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Fingerprints
Kinds of Fingerprints Terms modified by Fingerprints Selected AbstractsChemInform Abstract: V4O10: Spectroscopic Fingerprint of a Well-Defined, Molecular Metaloxo Aggregate.CHEMINFORM, Issue 31 2008Christian Herwig Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a "Full Text" option. The original article is trackable via the "References" option. [source] Magnetic Fingerprint Powder from a Mineral Indigenous to ThailandJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 5 2010Thatsanee Thonglon B.Sc. Abstract:, A study was conducted to investigate whether natural magnetite (Fe3O4), which is an abundant mineral in Thailand, could be used as a magnetic powder in the detection of latent fingerprints. Because of the presence of impurities, powdered magnetite is only weakly attracted by a magnet and cannot be used as a magnetic fingerprint powder by itself. Mixing a small amount of magnetite powder with nickel powder greatly enhances the magnetic attraction. A mixture of magnetite powder and nickel powder in a mass ratio of approximately 1:100 was found to be suitable for use as a magnetic fingerprint powder. Fingerprints developed using the magnetite/nickel mixture on nonporous surfaces were found to exhibit good adherence and clarity. Using an automated fingerprint identification system, the number of minutiae detected in fingerprints developed by using the prepared powder on nonporous surfaces was found to be comparable to those detected in fingerprints developed by using a commercial black magnetic powder. The cost is lowered by more than 60%. [source] Chemical Differences Are Observed in Children's Versus Adults' Latent Fingerprints as a Function of Time,JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 2 2010Kimone M. Antoine B.S. Abstract:, The identification of aged latent fingerprints is often difficult, especially for those of children. To understand this phenomenon, the chemical composition of children's versus adults' latent fingerprints was examined over time using Fourier transform infrared microscopy. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that children's and adults' prints were distinguishable for up to 4 weeks after deposition, based on differences in sebum composition. Specifically, adults had a higher lipid content than children, but both decreased over time, attributable to the volatility of free fatty acids. The aliphatic CH3, aliphatic CH2, and carbonyl ester compositions changed differently in adults versus children over time, consistent with higher cholesterol and cholesteryl esters in children's prints and wax esters and glycerides in adults' prints. Thus, fingerprint composition changes with time differently in children versus adults, making it a sensitive metric to estimate the age of an individual, especially when the age of the print is known. [source] A New Method of Reproduction of Fingerprints from Corpses in a Bad State of Preservation Using LatexJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 6 2007Davide Porta B.Sc. Abstract:, In view of the problems arising while fingerprinting corpses in a bad state of preservation, especially in case of mummification and carbonization, the authors propose an innovative technique which uses latex film. To better illustrate the potential of the method, two cases where the latex technique was applied successfully are reported: the first one is a mummified body discovered in a shack on the outskirts of Milan and the second one is the case of a burnt corpse found in a car boot. Such a technique is versatile, easy to apply, and allows the operator to work quickly on cadavers without amputating parts, except in rare cases (i.e., burnt bodies with muscle retraction). By the latex technique, a perfect and enduring negative copy of the fingerprint is obtained, ready to be inked and photographed. The numerous copies produced this way can be inked several times allowing for the repeatability of the procedure and this is crucial in cases of problematic legal identification of corpses. In both the cases illustrated, the fingerprints obtained by the latex technique were useful for identification. The quality was good enough for the automatic fingerprint identification system research system to be applied. [source] Understanding the Chemistry of the Development of Latent Fingerprints by Superglue FumingJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 5 2007Stephen P. Wargacki Ph.D. Abstract:, Cyanoacrylate fuming is a widely used forensic tool for the development of latent fingerprints, however the mechanistic details of the reaction between the fingerprint residue and the cyanoacrylate vapor are not well understood. Here the polymerization of ethyl-cyanoacrylate vapor by sodium lactate or alanine solutions, two of the major components in fingerprint residue, has been examined by monitoring the time dependence of the mass uptake and resultant polymer molecular weight characteristics. This data provides insight into the molecular level actions in the efficient development of latent