Etch Induced Microwave Losses in Titanium Nitride Superconducting Resonators

We have investigated the correlation between the microwave loss and patterning method for coplanar waveguide titanium nitride resonators fabricated on Si wafers. Three different methods were investigated: fluorine- and chlorine-based reactive ion etches and an argon-ion mill. At high microwave probe powers the reactive etched resonators showed low internal loss, whereas the ion-milled samples showed dramatically higher loss. At single-photon powers we found that the fluorine-etched resonators exhibited substantially lower loss than the chlorine-etched ones. We interpret the results by use of numerically calculated filling factors and find that the silicon surface exhibits a higher loss when chlorine-etched than when fluorine-etched. We also find from microscopy that re-deposition of silicon onto the photoresist and side walls is the probable cause for the high loss observed for the ion-milled resonator

Effect of bone decalcification procedures on DNA in situ hybridization and comparative genomic hybridization. EDTA is highly preferable to a routinely used acid decalcifier

Decalcification is routinely performed for histological studies of bone-containing tissue. Although DNA in situ hybridization (ISH) and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) have been successfully employed on archival material, little has been reported on the use of these techniques on archival decalcified bony material. In this study we compared the effects of two commonly used decalcifiers, i.e. , one proprietary, acid-based agent (RDO) and one chelating agent (EDTA), in relation to subsequent DNA ISH and CGH to bony tissues (two normal vertebrae, six prostate tumor bone metastases with one sample decalcified by both EDTA and RDO). We found that RDO-decalcified tissue was not suited for DNA ISH in tissue sections with centromere-specific probes, whereas we were able to adequately determine the chromosomal status of EDTA-decalcified material of both control and tumor material. Gel electrophoresis revealed that no DNA could be successfully retrieved from RDO-treated material. Moreover, in contrast to RDO-decalcified tumor material, we detected several chromosomal imbalances in the EDTA-decalcified tumor tissue by CGH analysis. Furthermore, it was possible to determine the DNA ploidy status of EDTA- but not of RDO-decalcified material by DNA flow cytometry. Decalcification of bony samples by EDTA is highly recommended for application in DNA ISH and CGH techniques

Modelling Contamination of Raw Milk with Butyric Acid Bacteria Spores

Raw milk contains low concentrations of bacterial endospores, originating from the farm environment (e.g. soil, feeds, faeces). Spores of Clostridium tyrobutyricum, also called butyric acid bacterium (BAB), are of great interest to the dairy industry. They survive milk pasteurisation and cause off-flavours and texture defects in various cheese types. The contamination pathway of BAB spores is well known. Their primary origin is soil. In silage the number of spores will increase if conditions permit BAB growth. The spores are excreted in the cows faeces and are transferred to milk by contaminated teat surfaces. Many factors are involved in the contamination of milk with BAB spores. In this study, the contamination pathway was described using a combination of predictive models. The objective of the study was to quantitatively assess the importance of the different steps of the contamination pathway and to identify the most effective control points

Specificity of the osmotic stress response in Candida albicans highlighted by quantitative proteomics

We are grateful to the BBSRC for funding the CRISP Consortium (Combinatorial Responses in Stress Pathways) under the SABR Initiative (Systems Approaches to Biological Research) (BB/F00513X/1; BB/F005210/1). AJPB was also funded by the BBSRC (BB/K017365/1), the ERC (C-2009-AdG-249793), the Wellcome Trust (097377), the MRC (MR/M026663/1), and the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology and the University of Aberdeen (MR/M026663/1).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Asymmetric Proteome Equalization of the Skeletal Muscle Proteome Using a Combinatorial Hexapeptide Library

