[en] This study aims to investigate the relationship between the determination of dopamine level by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection (ECD) and the detection of dopamine transporter (DAT) counts using autoradiography with DAT image agent [^99mTc]TRODAT-1. For striatal lesions, pretreatment of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in the medial forebrain bundle shows that autoradiogaphic labeling of striatum region is reduced to near-background level. Using HPLC with ECD, unilateral 6-OHDA treatment is associated with significant (p<0.0002) reductions of dopamine levels. For the striatum of the 6-OHDA-lesioned side, dopamine content and DAT counts are reduced to 97% and 90%, respectively. Thus, our observation indicates a potential of using [^99mTc]TRODAT-1 for the evaluation of animal DAT

[en] We report on deep ion-implantation of sulfur into InP substrates to replace the epitaxial subcollector layer of double-heterojunction bipolar transistors. Using optimized implantation conditions of 350 keV energy and 1x10¹⁵ cm^-2 dose, we achieved a subcollector sheet resistance of 15 Ω/square. Under well-controlled regrowth conditions a root-mean-square roughness of 12 A is measured from DHBT epitaxial layers grown on implanted InP substrates, comparable to DHBT epitaxial layers grown on n⁺ epiready unimplanted substrates. We observe a pronounced increase in surface roughness of epitaxial layer beyond a threshold ion dose, depending on implantation energy. Large-area DHBT devices result with sulfur-ion implanted subcollector shows similar characteristics compared to devices fabricated on n⁺-doped InP substrates

[en] Leakage radiation microscopy (LRM) is extended to the characterization of dye doped planar polymer waveguide modes (WMs) rather than surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). We mainly focus on how to measure the propagation lengths of the WMs excited by the fluorescence from the dye molecules. Numerical simulations are also carried out to calculate the propagation lengths of these modes and are consistent with experimental results. (paper)

[en] In this paper, Au–Ag core–shell nanorods were synthesized with the wet-chemical method, by which localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) wavelengths were tuned from 766 to 544 nm by controlling the thickness of the silver shell. The sensing ability of these core–shell nanorods was experimentally investigated by measuring the extinction spectra, which gives out the shift of LSPR wavelength as the refractive index of the surrounding medium changes. Experimental results show that the refractive index sensitivity (RIS) and figure of merit (FOM) of the core–shell nanorods can be increased at a certain thickness of the silver shell. (paper)

[en] In this paper, we will demonstrate that excited dye molecules can be used to launch the plasmonic Bloch waves (PBWs) propagating at multi-metal–dielectric interfaces. The properties of the PBWs, such as wavevectors, propagating bands, the interface and grating period effect, were characterized by a leakage radiation microscope. Theoretical simulations were also carried out to reveal the properties of the PBWs and were consistent with the experimental results. What is more, experimental results reveal an interesting phenomenon: the PBWs launched by the excited dye molecules present different optical behaviors from those launched by far-field laser beams through attenuated total reflection. The mechanism of this difference was analyzed based on the energy conversion between the optical near-field and far-field. Our work provides a new way to launch the PBWs. Further, the coupling between the dye molecules and PBWs also demonstrates a new method to manipulate the fluorescence emission from random to controllable. (paper)

[en] The beamline design philosophies and simulation results of the decay muon on Experimental Muon Source (EMuS) are reported in this paper. The trunk of the beamline is mainly composed of solenoids to keep a large acceptance, and has been optimized for 45, 150 and 450 MeV/c decay muons respectively according to the π spectra optimization results from the target station. Three spectrometers are planed for decay muons, corresponding to μSR application, muon imaging and muonic application respectively. Decay muons from 45 to 150 MeV/c with polarization above 75% are designed for μSR applications, and high momentum muons up to 450 MeV/c are designed for muon imaging. Negative decay muons from 45 to 150 MeV/c are designed for muonic applications. The momentum of the decay muons is tuneable between 45 and 450 MeV/c. (paper)

[en] We demonstrate the use of physically justified object constraints in x-ray Fresnel coherent diffractive imaging on a sample of nanoporous gold prepared by dealloying. Use of these constraints in the reconstruction algorithm enabled highly reliable imaging of the sample's shape and quantification of the 23- to 52-nm pore structure within it without use of a tight object support constraint.

[en] Aim: To evaluate the image findings of Schmorl's nodes on combined 2-[¹⁸F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT). Materials and methods: Twelve patients who were diagnosed with Schmorl's nodes and had undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and FDG PET/CT were retrospectively recruited for this study. The period between the MRI and the FDG PET/CT examinations was within 1 week. The demographic data and clinical history were reviewed. The relationship between MRI findings and the values of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on FDG PET/CT was analysed. Results: The mean values of early and delayed SUVmax of Schmorl's nodes without MRI enhancement were 1.14 ± 0.28 and 1.09 ± 0.32. The mean values of early and delayed SUVmax of Schmorl's nodes with MRI enhancement were 1.73 ± 0.49 and 1.75 ± 0.54. There were significant differences in the early and delayed SUVmax between Schmorl's nodes with and without perifocal enhancement on MRI with Wilcoxon's rank-sum test (p = 0.012; p = 0.006). There was a trend of positive correlation, although not statistically significant, between delayed SUVmax on FDG PET/CT and age in Schmorl's nodes with Spearman’s rank correlation (B = 0.86, p = 0.056). Conclusions: Schmorl's nodes demonstrated low to moderate uptake on FDG PET/CT images. Schmorl's nodes with perifocal enhancement on MRI result in higher FDG uptake. The possibility of false positives caused by Schmorl's nodes should be considered when interpreting FDG PET/CT images of bone metastases, especially in the aging population.

[en] Nitride films of multi-element TiVCrAlZr alloy were prepared on silicon substrates by reactive radio-frequency magnetron sputtering under different nitrogen/argon flow ratios ranging from 0% to 66.7%. The alloy film deposited in pure argon exhibited an amorphous structure and a very smooth surface, while a face-center-cubic solid-solution structure with strong (2 2 0), (1 1 1) to (2 0 0) orientation and different fracture feature and surface morphologies was observed in those films which were prepared under various nitrogen flow ratios. With increasing nitrogen flow ratio, the hardness and elastic modulus of the films increased and reached maximum values of 11 and 151 GPa at 50%.

[en] The Archaeal protein RadA, a RecA/Rad51 homolog, is able to promote pairing and exchange of DNA strands with homologous sequences. Here, we have expressed, purified, and crystallized the catalytically active RadA protein from Sulfolobus solfataricus (Sso). Preliminary X-ray analysis indicated that Sso RadA protein likely forms helical filament in protein crystals. Using atomic force microscopy with a carbon nanotube (CNT) tip for high-resolution imaging, we demonstrated that Sso RadA protein indeed forms fine helical filaments up to 1 μm in length (∼10 nm pitch) in the absence of DNA and nucleotide cofactor. We also observed that Sso RadA protein helical filament could dissemble upon incubation with ssDNA, and then the proteins associate with ssDNA to form nucleoprotein filament