Non-invasive methods for identifying oocysts of Sarcocystis spp. from definitive hosts

Because the excreted sporocysts and/or oocysts of various species of Sarcocystis may not be discriminated morphologically, we sought to validate a diagnostic technique based on variation in the 18S rDNA sequence. Oocysts and/or sporocysts; from three taxa

Long-distant contribution and chi(c1) radiative decays to light vector meson

The discrepancy between the PQCD calculation and the CLEO data for chi (c1)->gamma V (V=rho (0), omega, phi) stimulates our interest in exploring other mechanisms of chi (c1) decay. In this work, we apply an important non-perturbative QCD effect, i.e., the hadronic loop mechanism, to study chi (c1)->gamma V radiative decay. Our numerical result shows that the theoretical results including the hadronic loop contribution and the PQCD calculation of chi (c1)->gamma V are consistent with the corresponding CLEO data of chi (c1)->gamma V. We expect further experimental measurement of chi (c1)->gamma V, which will be helpful to test the hadronic loop effect on chi (c1) decay.

Studies of non-covalent protein complexes by MALDI methods

Several specific non-covalent protein complexes were successfully observed by matrix assisted desorption ionization mass spectrometry(MALDI MS). The methods described in this paper include the matrixes use of sinapinic acid(SA) and 6-aza-2-thiothymine (ATT) in neutral pH solution, as well as the improvement of two-layer sample preparation method to achieve a high sensitivity detection of stable non-covalent complexes, Myoglobin-heme complex was found simultaneously with the sinapinic acid matrix in the various pH solution(pH=2 or pH=5), The RNase S complex showed a striking intensity at the first shot, which was decreased with more laser shots. Most importantly, the observation of specific non-covalent complex in the brome mosaic virus(BMV) coat proteins would open up a new possibility to investigate the assembly and disassembly of viral capsids.

Influence of Electrostatic Interaction on Fibrinogen Adsorption on Gold Studied by Imaging Ellipsometry Combined with Electrochemical Methods

Imaging ellipsometry was combined with electrochemical methods for studying electrostatic interactions of protein and solid surfaces. The potential of zero charge for gold-coated silicon wafer/solution interfaces wad determined by AC impedance method. The potential of the gold-coated silicon wafer was controlled at the potential of zero charge, and the adsorption of fibrinogen on the potential-controlled and non-controlled surfaces was measured in real time at the same time by imaging ellipsometry The effect of electrostatic interaction was studied by comparing the difference between the potential of controlled adsorption and the Potential of noncontrolled adsorption. It was shown that the rate of fibrinogen adsorption on the potentiostatic surface was faster than that on the nonpotentiostatic surface. The electrostatic influence on fibrinogen adsorption on the gold-coated silicon wafer was weak, so the hydrophobic interaction should be the major affinity.

Difference schemes on non-uniform mesh and their application

High order accurate schemes are needed to simulate the multi-scale complex flow fields to get fine structures in simulation of the complex flows with large gradient of fluid parameters near the wall, and schemes on non-uniform mesh are desirable for many CFD (computational fluid dynamics) workers. The construction methods of difference approximations and several difference approximations on non-uniform mesh are presented. The accuracy of the methods and the influence of stretch ratio of the neighbor mesh increment on accuracy are discussed. Some comments on these methods are given, and comparison of the accuracy of the results obtained by schemes based on both non-uniform mesh and coordinate transformation is made, and some numerical examples with non-uniform mesh are presented.

On dispersion-controlled principles for non-oscillatory shock-capturing schemes

The role of dispersions in the numerical solutions of hydrodynamic equation systems has been realized for long time. It is only during the last two decades that extensive studies on the dispersion-controlled dissipative (DCD) schemes were reported. The studies have demonstrated that this kind of the schemes is distinct from conventional dissipation-based schemes in which the dispersion term of the modified equation is not considered in scheme construction to avoid nonphysical oscillation occurring in shock wave simulations. The principle of the dispersion controlled aims at removing nonphysical oscillations by making use of dispersion characteristics instead of adding artificial viscosity to dissipate the oscillation as the conventional schemes do. Research progresses on the dispersion controlled principles are reviewed in this paper, including the exploration of the role of dispersions in numerical simulations, the development of the dispersion-controlled principles, efforts devoted to high-order dispersion-controlled dissipative schemes, the extension to both the finite volume and the finite element methods, scheme verification and solution validation, and comments on several aspects of the schemes from author's viewpoint.

Non-linear theory of a positive-column in a magnetic-field

A nonlinear theory of an intermediate pressure discharge column in a magnetic field is presented. Motion of the neutral gas is considered. The continuity and momentum transfer equations for charged particles and neutral particles are solved by numerical methods. The main result obtained is that the rotating velocities of ionic gas and neutral gas are approximately equal. Bohm's criterion and potential inversion in the presence of neutral gas motion are also discussed.

The role of anti-non-Gal antibodies in the development of acute humoral xenograft rejection of hDAF transgenic porcine kidneys in baboons receiving anti-Gal antibody neutralization therapy

Background. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of preformed and induced anti-non-Gal antibodies in the rejection of hDAF pig-to-baboon kidney xenotransplants after anti-Gal antibody neutralization therapy. Methods. Seven baboons receiv

More evidence for non-maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA?

