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Showing papers by "Applied Science Private University published in 2009"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that Pt particles below 0.5 nm in size are formed on GNS, which would acquire the specific electronic structures of Pt, modifying its catalytic activities.
Abstract: Graphene nanosheet (GNS) gives rise to an extraordinary modification to the properties of Pt cluster electrocatalysts supported on it. The Pt/GNS electrocatalyst revealed an unusually high activity for methanol oxidation reaction compared to Pt/carbon black catalyst. The Pt/GNS electrocatalyst also revealed quite a different characteristic for CO oxidation among the measured catalyst samples. It is found that Pt particles below 0.5 nm in size are formed on GNS, which would acquire the specific electronic structures of Pt, modifying its catalytic activities.

1,028 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, different types of absorbing materials were used to examine their effect on the yield of solar stills and the results showed that the uncoated sponge has the highest water collection during day time, followed by the black rocks and then coated metallic wiry sponges.

189 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a mesh-free particle method based on the moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) interaction model was developed for the simulation of two-dimensional open-boundary free-surface flows.
Abstract: A mesh-free particle method, based on the moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) interaction model, has been developed for the simulation of two-dimensional open-boundary free-surface flows. The incompressibility model in the original MPS has been replaced with a weakly incompressible model. The effect of this replacement on the efficiency and accuracy of the model has been investigated. The new inflow–outflow boundary conditions along with the particle recycling strategy proposed in this study extend the application of the model to open-boundary problems. The final model is able to simulate open-boundary free surface flow in cases of large deformation and fragmentation of free surface. The models and proposed algorithms have been validated and applied to sample problems. The results confirm the model's efficiency and accuracy. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

178 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used an integrated modeling approach to predict the spectrum of ionized, atomic, and molecular environments in pressure equilibrium, and found that the effects of high ratios of impinging ionizing radiation density to particle density (i.e., high ionization parameters, or U) can reproduce many ULIRG observational characteristics.
Abstract: The observed faintness of infrared fine-structure line emission along with the warm far-infrared (FIR) colors of ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) is a long-standing problem. In this work, we calculate the line and continuum properties of a cloud exposed to an active galactic nucleus (AGN) and starburst spectral energy distribution. We use an integrated modeling approach, predicting the spectrum of ionized, atomic, and molecular environments in pressure equilibrium. We find that the effects of high ratios of impinging ionizing radiation density to particle density (i.e., high-ionization parameters, or U) can reproduce many ULIRG observational characteristics. Physically, as U increases, the fraction of UV photons absorbed by dust increases, corresponding to fewer photons available to photoionize and heat the gas, producing what is known as a 'dust-bounded' nebula. We show that high-U effects can explain the '[C II] deficit', the {approx}1 dex drop in the [C II] 158 {mu}m/FIR ratio seen in ULIRGs when compared with starburst or normal galaxies. Additionally, by increasing U through increasing the ionizing photon flux, warmer dust and thus higher IRAS F(60 {mu}m)/F(100 {mu}m) ratios result. High-U effects also predict an increase in [O I] 63 {mu}m/[C II] 158 {mu}m and a gradual decline in [O III]more » 88 {mu}m/FIR, similar to the magnitude of the trends observed, and yield a reasonable fit to [Ne V] 14 {mu}m/FIR ratio AGN observations.« less

121 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A brief overview is provided, including an historical background, forensic significance, and a general approach to the development of latent fingermarks on porous surfaces, followed by a discussion of specific amino acid sensitive treatments.

