Supplementary Layer Research Articles

A minimal requirement for self-assembly of lines in polylogarithmic time

Self-assembly is the process in which small and simple components assemble into large and complex structures without explicit external control. The nubot model generalizes previous self-assembly models (e.g. the abstract Tile Assembly Model (aTAM)) to include active components which can actively move and undergo state changes. One main difference between the nubot model and previous self-assembly models is its ability to perform exponential growth with respect to time. In the paper, we study the problem of finding a minimal set of features in the nubot model which allows exponential growth to happen. We only focus on nubot systems which assemble a long line of nubots with a small number of supplementary layers. We prove that exponential growth is not possible with the limit of one supplementary layer and one state-change per nubot. On the other hand, if two supplementary layers are allowed, or the disappearance rule can be performed without a state change, then we can construct nubot systems which grow exponentially.

A closed-loop multi-level model of glucose homeostasis.

BackgroundThe pathophysiologic processes underlying the regulation of glucose homeostasis are considerably complex at both cellular and systemic level. A comprehensive and structured specification for the several layers of abstraction of glucose metabolism is often elusive, an issue currently solvable with the hierarchical description provided by multi-level models. In this study we propose a multi-level closed-loop model of whole-body glucose homeostasis, coupled with the molecular specifications of the insulin signaling cascade in adipocytes, under the experimental conditions of normal glucose regulation and type 2 diabetes.Methodology/Principal findingsThe ordinary differential equations of the model, describing the dynamics of glucose and key regulatory hormones and their reciprocal interactions among gut, liver, muscle and adipose tissue, were designed for being embedded in a modular, hierarchical structure. The closed-loop model structure allowed self-sustained simulations to represent an ideal in silico subject that adjusts its own metabolism to the fasting and feeding states, depending on the hormonal context and invariant to circadian fluctuations. The cellular level of the model provided a seamless dynamic description of the molecular mechanisms downstream the insulin receptor in the adipocytes by accounting for variations in the surrounding metabolic context.Conclusions/SignificanceThe combination of a multi-level and closed-loop modeling approach provided a fair dynamic description of the core determinants of glucose homeostasis at both cellular and systemic scales. This model architecture is intrinsically open to incorporate supplementary layers of specifications describing further individual components influencing glucose metabolism.

Developing an Individual-level Geodemographic Classification

Geodemographics is a spatially explicit classification of socio-economic data, which can be used to describe and analyse individuals by where they live. Geodemographic information is used by the public sector for planning and resource allocation but it also has considerable use within commercial sector applications. Early geodemographic systems, such as the UK’s ACORN (A Classification of Residential Neighbourhoods), used only area-based census data, but more recent systems have added supplementary layers of information, e.g. credit details and survey data, to provide better discrimination between classes. Although much more data has now become available, geodemographic systems are still fundamentally built from area-based census information. This is partly because privacy laws require release of census data at an aggregate level but mostly because much of the research remains proprietary. Household level classifications do exist but they are often based on regressions between area and household data sets. This paper presents a different approach for creating a geodemographic classification at the individual level using only census data. A generic framework is presented, which classifies data from the UK Census Small Area Microdata and then allocates the resulting clusters to a synthetic population created via microsimulation. The framework is then applied to the creation of an individual-based system for the city of Leeds, demonstrated using data from the 2001 census, and is further validated using individual and household survey data from the British Household Panel Survey.

OP.1C.04] STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL ARTERIAL ABNORMALITIES IN FIBROMUSCULAR DYSPLASIA ARE IN THE CONTINUUM OF HYPERTENSION

