720 research outputs found

    Crystallographic properties and elemental migration in two-stage prepared CuIn1−xAlxSe2 thin films for photovoltaic applications

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    Two-stage fabrication of CuIn1−xAlxSe2 thin films for photovoltaic absorbers using sputtered Cu–In–Al metallic precursors has been investigated. Precursors containing different relative amounts of Al were selenised and their structural and chemical properties characterised. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed that the Al was only incorporated into the chalcopyrite structure for precursor composition ratios x = [Al]/([Al] + [In]) â©Ÿ 0.38, while chemical analysis of the cross-section indicated partial segregation of Al near the back of the film. Precursor films in the range of compositions that yielded no Al incorporation were then selenised at four different temperatures. Glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy, plasma profiling time-of-flight mass spectrometry and XRD analyses provided an insight into the diffusion processes and reactions taking place during the selenisation stage. The effect of post-selenisation annealing without additional Se was also investigated, and led to partial incorporation of the Al into the CuInSe2 lattice but no rediffusion

    Cardiac involvement in hereditary myopathy with early respiratory failure: A cohort study.

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    OBJECTIVE: To assess whether hereditary myopathy with early respiratory failure (HMERF) due to the c.951434T>C; (p.Cys31712Arg) TTN missense mutation also includes a cardiac phenotype. METHOD: Clinical cohort study of our HMERF cohort using ECG, 2D echocardiogram, and cross-sectional cardiac imaging with MRI or CT. RESULTS: We studied 22 participants with the c.951434T>C; (p.Cys31712Arg) TTN missense mutation. Three were deceased. Cardiac conduction abnormalities were identified in 7/22 (32%): sustained atrioventricular tachycardia (n = 2), atrial fibrillation (n = 2), nonsustained atrial tachycardia (n = 1), premature supraventricular complexes (n = 1), and unexplained sinus bradycardia (n = 1). In addition, 4/22 (18%) had imaging evidence of otherwise unexplained cardiomyopathy. These findings are supported by histopathologic correlation suggestive of myocardial cytoskeletal remodeling. CONCLUSIONS: Coexisting cardiac and skeletal muscle involvement is not uncommon in patients with HMERF arising due to the c.951434T>C; (p.Cys31712Arg) TTN mutation. All patients with pathogenic or putative pathogenic TTN mutations should be offered periodic cardiac surveillance.Wellcome Trust (101876/Z/13/Z, 096919Z/11/Z), Medical Research Council (UK) (G0601943), Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit (MC_UP_1501/2).This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Wolters Kluwer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.000000000000306

    A LagerstÀtte from Australia provides insight into the nature of Miocene mesic ecosystems

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    Reduced precipitation in the Miocene triggered the geographic contraction of rainforest ecosystems around the world. In Australia, this change was particularly pronounced; mesic rainforest ecosystems that once dominated the landscape transformed into the shrublands, grasslands, and deserts of today. A lack of well-preserved fossils has made it difficult to understand the nature of Australian ecosystems before the aridification. Here, we report on an exceptionally well-preserved rainforest biota from New South Wales, Australia. This Konservat-LagerstÀtte hosts a rich diversity of microfossils, plants, insects, spiders, and vertebrate remains preserved in goethite. We document evidence for several species interactions including predation, parasitism, and pollination. The fossils are indicative of an oxbow lake in a mesic rainforest and suggest that rainforest distributions have shifted since the Miocene. The variety of fossils preserved, together with high fidelity of preservation, allows for unprecedented insights into the mesic ecosystems that dominated Australia during the Miocene

    The non-coding RNA TERRA is a natural ligand and direct inhibitor of human telomerase

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    Telomeres, the physical ends of eukaryotes chromosomes are transcribed into telomeric repeat containing RNA (TERRA), a large non-coding RNA of unknown function, which forms an integral part of telomeric heterochromatin. TERRA molecules resemble in sequence the telomeric DNA substrate as they contain 5â€Č-UUAGGG-3â€Č repeats near their 3â€Č-end which are complementary to the template sequence of telomerase RNA. Here we demonstrate that endogenous TERRA is bound to human telomerase in cell extracts. Using in vitro reconstituted telomerase and synthetic TERRA molecules we demonstrate that the 5â€Č-UUAGGG-3â€Č repeats of TERRA base pair with the RNA template of the telomerase RNA moiety (TR). In addition TERRA contacts the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) protein subunit independently of hTR. In vitro studies further demonstrate that TERRA is not used as a telomerase substrate. Instead, TERRA acts as a potent competitive inhibitor for telomeric DNA in addition to exerting an uncompetitive mode of inhibition. Our data identify TERRA as a telomerase ligand and natural direct inhibitor of human telomerase. Telomerase regulation by the telomere substrate may be mediated via its transcription

    Quantification of calcium in infant formula using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy combined with chemometrics including data fusion

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    peer-reviewedLaser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy combined with chemometrics were investigated to quantify calcium (Ca) content in infant formula powder (INF). INF samples (n = 51) with calcium content levels (ca. 6.5–30 mg Ca/100 kJ) were prepared in accordance with the guidelines of Commission Directive 2006/125/EC. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used as the reference method for Ca content determination. To predict Ca content in INF samples, partial least squares regression (PLSR) models that developed based on LIBS, Raman and FT-IR spectral data, respectively. The model developed using LIBS data achieved the best performance for the quantification of Ca content in INF (R2 (cross-validation (CV))-0.99, RMSECV-0.29 mg/g; R2 (prediction (P))-1, RMSEP-0.63 mg/g). PLSR models that developed based on data fusion of Raman and FT-IR spectral features obtained the second best performance (R2CV-0.97, RMSECV-0.38 mg/g; R2P-0.97, RMSEP-0.36 mg/g). This study demonstrated the potential of LIBS, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy to accurately quantify Ca content in INF.Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Irelan
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