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Advances in high-throughput genotyping technologies have afforded researchers the opportunity to study ever-increasing numbers of SNP in animal genomes. However, many studies encounter difficulties in obtaining sufficient quantities of high-quality DNA for such analyses, particularly when the source biological material is limited or degraded. The recent development of in vitro whole-genome amplification approaches has permitted researchers to circumvent these challenges by increasing the amount of usable DNA in normally small-quantity samples. Here, we assess the performance of whole-genome amplification products generated from ovine genomic DNA using a high-throughput SNP genotyping platform, the newly developed Illumina ovineSNP50 BeadChip. Our results demonstrate a high genotype call rate for conventional genomic DNA and whole-genome amplified genomic DNA. The data also reveal an exceptionally high concordance rate (≥99%) between the genotypes generated from whole-genome amplified products and their conventional genomic DNA counterparts. This study supports the use of whole-genome amplification as a viable solution for the analysis of high-density SNP genotypic data using compromised or limited starting material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work the analysis procedures of fission gas compositions and their isotopic distributions using a gas chromatography (GC) system and/or a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) system were established, and their analysis results were reviewed in order to evaluate their analytical performance. Also, the accumulated data, up to now, regarding fission gas measurement were reviewed to discern any irradiation histories of the punctured fuel rods. A simple gas injection apparatus was designed and fabricated for the quantitative injection of a small volume of fission gas into the GC and the QMS system. With an appropriate temperature controlling of a molecular sieve 5A column, nitrogen, krypton and xenon of a mixture gas was clearly separated within 7 min. According to the analysis results, the relative standard deviation in the determination of fission gas compositions, krypton and xenon, by the GC analysis or by the QMS analysis was about 1%. Based on the review results of the isotopic ratios of krypton and xenon of the released fission gas, it is likely that no abnormally irradiated rods, i.e. defected rods, were included among the punctured rods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is regarded that the spent resins from the water purification systems of moderator (MOD) and the primary coolant of the Canada deuterium uranium-pressurized heavy water reactor (CANDU-PHWR) are a unique waste, owing to their high 14C and gamma-emitting nuclides. In this work, 14C and 3H contents, anion and cation fractions and the predominant gamma-emitting nuclides of the spent resins from 4 units of CANDUPHWRs, were investigated. Also the chemical species of 14C of the spent resins were determined. For a simultaneous separation of 14C and 3H from the spent resins, the wet oxidation-16 wt% H2SO4 stripping process was utilized. The 14C and 3H activity concentration range of the spent resins of the nuclear power plant (NPP), 4 units of all CANDU-PHWR types, was 2.48E5 Bq/g ∼5.33E6 Bq/g, 1.29E5 Bq/g and ∼2.33E5 Bq/g, respectively. Among the analyzed spent resins, the highest 14C and 3H activity concentration was detected in units 4 and 3, respectively. It was found that more than 92% of the 14C activity concentration was retained on the anion resin and the predominant chemical species was inorganic 14C. It was revealed that the anion resin fraction of the spent resins from unit 1 and unit 2, was about 40% and that of unit 3 and unit 4 was around 60%. More than 80% of the total gamma-radioactivity concentration was associated with the cation fraction of the spent resin. The predominant gamma-emitting nuclide of the spent resin for unit 2 was 137Cs, a fission product, and that for unit 4 was 60Co, a corrosion product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For miniaturisation and precision of electronic device, the new technologies such as photoimageable thick film process were combined with conventional thick film process, and constrained sintering with near zero shrinkage in the x and y direction has been proposed. In this research, photoimageable conductive paste for forming embedded components via constrained sintering by low temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) technology was formulated. Afterwards, by optimising paste formulation, formation process of fine line and sintering method, miniaturised LTCC components especially embedded fine line inductors were fabricated and their properties such as line resolution, surface morphology and yield were