fingerprints by superglue fuming. The results show that the carboxylate moiety is the primary initiator of the polymerization process and that a basic environment inhibits chain termination while an acidic environment promotes it. The results also indicate that water cannot be the primary initiator in this forensic technique. [source] The detection and quantification of lorazepam and its 3- O -glucuronide in fingerprint deposits by LC-MS/MSJOURNAL OF SEPARATION SCIENCE, JSS, Issue 13 2009Edward Goucher Abstract The use of fingerprints as an alternative biological matrix to test for the presence of drugs and/or their metabolites is a novel area of research in analytical toxicology. This investigation describes quantitative analysis for the benzodiazepine lorazepam and its 3- O -glucuronide conjugate in fingerprints following the oral administration of a single 2 mg dose of lorazepam to five volunteers. Creatinine was also measured to investigate whether the amount of drug relative to that of creatinine would help to account for the variable amount of secretory material deposited. Fingerprints were deposited on glass cover slips and extracted by dissolving them in a solution of dichloromethane/methanol, containing tetradeuterated lorazepam as an internal standard. The samples were evaporated, reconstituted with mobile phase and analysed by LC-MS/MS. Chromatography was achieved using an RP (C18) column for the analysis of lorazapem and its glucuronide, and a hydrophilic interaction column (HILIC) for the analysis of creatinine. Lorazepam and its glucuronide were only detected where ten prints had been combined, up to 12 h following drug administration. In every case, the amount of lorazepam glucuronide exceeded that of lorazepam, the peak amounts being 210 and 11 pg, respectively. Adjusting for creatinine smoothed the elimination profile. To our knowledge, this represents the first time a drug glucuronide has been detected in deposited fingerprints. [source] Genetic variation in eastern North American and putatively introduced populations of Ceratocystis fimbriata f. plataniMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 10 2004C. J. B. ENGELBRECHT Abstract The plant pathogenic fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata f. platani attacks Platanus species (London plane, oriental plane and American sycamore) and has killed tens of thousands of plantation trees and street trees in the eastern United States, southern Europe and Modesto, California. Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA fingerprints and alleles of eight polymorphic microsatellite markers of isolates of C. fimbriata from these regions delineated major differences in gene diversities. The 33 isolates from the eastern United States had a moderate degree of gene diversity, and unique genotypes were found at each of seven collection sites. Fingerprints of 27 isolates from 21 collection sites in southern Europe were identical with each other; microsatellite markers were monomorphic within the European population, except that three isolates differed at one locus each, due perhaps to recent mutations. The genetic variability of C. fimbriata f. platani in the eastern United States suggests that the fungus is indigenous to this region. The genetic homogeneity of the fungus in Europe suggests that this population has gone through a recent genetic bottleneck, perhaps from the introduction of a single genotype. This supports the hypothesis that the pathogen was introduced to Europe through Naples, Italy during World War II on infected crating material from the eastern United States. The Californian population may also have resulted from introduction of one or a few related genotypes because it, too, had a single nuclear and mitochondrial genotype and limited variation in microsatellite alleles. [source] Variable Selection in High-Dimensional Multivariate Binary Data with Application to the Analysis of Microbial Community DNA FingerprintsBIOMETRICS, Issue 2 2002J. D. Wilbur Summary. In order to understand the relevance of microbial communities on crop productivity, the identification and characterization of the rhieosphere soil microbial community is necessary. Characteristic profiles of the microbial communities are obtained by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified 16s rDNA from soil extracted DNA. These characteristic profiles, commonly called community DNA fingerprints, can be represented in the form of high-dimensional binary vectors. We address the problem of modeling and variable selection in high-dimensional multivariate binary data and present an application of our methodology in the context of a controlled agricultural experiment. [source] Three-Dimensional Protein,Ligand Interaction Scaling of Two-Dimensional FingerprintsCHEMICAL BIOLOGY & DRUG DESIGN, Issue 5 2009Lu Tan We introduce a computational scaling methodology that utilizes protein,ligand interaction information extracted from complex crystal structures to enrich similarity searching using structural fingerprints with compound class-specific information. Scaling