Ultrathin and nanostructured ZnO-based films for fluorescence biosensing applications

The fluorescence-based sensing capability of ultrathin ZnO-SiO(2) nanoplatforms, deposited by an integrated approach of colloidal lithography and metal organic chemical vapor deposition, has been investigated upon adsorption of fluorescein-labeled albumin, used as model analyte biomolecule. The protein immobilization process after spontaneous adsorption/desorption significantly enhances the green emission of the different ZnO-based films, as evidenced by scanning confocal microscopy, corresponding to a comparable protein coverage detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Moreover, experiments of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching evidence that the protein lateral diffusion at the biointerface is affected by the chemical and/or topographical patterning of hybrid ZnO-SiO(2) surfaces. The used approach is very promising for biomolecular detection applications of these ZnO-SiO(2) nanoplatforms, by simple sizing of the 2D vs. 3D patterning design, which in turn is accomplished by the fine tuning of the integrated colloidal lithography-chemical vapor deposition processes. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Integration of Metal Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition and Wet Chemical Techniques to Obtain Highly Ordered Porous ZnO Nanoplatforms

Large-area, highly ordered ZnO micropores-arrays consisting of ZnO nanotubes delimited by ZnO nanorods have been successfully fabricated and tested for protein sensing applications. ZnO seed layers have been deposited by Metal Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition and readily patterned by Colloidal Lithography to attain ZnO nanorods growth at selective sites by Chemical Bath Deposition. The used synthetic approach has been proven effective for the easy assembly of ZnO nanoplatforms into high-density arrays. Both patterned and unpatterned ZnO nanorods have been morphologically and compositionally characterised and, thus, tested for model studies of protein mobility at the interface. The patterned layers, having a higher contribution of surface polar moieties than the corresponding unpatterned surfaces, exhibit a reduced lateral diffusion of the adsorbed protein. This evidence is related to the intrinsic porous nature of the ZnO hemispherical arrays characterised by a nanotube-nanorod hybrid networks. The present study gives a great impetus to the fabrication of tunable ZnO nanoplatforms having multiple morphologies and exceptionally high surface areas suitable for application in sensing devices

Brand Creation vs. Acquisition in Portfolio Expansion Strategy

Purpose – This paper seeks to address the following question: What causes firms to choose brand creation vs brand acquisition for brand portfolio expansion? Design/methodology/approach – A multilevel interdisciplinary conceptual model is developed with nine factors at three levels of influence: the market, firm, and brand portfolio. Using 125 brand acquisitions and creations for 22 firms between 2001 and 2007, the model is tested using logistic regression to determine which factors significantly influence brand portfolio expansion strategy and whether they encourage acquisition or creation. Findings – Significant factors were found at the market and firm levels, with competitive intensity of the market having the strongest effect, followed by the firm\u27s financial leverage, market concentration, and market growth. Practical implications – Contrary to prior expectations, external factors at the market and firm levels have an impact on choice of acquisition vs creation. However, internal firm factors may serve as moderators of strategy effectiveness. Originality/value – This is the first study to empirically examine factors affecting the brand portfolio expansion strategy via brand creation versus brand acquisition across a variety of industries. From a methodological standpoint, one of the more serious and persistent problems facing prior brand research is the lack of brand-level data, but this paper\u27s approach overcomes this limitation by using media expenditures in the AdSpender database to represent brands within a category/market

Optimalisasi Pemanfaatan Bungkil Inti Sawit, Gaplek Dan Onggok Melalui Teknologi Fermentasi Dengan Kapang Berbeda Sebagai Bahan Pakan Ayam Pedaging

The study was conducted at the Laboratory of Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Cage, Lampung State Polytechnic. Object of study was fermented a mixture of palm kernel cake (PKC) and cassava (C), and a mixture of palm kernel cake (PKC) cassava byproduct (CBP) then to broilers applied. Fermentation research designed using completely randomized design factorial 2x2x6. The first factor was type of mold (Trichoderma viride and Aspergillus Niger), a mixture of both of the second factor (PKC versus C and PKC versus CBP), and the third factor of mixture balance (100% PKC : 0% C or CBP, 80% PKC : 20% C or CBP, 60% PKC : 40% C or CBP, 40% PKC : 60% C or CBP, 20% PKC : 80% C or CBP, serta 0% PKC : 100% C or CBP). The results was applied to the broiler, completely randomized design with a 4x4 factorial pattern, the first kind of fermented best for each type of mold and the mixture of substances, the second factor in the level of use of fermented feed, namely 0, 10, 20, and 30%. The results of fermentation balance best mix: a) Trichoderma viride + PKC(60%) + C(40%) b) Trichoderma viride + PKC(80%) + CBP(20%), c) Aspergillus Niger + PKC(60 %) + C (40%), d) Aspergillus Niger + PKC(80%) + CBP(20%). Application results in broilers, namely: a) the use of a mixture of fermented counterpart [Trichoderma viride + PKC(60%) + C(40%)] with a level of 10% resulted in body weight (1342,67g), feed conversion (1,79), carcass weight (989,00) is the best, b) the use a mixture of fermented counterpart [Trichoderma viride + PKC(80%) + CBP(20%)] with a level of 20% resulted in a body weight (1334.67 g), feed conversion ratio (1,80), carcass weight (989,00 g) is the best, c) the use of a mixture of fermented counterpart [Aspergillus Niger + PKC(60%) + C(40%)] with a level of 10% resulted in body weight (1408,67 g), feed conversion ratio (1,71), carcass weight (952,00 g) is the best, d) the use of a mixture of fermented counterpart [Aspergillus Niger + PKC(80%) + CBP(20%)] with a level of 10% resulted in body weight (1357,00 g), feed conversion (1,77), carcass weight (923,00) is the best

