2,992 research outputs found
Measuring the Impossible: an EU New and Emerging Science and Technologies Initiative Symposium
The influence of thermo-chemotherapy on bladder tumours: an immunohistochemical analysis
To study the influence of microwave induced thermo-chemotherapy on high-grade urothelial cell carcinomas. Five groups of each three patients were formed of whom initial biopsies and cystectomy samples were collected. Patients were treated 2Â days prior to cystectomy with mitomycin-C (group 1), hyperthermia (group 2) or thermo-chemotherapy (group 3). Group 4 patients had been treated with a cycle of six thermo-chemotherapy treatments prior to cystectomy and group 5 patients served as control (no treatment). Tumour samples were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin, monoclonal antibody Ki-67 and the monoclonal antibody p53. In six out of the nine patients treated with hyperthermia a decrease in proliferation activity in the tumour was found. Seven out of nine patients treated with hyperthermia showed a decrease in p53 activity. A decrease in proliferation activity and p53 activity illustrate the potential role of thermo-chemotherapy as a promising intravesical treatment
Multimodel strong coupling of photonic crystal cavities of dissimilar size
A photonic crystal three missing holes nanocavity, having only a few modes, is coupled to a 60 missing holes long multimode cavity, both fabricated in the same InGaAsP membrane. The coupling was studied in detail by the photothermal tuning of the small cavity over about three free spectral ranges of the large cavity. Strong coupling effects, involving at least three large cavity modes simultaneously, were observed from level anticrossing data. The observations are excellently reproduced by a model of coupled Fabry Perot resonator
Measuring Physical and visual material properties to determine their perceives degree of naturalness
Alkaloid production by a Cinchona officinalis "Ledgeriana" hairy root culture containing constitutive expression constructs of tryptophan decarboxylase and strictosidine synthase cDNAs from Catharanthus roseus
Cinchona officinalis âLedgerianaâ, former
called Cinchona ledgeriana, hairy roots were initiated
containing constitutive-expression constructs of cDNAs
encoding the enzymes tryptophan decarboxylase
(TDC) and strictosidine synthase (STR) from Catharanthus roseus, two key enzymes in terpenoid indole
and quinoline alkaloid biosynthesis. The successful
integration of these genes and the reporter gene gus-int
was demonstrated using Southern blotting and the
polymerase chain reaction. The products of TDC and
STR, tryptamine and strictosidine, were found in high
amounts, 1200 and 1950 mg gâ1 dry weight, respectively.
Quinine and quinidine levels were found to rise up to
500 and 1000 mg gâ1 dry weight, respectively. The
results show that genetic engineering with multiple
genes is well possible in hairy roots of C. officinalis.
However, 1 year after analyzing the hairy roots for the
first time, they had completely lost their capacity to
accumulate alkaloids.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Alkaloid production by a Cinchona officinalis "Ledgeriana" hairy root culture containing constitutive expression constructs of tryptophan decarboxylase and strictosidine synthase cDNAs from Catharanthus roseus
Cinchona officinalis âLedgerianaâ, former
called Cinchona ledgeriana, hairy roots were initiated
containing constitutive-expression constructs of cDNAs
encoding the enzymes tryptophan decarboxylase
(TDC) and strictosidine synthase (STR) from Catharanthus roseus, two key enzymes in terpenoid indole
and quinoline alkaloid biosynthesis. The successful
integration of these genes and the reporter gene gus-int
was demonstrated using Southern blotting and the
polymerase chain reaction. The products of TDC and
STR, tryptamine and strictosidine, were found in high
amounts, 1200 and 1950 mg gâ1 dry weight, respectively.
Quinine and quinidine levels were found to rise up to
500 and 1000 mg gâ1 dry weight, respectively. The
results show that genetic engineering with multiple
genes is well possible in hairy roots of C. officinalis.
However, 1 year after analyzing the hairy roots for the
first time, they had completely lost their capacity to
accumulate alkaloids.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Detection of the tulip breaking virus (TBV) in tulips using optical sensors
The tulip breaking virus (TBV) causes severe economic losses for countries that export tulips such as the Netherlands. Infected plants have to be removed from the field as soon as possible. There is an urgent need for a rapid and objective method of screening. In this study, four proximal optical sensing techniques for the detection of TBV in tulip plants were evaluated and compared with a visual assessment by crop experts as well as with an ELISA (enzyme immunoassay) analysis of the same plants. The optical sensor techniques used were an RGB color camera, a spectrophotometer measuring from 350 to 2500 nm, a spectral imaging camera covering a spectral range from 400 to 900 nm and a chlorophyll fluorescence imaging system that measures the photosynthetic activity. Linear discriminant classification was used to compare the results of these optical techniques and the visual assessment with the ELISA score. The spectral imaging system was the best optical technique and its error was only slightly larger than the visual assessment error. The experimental results appear to be promising, and they have led to further research to develop an autonomous robot for the detection and removal of diseased tulip plants in the open field. The application of this robot system will reduce the amount of insecticides and the considerable pressure on labor for selecting diseased plants by the crop expert. © 2010 The Author(s
InP-based two-dimensional photonic crystals filled with polymers
Polymer filling of the air holes of Indium Phosphide based two-dimensional
photonic crystals is reported. After infiltration of the holes with a liquid
monomer and solidification of the infill in situ by thermal polymerization,
complete filling is proven using scanning electron microscopy. Optical
transmission measurements of a filled photonic crystal structure exhibit a
redshift of the air band, confirming the complete filling.Comment: To be published in Appl. Phys. Let
Describing whisker morphology of the Carnivora
One of the largest ecological transitions in carnivoran evolution was the shift from terrestrial to aquatic lifestyles, which has driven morphological diversity in skulls and other skeletal structures. In this paper we investigate the association between those lifestyles and
whisker morphology. However, comparing whisker morphology over a range of species is challenging since the number of whiskers and their positions on the mystacial pads vary
between species. Also, each whisker will be at a different stage of growth and may have incurred damage due to wear and tear. Identifying a way to easily capture whisker morphology in a small number of whisker samples would be beneficial. Here, we describe individual and species variation in whisker morphology from two-dimensional scans in red fox, European otter and grey seal. A comparison of long, caudal whiskers shows interspecies differences most clearly. We go on to describe global whisker shape in 24 species of carnivorans, using linear approximations of curvature and taper, as well as traditional morphometric methods. We also qualitatively examine surface texture, or the presence of scales, using Scanning Electron Microscope images. We show that gross highly conserved, with whisker curvature and taper obeying simple linear relationships with length. However, measures of whisker base radius, length, and maybe even curvature, can vary between species and substrate preferences. Specifically, the aquatic species in our sample have thicker, shorter whiskers that are smoother, with less scales present than those of terrestrial species. We suggest that these thicker whiskers may be stiffer and able to maintain their shape and position during underwater sensing, but being stiffer may also increase wear
Scenario planning for the Edinburgh city region
This paper examines the application of scenario planning techniques to the detailed and daunting challenge of city re-positioning when policy makers are faced with a heavy history and a complex future context. It reviews a process of scenario planning undertaken in the Edinburgh city region, exploring the scenario process and its contribution to strategies and policies for city repositioning. Strongly rooted in the recent literature on urban and regional economic development, the text outlines how key individuals and organisations involved in the process participated in far-reaching analyses of the possible future worlds in which the Edinburgh city region might find itself
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