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Ceramics such as ZrB 2 and HfB 2 are potential candidates for ultra-high-temperature applications. Their electrical conductivity values are comparable to those of metals. Such unusual electrical properties arise from the presence of metallic bonds in their crystal structure. We argue that the metallicity in chemical bonding is also reflected in their room-temperature mechanical deformation, which was investigated through indentation-induced slip bands and the resulting dislocation activity. These observations were rationalized on the basis of metallic character of their dislocation core structure.

Inelastic deformation features induced in an ultra-high temperature ceramic composite, ZrB 2 –SiC, due to static indentation (rate of deformation of the order of 10 −5 s −1 ), dynamic indentation (rate of deformation of the order of 10 3 s −1 ), and high-velocity scratch (500 mm/s) experiments are presented. It was found that this ceramic composite has up to 30% higher dynamic hardness compared to static hardness. Dynamic indentations resulted in extensive transgranular microcracking within the indented regions compared to static indentations. In addition, significant plastic deformation features in terms of slip-line formation were observed within statically and dynamically indented regions. The high-velocity scratch studies revealed extensive transgranular microcracking perpendicular to the scratch direction and slip-lines in and around the scratch path. Preliminary transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations from regions of slip-lines surrounding the scratch grooves revealed dislocation activity in the composite.

This article empirically investigates organisations' strategic decision to hire non-standard employees. Using US firm-level data and a matched pair design, the study shows that firms operating in a more competitive environment and a less uncertain environment have a higher proportion of non-standard workers. Further, firms with a greater proportion of non-standard workers show higher financial growth. And finally, in a highly competitive environment, those firms that hire more non-standard workers achieve significantly higher financial growth. Similar growth is experienced by those firms in the low uncertainty environment hiring more non-standard workers. These results are all consistent with the research hypotheses.

Future sustainable production of biofuels will depend upon the ability to use complex substrates present in biomass if the use of simple sugars derived from food crops is to be avoided. Therefore, organisms capable of using a variety of fermentable carbon sources must be found or developed for processes that could produce hydrogen via fermentation. Here we have examined the ability of a metabolically engineered strain of Escherichia coli, DJT135, to produce hydrogen from glucose as well as various other carbon sources, including pentoses. The effects of pH, temperature and carbon source were investigated in batch experiments. Maximal hydrogen production from glucose was obtained at an initial pH of 6.5 and temperature of 35 °C. Kinetic growth studies showed that the μmax was 0.0495 h−1 with a Ks of 0.0274 g L−1 when glucose was the sole carbon source in M9 (1X) minimal medium. Among the many sugar and sugar derivatives tested, hydrogen yields were highest with fructose, sorbitol and d -glucose; 1.27, 1.46 and 1.51 mol H2 mol−1 substrate respectively.

Generation of self-similar parabolic pulse is analytically and numerically demonstrated by designing parabolic index normal dispersion decreasing fiber (NDDF) amplifiers. The pulse transmission is extensively studied for NDDFs in presence of physical gain as well as virtual gain induced by two different dispersion profiles corresponding to two different physical gain coefficients. Here, we introduce the virtual gain arising from the unavoidable spatial nonlinear variation, which helps to obtain the self-similar parabolic pulses at smaller optimum length in comparison to NDDF with constant nonlinearity. The output power profiles resemble with a perfect parabolic shape giving rise to self-similar pulses with very small misfit parameters. Pulse propagation in presence of spatial gain variation is also studied. To avoid fabrication difficulties, we propose equivalent staircase dispersion profiles consisting of a number of constant dispersion fibers (CDFs), which are simple to manufacture and show performances excellently close to that of the proposed NDDF.

Study was focused to effectively suppress the agglutinability of human A and B type erythrocyte by concerted chemical oxidation approach. Consequently some major bio-physiological consequences of human erythrocytes were analyzed.Concerted chemical oxidation of human A and B type erythrocyte were done by potassium permanganate (KMnO(4)) in presence of ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA). All the chemical reactions were carried out at 37°C temperature and pH 7.4 in phosphate buffer. Finally, suppression of agglutinability were determined by using anti-A and anti-B antisera.A marked suppression in agglutinability was observed after chemical treatment on human A and B type erythrocytes in vitro. Effective suppression of agglutinability was observed in 0.57 mM concentration of KMnO(4) in presence of 0.9 mM EDTA at optimum condition.Results showed that KMnO(4)-EDTA concerted action is feasible. The future work is directed towards the universal human erythrocytes preparation from A and B type human erythrocytes.

