Next Generation Semiconductor Based-Sequencing of a Nutrigenetics Target Gene (GPR120) and Association with Growth Rate in Italian Large White Pigs

The GPR120 gene (also known as FFAR4 or O3FAR1) encodes for a functional omega-3 fatty acid receptor/sensor that mediates potent insulin sensitizing effects by repressing macrophage-induced tissue inflammation. For its functional role, GPR120 could be considered a potential target gene in animal nutrigenetics. In this work we resequenced the porcine GPR120 gene by high throughput Ion Torrent semiconductor sequencing of amplified fragments obtained from 8 DNA pools derived, on the whole, from 153 pigs of different breeds/populations (two Italian Large White pools, Italian Duroc, Italian Landrace, Casertana, Pietrain, Meishan, and wild boars). Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), two synonymous substitutions and one in the putative 3′-untranslated region (g.114765469C > T), were identified and their allele frequencies were estimated by sequencing reads count. The g.114765469C > T SNP was also genotyped by PCR-RFLP confirming estimated frequency in Italian Large White pools. Then, this SNP was analyzed in two Italian Large White cohorts using a selective genotyping approach based on extreme and divergent pigs for back fat thickness (BFT) estimated breeding value (EBV) and average daily gain (ADG) EBV. Significant differences of allele and genotype frequencies distribution was observed between the extreme ADG-EBV groups (P < 0.001) whereas this marker was not associated with BFT-EBV.     

Nanomoulding of Functional Materials,a Versatile Complementary Pattern Replication Method to Nanoimprinting

We describe a nanomoulding technique which allows low-cost nanoscale patterning of functional materials, materials stacks and full devices. Nanomoulding combined with layer transfer enables the replication of arbitrary surface patterns from a master structure onto the functional material. Nanomoulding can be performed on any nanoimprinting setup and can be applied to a wide range of materials and deposition processes. In particular we demonstrate the fabrication of patterned transparent zinc oxide electrodes for light trapping applications in solar cells.     

Low Electron Scattering Potentials in High Performance Mg2Si0.45Sn0.55 Based Thermoelectric Solid Solutions with Band Convergence

Understanding the electron and phonon transport characteristics is crucial for designing and developing high performance thermoelectric materials. Weak scattering effects on charge carriers, characterized by deformation potential and alloy scattering potential, are favorable for thermoelectric solid solutions to enable high carrier mobility and thereby promising thermoelectric performance. Mg₂(Si,Sn) solid solutions have attracted much attention due to their low cost and environmental compatibility. Usually, their high thermoelectric performance with ZT ～ 1 is ascribed to the band convergence and reduced lattice thermal conductivity caused by alloying. In this work, both a low deformation potential Ξ = 13 eV and a low alloy scattering potential U = 0.7 eV are found for the thermoelectric alloys by characterizing and modeling of thermoelectric transport properties. The band convergence is also verified by the increased density‐of‐states effective mass. It is proposed that, in addition to band convergence and reduced lattice thermal conductivity, the low deformation potential and alloy scattering potential are additional intrinsic features that contribute to the high thermoelectric performance of the solid solutions.     

Investigation on light-addressable potentiometric sensor as a possible cell-semiconductor hybrid

This article reports an investigation on light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) to be used as a possible biological cell-semiconductor hybrid that will enable us to make an interface between the physical and biological system. To increase the surface potential sensitivity, we used a LAPS structure with single insulator (SiO2) coated with poly-L-ornithine and laminin (PLOL) on Si. Efficient culturing of PC-12 and nerve cells of Lymnaea stagnalis on PLOL-coated Si3N4 and SiO2 was achieved. The thickness of the PLOL layer was found to be about 4 nm by the atomic force microscope (AFM) measurement. Using the advantage of this thin layer of PLOL, we compared the performance of a novel structure to the previously reported "PLOL-coated Si3N4/SiO2/Si" structure. Due to high insulating capacitance, the photocurrent response of the novel LAPS was found to be very steep. As a result, higher sensitivity was achieved. This steepness did not degrade during 10 days when the sensor surface was kept in contact with the cell culture medium and environment. The thickness of PLOL layer, its ability to improve the biological cell adhesion, enhanced sensitivity, and experiment with simulated neural action potential (AP) applied to the novel LAPS show a good promise for LAPS to be a biological cell-semiconductor hybrid.     

激光器的新进展

本文简叙了近年来激光器研究取得的新进展,对一些激光器在国内外的主要应用也做了介绍。     

激光治疗急性踝关损伤40例临床疗效观察

采用SUNDOM-300I型半导体激光（波长810nm,终端输出功率0mW-500mW,连续可调,光速直径5mm）,治疗急性踝关节损伤40例,平均治疗次数为4次,治愈率72.5％,有效率27.5％,示发现明显毒副作用。结果显示激光在治疗软组织疼痛的早期有较好的疗效。     

半导体激光辐照对花生种子活力的影响

采用３５０ｎｗ,８１０ｎｍ近红外光导体激光辐照花生干种子,经激光辐照后,种子胚根生长速度加快,胚根长度增加,侧根数目增加,种子出苗率提高。幼苗苗鲜重与根鲜重指标均高于对照组。实验证明,适当剂量的近红外半导体激光辐照可提高花生种子活力,促进幼苗生长。     

The Role of Voluntary Industry Standards in Environmental Supply-Chain Management

Our article uses a new institutional economics (NIE) framework to explore the role of voluntary industry standards in the development and implementation of environmental supplier-management programs in the computer industry. We examine two different voluntary standards, one for the management of design for environment (DfE) in the semiconductor fabrication equipment sector and the other for assessing the implementation and use of environmental management systems throughout the computer industry supply chain. We compare and contrast the two standards to explain why the former was widely adopted and has helped integrate DfE into buyer-supplier relations among adopters, whereas the latter failed to gain acceptance. In line with NIE logic, both standards aimed to lower transaction and customization costs by setting "rules of the game" for interfirm transactions that would help simplify and routinize novel environmental supply-chain programs and activities. Their differential success can be elucidated in terms of how well each met the NIE criteria for remediableness and legitimacy. We conclude that voluntary standards have the potential to play an important role in promoting DfE in industrial supply chains. We further conclude that NIE provides a conceptual framework of great value to industrial ecologists who analyze how industry standards and other institutions help firms move toward more sustainable supply-chain management practices.     

多光束中医信息治疗仪的研制

本文介绍了一种应用光子中医学技术防治缺血性疾病的多光束弱激光中医信息治疗仪。该仪器将先进的单片计算机技术,激光技术与光子中医信息疗法融为一体。文章主要介绍了多光束中医信息治疗仪的设计理念及其实现方式。     

不同激光照射方法对周围神经再生的影响

为研究不同半导体激光照射方法对周围神经损伤的影响,将96只家兔随机分为3周,6周,9周,12周4个观察期组,每个观察期组又随机分为不同照射方法的治疗组和对照组。建立动物模型后,各照射组在术后1d开始照射治疗,激光功率为10mw,每次照射10rain,每天一次,连续照射10d。照射治疗A组对准损伤神经吻合部位进行照射,照射治疗B组照射家兔L5、L6脊髓节段,照射治疗c组在对准吻合处进行照射同时还要照射L5、L6脊髓节段,对照组激光输出功率为零。实验结果表明低能量半导体激光照射能促进轴突再生,改善再生神经功能,以同时照射损伤周围神经部位和相应脊髓节段效果最为显著。