Infra-red laser ablative micromachining of parylene-C on SiO2substrates for rapid prototyping, high yield, human neuronal cell patterning

Cell patterning commonly employs photolithographic methods for the micro fabrication of structures on silicon chips. These require expensive photo-mask development and complex photolithographic processing. Laser based patterning of cells has been studied in vitro and laser ablation of polymers is an active area of research promising high aspect ratios. This paper disseminates how 800 nm femtosecond infrared (IR) laser radiation can be successfully used to perform laser ablative micromachining of parylene-C on SiO2 substrates for the patterning of human hNT astrocytes (derived from the human teratocarcinoma cell line (hNT)) whilst 248 nm nanosecond ultra-violet laser radiation produces photo-oxidization of the parylene-C and destroys cell patterning. In this work, we report the laser ablation methods used and the ablation characteristics of parylene-C for IR pulse fluences. Results follow that support the validity of using IR laser ablative micromachining for patterning human hNT astrocytes cells. We disseminate the variation in yield of patterned hNT astrocytes on parylene-C with laser pulse spacing, pulse number, pulse fluence and parylene-C strip width. The findings demonstrate how laser ablative micromachining of parylene-C on SiO2 substrates can offer an accessible alternative for rapid prototyping, high yield cell patterning with broad application to multi-electrode arrays, cellular micro-arrays and microfluidics.

The Determinants of Recovery Rates on Defaulted Corporate Securities: Why do Fallen Angels recover more than Original High Yield Issues?

Regression analysis has shown that recovery rates are determined by a variety of conditions at the time of default. These conditions can be broken into five major categories: (1) a security's seniority within the capital structure of the defaulting firm, (2) the type of default event, (3) firm-specific factors, (4) industry-specific factors, and (5) macroeconomic factors. Expectations of these inputs determine the expected recovery rate if default were to occur, thereby determining credit ratings and security prices. Although it is widely understood how recovery rate estimates influence credit rating assignments (the higher the expected recovery rate, the higher the assigned credit rating), no research, to the best of my knowledge, has investigated the reasons why higher rated securities recover more than lower rated securities in the event of default. Specifically, this paper will empirically investigate why securities originally rated investment grade, fallen angels, recover more than securities originally rated high yield in the event of default.

High-yield direct synthesis of Mg 2FeH 6 from the elements by reactive milling

Magnesium complex hydrides as Mg 2FeH 6 are interesting phases for hydrogen storage in the solid state, mainly due to its high gravimetric and volumetric densities of H2. However, the synthesis of this hydride is not trivial because the intermetallic phase Mg2Fe does not exist and Mg and Fe are virtually immiscible under equilibrium conditions. In this study, we have systematically studied the influence of the most important processing parameters in reactive milling under hydrogen (RM) for Mg 2FeH 6 synthesis: milling time, ball-to-powder weight ratio (BPR), hydrogen pressure and type of mill. Low cost 2Mg-Fe mixtures were used as raw materials. An important control of the Mg 2FeH 6 direct synthesis by RM was attained. In optimized combinations of the processing parameters, very high proportions of the complex hydride could be obtained. © (2011) Trans Tech Publications.

Carbon source pulsed feeding to attain high yield and high productivity in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production from soybean oil using Cupriavidus necator

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) biosynthesis from soybean oil by Cupriavidus necator was studied using a bench scale bioreactor. The highest cell concentration (83 g l(-1)) was achieved using soybean oil at 40 g l(-1) and a pulse of the same concentration. The PHB content was 81% (w/w), PHB productivity was 2.5 g l(-1) h(-1), and the calculated Y-p/s value was 0.85 g g(-1). Growth limitation and the onset of PHB biosynthesis took place due to exhaustion of P, and probably also Cu, Ca, and Fe.

Recruitment of platelets, white blood cells, and hematopoietic progenitor cells during high-yield plateletpheresis

Previous observations suggested recruitment of platelets (PLTs) and white blood cells (WBCs) during plateletpheresis and recruitment of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) by HPC apheresis. Quantification of recruitment helps to optimize yields and safety of these procedures; detection of WBC or HPC recruitment during plateletpheresis may further elucidate the mechanisms.