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) is an endogenous anti-inflammatory peptide reported to possess antimicrobial properties, however their role as antibacterial peptides is yet to be established. In the present study, we examined in vitro antibacterial activity of alpha-MSH against S. aureus strain ISP479C and several methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) S. aureus strains. Antibacterial activity was examined by varying several parameters, viz., bacterial cell densities, growth phase, pH, salt concentration, and temperature. Antibacterial activity was also examined in complex biomatrices of rat whole blood, plasma and serum as well as in biofilm form of bacteria. Our results showed that alpha-MSH possessed significant and rapid antibacterial activity against all the studied strains including MRSA (84% strains were killed on exposure to 12 microM of alpha-MSH for 2h). pH change from 7.4 to 4 increased alpha-MSH staphylocidal activity against ISP479C by 21%. Antibacterial activity of alpha-MSH was dependent on bacterial cell density and independent of growth phase. Moreover, antimicrobial activity was retained when alpha-MSH was placed into whole blood, plasma, and serum. Most importantly, alpha-MSH exhibited antibacterial activity against staphylococcal biofilms. Multiple membrane permeabilization assays suggested that membrane damage was, at least in part, a major mechanism of staphylocidal activity of alpha-MSH. Collectively the above findings suggest that alpha-MSH could be a promising candidate of a novel class of antimicrobial agents.

A computational method for arbitrary crack motion through a finite element mesh, termed as the generalized cohesive element technique, is presented. In this method, an element with an internal discontinuity is replaced by two superimposed elements with a combination of original and imaginary nodes. Conventional cohesive zone modeling, limited to crack propagation along the edges of the elements, is extended to incorporate the intra-element mixed-mode crack propagation. Proposed numerical technique has been shown to be quite accurate, robust and mesh insensitive provided the cohesive zone ahead of the crack tip is resolved adequately. A series of numerical examples is presented to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the proposed method.

Dramatically rising oil prices and increasing awareness of the dire environmental consequences of fossil fuel use, including startling effects of climate change, are refocusing attention worldwide on the search for alternative fuels. Hydrogen is poised to become an important future energy carrier. Renewable hydrogen production is pivotal in making it a truly sustainable replacement for fossil fuels, and for realizing its full potential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One attractive option is to produce hydrogen through microbial fermentation. This process would use readily available wastes as well as presently unutilized bioresources, including enormous supplies of agricultural and forestry wastes. These potential energy sources are currently not well exploited, and in addition, pose environmental problems. However, fuels are relatively low value products, placing severe constraints on any production process. Therefore, means must be sought to maximize yields and rates of hydrogen production while at the same time minimizing energy and capital inputs to the bioprocess. Here we review the various attributes of the characterized hydrogen producing bacteria as well as the preparation and properties of mixed microflora that have been shown to convert various substrates to hydrogen. Factors affecting yields and rates are highlighted and some avenues for increasing these parameters are explored. On the engineering side, we review the potential waste pre-treatment technologies and discuss the relevant bioprocess parameters, possible reactor configurations, including emerging technologies, and how engineering design-directed research might provide insight into the exploitation of the significant energy potential of biomass resources.

Although an organization’s environmental uncertainty may induce greater variability in reported earnings, managers have incentives to reduce this variability. The flexibility accorded by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) provides managers the means to accomplish this via exercising discretion in recognizing accounting accruals. Thus, we examine the relation between managers’ use of discretionary accruals and environmental uncertainty. Overall, evidence suggests managers use discretionary accruals to reduce the variability in reported earnings more when firms operate in high uncertainty.

An analytical framework for determination of scratch-induced residual stress within SiC grains of ZrB2–SiC composite is developed. Using a ‘‘secular equation” that relates strain to Raman-peak shift for zinc-blende structures and the concept of sliding blister field model for scratch-induced residual stress, explicit expressions are derived for residual stress calculation in terms of phonon deformation potentials and Raman peak shift. It is determined that, in the as-processed composite, thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between ZrB2 and SiC induces compressive residual stress of 1.731 GPa within the SiC grains and a tensile tangential stress of 1.126 GPa at the ZrB2– SiC interfaces. With increasing scratch loads, the residual stress within the SiC grains becomes tensile and increases in magnitude with scratch load. At a scratch load of 250 mN, the calculated residual stress in SiC was 2.6 GPa. Despite this high value, no fracture was observed in SiC grains, which has been rationalized based on fracture strength calculations from Griffith theory.

A ZrB2–5 wt.%SiC composite, consolidated using the plasma pressure compaction technique, was subjected to scratch loads in the range of 50–250 mN using a Berkovich nanoindenter. Microstructural analysis revealed that the scratch grooves consisted of numerous slip bands oriented at random angles to the scratch direction and microcracks oriented perpendicular to the scratch direction. The observed features were rationalized using an elastic stress field due to the combined Boussinesq- and Cerruti-field solutions. The analysis revealed that maximum shear stress occurs ahead of the scratch tool whereas the maximum principal tensile stress occurs in the wake of the scratch tool. Accordingly, it was argued that the slip bands occurred first in the region ahead of the scratch tool due to maximum shear stress while the microcracks developed later due to maximum tensile stress in the wake of the scratch tool. This result was further confirmed by the existence of slip bands ahead of the scratch tip at the exit end of the scratch grooves.

