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Showing papers by "Dublin City University published in 2012"


Journal ArticleDOI
20 Mar 2012-BMJ
TL;DR: In European hospitals, improvement of hospital work environments might be a relatively low cost strategy to improve safety and quality in hospital care and to increase patient satisfaction.
Abstract: Objective To determine whether hospitals with a good organisation of care (such as improved nurse staffing and work environments) can affect patient care and nurse workforce stability in European countries. Design Cross sectional surveys of patients and nurses. Setting Nurses were surveyed in general acute care hospitals (488 in 12 European countries; 617 in the United States); patients were surveyed in 210 European hospitals and 430 US hospitals. Participants 33 659 nurses and 11 318 patients in Europe; 27 509 nurses and more than 120 000 patients in the US. Main outcome measures Nurse outcomes (hospital staffing, work environments, burnout, dissatisfaction, intention to leave job in the next year, patient safety, quality of care), patient outcomes (satisfaction overall and with nursing care, willingness to recommend hospitals). Results The percentage of nurses reporting poor or fair quality of patient care varied substantially by country (from 11% (Ireland) to 47% (Greece)), as did rates for nurses who gave their hospital a poor or failing safety grade (4% (Switzerland) to 18% (Poland)). We found high rates of nurse burnout (10% (Netherlands) to 78% (Greece)), job dissatisfaction (11% (Netherlands) to 56% (Greece)), and intention to leave (14% (US) to 49% (Finland, Greece)). Patients’ high ratings of their hospitals also varied considerably (35% (Spain) to 61% (Finland, Ireland)), as did rates of patients willing to recommend their hospital (53% (Greece) to 78% (Switzerland)). Improved work environments and reduced ratios of patients to nurses were associated with increased care quality and patient satisfaction. In European hospitals, after adjusting for hospital and nurse characteristics, nurses with better work environments were half as likely to report poor or fair care quality (adjusted odds ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.51 to 0.61) and give their hospitals poor or failing grades on patient safety (0.50, 0.44 to 0.56). Each additional patient per nurse increased the odds of nurses reporting poor or fair quality care (1.11, 1.07 to 1.15) and poor or failing safety grades (1.10, 1.05 to 1.16). Patients in hospitals with better work environments were more likely to rate their hospital highly (1.16, 1.03 to 1.32) and recommend their hospitals (1.20, 1.05 to 1.37), whereas those with higher ratios of patients to nurses were less likely to rate them highly (0.94, 0.91 to 0.97) or recommend them (0.95, 0.91 to 0.98). Results were similar in the US. Nurses and patients agreed on which hospitals provided good care and could be recommended. Conclusions Deficits in hospital care quality were common in all countries. Improvement of hospital work environments might be a relatively low cost strategy to improve safety and quality in hospital care and to increase patient satisfaction.

1,587 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This chapter discusses the development of personalized medicine and home testing in the developing world, and some of the strategies used to achieve this goal have not yet been developed.
Abstract: Introduction A Why POC Diagnostics? B Time B Patient Responsibility and Compliance B Cost B Diagnostic Targets C Proteins C Metabolites and Other Small Molecules C Nucleic Acids C Human Cells D Microbes/Pathogens D Drugs and Food Safety D Current Context of POC Assays E POC Glucose Assays E Lateral Flow Assays E Limitations of “Traditional” POC Approaches F Enabling Technologies G Printing and Laminating G Microfluidic Technologies and Approaches: “Unit Operations” for POC Devices G Pumping and Valving H Mixing I Separation I Reagent Storage J Sample Preparation K Surface Chemistry and Device Substrates L Physical Adsorption L Bioaffinity Attachment L Covalent Attachment M Substrate Materials M Detection M Electrochemical Detection N Optical Detection N Magnetic Detection N Label-Free Methods O Enabling Multiplexed Assays O Recent Innovation O Lateral Flow Assay Technologies O Proteins P Antibodies P Protein Expression and Purification Q Nucleic Acids Q Aptamers R Infectious Diseases and Food/Water Safety R Blood Chemistry S Coagulation Markers S Whole Cells S Trends, Unmet Needs, Perspectives T Glucose T Global Health and the Developing World T Personalized Medicine and Home Testing U Technology Trends U Multiplexing V Author Information V Biographies V Acknowledgment W References W

