Patterned growth of vertically aligned ZnO nanowire arrays on the micrometer and nanometer scale on sapphire and GaN epilayers is reported. In order to control the position and distribution density ...of the ZnO nanowires, Au seeding nanodots are defined, as regular arrays, with the assistance of deposition shadow masks. Electron micrographs reveal that the wires are single crystals having wire axes along the hexagonal
c
-axes. The epitaxial growth of ZnO nanowires on sapphire and GaN films on Si substrates was further verified by cross sectional electron microscopy investigations. Compared to the sapphire case, the perfect epitaxial growth on a GaN film on a Si substrate is believed to be more suitable for potential electronic device applications of ZnO nanowire arrays.
The analysis and prediction of non-canonical structural motifs in RNA is of great importance for an understanding of the function and design of RNA structures. A hierarchical method has been employed ...to generate a large variety of sterically possible conformations for a single-base adenine bulge structure in
A-form DNA and RNA. A systematic conformational search was performed on the isolated bulge motif and neighboring nucleotides under the constraint to fit into a continuous helical structure. These substructures were recombined with double-stranded DNA or RNA. Energy minimization resulted in more than 300 distinct bulge conformations. Energetic evaluation using a solvation model based on the finite-difference Poisson-Boltzmann method identified three basic classes of low-energy structures. The three classes correspond to conformations with the bulge base stacked between flanking nucleotides (I), location of the bulge base in the minor groove (II) and conformations with a continuous stacking of the flanking helices and a looped out bulge base (III). For the looped out class, two subtypes (IIIa and IIIb) with different backbone geometries at the bulge site could be distinguished. The conformation of lowest calculated energy was a class I structure with backbone torsion angles close to those in standard
A-form RNA. Conformations very close to the extra-helical looped out bulge structure determined by X-ray crystallography were also among the low-energy structures. In addition, topologies observed in other experimentally determined bulge structures have been found among low-energy conformers. The implicit solvent model was further tested by comparing an uridine and adenine bulge flanked by guanine:cytosine base-pairs, respectively. In agreement with the experimental observation, a looped out form was found as the energetically most favorable form for the uridine bulge and a stacked conformation in case of the adenine bulge. The inclusion of solvation effects especially electrostatic reaction field contributions turned out to be critically important in order to select realistic low-energy bulge structures from a large number of sterically possible conformations. The results indicate that the approach might be useful to model the three-dimensional structure of non-canonical motifs embedded in double-stranded RNA, in particular, to restrict the number of possible conformations to a manageable number of conformers with energies below a certain threshold.
Objective Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has become the mainstay of treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) requiring repair. Delayed rupture after EVAR represents a rare but potentially ...fatal complication. The purpose of this study was to review the frequency and characteristics of patients presenting with secondary rupture and to define the relationship between rupture after EVAR and initial compliance with instructions for use (IFU). Methods This is a retrospective study of a prospectively maintained database. Patients presenting with delayed rupture after EVAR were identified from January 2002 to December 2014. Medical records and imaging were reviewed to define anatomic characteristics and compliance with IFU criteria. Demographics, comorbidities, preoperative imaging, and long-term outcomes were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to compliance with IFU criteria. Outcomes included type of repair (open vs secondary endovascular) as well as perioperative morbidity and mortality. Results A total of 3081 patients underwent EVAR for AAA from 2002 to 2014. Of the 3081 patients, 45 experienced delayed rupture after EVAR. The mean time interval between initial repair and rupture was 38 months. All patients with delayed ruptures had a type Ia endoleak. Mean follow-up after secondary repair was 44.1 months, and overall mortality was 6.7% (n = 3). Patients were divided in two groups according to compliance with IFU criteria: within the IFU and outside the IFU. There was no significant difference in comorbidities between the two groups except smoking, which was more frequent in the outside the IFU group (25% vs 21%; P = .03). Patients repaired outside the IFU had a higher incidence of type Ia endoleak before presenting with a rupture (44% vs 6%; P = .001), more frequently required open repair (44% vs 12%; P = .002), and had higher perioperative mortality (10.3% vs 0%; P = .01). On review of preoperative computed tomography scans, the outside the IFU group had larger aneurysm sac diameters (7.2 vs 5.6 cm; P = .04), larger proximal neck diameters (28 vs 24 mm; P = .01), shorter proximal necks (12 vs 21 mm; P = .007), and a higher degree of neck angulation >40 degrees (56 vs 11%; P < .001). Conclusions Delayed rupture after EVAR is a rare but potentially fatal complication. In patients presenting with secondary rupture, EVAR performed outside the IFU was associated with higher perioperative mortality and need for open repair. Careful selection of patients based on AAA anatomy and adherence to the IFU criteria may reduce the incidence of delayed rupture.
