Field-effect transistors assembled from functionalized carbon nanotubes

We have fabricated field effect transistors from carbon nanotubes using a novel selective placement scheme. We use carbon nanotubes that are covalently bound to molecules containing hydroxamic acid functionality. The functionalized nanotubes bind strongly to basic metal oxide surfaces, but not to silicon dioxide. Upon annealing, the functionalization is removed, restoring the electronic properties of the nanotubes. The devices we have fabricated show excellent electrical characteristics.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Studies on the genetic and non-genetic (physiological) variation of human erythrocyte glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase

The thermostability profile of seven different electrophoretic variants of human erythrocyte GOT found in 13 different, unrelated families from a racially heterogeneous population was examined. The five different slow-variant and the two different fast-variant classes could be grouped into four different thermostability classes which were termed unstable, less stable, normal and more stable than normal. The thermostability differences among and within the electrophoretic variant classes permitted differentiation of the 13 individusals possessing an electrophoretic variant phenotype into a total of ten different variants.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66025/1/j.1469-1809.1982.tb00711.x.pd

Emerging Infectious Diseases: a 10-Year Perspective from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Advances in infectious disease research over the past 10 years have allowed breakthroughs in th

Stimulation der TSH-Sekretion durch TRF-Belastung bei hypothalamischen und hypophysären Krankheitsbildern

1. Die Antworten der Serum-TSH-Spiegel (Thyreoidea-stimulierendes Hormon) auf TRF-Injektion (Thyrotropin Releasing Factor) bei 8 Normalpersonen und 37 z. T. zweimal untersuchten Patienten mit hypophysärer oder hypothalamischer Erkrankung werden mitgeteilt. 2. Hypophysektomierte Patienten mit intrasellären Tumoren (N=12) zeigten keine oder nur subnormale Anstiege der TSH-Spiegel. 3. Von 9 präoperativ untersuchten Patienten mit intrasellärem HVL-Adenom hatten 3 eine sekundäre Hypothyreose. Diese 3 reagierten dennoch mit einem normalen Anstieg der TSH-Spiegel. Dieser Befund schränkt die diagnostische Wertigkeit der TRF-Belastung zur Differenzierung hypophysärer und hypothalamischer sekundärer Hypothyreosen ein. Die 6 euthyreoten Patienten dieser Gruppe zeigten erwartungsgemäß einen normalen TSH-Anstieg. 4. Bei den Patienten mit sekundärer Hypothyreose bei suprasellärem Tumor oder hypothalamischer Erkrankung (N=7) fand sich mit einer Ausnahme ein normaler oder ein erhöhter TSH-Anstieg. Die Bedeutung des Ausschlusses einer primären Hypothyreose wurde dargestellt, da diese Erkrankung ebenfalls durch erhöhte TSH-Anstiege bei TRF-Belastung charakterisiert ist. 5. Je ein Patient aus der Gruppe der aktiven (N=7) und der behandelten (N=6) Akromegalie zeigten einen nicht auf eine primäre Hypothyreose zurückführbaren erhöhen TSH-Anstieg, dessen Rolle für das gehäufte Auftreten einer Struma bei Akromegalie zu diskutieren ist.1. The response of the serum TSH levels after i.v. administration of 500 µg TRF have been determined in normal controls (n=8) and in 37 patients with pituitary tumour or hypothalamic disease. 2. Following hypophysectomy in patients with intrasellar tumours (n=12), the increment in TSH levels after TRF was absent or diminished. 3. Secondary hypothyroidism was found pre-operatively in 3 of 9 patients with intrasellar pituitary adenoma. In these 3 patients, however, a normal TSH response to TRF was found. This result diminishes the diagnostic value of the TRF test regarding the distinction of pituitary and hypothalamic secondary hypothyroidism. A normal TSH response was found, as expected, in the 6 euthyroid patients of this group. 4. The TSH response was found to be normal or elevated in all but one of 7 patients with secondary hypothyroidism due to suprasellar tumour or hypothalamic disease. Primary hypothyroidism is also characterized by an increased TSH response and has to be excluded. 5. Among the patients with active (n=7) or treated (n=6) acromegaly, increased TSH response was found twice, i.e. in one patient of each of the two groups. In both patients, primary hypothyroidism could be excluded. The relevance of this increased TSH response for goitrogenesis in acromegaly is discussed