121 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the bioaccumulation and uptake of antimony in a highly contaminated stream near the Hillgrove antimony-gold mine in NSW, Australia, and reports high Sb (and As) concentrations in many components of the ecosystem consisting of three trophic levels, but limited uptake into aboveground parts of riparian vegetation.
Abstract: Environmental context. Concern over the presence of antimony (Sb) in the environment because of chemical similarities with arsenic (As) has prompted a need to better understand its environmental behaviour and risks. The present study investigates the bioaccumulation and uptake of antimony in a highly contaminated stream near the Hillgrove antimony–gold mine in NSW, Australia, and reports high Sb (and As) concentrations in many components of the ecosystem consisting of three trophic levels, but limited uptake into aboveground parts of riparian vegetation. The data suggest that Sb can transfer into upper trophic levels of a creek ecosystem, but that direct exposure of creek fauna to creek sediment and soil, water and aquatic autotrophs are more important metalloid uptake routes than exposure via riparian vegetation. Abstract. Bioaccumulation and uptake of antimony (Sb) were investigated in a highly contaminated stream, Bakers Creek, running adjacent to mining and processing of Sb–As ores at Hillgrove Mine, NSW, Australia. Comparisons with arsenic (As) were included owing to its co-occurrence at high concentrations. Mean metalloid creek rhizome sediment concentrations were 777 ± 115 μg g–1 Sb and 60 ± 6 μg g–1 As, with water concentrations at 381 ± 23 μg L–1 Sb and 46 ± 2 μg L–1 As. Antimony and As were significantly elevated in aquatic autotrophs (96–212 μg g–1 Sb and 32–245 μg g–1 As) but Sb had a lower uptake efficiency. Both metalloids were elevated in all macroinvertebrates sampled (94–316 μg g–1 Sb and 1.8–62 μg g–1 As) except Sb in gastropods. Metalloids were detected in upper trophic levels although biomagnification was not evident. Metalloid transfer to riparian vegetation leaves from roots and rhizome soil was low but rhizome soil to leaf As concentration ratios were up to 2–3 times greater than Sb concentration ratios. Direct exposure to the rhizosphere sediments and soils, water ingestion and consumption of aquatic autotrophs appear to be the major routes of Sb and As uptake for the fauna of Bakers Creek.

112 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The ability to directly control five degrees of freedom of the particle’s motion while constraining the final sixth degree of freedom is demonstrated, which represents the most control ever achieved over freely suspended spherical colloidal particles and opens up many exciting applications.
Abstract: Janus particles generally refer to a class of colloids with two dissimilar faces having unique material properties. The spherical asymmetry associated with Janus particles is the key to realizing many commercial applications, including electrophoretic displays, nanosviscometers, and self-propelling micromachines. These diverse functionalities were accomplished by using an external electric or magnetic field to control the particle orientation, and in the process, modulate its reflectivity, hydrodynamic mobility, or direction of motion, respectively. However, these same asymmetries can interfere with optical trapping techniques that are used to control the translational degrees of freedom of a particle. Optical fields present an effective method for controlling the three translational degrees of freedom for particles ranging from tens of nanometers to micrometers in size. Previously, optical fields have been used in combination with magnetic fields to control four degrees of freedom of an asymmetric particle or particle aggregate. To achieve five or more degrees of freedom, magnetic Janus particles can theoretically be used; however, none so far have been stable in an optical trap. Controlling all six degrees of freedom of Janus particles, including three translational and three rotational, would open up new applications not only in biophysical force and torsion measurements, but also in microfluidics and material selfassembly. Here we report on a new type of spherical Janus that can be manipulated by a combination of optical and magnetic fields. We demonstrate the ability to directly control five degrees of freedom of the particle’s motion (three translational and two orientational) while constraining the final sixth degree of freedom. Ultimately, this demonstration represents the most control ever achieved over freely suspended spherical colloidal particles and opens up many exciting applications; the most obvious being the exertion of torsional and linear forces on biomolecules. The main achievement reported here was to develop a method of synthesizing magnetically anisotropic Janus particles that are also compatible with conventional optical trapping systems. We developed a novel lithographic technique for forming so-called ‘‘dot’’ Janus particles, which have a metallic coating covering <20% of their surface area. The advantage of this approach is that the dot Janus particles behave more like normal dielectric particles in an optical trap, while also responding to magnetic forces and torques produced by an external magnetic field. Purely dielectric and metallic Mie and Rayleigh particles have been optically trappedusing a variety of techniques. Bothdielectric microparticles and nanoparticles can be trapped in three dimensions with a high degree of spatial control. Metallic nanoparticles can also be trapped in three dimensions because scattering frommetallic and dielectric particles are similar in this size regime. However, metallic microparticles can only be controlled in two dimensions, due to considerations previously documented by others. For anisotropic Janus particles, such as dielectric particles that are partially covered by metal, the trapping stability in a focused optical beam depends to a great extent on the degree of metal coverage of the particle surface. Here we propose a general explanation for why optical trapping is more easily accomplished with dot Janus particles than with half-coated Janus particles. In the Mie size regime, where the particle diameter is large compared with the trapping wavelength, l, the momentum imparted by a focused optical beam can be described using geometric ray optics following Ashkin’s line of reasoning. In brief, each light ray refracts and reflects at the particle/fluid interface according to Snell’s law, and the momentum change between the incident ray and the refracted/reflected ray is summed over all incident rays to determine the net force on the particle. Typically, the net force is artificially divided into a gradient force, arising from refraction through the particle, and a scattering force, arising from reflection at the particle surface. The gradient force tends to pull the particle towards the beam focus, whereas the scattering force tends to push the particle away from the emission source. Figure 1 illustrates the incident light rays a and b refracted through the particle and the gradient forces ~Fa and ~Fb imparted on the particle due to each light ray. The ray optics approach reveals the importance of the symmetry of conjugate light rays in an optical trap. As long as the gradient force balances the scattering force, ~Fs, the trap will remain stable. For particles partially coated by reflective metal, the symmetry of this process may be broken, leading to unbalanced torques and forces that will depend on the position and orientation of the particle. As illustrated in Figure 1b, the metal coating inhibits light

