Released micromachined beams utilizing laterally uniform porosity porous silicon

© 2014, Sun et al.; licensee Springer. Abstract: Suspended micromachined porous silicon beams with laterally uniform porosity are reported, which have been fabricated using standard photolithography processes designed for compatibility with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Anodization, annealing, reactive ion etching, repeated photolithography, lift off and electropolishing processes were used to release patterned porous silicon microbeams on a Si substrate. This is the first time that micromachined, suspended PS microbeams have been demonstrated with laterally uniform porosity, well-defined anchors and flat surfaces. PACS: 81.16.-c; 81.16.Nd; 81.16.R

Genome‐wide analysis of epigenetic and transcriptional changes associated with heterosis in pigeonpea

Hybrids are extensively used in agriculture to deliver an increase in yield, yet the molecular basisof heterosis is not well understood. Global DNA methylation analysis, transcriptome analysis andsmall RNA profiling were aimed to understand the epigenetic effect of the changes in geneexpression level in the two hybrids and their parental lines. Increased DNA methylation wasobserved in both the hybrids as compared to their parents. This increased DNA methylation inhybrids showed that majority of the 24-nt siRNA clusters had higher expression in hybrids thanthe parents. Transcriptome analysis revealed that various phytohormones (auxin and salicylicacid) responsive hybrid-MPV DEGs were significantly altered in both the hybrids in comparison toMPV. DEGs associated with plant immunity and growth were overexpressed whereas DEGsassociated with basal defence level were repressed. This antagonistic patterns of gene expressionmight contribute to the greater growth of the hybrids. It was also noticed that some common aswell as unique changes in the regulatory pathways were associated with heterotic growth inboth the hybrids. Approximately 70% and 67% of down-regulated hybrid-MPV DEGs werefound to be differentially methylated in ICPH 2671 and ICPH 2740 hybrid, respectively. Thisreflected the association of epigenetic regulation in altered gene expressions. Our findings alsorevealed that miRNAs might play important roles in hybrid vigour in both the hybrids byregulating their target genes, especially in controlling plant growth and development, defenceand stress response pathways. The above finding provides an insight into the molecularmechanism of pigeonpea heterosis

Limb development genes underlie variation in human fingerprint patterns

Fingerprints are of long-standing practical and cultural interest, but little is known about the mechanisms that underlie their variation. Using genome-wide scans in Han Chinese cohorts, we identified 18 loci associated with fingerprint type across the digits, including a genetic basis for the long-recognized “pattern-block” correlations among the middle three digits. In particular, we identified a variant near EVI1 that alters regulatory activity and established a role for EVI1 in dermatoglyph patterning in mice. Dynamic EVI1 expression during human development supports its role in shaping the limbs and digits, rather than influencing skin patterning directly. Trans-ethnic meta-analysis identified 43 fingerprint-associated loci, with nearby genes being strongly enriched for general limb development pathways. We also found that fingerprint patterns were genetically correlated with hand proportions. Taken together, these findings support the key role of limb development genes in influencing the outcome of fingerprint patterning

Attachment of marine sponge cells of Hymeniacidon perleve on microcarriers

1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 2003

Mechanical and biological properties of hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate scaffolds coated with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)

Regeneration of bone, cartilage, and osteochondral tissues by tissue engineering has attracted intense attention due to its potential advantages over the traditional replacement of tissues with synthetic implants. Nevertheless, there is still a dearth of ideal or suitable scaffolds based on porous biomaterials and the present study was to develop and evaluate a useful porous composite scaffold system. Here, hydroxyapatite (HA)/ tricalcium phosphate (TCP) scaffolds (average pore size: 500 um; porosity: 87%) were prepared by a polyurethane (PU) foam replica method, followed by modification with infiltration and coating of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). The thermal shock resistance of the composite scaffolds was evaluated by measuring the compressive strength before and after quenching or freezing treatment. The porous structure (in terms of pore size, porosity and pore interconnectivity) of the composite scaffolds were examined. The penetration of the bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSCs) into the scaffolds and the attachment of the cells onto the scaffolds were also investigated. It was shown that the PLGA incorporation in the HA/TCP scaffolds significantly increased the compressive strength up to 660 kPa and the residual compressive strength after the freezing treatment decreased to 160 kPa, which was however sufficient enough for the scaffolds to withstand subsequent cell culture procedures and a freezing drying process. On the other hand, the PLGA coating on the strut surfaces of the scaffolds was rather thin (< 5 um) and apparently porous, maintaining the high open porosity of the HA/TCP scaffolds, resulting in desirable migration and attachment of the bone marrow stromal stem cells, although a thicker PLGA coating would have imparted a higher compressive strength of the PLGA-coated porous HA/TCP composite scaffolds

Sloane's Gap. Do Mathematical and Social Factors Explain the Distribution of Numbers in the OEIS ?

International audienceNo abstrac

Pathologically decreased csf levels of synaptic marker nptx2 in dlb are correlated with levels of alpha-synuclein and vgf

Background: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a neurodegenerative disease where synaptic loss and reduced synaptic integrity are important neuropathological substrates. Neuronal Pentraxin 2(NPTX2) is a synaptic protein that drives the GABAergic inhibitory circuit. Our aim was to examine if NPTX2 cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) levels in DLB patients were altered and how these levels related to other synaptic protein levels and to cognitive function and decline. Methods: NPTX2, VGF, and α-synuclein levels were determined in CSF of cognitive healthy (n = 27), DLB (n = 48), and AD (n = 20) subjects. Multiple cognitive domains were tested, and data were compared using linear models. Results: Decreased NPTX2 levels were observed in DLB (median = 474) and AD (median = 453) compared to cognitive healthy subjects (median = 773). Strong correlations between NPTX2, VGF, and α-synuclein were observed dependent on diagnosis. Combined, these markers had a high differentiating power between DLB and cognitive healthy subjects (AUC = 0.944). Clinically, NPTX2 levels related to global cognitive function and cognitive decline in the visual spatial domain. Conclusion: NPTX2 CSF levels were reduced in DLB and closely correlated to decreased VGF and α-synuclein CSF levels. CSF NPTX2 levels in DLB related to decreased functioning in the visual spatial domain