Consumption of pasteurized human lysozyme transgenic goats’ milk alters serum metabolite profile in young pigs

Nutrition, bacterial composition of the gastrointestinal tract, and general health status can all influence the metabolic profile of an organism. We previously demonstrated that feeding pasteurized transgenic goats’ milk expressing human lysozyme (hLZ) can positively impact intestinal morphology and modulate intestinal microbiota composition in young pigs. The objective of this study was to further examine the effect of consuming hLZ-containing milk on young pigs by profiling serum metabolites. Pigs were placed into two groups and fed a diet of solid food and either control (non-transgenic) goats’ milk or milk from hLZ-transgenic goats for 6 weeks. Serum samples were collected at the end of the feeding period and global metabolite profiling was performed. For a total of 225 metabolites (160 known, 65 unknown) semi-quantitative data was obtained. Levels of 18 known and 4 unknown metabolites differed significantly between the two groups with the direction of change in 13 of the 18 known metabolites being almost entirely congruent with improved health status, particularly in terms of the gastrointestinal tract health and immune response, with the effects of the other five being neutral or unknown. These results further support our hypothesis that consumption of hLZ-containing milk is beneficial to health

Effect of Coenzyme Q10 on ischemia and neuronal damage in an experimental traumatic brain-injury model in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Head trauma is one of the most important clinical issues that not only can be fatal and disabling, requiring long-term treatment and care, but also can cause heavy financial burden. Formation or distribution of free oxygen radicals should be decreased to enable fixing of poor neurological outcomes and to prevent neuronal damage secondary to ischemia after trauma. Coenzyme Q₁₀(CoQ₁₀), a component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, is a strong antioxidant that plays a role in membrane stabilization. In this study, the role of CoQ₁₀in the treatment of head trauma is researched by analyzing the histopathological and biochemical effects of CoQ₁₀administered after experimental traumatic brain injury in rats. A traumatic brain-injury model was created in all rats. Trauma was inflicted on rats by the free fall of an object of 450 g weight from a height of 70 cm on the frontoparietal midline onto a metal disc fixed between the coronal and the lambdoid sutures after a midline incision was carried out.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the biochemical tests, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly higher in the traumatic brain-injury group compared to the sham group (<it>p </it>< 0.05). Administration of CoQ₁₀after trauma was shown to be protective because it significantly lowered the increased MDA levels (<it>p </it>< 0.05). Comparing the superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels of the four groups, trauma + CoQ₁₀group had SOD levels ranging between those of sham group and traumatic brain-injury group, and no statistically significant increase was detected. Histopathological results showed a statistically significant difference between the CoQ₁₀and the other trauma-subjected groups with reference to vascular congestion, neuronal loss, nuclear pyknosis, nuclear hyperchromasia, cytoplasmic eosinophilia, and axonal edema (<it>p </it>< 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Neuronal degenerative findings and the secondary brain damage and ischemia caused by oxidative stress are decreased by CoQ₁₀use in rats with traumatic brain injury.</p

Statin Treatment Increases Lifespan and Improves Cardiac Health in Drosophila by Decreasing Specific Protein Prenylation

Statins such as simvastatin are 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors and standard therapy for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in mammals. Here we show that simvastatin significantly increased the mean and maximum lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster (Drosophila) and enhanced cardiac function in aging flies by significantly reducing heart arrhythmias and increasing the contraction proportion of the contraction/relaxation cycle. These results appeared independent of internal changes in ubiquinone or juvenile hormone levels. Rather, they appeared to involve decreased protein prenylation. Simvastatin decreased the membrane association (prenylation) of specific small Ras GTPases in mice. Both farnesyl (L744832) and type 1 geranylgeranyl transferase (GGTI-298) inhibitors increased Drosophila lifespan. These data are the most direct evidence to date that decreased protein prenylation can increase cardiac health and lifespan in any metazoan species, and may explain the pleiotropic (non-cholesterol related) health effects of statins