87 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data support the use of inhibitors of MCP production in the treatment of arthritogenic alphavirus syndromes and suggest that bindarit may be useful in treating RRVD and other alphvirus-induced arthritis in humans.
Abstract: Objective Alphaviruses such as chikungunya virus, Sindbis virus, o'nyong-nyong virus, Mayaro virus, and Ross River virus (RRV), are commonly associated with arthralgias and overt arthritides worldwide. Understanding the processes by which arthritogenic viruses cause disease is a prerequisite in the quest for better treatments. In this regard, we have recently established that monocyte/macrophages are mediators of alphavirus-induced arthritis in mice. We hypothesized that chemokines associated with monocyte/macrophage recruitment may play an important role in disease. The aim of the present investigations was to determine whether bindarit, an inhibitor of monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP) synthesis, could ameliorate alphavirus-induced rheumatic disease in mice. Methods Using our recently developed mouse model of RRV-induced arthritis, which has many characteristics of RRV disease (RRVD) in humans, the effects of bindarit treatment on RRVD in mice were determined via histologic analyses, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Results Bindarit-treated RRV-infected mice developed mild disease and had substantially reduced tissue destruction and inflammatory cell recruitment as compared with untreated RRV-infected mice. The virus load in the tissues was not affected by bindarit treatment. Bindarit exhibited its activity by down-regulating MCPs, which in turn led to inhibition of cell infiltration and lower production of NF-κB and tumor necrosis factor α, which are involved in mediating tissue damage. Conclusion Our data support the use of inhibitors of MCP production in the treatment of arthritogenic alphavirus syndromes and suggest that bindarit may be useful in treating RRVD and other alphavirus-induced arthritides in humans.

85 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The extent of BSA adsorption on PMPC -modified surfaces was systematically reduced for thicker PMPC layers, thus the number of MPC units on the gold surface appears to be an important factor for the excellent protein resistance offered by PMPC-modified gold surfaces fabricated by the 'grafting to' method.
Abstract: Poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine] -modified gold surfaces, which have been newly prepared by a 'grafting to' method using a series of monosulfanyl-terminated PMPC, are characterized by protein adsorption experiments based on surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and ellipsometry measurements. The extent of BSA adsorption on PMPC-modified surfaces was systematically reduced for thicker PMPC layers, thus the number of MPC units on the gold surface appears to be an important factor for the excellent protein resistance offered by PMPC-modified gold surfaces fabricated by the 'grafting to' method, which is sharp contrast to that of PEG tethered chains.

