Generalized four-point characterization method for resistive and capacitive contacts

In this paper, a four-point characterization method is developed for resistive samples connected to either resistive or capacitive contacts. Provided the circuit equivalent of the complete measurement system is known including coaxial cable and connector capacitances as well as source output and amplifier input impedances, a frequency range and capacitive scaling factor can be determined, whereby four-point characterization can be performed. The technique is demonstrated with a discrete element test sample over a wide frequency range using lock-in measurement techniques from 1 Hz - 100 kHz. The data fit well with a circuit simulation of the entire measurement system. A high impedance preamplifier input stage gives best results, since lock-in input impedances may differ from manufacturer specifications. The analysis presented here establishes the utility of capacitive contacts for four-point characterizations at low frequency.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figure

Numerical simulation analysis for the effect of water content on the intelligent compaction quality of roadbed

In the process of intelligent compaction of roadbeds, the water content of the roadbed is one of the important influencing factors of compaction quality. In order to analyze the effect of water content on the compaction quality of roadbeds, this paper is developed by secondary development of Abaqus finite element numerical simulation software. At the same time, the artificial viscous boundary was set to eliminate the influence of boundary conditions on the results in the finite element modeling process, so that the numerical simulation can be refined to model. On this basis, the dynamic response analysis of the roadbed compaction process is performed on the finite element numerical simulation results. This paper established the correlation between compaction degree and intelligent compaction index CMV (Compaction Meter Value) and then analyzed the effect of water content on the compaction quality for the roadbed. The results of this paper show that the amplitude of the vertical acceleration is almost independent of the moisture content, and the vertical displacement mainly occurs in the static compaction stage. The vertical displacement changes sharply in the first 0.5 s when the vibrating wheel is in contact with the roadbed. The main stage of roadbed compaction quality increase is before the end of the first compaction. At the end of the first compaction, the roadbed compaction degree increased rapidly from 80% to 91.68%, 95.34% and 97.41%, respectively. With the increase in water content, the CMV gradually increased. At the end of the second compaction, CMV increased slightly compared with that at the end of the first compaction and stabilized at the end of the second compaction. The water content of the roadbed should be considered to be set slightly higher than the optimal water content of the roadbed by about 1% during the construction of the roadbed within the assumptions of this paper

FANSe: an accurate algorithm for quantitative mapping of large scale sequencing reads

The most crucial step in data processing from high-throughput sequencing applications is the accurate and sensitive alignment of the sequencing reads to reference genomes or transcriptomes. The accurate detection of insertions and deletions (indels) and errors introduced by the sequencing platform or by misreading of modified nucleotides is essential for the quantitative processing of the RNA-based sequencing (RNA-Seq) datasets and for the identification of genetic variations and modification patterns. We developed a new, fast and accurate algorithm for nucleic acid sequence analysis, FANSe, with adjustable mismatch allowance settings and ability to handle indels to accurately and quantitatively map millions of reads to small or large reference genomes. It is a seed-based algorithm which uses the whole read information for mapping and high sensitivity and low ambiguity are achieved by using short and non-overlapping reads. Furthermore, FANSe uses hotspot score to prioritize the processing of highly possible matches and implements modified Smith–Watermann refinement with reduced scoring matrix to accelerate the calculation without compromising its sensitivity. The FANSe algorithm stably processes datasets from various sequencing platforms, masked or unmasked and small or large genomes. It shows a remarkable coverage of low-abundance mRNAs which is important for quantitative processing of RNA-Seq datasets

Regulation of telomerase towards tumor therapy

Abstract Cancer is an aging-related disease, while aging plays an important role in the development process of tumor, thus the two are inextricably associated. Telomere attrition is one of the recognized hallmark events of senescence. Hence, targeting telomerase which could extends telomere sequences to treat tumors is widely favored. Cancer cells rely on high activity of telomerase to maintain a strong proliferative potential. By inhibiting the expression or protein function of telomerase, the growth of cancer cells can be significantly suppressed. In addition, the human immune system itself has a defense system against malignant tumors. However, excessive cell division results in dramatic shortening on telomeres and decline in the function of immune organs that facilitates cancer cell evasion. It has been shown that increasing telomerase activity or telomere length of these immune cells can attenuate senescence, improve cellular viability, and enhance the immunosuppressive microenvironment of tumor. In this paper, we review the telomerase-targeting progress using different anti-tumor strategies from the perspectives of cancer cells and immune cells, respectively, as well as tracking the preclinical and clinical studies of some representative drugs for the prevention or treatment of tumors

