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Bright
Terms modified by Bright Selected AbstractsHOW BRIGHT AND HOW NASTY: EXPLAINING DIVERSITY IN WARNING SIGNAL STRENGTHEVOLUTION, Issue 3 2007Michael P. Speed The conspicuous displays that warn predators of defenses carried by potential prey have been of interest to evolutionary biologists from the time of Wallace and Darwin to the present day. Although most studies implicitly assume that these "aposematic" warning signals simply indicate the presence of some repellent defense such as a toxin, it has been speculated that the intensity of the signal might reliably indicate the strength of defense so that, for example, the nastiest prey might "shout loudest" about their unprofitability. Recent phylogenetic and empirical studies of Dendrobatid frogs provide contradictory views, in one instance showing a positive correlation between toxin levels and conspicuousness, in another showing a breakdown of this relationship. In this paper we present an optimization model, which can potentially account for these divergent results. Our model locates the optimal values of defensive traits that are influenced by a range of costs and benefits. We show that optimal aposematic conspicuousness can be positively correlated with optimal prey toxicity, especially where population sizes and season lengths vary between species. In other cases, optimal aposematic conspicuousness may be negatively correlated with toxicity; this is especially the case when the marginal costs of aposematic displays vary between members of different populations. Finally, when displays incur no allocation costs there may be no single optimum value for aposematic conspicuousness, rather a large array of alternative forms of a display may have equal fitness. [source] Emergency Department Case-finding for High-risk Older Adults: The Brief Risk Identification for Geriatric Health Tool (BRIGHT)ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 7 2008Michal Boyd RN Abstract Objective:, The objective was to test the ability of the Brief Risk Identification for Geriatric Health Tool (BRIGHT) to identify older emergency department (ED) patients with functional and physical impairment. Methods:, This was a cross-sectional study in which 139 persons ,75 years, who presented to an urban New Zealand ED over a 12-week period, completed the 11-item BRIGHT case-finding tool. Then, within 10 days of their index ED visit, 114 persons completed a comprehensive geriatric assessment. A "yes" response to at least 3 of the 11 BRIGHT items was considered "positive." Primary outcome measures were instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), cognitive performance scale (CPS), and activities of daily living (ADL). Results:, The BRIGHT-identified IADL deficit (64% prevalence) with a sensitivity of 0.76, specificity of 0.79, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) of 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.74 to 0.91, p < 0.01); cognitive deficit (35% prevalence) sensitivity of 0.78, specificity of 0.54, and ROC of 0.66 (95% CI = 0.55 to 0.76, p = 0.006); and ADL deficit (29% prevalence) sensitivity of 0.83, specificity of 0.53, and ROC of 0.64 (95% CI = 0.53 to 0.75, p = 0.020). Positive likelihood ratios (LR+) for the three outcomes of interest were 3.6, 1.7, and 1.8, respectively. Negative likelihood ratios (LR,) were 0.3, 0.4, and 0.3. Conclusions:, The 11-item BRIGHT successfully identifies older adults in the ED with decreased function and may be useful in differentiating elder patients in need of comprehensive assessment. [source] Infertility and assisted reproductive technologies: Bright and dark sidesCONGENITAL ANOMALIES, Issue 3 2001Kaoru Suzumori ABSTRACT, Infertility is defined as a couples failure to conceive following 2 years of unprotected sexual intercourse, affects 10% of reproductive age couples in Japan. There are 3 main causes: (1) ovarian failure-anovulation (29%); (2) tubal factor-anatomic defects of the female genital tract (36%); (3) male factor-abnormal spermatogenesis (31%). The goal of the infertility evaluation are to determine the probable cause of infertility regarding prognosis and to provide guidance regarding options for treatment In the event an obstruction of the fallopian tubes is discovered or spermatogenesis cannot be improved, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as gamete intrafallopian tube transfer (GIFT) and in vitro fertilization with embryo transfer (IVF-ET) are recommended. Since the successful birth of Louise Brown by this IVF-ET, an explosion of ART has occurred all over the world in the last decade. In this review we discuss the revolution brought about by ART focusing on results in Japan, and clarify ethical issues that must be resolved. [source] Cortical Epileptogenesis,Hughlings Jackson and His PredecessorsEPILEPSIA, Issue 11 2007Mervyn J. Eadie Summary:,Aim: To trace the concept that the cerebral cortex is the site of epileptogenesis before Hughlings Jackson published the idea in 1870 in the paper "A study of convulsions" which marks the beginning of modern epileptology. Method: Perusal of 19th century English language medical literature. Result: The existence of cortical epileptogenesis was postulated by Richard Bright in 1831 and 1836, touched on by Robert Bentley Todd in 1849, and rediscovered independently by Samuel Wilks in 1866. Wilks's idea probably became known to both John Thompson Dickson and John Hughlings Jackson and was then developed further, particularly by Jackson. Conclusion: The thought of Samuel Wilks probably played a more important role in the origins of modern epileptology than has sometimes been appreciated. [source] Bright and Efficient, Non-Doped, Phosphorescent Organic Red-Light-Emitting Diodes,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 12 2004Y.