84 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the Orion-S feature is a separate cloud of very optically thick molecules within the body of ionized gas, which is probably the location of the multiple embedded sources that produce the optical and molecular outflows that define the Orion S star formation region.
Abstract: The three-dimensional structure of the brightest part of the Orion Nebula is assessed in the light of published and newly established data. We find that the widely accepted model of a concave blister of ionized material needs to be altered in the southwest direction from the Trapezium, where we find that the Orion-S feature is a separate cloud of very optically thick molecules within the body of ionized gas, which is probably the location of the multiple embedded sources that produce the optical and molecular outflows that define the Orion-S star formation region. Evidence for this cloud comes from the presence of H2CO lines in absorption in the radio continuum and discrepancies in the extinction derived from radio-optical and optical-only emission. We present an equilibrium Cloudy model of the Orion-S Cloud, which successfully reproduces many observed properties of this feature, including the presence of gas-phase H2CO in absorption. We also report the discovery of an open-sided shell of [O III] surrounding the Trapezium stars, revealed through emission-line ratio images and the onset of radiation shadows beyond some proplyds. We show that the observed properties of the shell are consistent with it being a stationary structure, produced by shock interactions between the ambient nebular gas and the high-velocity wind from θ1 Ori C. We examine the implications of the recently published evidence for a large blueshifted velocity of θ1 Ori C with respect to the Orion molecular cloud, which could mean that this star has only recently begun to photoionize the Orion Nebula. We show that current observations of the nebula do not rule out such a possibility, so long as the ionization front has propagated into a pre-existing low-density region. In addition, a young age for the nebula would help explain the presence of nearby proplyds with a short mass-loss timescale to photoablation.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The activity hypothesis is shown to be consistent with the critical body residue concept, but it has the advantage of avoiding the confounding effect of lipid content of the test organism, and provides a theoretically sound basis for assessing the baseline toxicity of mixtures.
Abstract: The physico-chemical properties relevant to the equilibrium partitioning (bioconcentration) of chemicals between organisms and their respired media of water and air are reviewed and illustrated for chemicals that range in hydrophobicity. Relationships are then explored between freely dissolved external concentrations such as LC50s and chemical properties for one important toxicity mechanism, namely baseline toxicity or narcosis. The ‘activity hypothesis’ proposed by Ferguson in 1939 provides a coherent and compelling explanation for baseline toxicity of chemicals in both water- and air-respiring organisms, as well as a reference point for identifying more specific toxicity pathways. From inhalation studies with fish and rodents, narcosis is shown to occur at a chemical activity exceeding approximately 0.01 and there is no evidence of narcosis at activities less than 0.001. The activity hypothesis provides a framework for directly comparing the toxic potency of chemicals in both air- and water-breathing an...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the total replacement of natural aggregates by recycled concrete aggregates (RA) in the composition of a roller compacted concrete is compared. And the experimental results showed that the polluted RA are much richer in chlorides than in sulphates and are leached if they are soaked in water.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A novel strategy for the regulation and preservation of the enzymatic activity even after heat treatment by the complex formation with a cationic smart copolymer, poly(N,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEAMA-g-PEG).
Abstract: Proteins have evolved to acquire highly specialized biological functions and are ideal for various applications in both medicine and biotechnology, although denaturation is one of the major problems in protein chemistry. Here, we show a novel strategy for the regulation and preservation of the enzymatic activity even after heat treatment by the complex formation with a cationic smart copolymer, poly(N,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEAMA-g-PEG). PEAMA-g-PEG suppressed the enzymatic activity of lysozyme completely without any conformational change, indicating complex formation and the capping of the active site of lysozyme by PEAMA-g-PEG. The addition of an anionic polymer, poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc), recovered the inhibited enzymatic activity of the lysozyme/PEAMA-g-PEG complex completely. Surprisingly, even after heating the lysozyme with PEAMA-g-PEG for 20 min at 98 degrees C, the addition of PAAc recovered 80% enzymatic activity of lysozyme. Circular dichroism (CD) spectral analysis clearly indicated that the irreversible inactivation of lysozyme induced by the heat treatment was suppressed by the complex formation with PEAMA-g-PEG.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence from mouse models suggests targeting MCP-1 or complement may emerge as viable new treatment options for viral arthritides, and the challenge for new treatments is to target excessive inflammation without compromising anti-viral immunity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: To discuss whether the fluctuation increases over the course of evolution, cycles of mutation and selection for higher GFP fluorescence were carried out in Escherichia coli and ‘broad mutants’ appeared independently on the phylogenetic tree and increased fluctuations in GFP influenza were attributable to the variance in mRNA abundance.
Abstract: The large degree of phenotypic fluctuation among isogenic cells highlighted by recent studies on stochastic gene expression confers fitness on some individuals through a ‘bet‐hedging’ strategy, when faced with different selective environments. Under a single selective environment, the fluctuation may be suppressed through evolution, as it prevents maintenance of individuals around the fittest state and/or function. However, as fluctuation can increase phenotypic diversity, similar to mutation, it may contribute to the survival of individuals even under a single selective environment. To discuss whether the fluctuation increases over the course of evolution, cycles of mutation and selection for higher GFP fluorescence were carried out in Escherichia coli . Mutant genotypes possessing broad GFP fluorescence distributions with low average values emerged under strong selection pressure. These ‘broad mutants’ appeared independently on the phylogenetic tree and increased fluctuations in GFP fluorescence were attributable to the variance in mRNA abundance. In addition to the average phenotypic change by genetic mutation, the observed increase in phenotypic fluctuation acts as an evolutionary strategy to produce an extreme phenotype under severe selective environments. Mol Syst Biol. 5: 264

