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Sample records for adenoviral sub-unit proteins

  1. Radiolabeled adenoviral sub-unit proteins for molecular imaging and therapeutic applications in oncology

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Srivastava, Suresh C.

    2005-01-01

    Full text: Our group has initiated investigations on the use of radiolabeled adenoviral (Ad) sub-unit proteins for delivering suitable radionuclides into tumor cells for molecular imaging as well as for combined gene/radionuclide therapy of cancer. A number of issues involved in developing combined gene/radionuclide delivery into tumors mediated by Ad vectors have been identified and are being addressed. Whereas current clinical trials of gene therapy using Ad vectors involve non-systemic delivery of therapeutic genes, the delivery of radionuclides preferably would involve systemic (i.v.) administration. The distribution and delivery of Ad sub-unit proteins following i.v. administration is not understood and must be studied and optimized. In addition, retention of the selective binding and internalization into tumor cells of the radiolabeled viral vectors remains an unmet challenge. We used the intact adenovirus (Ad, ∼80 nm diameter), native adenoviral fiber protein (AdFP, 180 kD trimer, purified from infected human cultured cells) and the adenoviral fiber 'knob' protein (recombinant AdFKP, 60 kD, synthesized in E. Coli), all of which interact with the in-vivo cellular receptor, coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) through the knob domain of the adenovirus fiber protein. Our initial studies were aimed at optimizing the labeling conditions using I-131 and In-111 to maintain CAR binding activity of the radiolabeled preparations. The CAR-binding was retained as determined using reaction with biotinylated CAR followed by chemiluminescence detection. The biodistribution results in mice and rats following i.v. administration (autoradiography, tissue counting) showed that all three vectors localized preferentially in CAR-expressing organs (liver, lung, heart, kidney), as expected. The CAR-binding of Ad-2 wild serotype was better (∼8 x stronger) than Ad-12, in particular following radiolabeling. Based on the above results, we further focused on the recombinant knob

  2. Isolation of proteins involved in the replication of adenoviral DNA in vitro

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Lichy, J.H.; Nagata, K.; Friefeld, B.R.; Enomoto, T.; Field, J.; Guggenheimer, R.A.; Ikeda, J.E.; Horwitz, M.S.; Hurwitz, J.

    1983-01-01

    The simple mechanism of replication of adenoviral DNA has made adenovirus an especially useful model system for studies of eukaryotic replication mechanisms. The availability of this in vitro system that replicates exogenously added Ad DNA-pro has made it possible to characterize the factors involved in replication. The results presented in this paper summarize our further fractionation of the in vitro system. First, the properties of two factors purified from the uninfected nuclear extract are described. Second, the separation of the pTP/Ad Pol complex into subunits and the properties of the isolated subunits are presented. The 140K protein is shown to possess the Ad DNA polymerase activity. The results suggest that the only DNA polymerase required for adenoviral DNA replication in vitro is the 140K Ad DNA polymerase and that this enzyme is probably a viral gene product. 50 references, 10 figures, 3 tables

  3. Adenoviral protein V promotes a process of viral assembly through nucleophosmin 1

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ugai, Hideyo; Dobbins, George C.; Wang, Minghui [Division of Human Gene Therapy, Departments of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pathology, and Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 (United States); Le, Long P. [Massachusetts General Hospital, Pathology Service, 55 Fruit St.-GRJ 249, Boston, MA 02114 (United States); Matthews, David A. [School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Medical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD (United Kingdom); Curiel, David T., E-mail: dcuriel@radonc.wustl.edu [Division of Human Gene Therapy, Departments of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pathology, and Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 (United States); The Gene Therapy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294 (United States)

    2012-10-25

    Adenoviral infection induces nucleoplasmic redistribution of a nucleolar nucleophosmin 1/NPM1/B23.1. NPM1 is preferentially localized in the nucleoli of normal cells, whereas it is also present at the nuclear matrix in cancer cells. However, the biological roles of NPM1 during infection are unknown. Here, by analyzing a pV-deletion mutant, Ad5-dV/TSB, we demonstrate that pV promotes the NPM1 translocation from the nucleoli to the nucleoplasm in normal cells, and the NPM1 translocation is correlated with adenoviral replication. Lack of pV causes a dramatic reduction of adenoviral replication in normal cells, but not cancer cells, and Ad5-dV/TSB was defective in viral assembly in normal cells. NPM1 knockdown inhibits adenoviral replication, suggesting an involvement of NPM1 in adenoviral biology. Further, we show that NPM1 interacts with empty adenovirus particles which are an intermediate during virion maturation by immunoelectron microscopy. Collectively, these data implicate that pV participates in a process of viral assembly through NPM1.

  4. Radiation-Induced Upregulation of Gene Expression From Adenoviral Vectors Mediated by DNA Damage Repair and Regulation

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Nokisalmi, Petri; Rajecki, Maria; Pesonen, Sari; Escutenaire, Sophie; Soliymani, Rabah; Tenhunen, Mikko; Ahtiainen, Laura; Hemminki, Akseli

    2012-01-01

    Purpose: In the present study, we evaluated the combination of replication-deficient adenoviruses and radiotherapy in vitro. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the mechanism of radiation-mediated upregulation of adenoviral transgene expression. Methods and Materials: Adenoviral transgene expression (luciferase or green fluorescent protein) was studied with and without radiation in three cell lines: breast cancer M4A4-LM3, prostate cancer PC-3MM2, and lung cancer LNM35/enhanced green fluorescent protein. The effect of the radiation dose, modification of the viral capsid, and five different transgene promoters were studied. The cellular responses were studied using mass spectrometry and immunofluorescence analysis. Double strand break repair was modulated by inhibitors of heat shock protein 90, topoisomerase-I, and DNA protein kinase, and transgene expression was measured. Results: We found that a wide range of radiation doses increased adenoviral transgene expression regardless of the cell line, transgene, promoter, or viral capsid modification. Treatment with adenovirus, radiation, and double strand break repair inhibitors resulted in persistence of double strand breaks and subsequent increases in adenovirus transgene expression. Conclusions: Radiation-induced enhancement of adenoviral transgene expression is linked to DNA damage recognition and repair. Radiation induces a global cellular response that results in increased production of RNA and proteins, including adenoviral transgene products. This study provides a mechanistic rationale for combining radiation with adenoviral gene delivery.

  5. Modification of liposomal concentration in liposome/adenoviral complexes allows significant protection of adenoviral vectors from neutralising antibody, in vitro.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Steel, Jason C; Cavanagh, Heather M A; Burton, Mark A; Dingwall, Daniel J; Kalle, Wouter H J

    2005-06-01

    Adenoviral vectors have been commonly used in gene therapy protocols, however the success of their use is often limited by the induction of host immunity to the vector. Following exposure to the adenoviral vector, adenoviral-specific neutralising antibodies are produced which limits further administration. This study examines the efficacy of complexing liposomes to adenovirus for the protection of the adenovirus from neutralising antibodies in an in vitro setting. Dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDAB)-dioleoyl-l-phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) liposomes were bound at varying concentrations to adenovirus to form AL complexes and tested these complexes' ability to prevent adenoviral neutralisation. It is shown that by increasing the concentration of liposomes in the adenoviral-liposome (AL) complexes we can increase the level of immuno-shielding afforded the adenovirus. It is also shown that the increase in liposomal concentration may lead to drawbacks such as increased cytotoxicity and reductions in expression levels.

  6. Presumed Acute Adenoviral Dacryoadenitis Associated with ...

    African Journals Online (AJOL)

    of serum adenoviral antibodies IgM and presence of inclusion bodies in conjunctival smear. Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis is caused by adenovirus serovars. 8, 19, and 37.[7] Serological typing and polymerase chain reaction for adenoviral were not available in smear in both eyes. A computerized tomography scan of.

  7. Efficient gene transfer into lymphoma cells using adenoviral vectors combined with lipofection.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Buttgereit, P; Weineck, S; Röpke, G; Märten, A; Brand, K; Heinicke, T; Caselmann, W H; Huhn, D; Schmidt-Wolf, I G

    2000-08-01

    Tumor cells, such as lymphoma cells, are possible targets for gene therapy. In general, gene therapeutic approaches require efficient gene transfer to host cells and sufficient transgene expression. However, lymphoma cells previously have been demonstrated to be resistant to most of the currently available gene transfer methods. The aim of this study was to analyze various methods for transfection of lymphoma cells and to improve the efficiency of gene delivery. In accordance with previously published reports, lymphoma cells were demonstrated to be resistant to lipofection and electroporation. In contrast, we present an improved adenoviral protocol leading to highly efficient gene transfer to lymphoma cell lines derived from B cells as well as primary lymphoma cells being achieved with an adenoviral vector system encoding the beta-galactosidase protein. At a multiplicity of infection of 200, up to 100% of Daudi cells and Raji cells and 70% of OCI-Ly8-LAM53 cells could be transfected. Even at high adenoviral concentrations, no marked toxicity was observed, and the growth characteristics of the lymphoma cell lines were not impaired. The transfection rates in primary cells derived from six patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were 30-65%, respectively. Transfection efficiency could be further increased by addition of cationic liposomes to adenoviral gene transfer. Furthermore, we examined the expression of the Coxsackie-adenoviral receptor (CAR) and the integrin receptors on the lymphoma cell surface. Flow cytometric analysis showed that 88% of Daudi cells, 69% of Raji cells, and 6% of OCI-Ly8-LAM53 cells expressed CAR on the cell surface. According to our data, adenoviral infection of lymphoma cells seems to be mediated by CAR. In contrast, integrin receptors are unlikely to play a major role, because lymphoma cells were negative for alphavbeta3-integrins and negative for alphavbeta5-integrins. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that B-lymphoma cell lines and

  8. Adenoviral Gene Delivery to Primary Human Cutaneous Cells and Burn Wounds

    OpenAIRE

    Hirsch, Tobias; von Peter, Sebastian; Dubin, Grzegorz; Mittler, Dominik; Jacobsen, Frank; Lehnhardt, Markus; Eriksson, Elof; Steinau, Hans-Ulrich; Steinstraesser, Lars

    2006-01-01

    The adenoviral transfer of therapeutic genes into epidermal and dermal cells is an interesting approach to treat skin diseases and to promote wound healing. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro and in vivo transfection efficacy in skin and burn wounds after adenoviral gene delivery. Primary keratinocytes (HKC), fibroblasts (HFB), and HaCaT cells were transfected using different concentrations of an adenoviral construct (eGFP). Transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity was determine...