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a prominent marker for the prostate carcinoma. It is found in human blood in free (f-PSA) and complex forms. These two forms together are called total PSA (t-PSA). Estimation of both forms is essential to predict malignancy. In this study we report a unique and effective technique of electrochemical detection of f-PSA using magnetic beads on a three-electrode screen-printed sensor. A magnetic bead enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed in a cuvette. Following the immunoassay, magnetic beads were recovered by a magnetic concentrator and transferred on the working electrode of the 3-electrode assembly. The amperometric response, a measure of the amount of residual enzyme activity on the beads and hence the concentration of analyte in solution, was determined by addition of enzyme substrate. The device has a detection limit of less than0.1 ng mL(-1) f-PSA and a linear range of 0 to 1 ng mL(-1) f-PSA.

We report the spectral analysis of current-noise data obtained under voltage clamp condition in bilayer lipid membrane, using Lomb Scargle Periodogram. Such spectral analysis shows evidence of crossover from an uncorrelated phenomenon towards a state of long range correlation in time and space with the increase of applied bias. Based on these observations a probable mechanism of transmembrane charge conduction has been outlined in the light of self-organized criticality.

A parabolic index dispersion decreasing fiber (DDF) has been designed and optimized to produce high capacity soliton communication system. Variation of different fiber parameters such as core radius, effective core area and GVD factor along the 25 km of DDF length has been carried out to optimize a best possible DDF which can sustain the propagation of fundamental soliton. The variation of non-linearity with length along with the conventional power and GVD factor variation has been included in the generalized non-linear Schrodinger equation (NLSE). This NLSE has been solved numerically by split step Fourier method for shorter pulse propagation, incorporating the term for third order dispersion and intrapulse Raman scattering. Stable soliton pulses in transmission system have been achieved by our simulation, when a correction factor due to Raman induced soliton mean frequency shift is incorporated to the GVD profile predicted by the fundamental soliton condition. The interaction of neighboring soliton pulse pair through the proposed fiber has also been studied.

Non-zero dispersion shifted fibers (NZ-DSFs) find extensive use in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) system as it reduces the non-linear effects like four-wave mixing (FWM) generation. A depressed clad graded index fiber with a central dip in the refractive index profile, as well as without dip, has been modeled to perform as an NZ-DSF using the spot size optimization technique. The performance characteristics of the proposed NZ-DSF have been studied by changing different fiber parameters; such as inner core radius (a), relative refractive index differences (Δ+), normalized end position of depressed clad (C), depression parameter (ρ), etc. for a given value of Petermann-2 spot size ( W ¯ ) . By suitably adjusting the fiber parameters, the effective core areas (Aeff) as simulated here are very large (∼80 μm2) so that the effect of non-linearities upon them can be minimized. These NZ-DSFs have also been optimized for WDM transmission system. The dispersion slopes of the proposed fibers with and without dip have been estimated which are comparable with the reported results.

Boron carbide disks with three different grain sizes were consolidated from submicrometer-sized boron carbide powder using the plasma pressure compaction technique. Static and dynamic indentations were performed to determine their loading-rate dependence on mechanical properties. Dynamic indentations resulted in a decrease in hardness and fracture toughness, and induced more severe damage compared with static indentations. Using Raman spectroscopy, the mechanism responsible for loss of strength under dynamic loads was identified as the solid-state structural phase transformation in the dynamically loaded regions. The influence of processing conditions and the resulting microstructure on the observed rate dependency of mechanical properties are discussed.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to first examine whether intellectual capital (IC) information is considered in firm valuation. Next, to examine two issues: financial analysts' investment recommendations when faced with different combinations of performance levels (i.e. above or below industry average) of financial and IC measures, and the role of financial and IC measures with different performance levels and holding periods (i.e. short‐term vs long‐term) for the investment on analysts' recommendations.Design/methodology/approachThe first part of the paper used secondary (both archival and survey) data. The second part was an experiment.FindingsThe findings in the first part show that, after controlling for the effect of financial performances on firm value, measures of IC are still significant explanatory variables (of firm value). The second part shows that the financial and IC measures affect financial analysts' investment recommendations differently depending on the measures' levels of performance and the time horizon for holding the investments.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of the paper are as follows: the use of secondary data from a single country limits its generalizability; and the results of the experiment are parameterized by the research design such as the amount of information provided to the financial analysts. Extending the analyses to other settings and using time‐series data represent future research opportunities.Originality/valueThe research makes three contributions to the IC literature. First, it extends the studies on the relevance of IC in capital market research by broadening its scope to include measures of IC other than R&D intensity. Next, it provides evidence of the informativeness of IC measures in market valuation of firms and analysts' recommendations, thus lending credence to the arguments of reports and researchers for more external communication of IC information. Finally, this study is one of the first to examine a broader scope of IC in the capital market context and the use of IC by sophisticated market participants. With policy‐makers and standard‐setting bodies considering proposals to enhance information on IC in financial reports, it is important to broaden the scope of IC metrics and understand their role in enhancing firm value to develop a framework for reporting IC.