Bulges represent one of the most common non-helical elements in RNA, often displaying a strong degree of phylogenetic conservation, both in location and sequence, within larger RNA molecules. Thus, ...knowledge of the conformation and flexibility of RNA bulges is an important prerequisite for understanding the rules governing the formation of tertiary structure within the larger molecules. In the current investigation, the magnitudes of the bends induced in a 148 base-pair duplex RNA molecule by single, centrally located bulges of varying size (n=1 to 6) and base composition (Anand Unseries) have been determined through the use of transient electric birefringence (TEB). The TEB approach is highly sensitive to the changes in the global shape of RNA (or DNA) helices that accompany the introduction of points of bending or flexibility near the center of the helix. In the current instance, bulge angles deduced from TEB measurements ranged from ∼7° to ∼93°, with the angle increasing with increasingnfor both Anand Unseries. For both Anand Unseries in the absence of Mg2+, the angle increment per added nucleotide varied from ∼20° to ∼8° asnincreased from 1 to 6. These angle increments remained unchanged for the Anseries in the presence of Mg2+; however, the angle increments for the Unseries were reduced by a factor of 2 for all values ofn. Thus the current observations have identified structural transitions in one of the simplest non-helical elements in RNA, transitions that are dependent on both sequence and counterion valence. Finally, the measured bend angles are strongly correlated with the degree of reduction in electrophoretic mobility of bulge-containing RNA helices. The observed correlation was used to obtain a semi-empirical relationship between bend angle and mobility in order that additional angles might be assigned, by interpolation, through the use of gel data alone.
Binding of monovalent and divalent cations to two adenine-adenine platform structures from the Tetrahymena group I intron ribozyme has been studied using continuum solvent models based on the ...generalised Born and the finite-difference Poisson-Boltzmann approaches. The adenine-adenine platform RNA motif forms an experimentally characterised monovalent ion binding site important for ribozyme folding and function. Qualitative agreement between calculated and experimental ion placements and binding selectivity was obtained. The inclusion of solvation effects turned out to be important to obtain low energy structures and ion binding placements in agreement with the experiment. The calculations indicate that differences in solvation of the isolated ions contribute to the calculated ion binding preference. However, Coulomb attraction and van der Waals interactions due to ion size differences and RNA conformational adaptation also influence the calculated ion binding affinity. The calculated alkali ion binding selectivity for both platforms followed the order K(+) > Na(+) > Rb(+) > Cs(+) > Li(+) (Eisenman series VI) in the case of allowing RNA conformational relaxation during docking. With rigid RNA an Eisenman series V was obtained (K(+) > Rb(+) > Na(+) > Cs(+) > Li(+)). Systematic energy minimisation docking simulations starting from several hundred initial placements of potassium ions on the surface of platform containing RNA fragments identified a coordination geometry in agreement with the experiment as the lowest energy binding site. The approach could be helpful to identify putative ion binding sites in nucleic acid structures determined at low resolution or with experimental methods that do not allow identification of ion binding sites.
We have studied the effect of FIO2 of a nitrous oxide-oxygen mixture on the rate of gas uptake from an unventilated lung. Nine anaesthetized dogs were studied, each breathing four nitrous ...oxide-oxygen mixtures (FIO2 0.3, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0) in random order. A double-lumen endobronchial tube separated lung ventilation. Both lungs were given the nitrous oxide-oxygen mixture for an equilibration period. Then the right lung was connected to a spirometer containing the same gas, and gas uptake measured. In every dog, gas uptake was faster with an FIO2 of 0.5 or 0.75 than with an FIO2 of 1.0. When breathing a nitrous oxide-oxygen mixture with FIO2 > 0.3, the rate of gas uptake from the unventilated lung was faster than with 100% oxygen.
