Disposable roll-to-roll hot embossed electrophoresis chip for detection of antibiotic resistance gene mecA in bacteria

We present a high-throughput roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing process for foil-based polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) chips of excellent optical quality. These disposable, R2R hot embossed microfluidic chips are used for the identification of the antibiotic resistance gene mecA in Staphylococcus epidermidis. R2R hot embossing is an emerging manufacturing technology for polymer microfluidic devices. It is based on continuous feeding of a thermoplastic foil through a pressurized area between a heated embossing cylinder and a blank counter cylinder. Although mass fabrication of foil-based microfluidic chips and their use for biological applications were foreseen already some years ago, no such studies have been published previously.     

Collectivity and configuration mixing in 186,188Pb and 194Po

Lifetimes of prolate intruder states in 186Pb and oblate intruder states in 194Po have been determined by employing, for the first time, the recoil-decay tagging technique in recoil distance Doppler-shift lifetime measurements. In addition, lifetime measurements of prolate states in 188Pb up to the 8+ state were carried out using the recoil-gating method. The B(E2) values have been deduced from which deformation parameters |beta2|=0.29(5) and |beta2|=0.17(3) for the prolate and the oblate bands, respectively, have been extracted. The results also shed new light on the mixing between different shapes.     

Spectroscopy of Low-lying States in Odd-Z Odd-A Nuclei Beyond Lead

Low-lying states in odd-Z odd-mass nuclei at the proton drip-line beyond lead have recently been studied through fusion-evaporation reactions using a gas-filled recoil separator. Isomeric 1/2+ and 13/2+ states have been observed in odd-mass astatine and francium nuclei. The systematic behaviour of the level energies of these states have been studied and a similarity between the 1/2+ state in astatine and francium has been found. Furthermore, the 13/2+ state has been observed in the francium nuclei with an oblate behaviour suggesting a coupling of the i_13/2 proton to the 2p-2h intruder excitation.     

Heterogenization of racemic ethylenebis(1-indenyl)zirconium dichloride on trimethylaluminum vapor modified silica surface

Heterogeneous metallocene catalysts were prepared by adsorbing rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ on a modified silica surface in solution. The modification of silica was conducted in gas phase with atomic layer chemical vapor deposition (ALCVD) technique, where the silica, preheated at either 350 or 600°C, was allowed to react with vaporized trimethylaluminum (TMA) at 250°C. Modified carriers and heterogeneous catalysts were characterized with FTIR, ¹H MAS (magic-angle spinning) NMR, ¹³C, and ²⁹Si CP (cross-polarization) MAS NMR spectroscopies and elemental analyses. In the reaction of TMA with silica, a saturated surface was formed consisting of different (---O)_4−nSi(CH₃)_n (n=1, 2 or 3) and ---AlCH₃ groups. The ratio of ---SiMe to ---AlMe groups was approximately 1.5 in the TMA/SiO₂ carriers. When the metallocene was adsorbed onto the carrier it seemed to react with the surface ---AlCH₃ groups and possibly ---ZrCH₃ groups were formed. Heterogeneous catalysts were tested in the polymerization of ethylene and propylene in the presence of methylalumoxane (MAO). And they produced similar polymer as the homogeneous rac-Et(Ind)₂ZrCl₂ catalyst, but with lower activity. A catalyst with the best activity was achieved from silica that was preheated at 600°C. Moreover, leaching of catalyst was examined whereupon a part of zirconium was observed to desorb from the carrier.     

Gamma-ray spectroscopy of 192–195Po

Prompt and delayed γ-rays have been observed from very neutron deficient ^192–195Po nuclei by using the recoil-decay tagging (RDT) and recoil gating techniques. The yrast levels up to the (10⁺) state in the ¹⁹²Po were identified for the first time. Comprehensive data for ¹⁹⁴Po rendered it possible to extend the yrast line and to observe several positive and negative parity non-yrast states. In the odd-mass isotopes ¹⁹³Po and ¹⁹⁵Po, favoured and unfavoured states on top of the 13/2⁺ state have been identified. The results are discussed within the simple vibrator and rotor pictures as well as in the framework of coexisting spherical and deformed-intruder structures. Received: 5 July 1999 / Revised version: 7 September 1999     

Spectrally optimal illuminations for diabetic retinopathy detection in retinal imaging

Optical Review - Retinal photography is a standard method for recording retinal diseases for subsequent analysis and diagnosis. However, the currently used white light or red-free retinal imaging...     

Determination of α-decay branching ratios for 178, 179Hg

The neutron-deficient nuclides ^{182, 183}Pb were produced at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyv?skyl? by bombarding a ¹⁰⁷Ag target with ⁷⁸Kr ions. The nuclei of interest were separated using the RITU gas-filled separator and their radioactive decays investigated using the GREAT spectrometer. Correlating the $ \alpha$ decays of these Pb isotopes with those of their respective Hg daughters allowed $ \alpha$ -decay branching ratios of $\ensuremath b_\alpha($ ^178Hg) = 89(4)% and $\ensuremath b_\alpha($ ^179Hg) = 75(4)% to be deduced.