The development of a DNA analysis system for pollen

Abstract. The DNA analysis technique tRFLP (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism) was utilised to develop an alternative to the traditional microscopic examination of pollen in order to facilitate the use of this valuable forensic evidence type. The gene chosen for this study was the alcohol dehyrogenase 1 gene. Statistical analysis established that the tRFLP technique was a reliable and reproducible technique that could provide considerable discriminating power between both plant and pollen species. This indicates that the tRFLP could be a suitable technique for the analysis of pollen communities as forensic evidence.

A near-field scanning microwave microscope in a scanning electron microscope: design and challenges

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Nano-probing station incorporating MEMS probes for 1D device RF on-wafer characterization

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Broadband terahertz heterodyne spectrometer exploiting synchrotron radiation at megahertz resolution

International audienceA new spectrometer allowing both high resolution and broadband coverage in the terahertz (THz) domain is proposed. This instrument exploits the heterodyne technique between broadband synchrotron radiation and a quantum cascade laser (QCL) based molecular THz laser that acts as the local oscillator (LO). Proof of principle for exploitation for spectroscopy is provided by the recording of molecular absorptions of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) and methanol (CH 3 OH) around 1.073 THz. Ultimately, the spectrometer will enable to cover the 1-4 THz region in 5 GHz windows at Doppler resolution

TERAHERTZ ROTATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY OF THE SO RADICAL

Author Institution: Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie de l'Atmosphere, EA 4493, Universite du Littoral Cote d'Opale, 59140 Dunkerque, France; Institut des Sciences Moleculaires d'Orsay, CNRS, UMR 8214, Universite Paris XI, bat. 210, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France; SOLEIL Synchrotron, AILES beamline, L'orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, 91192 Gif-Sur-Yvette, FranceSulfur monoxide SO (X$^3\Sigma^-$) is a well-known interstellar radical identified in a wide variety of astrophysical environments 184, L59 (1973)} which is particularly abundant in star forming regions, \textit{Astrophys. J.} 315, 621 (1987)}. Due to its high reactivity and its role in chemical reactions involving O and S atoms, SO is also a reaction intermediate in combustion processes and chemistry of the Earth atmosphere, \textit{J. Mol. Spectrosc.} 124, 379 (1987)}. %The pure rotational spectrum of SO has been extensively studied in the laboratory from sub-millimeter to THz wavelength, \textit{J. Mol. Speectrosc.} 182, 85 (1997)}. However no far infrared (FIR) broadband investigation on this radical has been reported up to date, and several rotational transitions belonging to the spectral windows of the HIFI instrument (on board of the Herschel satellite) require accurate laboratory measurements. %\vspace{1em} We have recorded pure rotational transitions of SO in the THz spectral range using synchrotron-based Fourier-Transform (FT) FIR and continous wave (CW) THz techniques. A FT-FIR spectrum of SO has been recorded at the AILES beamline of SOLEIL synchrotron in the spectral range 44--93 \wn~using a resolution of 0.001~\wn~allowing an accuracy on line position of 0.00007~\wn~($\sim$ 2 MHz). A multipass absorption discharge cell aligned to an absorption path length of 24 m has been used, \textit{Rev. Sci. Instrum.} 82, 113106 (2011)}. A continuous electrical discharge (1~A / 980~V) in a flowing mixture of H$_2$S, He, H$_2$ and air (respectively at pressure of 0.01, 1.15, 0.14 and 0.06~mbar) was used to produce SO. On this spectrum, 102 transitions of SO have been identified with $N=31$ to $65$. Among the observed lines, 99 are detected for the first time (22 new transitions belong to the HIFI spectral windows). Due to our limited instrumental resolution, transitions involving $N$ ranging from $31$ to $43$ show unresolved fine structure triplets. Recently, in order to observe all fine structure components in the HIFI spectral windows, we have recorded a high resolution CW-THz spectrum of SO, \textit{J. Mol. Struct.} 1006, 13 (2011)}. At the time of the writing, this spectrum was under analysis

Biosorption and Biomineralization of U(VI) by the Marine Bacterium Idiomarina loihiensis MAH1: Effect of Background Electrolyte and pH

The main goal of this study is to compare the effects of pH, uranium concentration, and background electrolyte (seawater and NaClO4 solution) on the speciation of uranium(VI) associated with the marine bacterium Idiomarina loihiensis MAH1. This was done at the molecular level using a multidisciplinary approach combining X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), Time-Resolved Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy (TRLFS), and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). We showed that the U(VI)/bacterium interaction mechanism is highly dependent upon pH but also the nature of the used background electrolyte played a role. At neutral conditions and a U concentration ranging from 5·10−4 to 10−5 M (environmentally relevant concentrations), XAS analysis revealed that uranyl phosphate mineral phases, structurally resembling meta-autunite [Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 2–6H2O] are precipitated at the cell surfaces of the strain MAH1. The formation of this mineral phase is independent of the background solution but U(VI) luminescence lifetime analyses demonstrated that the U(VI) speciation in seawater samples is more intricate, i.e., different complexes were formed under natural conditions. At acidic conditions, pH 2, 3 and 4.3 ([U] = 5·10−4 M, background electrolyte = 0.1 M NaClO4), the removal of U from solution was due to biosorption to Extracellular Polysaccharides (EPS) and cell wall components as evident from TEM analysis. The LIII-edge XAS and TRLFS studies showed that the biosorption process observed is dependent of pH. The bacterial cell forms a complex with U through organic phosphate groups at pH 2 and via phosphate and carboxyl groups at pH 3 and 4.3, respectively. The differences in the complexes formed between uranium and bacteria on seawater compared to NaClO4 solution demonstrates that the actinide/microbe interactions are influenced by the three studied factors, i.e., the pH, the uranium concentration and the chemical composition of the solution.This work was funded by the grants CGL2009-09760 and CGL2012-36505 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación), and RNM 3943 (Junta de Andalucía), Spain

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

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Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems advances for measurements at small scales: the vertical silicon probes technology extended to nearfield optics

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