It is found that both magnetic domain structure and magnetostrictive response depend upon the loading history and a substantial change in magnetic domains is observed for Terfenol-D under opposite magnetic field, resulting in notable asymmetry in magnetostrictive strain. The technique will be useful in characterizing the evolution of magnetic domains for a wide range of ferromagnetic materials under an external field. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3559819]“
“Engineering enhanced transport of zinc to the aerial parts of plants is a major goal in bio-fortification. In Arabidopsis halleri, high constitutive expression of the AhHMA4 gene encoding a metal pump

of the P(1B)-ATPase family is necessary for both Zn hyperaccumulation and the full extent of Zn and Cd hypertolerance that are characteristic of this species. In this study, an AhHMA4 cDNA was introduced into N. tabacum var. Xanthi for expression AMN-107 mw under the control of its endogenous A. halleri promoter known to confer high and cell-type specific expression levels in both A. halleri and the non-hyperaccumulator A. thaliana. The transgene was expressed at similar levels in both roots and shoots upon long-term exposure to low Zn, control, and increased Zn concentrations.

A down-regulation of AhHMA4 transcript levels was detected with 10 mu M Zn resupply to tobacco plants cultivated in low Zn concentrations. In general, a transcriptional regulation of AhHMA4 in tobacco contrasted with the constitutively high expression CB-5083 manufacturer previously observed in A. halleri. Differences in root/shoot partitioning of Zn and Cd between transgenic lines and the wild type check details were strongly dependent on metal concentrations in the hydroponic medium. Under low Zn conditions, an increased Zn accumulation in the upper leaves in the AhHMA4-expressing lines was detected. Moreover, transgenic plants exposed to cadmium accumulated less metal than the wild

type. Both modifications of zinc and cadmium accumulation are noteworthy outcomes from the biofortification perspective and healthy food production. Expression of AhHMA4 may be useful in crops grown on soils poor in Zn.”
“The incidence of sepsis and the number of sepsis-related deaths are increasing, making sepsis the leading cause of death in critically ill patients in Europe and the U. S. A. Delayed recognition of sepsis and inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy are associated with an increase in mortality and morbidity. Rapid and accurate identification of sepsis and its causative organisms are a prerequisite for successful therapy. The current gold standard for the diagnosis of sepsis is culture of blood and other body fluids or tissues. However, even in severe sepsis, blood cultures (BC) yield the causative microorganism in only 20-40% of patients. Moreover, at least 24 hours are needed to get preliminary information about the potential organism.