983 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Laser ablation/irradiation in liquid (LAL) is a simple and “green” technique that normally operates in water or organic liquids under ambient conditions as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Laser ablation of solid targets in the liquid medium can be realized to fabricate nanostructures with various compositions (metals, alloys, oxides, carbides, hydroxides, etc.) and morphologies (nanoparticles, nanocubes, nanorods, nanocomposites, etc.). At the same time, the post laser irradiation of suspended nanomaterials can be applied to further modify their size, shape, and composition. Such fabrication and modification of nanomaterials in liquid based on laser irradiation has become a rapidly growing field. Compared to other, typically chemical, methods, laser ablation/irradiation in liquid (LAL) is a simple and “green” technique that normally operates in water or organic liquids under ambient conditions. Recently, the LAL has been elaborately developed to prepare a series of nanomaterials with special morphologies, microstructures and phases, and to achieve one-step formation of various functionalized nanostructures in the pursuit of novel properties and applications in optics, display, detection, and biological fields. The formation mechanisms and synthetic strategies based on LAL are systematically analyzed and the reported nanostructures derived from the unique characteristics of LAL are highlighted along with a review of their applications and future challenges.

802 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results provide evidence that acute gene activation is associated with a dynamic change in DNA methylation in skeletal muscle and suggest that DNA hypomethylation is an early event in contraction-induced gene activation.

766 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors classify different residual stresses measurement methods and provide an overview of some of the recent advances in this area to help researchers on selecting their techniques depending on their application and the availabilities of those techniques.

633 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
29 Nov 2012-ACS Nano
TL;DR: This study proves for the first time that cooperative magnetic behavior within highly crystalline iron oxide superparamagnetic multi-core nanoparticles can improve simultaneously therapeutic and diagnosis effectiveness over existing nanostructures, while preserving biocompatibility.
Abstract: In the pursuit of optimized magnetic nanostructures for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, the role of nanoparticle architecture has been poorly investigated. In this study, we demonstrate that the internal collective organization of multi-core iron oxide nanoparticles can modulate their magnetic properties in such a way as to critically enhance their hyperthermic efficiency and their MRI T1 and T2 contrast effect. Multi-core nanoparticles composed of maghemite cores were synthesized through a polyol approach, and subsequent electrostatic colloidal sorting was used to fractionate the suspensions by size and hence magnetic properties. We obtained stable suspensions of citrate-stabilized nanostructures ranging from single-core 10 nm nanoparticles to multi-core magnetically cooperative 30 nm nanoparticles. Three-dimensional oriented attachment of primary cores results in enhanced magnetic susceptibility and decreased surface disorder compared to individual cores, while preserving a superparamagnetic-li...

350 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a simple one-pot green chemical method for the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles by reducing chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) with protein extract of Rhizopus oryzae to produce novel gold nano-bio-conjugates (AuNBCs) was described.

329 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors review debates around talent management decision making and identify some future research areas that will inform future decision making in talent management, and present a state-of-the-art review of decision marking.
Abstract: Purpose – The paper sets out to understand the key issues that emerge in the context of decision making.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is a literature review.Findings – First, the authors review debates around talent management decision making. Second, they examine some of the main factors currently influencing decision making in talent management. Third, they seek to identify some future research areas that will inform future decision making in talent management.Practical implications – The paper will be of interest to practitioners in designing and developing talent management decision systems.Originality/value – The paper presents a state of the art review of talent management decision marking.