Objective: Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a non-atherosclerotic non-inflammatory arterial disease, which occurs mostly in middle-aged women and affects medium-sized arteries. We previously showed abnormalities within common carotid artery (CCA) wall, with the presence of triple signal (TS) at ultrasound suggesting the presence of supplementary layers. We aimed at coupling TS presence with microconstituents of the vessel wall, derived from fitting of the pressure-diameter curve. Design and method: We included 50 non-smoking patients with multifocal FMD, 50 essential hypertensive (EH) patients and 50 healthy subjects (HS) matched for age, sex, ethnicity and BP (EH and FD). TS score from the right and left CCA ranging from 2 (normal) to 14 (most advanced) were assessed from 15-MHz echotracking system coupled with aplanation tonometry. Microconstituents of the CCA were derived from inverse-problem resolution using non-linear least-squares method. The strain-energy function included 14 parameters representing geometry (opening-angle, reference radius, in vivo axial stretch), perivascular tethering, and wall material coefficients (elastic modulus, fiber orientation). Results: FMD, EH and HS were well matched. TS was significantly and positively associated with age, hypercholesterolemia, aortic stiffness and carotid intima media thickness (IMT). In multivariate analysis, age, hypercholesterolemia and IMT were significantly associated with TS, explaining 9.5% of its variance. TS was more frequent in FMD than HS (49% vs 16%, p Conclusions: We confirmed that FMD is associated with higher frequency of TS, but with overlap with matched EH and HS. The strong association between TS and carotid remodeling, independently of age and BP, suggests that it corresponds to the muscular transition of an elastic artery wall in parallel with the hypertrophic process (Sarkola T et al. Atherosclerosis 2010). The association of TS with circular collagen stiffness suggests that TS has subtle but measurable mechanical consequences.

Localization and interactions between Arabidopsis auxin biosynthetic enzymes in the TAA/YUC-dependent pathway.

The growth regulator auxin is involved in all key developmental processes in plants. A complex network of a multiplicity of potential biosynthetic pathways as well as transport, signalling plus conjugation and deconjugation lead to a complex and multifaceted system system for auxin function. This raises the question how such a system can be effectively organized and controlled. Here we report that a subset of auxin biosynthetic enzymes in the TAA/YUC route of auxin biosynthesis is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ER microsomal fractions also contain a significant percentage of auxin biosynthetic activity. This could point toward a model of auxin function using ER membrane location and subcellular compartmentation for supplementary layers of regulation. Additionally we show specific protein-protein interactions between some of the enzymes in the TAA/YUC route of auxin biosynthesis.

S.NET and NanoEthics: A Pair of Siblings

This editorial has been written on the way back from the 7th annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Nanoscience and Emerging Technologies (S.NET), which was once again a truly inspiring and instructive event. The conference was held in Montreal in October under the title BFrom Nanotechnologies to Emerging Technologies: Towards a Global Responsibility^ and was mainly organised by the knowledge network Ne3LS, a very noteworthy long-term initiative set up by the Government of Quebec to examine the ethical, environmental, economic, legal and social issues raised by the development of nanotechnology. S.NET and this journal can be described as a pair of siblings.NanoEthics is a little older, its first issue having been published back in 2007, while the first S.NET meeting annual meeting took place in 2009. Both are children of the first wave of research and discussions on nanotechnology, but also established themselves early on as important forums for reflection on new and emerging science and technology more generally, including other fields of technology and a wide variety of aspects of current technoscience. Recently, NanoEthics has changed its subtitle to Studies of New and Emerging Technologies, and S.NET is about to change its full name to the Society for Studies of New and Emerging Technologies. Both siblings are open to impulses that come from beyond academia, such as contributions by civil society activists, industry representatives, policy makers, early technology adopters and artists. There are large overlaps, not only thematically but also in terms of the people involved.While the journal’s readers and contributors come from a wide variety of academic communities and NanoEthics is certainly not S.NET’s house journal, there is clearly a special relationship between the two at many levels. The present issue is a particular testament to this, since the authors of its first two articles gave talks in Montreal, and an entire special section is based on a session at last year’s S.NET annual meeting. In the first article, Vanessa Chenel, Patrick Boissy, Jean-Pierre Cloarec and Johane Patenaude analyse acceptability judgments concerning the use of nanocarrierbased targeted drug delivery. After sending out a questionnaire to a large number of Francophone scientists and scholars in Canada and Europe, they conducted interviews with a subset of the respondents, half of whom were French and half Canadian, while half were natural scientists or engineers and half social scientists or humanities scholars. The authors highlight contextual factors that bring about variability in acceptability judgments, arguing that effective consideration of these contextual factors could add a supplementary layer of information to assessment procedures and improve stakeholder discourse on technological innovation. In the second article, Daniele Ruggiu contrasts two versions of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), the important new European approach to science, Nanoethics (2015) 9:197–198 DOI 10.1007/s11569-015-0246-x

