Electrical resistance of long conjugated molecular wires

The charge transport mechanism of a wire can be revealed by how its electrical resistance varies with length. We have measured the resistance and current-voltage characteristics of conjugated molecular wires ranging in length from 1 to 7 nanometers, connected between metal electrodes. We observe the theoretically predicted change in direct-current transport from tunneling to hopping as a function of systematically controlled wire length. We also demonstrate that site-specific disruption of conjugation in the wires greatly increases resistance in the hopping regime but has only a small effect in the tunneling regime. These nanoscale transport measurements elucidate the role of molecular length and bond architecture on molecular conductivity and open opportunities for greater understanding of electrical transport in conjugated polymer films.     

Occurrence of Honeysuckle Yellow Vein Virus (HYVV) containing a monopartite DNA-A genome in Korea

Two newly emerged begomoviruses were isolated from naturally infected tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants grown in greenhouses at Jeju Island and Dangjin in Korea and their genomes were characterized. These viruses-infected plants had very small leaves that curled upward, yellow margins and a leathery appearance, and a bushy and stunted appearance with short internodes. Nucleotide (nt) sequence analysis of their genomes showed that they have a DNA-A component of a monopartite begomovirus. Their genomes comprised 2763 and 2764 nucleotides with six open reading frames. The results of nt sequence similarity analysis of DNA-A genome between the two Korean isolates and isolates of Tobacco leaf curl Japan virus (TbLCJV), Honeysuckle yellow vein virus (HYVV), Honeysuckle yellow vein mosaic virus (HYVMV), and Eupatorium yellow vein virus in Japan (EpYVV) showed that they are likely similar to HYVV-[Masuda] (89.4–92.8% nt identity). Consequently, we tentatively propose the two isolates’ names as HYVV-Jeju and -DJ according to the ICTV geminivirus rules. Phylogenetic relationship analysis of 33 DNA-A genome sequences using PAUP* 4.0b10 and MrBayes revealed that HYVV-Jeju and -DJ belong to the Far East Asian begomovirus species complex. Within the Far East Asian begomovirus species complex, HYVV-Jeju and -DJ are distantly related to EpYVV, HYVMV, and TbLCJV groups. Based on the presence of a recombination fragment spanning the C3 ORF, a recombinant origin was suggested for both HYVV-Jeju and –DJ, with parents close to Japanese isolates HYVMV-[SP1:00] and Eupatorium yellow vein virus (EpYVV)-[Suya]. In addition, the presence of a further recombination fragment spanning the IR suggested the parents of HYVV-DJ were close to HYVV-Jeju and EpYVV-[Suya].     

Changes in orexin-A and neuropeptide y expression in the hypothalamus of obese and lean Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats

This study was carried out to investigate the changes of orexin-A (OXA) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression in the hypothalamus of the obese and lean Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats which have a missense mutation in the leptin receptor gene. The mean body weights (MBW) between the obese and lean ZDF rats were significantly different at 28 and 70 postnatal days. However, at 14 postnatal day, there was no significant difference in the MBW between the obese and lean ZDF rats in both male and female. The OXA immunoreactivities were not significantly different between the obese and lean ZDF rats in both sexes at 14, 28, and 70 postnatal days, respectively. The NPY immunoreactivity was higher in the obese than in the lean ZDF rats in both male and female at 28 and 70 postnatal days, whereas there was no significant difference between the obese and lean ZDF rats at 14 postnatal day. These results indicate that both OXA and NPY might halt their roles for food intake in the obese phenotype of the male and female ZDF rats in the preweaning period of 14 postnatal day, whereas NPY might play a main role in the obesity of these rats in the weaning period of 28 and 70 postnatal days.     

Cutaneous lymphoma in a juvenile dog

Abstract: An 18-month-old male Doberman Pinscher was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the College of Veterinary Medicine for an erythemic nodular mass on the right forelimb. The mass was diagnosed as cutaneous lymphoma, based on cytologic examination of a mass aspirate and histopathology. Using immunohistochemistry the neoplastic cells were positive for CD3 but negative for CD79a, E-cadherin, and pancytokeratin, confirming their origin as T lymphocytes. No tumor recurrence was noted 18 months after surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a solitary nodular form of cutaneous lymphoma in a young dog.     

