Lowest Pd Research Articles

Genetic analysis of 12 X-short tandem repeats loci in a northern Thai population.

Short tandem repeats (STRs) are widely used as DNA markers in paternity testing and criminal investigations because of their high genetic polymorphism among individuals in population. However, many factors influence genetic variations of STRs. Therefore, understanding STR information within individual populations could provide database and scientifically reliable STR genotyping for forensic genetic purposes. We aimed to examine allele frequencies of X-STRs, including some forensic parameters, in a northern Thai population. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted by collecting X-STR data from unrelated individuals living in a northern region of Thailand. The allele frequency and forensic parameters - for example polymorphism information content (PIC), power of discrimination in females and males (PDf and PDm), mean exclusion chance (MEC) and haplotype frequency - were calculated. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was analysed. A total of 132 alleles were observed, with corresponding allele frequency ranging from 0.0064 to 0.4904. The PIC of all loci was >0.6, representing high genetic polymorphism, except DXS8378 and DXS7423. Notably, DXS10135 was the most diverse loci with the highest PD and MEC, while DXS7423 was the least polymorphic marker with the lowest PD and MEC. The highest haplotype diversity in male data was on linkage group III (DXS10101-DXS10103-HPRTB) by 0.9895. The genetic distance analysis demonstrated that the northern Thai population had a close relationship with Taiwanese (DA = 0.023). There are no significant deviations among the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium except DXS10148. This study has established a northern Thai X-STRs reference database to be used as a tool for forensic genetic purposes.

Sand Dune Species Distribution and Size Variations in Two Areas Inside a Natural Protected Area Subjected to Different Human Disturbance

Sand dune species were analyzed across two areas included in the “Roman Coastal State Nature Reserve” (Italy): Ostia (O) and Marina di Palidoro (P). Significant variations in species distribution, dry mass and size over the gradient from the water-edge toward the inland between O and P were observed. Species colonize O, on an average, at 79 m from the water-edge extended along the gradient toward the inland over a length of 26 m. PD is 40.8 ± 9.9 plants.m-2. Ononis variegata and Elymus farctus have the highest PD (15.4 ± 1.3 plants.m-2), followed by Silene colorata and Sporobulus pungens (4.3 ± 3.9 plants.m-2), by Cakile maritima, Echinophora spinosa, Eryngium maritimum, Ammophila arenaria, Anthemis maritima, Cyperus capitatus, Medicago marina and Calystegia soldanella (.m-2), with C. soldanella having the lowest PD (0.02 plants.m-2). On an average, in P, the species colonize the dune at 17 m from the water-edge for a length of 46 m toward the inland, PD is on an average 21.5 ± 16.1 plants.m-2. S. pungens, E. farctus and O. variegata have the highest PD (6.0 ± <span style="fon

0.99 mW 3–10 GHz common-gate CMOS UWB LNA using T-match input network and self-body-bias technique

A low-power 3–10 GHz common-gate CMOS ultra-wideband (UWB) low-noise amplifier (LNA) using a T-match input network and the self-body-bias technique is demonstrated. Wideband input impedance matching was achieved by using the proposed T-match input network to improve the input matching at low frequencies. A low supply voltage of 1.1 V (for two VDS drops) was achieved by using the self-body-bias technique to reduce the threshold voltage (Vth) of the transistors, which leads to a low power consumption (PD). At VG=0.77 V, the LNA consumed 2.15 mW and achieved S11 of −10.4 to −35.5 dB, S21 of 10.4 dB, and an average NF of 4.9 dB over the 3–10 GHz band of interest. At VG=0.63 V, the LNA consumed 0.99 mW and achieved S11 of −10.7 to −35.8 dB, S21 of 7.9 dB and an average NF of 6 dB. Both are the lowest PD ever reported for an UWB CMOS LNA with bandwidth greater than 6 GHz.

The effects of dietary protein:energy ratio and amino acid pattern on nitrogen utilization and excretion of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