Role of Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease:Implications for Prevention and Therapy

Oxidative stress (OxS) is considered a major factor in the pathophysiology of inflammatory chronic liver diseases, including non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD). Chronic impairment of lipid metabolism is closely related to alterations of the oxidant/antioxidant balance, which affect metabolism-related organelles, leading to cellular lipotoxicity, lipid peroxidation, chronic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Increased OxS also triggers hepatocytes stress pathways, leading to inflammation and fibrogenesis, contributing to the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The antioxidant response, regulated by the Nrf2/ARE pathway, is a key component in this process and counteracts oxidative stress-induced damage, contributing to the restoration of normal lipid metabolism. Therefore, modulation of the antioxidant response emerges as an interesting target to prevent NAFLD development and progression. This review highlights the link between disturbed lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in the context of NAFLD. In addition, emerging potential therapies based on antioxidant effects and their likely molecular targets are discussed

Rancangan Ruang Terbuka pada Kawasan Perumahan The Mansion Antapani Bandung

Context of development issues - issues relating to town planning and urban design in the residential area at the present time. The mark with the loss of open space (open space) is now the increasingly dense urban land area is proportional to the current pollution levels . Aspects - aspect according to the current planning is indispensable as a material consideration in the planning and design of urban architecture. Establish planning and design of an area need to know and consider aspects - the technical aspects of design activity "site planning" or site planning, architectural appearance, and landcape applied to the residential areas the mansion as the science of sustainable design of residential areas by understanding the elements - elements "site planning "or site planning. In the planning and design of the area housing the mansion has aspects - thematic aspects of the design approach, the use of thematic design of the now widely used due to the added value of a regional plan design

Influence of self-assessment system, taxation understanding, and discrimination toward ethics of tax evasion: A case in Papua Indonesia

The main principle of tax collection, as a manifestation of the obligation of citizens, is to help state finance and national development. All state income from taxes will be used to finance all public expenses, which means that it is used to improve the welfare of the people. As regulated in the provisions of Law Number 16 Year 2009 article 1 paragraph 1, all people who according to the law are included as taxpayers must pay taxes according to their obligations. Unfortunately, tax evasion has been a phenomenon that was committed to avoid taxes. Therefore, the public should be aware of the self-assessment system, understanding taxation, and discrimination regarding the ethics of tax evasion. The purpose of this study was to determine and analyze the effect of the self-assessment system, understanding taxation, and discrimination towards the ethics of tax evasion. The population in this study were all taxpayers in the Jayapura Primary Tax Office

Dependence of quantum correlations of twin beams on pump finesse of optical parametric oscillator

The dependence of quantum correlation of twin beams on the pump finesse of an optical parametric oscillator is studied with a semi-classical analysis. It is found that the phase-sum correlation of the output signal and idler beams from an optical parametric oscillator operating above threshold depends on the finesse of the pump field when the spurious pump phase noise generated inside the optical cavity and the excess noise of the input pump field are involved in the Langevin equations. The theoretical calculations can explain the previously experimental results, quantitatively.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figure

Charge Dynamics in Solution-Processed Nanocrystalline CuInS2 Solar Cells.

We investigate charge dynamics in solar cells constructed using solution-processed layers of CuInS2 (CIS) nanocrystals (NCs) as the electron donor and CdS as the electron acceptor. By using time-resolved spectroscopic techniques, we are able to observe photoinduced absorptions that we attribute to the mobile hole carriers in the NC film. In combination with transient photocurrent and photovoltage measurements, we monitor charge dynamics on time scales from 300 fs to 1 ms. Carrier dynamics are investigated for devices with CIS layers composed of either colloidally synthesized 1,3-benzenedithiol-capped nanocrystals or in situ sol-gel synthesized thin films as the active layer. We find that deep trapping of holes in the colloidal NC cells is responsible for decreases in the open-circuit voltage and fill factor as compared to those of the sol-gel synthesized CIS/CdS cell.We gratefully acknowledge support by EPSRC (Grant No. EP/G060738/1), Cambridge Display Technology and the Worshipful Company of Armourers & Brasiers for a Gauntlet Trust award, as well as the MacDiarmid Institute for use of their EM facilities.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from ACS via http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5b0043

pH Dependent Transfer of Nano-pores into Membrane of Cancer Cells to Induce Apoptosis

Proper balance of ions in intracellular and extracellular space is the key for normal cell functioning. Changes in the conductance of membranes for ions will lead to cell death. One of the main differences between normal and cancerous cells is the low extracellular pHe and the reverse pH gradient: intracellular pHi is higher than extracellular pHe. We report here pH-selective transfer of nano-pores to cancer cells for the dis-regulation of balance of monovalent cations to induce cell death at mildly acidic pHe as it is in most solid tumors. Our approach is based on the pH-sensitive fusion of cellular membrane with the liposomes containing gramicidin A forming cation-conductive β-helix in the membrane. Fusion is promoted only at low extracellular pH by the pH (Low) Insertion Peptide (pHLIP®) attached to the liposomes. Gramicidin channels inserted into the cancer cells open flux of protons into the cytoplasm and disrupt balance of other monovalent cations, which induces cell apoptosis