Immobilized combinatorial peptide libraries have been advocated as a strategy for equalization of the dynamic range of a typical proteome. The technology has been applied predominantly to blood plasma and other biological fluids such as urine, but has not been used extensively to address the issue of dynamic range in tissue samples. Here, we have applied the combinatorial library approach to the equalization of a tissue where there is also a dramatic asymmetry in the range of abundances of proteins; namely, the soluble fraction of skeletal muscle. We have applied QconCAT and label-free methodology to the quantification of the proteins that bind to the beads as the loading is progressively increased. Although some equalization is achieved, and the most abundant proteins no longer dominate the proteome analysis, at high protein loadings a new asymmetry of protein expression is reached, consistent with the formation of complex assembles of heat shock proteins, cytoskeletal elements and other proteins on the beads. Loading at different ionic strength values leads to capture of different subpopulations of proteins, but does not completely eliminate the bias in protein accumulation. These assemblies may impair the broader utility of combinatorial library approaches to the equalization of tissue proteomes. However, the asymmetry in equalization is manifest at either low and high ionic strength values but manipulation of the solvent conditions may extend the capacity of the method

Changes in quantitative sensory testing and patient perspectives following spinal cord stimulation for persistent spinal pain syndrome:an observational study with long-term follow-up

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can impact sensory, pain and tolerance thresholds in various ways, which can be accessed via quantitative sensory testing (QST). The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the subjective sensory responses using QST in patients following SCS therapy for PSPS and (2) to get a clinical impression of the results of SCS during an interview of these patients with PSPS and SCS during long term follow-up. METHODS: Forty patients with PSPS who received SCS treatment underwent QST via electrical and mechanical pressure stimuli. QST was performed at four different moments (1. pre-implantation SCS, 2. two weeks postoperatively, 3. three months after permanent SCS implantation and 4. six months after permanent SCS implantation. Patients' perspectives on pain, use of drugs and quality of life were assessed via semi-structured interviews during a follow-up between five and eleven years. RESULTS: We found statistical differences in the changes of sensory, pain and tolerance thresholds. A decrease in pain complaints and analgesics use were reported by the patients during follow-up. The quality of life in patients increased from three to eight (NRS 0 (worst QoL imaginable) -10 (best QoL imaginable) after receiving SCS. CONCLUSIONS: The increased thresholds on areas without pain or being covered by the SCS induced paresthesias may indicate that there are central changes contributing to these deviations in thresholds. The overall QoL in patients improved greatly after receiving SCS

Sub-micrometer epitaxial Josephson junctions for quantum circuits

We present a fabrication scheme and testing results for epitaxial sub-micrometer Josephson junctions. The junctions are made using a high-temperature (1170 K) "via process" yielding junctions as small as 0.8 mu m in diameter by use of optical lithography. Sapphire (Al2O3) tunnel-barriers are grown on an epitaxial Re/Ti multilayer base-electrode. We have fabricated devices with both Re and Al top electrodes. While room-temperature (295 K) resistance versus area data are favorable for both types of top electrodes, the low-temperature (50 mK) data show that junctions with the Al top electrode have a much higher subgap resistance. The microwave loss properties of the junctions have been measured by use of superconducting Josephson junction qubits. The results show that high subgap resistance correlates to improved qubit performance

Modelling home care organisations from an operations management perspective

Home Care (HC) service consists of providing care to patients in their homes. During the last decade, the HC service industry experienced significant growth in many European countries. This growth stems from several factors, such as governmental pressure to reduce healthcare costs, demographic changes related to population ageing, social changes, an increase in the number of patients that suffer from chronic illnesses, and the development of new home-based services and technologies. This study proposes a framework that will enable HC service providers to better understand HC operations and their management. The study identifies the main processes and decisions that relate to the field of HC operations management. Hence, an IDEF0 (Integrated Definition for Function Modelling) activity-based model describes the most relevant clinical, logistical and organisational processes associated with HC operations. A hierarchical framework for operations management decisions is also proposed. This analysis is derived from data that was collected by nine HC service providers, which are located in France and Italy, and focuses on the manner in which operations are run, as well as associated constraints, inputs and outputs. The most challenging research areas in the field of HC operations management are also discussed