factors are derived to emphasize fingerprint bit positions that result from interacting fragments of bound ligands and correspond to frequently occurring structural features. Through interaction-based scaling, this information is transferred to standard fingerprints of multiple reference compounds. In systematic search calculations, fingerprints scaled on the basis of three-dimensional information are found to produce higher recall rates of active compounds than alternative types of scaled and non-scaled fingerprints. [source] Fingerprints of Damped Quantum Rotation Observed in Solid-State Proton NMR SpectraCHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 4 2006Peter Gutsche Dr. Abstract 1H NMR spectra of the methyl group in an oriented crystal sample of methylmalonic acid with all three non-methyl protons replaced by deuterons are interpreted in terms of the damped quantum rotation (DQR) theory of NMR line shapes. The DQR approach offers a perfect theoretical reproduction of the observed spectra while the conventional Alexander-Binsch line-shape model shows evident defects in the present case. The temperature trends of the quantities characterizing the coherent and incoherent dynamics of the methyl group in the DQR approach (the effective tunnelling frequency and two coherence-damping rates) derived from the spectra are fairly reproduced using a model reported previously. The present findings provide further evidence of limitations to the validity of the common belief that molecular rate processes in condensed phases are necessarily classical. [source] Using Rock-Eval 6 pyrolysis for tracking fossil organic carbon in modern environments: implications for the roles of erosion and weatheringEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 2 2006Yoann Copard Abstract This work relates to the debate on the fossil organic carbon (FOC) input in modern environments and its possible implication for the carbon cycle, and suggests the use of Rock-Eval 6 pyrolysis as a relevant tool for tracking FOC in such environments. Considering that such a delivery is mainly due to supergene processes affecting the continental surface, we studied organic matter in different reservoirs such as bedrocks, alterites, soils and rivers in two experimental catchments at Draix (Alpes de Haute Provence, France). Samples were subjected to geochemical (Rock-Eval 6 pyrolysis) investigations and artificial bacterial degradations. After comparing the geochemical fingerprint of samples, geochemical markers of FOC were defined and tracked in the different reservoirs. Our results confirm the contribution of FOC in modern soils and rivers and display the various influences of weathering and erosional processes on the fate of FOC during its exchange between these pools. In addition, the contrasting behaviour of these markers upon the supergene processes has also highlighted the refractory or labile characters of the fossil organic matter (FOM). Bedrock to river fluxes, controlled by gully erosion, are characterized by a qualitative and quantitative preservation of FOM. Bedrock to alterite fluxes, governed by chemical weathering, are characterized by FOC mineralization without qualitative changes in deeper alterites. Alterite to soils fluxes, controlled by (bio)chemical weathering, are characterized by strong FOC mineralization and qualitative changes of FOM. Thus weathering and erosional processes induce different FOM evolution and affect the fate of FOC towards the global carbon cycle. In this study, gully erosion would involve maintenance of an ancient sink for the global carbon cycle, while (bio)chemical processes provide a source of CO2. Finally, this study suggests that Rock-Eval 6 pyrolysis can be considered as a relevant tool for tracking FOC in modern environments. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] CE coupled to MALDI with novel covalently coated capillariesELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 4 2010Stefan Bachmann Abstract CE offers the advantage of flexibility and method development options. It excels in the area of separation of ions, chiral, polar and biological compounds (especially proteins and peptides). Masking the active sites on the inner surface of a bare fused silica capillary wall is often necessary for CE separations of basic compounds, proteins and peptides. The use of capillary surface coating is one of the approaches to prevent the adsorption phenomena and improve the repeatability of migration times and peak areas of these analytes. In this study, new capillary coatings consisting of (i) derivatized polystyrene nanoparticles and (ii) derivatized fullerenes were investigated for the analysis of peptides and protein digest by CE. The coated capillaries showed excellent run-to-run and batch-to-batch reproducibility (RSD of migration time ,0.5% for run-to-run and ,9.5% for batch-to-batch experiments). Furthermore, the capillaries offer high stability from pH 2.0 to 10.0. The actual potential of the coated capillaries was tested by combining CE with MALDI-MS for analysing complex samples, such as peptides, whereas the overall performance of the CE-MALDI-MS system was investigated by analysing a five-protein digest mixture. Subsequently, the peak list (peptide mass fingerprint) generated from the mass spectra of each fraction was entered into the Swiss-Prot database in order to search for matching tryptic fragments using the MASCOT software. The sequence coverage of analysed proteins was between 36 and 68%. The established technology benefits from the synergism of high separation efficiency and the structure selective identification via MS. [source] Development of a CE-MS method to analyze components of the potential biomarker vascular endothelial growth factor 165ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 13 2009Angel Puerta Abstract The vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165) is the predominant form of the complex VEGF-A family. Its angiogenic effect is involved in many physiological and pathological events. For this reason, its roles as a potential biomarker and as a therapeutic drug have been considered. Nevertheless, very little is known about the existence of different forms of VEGF165 arising from glycosylation and potentially from other PTMs. This aspect is important because different forms may differ in biological activity (therapeutic drug application) and the pattern of the different forms can vary with pathological changes (biomarker application). In this work a CE-MS method to separate up to seven peaks containing, at least, 19 isoforms of intact VEGF165 is described. Comparison between human VEGF165 expressed in a glycosylating system, i.e. insect cells, and in a non-glycosylating system, i.e. E. coli cells, has been carried out. The method developed provides structural information (mass fingerprint) about the different forms of VEGF165 and after the deconvolution and the analysis of the MS spectra, PTMs pattern of VEGF165 including glycosylation and loss of amino acids at the N- and C-terminus was identified. Glycans involved in PTMs promoting different glycoforms observed in the CE-MS fingerprint were confirmed by MALDI-MS after deglycosylation with peptide N-glycosidase F. This approach is a starting point to study the role of VEGF165 as a potential biomarker and to perform quality control of the drug during manufacturing. To our knowledge this is the first time that a CE-MS method for the analysis of VEGF165 has been developed. [source] Stability and detection of ,-pinene oxide in aqueous culture mediumENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 9 2000Kimberly K. Kajihara Abstract Methane consumption by methanotrophic bacteria was previously shown to be temporarily inhibited by ,-pinene. Based on literature considerations, loss of inhibition may be due to bacterial degradation of the monoterpene to ,-pinene oxide, an anticipated metabolite. However, since ,-pinene oxide is unstable in aqueous media, detection of its production by methanotrophs or other bacteria is problematic. Therefore, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis to study the chemical breakdown of ,-pinene oxide in various buffer systems (Tris[hydroxymethyl]am inomethane, 3-[N-morpholino]propanesulfonic acid, phosphate; pH 7-9) suitable for bacterial whole-cell and cell-free experiments. In every case, aqueous phase ,-pinene oxide was unstable and its disappearance was accompanied by the appearance of five decomposition products in a characteristic fingerprint that was in part buffer dependent. However, this fingerprint was adequately stable in phosphate buffer such that its appearance could be used to infer the intermediacy of ,-pinene oxide if produced by the bacteria at or near their optimal pH. [source] Small-conductance Cl, channels contribute to volume regulation and phagocytosis in microgliaEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 8 2007Guillaume Ducharme Abstract The shape and volume of microglia (brain immune cells) change when they activate during brain inflammation and become migratory and phagocytic. Swollen rat microglia express a large Cl, current (IClswell), whose biophysical properties and functional roles are poorly understood and whose molecular identity is unknown. We constructed a fingerprint of useful biophysical properties for comparison with IClswell in other cell types and with cloned Cl, channels. The microglial IClswell was rapidly activated by cell swelling but not by voltage, and showed no time-dependence during voltage-clamp steps. Like IClswell in many cell types, the halide selectivity sequence was I, > Br, > Cl, > F,. However, it differed in lacking inactivation, even at +100 mV with high extracellular Mg2+, and in having a much lower single-channel conductance: 1,3 pS. Based on these fundamental differences, the microglia channel is apparently a different gene product than the more common intermediate-conductance IClswell. Microglia express several candidate genes, with relative mRNA expression levels of: CLIC1 > ClC3 > ICln , ClC2 > Best2 > Best1 , Best3 > Best4. Using a pharmacological toolbox, we show that all drugs that reduced the