Amplitude-modulated sinusoidal microchannels for observing adaptability in C. elegans locomotion

In this paper, we present a movement-based assay to observe adaptability in Caenorhabditis elegans locomotion behavior. The assay comprises a series of sinusoidal microchannels with a fixed wavelength and modulating (increasing or decreasing) amplitude. The channel width is comparable to the body diameter of the organism. Worms are allowed to enter the channel from the input port and migrate toward the output port. Within channel sections that closely match the worm's natural undulations, the worm movement is relatively quick and steady. As the channel amplitude increases or decreases along the device, the worm faces difficulty in generating the propulsive thrust, begins to slow down and eventually fails to move forward. A set of locomotion parameters (i.e., average forward velocity, number and duration of stops, range of contact angle, and cut-off region) is defined for worm locomotion in modulated sinusoidal channels and extracted from the recorded videos. The device is tested on wild-type C. elegans (N2) and two mutants (lev-8 and unc-38). We anticipate this passive, movement-based assay can be used to screen nematodes showing difference in locomotion phenotype.     

笑的五个秘密

我们天天都在笑,但我们对笑里面的一些秘密却一直稀里糊涂。现在,我们可以笑得明明白白了。     

令人惊叹的“活电池”

从手电筒、收音机电池,到手机、电子表电池……这林林总总的电池有一个共同的特点,那就是它们都是\"死电池\"——没有生命。那么,人们能不能制造出有生命的\"活电池\"呢?前不久,美国克拉克森大学的一个研究小组就大胆设想,要把蜗牛变成电池。穿过蜗牛壳的裂     

Composites with high omnidirectional fracture toughness due to helical interlocking fasteners are found in gingko seed shellsOA

<正>Engineering of composites mimicking load-bearing materials from living organisms is essential for sustainable economic development and successful resolution of current and future bottle-necks of chemical,automotive,aviation,biomedical,and robotic technologies.As pointed out by G.Wiedemann[1]in 1853 and M.F.Ashby et al.     

Studying creation of bulk elementary excitation by heaters in superfluid helium-Ⅱ at low temperatures

In this paper, the obtained experimental results concerning creation of bulk elementary excitations （BEEs） in isotopically pure liquid ^4He at low temperatures -60 mK are discussed. Positive rotons＇ （R^＋-rotons） creation by a pulsed heater was studied. Signals were recorded for the following quantum processes： quantum evaporation of ^4He-atoms from the free liquid-helium surface by the BEEs of the liquid helium-Ⅱ, and BEEs reflection from the free surface back into the bulk liquid. Typical signals are shown, and ratios of signal amplitudes are evaluated. For long heater pulses from 5 to 10 μs, appearance of the second atomic cloud consisting of evaporated ^4He-atoms was observed in addition to the first atomic cloud. It is thought that the first atomic cloud of the evaporated helium atoms consists of very fast ^4He-atoms with energies ～35 K evaporated by positive rotons with the special energies ～17 K （～2ER～2×8.6 K with ER representing the roton minimum energy） corresponding to the third non-dispersive Zakharenko wave. The second cloud of slower ^4He-atoms was created by surface elementary excitations （SEEs or ripplons） possessing the special energies ～7.15 K representing the binding energy. It was assumed that such SEEs can be created by phonons incoming to the liquid surface with special energies ～6.2 K corresponding to the first non-dispersive Zakharenko wave which can interact at the liquid surface with the same phonons already reflected from the surface for long heater pulses. Also, some pulsed-heater characteristics were studied in order to better understand the features of such heaters in low temperature experiments.     

论缓冲溶液的制备

凡实验室涉及到生物学和化学的水溶液体系时,pH和离子强度(I)是两个极为重要的可变量。由于酸—碱混合物的存在,这两个参量往往相互依赖。控制pH值的通常方法是使用缓冲剂。它们是由那些对于溶液离子行为影响不大、且不活泼的稳定电解质来配制的。本文提出的方法适用于计算某种酸及其盐混合物的pH值和离子强度;或与此相反,用于计算配制预知pH值和离子强度(I)所需酸及其盐的相当量。这种计算方法很实用,具有启发性和直观教学的价值,在许多普通的可编程序计算器上容易完成。     

不语周记

我爱说话,话特多,到了絮絮叨叨的地步。多年来,我特别爱到我家附近的报摊和摊主聊天,问他卖了多少根巧克力棒,聊一聊水果软糖的牌子为什么要改名……闲聊时一有停顿,我就会滔滔不绝地讲出种种废话,从天气到我种的西红柿,无话不说。     

Are we using Thyroid Function Tests Appropriately?

Thyroid function tests are very important for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with thyroid dysfunction. The guidelines recommend serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) as the single most reliable test to diagnose all common forms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The aim of this study was to analyze the ordering pattern for thyroid function tests by physicians and the analysis of results based on the clinical history. The mean age of the patients was 32.5 ± 6.5 years. Majority of samples (87.7% of total) were received from the departments of Medicine and Gynae. Thyroid profiles (47.5%) were ordered more frequently as compared to TSH only (46%). There was no significant difference in the percentage of normal reports for both types of tests. 77.8% of TFT and 76.6% of TSH samples had results within the reference range. The percentage of abnormal results was 13.7% in the patients who were screened for thyroid disorders. There is a need to redefine the case definition for thyroid dysfunction and order the appropriate test in a rational and cost effective manner.