investigated. As a result, embedded fine line inductors formed by constrained sintering with fine line resolution of 20 μm and yield over 90% were acquired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) has actively been used as a biomaterial for resorbable bone fixation devices for use in orthopedic and oral surgeries. Recently, in order to improve the fracture properties of brittle PLLA, polymer blends of PLLA and a ductile bioabsorbable polymer, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), have been developed. The aim of the present study is to elucidate details of the fracture behavior and toughening mechanisms of PLLA/PCL blends. PLLA/PCL blends with different PCL contents were developed, and the critical energy release rate at crack initiation, G in, was then measured to assess the effect of PCL content. It was shown that G in is dramatically improved by blending PCL with PLLA, and the maximum 51% of increase of G in is acheived with 5wt% of PCL. Polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of crack growth behavior were also performed to characterize the fracture mechanism. PLLA/PCL showed multiple craze formation in the crack-tip region, and elongated fibrils and voids construct the crazes. SEM of fracture surface also indicated that stretched fibril structures are formed on the surface as a result of elongation of PCL spherulites under high tensile stress condition in the crack-tip region. Thus, these damage formations are considered to be the primary energy dissipation mechanisms that resulted in the improvement of fracture energy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

It is impossible to detect 14C and 3H by direct methods such as γ-spectroscopy because they are pure b-emitters and thus they are classified as hard to measure nuclides (HTM). In this paper the analysis results of 14C and 3H in the low level radioactive wastes (LLWs), including spent ion exchange resin, evaporated bottom and sludge are presented. The LLWs were generated by three nuclear power plants (NPPs), in Korea all with pressurized water type reactors (PWRs). A simultaneous separation procedure for 14C and 3H in LLWs was established by wet oxidation-acid stripping. A liquid scintillation analyzer was used for the measurement of 14C and 3H. It was found that the recovery of 14C and 3H was 82-99 and 78-103%, respectively, by wet oxidation-acid stripping with diluted standard solutions. At the lowest injection of 14C and 3H, i.e., at 1.44 Bq for 14C and 1.22 Bq for 3H, the minimum detectable activity (MDA) of 14C and 3H was calculated as 0.88 and 0.78 Bq/g, respectively, for the minimum allowable sample weight, using wet oxidation and 16 wt% H2SO4 acid. By the wet oxidation-16 wt% H2SO4 stripping method no interfering nuclides were detected in the trapping solution of 14CO2 and the distillate of 3H. The activity concentration range of 14C in the analyzed samples, i.e., spent ion exchange resin, evaporated bottom and sludge, was 0.17-110,000, 8.4-1380 and 0.1-10,006 Bq/g, respectively, and that of 3H in the same was from no detectable to 769, 134-14,383 and 0.7-4820 Bq/g, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenic potential and reproduction fitness ofMeloidogyne haplaon three species of medicinal plants,Angelica koreana,Peucedanum japonicumandAstragalus membranaceuswas determined in potted soil under greenhouse conditions. Three weeks old seedlings were inoculated with population density (Pi) of 1000; 2000; 3000; 4000; 5000 and 10000 juveniles (J2)/kg soil. A significant damage was observed in shoot and root length, weight and root-diameter of these plants by all Pi levels at 90-day postinoculation. Damage increased with increase in Pi up to 5000 J2/kg soil. At 5000 Pi caused 34.8, 34.1 and 33.3% reduction in root weight ofAng. koreana,P. japonicumandAst. membranaceus, respectively. Greater root gall severity was observed onAng. koreanaandP. japonicumthan onAst. membranaceusat all Pi levels. At 5000 Pi, root gall severity was 5.0, 5.0, and 3.0 onAng. koreana,P. japonicumandAst. membranaceus, respectively. Increasing rate of Pi exponentially reduced reproductive factor (Rf) ofM. haplaon all of these medicinal plants. However, Rf was higher onAng. koreanaandP. japonicumthan onAst. membranaceusat all Pi levels. The host status of these medicinal plants renders them unsuitable for their use in crop rotation system inM. hapla-infested fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted under natural as well as under vinyl house conditions to determine the effect of sowing time on development of anthracnose of safflower caused byColletotrichum acutatum, and to determine the level of resistance of seven cultivars. When crops were sown from March 1 to April 1; safflower anthracnose disease (SAD) incidence was low and increased slowly (0.7–10.9%) throughout the growing