Differential graphene resonator as a mass detector

We consider a fundamentally new scheme of graphene resonator, namely, a differential resonator, which provides a significantly increased sensitivity to the mass deposited on it. The differential resonator consists of two parallel graphene sheets located one over the other, the upper (basic) sheet and the lower (supplementary) sheet. The layers are fixed in supporting insulators, and the supplementary layer is located over the conducting surface. The power link between the layers is implemented by the electrostatic field in the space between the layers. Several equilibria are possible in such a mechanical system. The free vibration near the stable equilibrium are considered. The electric field strength in the space between the layers is chosen so that the mechanical system of two graphene layers has two close natural frequencies. The free vibrations of such a system exhibit beating. The characteristic frequency of the envelope, which is further called the beating frequency and is equal to half the difference of natural frequencies of the system, is much lower than the partial natural frequency of each layer. If a particle is deposited on the upper layer, then the partial natural frequency of this layer decreases. In this case, the characteristic frequency of the envelope changes, and a small variation in the partial natural frequency can lead to a significant change in the characteristic frequency of the envelope. This ensures that the differential resonator is more sensitive to the detected particle mass than single-layer resonators. The influence of various parameters of the differential resonator on the measurement accuracy is studied.

Backward/Forward: Thalia Field’s Metanarratives

Thalia Field’s Bird Lovers, Backyard takes at its starting point the awareness that any attempt to represent the nonhuman has to account for the ways in which the existing forms of mediation determine the nature and scope of stories about animals. This awareness introduces a supplementary layer in storytelling, which transforms the narrative. Instead of telling stories about animals, a metanarrative such as Bird Lovers, Backyard is a montage and reworking of a wide range of existing forms of narrative as well as a critical engagement with the works and authors that exemplify them.

New Strategy to Optimize the Performance of Epidemic Routing Protocol

delay tolerant networks (DTN, Delay Tolerant Networks) are networks where connectivity is intermittent because of the difficulties encountered in the environment such as climate, mobility, the breakdowns of energy, etc. To achieve a good delivery of data despite all these challenges, new network architecture was developed. This one consists on the addition of a supplementary layer in the OSI protocol stack, above the transport layer. This new policy is called: the bundle protocol. Its main role is to store data until an opportunity of transmission appears by using the Store and Forward technique and the concept of custody transfer. Routing protocols in this type of network do not try to find the shortest path as it is the case in the conventional protocols, but they focus on the increase in data delivery. The techniques used for this purpose can be divided into two large families. Some protocols adopt the approach of replication, which involves the duplication of messages in the network by providing multiple copies in order to increase the likelihood of transmission. Others, are based on knowledge, that is to gather information about the network status and manage shipments efficiently. In DTN routing protocol forwarding decision and buffer management strategy are important to improve the chance of message delivery. In this paper, the new strategy proposed optimizes Epidemic routing protocol; it consists on using the path of ACKs messages and the path of all messages that have reached their destination to resolve the disadvantages of Epidemic routing protocol with the FIFO method. According to the simulation, the proposed method shows better delivery rate, better delivery probability and lower communication overhead compared to FIFO strategy and it is suitable for Epidemic.

