Cd-vacancy and Cd-interstitial complexes in Si and Ge

The electrical field gradient (EFG), measured e.g. in perturbed angular correlation (PAC) experiments, gives particularly useful information about the interaction of probe atoms like 111In / 111Cd with other defects. The interpretation of the EFG is, however, a difficult task. This paper aims at understanding the interaction of Cd impurities with vacancies and interstitials in Si and Ge, which represents a controversial issue. We apply two complementary ab initio methods in the framework of density functional theory (DFT), (i) the all electron Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker (KKR) Greenfunction method and (ii) the Pseudopotential-Plane-Wave (PPW) method, to search for the correct local geometry. Surprisingly we find that both in Si and Ge the substitutional Cd-vacancy complex is unstable and relaxes to a split-vacancy complex with the Cd on the bond-center site. This complex has a very small EFG, allowing a unique assignment of the small measured EFGs of 54MHz in Ge and 28MHz in Si. Also, for the Cd-selfinterstitial complex we obtain a highly symmetrical split configuration with large EFGs, being in reasonable agreement with experiments

P2X1 and P2X5 subunits form the functional P2X receptor in mouse cortical astrocytes

ATP plays an important role in signal transduction between neuronal and glial circuits and within glial networks. Here we describe currents activated by ATP in astrocytes acutely isolated from cortical brain slices by non-enzymatic mechanical dissociation. Brain slices were prepared from transgenic mice that express enhanced green fluorescent protein under the control of the human glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter. Astrocytes were studied by whole-cell voltage clamp. Exogenous ATP evoked inward currents in 75 of 81 astrocytes. In the majority (~65%) of cells, ATP-induced responses comprising a fast and delayed component; in the remaining subpopulation of astrocytes, ATP triggered a smoother response with rapid peak and slowly decaying plateau phase. The fast component of the response was sensitive to low concentrations of ATP (with EC50 of ~40 nM). All ATP-induced currents were blocked by pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonate (PPADS); they were insensitive to ivermectin. Quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated strong expression of P2X1 and P2X5 receptor subunits and some expression of P2X2 subunit mRNAs. The main properties of the ATP-induced response in cortical astrocytes (high sensitivity to ATP, biphasic kinetics, and sensitivity to PPADS) were very similar to those reported for P2X1/5 heteromeric receptors studied previously in heterologous expression systems

Personalized smart environments to increase inclusion of people with Down's Syndrome

Most people with Downs Syndrome (DS) experience low integration with society. Recent research and new opportunities for their integration in mainstream education and work provided numerous cases where levels of achievement exceeded the (limiting) expectations. This paper describes a project, POSEIDON, aiming at developing a technological infrastructure which can foster a growing number of services developed to support people with DS. People with DS have their own strengths, preferences and needs so POSEIDON will focus on using their strengths to provide support for their needs whilst allowing each individual to personalize the solution based on their preferences. This project is user-centred from its inception and will give all main stakeholders ample opportunities to shape the output of the project, which will ensure a final outcome which is of practical usefulness and interest to the intended users

A statistical approach to optimizing paper spray mass spectrometry parameters

Rationale Paper spray mass spectrometry (PS‐MS) was used to analyze and quantify ampicillin, a hydrophilic compound and frequently utilized antibiotic. Hydrophilic molecules are difficult to analyze via PS‐MS due to their strong binding affinity to paper substrates and low ionization efficiency, among other reasons. Methods Solvent and paper parameters were optimized to increase the extraction of ampicillin from the paper substrate. After optimizing these key parameters, a Resolution IV 1/16 fractional factorial design with two center points was employed to screen eight different design parameters simultaneously. Results Pore size, sample volume, and solvent volume were the most significant factors affecting average peak area under the curve (AUC) and the signal‐to‐blank (S/B) ratio for the 1 μg/mL ampicillin calibrant. After optimizing the key parameters, a linear calibration curve with a range of 0.2 μg/mL to 100 μg/mL was generated (R2 = 0.98) and the limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) were calculated to be 0.07 μg/mL and 0.25 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusions The statistical optimization procedure undertaken here increased the mass spectral signal intensity by more than a factor of 40. This statistical method of screening followed by optimization experiments proved faster and more efficient, and produced more drastic improvements than typical one‐factor‐at‐a‐time experiments