season. When sowing was delayed to April 15, disease incidence ranged between 29.5 and 48.5% from late May to July. Similarly, SAD severity and its severity index were higher (3.5 and 3.3, respectively) in plots sown on April 15 than in the plots sown from March 1 to April 1 (1.9–2.4 and 1.8–2.2, respectively). In contrast under vinyl houses that sheltered from rain, sowing time did not affect neither SAD, nor severity and severity index, which were 5.7–6.4%, 1.5–1.7 and 1.5–1.7, respectively. Among seven cultivars tested for resistance to SAD, Uisong-1, China-2 and India were highly susceptible (80–97%) under natural conditions followed by China-1, Uisan, Uisong-7 and Cheongsu (27–35%); however, under vinyl house conditions, SAD was lower (5.7–8.2%) and there was no significant difference between cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quadratic voltage coefficient of capacitance (VCC) for ZrO2–SiO2 multilayered dielectric metal-insulator-metal capacitors depends strongly on the stacking sequence of the layered dielectrics. The quadratic VCC of an optimized SiO2/ZrO2/SiO2 stack and ZrO2/SiO2/ZrO2 stack were +42 and -1094 ppm/V2, respectively, despite the same total SiO2 and ZrO2 dielectric thickness in the stack. The observed difference in quadratic VCC depending on dielectric stacking sequence is explained by taking into account both the interface and bulk dielectric responses to the applied voltage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly selective, low damage atomic layer etching (ALET) technology was developed for dry gate recess during the fabrication of InGaAs/InP/InAlAs high electron mobility transistors lattice matched to InP substrates. Etching characteristics of InP layer on top of InAlAs layer and the surface chemistry of the exposed InAlAs layer were investigated by utilizing angular resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Finally, InAlAs Schottky diodes were fabricated by utilizing chlorine-based ALET technology and conventional Ar-based dry recess and their electrical characteristics were compared. By using the ALET, the etch selectivity as high as 70:1 was achieved for InP over InAlAs heterostructures and the stoichiometric modification of InAlAs was observed to be negligible after the recess etch process. Schottky diodes fabricated after the ALET exhibited the lower ideality factor and the higher Schottky barrier height compared to those fabricated with Ar-based plasma etching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the atomic layer etching characteristics and the etch mechanism of (100) InP as functions of Cl2 pressure and Ne neutral beam irradiation dose were investigated. When Cl2 pressure and Ne neutral beam irradiation dose were lower than the critical values of 0.4 mTorr and 7.2×1015 at./cm2 cycle, respectively, the InP etch rate (Å/cycle) and the InP surface roughness varied with Cl2 pressure and Ne neutral beam irradiation dose. However, when the Cl2 pressure and Ne neutral beam irradiation dose were higher than the critical values, the InP etch rate remained as 1.47 Å/cycle, corresponding to one monolayer per cycle, and the surface roughness and the surface stoichiometry remained similar to those of InP before etching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the etch characteristics of ZrOx and the etch selectivity to Si were investigated using BCl3/C4F8 plasmas. The etching mechanism was also investigated. Increasing the C4F8 percentage to 4% formed a C–F polymer layer on the silicon surface due to the increased flux ratio of CFx/F to the substrate, while no such C–F polymer was formed on the ZrOx surface due to the removal of carbon from CFx by the oxygen in ZrOx. By using 3–4% C4F8 in the BCl3/C4F8 mixture, infinite etch selectivity of ZrOx to silicon and photoresist could be obtained while maintaining the ZrOx etch rate above 400 Å/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the thermoelectric properties of AgPbmSbTem+2 (LAST-m, m=12, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 26), including the Seebeck coefficient, the electrical resistivity, and the thermal conductivity, were studied in the temperature range from 323 to 773 K. The Seebeck coefficient and the electrical resistivity exhibited the behavior of a degenerate semiconductor. The measured results of the carrier concentration supported the conclusions of the electrical transport properties. The lowest electrical resistivity and the thermal conductivity were observed, which leads to the best thermoelectric performance in LAST-18 and the dimensionless figure of merit ZT value of 0.8 at 773 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To understand the effect of Y2BaCuO5 (Y211)/YBa2Cu3O7− y (Y123) interfaces on the oxygen diffusion in single grain YBa2Cu3O7− y superconductors, single grain Y123 superconductors with 0.05 and 