  9. Targeted cancer gene therapy : the flexibility of adenoviral gene therapy vectors

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Rots, MG; Curiel, DT; Gerritsen, WR; Haisma, HJ

    2003-01-01

    Recombinant adenoviral vectors are promising reagents for therapeutic interventions in humans, including gene therapy for biologically complex diseases like cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In this regard, the major advantage of adenoviral vectors is their superior in vivo gene transfer

  10. Reactivation of presumed adenoviral keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Safak, Nilgün; Bilgihan, Kamil; Gürelik, Gökhan; Ozdek, Sengül; Hasanreisoğlu, Berati

    2002-04-01

    We report a patient with reactivation of presumed adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) to correct high myopia. The preoperative refraction was -13.00 diopters (D) in the right eye and -14.00 D in the left eye, and the best corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes. On the first postoperative day, mild conjunctival hyperemia and multiple subepithelial infiltrations localized in the flap zone consistent with adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis were seen. After prompt treatment, the lesions resolved. As a consequence, LASIK successfully corrected the high myopia. Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis can be reactivated after LASIK, unlike after photorefractive keratectomy, despite the absence of symptomatic and clinical findings before the procedure.

  11. Adenoviral gene delivery to primary human cutaneous cells and burn wounds.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hirsch, Tobias; von Peter, Sebastian; Dubin, Grzegorz; Mittler, Dominik; Jacobsen, Frank; Lehnhardt, Markus; Eriksson, Elof; Steinau, Hans-Ulrich; Steinstraesser, Lars

    2006-01-01

    The adenoviral transfer of therapeutic genes into epidermal and dermal cells is an interesting approach to treat skin diseases and to promote wound healing. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro and in vivo transfection efficacy in skin and burn wounds after adenoviral gene delivery. Primary keratinocytes (HKC), fibroblasts (HFB), and HaCaT cells were transfected using different concentrations of an adenoviral construct (eGFP). Transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity was determined up to 30 days. Expression was quantified by FACS analysis and fluorimeter. Cytotoxicity was measured using the trypan blue exclusion method. 45 male Sprague Dawley rats received 2x10(8) pfu of Ad5-CMV-LacZ or carrier control intradermally into either superficial partial thickness scald burn or unburned skin. Animals were euthanized after 48 h, 7 or 14 days posttreatment. Transgene expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry and bioluminescent assays. The highest transfection rate was observed 48 h posttransfection: 79% for HKC, 70% for HFB, and 48% for HaCaT. The eGFP expression was detectable in all groups over 30 days (P>0.05). Cytotoxic effects of the adenoviral vector were observed for HFB after 10 days and HaCaT after 30 days. Reporter gene expression in vivo was significantly higher in burned skin compared with unburned skin (P=0,004). Gene expression decreases from 2 to 7 days with no significant expression after 14 days. This study demonstrates that effective adenoviral-mediated gene transfer of epidermal primary cells and cell-lines is feasible. Ex vivo gene transfer in epithelial cells might have promise for the use in severely burned patients who receive autologous keratinocyte sheets. Transient cutaneous gene delivery in burn wounds using adenoviral vectors causes significant concentrations in the wound tissue for at least 1 week. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that transient cutaneous adenoviral gene delivery of wound healing promoting factors has

  12. Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity in an Infant with Adenoviral Conjunctivitis

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Murat Gunay

    2015-01-01

    Full Text Available Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP has been a major problematic disorder during childhood. Laser photocoagulation (LPC has been proven to be effective in most of the ROP cases. Adenoviral conjunctivitis (AVC is responsible for epidemics among adult and pediatric population. It has also been reported to be a cause of outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units (NICU several times. We herein demonstrate a case with AVC who underwent LPC for ROP. And we discuss the treatment methodology in such cases.

  13. Use of Cre/loxP recombination to swap cell binding motifs on the adenoviral capsid protein IX

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Poulin, Kathy L.; Tong, Grace; Vorobyova, Olga; Pool, Madeline; Kothary, Rashmi; Parks, Robin J.

    2011-01-01

    We used Cre/loxP recombination to swap targeting ligands present on the adenoviral capsid protein IX (pIX). A loxP-flanked sequence encoding poly-lysine (pK-binds heparan sulfate proteoglycans) was engineered onto the 3'-terminus of pIX, and the resulting fusion protein allowed for routine virus propagation. Growth of this virus on Cre-expressing cells removed the pK coding sequence, generating virus that could only infect through alternative ligands, such as a tyrosine kinase receptor A (TrkA)-binding motif engineered into the capsid fibre protein for enhanced infection of neuronal cells. We used a similar approach to swap the pK motif on pIX for a sequence encoding a single-domain antibody directed towards CD66c for targeted infection of cancer cells; Cre-mediated removal of the pK-coding sequence simultaneously placed the single-domain antibody coding sequence in frame with pIX. Thus, we have developed a simple method to propagate virus lacking native viral tropism but containing cell-specific binding ligands. - Highlights: → We describe a method to grow virus lacking native tropism but containing novel cell-binding ligands. → Cre/loxP recombination was used to modify the adenovirus genome. → A targeting ligand present on capsid protein IX was removed or replaced using recombination. → Cre-loxP was also used to 'swap' the identity of the targeting ligand present on pIX.

  14. Heterologous prime-boost regimens with a recombinant chimpanzee adenoviral vector and adjuvanted F4 protein elicit polyfunctional HIV-1-specific T-Cell responses in macaques.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Lorin, Clarisse; Vanloubbeeck, Yannick; Baudart, Sébastien; Ska, Michaël; Bayat, Babak; Brauers, Geoffroy; Clarinval, Géraldine; Donner, Marie-Noëlle; Marchand, Martine; Koutsoukos, Marguerite; Mettens, Pascal; Cohen, Joe; Voss, Gerald

    2015-01-01

    HIV-1-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes are important for HIV-1 replication control. F4/AS01 consists of F4 recombinant fusion protein (containing clade B Gag/p24, Pol/RT, Nef and Gag/p17) formulated in AS01 Adjuvant System, and was shown to induce F4-specific polyfunctional CD4+ T-cell responses in humans. While replication-incompetent recombinant HIV-1/SIV antigen-expressing human adenoviral vectors can elicit high-frequency antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell responses, their use is hampered by widespread pre-existing immunity to human serotypes. Non-human adenovirus serotypes associated with lower prevalence may offer an alternative strategy. We evaluated the immunogenicity of AdC7-GRN ('A'), a recombinant chimpanzee adenovirus type 7 vector expressing clade B Gag, RT and Nef, and F4/AS01 ('P'), when delivered intramuscularly in homologous (PP or AA) and heterologous (AAPP or PPAA) prime-boost regimens, in macaques and mice. Vaccine-induced HIV-1-antigen-specific T cells in peripheral blood (macaques), liver, spleen, and intestinal and genital mucosa (mice) were characterized by intracellular cytokine staining. Vaccine-specific IgG antibodies (macaques) were detected using ELISA. In macaques, only the heterologous prime-boost regimens induced polyfunctional, persistent and balanced CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses specific to each HIV-1 vaccine antigen. AdC7-GRN priming increased the polyfunctionality of F4/AS01-induced CD4+ T cells. Approximately 50% of AdC7-GRN-induced memory CD8+ T cells exhibited an effector-memory phenotype. HIV-1-specific antibodies were detected with each regimen. In mice, antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses were detected in the mucosal and systemic anatomical compartments assessed. When administered in heterologous prime-boost regimens, AdC7-GRN and F4/AS01 candidate vaccines acted complementarily in inducing potent and persistent peripheral blood HIV-1-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses and antibodies in macaques. Besides

  15. Gene therapy for barrett's esophagus: adenoviral gene transfer in different intestinal models

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Marsman, Willem A.; Buskens, Christianne J.; Wesseling, John G.; van Lanschot, J. Jan B.; Bosma, Piter J.

    2005-01-01

    Adenoviral gene therapy could potentially be used for treatment of patients with a Barrett's esophagus. In order to study the feasibility of this approach it is important to study adenoviral intestinal transduction both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we used differentiating Caco-2

  16. Purification of adenoviral vectors by combined anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Eglon, Marc N; Duffy, Aoife M; O'Brien, Timothy; Strappe, Padraig M

    2009-11-01

    Adenoviral vectors are used extensively in human gene therapy trials and in vaccine development. Large-scale GMP production requires a downstream purification process, and liquid chromatography is emerging as the most powerful mode of purification, enabling the production of vectors at a clinically relevant scale and quality. The present study describes the development of a two-step high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) process combining anion exchange (AIEX) and gel filtration (GF) in comparison with the caesium chloride density gradient method. HEK-293 cells were cultured in ten-layer CellStacks() and infected with 10 pfu/cell of adenoviral vector expressing green fluorescent protein (Ad5-GFP). Cell-bound virus was harvested and benzonase added to digest DNA, crude lysate was clarified by centrifugation and filtration prior to HPLC. Chromatography fractions were added to HEK-293 cells and GFP expression measured using a fluorescent plate reader. Using AIEX then GF resulted in an adenoviral vector with purity comparable to Ad5-GFP purified by CsCl, whereas the reverse process (GF-AIEX) showed a reduced purity by electrophoresis and required further buffer exchange of the product. The optimal process (AIEX-GF) resulted in a vector yield of 2.3 x 10(7) pfu/cm(2) of cell culture harvested compared to 3.3 x 10(7) pfu/cm(2) for CsCl. The process recovery for the HPLC process was 36% compared to 27.5% for CsCl and total virion to infectious particle ratios of 18 and 11, respectively, were measured. We present a simple two-step chromatography process that is capable of producing high-quality adenovirus at a titre suitable for scale-up and clinical translation.