325 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The situational factor reference framework presented herein represents a sound initial reference framework for the key situational elements affecting the software process definition and optimisation and provides support for practitioners who are challenged with defining and maintaining software development processes.
Abstract: Context: An optimal software development process is regarded as being dependent on the situational characteristics of individual software development settings. Such characteristics include the nature of the application(s) under development, team size, requirements volatility and personnel experience. However, no comprehensive reference framework of the situational factors affecting the software development process is presently available. Objective: The absence of such a comprehensive reference framework of the situational factors affecting the software development process is problematic not just because it inhibits our ability to optimise the software development process, but perhaps more importantly, because it potentially undermines our capacity to ascertain the key constraints and characteristics of a software development setting. Method: To address this deficiency, we have consolidated a substantial body of related research into an initial reference framework of the situational factors affecting the software development process. To support the data consolidation, we have applied rigorous data coding techniques from Grounded Theory and we believe that the resulting framework represents an important contribution to the software engineering field of knowledge. Results: The resulting reference framework of situational factors consists of eight classifications and 44 factors that inform the software process. We believe that the situational factor reference framework presented herein represents a sound initial reference framework for the key situational elements affecting the software process definition. Conclusion: In addition to providing a useful reference listing for the research community and for committees engaged in the development of standards, the reference framework also provides support for practitioners who are challenged with defining and maintaining software development processes. Furthermore, this framework can be used to develop a profile of the situational characteristics of a software development setting, which in turn provides a sound foundation for software development process definition and optimisation.

315 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Current knowledge of how tissue occludin is specifically modified at the posttranscriptional and posttranslational levels in diverse circumstances is reviewed, with associated consequences for TJ dynamics and epithelial/endothelial homeostasis.
Abstract: Intercellular tight junctions (TJs) exhibit a complex molecular architecture involving the regulated cointeraction of cytoplasmic adaptor proteins (e.g., zonula occludens) and integral membrane linker proteins (e.g., occludin and claudins). They provide structural integrity to epithelial and endothelial tissues and create highly polarized barriers essential to homeostatic maintenance within vertebrate physiological systems, while their dysregulation is an established pathophysiological hallmark of many diseases (e.g., cancer, stroke, and inflammatory lung disease). The junctional complex itself is a highly dynamic signaling entity wherein participant proteins constantly undergo a blend of regulatory modifications in response to diverse physiological and pathological cues, ultimately diversifying the overall adhesive properties of the TJ. Occludin, a 65-kDa tetraspan integral membrane protein, contributes to TJ stabilization and optimal barrier function. This paper reviews our current knowledge of how tissue occludin is specifically modified at the posttranscriptional and posttranslational levels in diverse circumstances, with associated consequences for TJ dynamics and epithelial/endothelial homeostasis. Mechanistic concepts such as splice variance and alternate promoter usage, proteolysis, phosphorylation, dimerization, and ubiquitination are comprehensively examined, and possible avenues for future investigation highlighted.

312 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the use of an organic electrochemical transistor for detection of lactate (an essential analyte in physiological measurements of athlete performance) by integration of a room temperature ionic liquid in a gel-format, as a solid-state electrolyte.
Abstract: The bulk of the currently available biosensing techniques often require complex liquid handling, and thus suffer from problems associated with leakage and contamination. We demonstrate the use of an organic electrochemical transistor for detection of lactate (an essential analyte in physiological measurements of athlete performance) by integration of a room temperature ionic liquid in a gel-format, as a solid-state electrolyte.

Journal ArticleDOI
06 Aug 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined how human resource management practices relate to employee creativity and organizational innovation and found that four HRM practices, hiring and selection, reward, job design and teamwork, were positively related to employee creativaity while training and performance appraisal were not.
Abstract: Using a sample of 106 firms in China, we examined how human resource management (HRM) practices relate to employee creativity and organizational innovation. In order to avoid common method bias, the data were collected from three different groups of respondents separately. Our results showed that four HRM practices, hiring and selection, reward, job design and teamwork, were positively related to employee creativaity while training and performance appraisal were not. Employee creativity fully mediated the relationships between those four HRM practices and organizational innovation. Results suggest that HRM practices can play an important role in managing people to promote innovation in Chinese organizations.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Mar 2012-Energy
TL;DR: In this article, a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamic) model and VOF (Volume of Fluid) method are used to simulate water droplet movement and slug formation in PEM fuel cell mini-channels.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: These structures display bioactive galactose units in the polymersome shell, as proven by selective lectin binding experiments.
Abstract: Polypeptide block copolymers with different block length ratios were obtained by sequential ring-opening polymerization of benzyl-L-glutamate and propargylglycine (PG) N-carboxyanhydrides. Glycosylation of the poly(PG) block was obtained by Huisgens cycloaddition "click" reaction using azide-functionalized galactose. All copolymers were self-assembled using the nanoprecipitation method to obtain spherical and wormlike micelles as well as polymersomes depending on the block length ratio and the nanoprecipitation conditions. These structures display bioactive galactose units in the polymersome shell, as proven by selective lectin binding experiments.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An overview of thenetwork selection decision problem and challenges, a comprehensive classification of related game theoretic approaches and a discussion on the application of game theory to the network selection problem faced by the next generation of 4G wireless networks are presented.
Abstract: In order to cater for the overwhelming growth in bandwidth demand from mobile Internet users operators have started to deploy different, overlapping radio access network technologies. One important challenge in such a heterogeneous wireless environment is to enable network selection mechanisms in order to keep the mobile users Always Best Connected (ABC) anywhere and anytime. Game theory techniques have been receiving growing attention in recent years as they can be adopted in order to model and understand competitive and cooperative scenarios between rational decision makers. This paper presents an overview of the network selection decision problem and challenges, a comprehensive classification of related game theoretic approaches and a discussion on the application of game theory to the network selection problem faced by the next generation of 4G wireless networks.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors suggest that the literature on Absorptive Capacity does not place sufficient emphasis on distributed knowledge and learning or on the application of innovative knowledge, and they suggest that to accomplish physical transformations, organisations need specific Innovative Capacities that extend beyond knowledge management.

