Multispectral image analysis for algal biomass quantification

This article reports a novel multispectral image processing technique for rapid, noninvasive quantification of biomass concentration in attached and suspended algae cultures. Monitoring the biomass concentration is critical for efficient production of biofuel feedstocks, food supplements, and bioactive chemicals. Particularly, noninvasive and rapid detection techniques can significantly aid in providing delay‐free process control feedback in large‐scale cultivation platforms. In this technique, three‐band spectral images of Anabaena variabilis cultures were acquired and separated into their red, green, and blue components. A correlation between the magnitude of the green component and the areal biomass concentration was generated. The correlation predicted the biomass concentrations of independently prepared attached and suspended cultures with errors of 7 and 15%, respectively, and the effect of varying lighting conditions and background color were investigated. This method can provide necessary feedback for dilution and harvesting strategies to maximize photosynthetic conversion efficiency in large‐scale operation. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29:808–816, 2013     

In Situ Measurement of Solid Electrolyte Interphase Evolution on Silicon Anodes Using Atomic Force Microscopy

In situ measurements of the growth of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on silicon and the lithiation‐induced volume changes in silicon in lithium ion half‐cells are reported. Thin film amorphous silicon electrodes are fabricated in a configuration that allows unambiguous separation of the total thickness change into contribution from SEI thickness and silicon volume change. Electrodes are assembled into a custom‐designed electrochemical cell, which is integrated with an atomic force microscope. The electrodes are subjected to constant potential lithiation/delithiation at a sequence of potential values and the thickness measurements are made at each potential after equilibrium is reached. Experiments are carried out with two electrolytes—1.2 m lithium hexafluoro‐phosphate (LiPF₆) in ethylene carbonate (EC) and 1.2 m LiPF₆ in propylene carbonate (PC)—to investigate the influence of electrolyte composition on SEI evolution. It is observed that SEI formation occurs predominantly during the first lithiation and the maximum SEI thickness is ≈17 and 10 nm respectively for EC and PC electrolytes. This study also presents the measured Si expansion ratio versus equilibrium potential and charge capacity versus equilibrium potential; both relationships display hysteresis, which is explained in terms of the stress–potential coupling in silicon.     

宝石能谱CT评估冠状动脉介入治疗术后支架内成像质量的研究

目的:探讨宝石能谱CT用于冠状动脉支架内成像质量评估的应用价值。方法:回顾分析56例冠状动脉支架植入后患者,按照支架厚度及直径分成四组。采用宝石能谱CT对冠状动脉成像及同时进行冠状动脉造影患者的影像学资料,通过分析宝石能谱CT的冠状动脉的成像质量,与冠状动脉造影进行对比,得出宝石能谱CT用于冠状动脉介入治疗术后支架内成像质量评估的价值。结果:宝石能谱CT显示支架内再狭窄的敏感度为100%,特异度为98.6%,阴性预测值为100%。直径≥3 mm的支架内成像质量优于直径3 mm的支架。但支架直径和厚度对宝石能谱CT支架内成像质量的可评估率没有差异。结论:宝石能谱CT均能提供优秀的冠状动脉支架内成像质量,采用宝石能谱CT替代冠状动脉造影术可对冠脉支架术后支架内影像进行评估。     

Room Temperature Processed Highly Efficient Large‐Area Polymer Solar Cells Achieved with Molecular Engineering of Copolymers

The room temperature (RT) processability of the photoactive layers in polymer solar cells (PSCs) from halogen‐free solvent along with their highly reproducible power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) and intrinsic thickness tolerance are extremely desirable for the large‐area roll‐to‐roll (R2R) production. However, most of the photoactive materials in PSCs require elevated processing temperatures due to their strong aggregation, which are unfavorable for the industrial R2R manufacturing of PSCs. These limiting factors for the commercialization of PSCs are alleviated by synthesizing random terpolymers with components of (2‐decyltetradecyl)thiophen‐2‐yl)naphtho[1,2‐c:5,6‐c′]bis[1,2,5]thiadiazole and bithiophene substituted with methyl thiophene‐3‐carboxylate (MTC). In contrast to the temperature‐dependent PNTz4T polymer, the resulting random terpolymers (PNTz4T‐MTC) show better solubility, slightly reduced crystallinity and aggregation, and weaker intermolecular interaction, thus enabling PNTz4T‐MTC to be processed at RT from a halogen‐free solvent. Particularly, the PNTz4T‐5MTC‐based photoactive layer exhibits an excellent PCE of 9.66%, which is among the highest reported PCEs for RT and ecofriendly halogen‐free solvent processed fullerene‐based PSCs, and a thickness tolerance with a PCE exceeding 8% from 100 to 520 nm. Finally, large‐area modules fabricated with the PNTz4T and PNTz4T‐5MTC polymer have shown 4.29% and 6.61% PCE respectively, with an area as high as 54.45 cm² in air.     