-H. Song Abstract Ir(III) metal complexes with formula [(nazo)2Ir(Fppz)] (1), [(nazo)2Ir(Bppz)] (2), and [(nazo)2Ir(Fptz)] (3) [(nazo)H,= 4-phenyl quinazoline, (Fppz)H,=,3-trifluoromethyl-5-(2-pyridyl) pyrazole, (Bppz)H,=,3- t -butyl-5-(2-pyridyl) pyrazole, and (Fptz)H,=,3-trifluoromethyl-5-(2-pyridyl) triazole] were synthesized, among which the exact configuration of 1 was confirmed using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. These complexes exhibited bright red phosphorescence with relatively short lifetimes of 0.4,1.05,,s in both solution and the solid-state at room temperature. Non-doped organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) were fabricated using complexes 1 and 2 in the absence of a host matrix. Saturated red electroluminescence was observed at ,max,=,626,nm (host-emitter complex,1) and 652,nm (host-emitter complex,2), which corresponds to coordinates (0.66,0.34) and (0.69,0.31), respectively, on the 1931 Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity diagram. The non-doped devices employing complex,1 showed electroluminance as high as 5780,cd,m,2, an external quantum efficiency of 5.5,% at 8,V, and a current density of 20,mA,cm,2. The short phosphorescence lifetime of 1 in the solid state, coupled with its modest ,,, stacking interactions, appear to be the determining factors for its unusual success as a non-doped host-emitter. [source] Early reading in Kannada: the pace of acquisition of orthographic knowledge and phonemic awarenessJOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN READING, Issue 1 2007Sonali Nag Acquisition of orthographic knowledge and phonemic sensitivity are processes that are central to early reading development in several languages. The language-specific characteristics of the alphasyllabaries (Bright, 1996), however, challenge the constructs of orthographic knowledge and phonemic sensitivity as discussed in the context of alphabetic scripts. This paper reports a study of 5,10-year-olds in Kannada, an alphasyllabary that represents print in units called akshara. It was hypothesised that in Kannada, when compared with the developmental pace reported in English early reading, (a) akshara knowledge acquisition would take longer and (b) phoneme awareness would be slower to emerge. The study found these hypotheses to hold true across grades and in both low-achieving and effective schools. The paper discusses the nature of the cognitive demands in akshara reading and the akshara -specific characteristics that set a pace of acquisition of orthographic knowledge and phonemic sensitivity that is quite at variance from what has been documented in the alphabetic scripts. [source] Report of the Council for the session 2006,2007JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY: SERIES A (STATISTICS IN SOCIETY), Issue 4 2007Council Report President's foreword., This year's annual report shows another very successful year for the Society. The range of the Society's new initiatives bears testament to our vigour and to the energy and enthusiasm of Fellows and staff. It is difficult to summarize all of these but I offer a brief overview of some of the highlights. This year we have awarded the first annual prize for ,Statistical excellence in journalism'. It is too easy to bemoan the general quality of coverage of statistical issues in the press and other media. But simply moaning does not improve the situation. As a positive step, on the instigation of Sheila Bird and Andrew Garratt, the Society decided to initiate an award for the best journalistic coverage of a statistical issue. This year first prize was awarded to Ben Goldacre of The Guardian. I hope that these annual awards will offer a positive focus on good coverage and help us to promote best practice. This year, also, we have set up the Professional Development Centre to act as a focus for statistical training both for statisticians and for others who use statistical methods as part of their work. It thus reflects our support for continuing professional development for our Fellows and at the same time provides outreach to members of the statistical user community who want to improve their statistical skills. We welcome Nicola Bright as the Director of the Centre and wish her every success. I am pleased to say that it is not just the Society centrally that has taken new activities this year. The Manchester Local Group have initiated a prize for final year undergraduates from any higher education institute in the north-west. At a time when there are concerns about the number of well-qualified graduates coming into the statistics profession this seems an excellent way to attract the attention of final year