The 1991 Field Evaluation of Herbicides on Small Fruit, Vegetables and Ornamental Crops

The establishment of this field-testing procedure provides the chemical industry, through its partial support, and the Arkansas Experiment Station the opportunity to evaluate herbicide performance on small fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops grown under Arkansas conditions. This report also provides a means for disseminating information to interested people and public-service weed scientists

Listen to genes : dealing with microarray data in the frequency domain

Background: We present a novel and systematic approach to analyze temporal microarray data. The approach includes normalization, clustering and network analysis of genes. Methodology: Genes are normalized using an error model based uniform normalization method aimed at identifying and estimating the sources of variations. The model minimizes the correlation among error terms across replicates. The normalized gene expressions are then clustered in terms of their power spectrum density. The method of complex Granger causality is introduced to reveal interactions between sets of genes. Complex Granger causality along with partial Granger causality is applied in both time and frequency domains to selected as well as all the genes to reveal the interesting networks of interactions. The approach is successfully applied to Arabidopsis leaf microarray data generated from 31,000 genes observed over 22 time points over 22 days. Three circuits: a circadian gene circuit, an ethylene circuit and a new global circuit showing a hierarchical structure to determine the initiators of leaf senescence are analyzed in detail. Conclusions: We use a totally data-driven approach to form biological hypothesis. Clustering using the power-spectrum analysis helps us identify genes of potential interest. Their dynamics can be captured accurately in the time and frequency domain using the methods of complex and partial Granger causality. With the rise in availability of temporal microarray data, such methods can be useful tools in uncovering the hidden biological interactions. We show our method in a step by step manner with help of toy models as well as a real biological dataset. We also analyse three distinct gene circuits of potential interest to Arabidopsis researchers

Analyzing circadian expression data by harmonic regression based on autoregressive spectral estimation

Motivation: Circadian rhythms are prevalent in most organisms. Identification of circadian-regulated genes is a crucial step in discovering underlying pathways and processes that are clock-controlled. Such genes are largely detected by searching periodic patterns in microarray data. However, temporal gene expression profiles usually have a short time-series with low sampling frequency and high levels of noise. This makes circadian rhythmic analysis of temporal microarray data very challenging

Monitoring of lung edema by microwave reflectometry during lung ischemia-reperfusion injury in vivo

It is still unclear whether lung edema can be monitored by microwave reflectometry and whether the measured changes in lung dry matter content (DMC) are accompanied by changes in PaO(2) and in pro-to anti-inflammatory cytokine expression (IFN-gamma and IL-10). Right rat lung hili were cross-clamped at 37 degrees C for 0, 60, 90 or 120 min ischemia followed by 120 min reperfusion. After 90 min (DMC: 15.9 +/- 1.4%; PaO(2): 76.7 +/- 18 mm Hg) and 120 min ischemia (DMC: 12.8 +/- 0.6%; PaO(2): 43 +/- 7 mm Hg), a significant decrease in DMC and PaO(2) throughout reperfusion compared to 0 min ischemia (DMC: 19.5 +/- 1.11%; PaO(2): 247 +/- 33 mm Hg; p < 0.05) was observed. DMC and PaO(2) decreased after 60 min ischemia but recovered during reperfusion (DMC: 18.5 +/- 2.4%; PaO(2) : 173 +/- 30 mm Hg). DMC values reflected changes on the physiological and molecular level. In conclusion, lung edema monitoring by microwave reflectometry might become a tool for the thoracic surgeon. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel