An ultrasmall single-electron transistor has been made by scaling the size of a fin field-effect transistor structure down to an ultimate limiting form, resulting in the reliable formation of a sub-5 nm Coulomb island. The charge stability data feature the first exhibition of three and a half clear Coulomb diamonds at 300 K, each showing a high peak-to-valley current ratio. Its charging energy is estimated to be more than one order magnitude larger than the thermal energy at room-temperature. The hybrid literal gate integrated by this single-electron transistor combined with a field-effect transistor displays >5 bit multiswitching behavior at 300 K with a large voltage swing of ～1 V

PurposeTo compare the clinical and radiological results between internal fixation using the proximal femoral nail system and bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA) in reverse oblique intertrochanteric hip fractures in elderly patients.Materials and MethodsFrom January 2005 to July 2012, we reviewed the medical records of 53 patients who had been treated surgically for reverse oblique intertrochanteric fracture and had been followed-up on for a minimum of two years. All patients were ≥70 years of age, and divided into two groups for retrospective evaluation. One group was treated with internal fixation using the proximal femoral nail system (31 cases), and the other group was treated with BHA (22 cases).ResultsEarly ambulation postoperatively and less pain at postoperative three month were significantly superior in the BHA group. However, by 24 months postoperatively, the internal fixation group exhibited higher Harris scores and correspondingly less pain than the BHA group. There were no significant differences in union rate, duration of hospitalization or lateral wall fracture healing between the two groups. Four patients in the internal fixation group underwent reoperation.ConclusionIn the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture of the reverse oblique type, open reduction and internal fixation should be considered to be the better choice for patients with good health and bone quality. However, in cases of severe comminition of fracture and poor bone quality, BHA is an alternative offering advantages including early ambulation, less pain at early stages, and a lower risk of reoperation.

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Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be used in closed-type plant production systems as an artificial light source. Here, we determined the effects of monochromatic LEDs on the growth and production of phenolic antioxidants in cherry tomato seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Cuty'). Two week-old seedlings germinated under normal growing conditions were transplanted into a growth chamber equipped with various monochromatic LEDs and fluorescent lamps (control), and cultivated for 4 weeks. Fresh weights of shoots and roots under LED treatment, especially, red or green, were higher than those under the control light at 4 weeks. The SPAD value of seedlings grown under blue LEDs was significantly lower than in seedlings grown under other LEDs. The plant height, stem length, and internode length of tomato seedlings grown under blue LEDs were the highest. Blue LEDs induced 1.5-2.2-fold higher stem length than red and white LEDs. Expansin gene expression was the highest under blue LEDs, consistent with the effect on stem length. Blue LEDs stimulated the biosynthesis of total phenolics, antioxidants, and total flavonoids in tomato seedlings. Specifically, the antioxidant capacity of seedlings grown under blue LEDs was 2.1-folds higher than that in seedlings grown under green LEDs. Thus, manipulating light quality using LEDs is a crucial factor for growth and antioxidant production in cherry tomato seedlings.

The developmental stage has an influence on the overall responses of plants under biotic or abiotic stress conditions. However, there is a lack of data about the effects of ionizing radiation in plants at different developmental stages. We examined radiation sensitivity of Arabidopsis plants in terms of photosynthetic ability and oxidative stress resistance at two distinct vegetative and reproductive stages, which correspond to 23 and 43 d after seeding (DAS), respectively. When plants were exposed to γ rays at a dose rate 50 Gy h(-1) for 4 h, they were characterized as various common or differential cellular responses depending on the developmental stage. Radial expansion of leaves, inhibition of non-photochemical quenching, and production of •O(2)(-) and H(2)O(2) under methyl viologen-induced photooxidative stress were commonly more conspicuous in the irradiated leaves of both plants than in the respective control. In contrast, the 23 and 43-DAS plants were explicitly discriminated in growth, chloroplast number & ultrastructure, photosynthetic pigment content & activity, and protein damage after γ irradiation. Natural leaf senescence was thereby enhanced in the irradiated leaves of the 23-DAS plants, while it was reversely alleviated in those of the 43-DAS ones. These results suggest that photosynthetic machineries of Arabidopsis plants at the reproductive stage can be relatively tolerant to γ rays of 200 Gy.

The effects of domestic wastewater application on the translocation and accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil and crops (rice, lettuce, and barley) were investigated by Wagner's pot experiment. In the soils and crops after domestic wastewater irrigation, high-molecular weight PAHs (5 to 6 ring) were not detected, but low-molecular weight PAHs (3 to 4 ring) were only detected at trace levels.

High concentration of particulate matter (PM) threatens public health and the environment. Increasing traffic in the city is one of the main factors for increased PM in the air. Urban green spaces play an important role in reducing PM. In this study, the leaf surface and in-wax PM (sPM and wPM) accumulation were compared for 11 plant species widely used for landscaping in South Korea. In addition, biochemical characteristics of leaves (ascorbic acid chlorophyll content, leaf pH, and relative water content) were analyzed to determine air pollution tolerance. Plant species suitable for air quality improvement were selected based on their air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API). Results showed a significant difference according to the accumulation of sPM and wPM and the plant species. PM accumulation and APTI showed a positive correlation. Pinus strobus showed the highest PM accumulation and APTI values, while Cercis chinensis showed the lowest. In 11 plants, API was divided into five groups. Pinus densiflora was classified as the best group, while Cornus officinalis and Ligustrum obtusifolium were classified as not recommended.