3,807 research outputs found
Ion Beam Sputtered Coatings of Bioglass
The ion beam sputtering technique available at the NASA-Lewis was used to apply coatings of bioglass to ceramic, metallic, and polymeric substrates. Experiments in vivo and in vitro described investigate these coatings. Some degree of substrate masking was obtained in all samples although stability and reactivity equivalent to bulk bioglass was not observed in all coated samples. Some degree of stability was seen in all coated samples that were reacted in vitro. Both metallic and ceramic substrates coated in this manner failed to show significantly improved coatings over those obtained with existing techniques. Implantation of the coated ceramic substrate samples in bone gave no definite bonding as seen with bulk glass; however, partial and patchy bonding was seen. Polymeric substrates in these studies showed promise of success. The coatings applied were sufficient to mask the underlying reactive test surface and tissue adhesion of collagen to bioglass was seen. Hydrophilic, hydrophobic, charged, and uncharged polymeric surfaces were successfully coated
Cyclic AMP pathway activation and extracellular zinc induce rapid intracellular zinc mobilization in Candida albicans
LK was supported by Innovation Fund Denmark, DK (4019-00019B). Pcovery ApS received funding from Wellcome Trust, Research Councils, UK (100480/Z/12), Novo Seeds, DK and Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, D. DW is supported by a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (102549/Z/13/Z), the Medical Research Council and University of Aberdeen (MR/N006364/1) and received support from a Wellcome Trust Strategic Award for Medical Mycology and Fungal Immunology (097377/Z/11/Z). The funders had no part in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Quantum Secrecy in Thermal States
We propose to perform quantum key distribution using quantum correlations
occurring within thermal states produced by low power sources such as LED's.
These correlations are exploited through the Hanbury Brown and Twiss effect. We
build an optical central broadcast protocol using a superluminescent diode
which allows switching between laser and thermal regimes, enabling us to
provide experimental key rates in both regimes. We provide a theoretical
analysis and show that quantum secrecy is possible, even in high noise
situations.Comment: This version includes revisions prompted by referees comments, and
some other small editorial comment
Working Futures 2017-2027 : Long-run labour market and skills projections headline report
This report provides a concise overview of Working Futures 2017-2027 results for the UK. It presents historical trends and future prospects by sector for the UK and its constituent nations and the English regions. The prime focus of Working Futures is on the demand for skills as measured by employment by occupation and qualification, although the supply side is also considered. Its prime objective is to provide useful labour market information that can help to inform policy development and strategy around skills, careers and employment, for both policy makers and a much wider audience. The results are intended to provide a sound statistical foundation for reflection and debate among all those with an interest in the demand for and supply of skills. It is aimed at the general reader and focuses on the key messages from this very detailed study. It complements the more detailed outputs and results from the project available from the gov.uk website2 and cover sectors, occupations, geography and qualifications
Tropical range extension for the temperate, endemic South-Eastern Australian Nudibranch Goniobranchus splendidus (Angas, 1864)
In contrast to many tropical animals expanding southwards on the Australian coast concomitant with climate change, here we report a temperate endemic newly found in the tropics. Chromodorid nudibranchs are bright, colourful animals that rarely go unnoticed by divers and underwater photographers. The discovery of a new population, with divergent colouration is therefore significant. DNA sequencing confirms that despite departures from the known phenotypic variation, the specimen represents northern Goniobranchus splendidus and not an unknown close relative. Goniobranchus tinctorius represents the sister taxa to G. splendidus. With regard to secondary defences, the oxygenated terpenes found previously in this specimen are partially unique but also overlap with other G. splendidus from southern Queensland (QLD) and New South Wales (NSW). The tropical specimen from Mackay contains extracapsular yolk like other G. splendidus. This previously unknown tropical population may contribute selectively advantageous genes to cold-water species threatened by climate change. Competitive exclusion may explain why G. splendidus does not strongly overlap with its widespread sister taxon
Exercises for improving quick perception grades I, II, III.
Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University
N.B.: Page 242 is misnumbered. No content is missing from thesis
Memory TCR repertoires analyzed long-term reflect those selected during the primary response
Normal T cell repertoire selection and evolution in antigen-specific responses is poorly understood. We have recently described an MHC class I-restricted response characterized by an overwhelming expansion of CD8 cells expressing a Vβ10 TCR, thus allowing the identification of antigen-selected cells directly ex vivo. Our present strategy to follow the overall TCR repertoire selection was to monitor the expression of a particular TCR α chain (Vα8) on antigen-selected Vβ10+ cells by four-color flow cytometry. We demonstrate that while there is substantial variation among the responder mice in Vα8 usage, the repertoires of individual animals remain relatively stable over long periods of time (>1 year), with or without repeated antigenic challenge. Thus if any evolution of this response occurs upon re-exposure to antigen, it would appear not to skew the TCR repertoire established during the primary respons
Factors Associated With Retinal Vessel Diameters in an Elderly Population: the Thessaloniki Eye Study
Purpose: To identify the factors associated with retinal vessel diameters in the population of the Thessaloniki Eye Study.
Methods: Cross-sectional population-based study (age ≥ 60 years). Subjects with glaucoma, late age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy were excluded from the analyses. Retinal vessel diameters were measured using the IVAN software, and measurements were summarized to central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE), central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE), and arteriole to venule ratio (AVR).
Results: The analysis included 1614 subjects. The hypertensive group showed lower values of CRAE (P = 0.033) and AVR (P = 0.0351) compared to the normal blood pressure (BP) group. On the contrary, the group having normal BP under antihypertensive treatment did not have different values compared to the normal BP group. Diastolic BP (per mm Hg) was negatively associated with CRAE (P < 0.0001) and AVR (P < 0.0001), while systolic BP (per mm Hg) was positively associated with CRAE (P = 0.001) and AVR (P = 0.0096). Other factors significantly associated included age, sex, alcohol, smoking, cardiovascular disease history, ophthalmic medication, weight, and IOP; differences were observed in a stratified analysis based on BP medication use.
Conclusions: Our study confirms previous reports about the association of age and BP with vessel diameters. The negative correlation between BP and CRAE seems to be guided by the effect of diastolic BP as higher systolic BP is independently associated with higher values of CRAE. The association of BP status with retinal vessel diameters is determined by diastolic BP status in our population. Multiple other factors are also independently associated with retinal vessel diameters
Oral Microbiome Diversity in Chimpanzees from Gombe National Park
Historic calcified dental plaque (dental calculus) can provide a unique perspective into the health status of past human populations but currently no studies have focused on the oral microbial ecosystem of other primates, including our closest relatives, within the hominids. Here we use ancient DNA extraction methods, shotgun library preparation, and next generation Illumina sequencing to examine oral microbiota from 19 dental calculus samples recovered from wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) who died in Gombe National Park, Tanzania. The resulting sequences were trimmed for quality, analyzed using MALT, MEGAN, and alignment scripts, and integrated with previously published dental calculus microbiome data. We report significant differences in oral microbiome phyla between chimpanzees and anatomically modern humans (AMH), with chimpanzees possessing a greater abundance of Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria, and AMH showing higher Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Our results suggest that by using an enterotype clustering method, results cluster largely based on host species. These clusters are driven by Porphyromonas and Fusobacterium genera in chimpanzees and Haemophilus and Streptococcus in AMH. Additionally, we compare a nearly complete Porphyromonas gingivalis genome to previously published genomes recovered from human gingiva to gain perspective on evolutionary relationships across host species. Finally, using shotgun sequence data we assessed indicators of diet from DNA in calculus and suggest exercising caution when making assertions related to host lifestyle. These results showcase core differences between host species and stress the importance of continued sequencing of nonhuman primate microbiomes in order to fully understand the complexity of their oral ecologies
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