0.3moles of Y2O3 additions were fabricated by a top-seeded melt growth (TSMG) process. Y123 compacts with Y2O3 additions were subjected to melt growth heating cycles with a cooling rate of 1°C/h through a peritectic temperature (1015°C) and then annealed at 450°C for 200h in flowing oxygen. The superconducting temperature (T c) and critical current density (J c) were estimated for the three different regions (top surface (s), intermediate (i) and center (c)) of samples. The amount of Y211/Y123 interface area in single grain Y123 superconductors was successfully controlled by Y2O3 additions. The T c values of s regions were higher than those of i and c regions, which indicates the presence of more oxygen at the sample surfaces. In addition, the T c values of i and c regions of the Y123 sample with 0.3mole Y2O3 addition were higher than those of the same regions of the Y123 sample with 0.05mole Y2O3 addition due to the promoted oxygen diffusion through Y211/Y123 interfaces and other related defects. In spite of the promoted oxygen diffusion by Y2O3 addition, the large Tc difference among the regions still existed, which suggests sluggish oxygen diffusion into single Y123 grains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To suppress the samarium diffusion from a SmBa2Cu3O7− y (Sm123) seed into an YBa2Cu3O7− y (Y123) compact during a top seeded melt growth (TSMG) process, Y211 buffer disks of various thicknesses (t) were inserted at the seed/compact interface. The effectiveness of the Y211 buffer insert on the suppression of samarium diffusion was estimated from the susceptibility curve and composition analysis for the three top surface regions (region just below the seed/buffer, intermediate region between the buffer and compact edge and compact edge). The difference in the superconducting temperature (T c) and the superconducting transition width (ΔT) in the three regions was large, when no buffer or thin buffers (t is smaller than 1mm) were used. As a buffer disk of an appropriate thickness was inserted into the seed/compact interface, the difference in T c and ΔT in the three regions was much reduced. The composition analysis across the seed/buffer/compact region clearly revealed that the T c decrease was caused by the samarium diffusion from a seed, which led to the formation of Y1− x Sm x Ba2Cu3O7− y in the Y123 compact region. The buffer insert technique was demonstrated to insure the uniform superconducting properties of the top surface of TSMG processed Y123 superconductors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, continues to pose a threat to livestock worldwide and, as a zoonotic infection, also has serious implications for human health. The implementation of comprehensive surveillance programmes to detect BTB has been successful in reducing the incidence of infection in many countries, yet BTB has remained recalcitrant to eradication in several EU states, particularly in Ireland and the UK. There are well-recognized limitations in the use of the current diagnostics to detect all infected animals and this has led to renewed efforts to uncover novel diagnostic biomarkers that may serve to enhance the performance of the tests. Studies of single immunological parameters have so far been unable to unlock the complexities of the immune response to mycobacterial infection. However, the development of high-throughput methods including pan-genomic gene expression technologies such as DNA microarrays has facilitated the simultaneous identification and analysis of thousands of genes and their interactions during the immune response. In addition, the application of these new genomic technologies to BTB has identified pathogen-associated immune response signatures of host infection. The objective of these investigations is to understand the changing profile of immune responses throughout the course of infection and to identify biomarkers for sensitive diagnosis, particularly during the early stages of infection. Transcriptional profiling via microarray and more recently via next-generation sequencing technologies may lead to the development of specific and sensitive diagnostics for M. bovis infection and will enhance the prospect of eradication of tuberculosis from cattle populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrinsic defects in Bi2Te3 were analyzed using first-principles density functional theory calculations. The results demonstrated that antisite defects were dominant in both p- and n-type Bi2Te3. To investigate the characteristics of these defects, n-type Bi2(Te,Se)3 compounds were fabricated using powder prepared by high-energy ball milling and their electrical properties were examined. Electrical resistivity and the Seebeck coefficient increased with ball milling time. These changes in both properties were attributed to a reduction in the carrier concentration, which