 substrate. The considered structure consists of three rectangular patches having separation 'd' between them. The central designed patch is excited through a single inset feed point while the other two patches are gap coupled to the central patch. After extensive optimizations, it is realized that the considered structure resonates at two closely spaced frequencies lying in the median band for the WiMax communication systems approved by IEEE 802.16 Working Group and presents nearly 12% impedance bandwidth. Additionally, the radiations are circularly polarized in nature, though the axial ratio bandwidth is narrow. The radiation patterns in the entire bandwidth are identical in nature. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:2935-2939, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26398 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trans-2-hexenal, a volatile aldehyde, is produced by soybean ( Glycine max [L.] Merr) and other plants via the lipoxygenase pathway. In vitro tests showed it significantly ( P < 0.001) reduced Aspergillus flavus germinating conidial viability at 10 μM, with approximately 95% viability reduction observed at 20 μM. The viability of nongerminated conidia was not reduced. To test the effectiveness of this volatile to prevent fungal growth in stored corn, trans-2-hexenal was pumped intermittently into glass jars containing corn. Experiments were performed to determine the ability of 2 different pump cycle time-courses to prevent A. flavus growth on sterile corn (23% moisture). Intermittently (30-min pumping period) over 7 d, this volatile was pumped through 350 g of corn kernels inoculated with 1 mL of 3 × 104 conidia of A. flavus. Controls consisted of (1) sterile corn, (2) corn inoculated with A. flavus with no pumped air, and (3) corn inoculated with A. flavus with intermittently pumped air. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), viability counts, and aldehyde concentration in the headspace were performed in each experiment. To determine whether an increased time period between volatile pumping would prevent A. flavus growth, a 2nd series of experiments were performed that were similar to the 1st series except that trans-2-hexenal (only) was pumped for a 30-min period every 12 h. Experiments were performed 3 times for each time course. Both experiments showed that intermittent pumping of volatile trans-2-hexenal significantly ( P < 0.001) prevented A. flavus growth and aflatoxin B1 production over a 7-d period. Practical Application: Results from this study indicate that intermittent pumping of volatile trans-2-hexenal could be used to protect stored corn from A. flavus growth and aflatoxin contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel dual-frequency broadband design of a single-layer single-feed circular microstrip antenna with an off-centered Y-slot is demonstrated in this communication. By selecting a suitable location of the Y-slot in the circle, the proposed antenna on glass epoxy FR-4 substrate not only resonates efficiently at two closely spaced frequencies (2.736 and 2.868 GHz) but also offers improved bandwidth (210 MHz or 7.5%) in comparison with a conventional circular microstrip patch antenna (∼2%). From the measured results, almost identical broadside radiation patterns are obtained at two resonant frequencies, and the variation of less than 1 dBi in gain values is achieved in the frequency range where broadband behavior is observed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and performance of a stacked arrangement of edge truncated elliptical patch and conventional circular patch antennas is proposed in this communication which is capable in providing improved impedance bandwidth with circularly polarized radiations. Both patches are designed on two independent glass epoxy FR-4 substrates separated by thin air gap. The two patches are placed one over other in such a way that their centers also lie one over other. The size of upper circular patch is marginally larger than lower edge truncated elliptical patch which is acting as driver patch. Proposed arrangement of patches yield measured impedance bandwidth as high as 0.94 GHz with measured axial ratio bandwidth close to 3.33%. The measured gain and axial ratio results of proposed arrangement on patches are compared with simulated results. Co and cross polar patterns suggest that radiations are right circularly polarized in nature. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:947-952, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25846 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiation performance of a compact gap-coupled assembly of patches forming the geometry of elliptical patch antenna is simulated and tested using glass epoxy FR4 substrate material. This assembly is achieved by cutting a conventional elliptical patch antenna geometry into three independent patches through two narrow slits parallel to minor axis of elliptical patch. The two outer patches are identical in shape and size, and the central patch is excited through inset probe feed. Two outer patches are gap coupled to the center patch. This arrangement of antenna elements resonate at three frequencies 3.41, 3.62, and 5.54 