This work reports the design optimization of a single-mode graded index multiclad dispersion-compensating fiber (DCF) with a central dip, for broadband wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) system in the C- and L-bands of an operating wavelength zone. The index profile parameters of this fiber have been adjusted to simultaneously achieve high figure of merit (FOM) as well as considerably high value of effective core areas of the fiber to minimize the nonlinear effects like self-phase modulation or cross-phase modulation. At 1,550 nm operating wavelength, an effective core area (A eff ) of 46 μm2, which is very large compared to other reported values of DCFs, is obtained here. The average dispersion of the DCFs, in combination with conventional single-mode fiber (CSF) and small dispersion fiber (SDF), are found out to be considerably flat in the entire C- and L-band zone of operating wavelength.

Let $R$ be a commutative Noetherian local ring with residue field $k$. We show that if a finite direct sum of syzygy modules of $k$ surjects onto `a semidualizing module' or `a non-zero maximal Cohen-Macaulay module of finite injective dimension', then $R$ is regular. We also prove that $R$ is regular if and only if some syzygy module of $k$ has a non-zero direct summand of finite injective dimension., 7 pages

In recent years, we observed a significant increase of food fraud ranging from false label claims to the use of additives and fillers to increase profitability. Recently in 2013, horse and pig DNA were detected in beef products sold from several retailers. Mass spectrometry has become the workhorse in protein research and the detection of marker proteins could serve for both animal species and tissue authentication. Meat species authenticity will be performed using a well defined proteogenomic annotation, carefully chosen surrogate tryptic peptides and analysis using a hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. Selected mammalian meat samples were homogenized, proteins were extracted and digested with trypsin. The samples were analyzed using a high-resolution mass spectrometer. The chromatography was achieved using a 30 minutes linear gradient along with a BioBasic C8 100 × 1 mm column at a flow rate of 75 µL/min. The mass spectrometer was operated in full-scan high resolution and accurate mass. MS/MS spectra were collected for selected proteotypic peptides. Muscular proteins were methodically analyzed in silico in order to generate tryptic peptide mass lists and theoretical MS/MS spectra. Following a comprehensive bottom-up proteomic analysis, we were able to detect and identify a proteotypic myoglobin tryptic peptide [120-134] for each species with observed m/z below 1.3 ppm compared to theoretical values. Moreover, proteotypic peptides from myosin-1, myosin-2 and -hemoglobin were also identified. This targeted method allowed a comprehensive meat speciation down to 1% (w/w) of undesired product.

Length of Lambda -nin 5 DNA

Interdigitated capacitors containing the field-tunable ferroelectric Ba0.75Sr0.25TiO3, polycrystalline alumina substrates, and copper metallization have been fabricated. Dielectric layers were prepared by magnetron sputtering, while the Cu metallization was evaporated. The dielectric tunability of the Ba0.75Sr0.25TiO3 was 40% at an applied electric field of 12 V/μm. This corresponds to a 3-μm electrode gap width and a 35 V dc bias. Low-frequency (1 MHz) loss tangent measurements indicate a dielectric Q (quality factor) of ∼100 while microwave measurements reveal a zero bias device Q of ∼30 at 26 GHz. These values are comparable or superior to numerous reports of barium strontium titanate interdigitated capacitors prepared using single crystalline substrates and noble metallization. As such, this technology is significantly less expensive and more amenable to large-volume manufacturing.

The size of the phytoecdysteroids family is rapidly growing. Recent data shows over 250 ecdysteroid analogs have been identified so far in plants. It is theorized that there are over 1000 possible structures, which might occur in nature, but it is a fact that ecdysteroids usually occur in plants as a complex cocktail of structurally different compounds. Among these compounds, the major component is usually the common ecdysteroid-like 20-hydroxyecdysone. Ecdysteroids are polar steroids, almost sugar-like in their solubility properties. Extraction and purification of ecdysteroids (polyhydroxy steroids) is complicated by their polar nature and poor crystallizing properties. These properties make them difficult to separate from other polar plant constituents. Besides, this plant extract is very often processed by multistep procedures to isolate the major and minor ecdysteroids from the new or existing sources. A simplified scheme consisting of a few extraction steps for the purification of ecdysteroid from plants is in great demand. A quantitative approach through high-performance liquid chromatography has been initiated for developing an easy method for the extraction of ecdysteroids from Ipomoea hederacea (kaladana) seeds.