  17. Molecular epidemiology of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis in Saudi Arabia.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Tabbara, Khalid F; Omar, Nazri; Hammouda, Ehab; Akanuma, Masataka; Ohguchi, Takeshi; Ariga, Toshihide; Tagawa, Yoshitsugu; Kitaichi, Nobuyoshi; Ishida, Susumu; Aoki, Koki; Ishiko, Hiroaki; Ohno, Shigeaki

    2010-10-24

    Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis is a major cause of ocular morbidity and may lead to visual loss. Adenovirus types 8, 19, and 37 may cause epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. The main objective of this study was to determine the types of adenoviruses causing keratoconjunctivitis in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a non-interventional observational clinical study. Seventy three eyes from 65 patients who presented to The Eye Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with clinical features of acute adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis were included. Each patient underwent complete clinical examination and features such as membranous reaction, conjunctival hemorrhage, subepithelial corneal infiltrates, and preauricular lymph node enlargement were recorded. Conjunctival swabs were obtained from patients with presumed acute viral conjunctivitis. Immunochromatography (IC) and restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (PCR-RFLP) were performed on the conjunctival swabs obtained from each eye. Serotype identification was performed using direct sequencing technique. Forty-nine (67.1%) were adenovirus type 8, 8 (11.0%) were adenovirus type 3, 6 (8.2%) type 37, 5 (6.8%) were adenovirus type 4, and 2 (2.3%) type 19. The remaining 5 were types 14, 19, and 22. The prevalence of membranous conjunctivitis was highest (83%) among eyes with adenovirus type 37 while subepithelial corneal opacities were most commonly seen among eyes with adenovirus type 8 (47%). Immunochromatography tests were positive for adenovirus in 48 (65.7%) out of 73 eyes. This study determined the types of adenoviruses causing keratoconjunctivitis at one center in Saudi Arabia. Direct sequencing techniques is an efficient, accurate, and rapid means of diagnosing adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis. The most common causes of adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis in Saudi Arabia were adenovirus types 8, 3, and 37. Membranous conjunctivitis and subepithelial opacities had the highest frequency of adenovirus types 37 and 8

  18. Genetically engineering adenoviral vectors for gene therapy.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Coughlan, Lynda

    2014-01-01

    Adenoviral (Ad) vectors are commonly used for various gene therapy applications. Significant advances in the genetic engineering of Ad vectors in recent years has highlighted their potential for the treatment of metastatic disease. There are several methods to genetically modify the Ad genome to incorporate retargeting peptides which will redirect the natural tropism of the viruses, including homologous recombination in bacteria or yeast. However, homologous recombination in yeast is highly efficient and can be achieved without the need for extensive cloning strategies. In addition, the method does not rely on the presence of unique restriction sites within the Ad genome and the reagents required for this method are widely available and inexpensive. Large plasmids containing the entire adenoviral genome (~36 kbp) can be modified within Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast and genomes easily rescued in Escherichia coli hosts for analysis or amplification. A method for two-step homologous recombination in yeast is described in this chapter.

  19. Adenoviral vector-mediated expression of B-50/GAP-43 induces alterations in the membrane organization of olfactory axon terminals in vivo

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Holtmaat, Anthony J D G; Hermens, W.T.J.M.C.; Sonnemans, M.A.F.; Giger, Roman J; Van Leeuwen, F W; Kaplitt, M G; Oestreicher, A B; Gispen, Willem Hendrik; Verhaagen, J

    1997-01-01

    B-50/GAP-43 is an intraneuronal membrane-associated growth cone protein with an important role in axonal growth and regeneration. By using adenoviral vector-directed expression of B-50/GAP-43 we studied the morphogenic action of B-50/GAP-43 in mature primary olfactory neurons that have established

  20. Endothelial Cell-Targeted Adenoviral Vector for Suppressing Breast Malignancies

    National Research Council Canada - National Science Library

    Huang, Shuang

    2004-01-01

    .... Our proposal is designed to develop an endothelial cell-targeted adenoviral vector and to use the targeted vector to express high levels of anticancer therapeutic genes in the sites of angiogenenic...

  1. Microsphere-liposome complexes protect adenoviral vectors from neutralising antibody without losses in transfection efficiency, in-vitro.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Steel, Jason C; Cavanagh, Heather M A; Burton, Mark A; Kalle, Wouter H J

    2004-11-01

    Adenoviral vectors have been commonly used in gene therapy protocols but the success of their use is often limited by the induction of host immunity to the vector. Following exposure to the adenoviral vector, adenoviral-specific neutralising antibodies are produced, which limits further administration. This study examines the effectiveness of a novel combination of microspheres and liposomes for the shielding of adenovirus from neutralising antibodies in an in-vitro setting. We show that liposomes are effective in the protection of adenovirus from neutralising antibody and that the conjugation of these complexes to microspheres augments the level of protection. This study further reveals that previously neutralised adenovirus may still be transported into the cell via liposome-cell interactions and is still capable of expressing its genes, making this vector an effective tool for circumvention of the humoral immune response. We also looked at possible side effects of using the complexes, namely increases in cytotoxicity and reductions in transfection efficiency. Our results showed that varying the liposome:adenovirus ratio can reduce the cytotoxicity of the vector as well as increase the transfection efficiency. In addition, in cell lines that are adenoviral competent, transfection efficiencies on par with uncomplexed adenoviral vectors were achievable with the combination vector.

  2. When should adenoviral non-gonococcal urethritis be suspected? Two case reports.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Avolio, Manuela; De Rosa, Rita; Modolo, Maria Luisa; Stano, Paola; Camporese, Alessandro

    2014-01-01

    The impact of Adenovirus as agent of non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) is still poorly documented in the literature. We describe two cases showing that adenoviral infection should be reasonably hypothesized in men with dysuria and scant urethral discharge in addition to meatus inflammation and/or edema (meatitis) or conjunctivitis. Case 1: a 55-year-old man came to our observation in July 2012 referring a 5-day-history of intense dysuria and scant mucoid urethral discharge. Physical examination revealed the urethral discharge referred, but also modest meatitis and an intense conjunctival hyperemia on his right eye. Adenoviral infection was investigated and Adenovirus DNA (type 37) was detected in both the urethral and conjunctival swabs. Case 2: a 43-year-old man with intense dysuria, started 4-5 days earlier, came to our attention with his wife in August 2012. Scant urethral mucoid secretions, severe meatal inflammation of the male patient were revealed during physical examination. His wife instead complained of a 2-day history of intense burning eyes. Adenoviral infection was investigated and Adenovirus DNA (type 37) was positive both in the male urethral swab and in his wife's conjunctival swab. Adenovirus seems to cause a distinct and recognisable clinical syndrome in men presenting with urethritis. Studies on the prevalence and role of Adenovirus as a causative agent of urethritis are limited. Moreover, as rapid advanced molecular microbiology is now available, we believe that extending the search to Adenovirus in sexually active men with dysuria, scant discharge in addition to meatitis or conjunctivitis, should be a useful approach improving our understanding about adenoviral NGU, and especially avoiding or stopping unnecessary empirical antibiotic therapy.

  3. Transient gene transfer to neurons and glia : analysis of adenoviral vector performance in the CNS and PNS

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Hermens, W.T.J.M.C.; Giger, Roman J; Holtmaat, Anthony J D G; Dijkhuizen, Paul A; Houweling, D A; Verhaagen, J

    In this paper a detailed protocol is presented for neuroscientists planning to start work on first generation recombinant adenoviral vectors as gene transfer agents for the nervous system. The performance of a prototype adenoviral vector encoding the bacterial lacZ gene as a reporter was studied,

  4. Crystal structure of the β<sub>2sub> adrenergic receptor-Gs protein complex

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rasmussen, Søren G.F.; DeVree, Brian T; Zou, Yaozhong; Kruse, Andrew C; Chung, Ka Young; Kobilka, Tong Sun; Thian, Foon Sun; Chae, Pil Seok; Pardon, Els; Calinski, Diane; Mathiesen, Jesper M; Shah, Syed T.A.; Lyons, Joseph A; Caffrey, Martin; Gellman, Samuel H; Steyaert, Jan; Skiniotis, Georgios; Weis, William I; Sunahara, Roger K; Kobilka, Brian K [Brussels; (Trinity); (Michigan); (Stanford-MED); (Michigan-Med); (UW)

    2011-12-07

    G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are responsible for the majority of cellular responses to hormones and neurotransmitters as well as the senses of sight, olfaction and taste. The paradigm of GPCR signalling is the activation of a heterotrimeric GTP binding protein (G protein) by an agonist-occupied receptor. The β<sub>2sub> adrenergic receptor (β<sub>2sub>AR) activation of Gs, the stimulatory G protein for adenylyl cyclase, has long been a model system for GPCR signalling. Here we present the crystal structure of the active state ternary complex composed of agonist-occupied monomeric β<sub>2sub>AR and nucleotide-free Gs heterotrimer. The principal interactions between the β<sub>2sub>AR and Gs involve the amino- and carboxy-terminal α-helices of Gs, with conformational changes propagating to the nucleotide-binding pocket. The largest conformational changes in the β<sub>2sub>AR include a 14Å outward movement at the cytoplasmic end of transmembrane segment 6 (TM6) and an α-helical extension of the cytoplasmic end of TM5. The most surprising observation is a major displacement of the α-helical domain of Gαs relative to the Ras-like GTPase domain. This crystal structure represents the first high-resolution view of transmembrane signalling by a GPCR.

  5. Suppression of inflammation by dexamethasone prolongs adenoviral vector-mediated transgene expression in the facial nucleus of the rat

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Hermens, W.T.J.M.C.; Verhaagen, J

    1998-01-01

    Adenoviral vector directed gene transfer to rat facial motoneurons occurs efficiently following intra-parenchymal injection of relatively high dosages (> or =10(7) pfu per injection) of a prototype first generation adenoviral vector. However, high level of transgene expression, as observed during

  6. Dynamics of biosynthesis of thyroglobulin sub-units and their polymerization in rabbit thyroid slices in vitro

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sinadinovic, J; Jovanovic, M; Kraincanic, M [Institut za Primeni Nuklearne Energije u Poljoprivedri, Veterinarstvu i Sumarstvu, Zemun (Yugoslavia)

    1975-01-01

    The dynamics of biosynthesis and aggregation of sub-units into thyroglobulin (TG) was studied i n v i t r o in rabbit thyroid sections incubated for 5 to 300 min in the presence of 1-/sup 14/C-leucine. The incorporation of the labelled amino acid in total soluble and microsome bound proteins and its distribution in soluble protein fractions were investigated. The incorporation of the labelled amino acid in soluble and microsome-bound proteins was found to increase with the time of incubation. The label was incorported very early, this not only into the 3-8S fraction but also into a protein corresponding to the 12S fraction. The maximum incorporation into 12S protein was achieved after 60 min of incubation; the intensity of incorporation then decreased, followed by an increase in the relative and absolute amounts of TG. /sup 14/C-leucine in the TG region was not observed before the 30th min of incubation. The dynamics of incorporation of /sup 14/C-leucine into thyroid proteins indicated a very rapid transformation of the newly synthesized 12S sub-units into TG.

  7. Adenoviral vector-mediated gene transfer and neurotransplantation : possibilities and limitations in grafting of the fetal rat suprachiasmatic nucleus

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    van Esseveldt, K E; Liu, R.; Hermens, W.T.J.M.C.; Verhaagen, J; Boer, G J

    Several studies have reported on the use of primary neural cells transduced by adenoviral vectors as donor cells in neurotransplantation. In the present investigation, we examined whether adenoviral vector-mediated gene transfer could be used to introduce and express a foreign gene in solid neural

  8. Improved vaccine protection against retrovirus infection after co-administration of adenoviral vectors encoding viral antigens and type I interferon subtypes

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Groitl Peter

    2011-09-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background Type I interferons (IFNs exhibit direct antiviral effects, but also distinct immunomodulatory properties. In this study, we analyzed type I IFN subtypes for their effect on prophylactic adenovirus-based anti-retroviral vaccination of mice against Friend retrovirus (FV or HIV. Results Mice were vaccinated with adenoviral vectors encoding FV Env and Gag proteins alone or in combination with vectors encoding IFNα1, IFNα2, IFNα4, IFNα5, IFNα6, IFNα9 or IFNβ. Only the co-administration of adenoviral vectors encoding IFNα2, IFNα4, IFNα6 and IFNα9 resulted in strongly improved immune protection of vaccinated mice from subsequent FV challenge infection with high control over FV-induced splenomegaly and reduced viral loads. The level of protection correlated with augmented virus-specific CD4+ T cell responses and enhanced antibody titers. Similar results were obtained when mice were vaccinated against HIV with adenoviral vectors encoding HIV Env and Gag-Pol in combination with various type I IFN encoding vectors. Here mainly CD4+ T cell responses were enhanced by IFNα subtypes. Conclusions Our results indicate that certain IFNα subtypes have the potential to improve the protective effect of adenovirus-based vaccines against retroviruses. This correlated with augmented virus-specific CD4+ T cell and antibody responses. Thus, co-expression of select type I IFNs may be a valuable tool for the development of anti-retroviral vaccines.

  9. Efficient adenoviral vector directed expression of a foreign gene to neurons and sustentacular cells in the mouse olfactory neuroepithelium

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Gispen, W.H.; Holtmaat, A.J.G.D.; Hermens, W.T.J.M.C.; Oestreicher, A.B.; Kaplitt, M.G.; Verhaagen, J.

    1996-01-01

    Replication deficient recombinant adenoviral vectors are efficient gene transfer agents for postmitotic cells, including neurons and glial cells. In this paper we have examined the effectiveness of adenoviral vector-mediated gene transfer to the olfactory epithelium of adult mice. We show that

  10. Efficient adenoviral vector-directed expression of a foreign gene to neurons and sustentacular cells in the mouse olfactory neuroepithelium

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Holtmaat, Anthony J D G; Hermens, W.T.J.M.C.; Oestreicher, A B; Gispen, Willem Hendrik; Kaplitt, M G; Verhaagen, J

    1996-01-01

    Replication deficient recombinant adenoviral vectors are efficient gene transfer agents for postmitotic cells, including neurons and glial cells. In this paper we have examined the effectiveness of adenoviral vector-mediated gene transfer to the olfactory epithelium of adult mice. We show that

  11. Adenoviral infection in a collection of juvenile inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps).

    Science.gov (United States)

    Doneley, R J T; Buckle, K N; Hulse, L

    2014-01-01

    Juvenile inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) from a breeding collection in south-east Queensland were presented at age 6-10 weeks with neurological signs, poor growth and occasional deaths. Histopathological examination revealed that six of eight lizards had multifocal non-suppurative hepatitis associated with 5-10 μm diameter, smudgy, basophilic, hyaline intranuclear inclusion bodies that marginated the nuclear chromatin. These histological lesions were considered consistent with adenoviral hepatitis. Infection with adenovirus was confirmed positive in one of the eight dragons by PCR for adenoviral DNA. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded pooled tissues of the juvenile inland bearded dragons and tested using a nested-PCR protocol with primers specific for identification of adenovirus. Sequencing of the one PCR-positive dragon showed 95% nucleotide sequence alignment with agamid atadenovirus 1. Further investigation involved testing the breeding population, including the parents of the affected juveniles. Blood and cloacal samples were collected from the adult population, DNA was extracted and tested by PCR for adenovirus. There was a high percentage of positive results from the samples collected from the breeding population. This is the first reported group outbreak of adenoviral disease in bearded dragons in Australia. © 2014 Australian Veterinary Association.

  12. Adenoviral vectors as genome editing tools : repairing defective DMD alleles

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Maggio, Ignazio

    2016-01-01

    Adenoviral vectors (AdVs) constitute powerful gene delivery vehicles. However, so far, their potential for genome editing has not been extensively investigated. By tailoring AdVs as carriers of designer nucleases and donor DNA sequences, the research presented in this thesis expands the utility of

  13. Increased tumor localization and reduced immune response to adenoviral vector formulated with the liposome DDAB/DOPE.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Steel, Jason C; Cavanagh, Heather M A; Burton, Mark A; Abu-Asab, Mones S; Tsokos, Maria; Morris, John C; Kalle, Wouter H J

    2007-04-01

    We aimed to increase the efficiency of adenoviral vectors by limiting adenoviral spread from the target site and reducing unwanted host immune responses to the vector. We complexed adenoviral vectors with DDAB-DOPE liposomes to form adenovirus-liposomal (AL) complexes. AL complexes were delivered by intratumoral injection in an immunocompetent subcutaneous rat tumor model and the immunogenicity of the AL complexes and the expression efficiency in the tumor and other organs was examined. Animals treated with the AL complexes had significantly lower levels of beta-galactosidase expression in systemic tissues compared to animals treated with the naked adenovirus (NA) (P<0.05). The tumor to non-tumor ratio of beta-galactosidase marker expression was significantly higher for the AL complex treated animals. NA induced significantly higher titers of adenoviral-specific antibodies compared to the AL complexes (P<0.05). The AL complexes provided protection (immunoshielding) to the adenovirus from neutralizing antibody. Forty-seven percent more beta-galactosidase expression was detected following intratumoral injection with AL complexes compared to the NA in animals pre-immunized with adenovirus. Complexing of adenovirus with liposomes provides a simple method to enhance tumor localization of the vector, decrease the immunogenicity of adenovirus, and provide protection of the virus from pre-existing neutralizing antibodies.

  14. Advances and Future Challenges in Recombinant Adenoviral Vectored H5N1 Influenza Vaccines

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Jianfeng Zhang

    2012-11-01

    Full Text Available The emergence of a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 has increased the potential for a new pandemic to occur. This event highlights the necessity for developing a new generation of influenza vaccines to counteract influenza disease. These vaccines must be manufactured for mass immunization of humans in a timely manner. Poultry should be included in this policy, since persistent infected flocks are the major source of avian influenza for human infections. Recombinant adenoviral vectored H5N1 vaccines are an attractive alternative to the currently licensed influenza vaccines. This class of vaccines induces a broadly protective immunity against antigenically distinct H5N1, can be manufactured rapidly, and may allow mass immunization of human and poultry. Recombinant adenoviral vectors derived from both human and non-human adenoviruses are currently being investigated and appear promising both in nonclinical and clinical studies. This review will highlight the current status of various adenoviral vectored H5N1 vaccines and will outline novel approaches for the future.

  15. Recombinant HT{sub m4} gene, protein and assays

    Science.gov (United States)

    Lim, B.; Adra, C.N.; Lelias, J.M.

    1996-09-03

    The invention relates to a recombinant DNA molecule which encodes a HT{sub m4} protein, a transformed host cell which has been stably transfected with a DNA molecule which encodes a HT{sub m4} protein and a recombinant HT{sub m4} protein. The invention also relates to a method for detecting the presence of a hereditary atopy. 2 figs.