Fossil fuel reserves are projected to be decreasing, and emission regulations are becoming more stringent due to increasing atmospheric pollution. Alternative fuels for power generation in industrial ...gas turbines are thus required able to meet the above demands. Examples of such fuels are synthetic gas, blast furnace gas and coke oven gas. A common characteristic of these fuels is that they are multi-component fuels, whose composition varies greatly depending on their production process. This implies that their combustion characteristics will also vary significantly. Thus, accurate and yet flexible enough combustion sub-models are required for such fuels, which are used during the design stage, to ensure optimum performance during practical operating conditions. Most combustion sub-model development and validation is based on Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) studies. DNS however is computationally expensive. This, has so far limited DNS to single-component fuels such as methane and hydrogen. Furthermore, the majority of DNS conducted to date used one-step chemistry in 3D, and skeletal chemistry in 2D only. The need for 3D DNS using skeletal chemistry is thus apparent. In this study, an accurate reduced chemical mechanism suitable for multi-component fuel-air combustion is developed from a skeletal mechanism. Three-dimensional DNS of a freely propagating turbulent premixed flame is then conducted using both mechanisms to shed some light into the flame structure and turbulence-scalar interaction of such multi-component fuel flames. It is found that for the multi-component fuel flame heat is released over a wider temperature range contrary to a methane flame. This, results from the presence of individual species reactions zones which do not all overlap. The performance of the reduced mechanism is also validated using the DNS data. Results suggest it to be a good substitute of the skeletal mechanism, resulting in significant time and memory savings. The flame markers commonly used to visualize heat release rate in laser diagnostics are found to be inadequate for the multi-component fuel flame, and alternative markers are proposed. Finally, some popular mean reaction rate closures are tested for the multi-component fuel flame. Significant differences are observed between the models’ performance at the highest turbulence level considered in this study. These arise from the chemical complexity of the fuel, and further parametric studies using skeletal chemistry DNS would be useful for the refinement of the models.
Fossil fuel reserves are projected to be decreasing, and emission regulations are becoming more stringent due to increasing atmospheric pollution. Alternative fuels for power generation in industrial ...gas turbines are thus required able to meet the above demands. Examples of such fuels are synthetic gas, blast furnace gas and coke oven gas. A common characteristic of these fuels is that they are multi-component fuels, whose composition varies greatly depending on their production process. This implies that their combustion characteristics will also vary significantly. Thus, accurate and yet flexible enough combustion sub-models are required for such fuels, which are used during the design stage, to ensure optimum performance during practical operating conditions. Most combustion sub-model development and validation is based on Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) studies. DNS however is computationally expensive. This, has so far limited DNS to single-component fuels such as methane and hydrogen. Furthermore, the majority of DNS conducted to date used one-step chemistry in 3D, and skeletal chemistry in 2D only. The need for 3D DNS using skeletal chemistry is thus apparent. In this study, an accurate reduced chemical mechanism suitable for multi-component fuel-air combustion is developed from a skeletal mechanism. Three-dimensional DNS of a freely propagating turbulent premixed flame is then conducted using both mechanisms to shed some light into the flame structure and turbulence-scalar interaction of such multi-component fuel flames. It is found that for the multi-component fuel flame heat is released over a wider temperature range contrary to a methane flame. This, results from the presence of individual species reactions zones which do not all overlap. The performance of the reduced mechanism is also validated using the DNS data. Results suggest it to be a good substitute of the skeletal mechanism, resulting in significant time and memory savings. The flame markers commonly used to visualize heat release rate in laser diagnostics are found to be inadequate for the multi-component fuel flame, and alternative markers are proposed. Finally, some popular mean reaction rate closures are tested for the multi-component fuel flame. Significant differences are observed between the models’ performance at the highest turbulence level considered in this study. These arise from the chemical complexity of the fuel, and further parametric studies using skeletal chemistry DNS would be useful for the refinement of the models.