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Tooth preparation with an adequate water flow does not cause harmful temperature changes in the pulp chamber, regardless of rotary cutting instrument type.
Abstract: Statement of problem Standards to test the cutting efficiency of dental rotary cutting instruments are either nonexistent or inappropriate, and knowledge of the factors that affect their cutting performance is limited. Therefore, rotary cutting instruments for crown preparation are generally marketed with weak or unsupported claims of superior performance. Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the cutting behavior of a wide selection of rotary cutting instruments under carefully controlled and reproducible conditions with an air-turbine handpiece. Material and methods Ten groups of rotary cutting instruments (n=30) designed for tooth preparation were selected: 9 diamond rotary cutting instruments (7 multi-use, 2 disposable) and 1 carbide bur. One bur per group was imaged with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at different magnifications. Macor blocks (n=75) were used as a substrate, and 4 cuts were made on each specimen, using a new rotary cutting instrument each time, for a total of 300 cuts. The cuts were performed with an air-turbine handpiece (Midwest Quiet Air). A computer-controlled, custom-made testing apparatus was used to monitor all sensors and control the cutting action. The data were analyzed to compare the correlation of rotary cutting instrument type, grit, amount of pressure, cutting rate, revolutions per minute (rpm), temperature, and type of handpiece, using 1-way ANOVA and Tukey's Studentized Range test (α=.05). Results Compared to the baseline temperature, all rotary cutting instruments showed a reduction of temperature in the simulated pulp chamber. The Great White Ultra (carbide bur) showed a significantly higher rate of advancement (0.15 mm/s) and lower applied load (106.46 g) and rpm (304,375.97). Conclusions Tooth preparation with an adequate water flow does not cause harmful temperature changes in the pulp chamber, regardless of rotary cutting instrument type. The tested carbide bur showed greater cutting efficiency than all diamond rotary cutting instruments. (J Prosthet Dent 2009;101:248-261)