SUMMARY This article describes Sariling Gawa Youth Council as a case study of youth leadership development in Hawai'i. Since 1980, thousands of young people-primarily Filipino youth-have participated in Sariling Gawa activities which have developed their leadership skills. Many of them have continued to lead the organization and utilize what they learned with numerous local organizations and state agencies. The authors examine Sariling Gawa's growth, structure, and other factors that contribute to its longevity. The model includes (1) youth empowerment through building their leadership skills, (2) fostering and strengthening peer social support and social networks, (3) promotion of positive ethnic identity, and (4) community capacity building by involving youth in civic and community affairs.

A segmented core central step index dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) has been modeled by using spot size optimization technique. We have designed and optimized the DCF by suitably adjusting different fiber parameters, i.e. inner core radius (a), central relative refractive index difference (Δ), normalized outer core position (p), width (b) and height (h) at different values of given Petermann-II spot sizes ( W ¯ ) . The studies on the propagation behavior as well as bendloss and other losses of the DCF have been presented here. The proposed design of the DCF can possess improved bend performances over single core DCFs. At the same time higher negative dispersion coefficient in the single mode region as well as considerably high value of figure of merit (FOM) for optimized fiber parameters can be achieved for smaller spot sizes ( W ¯ ) of the DCF. Further, inclusion of length independent splice loss modified this conventional FOM to a slightly lesser value of modified FOM.

A closer look at some natural materials from animal and plant sources and the phenomenon driving their use in day to day applications resulted in investigation of their potential in processing of ceramic foams. Ceramic foams were made using aqueous ceramic slurries based on chicken egg white, soap nut fruit extract and sucrose. Egg white and soap nut extract were utilised for their natural foaming ability and binding of ceramic particles. Ceramic foams were produced by foaming the aqueous ceramic slurries by mechanical agitation followed by casting. The egg white based foams were set by coagulation achieved through sprinkling of acid, however use of acid was not successful with foams made from slurries with low and high ceramic loadings. Sucrose was utilised for its moisture retention ability and it not only simplified the egg white based process but also helped to achieve foams with exceptional characteristics including porosity exceeding 95%. Sucrose containing egg white based ceramic foams coul...

This research examines whether alternative performance evaluation measures of managers (return of investment, sales per square foot, customer satisfaction, and employee satisfaction) with varying controllability increases or decreases the extent of the outcome effect and whether asking the evaluator to assess the evaluatee's controllability of these measures prior to the evaluation mitigates the effect. The outcome effect occurs when outcome knowledge systematically influences the evaluator's assessment of the evaluate, irrespective of the quality of his or her initial decision resulting in the outcome. The experimental results reveal that the outcome effect increased as the controllability of the retail store manager's outcome measure increased, with the increase being more for nonfinancial measures than for financial measures. The results also show that controllability assessment of the outcome measures prior to the actual evaluation reduced the outcome effect across all measures.

Allergen levels in indoor environments, leading to many diseases, eg asthma, rhinitis and conjunctivitis, affect a large and increasing fraction of the population. A quite effective and inexpensive method of a rough but very rapid overall assessment of total allergen level in the environment has been developed. The method involved estimation of protein in allergen extracts by screen-printed electrodes using two different techniques. The biosensor comprised a rhodinised carbon working electrode, a silver/silver chloride reference electrode and a carbon counter electrode. In the first method the enzyme protease reacted with allergen protein to release amino acid, which produced hydrogen peroxide in the presence of amino acid oxidase. This was detected amperometrically. The second method used potassium bromide as electrolyte and the electrode was subjected to dual potential. Bromine, released due to electrolysis at higher potential, was consumed by the allergen protein at lower potential. In the first method, a unique technique was used to microencapsulate the enzyme protease and immobilise it on the surface of the electrode by in-situ polymerisation to avoid contact with the amino acid oxidase. A total of seven allergens were tested and the results gave a good correlation with the standard protein measurement method. Environmental specimens from indoors, schools and workplaces can be evaluated for the aeroallergens produced by dust mites, animal hairs, cockroach debris, pollens, etc as a means of determining the exposure risk. (c) 2005 Society of Chemical Industry.

A new ceramic forming process, protein coagulation casting (PCC), has been applied for consolidation of green silicon carbide bodies. The process utilizes aqueous ceramic slurries based on egg whit...