Gold electrode modified with a self-assembled glucose oxidase and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid as novel glucose bioanode for biofuel cells

In this study, we have constructed a gold electrode modified with (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane/2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid/glucose oxidase (abbreviated as, Au/ATS/PDA/GOx) by sequential chemical adsorption. Au/ATS/PDA/GOx electrode was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The data from FT-IR illustrated deposition of ATS, PDA and GOx on the surface of gold electrode. The latter has been confirmed by EIS which showed that the electron transfer resistance of the electrode increases after adsorption of each supplementary layer. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) in phosphate buffer solution containing 5 mM glucose displayed that compared to Au/ATS/GOx, oxidation of glucose at Au/ATS/PDA/GOx electrode starts 461 mV earlier. This gain in potential is attributed to presence of PDA in the constructed Au/ATS/PDA/GOx electrode, which plays some sort of electron mediator for glucose oxidation. The Au/ATS/PDA/GOx electrode was stabilized by an outer layer of polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) and was connected to a Pt electrode as cathode and the non-compartmentalized cell was studied under air in phosphate buffer solution pH 7.4 containing 10 mM glucose. Under these conditions, the maximum power density reaches 0.25 μW mm−2 (25 μW cm−2) for the deposited GOx layer that has an estimated surface coverage of ∼70% of a monolayer.

Low-Loss Titanium Dioxide Strip Waveguides Fabricated by Atomic Layer Deposition

We introduce low-loss amorphous titanium dioxide (TiO2) strip waveguides with sub-wavelength dimensions. The waveguides were fabricated by the combination of atomic layer deposition (ALD), electron beam lithography (EBL), and reactive ion etching (RIE). Propagation losses of the strip waveguides were found to be as low as 5.0 dB/cm at 1.55 μm wavelength. Those propagation losses are mostly due to the sidewall roughness of the waveguides that is caused by the lithography process. The propagation losses were further reduced by deposition, on the fabricated strip waveguides, of an additional layer of TiO2 made by using ALD. A supplementary layer of TiO2 with a thickness of 30 nm reduced the measured propagation losses from 5.0 ± 0.5 dB/cm to 2.4 ± 0.2 dB/cm at 1.55 μm wavelength. It is due to the fact that, after the redeposition process, the initial waveguide sidewall, i.e., the TiO 2/air interface, is virtually removed and the new sidewall has a reduced roughness.

Application of wavelet analysis and artificial neural networks in solving the problem concerning shape recognition of noisy pulsed signals

The problem concerning recognition of single pulses under the action of interferences is discussed by the example of classification of neuron action potentials. Joint applications of wavelets and artificial neural networks in solving the the given problem are analyzed. The recognition method, which is based on wavelet neural networks and ensures adjustment of the synapses of a supplementary (“wavelet”) layer, has been proposed. It is demonstrated that experimental data can efficiently be analyzed via the proposed method.

Fracturing Mechanism of Difficult-to-Fracture Thin Poor Reservoir Layers and Controlling Measure

It was used for development target of supplementary layers of production for the thin and poor reservoir layer, and it was considered as difficult-to-fracture layer as high calcium content and compact cementation, the emphasis was focused on study and application of fracturing technology in Daqing oilfield in this paper. The rock which was difficult to fracture had the characteristics of high density, high strength and impermeability, so it was difficult for the fracturing fluid to enter the formation. Therefore, it should firstly to overcome the wellbore stress concentration and when the fracture pressure was higher than thirty-seven MPa. The acidification treatment was used as the method of layer modification, through the method, the cementation among the rocks was destroyed and the tensile stress of the rock was decreased; the permeability near the well bore was increased and then, the fracture pressure would be decreased. For the section which had large difference value of fracturing pressure, rational design of sand volume in single slit should be by forecasting difference value of fracturing pressure. The single slit emission should to be higher than 0.5 m3/min, and then it can ensure the normal construction under the conditions of present construction scale and adding sand program conditions.