Four-point characterization using capacitive and ohmic contacts

A four-point characterization method is developed for semiconductor samples that have either capacitive or ohmic contacts. When capacitive contacts are used, capacitive current- and voltage-dividers result in a capacitive scaling factor which is not present in four-point measurements with only ohmic contacts. Both lock-in amplifier and pre-amplifier are used to measure low-noise response over a wide frequency range from 1 Hz -- 100 kHz. From a circuit equivalent of the complete measurement system after carefully being modeled, both the measurement frequency band and capacitive scaling factor can be determined for various four-point characterization configurations. This technique is first demonstrated with a discrete element four-point test device and then with a capacitively and ohmically contacted Hall bar sample using lock-in measurement techniques. In all cases, data fit well to a circuit simulation of the entire measurement system over the whole frequency range of interest, and best results are achieved with large area capacitive contacts and a high input-impedance preamplifier stage. Results of samples (substrates grown by Max Bichler Dieter Schuh, and Frank Fischer of the WSI) measured in the QHE regime in magnetic fields up to 15 T at temperatures down to 1.5 K will also be shown

Lipoprotein FtsB in Streptococcus pyogenes binds ferrichrome in two steps with residues Tyr137 and Trp204 as critical ligands.

Lipoprotein FtsB is a component of the FtsABCD transporter that is responsible for ferrichrome binding and uptake in the Gram-positive pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes. In the present study, FtsB was cloned and purified from the bacteria and its Fch binding characteristics were investigated in detail by using various biophysical and biochemical methods. Based on the crystal structures of homogeneous proteins, FtsB was simulated to have bi-lobal structure forming a deep cleft with four residues in the cleft as potential ligands for Fch binding. With the assistance of site-directed mutagenesis, residue Trp204 was confirmed as a key ligand and Tyr137 was identified to be another essential residue for Fch binding. Kinetics experiments demonstrated that Fch binding in FtsB occurred in two steps, corresponding to the bindings to Tyr137 at N-lobe and Trp204 from C-lobe, respectively, and so that closing the protein conformation. Without either residue Tyr137 or Trp204, Fch binding in the protein as mutants Fch-Y137A and Fch-W204A may have a loose conformation, resembling the apo-proteins in proteolysis resistance and migration behaviors in native gel. This study revealed the inconsistence in the key amino acids among Fch-binding proteins from Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, providing interesting findings for understanding the differences between Gram-positive and -negative bacteria in the mechanism of iron uptake via siderophore (Fch) binding and transport

Secondary structural analyses based on circular dichroism spectral measurements.

<p>Triplicate independent measurements were performed.</p

Sequence alignment of FtsB homologs using Clustal-X.

<p>Sequences of FhuD1 and FhuD2 from <i>S. aureus</i> (SA), FhuD from <i>B. subtilis</i> (BS), <i>B. halodurans</i> (BH), <i>C. acetobutylicum</i> (CA), <i>S. porcinus</i> (SP) and <i>S. sanguinis</i> (SS) are included. Colours in the alignment are default by the rules as set out in the file colprot.par which comes with the clustal-x application.</p

Ferrichrome binding to FtsB.

<p>(A) Fluorescence spectroscopy of WT-FtsBs (1.5 µM) in 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.2) upon the addition of aliquot ferrichrome. Apo-WT-FtsB in the presence of 0 (Black), 0.3 (Red), 0.6 (Blue), 0.9 (Dark cyan), 1.2 (Magenata), 1.5 (Dark yellow), 2.25 (Navy), 3.0 (Wine) and 3.75 (Pink) molar equivalents of Fch. (B) Hill plot analysis of the titration curve of ferrichrome with WT and mutant FtsBs.</p

Expression and purification of FtsB.

<p>(A) SDS–PAGE analysis of recombinantly expressed FtsB. Lane 1, Molecular marker; lane 2, whole cell lysates; lane 3, fusion protein; lane 4, thrombin cleavage products; lane 5, pure FtsB; lane 6, GST. (B) Western blotting of fusion protein.</p