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Reference Cells (reference + cell)
Selected AbstractsFluorescence in situ hybridization of 16S rRNA gene clones (Clone-FISH) for probe validation and screening of clone librariesENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 11 2002Andreas Schramm Summary A method is presented for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of 16S rRNA gene clones targeting in vivo transcribed plasmid inserts (Clone-FISH). Several different cloning approaches and treatments to generate target-rRNA in the clones were compared. Highest signal intensities of Clone-FISH were obtained using plasmids with a T7 RNA polymerase promoter and host cells with an IPTG-inducible T7 RNA polymerase. Combined IPTG-induction and chloramphenicol treatment of those clones resulted in FISH signals up to 2.8-fold higher than signals of FISH with probe EUB338 to cells of Escherichia coli. Probe dissociation curves for three oligonucleotide probes were compared for reference cells containing native (FISH) or cloned (Clone-FISH) target sequences. Melting behaviour and calculated Td values were virtually identical for clones and cells, providing a format to use 16S rRNA gene clones instead of pure cultures for probe validation and optimization of hybridization conditions. The optimized Clone-FISH protocol was also used to screen an environmental clone library for insert sequences of interest. In this application format, 13 out of 82 clones examined were identified to contain sulphate-reducing bacterial rRNA genes. In summary, Clone-FISH is a simple and fast technique, compatible with a wide variety of cloning vectors and hosts, that should have general utility for probe validation and screening of clone libraries. [source] Highly-efficient Cd-free CuInS2 thin-film solar cells and mini-modules with Zn(S,O) buffer layers prepared by an alternative chemical bath processPROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS: RESEARCH & APPLICATIONS, Issue 6 2006A. Ennaoui Abstract Recent progress in fabricating Cd- and Se-free wide-gap chalcopyrite thin-film solar devices with Zn(S,O) buffer layers prepared by an alternative chemical bath process (CBD) using thiourea as complexing agent is discussed. Zn(S,O) has a larger band gap (Eg,=,3·6,3·8,eV) than the conventional buffer material CdS (Eg,=,2·4,eV) currently used in chalcopyrite-based thin films solar cells. Thus, Zn(S,O) is a potential alternative buffer material, which already results in Cd-free solar cell devices with increased spectral response in the blue wavelength region if low-gap chalcopyrites are used. Suitable conditions for reproducible deposition of good-quality Zn(S,O) thin films on wide-gap CuInS2 (,CIS') absorbers have been identified for an alternative, low-temperature chemical route. The thickness of the different Zn(S,O) buffers and the coverage of the CIS absorber by those layers as well as their surface composition were controlled by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray excited Auger electron spectroscopy. The minimum thickness required for a complete coverage of the rough CIS absorber by a Zn(S,O) layer deposited by this CBD process was estimated to ,15,nm. The high transparency of this Zn(S,O) buffer layer in the short-wavelength region leads to an increase of ,1,mA/cm2 in the short-circuit current density of corresponding CIS-based solar cells. Active area efficiencies exceeding 11·0% (total area: 10·4%) have been achieved for the first time, with an open circuit voltage of 700·4,mV, a fill factor of 65·8% and a short-circuit current density of 24·5,mA/cm2 (total area: 22·5,mA/cm2). These results are comparable to the performance of CdS buffered reference cells. First integrated series interconnected mini-modules on 5,×,5,cm2 substrates have been prepared and already reach an efficiency (active area: 17·2,cm2) of above 8%. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Comparison of traceable calibration methods for primary photovoltaic reference cellsPROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS: RESEARCH & APPLICATIONS, Issue 8 2005Harald Müllejans Abstract The calibration of photovoltaic reference cells used as primary laboratory standards for the calibration of photovoltaic devices needs to be traceable to international radiometric standards and SI units. As a contribution to the development of an international standard this paper describes three methods for the calibration of primary photovoltaic reference cells, establishing two independent traceability chains. The solar simulator method is traceable via a standard lamp to the international irradiance scale whereas the global sunlight method and the modified global sunlight method are traceable to the world radiometric reference. The calibration values obtained by the three methods agree with each other within their respective uncertainties and with the world photovoltaic scale within ±,0·8%. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Procedure for determining the uncertainty of photovoltaic module outdoor electrical performance,PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS: RESEARCH & APPLICATIONS, Issue 2 2001K. Whitfield This paper sets forth an uncertainty estimation procedure for the measurement of photovoltaic (PV) electrical performance using natural sunlight and calibrated secondary reference cells. The actual test irradiance should be restricted to values between 800 and 1000,W/m2 in order to assume that maximum power varies linearly with irradiance. Only the uncertainty of maximum power at standard test conditions (STC), i.e., 1000,W/m2 plane-of-array irradiance and 25°C cell temperature, is developed in its entirety. The basic uncertainty analysis principles developed herein, however, can be applied to any electrical variable of interest (e.g., short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage and fill factor). Although the equations presented appear cumbersome, they are easily implemented into a computer spreadsheet. Examples of uncertainty analyses are also presented herein to make the concepts more concrete. Published in 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] DATE analysis: A general theory of biological change applied to microarray dataBIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 5 2009David Rasnick Abstract In contrast to conventional data mining, which searches for specific subsets of genes (extensive variables) to correlate with specific phenotypes, DATE analysis correlates intensive state variables calculated from the same datasets. At the heart of DATE analysis are two biological equations of state not dependent on genetic pathways. This result distinguishes DATE analysis from other bioinformatics approaches. The dimensionless state variable F quantifies the relative overall cellular activity of test cells compared to well-chosen reference cells. The variable ,i is the fold-change in the expression of the ith gene of test cells relative to reference. It is the fraction , of the genome undergoing differential expression,not the magnitude ,,that controls biological change. The state variable , is equivalent to the control strength of metabolic control analysis. For tractability, DATE analysis assumes a linear system of enzyme-connected networks and exploits the small average contribution of each cellular component. This approach was validated by reproducible values of the state variables F, RNA index, and , calculated from random subsets of transcript microarray data. Using published microarray data, F, RNA index, and , were correlated with: (1) the blood-feeding cycle of the malaria parasite, (2) embryonic development of the fruit fly, (3) temperature adaptation of Killifish, (4) exponential growth of cultured S. pneumoniae, and (5) human cancers. DATE analysis was applied to aCGH data from the great apes. A good example of the power of DATE analysis is its application to genomically unstable cancers, which have been refractory to data mining strategies. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009 [source] |