Effects of high-yield thrombocytapheresis on the quality of platelet products

BACKGROUND: The steadily increasing demands for single-donor apheresis platelet (PLT) concentrates (APCs) are a challenge to the PLT supply system. Therefore, efforts to improve plateletpheresis yield, allowing apheresis products to be split into 2 or more units, are valuable strategies. No data to demonstrate in vivo transfusion efficacy of these high-yield split-APCs are currently available, however. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The transfusion efficacy of APCs produced by two apheresis methods involving different harvest and storing procedures and varying PLT yields was investigated. Efficacy measures were the 1-hour percent PLT recovery (PPR(1h)) and the 1-hour corrected count increment (CCI(1h)). In total, 400 APCs, produced with either an Amicus device (Baxter) and stored in PLT additive solution (T-Sol; Amicus method [AM], n = 107) or a Trima device (Gambro) and stored in plasma (Trima method [TM], n = 293), were transfused to 55 children (31 girls; median age, 9.5 years; range, 0.2-18.5 years) with thrombocytopenia due to chemotherapy or aplastic anemia (median, 4 APCs per child; range, 1-68). RESULTS: Transfusion efficacy was significantly lower for AM-APCs than for TM-APCs (median PPR(1h), 17 and 33%; median CCI(1h), 7.9 and 15.6, respectively; p < 0.001). Reduced transfusion efficacy correlated in a yield-dependent manner with high apheresis PLT yields (>/=6 x 10(11)) for AM-APCs (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although in vitro validation of AM- and TM-APCs has been performed, only by evaluating transfusion efficacy in vivo did the AM turn out to be not suitable for high-yield thrombocytapheresis. This study recommends the implementation of in vivo transfusion efficacy studies for high-yield APC apheresis donations.

High Yield of Soybeans Study

The research project was designed to study soybean plant and yield responses to certain products. Soybean producers generally look to maximize profit, and with increased soybean prices, financial returns have been obtained from even smaller yield responses. The project began in 2011 as a two-year study designed to look at the effects of both seed and foliar treatments applied to soybeans.

High yield conversion of doxorubicin to 2-pyrrolinodoxorubicin, an analog 500-1000 times more potent: structure-activity relationship of daunosamine-modified derivatives of doxorubicin.

A convenient, high yield conversion of doxorubicin to 3'-deamino-3'-(2''-pyrroline-1''-yl)doxorubicin is described. This daunosamine-modified analog of doxorubicin is 500-1000 times more active in vitro than doxorubicin. The conversion is effected by using a 30-fold excess of 4-iodobutyraldehyde in anhydrous dimethylformamide. The yield is higher than 85%. A homolog of this compound, 3'-deamino-3'-(1'',3''-tetrahydropyridine-1''-yl)doxorubicin, was also synthesized by using 5-iodovaleraldehyde. In this homolog, the daunosamine nitrogen is incorporated into a six- instead of a five-membered ring. This analog was 30-50 times less active than its counterpart with a five-membered ring. A similar structure-activity relationship was found when 3'-deamino-3'-(3''-pyrrolidone-1''-yl)doxorubicin (containing a five-membered ring) and 3'-deamino-3'-(3''-piperidone-1''-yl)doxorubicin (with a six-membered ring) were tested in vitro, the former being 5 times more potent than the latter. To further elucidate structure-activity relationships, 3'-deamino-3'-(pyrrolidine-1''-yl)doxorubicin, 3'-deamino-3'-(isoindoline-2''-yl)doxorubicin, 3'-deamino-3'-(2''-methyl-2''-pyrroline-1''-yl)doxorubicin, and 3'-deamino-3'-(3''-pyrroline-1''-yl)doxorubicin were also synthesized and tested. All the analogs were prepared by using reactive halogen compounds for incorporating the daunosamine nitrogen of doxorubicin into a five- or six-membered ring. These highly active antineoplastic agents can be used for incorporation into targeted cytotoxic analogs of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone intended for cancer therapy.

A study of the effect of high yield criteria for emergency room skull radiography /

Mode of access: Internet.

Seismic effects from a high yield nuclear cratering experiment in desert alluvium /

"Final report "--Cover.

