Quantum confinement effect in ZnO/Mg0.2Zn0.8O multishell nanorod heterostructures

We report on photoluminescence measurements of Mg0.2Zn0.8O/ZnO/Mg0.2Zn0.8O multishell layers on ZnO core nanorods. Dominant excitonic emissions in the photoluminescence spectra show a blueshift depending on the ZnO shell layer thickness attributed to the quantum confinement effect in the nanorod heterostructure radial direction. Furthermore, near-field scanning optical microscopy clearly shows sharp photoluminescence peaks from the individual nanorod quantum structures, corresponding to subband levels.open114747sciescopu

Survey of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus hatchery in Korea

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) generally occurs after juvenile olive flounders (Paralichthys olivaceus) are moved from the hatchery to on-growing system in Korea during spring. However, it remains unclear whether fish are infected by VHS virus (VHSV) in the hatchery or the on-growing system. In the present study, a survey was conducted to investigate VHSV infection in 39 olive flounder hatcheries from 2014 to 2017. Fish were tested for the presence of VHSV by inoculating sample to fathead minnow (FHM) and chinook salmon embryo (CHSE-214) cells to observe cytopathic effect, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and antibody detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). VHSV was not detected in any of the 2,430 fish (from 461 pooled and 156 unpooled samples), although 34 (20.3%) of 167 samples was found to be positive for marine birnavirus (MABV) by cell culture and RT-PCR. Antibody detection ELISA results showed that all 212 fish sera have optical density (OD) values below of 0.1, suggesting that these fish had no VHSV-specific antibodies. Moreover, VHSV was not detected in any of 40 pooled samples (172 fish) collected after shifting rearing water temperature from 17-21°C to 10-15°C. In conclusion, the 39 olive flounder hatcheries surveyed in Korea was not infected by VHSV

Continuous non-destructive conductivity monitoring of chondrogenesis using bioimpedance tensor probe

A continuous non-destructive monitoring method is required to apply proper feedback controls during chondrogenesis. We measured the apparent conductivity and the amount of anisotropy on the top and bottom surfaces of samples in the chondrogenesis process to evaluate the ECM structure and composition changes. We compared them with histological trait to analyse the results

Effect of Crystallization Modes in TIPS-Pentacene/Insulating Polymer Blends on the Gas Sensing Properties of Organic Field-Effect Transistors

Blending organic semiconductors with insulating polymers has been known to be an effective way to overcome the disadvantages of single-component organic semiconductors for high-performance organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). We show that when a solution processable organic semiconductor (6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, TIPS-pentacene) is blended with an insulating polymer (PS), morphological and structural characteristics of the blend films could be significantly influenced by the processing conditions like the spin coating time. Although vertical phase-separated structures (TIPS-pentacene-top/PS-bottom) were formed on the substrate regardless of the spin coating time, the spin time governed the growth mode of the TIPS-pentacene molecules that phase-separated and crystallized on the insulating polymer. Excess residual solvent in samples spun for a short duration induces a convective flow in the drying droplet, thereby leading to one-dimensional (1D) growth mode of TIPS-pentacene crystals. In contrast, after an appropriate spin-coating time, an optimum amount of the residual solvent in the film led to two-dimensional (2D) growth mode of TIPS-pentacene crystals. The 2D spherulites of TIPS-pentacene are extremely advantageous for improving the field-effect mobility of FETs compared to needle-like 1D structures, because of the high surface coverage of crystals with a unique continuous film structure. In addition, the porous structure observed in the 2D crystalline film allows gas molecules to easily penetrate into the channel region, thereby improving the gas sensing properties