The nonlinearity in the I – V characteristics of lipid bilayer membrane in symmetric bathing solution has been reported earlier and was explained in the light of semiconducting nature of lipid molecules and mechanism of charge conduction in inhomogeneous system. Here we report the nonlinear I – V characteristic in planar lipid membrane in the presence of asymmetric bathing solution. The result shows that the nature of the I – V curve is different in forward and in reverse biasing condition, conferring a diode like behaviour to the system.

Genetically encoded antibiotic peptides are evolutionarily ancient and widespread effector molecules of immune defence. Mammalian defensins, one subset of such peptides, have been implicated in the antimicrobial defence capacity of phagocytic leukocytes and various epithelial cells, but direct evidence of the magnitude of their in vivo effects have not been clearly demonstrated. Paneth cells, specialized epithelia of the small intestinal crypt, secrete abundant alpha-defensins and other antimicrobial polypeptides including human defensin 5 (HD-5; also known as DEFA5). Although antibiotic activity of HD-5 has been demonstrated in vitro, functional studies of HD-5 biology have been limited by the lack of in vivo models. To study the in vivo role of HD-5, we developed a transgenic mouse model using a 2.9-kilobase HD-5 minigene containing two HD-5 exons and 1.4 kilobases of 5'-flanking sequence. Here we show that HD-5 expression in these mice is specific to Paneth cells and reflects endogenous enteric defensin gene expression. The storage and processing of transgenic HD-5 also matches that observed in humans. HD-5 transgenic mice were markedly resistant to oral challenge with virulent Salmonella typhimurium. These findings provide support for a critical in vivo role of epithelial-derived defensins in mammalian host defence.

In this letter, we demonstrate the usefulness of ultralow-power (ULP) junctionless (JL) MOSFETs in achieving improved analog/RF metrics as compared to nonunderlap and underlap MOSFETs. At a drain current (Ids) of 10 μA/μm, JL devices achieve two times higher values of cutoff frequency (fT) and maximum oscillation frequency (fMAX) along with 65% improvement in voltage gain (AVO) in comparison to conventional nonunderlap MOSFETs. ULP JL devices, which do not require source/drain (S/D) profile optimization, can perform comparably to underlap devices, thereby relaxing the stringent process constraints associated with S/D profile optimization in nanoscale devices. The results highlight new opportunities for realizing future ULP analog/RF design with JL transistors.

Paneth cells (PCs) were described over a century ago as granulated cells located at the base of small intestinal crypts, the 'crypts of Lieberkühn.' Various histochemical staining procedures were developed that identified PCs based on their distinctive granule-staining pattern. Early on, PCs were proposed to perform a specialized function other than absorption of digested nutrients, the predominant task of the small intestinal epithelium. Since then, many constituents of the PC granules have been biochemically characterized. The presence of various granule-associated antimicrobial substances and their release upon microbial challenge suggest that PCs function as specialized defense cells in the small intestine. Altered resistance to microbial infection in animal models with disrupted or augmented PC function provides further support for the host defense role of PCs. Other PC components suggest that PCs may also participate in the regulation of lumenal ionic composition, crypt development, digestion, and intestinal inflammation.

A future hydrogen economy requires the sustainable production of renewable hydrogen. One method to produce hydrogen from stored renewable energy could be through reformation of bioethanol. However, chemically catalyzed reformation processes, although well studied, still present a number of significant technical challenges. Here, bioreformation of ethanol to hydrogen by photofermentation with the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris is described. Cultures were shown to tolerate up to 2% ethanol. An RSM (response surface methodology) was carried out in which three key factors, light intensity, and ethanol and glutamate concentrations were varied. The results showed that nearly 2mol of H2 could be obtained from one mole of ethanol, 33% of that theoretically possible.

A comparative analysis of ULP analog/RF performance metrics have been presented. TFETs will be useful in high-gain ULP circuits with limited bandwidth requirement. Underlap INV and JL devices, achieving a balance between gain and bandwidth, are most suitable for ULP analog/RF applications. JL MOSFETs do not suffer from any significant degradation in metrics despite higher channel doping.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring provides a more reliable assessment of actual BP than office BP and is a more sensitive risk predictor of clinical cardiovascular outcomes. Recent international guidelines for hypertension have emphasised the usefulness of ambulatory BP for diagnosis and management of hypertension. We used ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to monitor the effect of the pharmacological treatment in patients with stage 1 or 2 hypertension. This was a multicentric randomised controlled trial having 360 subjects with 180 in each treatment arm. The duration of study was 6 months. The patients were randomly selected to receive atenolol or losartan as initial therapy. The dose of atenolol or losartan was 50 mg once daily at 8 am in the morning. Ambulatory BP assessment was done in a subgroup of subjects using Schiller BR-102 plus machine. One hundred and thirty patients were recruited for the study using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. There were 66 patients in atenolol arm and 64 patients in the losartan arm. A significant white coat hypertension was noticed in both the arms. Out of 130 subjects in the ambulatory group, 41.53% had a white coat hypertension. Statistically significant reduction of office BP was observed with both atenolol and losartan; however, no significant difference in efficacy of the two drugs was found in reducing office BP. However, when using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, the reduction with either drug was not significant. The dipper status was better in the atenolol group than the losartan group. Neither of the drugs prevent morning surge of BP when administered once daily in the morning. There was high prevalence of white coat hypertension in patients with stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension. There was similar reduction of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure by the 2 study drugs. Atenolol scores over losartan in converting non-dipper to dipper but its' impact on clinical outcome is not known. Morning surge of BP was unaffected by either of the study drugs.