Journal ArticleDOI
25 May 2012-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: This work demonstrates the first silica nanoparticle-based targeted delivery of a tumor suppressive, pro-apoptotic microRNA, miR-34a, to neuroblastoma tumors in a murine orthotopic xenograft model, and highlights the potential of anti-GD2-nanoparticle-mediated targeted delivery in both the treatment of GD2-expressing tumors and as a basic discovery tool for elucidating biological effects of novel miRNAs on tumor growth.
Abstract: Background Neuroblastoma is one of the most challenging malignancies of childhood, being associated with the highest death rate in paediatric oncology, underlining the need for novel therapeutic approaches. Typically, patients with high risk disease undergo an initial remission in response to treatment, followed by disease recurrence that has become refractory to further treatment. Here, we demonstrate the first silica nanoparticle-based targeted delivery of a tumor suppressive, pro-apoptotic microRNA, miR-34a, to neuroblastoma tumors in a murine orthotopic xenograft model. These tumors express high levels of the cell surface antigen disialoganglioside GD2 (GD2), providing a target for tumor-specific delivery. Principal Findings Nanoparticles encapsulating miR-34a and conjugated to a GD2 antibody facilitated tumor-specific delivery following systemic administration into tumor bearing mice, resulted in significantly decreased tumor growth, increased apoptosis and a reduction in vascularisation. We further demonstrate a novel, multi-step molecular mechanism by which miR-34a leads to increased levels of the tissue inhibitor metallopeptidase 2 precursor (TIMP2) protein, accounting for the highly reduced vascularisation noted in miR-34a-treated tumors. Significance These novel findings highlight the potential of anti-GD2-nanoparticle-mediated targeted delivery of miR-34a for both the treatment of GD2-expressing tumors, and as a basic discovery tool for elucidating biological effects of novel miRNAs on tumor growth.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the properties of colloidal nano-silica (CS)/waste glass cement composites were investigated and compared with plain mortar, and the results showed that incorporation of WG has a positive effect on the mechanical properties of cement mortars especially when CS is presented.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The recent development of new investigational agents targeting DNA repair, either directly with poly(adenosine disphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitors or indirectly through DNA-binding or DNA-damage potentiation, is a major focus of current clinical studies and represents a new approach to TNBC therapy.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, single-cycle THz pulses from an optical laser were used to extend streaking techniques of attosecond metrology to measure the temporal profile and arrival time of individual FEL pulses with ∼5 fs precision.
Abstract: Researchers use single-cycle THz pulses from an optical laser to extend streaking techniques of attosecond metrology to measure the temporal profile and arrival time of individual FEL pulses with ∼5 fs precision.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The fabrication, characterisation and the performance of a wearable, robust, flexible and disposable chemical barcode device based on a micro-fluidic platform that incorporates ionic liquid polymer gels (ionogels) is presented.
Abstract: This work presents the fabrication, characterisation and the performance of a wearable, robust, flexible and disposable chemical barcode device based on a micro-fluidic platform that incorporates ionic liquid polymer gels (ionogels). The device has been applied to the monitoring of the pH of sweat in real time during an exercise period. The device is an ideal wearable sensor for measuring the pH of sweat since it does not contain any electronic part for fluidic handle or pH detection and because it can be directly incorporated into clothing, head- or wristbands, which are in continuous contact with the skin. In addition, due to the micro-fluidic structure, fresh sweat is continuously passing through the sensing area providing the capability to perform continuous real time analysis. The approach presented here ensures immediate feedback regarding sweat composition. Sweat analysis is attractive for monitoring purposes as it can provide physiological information directly relevant to the health and performance of the wearer without the need for an invasive sampling approach.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Feb 2012-Methods
TL;DR: The approaches used for antibody purification are critically examined with the aim of providing the reader with the principles and practical insights required to understand the intricacies of the procedures.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Pattern recognition of this empirically-derived cluster of symptoms and signs may help clinicians identify an assumed dominance of CSP in patients with low back pain disorders in a way that might usefully inform their management.