microglia current (NPPB, IAA-94, flufenamic acid and DIOA) increased the resting cell volume in isotonic solution and inhibited the regulatory volume decrease that followed cell swelling in hypotonic solution. Both channel blockers tested (NPPB and flufenamic acid) dose-dependently inhibited microglia phagocytosis of E. coli bacteria. Because IClswell is involved in microglia functions that involve shape and volume changes, it is potentially important for controlling their ability to migrate to damage sites and phagocytose dead cells and debris. [source] Environmental signature in the otolith elemental fingerprint of the tapertail anchovy, Coilia mystus, from the Changjiang estuary, ChinaJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 5 2006J. Yang Summary The ontogenetic patterns of habitat use and the migratory history of the tapertail anchovy, Coilia mystus, collected in the Changjiang estuary around Chongming Island, China, were studied by examining the environmental signature in the otolith strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) fingerprints using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Our results suggest that the migration strategy of C. mystus is much more flexible than supposed in the literature to date. The spring spawning population of C. mystus from the studied area was found to consist of individuals with different migration histories. Although the tapertail anchovy seems to be an anadromous fish that spawns and hatches in a freshwater habitat, it can also use a freshwater environment in non-spawning seasons. The otolith EPMA of the elemental fingerprint (Sr x-ray maps and Sr : Ca ratios) is an environmental indicator that can be applied to the migratory ecology of other important diadromous species in China. [source] Raman tweezers provide the fingerprint of cells supporting the late stages of KSHV reactivationJOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE, Issue 8b 2009Ossie F. Dyson Abstract Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) has both latent and lytic phases of replication. The molecular switch that triggers a reactivation is still unclear. Cells from the S phase of the cell cycle provide apt conditions for an active reactivation. In order to specifically delineate the Raman spectra of cells supporting KSHV reactivation, we followed a novel approach where cells were sorted based on the state of infection (latent versus lytic) by a flow cytometer and then analysed by the Raman tweezers. The Raman bands at 785, 813, 830, 1095 and 1128 cm,1 are specifically altered in cells supporting KSHV reactivation. These five peaks make up the Raman fingerprint of cells supporting KSHV reactivation. The physiological relevance of the changes in these peaks with respect to KSHV reactivation is discussed in the following report. [source] Statins, stem cells, and cancerJOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2009Kalamegam Gauthaman Abstract The statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) were proven to be effective antilipid agents against cardiovascular disease. Recent reports demonstrate an anticancer effect induced by the statins through inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, or inhibition of angiogenesis. These effects are due to suppression of the mevalonate pathway leading to depletion of various downstream products that play an essential role in cell cycle progression, cell signaling, and membrane integrity. Recent evidence suggests a shared genomic fingerprint between embryonic stem cells, cancer cells, and cancer stem cells. Activation targets of NANOG, OCT4, SOX2, and c-MYC are more frequently overexpressed in certain tumors. In the absence of bona fide cancer stem cell lines, human embryonic stem cells, which have similar properties to cancer and cancer stem cells, have been an excellent model throwing light on the anticancer affects of various putative anticancer agents. It was shown that key cellular functions in karyotypically abnormal colorectal and ovarian cancer cells and human embryonic stem cells are inhibited by the statins and this is mediated via a suppression of this stemness pathway. The strategy for treatment of cancers may thus be the targeting of a putative cancer stem cell within the tumor with specific agents such as the statins with or without chemotherapy. The statins may thus play a dual prophylactic role as a lipid-lowering drug for the prevention of heart disease and as an anticancer agent to prevent certain cancers. This review examines the relationship between the statins, stem cells, and certain cancers. J. Cell. Biochem. 