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results of the case study indicate that useful information can be obtained through the proposed RCFPP model for providing feasible decision schemes for different agricultural activities under different scenarios (combinations of different p-necessity and p(i) levels).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a co-impregnation method was used to investigate catalytic performance and catalyst bed temperature profile in a steam reforming of methane, and it was found that Pd is the most effective modifier among the noble metals.
Abstract: Ni catalysts supported on α-Al2O3 modified with small amounts of noble metals (Pd, Pt, Au, Ir, Rh and Ru) were prepared by a co-impregnation method to investigate catalytic performance and catalyst bed temperature profile in oxidative steam reforming of methane. Modification of the Ni catalyst with noble metals was effective to decreasing the bed temperature near the catalyst bed inlet, and it is found that Pd is the most effective modifier among the noble metals. Additive effect of Pd has some aspects: the increase of the metal dispersion, suppression of oxidation and enhancement of reducibility judging from characterization results of H2 adsorption and evaluation by pulse reaction technique using O2 and H2. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis suggests that the excellent properties can be due to small Pd metallic cluster interacted with Ni particles.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Examining the cutting performance of a wide selection of rotary cutting instruments tested with the electric handpiece and comparing the results with those of the air-turbine handpiece revealed a higher cutting efficiency than the turbine, especially when used with the carbide bur, probably due to its greater torque.
Abstract: Statement of problem The cutting behavior of dental rotary cutting instruments is influenced by the handpiece used. While the turbine handpiece has been extensively tested in previous studies, limited published information exists on the use of rotary cutting instruments with the electric handpiece system and on possible interactions between rotary cutting instruments and handpiece type. Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the cutting performance of a wide selection of rotary cutting instruments tested with the electric handpiece and compare the results with those of the air-turbine handpiece (Part I), identifying possible interactions between handpiece type and rotary cutting instruments. Material and Methods Ten groups of rotary cutting instruments (n=30) designed for tooth preparation were selected: 9 diamond (7 multi-use, 2 disposable) and 1 carbide. Macor blocks (n=75) were used as a substrate, and 4 cuts were made on each specimen, using a new rotary cutting instrument each time, for a total of 300 cuts. The cuts were performed with an electric handpiece (Intramatic Lux K200), with the same methods used in the Part I study. To qualitatively evaluate the rotary cutting instrument surface characteristics, 1 specimen from each group was examined 3 times with a scanning electron microscope (SEM): before use, then after use, but before being cleaned and sterilized, and finally, after ultrasonic cleaning. To compare rotary cutting instrument performance between the turbine and electric handpieces, the data were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA to study the main effects of the group of rotary cutting instruments, handpieces, and their interaction. For analysis of the significant main effect, 1-way ANOVA and Tukey's Studentized Range test were used (α=.05). Results Compared to the baseline temperature, all rotary cutting instruments showed a reduction of the temperature in the simulated pulp chamber when tested with the electric handpiece. The Great White Ultra (carbide bur) showed the highest rate of advancement (0.17 mm/s) and lowest applied load (108.35 g). Considering all rotary cutting instruments as a single group, the electric handpiece showed mean lower temperature (26.68°C), higher rate of advancement (0.12 mm/s), and higher load (124.53 g) than the air-turbine handpiece (28.37°C, 0.11 mm/s, and 121.7 g, respectively). Considering each single group of rotary cutting instruments, significant differences were found for the electric or air-turbine handpiece. Conclusions The tested carbide bur showed greater cutting efficiency than the tested diamond rotary cutting instruments when used with the electric handpiece. The electric handpiece showed a higher cutting efficiency than the turbine, especially when used with the carbide bur, probably due to its greater torque. (J Prosthet Dent 2009;101:319–331))