Multilayer films consisting of alternating sublayers of hydrogenated amorphous silicon oxide and germanium oxide were prepared by dual magnetron sputtering of silicon and germanium targets in an ...argon/water vapor atmosphere. The number and thickness of the a‐GeOx: H sublayers ranged from one to eight and from 80 to 7 nm, respectively. The structure of the multilayers and their components were investigated by means of optical transmission and reflection, infrared spectroscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, and X‐ray reflectometry. Upon annealing, first an ordering of the amorphous germanium oxide network connected with an outdiffusion of oxygen and an increase of the surface roughness are observed. Depending on sublayer thickness, the onset of the formation of Ge nanocrystals is observed around 700 K. Crystallization of the germanium oxide sublayers is nearly completed at 870 K, and the crystallite diameter ranges from 4 to 13 nm depending on sublayer thickness. With crystallization the surface roughness decreased and the structure of the silicon oxide was improved.
Vielschichtsysteme bestehend aus alternierenden Lagen von hydrogeniertem amorphem Siliziumund Germaniumoxid werden mittels Dual‐Magnetronsputtern von Silizium‐ und Germaniumtargets in Argon/Wasserdampf‐Atmosphäre präpariert. Die Anzahl und die Dicke der Germaniumoxidlagen variiert von eins bis acht bzw. von 80 bis 7 nm. Die Struktur der Vielschichtsysteme und der Lagen wird mittels optischer Transmission und Reflexion, Infrarotspektroskopie, Röntgenweitwinkelstreuung und Röntgenreflektometrie untersucht. Mit einer Temperung wird zunächst eine Verbesserung der strukturellen Ordnung des Germaniumoxids beobachtet die mit einer Ausdiffusion von Sauerstoff und einer gestiegenen Grenzflächenrauhigkeit verbunden ist. In Abhangigkeit von der Lagendicke setzt bei etwa 700 K die Bildung von Ge‐Nanokristalliten ein. Nach der Temperung bei 870 K ist die Kristallisation der Germaniumoxidlagen abgeschlossen. Die Größe der Germaniumkristallite beträgt in Abhängigkeit von der Lagendicke 4 bis 13 nm. Mit der Kristallisation reduziert sich die Rauhigkeit der Grenzflächen und gleichzeitig wird die strukturele Ordnung des Siliziumoxids verbessert.
Aminoglycosides are commonly used in the haemodialysis population. Standard pharmacokinetic approaches require multiple sampling to describe the parameters of drug distribution and elimination in the ...intra- and interdialytic periods.
To characterise the pharmacokinetics of gentamicin in a haemodialysis population by using Bayesian pharmacokinetic methods and only two plasma concentrations.
Prospective case series of 13 adult (aged 36-70 years) haemodialysis patients (Fresenius F80 dialysers were used) receiving gentamicin.
Patients with suspected or confirmed Gram-negative infections were given gentamicin. At 48 hours after receiving the dose (at the next haemodialysis session), patients provided two blood samples, one immediately before the dialysis session and another 1 hour after haemodialysis. Data on dosage, timing and plasma concentrations for all subjects were analysed with PASTRX version 10.6 and Bayesian pharmacokinetic analysis. Volume of distribution (Vd), interdialytic elimination rate constant (k(inter)), interdialytic elimination half-life (t1/2beta, inter)) and interdialytic clearance (CL(inter)) were determined from a single predialysis plasma concentration. Elimination rate constant (k(dial)), elimination half-life (t1/2beta, dial)) and clearance (CL(dial)) during 3.5-4 hours of dialysis were also determined from the pre- and post-plasma concentrations.
Pharmacokinetic parameters (mean +/- SD) were: Vd 0.288 +/- 0.002 L/kg, k(inter) 0.015 +/- 0.004h(-1), t1/2beta, inter) 48 +/- 11h, CL(inter) 5.9 +/- 2.4 mL/min, k(dial) 0.25 +/- 0.05 h(-1), t1/2beta, dial) 3.0 +/- 1.0h and CL(dial) 91 +/- 24 mL/min.
The rate of elimination of gentamicin was 17-fold greater (95% CI 13.7-20.7) on haemodialysis with a Fresenius F80 than off haemodialysis. All of the pharmacokinetic parameters of interest were determined using Bayesian pharmacokinetic procedures and only two plasma gentamicin concentrations.
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