Heterogeneous three-dimensional electronics by use of printed semiconductor nanomaterials

We developed a simple approach to combine broad classes of dissimilar materials into heterogeneously integrated electronic systems with two- or three-dimensional layouts. The process begins with the synthesis of different semiconductor nanomaterials, such as single-walled carbon nanotubes and single-crystal micro- and nanoscale wires and ribbons of gallium nitride, silicon, and gallium arsenide on separate substrates. Repeated application of an additive, transfer printing process that uses soft stamps with these substrates as donors, followed by device and interconnect formation, yields high-performance heterogeneously integrated electronics that incorporate any combination of semiconductor nanomaterials on rigid or flexible device substrates. This versatile methodology can produce a wide range of unusual electronic systems that would be impossible to achieve with other techniques.     

A PCR-based assay for discriminating Cervus and Rangifer (Cervidae) antlers with mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms

This study describes a method for discriminating Rangifer antlers from true Cervus antlers using agarose gel electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, quantitative real-time PCR, and allelic discrimination. Specific primers labeled with fluorescent tags were designed to amplify fragments from the mitochondrial D-loop genes for various Cervus subspecies and Rangifer tarandus differentially. A 466-bp fragment that was observed for both Cervus and Rangifer antlers served as a positive control, while a 270-bp fragment was specifically amplified only from Rangifer antlers. Allelic discrimination was used to differentiate between Cervus and Rangifer antlers, based on the amplification of specific alleles for both types of antlers. These PCR-based assays can be used for forensic and quantitative analyses of Cervus and Rangifer antlers in a single step, without having to obtain any sequence information. In addition, multiple PCR-based assays are more accurate and reproducible than a single assay for species-specific analysis and are especially useful in this study for the identification of original Cervus deer products from fraudulent Rangifer antlers.     

Acoustic communication in the domestic horse (Equus caballus)

Equine vocalization and acoustic sounds can communicate a horse’s emotional state, physiological state, and situation to other individuals, including other horses and humans. These vocalizations and acoustic sounds can be divided into several types. The whinny, nicker, squeal, blow, snore, snort, roar, and groan are typical types of horse vocalizations and acoustic sounds. The sound localization thresholds of horses are markedly poorer than those of other large mammals, such as humans and elephants. The audiogram of horse has shown their best sensitivity and hearing range in which it perceives sound. Laryngeal diseases, such as laryngeal hemiplegia, dorsal displacement of the soft palate, and alar fold paralysis, can cause laryngeal sounds in the upper airway. The analyses of horses’ vocalizations and laryngeal sounds that are reviewed in this article were conducted with computer-aided analysis programs using spectrograms and spectra that evaluate several parameters, including amplitude, fundamental frequency, duration, and formants. Laryngeal sound analysis could be a useful method for diagnosing upper airway diseases. This article presents a review of the literature describing scientific analyses of horse vocalizations and acoustic sounds to elucidate equine acoustic communications and aid in the development of horse-human bonds.     

Evaluation of the effects of climate change on forest watershed hydroecology using the RHESSys model: Seolmacheon catchment

Paddy and Water Environment - This study examines the effects of future climate changes on watershed hydroecology, including runoff, evapotranspiration, soil moisture content, gross primary...     

Long-term survival of dogs after cholecystoenterostomy: a retrospective study of 15 cases (1981-2005)

Fifteen dogs with extrahepatic biliary tract disease underwent cholecystoenterostomy. Long-term survivors were significantly older at presentation (mean age 140.5 months) than dogs that survived the first 20 days after surgery but subsequently died from causes related to the surgery or hepatobiliary disease (mean age 72 months). Dogs that died during the first 20 days had significantly more complications in the hospital than dogs that survived this period. The type of underlying hepatobiliary disease (i.e., benign or malignant) was not associated with either short-term outcome or long-term survival. Eight dogs died from causes related to surgery or hepatobiliary disease. Long-term complications included hepatic abscesses, acquired portosystemic shunts, pancreatitis, and vomiting.     

Segmental aplasia of the uterine horn with ipsilateral renal agenesis in a cat

A nine-month-old domestic short haired cat was admitted with the history of acute vomiting, depression and shivering. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed minimum enlargement of the right uterine horn filled with anechoic fluid. On excretory urography, functionally and anatomically normal, enlarged left kidney was found, but right kidney was absent. It was preliminary diagnosed as hydrometra with right renal agenesis. Aiming at the correction of hydrometra, we performed ovariohysterectomy. During spaying, we found a missing segment of distal part of the right uterine horn and absence of ipsilateral kidney and ureter. Compressed uterine structure and segmental aplasia of right uterine horn were found in histopathological investigation. Taken together, it was diagnosed as a segmental aplasia of uterine horn with ipsilateral renal agenesis.