Journal ArticleDOI
27 Aug 2012
TL;DR: A critical need of an intensive investigation is stressed into the mechanisms of EDC-based amine-carboxyl coupling under various experimental conditions to improve the cost-effectiveness and analytical performance of immunoassays on APTES-functionalized platforms.
Abstract: 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) alone, and in combination with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) or sulfoNHS were employed for crosslinking anti-human fetuin A (HFA) antibodies on 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)-functionalized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) gold chip and 96-well microtiter plate. The SPR immunoassay and sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent immunoassay (ELISA) for HFA clearly demonstrated that EDC crosslinks anti-HFA antibodies to APTES-functionalized bioanalytical platforms more efficiently than EDC/NHS and EDC/sulfoNHS at a normal pH of 7.4. Similar results were obtained by sandwich ELISAs for human Lipocalin-2 and human albumin, and direct ELISA for horseradish peroxidase. The more efficient crosslinking of antibodies by EDC to the APTES-functionalized platforms increased the cost-effectiveness and analytical performance of our immunoassays. This study will be of wide interest to researchers developing immunoassays on APTES-functionalized platforms that are being widely used in biomedical diagnostics, biosensors, lab-on-a-chip and point-of-care-devices. It stresses a critical need of an intensive investigation into the mechanisms of EDC-based amine-carboxyl coupling under various experimental conditions.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There is strong evidence that EBV status is an etiologically important classification of cHL and also suggest that some components of the pathological process are common to both EBV-positive andEBV-negative patients.
Abstract: Accumulating evidence suggests that risk factors for classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) differ by tumor Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) status. This potential etiological heterogeneity is not recognized in current disease classification. We conducted a genome-wide association study of 1200 cHL patients and 6417 control subjects, with validation in an independent replication series, to identify common genetic variants associated with total cHL and subtypes defined by tumor EBV status. Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) assuming a log-additive genetic model for the variants. All statistical tests were two-sided. Two novel loci associated with total cHL irrespective of EBV status were identified in the major histocompatibility complex region; one resides adjacent to MICB (rs2248462: OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.53 to 0.69, P = 1.3 x 10(-13)) and the other at HLA-DRA (rs2395185: OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.50 to 0.62, P = 8.3 x 10(-25)) with both results confirmed in an independent replication series. Consistent with previous reports, associations were found between EBV-positive cHL and genetic variants within the class I region (rs2734986, HLA-A: OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 2.00 to 3.00, P = 1.2 x 10(-15); rs6904029, HCG9: OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.36 to 0.59, P = 5.5 x 10(-10)) and between EBV-negative cHL and rs6903608 within the class II region (rs6903608, HLA-DRA: OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.84 to 2.35, P = 6.1 x 10(-31)). The association between rs6903608 and EBV-negative cHL was confined to the nodular sclerosis histological subtype. Evidence for an association between EBV-negative cHL and rs20541 (5q31, IL13: OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.32 to 1.76, P = 5.4 x 10(-9)), a variant previously linked to psoriasis and asthma, was observed; however, the evidence for replication was less clear. Notably, one additional psoriasis-associated variant, rs27524 (5q15, ERAP1), showed evidence of an association with cHL in the genome-wide association study (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.10 to 1.33, P = 1.5 x 10(-4)) and replication series (P = .03). Overall, these results provide strong evidence that EBV status is an etiologically important classification of cHL and also suggest that some components of the pathological process are common to both EBV-positive and EBV-negative patients.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An in depth review of the current state of knowledge regarding the necessary considerations in using chemical markers, such as pharmaceuticals and food additives, to differentiate sewage and manure sources of nitrate contamination will be given, through an understanding of their use, occurrence and fate, in order to identify the most suitable potential chemical markers.