  16. Protein Sub-Nuclear Localization Prediction Using SVM and Pfam Domain Information

    Science.gov (United States)

    Kumar, Ravindra; Jain, Sohni; Kumari, Bandana; Kumar, Manish

    2014-01-01

    The nucleus is the largest and the highly organized organelle of eukaryotic cells. Within nucleus exist a number of pseudo-compartments, which are not separated by any membrane, yet each of them contains only a specific set of proteins. Understanding protein sub-nuclear localization can hence be an important step towards understanding biological functions of the nucleus. Here we have described a method, SubNucPred developed by us for predicting the sub-nuclear localization of proteins. This method predicts protein localization for 10 different sub-nuclear locations sequentially by combining presence or absence of unique Pfam domain and amino acid composition based SVM model. The prediction accuracy during leave-one-out cross-validation for centromeric proteins was 85.05%, for chromosomal proteins 76.85%, for nuclear speckle proteins 81.27%, for nucleolar proteins 81.79%, for nuclear envelope proteins 79.37%, for nuclear matrix proteins 77.78%, for nucleoplasm proteins 76.98%, for nuclear pore complex proteins 88.89%, for PML body proteins 75.40% and for telomeric proteins it was 83.33%. Comparison with other reported methods showed that SubNucPred performs better than existing methods. A web-server for predicting protein sub-nuclear localization named SubNucPred has been established at http://14.139.227.92/mkumar/subnucpred/. Standalone version of SubNucPred can also be downloaded from the web-server. PMID:24897370

  17. Down-regulation of viral replication by adenoviral-mediated expression of siRNA against cellular cofactors for hepatitis C virus

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Zhang Jing; Yamada, Osamu; Sakamoto, Takashi; Yoshida, Hiroshi; Iwai, Takahiro; Matsushita, Yoshihisa; Shimamura, Hideo; Araki, Hiromasa; Shimotohno, Kunitada

    2004-01-01

    Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is currently being evaluated not only as a powerful tool for functional genomics, but also as a potentially promising therapeutic agent for cancer and infectious diseases. Inhibitory effect of siRNA on viral replication has been demonstrated in multiple pathogenic viruses. However, because of the high sequence specificity of siRNA-mediated RNA degradation, antiviral efficacy of siRNA directed to viral genome will be largely limited by emergence of escape variants resistant to siRNA due to high mutation rates of virus, especially RNA viruses such as poliovirus and hepatitis C virus (HCV). To investigate the therapeutic feasibility of siRNAs specific for the putative cellular cofactors for HCV, we constructed adenovirus vectors expressing siRNAs against La, polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB), subunit gamma of human eukaryotic initiation factors 2B (eIF2Bγ), and human VAMP-associated protein of 33 kDa (hVAP-33). Adenoviral-mediated expression of siRNAs markedly diminished expression of the endogenous genes, and silencing of La, PTB, and hVAP-33 by siRNAs substantially blocked HCV replication in Huh-7 cells. Thus, our studies demonstrate the feasibility and potential of adenoviral-delivered siRNAs specific for cellular cofactors in combating HCV infection, which can be used either alone or in combination with siRNA against viral genome to prevent the escape of mutant variants and provide additive or synergistic anti-HCV effects

  18. Ovarian cancer targeted adenoviral-mediated mda-7/IL-24 gene therapy

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Mahasreshti, PJ; Kataram, M; Wu, HJ; Yalavarthy, LP; Carey, D; Dent, P; Chada, S; Alvarez, RD; Haisma, HJ; Fisher, PB; Curiel, DT

    Objective. We have previously shown that adenoviral-mediated melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (Ad.mda-7) therapy induces apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. However, the apoptosis induction was low and directly correlated with infectivity of Ad.mda-7. The objective of this study was to

  19. Adenoviral vector-mediated gene expression in the nervous system of immunocompetent Wistar and T cell-deficient nude rats : preferential survival of transduced astroglial cells in nude rats

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Hermens, W.T.J.M.C.; Verhaagen, J

    1997-01-01

    In the present paper, we examined the effect of the adenoviral vector dosage, the role of T cells, and the influence of the presence of replication-competent adenovirus (RCA) in adenoviral vector stocks, on the efficacy of adenoviral vector-directed transgene expression in the facial nucleus of

  20. Sub-grouping and sub-functionalization of the RIFIN multi-copy protein family

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Sonnhammer Erik L

    2008-01-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background Parasitic protozoans possess many multicopy gene families which have central roles in parasite survival and virulence. The number and variability of members of these gene families often make it difficult to predict possible functions of the encoded proteins. The families of extra-cellular proteins that are exposed to a host immune response have been driven via immune selection to become antigenically variant, and thereby avoid immune recognition while maintaining protein function to establish a chronic infection. Results We have combined phylogenetic and function shift analyses to study the evolution of the RIFIN proteins, which are antigenically variant and are encoded by the largest multicopy gene family in Plasmodium falciparum. We show that this family can be subdivided into two major groups that we named A- and B-RIFIN proteins. This suggested sub-grouping is supported by a recently published study that showed that, despite the presence of the Plasmodium export (PEXEL motif in all RIFIN variants, proteins from each group have different cellular localizations during the intraerythrocytic life cycle of the parasite. In the present study we show that function shift analysis, a novel technique to predict functional divergence between sub-groups of a protein family, indicates that RIFINs have undergone neo- or sub-functionalization. Conclusion These results question the general trend of clustering large antigenically variant protein groups into homogenous families. Assigning functions to protein families requires their subdivision into meaningful groups such as we have shown for the RIFIN protein family. Using phylogenetic and function shift analysis methods, we identify new directions for the investigation of this broad and complex group of proteins.

  1. Gene Therapy with Helper-Dependent Adenoviral Vectors: Current Advances and Future Perspectives

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Philip Ng

    2010-09-01

    Full Text Available Recombinant Adenoviral vectors represent one of the best gene transfer platforms due to their ability to efficiently transduce a wide range of quiescent and proliferating cell types from various tissues and species. The activation of an adaptive immune response against the transduced cells is one of the major drawbacks of first generation Adenovirus vectors and has been overcome by the latest generation of recombinant Adenovirus, the Helper-Dependent Adenoviral (HDAd vectors. HDAds have innovative features including the complete absence of viral coding sequences and the ability to mediate high level transgene expression with negligible chronic toxicity. This review summarizes the many aspects of HDAd biology and structure with a major focus on in vivo gene therapy application and with an emphasis on the unsolved issues that these vectors still presents toward clinical application.

  2. Protein surface labeling reactivity of N-hydroxysuccinimide esters conjugated to Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@SiO{sub 2} magnetic nanoparticles

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Pirani, Parisa; Patil, Ujwal S.; Apsunde, Tushar Dattu; Trudell, Mark L.; Cai, Yang, E-mail: ycai@chnola-research.org; Tarr, Matthew A., E-mail: mtarr@uno.edu [University of New Orleans, Department of Chemistry (United States)

    2015-09-15

    The N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester moiety is one of the most widely used amine reactive groups for covalent conjugation of proteins/peptides to other functional targets. In this study, a cleave-analyze approach was developed to quantify NHS ester groups conjugated to silica-coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@SiO{sub 2} MNPs). The fluorophore dansylcadaverine was attached to Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@SiO{sub 2} magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) via reaction with NHS ester groups, and then released from the MNPs by cleavage of the disulfide bond in the linker between the fluorophore and the MNPs moiety. The fluorophore released from Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@SiO{sub 2} MNPs was fluorometrically measured, and the amount of fluorophore should be equivalent to the quantity of the NHS ester groups on the surface of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@SiO{sub 2} MNPs that participated in the fluorophore conjugation reaction. Another sensitive and semiquantitative fluorescence microscopic test was also developed to confirm the presence of NHS ester groups on the surface of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@SiO{sub 2} MNPs. Surface-conjugated NHS ester group measurements were primarily performed on Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@SiO{sub 2} MNPs of 100–150 nm in diameter and also on 20-nm nanoparticles of the same type but prepared by a different method. The efficiency of labeling native proteins by NHS ester-coated Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@SiO{sub 2} MNPs was explored in terms of maximizing the number of MNPs conjugated per BSA molecule or maximizing the number of BSA molecules conjugated per each nanoparticle. Maintaining the amount of fresh NHS ester moieties in the labeling reaction system was essential especially when maximizing the number of MNPs conjugated per protein molecule. The methodology demonstrated in this study can serve as a guide in labeling the exposed portions of proteins by bulky multivalent labeling reagents.

  3. CRISPR/Cas9 delivery with one single adenoviral vector devoid of all viral genes.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ehrke-Schulz, Eric; Schiwon, Maren; Leitner, Theo; Dávid, Stephan; Bergmann, Thorsten; Liu, Jing; Ehrhardt, Anja

    2017-12-07

    The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system revolutionized the field of gene editing but viral delivery of the CRISPR/Cas9 system has not been fully explored. Here we adapted clinically relevant high-capacity adenoviral vectors (HCAdV) devoid of all viral genes for the delivery of the CRISPR/Cas9 machinery using a single viral vector. We present a platform enabling fast transfer of the Cas9 gene and gRNA expression units into the HCAdV genome including the option to choose between constitutive or inducible Cas9 expression and gRNA multiplexing. Efficacy and versatility of this pipeline was exemplified by producing different CRISPR/Cas9-HCAdV targeting the human papillomavirus (HPV) 18 oncogene E6, the dystrophin gene causing Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and the HIV co-receptor C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5). All CRISPR/Cas9-HCAdV proved to be efficient to deliver the respective CRISPR/Cas9 expression units and to introduce the desired DNA double strand breaks at their intended target sites in immortalized and primary cells.

  4. Sensitivity and specificity of the AdenoPlus test for diagnosing adenoviral conjunctivitis.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sambursky, Robert; Trattler, William; Tauber, Shachar; Starr, Christopher; Friedberg, Murray; Boland, Thomas; McDonald, Marguerite; DellaVecchia, Michael; Luchs, Jodi

    2013-01-01

    To compare the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the AdenoPlus test with those of both viral cell culture (CC) with confirmatory immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at detecting the presence of adenovirus in tear fluid. A prospective, sequential, masked, multicenter clinical trial enrolled 128 patients presenting with a clinical diagnosis of acute viral conjunctivitis from a combination of 8 private ophthalmology practices and academic centers. Patients were tested with AdenoPlus, CC-IFA, and PCR to detect the presence of adenovirus. The sensitivity and specificity of AdenoPlus were assessed for identifying cases of adenoviral conjunctivitis. Of the 128 patients enrolled, 36 patients' results were found to be positive by either CC-IFA or PCR and 29 patients' results were found to be positive by both CC-IFA and PCR. When compared only with CC-IFA, AdenoPlus showed a sensitivity of 90% (28/31) and specificity of 96% (93/97). When compared only with PCR, AdenoPlus showed a sensitivity of 85% (29/34) and specificity of 98% (89/91). When compared with both CC-IFA and PCR, AdenoPlus showed a sensitivity of 93% (27/29) and specificity of 98% (88/90). When compared with PCR, CC-IFA showed a sensitivity of 85% (29/34) and specificity of 99% (90/91). AdenoPlus is sensitive and specific at detecting adenoviral conjunctivitis. An accurate and rapid in-office test can prevent the misdiagnosis of adenoviral conjunctivitis that leads to the spread of disease, unnecessary antibiotic use, and increased health care costs. Additionally, AdenoPlus may help a clinician make a more informed treatment decision regarding the use of novel therapeutics. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00921895.