undergraduates. I wish this initiative every success. Another development to which the Society has contributed is the Higher Education Funding Council for England project ,more maths grads' which is designed to promote participation in undergraduate degrees in the mathematical sciences. A good supply of mathematically trained graduates is essential to the UK economy in general and to the health of the statistics discipline in particular. It is good that the Society is involved in practical developments that are aimed at increasing participation. The final new initiative that I shall draw attention to is the ,first-in-man' report which is concerned with the statistical design of drug trials aimed at testing novel treatment types. The working party was set up as a result of the adverse reactions suffered by healthy volunteers to a first-in-man trial of monoclonal antibodies and who were subsequently admitted to Northwick Park hospital. The report makes a series of recommendations about the design of such trials and will, I hope, contribute to the safety of future trials. I would like to thank Stephen Senn and the members of the working party for their considerable efforts. As well as these new initiatives there were, of course, many other continuing activities that are noteworthy. The annual conference in Belfast was a great success with many lively sessions and a good number of participants. In particular it was good to see a high number of young statisticians participating in the conference, reflecting the continuing impact of the Young Statisticians Forum on which I commented in the previous annual report. Another continuing activity for the Society is the statistical legislation going through Parliament as I write. The Society has long campaigned for legislation for official statistics. The issue now is to try to get good legislation which will have the required effect and will help the Government Statistical Service and other statistical producers to produce high quality, authoritative statistics in an environment that commands public confidence. As first published, the Society was disappointed with the Bill but we have worked to build support for amendments that, in our view, are essential. Time alone will tell how effective the final legislation will be in meeting our aims. I would like to draw attention to the success of the Membership Services team. We, although with other statistical Societies, have experienced a decline in membership in recent years but the team have turned this round. They are helping to recruit new Fellows and to retain the commitment of existing Fellows. This is a fine achievement and I would like to thank Nicola Emmerson, Ed Swires-Hennessy and the whole team. Finally we have, at last, reached a conclusion in our dealings with the Privy Council and will implement the second phase of constitutional changes. In future our business year, financial year and year for elected appointments will all coincide on a calendar year basis. There will be transitional arrangements but in due course all our administrative arrangements will coincide and will improve efficiency and co-ordination. This has been a long journey, steered effectively by our Director General, Ivor Goddard, and I congratulate him for a successful outcome on your behalf. As you read this report, I hope that you will share my impression of a Society that is lively and spawning many new programmes. We have a dual commitment: to the well-being of statistics as a discipline and to the promotion of statistical understanding and practice to the benefit of Society at large. In both respects I feel that the Society is in good health. This is due to the unstinting efforts of a large number of individual volunteers, including in particular our Honorary Officers and also, of course, the staff at Errol Street. On behalf of all Fellows, I wish to express my thanks to everyone involved. Tim Holt [source] Measuring protein excretion in pregnancyNEPHROLOGY, Issue 5 2007JANE L HOLT SUMMARY: The recognition and detection of proteinuria has been acknowledged as an important clinical marker of renal disease since 1827 when Richard Bright published his landmark medical case reports. In more recent times, the broader community of clinicians has come to share the enthusiasm of nephrologists in recognizing the importance of protein excretion, not only as a marker of current renal disease but also as a predictor of long-term renal and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is important that methods for detecting and measuring proteinuria are accurate, and this is particularly relevant to diseases that are defined by the detection of proteinuria, such as pre-eclampsia. This review will first discuss current knowledge of protein handling by the normal kidney, then the changes in normal and hypertensive pregnancy, and finally, how recent advances in our understanding of proteinuria may affect our future management of hypertensive pregnancies. [source] Bright but obscured chemical powerhousesASTRONOMY & GEOPHYSICS, Issue 6 2008Article first published online: 7 APR 200 Ultraluminous infrared galaxies emit immense amounts of energy thanks to their speedy transformation of interstellar gas into young stars, and to their supermassive black holes. But their dense gas and dust clouds have obscured the details , and the products , of this intense star formation, until now. [source] Gary Bourlet, Andrew Bright and Joan ScottBRITISH JOURNAL OF LEARNING DISABILITIES, Issue 3 2002Andrew Holman No abstract is available for this article. [source] Childhood cancer,mainly curable so where next?ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 4 2000AW Craft More than 70% of childhood cancer is now curable with best modern therapy. The treatment is expensive but in terms of cost per life year saved, USD 1750, compares very favourably with other major health interventions. The rate of improvement in survival is slowing down. New, "designer", treatments are needed and, better still, prevention. The causes of childhood cancer are beginning to emerge. The origin for many is probably in utero and may be initiated by dietary and other environmental exposures perhaps in susceptible individuals. However, one of the great challenges for the future must be to extend the benefits of modern treatment to the 80% of the world's children who currently have little or no access to it in economically disadvantaged and emerging nations. The International Paediatric Oncology Society (SIOP) is leading the way in bringing hope for children with cancer worldwide. In India, with the support of the WHO, there is a "train the trainers" programme. In Africa, pilot studies of cost-effective treatments for Burkitt's lymphoma are producing gratifying results in Malawi and there are several examples of twinning programmes between major centres in developed and less well-developed countries. Conclusions: The future for children with cancer is bright. Most are curable and prevention may be just over the horizon. [source] Synthesis and characterization of potassium magnesium sulphate hexahydrate crystalsCRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2006M. Dhandapani Abstract Potassium magnesium sulphate hexahydrate (picromerite) was synthesized and single crystals were obtained from saturated aqueous solution by slow evaporation method at room temperature. The crystals were bright, colourless and transparent having well defined external faces. The grown crystals were characterized through Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectral studies and thermal analysis. The FTIR data were used to assign the characteristic vibrational frequencies of the various chemical bonds in the compound. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic lattice with the space group P21/c. The thermogravimetry (TG) indicates the removal of only two water molecules around 100 °C. A suitable decomposition pattern was formulated based on the percentage weight losses observed in TG of the compound. The results of differential thermal analysis (DTA) conform to the results of TGA. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis carried out at high temperature suggests that the occurrence of two phase transitions in the crystal between 140 and 180 °C. When the crystal was cooled below the room temperature up to ,170 °C, no thermal anomaly was observed. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Synthesis, structural and thermal studies of tetrathioureacopper(I) chloride crystalsCRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 8 2005M. Dhandapani Abstract Tetrathioureacopper(I) chloride, hereafter abbreviated as TCC, was synthesised and single crystals were obtained from saturated aqueous solution by slow evaporation (solution growth) method at room temperature. The crystals obtained are bright, colourless and transparent having well defined external faces. The grown crystals were characterized through elemental analysis, single crystal X-ray diffraction study, thermal analysis, electron spin resonance spectroscopy and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy. The elemental analysis confirms the stoichiometry of the compound. The single crystal diffraction studies indicate that TCC crystallises in the tetragonal lattice and the unit cell parameters are a = b = 13.4082 Å, c = 13.8074 Å, V = 2482.29 Å3, , = , = , = 90°. Space group and the number of molecules per unit cell (Z) are found to be P41212 and 8 respectively. The TG curve of the sample shows a prolonged decomposition from 210 to 628.3 °C, from which the decomposition pattern has been formulated. The endothermic peaks in the DTA curve indicate melting and decomposition of the compound at 165.2 and 633.8 °C respectively. An exothermic peak in high temperature DSC indicates a phase transition in the compound at 274.8 °C. Thermal anomalies observed in the low temperature DSC at ,163.3, ,152.0, ,141.5, ,108.3, 1.0 and 12.1 °C in the heating run and ,157.1 and ,153.9 °C in the cooling run reveal first order phase transitions in the crystal. The peaks observed at ,146.2 °C in both the heating and cooling runs suggest occurrence of a second order phase transition in this compound. The IR spectroscopic data were used to assign the characteristic vibrational frequencies of various groups present in the compound. The ESR study confirms that the copper is in the +1 oxidation state in the complex. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Overexpression of CD49f in precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Potential usefulness in minimal residual disease detectionCYTOMETRY, Issue 2 2009Joseph A. DiGiuseppe Abstract Background: The persistence of minimal residual disease (MRD) following therapy is an established prognostic factor in precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pB-ALL). Detection of MRD in pB-ALL by flow cytometric immunophenotyping requires demonstration of abnormal antigen expression in leukemic B-cell precursors relative to that of normal B-cell precursors. The gene encoding CD49f (integrin ,-6) is one of several whose overexpression in pB-ALL at diagnosis has been associated with the subsequent detection of MRD. However, whether CD49f might be a useful reagent in the immunophenotypic detection of MRD in pB-ALL has not been evaluated. Methods: We evaluated CD49f expression by 4-color flow cytometry in normal B-cell precursors, and in a series of cases of pB-ALL, both at diagnosis and at intervals following the initiation of therapy. Results: In 10 control marrow samples, CD49f was undetectable or extremely dim in all but a minor subset of normal CD19+ B-lineage cells, whereas in 11 of 15 cases (73%) of pB-ALL, CD49f was moderate or bright at diagnosis, and persisted or became brighter after initiation of therapy. MRD detected using CD49f corresponded precisely with that obtained using a standard panel of antibodies, and permitted the detection of leukemic populations comprising as little as 0.02% of cells. Of the four pB-ALL cases in which CD49f was undetectable or dim at diagnosis, MRD was detected in two; in one of these, CD49f expression was substantially increased in the leukemic cells that persisted following initiation of therapy. Conclusions: CD49f is commonly overexpressed in p-B-ALL, and represents a potentially useful marker for the immunophenotypic detection of MRD. © 2008 Clinical Cytometry Society How to cite this article: DiGiuseppe JA, Fuller SG, Borowitz MJ. Overexpression of CD49f in precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: potential usefulness in minimal residual disease detection. Cytometry Part B 2008. [source] High cortisol awakening response is associated with an impairment of the effect of bright light therapyACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 3 2009K. Martiny Objective:, We investigated the predictive validity of the cortisol awakening response (CAR) in patients with non-seasonal major depression. Method:, Patients were treated with sertraline in combination with bright or dim light therapy for a 5-week period. Saliva cortisol levels were measured in 63 patients, as an awakening profile, before medication and light therapy started. The CAR was calculated by using three time-points: awakening and 20 and 60 min after awakening. Results:, Patients with low CAR had a very substantial effect of bright light therapy compared with dim light therapy, whereas patients with a high CAR had no effect of bright light therapy compared with dim light therapy. Conclusion:, High CAR was associated with an impairment of the effect of bright light therapy. This result raises the question of whether bright light acts through a mechanism different from that of antidepressants. [source] Penetrating injury at the thoracic inlet in a Paint-Arab mareEQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION, Issue 12 2009Y. R. Rojman Summary A 12-year-old Paint-Arab mare was admitted for evaluation of a penetrating chest laceration at the thoracic inlet. The left brachiocephalic muscle was transected and the recurrent laryngeal nerve was traumatised. Subsequent to the injury, the horse developed Horner's syndrome on the left side of the neck and face, Grade IV left laryngeal hemiplegia, dysphagia, cough and subcutaneous emphysema. The defect was closed in multiple layers. Antimicrobial and antiinflammatory therapy was instituted along with local wound care. The mare remained bright and responsive and the wound healed normally. The mare showed no signs of respiratory distress. Dysphagia and ptosis persisted at 30 days post trauma. [source] CD31+/Annexin V+ microparticles in healthy offsprings of patients with coronary artery diseaseEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 1 2009D. Bulut ABSTRACT Background, First-degree relatives of patients with premature coronary artery disease (CAD) develop endothelial dysfunction even in the case they are apparently healthy. In this study we wanted to clarify whether reduced blood levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), an endogenous repair mechanism to replace dysfunctional endothelium, or elevated endothelial-derived microparticles (EMPs), an indicator and a mediator of increased endothelial cell damage/apoptosis, are an initial step in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction in genetically predisposed subjects. Materials and methods, Fifty-six healthy young men (aged 23 to 31 years) from a fire brigade were enrolled, of which 20 subjects had a positive family history (FH) for premature CAD. Subjects with or without a positive FH did not differ with respect to age, body mass index, risk factors and C-reactive protein. Endothelial function was assessed by hyperaemia-mediated relaxation of the brachial artery, blood