GHz, respectively. The first two frequencies are closely spaced and gives an improved bandwidth (>10%). The radiation patterns of antenna at all three frequencies are almost identical in shape and nature. Details of the antenna design approach and experimental results are presented and discussed systematically. Measurements are in excellent agreement with simulation results which make the proposed structure promising for Wi-Max applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:340-344, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25693 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaves of sunn hemp ( Crotalaria juncea) showing geminiviral symptoms were collected from Lucknow, India during rainy season in 2008. DNA template isolated from the symptomatic leaf tissues were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers to amplify coat protein (CP) gene of DNA-A as well as betasatellite DNA associated with the leaf curl disease. CP gene showed 97% sequence identity with that of Cotton leaf curl Burewala virus (CLCuBwV). Further, the betasatellite DNA molecule revealed sequence similarity with previously characterized betasatellite DNA of begomoviruses affecting malvaceous crops from different regions of India and Pakistan. Maximum similarity (>90%) of betasatellite DNA under study was observed with Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMB-[Pak: Mul17:08) and other betasatellite DNA from Pakistan thus confirming possible infection of C. juncea with begomovirus. A complementary sense open reading frame (ORF) βC1 is present at nucleotide position 194-550. Sequence comparison of this ORF with other members of begomoviruses further confirmed association of a begomovirus with C. juncea. The betasatellite DNA when expressed under the control of CaMV35S promoter Nicotiana tabacum, showed leaf deformities. Our results demonstrated that a malvaceous betasatellite is adapted by a nonmalvaceous host and causes similar disease symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiation performance of a right triangular microstrip antenna (RTMA) having two parallel narrow slits is simulated using IE 3D software, and later this antenna is designed on glass epoxy FR-4 substrate with an air gap and tested in free space. The slit length, width, and thickness of air gap are optimized to attain best performance from the modified RTMA structure. The designed antenna with an air gap of 1.0 mm resonates at two different frequencies and presents 29% bandwidth. The antenna matches well with the feed line for both the resonance frequencies. The simulated E- and H-plane radiation patterns are presented at four frequencies with in the range of frequencies where broadband response is obtained. These four patterns are almost identical in shape and their direction of maximum radiation intensity is normal to the patch geometry. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 1082–1087, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.25113 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between fluorescence emissions of corn kernels inoculated with Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination levels within the kernels. Aflatoxin contamination in corn has been a long-standing problem plaguing the grain industry with potentially devastating consequences to corn growers. In this study, aflatoxin-contaminated corn kernels were produced through artificial inoculation of corn ears in the field with toxigenic A. flavus spores. The kernel fluorescence emission data were taken with a fluorescence hyperspectral imaging system when corn kernels were excited with ultraviolet light. Raw fluorescence image data were preprocessed and regions of interest in each image were created for all kernels. The regions of interest were used to extract spectral signatures and statistical information. The aflatoxin contamination level of single corn kernels was then chemically measured using affinity column chromatography. A fluorescence peak shift phenomenon was noted among different groups of kernels with different aflatoxin contamination levels. The fluorescence peak shift was found to move more toward the longer wavelength in the blue region for the highly contaminated kernels and toward the shorter wavelengths for the clean kernels. Highly contaminated kernels were also found to have a lower fluorescence peak magnitude compared with the less contaminated kernels. It was also noted that a general negative correlation exists between measured aflatoxin and the fluorescence image bands in the blue and green regions. The correlation coefficients of determination, r2, was 0.72 for the multiple linear regression model. The multivariate analysis of variance found that the fluorescence means of four aflatoxin groups, <1, 1–20, 20–100, and ≥100 ng g−1 (parts per billion), were significantly different from each other at the 0.01 level of alpha. Classification accuracy under a two-class schema ranged from 0.84 to 0.91 when a threshold of either 20 or 100 ng g−1 was used. Overall, the results indicate that fluorescence hyperspectral imaging may be applicable in estimating aflatoxin content in individual corn kernels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]