  5. Myocardial ischemic preconditioning upregulated protein 1(Mipu1):zinc finger protein 667 - a multifunctional KRAB/C{sub 2}H{sub 2} zinc finger protein

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Han, D.; Zhang, C. [Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Post-doctoral Mobile Stations for Basic Medicine, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan Province (China); Fan, W.J. [Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Post-doctoral Mobile Stations for Basic Medicine, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan Province (China); The Second Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan Province (China); Pan, W.J.; Feng, D.M.; Qu, S.L.; Jiang, Z.S. [Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Lab for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Post-doctoral Mobile Stations for Basic Medicine, University of South China, Hengyang City, Hunan Province (China)

    2014-10-31

    Myocardial ischemic preconditioning upregulated protein 1 (Mipu1) is a newly discovered upregulated gene produced in rats during the myocardial ischemic preconditioning process. Mipu1 cDNA contains a 1824-base pair open reading frame and encodes a 608 amino acid protein with an N-terminal Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) domain and classical zinc finger C{sub 2}H{sub 2} motifs in the C-terminus. Mipu1 protein is located in the cell nucleus. Recent studies found that Mipu1 has a protective effect on the ischemia-reperfusion injury of heart, brain, and other organs. As a nuclear factor, Mipu1 may perform its protective function through directly transcribing and repressing the expression of proapoptotic genes to repress cell apoptosis. In addition, Mipu1 also plays an important role in regulating the gene expression of downstream inflammatory mediators by inhibiting the activation of activator protein-1 and serum response element.

  6. Fermentation of solutions of glucose-protein concentrate in a cascade-multi-ray unit

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Denshchikov, M T; Shashilova, V P

    1964-01-01

    Glucose-protein concentrate is a material obtained by the hydrolysis of corn, containing glucose 75 to 80, maltose, isomaltose, and other non-fermentable sugars 1.5 to 2, H/sub 2/O 15 to 17, mineral matter 1.9 to 1%, and N-containing materials 3.2 to 3.4 g/kg. In earlier fermentation trails with this material, after addition of H/sub 2/O, only 10 to 12% ethanol concentrations were obtained. With period addition of citric acid and replacement of the yeast at regular intervals, using a cascade-multitray unit, 12 to 13% concentrations of ethanol were obtained.

  7. Radioimmunoassay of β sub unit HCG following hydatidiform mole or chorionic carcinoma

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Tscherne, G.; Puerstner, P.

    1979-01-01

    The radioimmunoassay of Beta Sub Unit HCG in the serum heralds a marked improvement in the diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease. In nine cases of hydatidiform mole and three cases of chorionic carcinoma serial examinations of the Beta Sub Unit HCG were performed. When the immunologic pregnancy test became negative following a hydatidiform mole or following treatment of chorionic carcinoma, the HCG excretion remained above detectable values for several more weeks. The decrease of Beta Sub Unit serum HCG was either linear or in fluctuations. The detection of fluctuations or a secondary rise in the Beta Sub Unit HCG titre permits the early diagnosis of invasive trophoblastic disease following hydatidiform mole or of insufficient treatment or recurrence in cases of chorionic carcinoma. Our results suggest that the optimal follow-up with Beta Sub Unit serum HCG is by weekly determinations until four consecutive determinations remained negative. This is followed by two determinations at bi-weekly intervals and thereafter monthly follow-up examinations. (orig.) 891 AJ/orig. 892 BRE [de

  8. Radiosensitization effect of recombinant adenoviral-mediated PUMA gene on pancreatic carcinoma cells

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Zhu Dongming; Zhang Kejun; Li Dechun; Zhu Xuefeng; Yang Yong

    2009-01-01

    Objective: To study the effect of PUMA gene mediated by recombinant adenovirus vector combined with radiation on the pancreatic carcinoma. Methods: The PANC-1 cells were infected with Ad- PUMA (MOI=10, 50 and 100, respectively) for 48 h. The expression of PUMA mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. PANC-1 cells were divided into 4 groups: control group, transfection group, irradiation group and combined treatment group. The cell growth inhibition rate and apoptotic rate of PANC-1 cells were assessed by MTT assay and flow cytometry. Human pancreatic carcinomas were transplanted subcutaneously in nude mice, which were randomized into 4 groups: control group, transfection group, irradiation group and combined treatment group. Tumor growth rate and apoptotic index at different time points were recorded in 35 days. Results: The expression of PUMA mRNA and protein was increased with the increase of MOI of Ad-PUMA, which was does-dependant (MOI=10, mRNA=0.46± 0.02, protein=0.75± 0.09; MOI=50, mRNA=1.12±0.09, protein=1.01±0.18; MOI=100, mRNA=1.50±0.08, protein= 1.80±0.15; P 3 , (39.5±9.23)mm 3 , (33.6±10.3)mm 3 and (52.0±11.43)mm 3 , respectively, P<0.05]. And the apoptotic index was increased in the same manner (AI=0.43±0.05, 0.29±0.10, 0.24±0.05 and 0.00±0.00, respectively, P<0.05). Conclusions: Recombinant adenoviral-mediated PUMA gene combined with irradiation could increase the cell-killing effect on pancreatic carcinoma. It is better than that of either one kind of therapy. (authors)

  9. Structure and oxidation states of giant unit cell compound Dy{sub 117+x}Fe{sub 57-y}Sn{sub 112-z}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Brown, Alexander T.; Barron, Keaton G.; Salazar, Bryan G.; Kirby, Parker; McCandless, Gregory T. [Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas, Dallas, Richardson, TX (United States); Walker, Amy V.; Chan, Julia Y. [Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas, Dallas, Richardson, TX (United States); Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Texas, Dallas, Richardson, TX (United States)

    2017-12-13

    Motivated by the complex structure and properties of giant unit cell intermetallic compounds, a new isostructural Fe analogue of the Dy{sub 117}Co{sub 57}Sn{sub 112} structure type was synthesized. Single crystals of Dy{sub 122}Fe{sub 55}Sn{sub 101} were grown at 1260 C via a Dy-Fe eutectoid flux. The Fe analogue also adopts the space group Fm anti 3m with lattice parameters a = 29.914(9) Aa, V = 26769(23) Aa{sup 3}, and Z = 4. Dy{sub 122}Fe{sub 55}Sn{sub 101} has a large cell volume, structural complexity, and consists of seven Dy, eight Fe, and ten Sn unique crystallographic sites. There are fifteen fully occupied atomic positions, three unique pairs of alternating atomic positions with positional disorder, and seven partially occupied atomic sites. Within this complex unit cell, only approximately half the unique atomic positions are fully occupied with the remainder of the atoms either positionally or occupationally disordered. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that the compound contains Dy{sup 3+}, Fe{sup 0}, Fe{sup 2+}, Sn{sup 0}, and Sn{sup 4+}. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  10. Effect of dietary protein on the excretion of. cap alpha. /sub 2u/, the sex-dependent protein of the adult male rat

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Neuhaus, O W; Flory, W

    1975-01-01

    Adult male rates were maintained on normal (20 percent casein), protein-free (0 percent casein), high protein (50 percent casein), deficient protein (20 percent zein), and a supplemented, deficient protein (20 percent zein plus L-lysine and L-tryptophan) diets. Rats on a protein-free diet excreted approximately 1 mg ..cap alpha../sub 2u//24 h compared with a normal of 10-15 mg/24 h. Depleted rats placed on the normal diet showed a rapid restoration of the normal ..cap alpha../sub 2u/ excretion as well as total urinary proteins. Accumulation of ..cap alpha../sub 2u/ in the blood serum was measured in nephrectomized rats. Rats on the protein free diet accumulated only 30 percent of the ..cap alpha../sub 2u/ compared to normals. On a 50 precent casein diet, rats excreted 30-50 mg ..cap alpha../sub 2u//24 h. However, the accumulation was normal in the serum of nephrectomized rats. A high protein diet did not stimulate ..cap alpha../sub 2u/ synthesis but probably increased the renal loss of all urinary proteins. The excretion of ..cap alpha../sub 2u/ on a zein diet was reduced to the same degree as with the protein-free diet. Supplementation with lysine and tryptophan restored the capacity to eliminate ..cap alpha../sub 2u/ to near normal levels. Accumulation of ..cap alpha../sub 2u/ in the serum of nephrectomized rats kept on the zein diets showed that the effect was to suppress the synthesis of the ..cap alpha../sub 2u/. Supplementation restored the biosynthesis of ..cap alpha../sub 2u/. It is concluded that the effect of dietary protein on the excretion of urinary proteins in the adult male rat is caused in a large part by an influence on the hepatic biosynthesis of ..cap alpha../sub 2u/. The biosynthesis of this protein, which represents approximately 30 percent of the total urinary proteins, is dependent on an adequate supply of dietary protein.

  11. Adenoviral DNA replication: DNA sequences and enzymes required for initiation in vitro

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Stillman, B.W.; Tamanoi, F.

    1983-01-01

    In this paper evidence is provided that the 140,000-dalton DNA polymerase is encoded by the adenoviral genome and is required for the initiation of DNA replication in vitro. The DNA sequences in the template DNA that are required for the initiation of replication have also been identified, using both plasmid DNAs and synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides. 48 references, 7 figures, 1 table

  12. EFFECT OF FSH β-SUB UNIT AND FSHR GENES POLYMORPHISMS ON SUPEROVULATORY RESPONSE TRAITS

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    E. Andreas

    2015-09-01

    Full Text Available Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH is a pituitary expressed glycoprotein hormone that regulatesreproduction in mammals which composed of α and β-sub unit. The β-sub unit dictates its bindingspecificity with their receptor (FSHR. This study aimed to identify polymorphism of FSH β-sub unitand FSHR genes, and its effect to superovulatory response traits on superovulated cows. Study was doneon 32 cows including Angus, Friesian Holstein (FH, Limousin, Simmental and Brahman in CipelangLivestock Embryo Center. Cows used have been treated superovulation and mated by artificialinsemination. Superovulation response (SR, ovulation rate (OR, fertilization percentage (FP andviable transfer embryo percentage (VP were analyzed to investigate the effect of FSH β-sub unit andFSHR polymorphism. Allele frequency of FSH β-sub unit|PstI and FSH|AluI were opposite withinspecies. Mostly B allele and C allele for FSH β-sub unit and FSHR respectively have a high number inBos taurus species while those were in contrast in Bos indicus species. The highest heterozygosity wasfound in FH cattle (0.250 for FSH β-sub unit and Brahman (0.333 for FSHR. Significant effect was found between FSHR gene polymorphism with ovulation rate where CC genotype was higher (P<0.05than CG and GG genotypes.