Altered resting-state connectivity in subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis: an fMRI study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis have self-disturbances and deficits in social cognition and functioning. Midline default network areas, including the medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex, are implicated in self-referential and social cognitive tasks. Thus, the neural substrates within the default mode network (DMN) have the potential to mediate self-referential and social cognitive information processing in UHR subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate resting-state DMN and task-related network (TRN) functional connectivity in 19 UHR subjects and 20 matched healthy controls. The bilateral posterior cingulate cortex was selected as a seed region, and the intrinsic organization for all subjects was reconstructed on the basis of fMRI time series correlation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Default mode areas included the posterior/anterior cingulate cortices, the medial prefrontal cortex, the lateral parietal cortex, and the inferior temporal region. Task-related network areas included the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, the inferior parietal lobule, and middle temporal cortex. Compared to healthy controls, UHR subjects exhibit hyperconnectivity within the default network regions and reduced anti-correlations (or negative correlations nearer to zero) between the posterior cingulate cortex and task-related areas.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings suggest that abnormal resting-state network activity may be related with the clinical features of UHR subjects. Neurodevelopmental and anatomical alterations of cortical midline structure might underlie altered intrinsic networks in UHR subjects.</p

Development of a compact ICRF antenna for high-power and long-pulse plasma heating in the KSTAR

For the high-power and long-pulse ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) heating of the KSTAR plasma, we developed the compact ICRF antenna (CIA). The target injection power of CIA is 2 MW for 300 s. In order to continue injecting the power into plasma even if drastic instantaneous changes occur in the plasma condition, such as ELM events, we adopted the internal conjugate-T method for the load resilience. Between antenna heads and the junction point, impedance transformers were inserted to satisfy the condition of conjugate-T in a limited space keeping the electric field on the transformer low enough. To reduce the risk of water leakage into the vacuum chamber, only the backsides of antenna heads are water-cooled in the in-vessel region

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3-mediated CD133 up-regulation contributes to promotion of hepatocellular carcinoma

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Bowel Preparation for Capsule Endoscopy: A Prospective Randomized Multicenter Study

Background/Aims: The ability to visualize the small bowel mucosa by capsule endoscopy is limited. Moreover, studies involving small-bowel preparation with purgative drugs have failed to establish which preparations produce better images and higher diagnostic yields. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacies and diagnostic yields of different bowel preparations. Methods: A cohort of 134 patients with suspected small bowel disease was randomly assigned to 3 groups. Patients in group A (n=44) fasted for 12 h before being administered an M2A capsule (Given Imaging, Yoqneam, Israel). Patients in group B (n=45) were asked to drink two doses of 45 mL of sodium phosphate (NaP) with water during the afternoon and evening on the day before the procedure and to drink at least 2 L of water thereafter. Patients in group C (n=45) drank 2 L of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) lavage solution the evening before the procedure. Results: Overall cleansing of the small bowel was adequate in 43% of patients in group A, 77% of those in group B, and 56% of those in group C (group A vs; group B, p=0.001). Diagnoses for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding were established in 9 patients (39%) in group A, 16 patients (69%) in group B, and 14 patients (50%) in group C. No significant difference in diagnostic yield was observed between groups. Conclusions: Bowel preparation with NaP for capsule endoscopy improved small-bowel mucosal visualization when compared to 12-h overnight fasting. (Gut and Liver 2009;3:180-185)Wei W, 2008, AM J GASTROENTEROL, V103, P77, DOI 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01633.xCheon JH, 2007, GUT LIVER, V1, P118van Tuyl SAC, 2007, ENDOSCOPY, V39, P1037, DOI 10.1055/s-2007-966988Ben-Soussan E, 2005, J CLIN GASTROENTEROL, V39, P381FIREMAN Z, 2005, WORLD J GASTROENTERO, V11, P5863DAI N, 2005, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V61, P28Viazis N, 2004, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V60, P534Niv Y, 2004, SCAND J GASTROENTERO, V39, P1005, DOI 10.1080/00365520410003209Fireman Z, 2004, ISRAEL MED ASSOC J, V6, P521Albert J, 2004, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V59, P487Pennazio M, 2004, GASTROENTEROLOGY, V126, P643, DOI 10.1053/j.gastro.2003.11.057Mylonaki M, 2003, GUT, V52, P1122Costamagna G, 2002, GASTROENTEROLOGY, V123, P999, DOI 10.1053/gast.2002.35988Lewis BS, 2002, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V56, P349, DOI 10.1067/mge.2002.126906Kastenberg D, 2001, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V54, P705Aronchick CA, 2000, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V52, P346