Inner structural organization of the mandibular corpus in the late Early Pleistocene human specimens Tighenif 1 and Tighenif 2

The present study investigates the inner structural organization of the two mandible specimens Tighenif 1 and Tighenif 2 from the late early Pleistocene site of Tighenif, Algeria. Using (micro)tomographic scans, we built a new protocol to investigate the cortical bone topography at the post-canine level. We selected two cross-sectional slices placed between the P3/P4 and M1/M2 on the right and left sides and assessed the cortical bone thickness topography (CBT) on each slice. Our analyses demonstrate that the mandibles from Tighenif exhibit higher CBT and a different topographic distribution pattern at the molar level than in modern humans, resulting in a proportionally more robust inner structure, while a similar signal is observed between the fossil and extant specimens at the premolar level. Further studies need to be done in order to determine if this feature is related to functional constraints during mastication or paramasticatory activities; or if it is related to any independent evolutionary process.     

冷冻胚胎移植周期中内膜形态及内膜厚度对妊娠结局的预测价值分析

目的:评价内膜厚度及内膜形态对于体外受精-胚胎移植中冷冻胚胎解冻复苏移植的临床妊娠结局的预测价值。方法:回顾性分析1521个冷冻胚胎解冻复苏移植周期,将患者按子宫内膜厚度分为4组,子宫内膜≤6 mm、6.1-8.0 mm、8.0-12 mm、12.0 mm,根据子宫内膜形态分为A型内膜、B型内膜、C型内膜。分别比较不同内膜厚度分组及不同内膜形态分组患者的年龄,移植胚胎数目、内膜准备方案构成比、移植胚胎类型(卵裂期胚胎、囊胚)构成比及各组间的临床妊娠率和活产率。采用ROC曲线分析子宫内膜厚度、形态对临床妊娠结局的预测价值。使用逐步回归分析内膜厚度、形态、年龄及移植胚胎类型与妊娠结局的相关性。结果:纳入1521个解冻复苏周期中按内膜厚度分为4组,各组周期数分别为96周期、454周期、893周期、78周期,各组间平均年龄分别为34.1±5.5岁、33.3±5.4岁、32.5±5.2岁、33.7±6.0岁(P0.05)。内膜厚度≤6 mm组临床妊娠率为31.3%,子宫内膜≤6mm、6.1-8.0 mm、8.0-12 mm、12.0 mm组临床妊娠率分别为48.5%、51.8%、47.4%(P0.05)。子宫内膜≤6 mm、6.1-8.0 mm、8.0-12 mm、12.0 mm组间活产率分别为18.8%、37.7%、44.6%、39.7%(P0.05)。A型、B型及C型内膜组周期数分别为920周期、189周期及412周期,三组间平均年龄分别为32.3±5.1、33.0±5.7、34.2±5.5岁(P0.05)。A型/B型及C型内膜组临床妊娠率分别为51.2%、46.6%及46.4%,三组间活产率分别为42.1%、36.0%及37.1%,三组间差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。子宫内膜厚度ROC曲线下面积为0.534(95%可信区间0.505-0.564),子宫内膜形态ROC曲线下面积为0.526(0.476-0.955)。逐步回归分析纳入内膜厚度、内膜形态、年龄、胚胎类型4个可变量,女方年龄(OR=0.929,P0.001),移植胚胎中囊胚比例(OR=1.595,P0.001)与临床妊娠率明显相关,内膜厚度(OR=1.054,P=0.05)及内膜形态(OR=0.864)与临床妊娠率无相关性。结论:虽然子宫内膜薄临床妊娠率下降,但是子宫内膜厚度与内膜形态不能够预测体外受精-胚胎移植解冻复苏周期临床妊娠率,患者年龄以及移植胚胎的发育潜能才是预测临床妊娠率的参考指标。     

Diversity and trophic structure of insects associated with grains of three maize landraces in San Agustín Loxicha,Oaxaca, Mexico

Diversity and trophic structure of grain insect communities were examined in Olotillo, Nal‐Tel and Comiteco maize landraces cultivated within a milpa agroecosystem by Zapotec ethnic groups in Mexico. Higher insect diversity was expected in Olotillo, whose cultivation comprises a wide variety of agroecosystems, and low insect abundance in Nal‐Tel with small grains and thick testa. Forty Olotillo cobs were collected at low, medium and high elevations, and 40 each of Nal‐Tel at low elevation and Comiteco at high elevation. Cobs were monitored for 30 days under controlled laboratory conditions until all insects emerged. Thickness of testa of 400 grains from each landrace was measured. Community composition and trophic structure were described and standard diversity indices were estimated. A total of 9,708 insects, corresponding to five orders, 24 families and 36 species, were recorded, with six species not previously reported in this region. Insect guilds were composed of 70% phytophages, 22% parasitoids and 8% predators. Species richness was S = 27, 16 and 8 in Olotillo, Comiteco and Nal‐Tel, respectively. Nal‐Tel and Olotillo had the highest diversity index values (H′ = 1.32 and 1.2, respectively) and no significant differences; Comiteco had the lowest value (H′ = 0.65) and differed significantly from the other landraces. Comiteco and Olotillo, which have large grains and thin testa, showed higher insect abundance than Nal‐Tel, which has small grains and thick testa and showed lower abundance. Results support our hypotheses and highlight the role of traditional crop management in insect agrobiodiversity maintenance and conservation.     