106: 975,983, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Modeling Thermal and Mechanical Effects on Retention of Thiamin in Extruded FoodsJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 8 2003J.Y. Cha ABSTRACT: A model was proposed to predict separate thermal and mechanical effects of extrusion cooking on thiamin retention. Thermal effects were determined by heating small samples of wheat flour mixed with 0.30% (wt/ wt) thiamin hydrochloride isothermally at 140 °C, 151 °C, and 161 °C for different times. The calculated activation energy and rate constants at each temperature were 67.28 kJ/g mol and 0.00869/min, 0.0145/min, and 0.0224/min, respectively. The "extruder constant" was estimated as 27.7/rev, based on a matching-viscosity method. Wheat flour with 0.30% (wt/wt) thiamin was extruded at different screw speeds. Mechanical effects caused 89.7% to 94.4% of total thiamin loss. This research provides a generalized method to "fingerprint" the extrusion process. [source] Improvement in Latent Fingerprint Detection on Thermal Paper Using a One-Step Ninhydrin Treatment with Polyvinylpyrrolidones (PVP)JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 4 2010Lothar Schwarz Dr. Phil. Abstract:, Most thermosensitive surfaces of thermal paper turn black when they come into contact with polar organic solvents such as are used in ninhydrin petroleum benzin solution. This dark staining reduces the contrast between the developed fingerprint and the background to such an extent that the identification process becomes very difficult. Integrating polyvinylpyrrolidones (PVP) into a ninhydrin solution prevents the black staining, and the developed fingerprints appear in clear contrast to the background. The new ninhydrin solution containing PVP is successful compared to the two-step ninhydrin,acetone washing method for thermal paper which is popular in Germany. [source] Detection of Pretreated Fingerprint Fluorescence Using an LED-based Excitation SystemJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 4 2008Masahisa Takatsu Ph.D. Abstract:, Optimization of a light emitting diode (LED)-based excitation system for the detection of pretreated fingerprint fluorescence is described. Fluorescent ridges can usually be excited by irradiation with forensic light sources such as xenon arc lamps or quartz-halogen lamps with high-power output and suitable filters. However, they are too expensive for many crime laboratories in smaller organizations. We concentrated on LEDs which have advantages over conventional light sources in that they are simpler and of lower cost, but the power output and quality of each individual LED unit is not sufficient for the detection of weak fluorescent ridges. To resolve this subject, blue and green LED arrays composed of ninety LED units were adopted and suitable low pass filters for them were designed. An experimental system, consisting of blue and green LED arrays with the suitable low pass filters for illumination, high pass filters for viewing, a digital camera and a computer, was tested. The fluorescent images of cyanoacrylate ester fumed/rhodamine 6G stained fingerprint on white polyethylene sheet and weak fluorescent ridges of ninhydrin/indium chloride treated fingerprint on white paper were successfully detected and photographed. It was shown that the improvement of LED beam in intensity and quality can compensate the disadvantages, resulting in well-contrasted images. [source] A New Method of Reproduction of Fingerprints from Corpses in a Bad State of Preservation Using LatexJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 6 2007Davide Porta B.Sc. Abstract:, In view of the problems arising while fingerprinting corpses in a bad state of preservation, especially in case of mummification and carbonization, the authors propose an innovative technique which uses latex film. To better illustrate the potential of the method, two cases where the latex technique was applied successfully are reported: the first one is a mummified body discovered in a shack on the outskirts of Milan and the second one is the case of a burnt corpse found in a car boot. Such a technique is versatile, easy to apply, and allows the operator to work quickly on cadavers without amputating parts, except in rare cases (i.e., burnt bodies with muscle retraction). By the latex technique, a perfect and enduring negative copy of the fingerprint is obtained, ready to be inked and photographed. The numerous copies produced this way can be inked several times allowing for the repeatability of the procedure and this is crucial in cases of problematic legal identification of corpses. In both the cases illustrated, the fingerprints obtained by the latex technique were useful for identification. The quality was good enough for the automatic fingerprint identification system research system to be applied. [source] Fingerprinting Analysis of Rhizoma Chuanxiong of Commercial Types using 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and High Performance Liquid Chromatography MethodJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Hai-Lin Qin Abstract The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) fingerprints of fractionated non-polar extracts (control substance for a plant drug (CSPD) A) from Rhizoma chuanxiong, the rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., of seven specimens from different sources were measured on Fourier Transform (FT)-NMR spectrometer and assigned by comparing them with the 1H NMR spectra of the isolated pure compounds. The 1H NMR fingerprints