Background: A single case of paternal co-transmission ofmitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in humans has been reported so far. Objective: To find potential instances of non-maternal inheritance of mtDNA. Methods: Published medical case studies (of single patients) were searched for irregular mtDNA patterns by comparing the given haplotype information for different clones or tissues with the worldwide mtDNA database as known to date-a method that has proved robust and reliable for the detection of flawed mtDNA sequence data. Results: More than 20 studies were found reporting clear cut instances with mtDNAs of different ancestries in single individuals. As examples, cases are reviewed from recent published reports which, at face value, may be taken as evidence for paternal inheritance of mtDNA or recombination. Conclusions: Multiple types (or recombinant types) of quite dissimilar mitochondrial DNA from different parts of the known mtDNA phylogeny are often reported in single individuals. From re-analyses and corrigenda of forensic mtDNA data, it is apparent that the phenomenon of mixed or mosaic mtDNA can be ascribed solely to contamination and sample mix up.

Non-microcystin producing Microcystis wesenbergii (Komarek) Komarek (Cyanobacteria) representing a main waterbloom-forming species in Chinese waters

It is well known that several morphospecies of Microcystis, such as Microcystis aeruginosa (Kutzing) Lemmermann and Microcystis viridis (A. Brown) Lemmermann can produce hepatotoxic microcystins. However, previous studies gave contradictory conclusions about microcystin production of Microcystis wesenbergii (Komarek) Komarek. In the present study, ten Microcystis morphospecies were identified in waterblooms of seven Chinese waterbodies, and Microcystis wesenbergii was shown as the dominant species in these waters. More than 250 single colonies of M. wesenbergii were chosen, under morphological identification, to examine whether M. wesenbergii produce hepatotoxic microcystin by using multiplex PCR for molecular detection of a region (mcyA) of microcystin synthesis genes, and chemical analyses of microcystin content by ELISA and HPLC for 21 isolated strains of M. wesenbergii from these waters were also performed. Both molecular and chemical methods demonstrated that M. wesenbergii from Chinese waters did not produce microcystin. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Non-monophyly of fish in the Sinipercidae (Perciformes) as inferred from cytochrome b gene

The sinipercids represent a group of 12 species of freshwater percoid fish, including nine in Siniperca and three species in Coreoperca. Despite several classification attempts and a preliminary molecular phylogeny, the phylogenetic relationships and systematic position of sinipercids remained still unsolved. The complete cytochrome b gene sequences from nine sinipercid species four non-sinipercid fish species were cloned, and a total of 12 cyt b sequences from 10 species of sinipercids and 11 cyt b sequences from 10 species of non-sinipercid fish also in Perciformes were included in the phylogenetic analysis. As expected, the two genera Siniperca and Coreoperca within sinipercids are recovered as monophyletic. However, nine species representing Moronidae, Serranidae, Centropomidae, Acropomatidae, Emmelichtyidae, Siganidae and Centrarchidae included in the present study are all nested between Coreoperca and Siniperca, which provides marked evidence for a non-monophyly of sinipercid fishes. Coreoperca appears to be closest to Centrachus representing the family Centrarchidae. Coreoperca whiteheadi and C. herzi are sibling species, which together are closely related to C. kawamebari. In the Siniperca, the node between S. roulei and the remaining species is the most ancestral, followed by that of S. fortis. S. chuatsi and S. kneri are sibling species, sister to S. obscura. However, the sinipercids do not seem to have a very clear phylogenetic history, for different methods of phylogenetic reconstruction result in different tree topologies, and the only conclusive result in favor of a paraphyletic origin of the two sinipercid genera is the parametric bootstrap test. The paraphyly of Sinipercidae may suggest that the "synapomorphs" such as cycloid scales, upon which this family is based, were independently derived at least twice within sinipercid fishes, and further study should be carried out to include the other two Siniperca species and to incorporate other genes.

A systematic approach to standard addition methods in instrumental analysis

Nine cases of standard addition methods in instrumental analysis, including linear instruments, a non-linear response, the electrochemical Nernst equation, and radiochemical techniques.

Non-goal scene analysis for soccer video

The broadcast soccer video is usually recorded by one main camera, which is constantly gazing somewhere of playfield where a highlight event is happening. So the camera parameters and their variety have close relationship with semantic information of soccer video, and much interest has been caught in camera calibration for soccer video. The previous calibration methods either deal with goal scene, or have strict calibration conditions and high complexity. So, it does not properly handle the non-goal scene such as midfield or center-forward scene. In this paper, based on a new soccer field model, a field symbol extraction algorithm is proposed to extract the calibration information. Then a two-stage calibration approach is developed which can calibrate camera not only for goal scene but also for non-goal scene. The preliminary experimental results demonstrate its robustness and accuracy. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Non-isothermal crystallisation kinetics of polyamide 6/mesoporous silica nanocomposites

Non-isothermal crystallisation kinetics of a polyamide 6/mesoporous silica nanocomposite (PA6-MS) has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at different cooling rates. Mandelkern, Jeziorny-Ziabicki and Ozawa methods were applied to describe this crystallisation process. The analyses show that the mesoporous silica particles act as nucleating agents in the composite and that the Avrami exponent n varies from 3.0 to 4.6. The addition of mesoporous silica influenced the mechanism of nucleation and the growth of polyamide 6 (PA6) crystallites.

Melting behaviors, isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of nylon 1212

Isothermal crystallization, subsequent melting behavior and non-isothermal crystallization of nylon 1212 samples have been investigated in the temperature range of 160-171 degreesC using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Subsequent DSC scans of isothermally crystallized samples exhibited three melting endotherms. The commonly used Avrami equation and that modified by Jeziorny were used, respectively, to fit the primary stage of isothermal and non-isothermal crystallizations of nylon 1212. The Avrami exponent n was evaluated, and was found to be in the range of 1.56-2.03 for isothermal crystallization, and of 2.38-3.05 for non-isothermal crystallization. The activation energies (DeltaE) were determined to be 284.5 KJ/mol and 102.63 KJ/mol, respectively, for the isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization processes by the Arrhenius' and the Kissinger's methods.