Morphological analysis of dental implants – forensic significance

Abstract: Dental implants became in the last 15-20 years a very common procedure with minimal risks and a continually decreasing price tag. Dental evidences are one of the most widely used tools in forensic identifications having some obvious advantages: a low cost, human teeth are the best preserved body parts, past dental records are often available, and dental characteristics are unique to each individual. Dental implants, throughout their morphological characteristics give a supplementary layer of evidence during odontological identification, increasing the chances for a positive proof of identity. In this short presentation we will highlight the most useful charactestistics of dental for medical legal practice. Key words: Dental implants, Forensic identification, Forensic odontology, Radiodensity ental evidences are one of the most widely used tools in forensic identifications (besides fingerprinting and DNA profiling) having some obvious advantages: a low cost, human teeth are the best preserved body parts due to their hardness and resistance to corrosion, making them ideal in mass disasters, terrorist attacks, wars, etc., past dental records are often available, dental characteristics are unique to each individual (even genetic identical twins have different odontological profiles)[1-3]. In the last years dental implants were increasingly more often used, making them an important addition to dental identification, especially as there are cases where dentition is entirely constructed from implants. Restoring completely or partially edentulous jaws has become in recent years a fairly common procedure, with minimal risks and a continually decreasing price tag. Main indications for dental implants are: [1] Healthy dentition, with traumatic tooth/teeth loss, [2] congenital teeth atresia/hypoplasia, [3] severe gag reflex, [4] free-end saddles, [5] remaining teeth not suitable for bridging, [6] severe ridge resorption making mobile prosthesis difficult to wear, [7] patients not wishing to wear a mobile prosthesis, [8] reconstruction after radical ablative jaw surgery (often traumatic or oncological) and [9] cleft palates associated with insufficient remaining teeth to support a denture/obturator [4]. Dental implants are usually classified according to implant design, properties and attachment mechanism. According to the design, implants can be subperiosteal, endosteal, transosteal and epithelial. Subperiosteal implants are custom made, designed to be placed between bone and gums, and used mostly in advanced jaw bone resorption when endoteal implants are of limited use. Endosteal implants are the most frequent type; they are devices placed into the alveolar and/or basal bone and transsects only one cortical plate. Transosteal implants are combining both subperiosteal and endosteal implants, while epithelial implants are inserted into the oral mucosa. There are two main types of attachment mechanisms: periodontal fibers (mostly theoretical as there is no known material which can stimulate the growth of these fibers) and osteointegration.

Enhanced Memory Behavior in Phase-Change Nonvolatile-Memory Devices Using Multilayered Structure of Compositionally Modified Ge–Sb–Te Films

A unique and novel phase-change memory device employing multilayered chalcogenide films was proposed and fabricated. In this structure, Ge18Sb39Te43, which corresponds to a 22 at. % Sb-excessive phase of typical stoichiometric Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST), was located in the middle and acted as the main operating region to exploit its superior properties, thus ensuring reliable memory operations. Thinner GST layers were inserted to above and below the middle layer. The introduction of a bottom GST layer promotes the temperature rise and the thermal insulation within the device operating volume owing to its lower thermal conductivity. The top GST layer effectively suppresses the undesirable interdiffusion between the top electrode of W and the Sb added to excess. Moreover, the upper and lower GST supplementary layers promote the initial crystallization stage during set operations owing to their higher crystallization rate compared with that of the Sb-rich phase of GST. As a result, the required current for reset, the required time for set, and the number of rewritable cycles of the proposed device with an active pore size of 0.5 ×0.5 µm2 were 6.1 mA, 80 ns, and 6.4 ×106, respectively, which are superior values compared with those for the device using a single layer of Ge18Sb39Te43. We can conclude that the proposed multilayered structure of compositionally modified GST films provides a very promising approach to enhancing all types of the memory behaviors required for the phase-change memory devices.

Redescription of Kapsulotaenia sandgroundi (Carter, 1943) (Eucestoda: Proteocephalidea: Acanthotaeniinae), a parasite of Varanus komodoensis (Varanoidea: Varanidae) from Indonesia

The proteocephalidean cestode Kapsulotaenia sandgroundi (Carter, 1943) (Proteocephalidae: Acanthotaeniinae), the type-species of Kapsulotaenia Freze, 1963, is redescribed on the basis of the type-material from Varanus komodoensis Ouwens on Komodo Island, Indonesia, and material from museum collections. The ovary is larger than described by Freze (1965) and occupies 42-59% and not 33% of the proglottis width as cited by Freze. The presence of a small vaginal sphincter and a seminal receptacle are also new observations in all specimens. The microtriches, cross-sections and eggs are figured for the first time. In addition, the ventral osmoregulatory canals are connected to the ventral surface by narrow secondary ducts; the median part of the cirrus-sac is narrower than the distal and proximal regions. Egg clusters and a supplementary layer in the eggs situated between the oncosphere and the bi-layered embryophore, present in K. sandgroundi, are features also observed in the majority of Australian proteocephalideans. It is concluded that much more attention needs to be paid to the careful observation and description of the morphology of the eggs in the Proteocephalidea, as this may represent a valuable discriminatory character for distinguishing species.