Cardiorespiratory fitness, different measures of adiposity, and cancer mortality in men

Objective: The purpose was to examine the prospective relationship among cardiorespiratory fitness level (CRF), different measures of adiposity, and cancer mortality in men. Research Methods and Procedures: Participants were 38,410 apparently healthy men who completed a comprehensive baseline health examination between 1970 and 2001. Clinical measures included BMI, waist circumference (WC), percent body fat, and CRF quantified as duration of a maximal treadmill exercise test. Participants were divided into fifths of CRF, BMI, WC, and percent body fat. Hazard ratios were computed with Cox regression analysis. Results: During a mean follow‐up period of 17.2 ± 7.9 years, 1037 cancer deaths occurred. Adjusted hazard ratios across incremental BMI quintiles were 1.0, 1.23, 1.15, 1.39, and 1.72; those of WC were 1.0, 1.05, 1.03, 1.31, and 1.64; those of percent body fat were 1.0, 1.24, 1.17, 1.23, and 1.50; and those of CRF were 1.0, 0.70, 0.67, 0.70, and 0.49 (trend p < 0.01 for each). Further adjustment for CRF eliminated the significant trend in mortality risk across percent body fat groups and attenuated the trend in risk across BMI and WC groups. Adjustment of CRF for adiposity measures had little effect on mortality risk. When grouped into categories of fit and unfit (upper 80% and lower 20% of CRF distribution, respectively), mortality rates (per 10,000 man‐years) were significantly lower in fit compared with unfit men within each stratum of BMI, WC, and percent body fat. Discussion: Higher levels of CRF are associated with lower cancer mortality risk in men, independently of several adiposity measures.     

热带亚热带26种蕨类植物的吸收根解剖特征

植物吸收根的生理功能是从土壤中吸收水分和营养物质, 研究其解剖结构有助于揭示植物的环境适应策略。热带亚热带地区蕨类植物丰富, 生态和经济价值较高, 但目前对这一重要植物类群的吸收根解剖特征的研究仍然缺乏。该研究测定了分布在热带亚热带地区4种典型森林的共26种蕨类植物吸收根的解剖特征, 分析它们的种间差异, 结合系统发育与全球自然分布区的气候因子解释根系性状的变异。同时, 通过收集亚热带木本被子植物和温带蕨类植物相关的已发表数据, 比较不同类群的根系性状相关关系的差异。结果表明: (1)这些蕨类植物吸收根特征的种间差异显著, 8个根系性状的种间变异系数范围为20.61%-41.75%。(2)除皮层厚度外根系性状无显著的系统发育信号, 说明性状变异受系统发育的影响较小; 气候因子显著影响根系特征, 根直径和皮层厚度随着最干月(季)降水量减少而增大。(3)随着吸收根直径的减小, 亚热带木本被子植物趋于具有更低的皮层厚度/中柱直径比值, 而蕨类植物则相反; 与温带蕨类相比, 该研究中蕨类植物具有更大的根直径、皮层厚度和管胞直径。该研究有助于提高对热带亚热带蕨类植物根系生理生态适应性的认识。     

Determination of PRKAG1 coding sequence and mapping of PRKAG1 and PRKAG2 relatively to porcine back fat thickness QTL

PRKAG1, PRKAG2 and PRKAG3 encode three isoforms of AMP-activated protein kinase gamma chain. A major effect on meat quality and a medium effect on back fat thickness of the RN- mutation in the PRKAG3 gene has previously been reported. We have now mapped PRKAG1 and PRKAG2 at expected locations on SSC5 and SSC18 by analysis of radiation hybrids (IMpRH panel). PRKAG2 has been mapped in a region where no quantitative trait loci (QTL) has been reported. PRKAG1 has been mapped close to (but probably outside) a region containing a QTL influencing fatness traits. We have determined the full coding sequence of PRKAG1. No missense mutation was identified when comparing the coding sequence of one Meishan and one Large White boars. Further work is, however, required to determine if a polymorphism in PRKAG1 could be responsible for a part of the variability observed on fatness traits.