was supported by the Hall coefficient measurement. The antisite defects were found to be responsible for the changes in carrier concentration. Lattice parameter analysis supported the postulate that variations in the concentration of antisite defects were responsible for the changes in carrier concentration. These findings suggest that optimization of carrier concentration should be considered in the high-energy ball milling process, in which reductions in grain size are expected to improve thermoelectric properties.VC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of Ag or Sb addition on the thermoelectric properties of PbTe including the Seebeck coefficient, the electrical resistivity, and the thermal conductivity, was studied in the temperature range from 323 to 723 K. The major carriers in the Ag-doped and the Sb-doped PbTe are holes and electrons, respectively. A degenerate semiconductor behavior in the electrical transport properties was observed in the Ag-doped, whereas the semi-metallic in the Sb-doped. It was suggested from the results of the Hall effect measurement and the Seebeck coefficient that the effective mass was significantly altered by the Sb-doping. The maximum dimensionless figure of merit, ZT, of Pb1-xAgxTe and Pb1-xSbxTe (x=0.1) alloys showed 0.27 and 0.62 at 723 K, respectively. Based on the analysis of the Seebeck coefficient of the Ag or the Sb-doped PbTe, the interaction between Ag and Sb in PbTe, as expected in the AgPbmSbTem+2 (LAST-m), may be supposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Spherical pores form during the formation reaction of MgB2. [•] The pore formation is remarkable at the temperature where a liquid forms. [•] The pore formation accompanies by pellet expansion and weight loss of MgB2. [•] The critical current density (Jc ) of MgB2 depends on a reaction temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Corner or edge seeding modifies top surface morphologies of YBCO superconductors. [•] Numbers and a shape of facet lines on top surfaces depend on seeding technique. [•] Facet lines are straight but often have a curvature. [•] Unreacted regions form on top surfaces owing to a low growth rate of a 〈100〉 direction. [•] Magnetic flux density and levitation forces are dependent on top surface morphology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Equine mitochondrial DNA sequence variation was investigated in three indigenous Irish horse populations (Irish Draught Horse, Kerry Bog Pony and Connemara Pony) and, for context, in 69 other horse populations. There was no evidence of Irish Draught Horse or Connemara Pony sequence clustering, although the majority of Irish Draught Horse sequences (47%) were assigned to haplogroup D. Conversely, 31% of the Kerry Bog Pony sequences were assigned to the rare haplogroup E. In addition to the extant population analyses, ancient DNA sequences were generated from three out of four Irish archaeological specimens, all of which were assigned to haplogroup A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractEight humpless cattle breeds from the Near East, three from Europe, one from West Africa and two zebu breeds from India were screened with 20 microsatellite loci. Breeds from the Near East revealed considerable levels of introgression from zebu cattle, which was apparent most in populations from the East and which declined in populations further West. This nonrandom pattern is suggestive of the introduction of zebu cattle from the East. Notwithstanding the overlay of zebu alleles, it was possible to demonstrate that Near Eastern cattle exhibited significantly higher levels of allelic diversity than breeds from other regions, which is consistent with the view that this region represents a primary domestication centre for Bos taurus cattle. The hypothesis that B. taurus and B. indicus cattle have separate domestic origins is also supported by the survey, a large genetic divergence being apparent between the nonhybrid taurine and zebu groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with InAs/InGaAs composite channel were fabricated by employing low damage, highly selective Ne-based atomic layer etching (ALET) for the dry gate recess process. Ne-based ALET exhibited very high etch selectivity of InP over InAlAs which is suitable for dry gate recess process removing InP etch stop layer on top of InAlAs Schottky barrier layer. The plasma induced damage on the exposed InAlAs surface due to the ALET was much lower than that due to the conventional Ar-based reactive ion etching (RIE), which was verified by atomic force microscopy and Hall measurements. For further comparison, dc characteristics were compared for the two types of 0.3 μm HEMTs fabricated by utilizing ALET and conventional RIE during the dry gate recess processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]