PH Controlled Permeability of Lipid/Protein Biomimetic Microcapsules

The permeability of lipid and protein microcapsules fabricated by alternating adsorption of human serum albumin (HSA) and L-alpha-dimyristoylphosphatidic acid (DMPA) on a template and subsequent removal of the core is studied as a function of pH value and supplementary layers. The capsules were permeable for macromolecules (FITC-labeled dextran, M(w) 40 kDa) at pH < 4.8 and impermeable at pH > 7.4. The assembly of supplementary DMPA bilayers rendered the capsules impermeable for small hydrophilic molecules such as 6-carboxyfluorescein (6-CF). Hence DMPA/HSA capsules can be resealed after fabrication by supplementary layers. This provides the opportunity of applying such biomimetic membrane capsules as drug carriers or model systems to study biological processes at membranes.

Permeability and Conductivity of Red Blood Cell Templated Polyelectrolyte Capsules Coated with Supplementary Layers

The permeability of ions and small polar molecules through polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules templated on red blood cells was studied by means of confocal microscopy and electrorotation. Capsules were obtained by removing the cell after polyelectrolyte multilayer formation by means of NaOCl treatment. This procedure results in cross-linking of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) molecules and destroying poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) within the multilayer. Capsules are obtained being remarkably different from layer-by-layer (LbL) capsules. These capsules are rather permeable for low as well as for high molecular weight species. However, upon adsorption of extra polyelectrolyte layers the permeability decreased remarkably. The assembly of six supplementary layers of PAH and PSS rendered the capsule almost impermeable for fluorescein. Resealing by supplementary layers is a potential means for filling and release control. By means of electrorotation measurements, it was shown that the capsule walls obtained isolating properties in electrolyte solutions. Conclusions are drawn concerning the mechanism of permeability through cell templated polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules.

Structural and ultrastructural characterization of Symploca atlantica Gomont, strain PCC 8002 (Oscillatoriales, Cyanophyta, Cyanobacteria)

The genus Symploca KUTZ. ex GOM. was orginally described for cyanobacteria from terrestrial humid habitats that exhibit anastomosed prostrate filaments and form erect bundles. However, species from marine environments are also known and have been assigned to Symploca atlantica GOMONT 1892 or Symploca funicularis SETCHELL et GARDNER 1918. In this communication, the structural and ultrastructural features of the axenic strain PCC 8002, conforming to S. funicularis, are described. The individual trichomes of this filamentous non-heterocystous cyanobacterium are covered by a multilayered fibrous sheath and some filaments are enclosed within a common supplementary layer of sheath material. Photosynthetic pigments are mainly located at the periphery of the cells. Reproduction occurs by a symmetric binary fission, in which a new septum is only initiated after complete formation of a previous crosswall (discontinuous cell division); trichome breakage involves necridium formation, the cells adjacent to necridia subsequently developing into the morphologically distinct, apical cells. Several parallel rows of junctional pores could be observed between the longitudinal cell wall and the cross walls. SYTOX Green staining revealed compact nucleoids, whose partitioning accompanied cellular division. A comparison between this strain and the previously described Syniploca strain IUCC B 617 (PANKRATZ & BOWEN 1963, BAKER & BOLD 1970) is provided. The relationship with Microcoleus chthonoplastes is discussed.

Thin film optical coatings 4: Multilayer antireflection coatings

Conditions are indicated whereby the antireflective function can be extended to coatings comprising any number of thin layers. This property is obtained by addition of two supplementary layers, the optical characteristics of which are calculated in the present paper. Conditions for the existence of solutions are obtained by generalization of the solution existence diagram concerning two layers.