Siderophores play important roles in microbial iron piracy, and are applied as infectious disease biomarkers and novel pharmaceutical drugs. Inductively coupled plasma and molecular mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) combined with high resolution separations allow characterization of siderophores in complex samples taking advantages of mass defect data filtering, tandem mass spectrometry, and iron-containing compound quantitation. The enrichment approaches used in siderophore analysis and current ICP-MS technologies are reviewed. The recent tools for fast dereplication of secondary metabolites and their databases are reported. This review on siderophores is concluded with their recent medical, biochemical, geochemical, and agricultural applications in mass spectrometry context.

Co : Al2O3nanocermets are synthesized by co-reducing Co2+-cations dispersed in a mesoporous AlO(OH) · αH2O matrix (amorphous) in a pure H2atmosphere at 850–1150 K. The dispersed Co2+-cations in pores co-reduce to separated Co-particles of controlled size, as small as 50 nm, encapsulated in thin Al2O3films, which are formed in-situ by molecular decomposition of the matrix, 2AlO(OH) · αH2O → Al2O3+ (2α + 1)H2O. The Al2O3film which coats Co-particles has an amorphous structure. This is possible only if it is extremely thin limited to a thickness of t< 2rc, with rc∼ 1.9 nm the critical size of its nucleation and growth into a stable crystallite. The thin Al2O3surface film supports the formation and existence of Co-particles in a modified FCC or BCC crystal structure. As a result, unusually, large crystallites of an average 100 nm diameter could be observed. Normally, such large particles of pure Co-metal exist in an HCP structure which undergoes a reversible martensitic transformation to FCC structure at 695 K. The results are analyzed and discussed in terms of microstructure, x-ray diffraction and XPS studies of nanocermets prepared under selected conditions.

Since internal transfers of intermediate products between divisions of firms take place under a wide range of organizational factors and their arrangement, understanding transfer pricing involves a consideration of how these factors are arranged; that is, do they complement or fit with each other or not. The current research experimentally investigates the impact of complementarity of sourcing (internal versus external) and compensation structure (based on division or firm profit) on transfer pricing in the case when such prices are negotiated between the trading divisions. The dependent variables were perceived fairness of the transfer pricing policy, inter-divisional conflict, the economic outcome measure of firm profit, and the time taken by the managers to negotiate an agreement (since time is an important economic resource to the manager) and firm profit efficiency. Overall, the results indicate that whether or not the arrangement of the organizational factors was complementary had a considerable influence on negotiated transfer prices. Specifically, complementary arrangements significantly increased perception of fairness, and reduced both conflict between the trading divisions and the time taken to reach an agreement. However, the economic outcome of firm profit was explained more by the negotiators' competitve behavior which occurs as a consequence of organizational factor arrangements.

This field study provides evidence of the outcome effect in performance evaluations of managers in an organization. Specifically, in a retail chain, subjective evaluations of store managers by their supervisors were negatively impacted by unfavorable outcome knowledge. As expected, outcome determinants over which the managers have control influence their performance evaluations and environmental determinants of outcome over which they have no control do not influence their evaluations. However, unexpectedly, central management determinants of outcome over which the managers have no control also influence their evaluations. After these outcome determinants are considered, we find evidence of an outcome effect since failure of the store to meet its target outcome results in a more negative performance evaluation of the managers. Also, the extent to which store managers' evaluations are prone to the outcome effect is not contingent on the measure of the outcome used.