  13. Homology Requirements for Efficient, Footprintless Gene Editing at the CFTR Locus in Human iPSCs with Helper-dependent Adenoviral Vectors

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Donna J Palmer

    2016-01-01

    Full Text Available Helper-dependent adenoviral vectors mediate high efficiency gene editing in induced pluripotent stem cells without needing a designer nuclease thereby avoiding off-target cleavage. Because of their large cloning capacity of 37 kb, helper-dependent adenoviral vectors with long homology arms are used for gene editing. However, this makes vector construction and recombinant analysis difficult. Conversely, insufficient homology may compromise targeting efficiency. Thus, we investigated the effect of homology length on helper-dependent adenoviral vector targeting efficiency at the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator locus in induced pluripotent stem cells and found a positive correlation. With 23.8 and 21.4 kb of homology, the frequencies of targeted recombinants were 50–64.6% after positive selection for vector integration, and 97.4–100% after negative selection against random integrations. With 14.8 kb, the frequencies were 26.9–57.1% after positive selection and 87.5–100% after negative selection. With 9.6 kb, the frequencies were 21.4 and 75% after positive and negative selection, respectively. With only 5.6 kb, the frequencies were 5.6–16.7% after positive selection and 50% after negative selection, but these were more than high enough for efficient identification and isolation of targeted clones. Furthermore, we demonstrate helper-dependent adenoviral vector-mediated footprintless correction of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator mutations through piggyBac excision of the selectable marker. However, low frequencies (≤ 1 × 10−3 necessitated negative selection for piggyBac-excision product isolation.

  14. Quantification of residual host cell DNA in adenoviral vectors produced on PER.C6 cells

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Gijsbers, Linda; Koel, Björn; Weggeman, Miranda; Goudsmit, Jaap; Havenga, Menzo; Marzio, Giuseppe

    2005-01-01

    Recombinant adenoviral vectors for gene therapy and vaccination are routinely prepared on cultures of immortalized cells, allowing the production of vector batches of high titer and consistent quality. Quantification of residual DNA from the producing cell line is part of the purity tests for

  15. [UO{sub 2}Cl{sub 2}(phen){sub 2}], a simple uranium(VI) compound with a significantly bent uranyl unit (phen=1,10-phenanthroline)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Schoene, Sebastian; Radoske, Thomas; Maerz, Juliane; Stumpf, Thorsten; Patzschke, Michael; Ikeda-Ohno, Atsushi [Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Resource Ecology, Dresden (Germany)

    2017-10-04

    A simple synthesis based on UO{sub 2}Cl{sub 2}.n H{sub 2}O and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) resulted in the formation of a new uranyl(VI) complex [UO{sub 2}Cl{sub 2}(phen){sub 2}] (1), revealing a unique dodecadeltahedron coordination geometry around the uranium center with significant bending of the robust linear arrangement of the uranyl (O-U-O) unit. Quantum chemical calculations on complex 1 indicated that the weak but distinct interactions between the uranyl oxygens and the adjacent hydrogens of phen molecules play an important role in forming the dodecadeltahedron geometry that fits to the crystal structure of 1, resulting in the bending the uranyl unit. The uranyl oxygens in 1 are anticipated to be activated as compared with those in other linear uranyl(VI) compounds. (copyright 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  16. Human Articular Cartilage Progenitor Cells Are Responsive to Mechanical Stimulation and Adenoviral-Mediated Overexpression of Bone-Morphogenetic Protein 2.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Alexander J Neumann

    Full Text Available Articular cartilage progenitor cells (ACPCs represent a new and potentially powerful alternative cell source to commonly used cell sources for cartilage repair, such as chondrocytes and bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs. This is particularly due to the apparent resistance of ACPCs to hypertrophy. The current study opted to investigate whether human ACPCs (hACPCs are responsive towards mechanical stimulation and/or adenoviral-mediated overexpression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2. hACPCs were cultured in fibrin-polyurethane composite scaffolds. Cells were cultured in a defined chondro-permissive medium, lacking exogenous growth factors. Constructs were cultured, for 7 or 28 days, under free-swelling conditions or with the application of complex mechanical stimulation, using a custom built bioreactor that is able to generate joint-like movements. Outcome parameters were quantification of BMP-2 and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1 concentration within the cell culture medium, biochemical and gene expression analyses, histology and immunohistochemistry. The application of mechanical stimulation alone resulted in the initiation of chondrogenesis, demonstrating the cells are mechanoresponsive. This was evidenced by increased GAG production, lack of expression of hypertrophic markers and a promising gene expression profile (significant up-regulation of cartilaginous marker genes, specifically collagen type II, accompanied by no increase in the hypertrophic marker collagen type X or the osteogenic marker alkaline phosphatase. To further investigate the resistance of ACPCs to hypertrophy, overexpression of a factor associated with hypertrophic differentiation, BMP-2, was investigated. A novel, three-dimensional, transduction protocol was used to transduce cells with an adenovirus coding for BMP-2. Over-expression of BMP-2, independent of load, led to an increase in markers associated with hypertropy. Taken together ACPCs

  17. An Adenoviral Vector Based Vaccine for Rhodococcus equi.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Carla Giles

    Full Text Available Rhodococcus equi is a respiratory pathogen which primarily infects foals and is endemic on farms around the world with 50% mortality and 80% morbidity in affected foals. Unless detected early and treated appropriately the disease can be fatal. Currently, there is no vaccine available to prevent this disease. For decades researchers have endeavoured to develop an effective vaccine to no avail. In this study a novel human adenoviral vector vaccine for R. equi was developed and tested in the mouse model. This vaccine generated a strong antibody and cytokine response and clearance of R. equi was demonstrated following challenge. These results show that this vaccine could potentially be developed further for use as a vaccine to prevent R. equi disease in foals.

  18. Reversal of experimental colitis disease activity in mice following administration of an adenoviral IL-10 vector.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sasaki, Makoto; Mathis, J Michael; Jennings, Merilyn H; Jordan, Paul; Wang, Yuping; Ando, Tomoaki; Joh, Takashi; Alexander, J Steven

    2005-10-31

    Genetic deficiency in the expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) is associated with the onset and progression of experimental inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The clinical significance of IL-10 expression is supported by studies showing that immune-augmentation of IL-10 prevents inflammation and mucosal damage in animal models of colitis and in human colitis. Interleukin-10 (IL-10), an endogenous anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating cytokine, has been shown to prevent some inflammation and injury in animal and clinical studies, but the efficacy of IL-10 treatment remains unsatisfactory. We found that intra-peritoneal administration of adenoviral IL-10 to mice significantly reversed colitis induced by administration of 3% DSS (dextran sulfate), a common model of colitis. Adenoviral IL-10 (Ad-IL10) transfected mice developed high levels of IL-10 (394 +/- 136 pg/ml) within the peritoneal cavity where the adenovirus was expressed. Importantly, when given on day 4 (after the induction of colitis w/DSS), Ad-IL10 significantly reduced disease activity and weight loss and completely prevented histopathologic injury to the colon at day 10. Mechanistically, compared to Ad-null and DSS treated mice, Ad-IL10 and DSS-treated mice were able to suppress the expression of MAdCAM-1, an endothelial adhesion molecule associated with IBD. Our results suggest that Ad-IL10 (adenoviral IL-10) gene therapy of the intestine or peritoneum may be useful in the clinical treatment of IBD, since we demonstrated that this vector can reverse the course of an existing gut inflammation and markers of inflammation.

  19. Reversal of experimental colitis disease activity in mice following administration of an adenoviral IL-10 vector

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ando Tomoaki

    2005-10-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Genetic deficiency in the expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10 is associated with the onset and progression of experimental inflammatory bowel disease (IBD. The clinical significance of IL-10 expression is supported by studies showing that immune-augmentation of IL-10 prevents inflammation and mucosal damage in animal models of colitis and in human colitis. Interleukin-10 (IL-10, an endogenous anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating cytokine, has been shown to prevent some inflammation and injury in animal and clinical studies, but the efficacy of IL-10 treatment remains unsatisfactory. We found that intra-peritoneal administration of adenoviral IL-10 to mice significantly reversed colitis induced by administration of 3% DSS (dextran sulfate, a common model of colitis. Adenoviral IL-10 (Ad-IL10 transfected mice developed high levels of IL-10 (394 +/- 136 pg/ml within the peritoneal cavity where the adenovirus was expressed. Importantly, when given on day 4 (after the induction of colitis w/DSS, Ad-IL10 significantly reduced disease activity and weight loss and completely prevented histopathologic injury to the colon at day 10. Mechanistically, compared to Ad-null and DSS treated mice, Ad-IL10 and DSS-treated mice were able to suppress the expression of MAdCAM-1, an endothelial adhesion molecule associated with IBD. Our results suggest that Ad-IL10 (adenoviral IL-10 gene therapy of the intestine or peritoneum may be useful in the clinical treatment of IBD, since we demonstrated that this vector can reverse the course of an existing gut inflammation and markers of inflammation.

  20. Protein synthetic requirements for caffeine amelioration of radiation-induced G/sub 2/-arrest

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Rowley, R.; Colkitt, D.