Proceedings Article
01 May 2012
TL;DR: This work describes a standalone tool that has two main purposes: facilitate the post-editing of translations from any MT system so that they reach publishable quality and collect sentence-level information from the post -editing process, e.g.: post-Editing time and detailed keystroke statistics.
Abstract: Given the significant improvements in Machine Translation (MT) quality and the increasing demand for translations, post-editing of automatic translations is becoming a popular practice in the translation industry. It has been shown to allow for much larger volumes of translations to be produced, saving time and costs. In addition, the post-editing of automatic translations can help understand problems in such translations and this can be used as feedback for researchers and developers to improve MT systems. Finally, post-editing can be used as a way of evaluating the quality of translations in terms of how much post-editing effort these translations require. We describe a standalone tool that has two main purposes: facilitate the post-editing of translations from any MT system so that they reach publishable quality and collect sentence-level information from the post-editing process, e.g.: post-editing time and detailed keystroke statistics.

Book
27 Nov 2012
TL;DR: This chapter discusses the Translation Age, which began with The House of Translation and ended with Translating Limits, and the importance of knowing your own language.
Abstract: Introduction The Translation Age 1. The House of Translation 2. Plain Speaking 3. Translating Limits 4. Everyware 5. Details

Journal ArticleDOI
25 Jun 2012-ACS Nano
TL;DR: The biosynthesis mechanism of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the fungus Rhizopus oryzae is described, showing that at higher Au(III) concentrations, both mycelial and protein yield decrease and damages to the cellular ultrastructure are observed, likely due to the toxic effect of Au( III).
Abstract: In recent years, there has been significant progress in the biological synthesis of nanomaterials. However, the molecular mechanism of gold biomineralization in microorganisms of industrial relevance remains largely unexplored. Here we describe the biosynthesis mechanism of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the fungus Rhizopus oryzae . Reduction of AuCl(4)(-) [Au(III)] to nanoparticulate Au(0) (AuNPs) occurs in both the cell wall and cytoplasmic region of R. oryzae . The average size of the as-synthesized AuNPs is ~15 nm. The biomineralization occurs through adsorption, initial reduction to Au(I), followed by complexation [Au(I) complexes], and final reduction to Au(0). Subtoxic concentrations (up to 130 μM) of AuCl(4)(-) in the growth medium increase growth of R. oryzae and induce two stress response proteins while simultaneously down-regulating two other proteins. The induction increases mycelial growth, protein yield, and AuNP biosynthesis. At higher Au(III) concentrations (>130 μM), both mycelial and protein yield decrease and damages to the cellular ultrastructure are observed, likely due to the toxic effect of Au(III). Protein profile analysis also confirms the gold toxicity on R. oryzae at high concentrations. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis shows that two proteins of 45 and 42 kDa participate in gold reduction, while an 80 kDa protein serves as a capping agent in AuNP biosynthesis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The phase profile dependence on cavity length and injection current is experimentally evaluated, demonstrating the possibility of efficiently using the wide spectral bandwidth exhibited by these quantum dash structures for the generation of high peak power sub-picosecond pulses with low radio frequency linewidths.
Abstract: Mode locking features of single section quantum dash based lasers are investigated. Particular interest is given to the static spectral phase profile determining the shape of the mode locked pulses. The phase profile dependence on cavity length and injection current is experimentally evaluated, demonstrating the possibility of efficiently using the wide spectral bandwidth exhibited by these quantum dash structures for the generation of high peak power sub-picosecond pulses with low radio frequency linewidths.