The route and rate of degradation of florasulam, a low-rate triazolopyrimidine sulfonanilide herbicide, was investigated in six soil types under aerobic conditions at 20 or 25 °C. Degradation products were isolated and identified by mass spectroscopy. Florasulam was rapidly degraded by microbial action with an average half-life of 2.4 days (range 0.7 to 4.5 days). The first step in the degradation pathway involved conversion of the methoxy group on the triazolopyrimidine ring to a hydroxy group to form N-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-8-fluoro-5-hydroxy[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine-2-sulfonamide. This metabolite degraded, with a half-life of 10 to 61 days, via partial breakdown of the triazolopyrimidine ring to form N-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-aminosulfonyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxylic acid. This was followed by cleavage of the sulfonamide bridge to form 5-(aminosulfonyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxylic acid. Other degradation processes involved decarboxylation of the carboxylic acid metabolites and mineralisation to form carbon dioxide and non-extractable residues. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry

Generation of insect-resistant, transgenic crop plants by expression of the insecticidal crystal protein (ICP) gene of Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt ) is a standard crop improvement approach. In such cases, adequate expression of the most appropriate ICP against the target insect pest of the crop species is desirable. It is also considered advantageous to generate Bt -transgenics with multiple toxin systems to control rapid development of pest resistance to the ICP. Larvae of yellow stem borer (YSB), Scirpophaga incertulas , a major lepidopteran insect pest of rice, cause massive losses of rice yield. Studies on insect feeding and on the binding properties of ICP to brush border membrane receptors in the midgut of YSB larvae revealed that cryIAb and cryIAc are two individually suitable candidate genes for developing YSB-resistant rice. Programs were undertaken to develop Bt -transgenic rice with these ICP genes independently in a single cultivar. A cryIAc gene was reconstructed and placed under control of the maize ubiquitin 1 promoter, along with the first intron of the maize ubiquitin 1 gene, and the nos terminator. The gene construct was delivered to embryogenic calli of IR64, an elite indica rice cultivar, using the particle bombardment method. Six highly expressive independent transgenic ICP lines were identified. Molecular analyses and insect-feeding assays of two such lines revealed that the transferred synthetic cryIAc gene was expressed stably in the T 2 generation of these lines and that the transgenic rice plants were highly toxic to YSB larvae and lessened the damage caused by their feeding.

This paper extends prior research by jointly assessing the roles of risk attitude and tolerance for ambiguity in predicting choice. An experiment examined the effects of these variables on decisions made in four different scenarios. The four scenarios (treatment combinations) were generated by manipulating risk and ambiguity into two levels (high and low). The context was defined in terms of a sample size selection problem. The second issue explored was the effect of attitudes toward risk and ambiguity on decision confidence. The results indicate that (1) both risk attitude and ambiguity intolerance determined choice behavior, (2) the roles of these individual attitudes depend on the levels of the two treatment variables of risk and ambiguity, (3) the presence of ambiguity accentuates the perception of risk in individual subjects, and (4) decision makers who are less risk averse, and have more tolerance for ambiguity, display greater confidence in their choice. The paper discusses some of the managerial implications of the results.

In this work, we report on the doping dependence of RF performance metrics of junctionless transistors and compare the same with conventional undoped inversion mode MOSFETs. It is demonstrated that at low drive currents (~ 25 μA/μm), JL transistors outperform inversion mode MOSFETs as 20% to 40% higher values of cut-off frequency is obtained for all doping concentrations (1019 cm3 to 3×1019 cm3). It is shown that the junctionless device architecture is advantageous for ultra low power RF applications as parasitic capacitances are significantly reduced. Scaling trends for cut-off frequency (at lower drain currents) with respect to gate length highlights the potential of junctionless architecture for ultra low power applications.

Background Fermentative hydrogen production is an attractive means for the sustainable production of this future energy carrier but is hampered by low yields. One possible solution is to create, using metabolic engineering, strains which can bypass the normal metabolic limits to substrate conversion to hydrogen. Escherichia coli can degrade a variety of sugars to hydrogen but can only convert electrons available at the pyruvate node to hydrogen, and is unable to use the electrons available in NADH generated during glycolysis. Results Here, the heterologous expression of the soluble [NiFe] hydrogenase from Ralstonia eutropha H16 (the SH hydrogenase) was used to demonstrate the introduction of a pathway capable of deriving substantial hydrogen from the NADH generated by fermentation. Successful expression was demonstrated by in vitro assay of enzyme activity. Moreover, expression of SH restored anaerobic growth on glucose to adhE strains, normally blocked for growth due to the inability to re-oxidize NADH. Measurement of in vivo hydrogen production showed that several metabolically engineered strains were capable of using the SH hydrogenase to derive 2 mol H2 per mol of glucose consumed, close to the theoretical maximum. Conclusion Previous introduction of heterologous [NiFe] hydrogenase in E. coli led to NAD(P)H dependent activity, but hydrogen production levels were very low. Here we have shown for the first time substantial in vivo hydrogen production by a heterologously expressed [NiFe] hydrogenase, the soluble NAD-dependent H2ase of R. eutropha (SH hydrogenase). This hydrogenase was able to couple metabolically generated NADH to hydrogen production, thus rescuing an alcohol dehydrogenase (adhE) mutant. This enlarges the range of metabolism available for hydrogen production, thus potentially opening the door to the creation of greatly improved hydrogen production. Strategies for further increasing yields should revolve around making additional NADH available.