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is indicated that consumption of lentils might be protective against colon carcinogenesis and that hydrothermal treatment resulted in an improvement in the chemopreventive potential for the whole lentils.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is revealed that the electrostatic field of the immersion lens mainly collects electrons with energy lower than 40eV, acting as a low-pass filter in low-voltage scanning electron microscopy (LV-SEM).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It was rather surprising for us that a complete inverted cell pattern was formed when the PEG gel pattern surface was prepared using methanol/water co-solvent and when hepatoma cancer cells were seeded on the constructed surface prepared by Method B.
Abstract: We present herein the novel technique for constructing inverted cell-adhesion patternes on PEG gel modified glass surfaces by photoirradiation using the same photomask and materials. The PEG gel micropatterns were prepared by a photolithographic technique using a photomask with 100 µm aligned cavities after spin-coating of a mixed solution of α,ω-dimethacryloyl-PEG (PEG-DMA) and a photoinitiator on glass surfaces. When methanol was used as a casting solvent for the spin-coating (Method A), the circular PEG gel domains with a diameter of 100 µm were fabricated on the surface, and as would be predicted, seeded bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) adhered to the glass area on the constructed surface to form a BAECs sheet with 100 µm aligned cavity. In contrast, it was rather surprising for us that a complete inverted cell pattern was formed when the PEG gel pattern surface was prepared using methanol/water co-solvent (Method B). Furthermore, when hepatoma cancer cells were seeded on the constructed surface prepared by Method B, they formed a spherical multicellular aggregate (spheroid) on the unmodified PEG gel domains without feeder cells. In order to obtain information on this peculiar phenomenon, fluorescence-based protein adsorption experiments, contact angle measurements, and X-ray photospectroscopy (XPS) analysis were carried out.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a model, named TEEOS (Technical and Economic Evaluator for Organic Solar), that evaluates organic solar cells for various solar energy applications in different geographic locations, in terms of two financial indicators, payback period and net present value (NPV).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An inexact rough-interval two-stage stochastic programming (IRTSP) method is developed for conjunctive water allocation problems and the results indicate that the optimal objective function values of TSP and ITSP always fall into the range of f(opt)(+/-(UAI), while they are sometimes out of therange of f (opt)( +/-(LAI); the optimal solutions of decision variables also present this feature.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A spheroid array of fetal mouse liver cells, which comprise various immature cells, was constructed on a PEG-gel micropatterned surface and its hepatic activity and degree of differentiation induction were significantly upregulated by co-culture with nonparenchymal liver cells as feeder-cells.
Abstract: A spheroid array of fetal mouse liver cells, which comprise various immature cells, was constructed on a PEG-gel micropatterned surface and its hepatic activity and degree of differentiation induction were significantly upregulated by co-culture with nonparenchymal liver cells as feeder-cells.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a developed air permeameter flow test was performed to evaluate the effect of frozen soil moisture on the performance of BMPs in cold regions by reducing available pore spaces for infiltrating water, causing a significant increase in runoff volumes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An overview of bioconversions of arsenic species that occur in marine food chains based on studies conducted by the laboratory as well as the work of others is presented.
Abstract: Although over 50 arsenic species have been identified in marine organisms, the biochemical pathways by which these species are formed are not known In this paper, we present an overview of bioconversions of arsenic species that occur in marine food chains based on studies conducted by our laboratory as well as the work of others Phytoplankton and macroalgae only contain dimethylarsenoribosides or simple methylated arsenic compounds such as dimethylarsenate and dimethylarsenoethanol Marine animals contain mostly arsenobetaine and a range of other arsenic species that may be precursors of arsenobetaine formation The formation of arsenobetaine in marine animals from dimethylarsenoribosides may occur through a two-stage conversion pathway: arsenoriboside or trimethylarsonioriboside degradation to arsenocholine followed by quantitative oxidation to arsenobetaine The minor arsenic species found in marine organisms are sulfur analogues of compounds found in the S-adenosylmethionine-methionine salvage and the dimethylsulfoniopropionate metabolic pathway of animals A key intermediate in these pathways would be arsenomethionine, which could possibly be formed from dimethylarsinite, dimethylarsenoribosides or an arsenic-containing analogue of S-adenosylmethionine Examining arsenic species in whole ecosystems has the advantage of using the pattern of arsenic species found to postulate the biochemical pathways of their formation

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a titanium autoclave equipped with acid injection and sample withdrawal units was employed for batch pressure leaching of raw limonitic laterite and the evolution of the nature of solid products during leaching were thoroughly investigated using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).

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TL;DR: In this article, the exponential form of the viscosity-temperature relation is applied for buoyancy driven flow in a porous-saturated enclosure, based on the general model of momentum transfer.
Abstract: Temperature-dependent viscosity effects in buoyancy driven flow in a porous-saturated enclosure is studied numerically, based on the general model of momentum transfer in a porous medium. The exponential form of the viscosity-temperature relation is applied. Both cases of viscosity increase and decrease versus temperature are considered. Application of the effective Rayleigh number concept and the reference temperature approach are investigated. Use of heatlines and the energy flux vectors are illustrated for a more comprehensive analysis of the problem.