This study was undertaken to investigate: (1) the effects of both deficiencies and excesses in essential amino acids (EAAs) from an estimated optimum dietary EAA pattern on nitrogen (N) utilization and excretion of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, (2) the effects of dietary digestible protein (PD): digestible energy (ED) ratio (PD:ED) on N utilization and excretion of O. mykiss and (3) the potential interaction of these two factors. A 3 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted, with the two factors EAA pattern and PD:ED ratio. The three levels of EAA pattern were: (1) optimum EAA pattern, (2) 60% deficiencies in the three amino acids arginine, histidine and lysine, and (3) 60% excesses in the three amino acids arginine, histidine and leucine. The three levels of PD:ED ratio were 18, 21 and 24 g MJ−1. Amino acid deficiencies from an optimum amino acid pattern caused reductions in mean N retention of 29 to 37%, with the greatest reduction associated with the lowest PD:ED ratio, and similar substantial increases in total N and ammonia‐N excretion at all of the dietary PD:ED ratios investigated. Amino acid excesses, however, did not negatively affect N retention or excretion. Increasing PD:ED ratio was associated with decreasing N retention and increasing N excretion over the range of dietary protein and lipid levels tested. Results of this study showed that a diet with optimum dietary amino acid pattern and lowest PD:ED ratio produced the highest N retention (47% of ingested N) and the lowest total N and ammonia‐N excretion of O. mykiss.

Investigation of palladium and platinum levels in food by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Over the last two decades, there has been increased concern regarding the impact of some noble metals, such as Pd and Pt, on human health. These elements pollute the environment due to their widespread use as catalytic converters and in medical applications. The risk they pose to human health and the environment is still controversial; however, literature data point to diet as an important source of uptake by the human body. Within this context, the total Pd and Pt content of several Italian food commodities has been investigated. A total of 90 samples, including flour products, vegetables and foodstuffs of animal origin (meat, milk and eggs), were collected and freeze-dried. Samples were analyzed by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS) after chopping or crushing followed by freeze-drying and microwave (MW)-assisted acid digestion in a Class-100 clean-room. A mathematical approach was adopted to correct the mass signals for still unresolved interference (mΔm = 300, 10 000). The lowest and highest concentrations of Pt, i.e. 17 and 93 ng kg−1 (dry weight, dw), were found in vegetables and flour products, respectively. The lowest Pd level (2830 ng kg−1 dw) was found in eggs and the highest (47 800 ng kg−1 dw) in vegetables.

1.5 V 1.8 GHz bandpass amplifier

To have a fully integrated communication system in CMOS, a CMOS bandpass amplifier which combines the functions of low noise amplifier (LNA) and bandpass filter (BPF) is necessary. In a conventional bandpass amplifier, a Q-enhancement circuit is required to compensate for the resistive loss in the integrated inductor. The Q-enhancement circuit, however, being active, increases the power consumption (Pd) and noise figure (NF) of the system. In the paper, a new bandpass amplifier has been proposed which can achieve the required Q without an additional Q-enhancement circuit. Comparison with other recent designs shows that the proposed amplifier has the lowest Pd and the best noise performance. Based on the CSM 0.25 µm CMOS process, the bandpass amplifier has a gain of 25.3 dB, a Q of 30, an NF of 3.56 dB and a Pd of 35.7 mW at 1.8 GHz.

Pharmacological characterization of presynaptic α-adrenoceptors modulating [ 3H]noradrenaline and [ 3H]5-hydroxytryptamine release from slices of the hippocampus of the rat

The experiments served to characterize the receptors mediating the inhibitory effect of α-adrenergic drugs on K + (20 mM)-induced [ 3H]noradrenaline (NA) and [ 3H]5-hydroxytryptamine ([ 3H]5-HT) release from slices of the dorsal part of rat hippocampus. Dose-response curves were constructed using the cumulative dose-response technique (Frankhuyzen and Mulder, 1982). All of the adrenergic agonist drugs examined inhibited the K +-induced [ 3H]NA release. NA appeared to have the highest intrinsic activity followed by adrenaline. Clonidine and adrenaline had similar intrinsic activities, while that of oxymetazoline was lowest. The highest pD 2 values were observed for oxymetazoline and clonidine, being slightly higher than that of adrenaline followed by NA. By far the lowest pD 2 values was observed for phenylephrine. With the exception of phenylephrine, all of the agonists also inhibited the K +-induced [ 3H]5-HT release. NA, adrenaline and oxymetazoline appeared to have similar intrinsic activities, while that of clonidine was considerably lower. The pD 2 values of NA and adrenaline were not significantly different but were somewhat lower than those of oxymetazoline and clonidine. Similar antagonistic effects of phentolamine and yohimbine were observed with respect to the adrenergic inhibition of K +-induced [ 3H]NA and [ 3H]5-HT release. Prazosin, however, appeared to be ineffective in both instances. It is concluded from these results that the presynaptic adrenergic inhibition of [ 3H]NA as well as [ 3H]5-HT release is mediated by α 2-adrenoceptors located on noradrenergic and serotonergic varicosities, respectively. Furthermore, our data suggest that these α 2-adrenoceptors are not pharmacologically identical.