levels of EPCs (VEGFR2+CD34+ cells) and number of EMPs (CD31+(bright)/Annexin V+ particles) were analysed by flow cytometry. Results, Hyperaemia-mediated relaxation of the brachial artery was similar in both groups, and the blood levels of EPCs were comparable. However, the number of EMPs were significantly increased in subjects with a positive FH compared to those with a negative FH (neg. FH: 55·31 ± 4·88 vs. pos. FH: 70·37 ± 6·32 particles µL,1 platelet poor plasma; P < 0·05). Number of EMPs correlate inversely with the FMD response. Conclusions, These results suggest that increased plasma levels of EMPs may be an initial step in the development of endothelial dysfunction in genetically predisposed subjects. [source] Colours and Metallic Sheen in Beetle Shells , A Biomimetic Search for Material Structuring Principles Causing Light Interference,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 4 2008T. Lenau Abstract Visual aesthetic has always played a vital role for the success of many products. This includes colours and glossiness and metal appearance which is often achieved using surface coatings. Present coating techniques do, however, have limitations. It is difficult to reach very bright and brilliant colours, colours tend to fade over time and many of the materials and coating technologies pollute and have other environmental problems. Beetles in nature have many of the desired properties: They have appealing brilliant colours and some even with metallic appearance. It is noticeable that the colours are long lasting as some of the beetles we have studied at the zoological museum are more than 200 years old and have colours and brightness as if they were still alive. Furthermore, the beetles in nature are part of sustainable ecosystems, which means that they are made from renewable materials that are broken down and recycled when the beetle dies. Beetles also possess another and very attractive property: Their metallic look originates from structures in organic materials which is both electrically and thermal insulating. The industrial perspective is to be able to manufacture products with attractive metallic surfaces that do not feel so cold to touch as their metallic counterparts and that do not represent an electrical shock hazard. [source] How can dragonflies discern bright and dark waters from a distance?FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2002The degree of polarisation of reflected light as a possible cue for dragonfly habitat selection SUMMARY 1.,Based on the findings that some dragonflies prefer either ,dark' or ,bright' water (as perceived by the human eye viewing downwards perpendicularly to the water surface), while others choose both types of water bodies in which to lay their eggs, the question arises: How can dragonflies distinguish a bright from a dark pond from far away, before they get sufficiently close to see it is bright or dark? 2.,Our hypothesis is that certain dragonfly species may select their preferred breeding sites from a distance on the basis of the polarisation of reflected light. Is it that waters viewed from a distance can be classified on the basis of the polarisation of reflected light? 3.,Therefore we measured, at an angle of view of 20° from the horizontal, the reflection-polarisation characteristics of several ponds differing in brightness and in their dragonfly fauna. 4.,We show that from a distance, at which the angle of view is 20° from the horizontal, dark water bodies cannot be distinguished from bright ones on the basis of the intensity or the angle of polarisation of reflected light. At a similar angle of view, however, dark waters reflect light with a significantly higher degree of linear polarisation than bright waters in any range of the spectrum and in any direction of view with respect to the sun. 5.,Thus, the degree of polarisation of reflected light may be a visual cue for the polarisation-sensitive dragonflies to distinguish dark and bright water bodies from far away. Future experimental studies should prove if dragonflies do indeed use this cue for habitat selection. [source] Decorating Liquid Crystal Surfaces with Proteins for Real-Time Detection of Specific Protein,Protein BindingADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 22 2009Deny Hartono Abstract Here, a novel method of immobilizing proteins with well-defined orientation directly on liquid crystal surfaces that allow subsequent real-time imaging of specific protein,protein binding events on these surfaces is reported. Self-assembly of nitrilotriacetic acid terminated amphiphiles loaded with Ni2+ ions at aqueous-liquid crystal interface creates a surface capable of immobilizing histidine-tagged ubiquitin through complex formation between Ni2+ and histidine. When these surfaces containing immobilized histidine-tagged ubiquitin are exposed to anti-ubiquitin antibody, the spatial and temporal of specific protein,protein binding events trigger orientational transitions of liquid crystals. As a result, sharp liquid crystal optical switching from dark to bright can readily be observed under polarized lighting. The protein,protein binding can be observed within seconds and only requires nanogram quantities of proteins. This work demonstrates a simple strategy to immobilize proteins with well-defined orientation on liquid crystal surfaces for real-time and label-free detection of specific protein,protein binding events, which may find use in biomedical diagnostics. [source] TEM Analysis of Hcp-Co Films Deposited by Gas Flow SputteringIEEJ TRANSACTIONS ON ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2008Hiroshi Sakuma Member Abstract In this study, the crystal structure of Co thin films deposited by a low-energy sputtering, gas flow sputtering (GFS) and conventional RF magnetron sputtering (MS) is investigated. The emphasis is on whether fcc-like regions are present in a hcp-Co film. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows no fcc peak for both films deposited by GFS and MS. Electron diffraction reveals that fcc structure is present in the film deposited by MS. Lattice images are observed by using transmission electron microscopy. Every other line in the lattice image of the film deposited by GFS is bright or dark, which is suggestive of the ABAB stacking of the hcp structure. In addition, stacking faults are observed. Copyright © 2008 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source] Quantum Dot,Polymer Composites for Displays: Inkjet-Printed Quantum Dot,Polymer Composites for Full-Color AC-Driven Displays (Adv. Mater.ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 21 200921/2009) Vladimir Bulovic and co-workers show on p. 2151 that colloidal quantum dot-polymer composites are used for inkjet print-deposition of high resolution, patterned, multicolored thin films in the fabrication of robust, bright, full-color AC-driven displays. The inside cover shows an inkjet nozzle with a quantum dot solution and a completed device on a flexible substrate under UV illumination, with inset examples of the achievable high resolution and patterning. [source] Inkjet-Printed Quantum Dot,Polymer Composites for Full-Color AC-Driven DisplaysADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 21 2009Vanessa Wood Colloidal quantum dot,polymer composites are used for inkjet-print deposition of high-resolution, patterned, multicolored thin films in the fabrication of robust, bright, full-color AC-driven displays. The left panel shows a photograph of a complete device on a flexible substrate under UV illumination, while the right panel shows photographs of the electroluminescence of red, green, and blue 80 mm2 pixels. [source] The Digital Revolution: A New Paradigm for MicrofluidicsADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 8 2009Mohamed Abdelgawad Abstract The digital revolution has come to microfluidics. In digital microfluidics (DMF), discrete droplets are manipulated by applying electrical fields to an array of electrodes. In contrast to microchannels, in DMF each sample and reagent is individually addressable, which facilitates exquisite control over chemical reactions. Here, we review the state-of-the-art in DMF, with a discussion of device formats, actuation physics, and biological and nonbiological applications. Along the way, we identify the key players in the field, and speculate on the advances and challenges that lie ahead. As with other fronts in the digital revolution, there have been and will be unexpected developments as DMF matures, but we posit that the future is bright for this promising technology. [source] Photoluminescent Nanoparticle Surfaces: The Potential of Alkaline Earth Oxides for Optical Applications,ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 24 2008Andreas Sternig The surfaces of alkaline earth oxides emit bright, colored light and have potential as thermally stable inorganic phosphors with adsorption-dependent optical properties. The doping of thermally stable MgO nanocubes with low-coordinated BaO surface elements (see figure) clearly demonstrates that chemical manipulation of the solid,gas interface provides an efficient means to adjust the optical properties of powders in controlled gas atmospheres. [source] Simulation of the market penetration of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in KoreaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 4 2008Eunju Jun Abstract As fuel cell technologies are developed, hydrogen-powered vehicles are receiving more interest. The hydrogen economy, particularly hydrogen-powered vehicle penetration into the Korean transportation market, is studied in this paper. Vensim, a system dynamic code, was used to simulate the dynamics in the transportation market, assuming various types of vehicles such as gasoline, hybrid electricity, and hydrogen powered. Market share for each vehicle was predicted using the currently available data. The results showed that the hydrogen era will not be as bright as predicted by many people. The main barrier is the fuel cell cost. Thus, in order to expand the fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) market, hydrogen fuel cell cost needs to be dramatically reduced. Hydrogen-powered FCV cost, including operating and capital costs, should reach $0.16 per kilometer in order to seize 50% of the newly created transportation market. However, if strong policies or subsidies are implemented, the results predicted here will be affected. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] White-Light Emission from a Single-Emitting-Component Organic Electroluminescent Device,ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 17 2004Y. Li Three-layer electroluminescent devices fabricated from 1,3,5-tris(2-(9-ethylcarbazyl-3)ethylene) benzene (TECEB) (see Figure) are shown to exhibit bright and efficient white light with a maximum luminescence and current efficiency of 1200,cd,m,2 and 1.1,cd,A,1, respectively. It is suggested that these represent the best reported results for single-emitting-component white electroluminescent devices to date. [source] Cultural Hegemony of Singapore among ASEAN Countries: Globalization and Cultural PolicyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF JAPANESE SOCIOLOGY, Issue 1 2004Kenichi Kawasaki The Singapore Government started to call their city a "Global City for the Arts", making numerous cultural policy changes. They also worked on various cultural experiments to establish their cultural leadership or hegemony among Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. The development of arts policies, cultural industries and people's positive commitment towards cultural exchanges are examples of this change. Singapore therefore is now playing the role of the cultural hub among the ASEAN countries. As an example of this, the present study discusses "Esplanade", which opened as a huge cultural complex in October 2002. Then the paper will also discuss both bright and dark sides of the cultural development in Singapore. As a conclusion, this paper discusses the possibility of the cultural contribution of Singapore to ASEAN countries, in spite of having serious epistemological discontinuity among ASEAN. [source] Comparison of cytotoxic and inflammatory responses of photoluminescent silicon nanoparticles with silicon micron-sized particles in RAW 264.7 macrophagesJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Jonghoon Choi Abstract Photoluminescent silicon nanoparticles have a bright and stable fluorescence and are promising candidates for bio-imaging, cell staining and drug delivery. With increasing development of nanotechnology applications for biomedicine, an understanding of the potential toxicity of nanoparticles is needed to assess safety concerns for clinical applications. The objective of this study was to compare biological responses of silicon nanoparticles (SNs, 3 nm diameter) with silicon microparticles (SMs, ,100,3000 nm diameter) in cultured murine macrophages (RAW 264.7) using standard protocols for assessing cytotoxicity/cell viability and inflammatory responses developed for micron-sized particles. SNs and SMs were exposed to macrophages with and without addition of endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a positive inducer of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- ,), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO). Cytotoxicity was assayed using the dye exclusion and MTT assays. Cell supernatants were assayed for production TNF- ,, IL-6 and NO. SNs at concentrations ,20 µg ml,1 exhibited no cytotoxicity or inflammatory responses; however, SNs and SMs >20 and 200 µg ml,1, respectively, increased cytotoxicity compared with controls. SMs induced concentration-related increases in TNF- , and IL-6 production; in contrast, the production of these cytokines was shown to decrease with increasing concentrations of SNs. NO production was not induced by SNs or SMs alone. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that SNs were associated with the macrophages, either internalized or attached to cell membranes. In conclusion, evaluating differences in biological responses for nanoparticles compared with microparticles of the same material may help improve tests to assess biological responses of nanoparticles that may be used in biomedical applications. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Intracardiac echogenic focus and fetal outcomeJOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 9 2010Geetika Gupta MS Abstract Background To study the outcome of the fetuses with intracardiac echogenic focus (ICEF). Methods All patients who were found to have one or more ICEF on sonographic (US) examination at our center from January 2007 through January 2009 were included in this retrospective study. ICEF was defined as a discrete area of echogenicity noted in the left or right ventricle, which was as bright as bone. Patients were followed up to know pregnancy outcome. Results Of 762 fetuses evaluated by US, 48 (6.3%) were found to have an ICEF. Thirty-one of these 48 fetuses had an isolated ICEF; 11 had associated major malformations, and the remaining 6 had no major US abnormalities but were found to have other soft markers. Invasive prenatal testing was done in 21 cases for risk factors other than ICEF and was found to be abnormal in two cases. Seven pregnancies were terminated due to associated major malformations. Conclusion The prevalence of ICEF was 6.3%. Of 31 fetuses with an isolated ICEF, outcomes of 28 fetuses are known and all neonates were reported to be normal at birth. Thus we infer that the presence of an isolated ICEF has no adverse effect on outcome of the neonate. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2010 [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||