showed exclusively characteristic resonance signals of the major special constituents of the plant. Although the differences in the relative intensity of the 1H NMR signals due to a discrepancy in the ratio of the major constituents among these samples could be confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography analysis, the general features of the 1H NMR fingerprint established for an authentic sample of the rhizomes of L. chuanxiong exhibited exclusive data from those special compounds and can be used for authenticating L. Chuanxiong species. [source] High-resolution H/D exchange studies on the HET-s218,295 prion proteinJOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 5 2005Alexis Nazabal Abstract In a search for improved resolution of hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange experiments analyzed by mass spectrometry (HXMS), we evaluated two methodologies for a detailed structural study of solvent accessibility in the case of the HET-s218,295 prion protein. For the first approach, after incubation in the deuterated solvent, aggregated HET-s218,295 was digested with pepsin and the generated peptides were analyzed by nanospray mass spectrometry in an ion trap, with and without collision-induced dissociation (CID). We compared deuterium incorporation in peptides as determined on peptide pseudomolecular ions and on b and y fragments produced by longer peptides under CID conditions. For both b and y fragment ions, an extensive H/D scrambling phenomenon was observed, in contrast with previous studies comparing CID-MS experiments and 1H NMR data. Thus, the spatial resolution of HXMS experiments could not be improved by means of MS/MS data generated by an ion trap mass spectrometer. In a second approach, the incorporation of deuterium was analyzed by MS for 76 peptides of the HET-s218,289 peptide mass fingerprint, and the use of shared boundaries among peptic peptides allowed us to determine deuteration levels of small regions ranging from one to four amino acids. This methodology led to evidence of highly protected regions along the HET-s218,295 sequence. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] SEM investigation of interfacial dislocations in nickel-base superalloysJOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY, Issue 2 2007ALEXANDER EPISHIN Summary A new technique for investigation of interfacial dislocations in nickel-base superalloys by scanning electron microscopy is presented. At high temperatures the pressure of interfacial dislocations against the ,/,,-interface causes grooves. This ,fingerprint of the dislocation network' is visualized by deep selective etching, which removes the ,,-phase down to the ,/,,-interface. Compared with transmission electron microscopy, the proposed method has important advantages: observation of large sample areas, no superposition of dislocations lying in different specimen depths, possibility of three-dimensional view of dislocation configurations, information about the dislocation mobility, reduced time for preparation and visualization. The method can be applied for multiphase materials where the interface is grooved by interfacial dislocations. [source] Nesfatin-1 Influences the Excitability of Paraventricular Nucleus NeuronesJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 2 2008C. J. Price Nesfatin-1 is a newly-discovered satiety peptide found in several nuclei of the hypothalamus, including the paraventricular nucleus. To begin to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying these satiety-inducing actions, we examined the effects of nesfatin-1 on the excitability of neurones in the paraventricular nucleus. Whole-cell current-clamp recordings from rat paraventricular nucleus neurones showed nesfatin-1 to have either hyperpolarising or depolarising effects on the majority of neurones tested. Both types of response were observed in neurones irrespective of classification based on electrophysiological fingerprint (magnocellular, neuroendocrine or pre-autonomic) or molecular phenotype (vasopressin, oxytocin, corticotrophin-releasing hormone, thyrotrophin-releasing hormone or vesicular glutamate transporter), determined using single cell reverse transcription-poylmerase chain reaction. Consequently, we provide the first evidence that this peptide, which is produced in the paraventricular nucleus, has effects on the membrane potential of a large proportion of different subpopulations of neurones located in this nucleus, and therefore identify nesfatin-1 as a potentially important regulator of paraventricular nucleus output. [source] HIGHER PLANT BIOMARKERS IN PALEOGENE CRUDE OILS FROM THE YUFUTSU OIL-AND GASFIELD AND OFFSHORE WILDCATS, JAPANJOURNAL OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, Issue 4 2006S. Yessalina Geochemical investigation of Paleogene oils from the onshore Yufutsu oil- and gasfield, southern Hokkaido, and from two nearby offshore wells, revealed the presence of numerous biomarkers of higher plant origin. Biomarkers in the oils belong to different groups of both angiosperm and