Defaults of original issue high-yield convertible bonds /

"August 1992."

Wheats developed for high yield on stored soil moisture have deep vigorous root systems

Many rainfed wheat production systems are reliant on stored soil water for some or all of their water inputs. Selection and breeding for root traits could result in a yield benefit; however, breeding for root traits has traditionally been avoided due to the difficulty of phenotyping mature root systems, limited understanding of root system development and function, and the strong influence of environmental conditions on the phenotype of the mature root system. This paper outlines an international field selection program for beneficial root traits at maturity using soil coring in India and Australia. In the rainfed areas of India, wheat is sown at the end of the monsoon into hot soils with a quickly receding soil water profile; in season water inputs are minimal. We hypothesised that wheat selected and bred for high yield under these conditions would have deep, vigorous root systems, allowing them to access and utilise the stored soil water at depth around anthesis and grain-filling when surface layers were dry. The Indian trials resulted in 49 lines being sent to Australia for phenotyping. These lines were ranked against 41 high yielding Australian lines. Variation was observed for deep root traits e.g. in eastern Australia in 2012, maximum depth ranged from 118.8 to 146.3 cm. There was significant variation for root traits between sites and years, however, several Indian genotypes were identified that consistently ranked highly across sites and years for deep rooting traits.

Extracting DNA from ‘jaws’: high yield and quality from archived tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) skeletal material

Archived specimens are highly valuable sources of DNA for retrospective genetic/genomic analysis. However, often limited effort has been made to evaluate and optimize extraction methods, which may be crucial for downstream applications. Here, we assessed and optimized the usefulness of abundant archived skeletal material from sharks as a source of DNA for temporal genomic studies. Six different methods for DNA extraction, encompassing two different commercial kits and three different protocols, were applied to material, so-called bio-swarf, from contemporary and archived jaws and vertebrae of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier). Protocols were compared for DNA yield and quality using a qPCR approach. For jaw swarf, all methods provided relatively high DNA yield and quality, while large differences in yield between protocols were observed for vertebrae. Similar results were obtained from samples of white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). Application of the optimized methods to 38 museum and private angler trophy specimens dating back to 1912 yielded sufficient DNA for downstream genomic analysis for 68% of the samples. No clear relationships between age of samples, DNA quality and quantity were observed, likely reflecting different preparation and storage methods for the trophies. Trial sequencing of DNA capture genomic libraries using 20 000 baits revealed that a significant proportion of captured sequences were derived from tiger sharks. This study demonstrates that archived shark jaws and vertebrae are potential high-yield sources of DNA for genomic-scale analysis. It also highlights that even for similar tissue types, a careful evaluation of extraction protocols can vastly improve DNA yield.

Nanostructured high strength Mg-5%Al-x%Nd alloys prepared by mechanical alloying

Nanostructured high strength Mg-5%Al-x%Nd alloys were prepared by mechanical alloying. Microstructural characterization reveled average crystalline size to be about 30 nm after mechanical alloying while it increased to about 90 nm after sintering and extrusion. Mechanical properties showed increase in 0.2% yield stress, ultimate tensile strength was attributed to reduction in gain size as well as to the enhanced diffusion after mechanical activation. Although ultra high yield stress was observed from the specimen with 5% Nd, its ductility was reduced to about 1.6%.

High-mobility organic thin film transistors based on benzothiadiazole- sandwiched dihexylquaterthiophenes

We report here the synthesis, characterization, and organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) mobilities of 4,7-bis(5-(5-hexylthiophen-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl) benzo[1,2,5]thiadiazole (DH-BTZ-4T). DH-BTZ-4T was prepared in one high-yield step from commercially available materials using Suzuki chemistry and purified by column chromatography. OTFTs with hole mobilities of 0.17 cm2/(Vs) and on/off current ratios of 1 × 105 were prepared from DH-BTZ-4T active layers deposited by vacuum deposition. As DH-BTZ-4T is soluble in common solvents, solution processed devices were also prepared by spin coating yielding preliminary mobilities of 6.0 × 10-3 cm 2/(Vs). The promising mobilities and low band gap (1.90 eV) coupled with solution processability and ambient stability makes this material an excellent candidate for application in organic electronics.