gymnosperm origin; they include bicyclic sesquiterpanes, diterpanes, and triterpanes and their aromatized counterparts, which suggests a terrestrial origin for the oils. The oils were characterized as having a high wax content, a low content of organosulphur compounds, a high pristane/phytane ratio, and a low C27/(C27+C29) sterane ratio. Although the oils from on- and offshore Southern Hokkaido are similar in their geochemical composition, notable differences were observed in the biomarker signature of both saturate and aromatic fractions. The oils from the offshore wells appeared to have a greater abundance of higher plant biomarkers compared to those from the Yufutsu field, suggesting an enrichment in higher plant components. Differences in biomarker fingerprint could not be linked to the maturity effect, since the oils appeared to be of similar maturity levels, corresponding to the late stage of the oil window (0.9,1.2%, Rc). The differences in the biomarker signatures between the oils from the Yufutsu field and the offshore wells are likely to be due to facies variations in source organic matter, resulting from differences in the quantity and quality of land plant input. [source] Early warning of agglomeration in fluidized beds by attractor comparisonAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 11 2000J. Ruud van Ommen An enhanced monitoring method, based on pressure fluctuation measurements, for observing nonstationarities in fluidized-bed hydrodynamics is presented. Experiments show that it can detect small changes in the particle-size distribution. Such a monitoring method is useful to give an early warning of the onset of agglomeration in a fluidized bed. In contrast to earlier methods, this method is insensitive to small changes in superficial gas velocity and can handle multiple signals, making it relevant to industrial application. By carefully choosing the measurement position, the method becomes also insensitive to small bed mass variations. It uses the attractor reconstructed from a measured pressure signal, which is a "fingerprint" of the hydrodynamics of the fluidized bed for a certain set of conditions. Using this method statistically the reconstructed attractor of a reference time series of pressure fluctuations (representing the desired fluidization behavior) is compared with that of successive time series measured during the bed operation. [source] Combined 4D-fingerprint and clustering based membrane-interaction QSAR analyses for constructing consensus Caco-2 cell permeation virtual screensJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 1 2008Osvaldo A. Santos-Filho Abstract A set of 30 structurally diverse molecules, for which Caco-2 cell permeation coefficients were determined, formed the training set for construction of Caco-2 cell permeation models based upon membrane-interaction (MI) QSAR analysis and a new QSAR method called 4D-fingerprint QSAR analysis. The descriptor terms of the 4D-fingerprints equation are molecular similarity eigenvalues, and this set of descriptors is being evaluated as a potential "universal" QSAR descriptor set. The 4D-fingerprint model suggests that Caco-2 cell permeation is governed by the spatial distribution of hydrogen bonding and nonpolar groups over the molecular shape of a molecule. Moreover, a complementary resampling of the original Caco-2 cell permeation training set, followed by the construction of several "clustered" MI-QSAR models, led to a consensus model consistent in interpretation with the 4D-fingerprint model. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 97:566,583, 2008 [source] Phase separation of polymer-functionalized SWNTs within a PMMA/polystyrene blendJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 2 2009James D. Mayo Abstract Phase separation of polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends was used as a means to segregate PS- or PMMA-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in thin films. Dilute solutions (5 wt % in THF) of 1:1 PS/PMMA blends containing the functionalized nanotubes were spin cast and annealed at 180 °C for 12 h. Two different polymer molecular weights were used (Mn = 8000 or Mn = 22,000), and were of approximately equivalent molecular weight to those attached to the surface of the nanotubes. Nanotube functionalization was accomplished using the Cu(I)-catalyzed [3 + 2] Huisgen cycloaddition, in which alkyne-decorated nanotubes were coupled with azide-terminated polymers, resulting in polymer-SWNT conjugates that were soluble in THF. Characterization of the annealed films by scanning Raman spectroscopy, which utilized the unique Raman fingerprint of carbon nanotubes, enabled accurate mapping of the functionalized SWNTs within the films relative to the two phase-separated polymers. It was found that nanotube localization within the phase-separated polymer films was influenced by the type of polymer attached to the nanotube surface, as well as its molecular weight. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 450,458, 2009 [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||