    1984-01-01

    Irradiated cells are arrested in G/sub 2/ (transition point [TP] = 32 min before cell selection in mitosis). Irradiated cells do not recover from G/sub 2/ arrest in the presence of cycloheximide (CHM) indicating dependence of recovery on protein synthesis. Irradiated cells in the presence of caffeine progress to mitosis without arrest. The authors investigate whether irradiated cells in the presence of caffeine require protein synthesis to progress to mitosis. Mitotic cell selection was used to monitor the progression of irradiated CHO cells (150 rad) during exposure to 5 mM caffeine and/or 50 μg/ml CHM. Protein synthesis inhibition was confirmed using /sup 3/H-leucine incorporation. Cells exposed to CHM alone are arrested in G/sub 2/ (TP=49 min), thus cells beyond this point have synthesized all proteins necessary for entry into mitosis. In the presence of caffeine, unirradiated cells exposed to CHM are not arrested at all in G/sub 2/, instead arrest occurs near the S/G/sub 2/ boundary (TP=95 min) indicating that caffeine alleviates the dependence of G/sub 2/ cell progression on protein synthesis. However, irradiated cells exposed to both caffeine and CHM are only able to progress to mitosis if beyond the CHM-TP. Irradiated cells in the presence of caffeine thus behave as untreated cells and require protein synthesis for progression to mitosis when prior to the CHM-TP

  1. Tropism-Modification Strategies for Targeted Gene Delivery Using Adenoviral Vectors

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Andrew H. Baker

    2010-10-01

    Full Text Available Achieving high efficiency, targeted gene delivery with adenoviral vectors is a long-standing goal in the field of clinical gene therapy. To achieve this, platform vectors must combine efficient retargeting strategies with detargeting modifications to ablate native receptor binding (i.e. CAR/integrins/heparan sulfate proteoglycans and “bridging” interactions. “Bridging” interactions refer to coagulation factor binding, namely coagulation factor X (FX, which bridges hepatocyte transduction in vivo through engagement with surface expressed heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs. These interactions can contribute to the off-target sequestration of Ad5 in the liver and its characteristic dose-limiting hepatotoxicity, thereby significantly limiting the in vivo targeting efficiency and clinical potential of Ad5-based therapeutics. To date, various approaches to retargeting adenoviruses (Ad have been described. These include genetic modification strategies to incorporate peptide ligands (within fiber knob domain, fiber shaft, penton base, pIX or hexon, pseudotyping of capsid proteins to include whole fiber substitutions or fiber knob chimeras, pseudotyping with non-human Ad species or with capsid proteins derived from other viral families, hexon hypervariable region (HVR substitutions and adapter-based conjugation/crosslinking of scFv, growth factors or monoclonal antibodies directed against surface-expressed target antigens. In order to maximize retargeting, strategies which permit detargeting from undesirable interactions between the Ad capsid and components of the circulatory system (e.g. coagulation factors, erythrocytes, pre-existing neutralizing antibodies, can be employed simultaneously. Detargeting can be achieved by genetic ablation of native receptor-binding determinants, ablation of “bridging interactions” such as those which occur between the hexon of Ad5 and coagulation factor X (FX, or alternatively, through the use of polymer

  2. Structure of the P{sub II} signal transduction protein of Neisseria meningitidis at 1.85 Å resolution

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Nichols, Charles E. [Division of Structural Biology, Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN (United Kingdom); Sainsbury, Sarah; Berrow, Nick S.; Alderton, David [The Oxford Protein Production Facility, Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN (United Kingdom); Saunders, Nigel J. [The Bacterial Pathogenesis and Functional Genomics Group, The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE (United Kingdom); Stammers, David K. [Division of Structural Biology, Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN (United Kingdom); The Oxford Protein Production Facility, Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN (United Kingdom); Owens, Raymond J., E-mail: ray@strubi.ox.ac.uk [The Oxford Protein Production Facility, Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN (United Kingdom); Division of Structural Biology, Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN (United Kingdom)

    2006-06-01

    The structure of the P{sub II} signal transduction protein of N. meningitidis at 1.85 Å resolution is described. The P{sub II} signal transduction proteins GlnB and GlnK are implicated in the regulation of nitrogen assimilation in Escherichia coli and other enteric bacteria. P{sub II}-like proteins are widely distributed in bacteria, archaea and plants. In contrast to other bacteria, Neisseria are limited to a single P{sub II} protein (NMB 1995), which shows a high level of sequence identity to GlnB and GlnK from Escherichia coli (73 and 62%, respectively). The structure of the P{sub II} protein from N. meningitidis (serotype B) has been solved by molecular replacement to a resolution of 1.85 Å. Comparison of the structure with those of other P{sub II} proteins shows that the overall fold is tightly conserved across the whole population of related proteins, in particular the positions of the residues implicated in ATP binding. It is proposed that the Neisseria P{sub II} protein shares functions with GlnB/GlnK of enteric bacteria.

  3. 5-Fluorouracil-related enhancement of adenoviral infection is Coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor independent and associated with morphological changes in lipid membranes

    Science.gov (United States)

    Cabrele, Chiara; Vogel, Mandy; Piso, Pompiliu; Rentsch, Markus; Schröder, Josef; Jauch, Karl W; Schlitt, Hans J; Beham, Alexander

    2006-01-01

    AIM: To evaluate the mechanism underlying the effects of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) on adenoviral infection. METHODS: Low and high Coxsackievirus-Adenovirus Receptor (CAR) expressing human colon carcinoma cell lines were treated with 5-FU and two E1-deleted adenoviral constructs, one transferring GFP (Ad/CMV-GFP) the other bax (Ad/CEA-bax). The number of infected cells were monitored by GFP expression. To evaluate the effects of 5-FU in a receptor free system, Ad/GFP were encapsulated in liposomes and treated with 5-FU. Ad/GFP release was estimated with PCR and infection of 293 cells with the supernatant. Electron microscopy of the Ad5-GFP-liposome complex was made to investigate morphological changes of the liposomes after 5-FU. RESULTS: Infection rates of all cell lines increased from 50% to 98% with emerging 5-FU concentrations. The enhanced viral uptake was independent of the CAR expression. Additionally, 5-FU treated liposomes released 2-2.5 times more adenoviruses. Furthermore, 5-FU-treated liposomes appeared irregular and porous-like. CONCLUSION: adenoviral uptake is enhanced in the presence of 5-FU irrespective of CAR and is associated with morphological changes in membranes making the combination of both a promising option in gene therapy. PMID:16937527

  4. A C-terminal segment of the V{sub 1}R vasopressin receptor is unstructured in the crystal structure of its chimera with the maltose-binding protein

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Adikesavan, Nallini Vijayarangan; Mahmood, Syed Saad; Stanley, Nithianantham; Xu, Zhen; Wu, Nan [Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106-4935 (United States); Thibonnier, Marc [Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106-4935 (United States); Shoham, Menachem, E-mail: mxs10@case.edu [Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106-4935 (United States)

    2005-04-01

    The 1.8 Å crystal structure of an MBP-fusion protein with the C-terminal cytoplasmic segment of the V1 vasopressin receptor reveals that the receptor segment is unstructured. The V{sub 1} vascular vasopressin receptor (V{sub 1}R) is a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) involved in the regulation of body-fluid osmolality, blood volume and blood pressure. Signal transduction is mediated by the third intracellular loop of this seven-transmembrane protein as well as by the C-terminal cytoplasmic segment. A chimera of the maltose-binding protein (MBP) and the C-terminal segment of V{sub 1}R has been cloned, expressed, purified and crystallized. The crystals belong to space group P2{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters a = 51.10, b = 66.56, c = 115.72 Å, β = 95.99°. The 1.8 Å crystal structure reveals the conformation of MBP and part of the linker region of this chimera, with the C-terminal segment being unstructured. This may reflect a conformational plasticity in the C-terminal segment that may be necessary for proper function of V{sub 1}R.

  5. Fetal muscle gene transfer is not enhanced by an RGD capsid modification to high-capacity adenoviral vectors.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Bilbao, R; Reay, D P; Hughes, T; Biermann, V; Volpers, C; Goldberg, L; Bergelson, J; Kochanek, S; Clemens, P R

    2003-10-01

    High levels of alpha(v) integrin expression by fetal muscle suggested that vector re-targeting to integrins could enhance adenoviral vector-mediated transduction, thereby increasing safety and efficacy of muscle gene transfer in utero. High-capacity adenoviral (HC-Ad) vectors modified by an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide motif in the HI loop of the adenoviral fiber (RGD-HC-Ad) have demonstrated efficient gene transfer through binding to alpha(v) integrins. To test integrin targeting of HC-Ad vectors for fetal muscle gene transfer, we compared unmodified and RGD-modified HC-Ad vectors. In vivo, unmodified HC-Ad vector transduced fetal mouse muscle with four-fold higher efficiency compared to RGD-HC-Ad vector. Confirming that the difference was due to muscle cell autonomous factors and not mechanical barriers, transduction of primary myogenic cells isolated from murine fetal muscle in vitro demonstrated a three-fold better transduction by HC-Ad vector than by RGD-HC-Ad vector. We hypothesized that the high expression level of coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), demonstrated in fetal muscle cells both in vitro and in vivo, was the crucial variable influencing the relative transduction efficiencies of HC-Ad and RGD-HC-Ad vectors. To explore this further, we studied transduction by HC-Ad and RGD-HC-Ad vectors in paired cell lines that expressed alpha(v) integrins and differed only by the presence or absence of CAR expression. The results increase our understanding of factors that will be important for retargeting HC-Ad vectors to enhance gene transfer to fetal muscle.

  6. Determining the sub-cellular localization of proteins within Caenorhabditis elegans body wall muscle.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Meissner, Barbara; Rogalski, Teresa; Viveiros, Ryan; Warner, Adam; Plastino, Lorena; Lorch, Adam; Granger, Laure; Segalat, Laurent; Moerman, Donald G

    2011-01-01

    Determining the sub-cellular localization of a protein within a cell is often an essential step towards understanding its function. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the relatively large size of the body wall muscle cells and the exquisite organization of their sarcomeres offer an opportunity to identify the precise position of proteins within cell substructures. Our goal in this study is to generate a comprehensive "localizome" for C. elegans body wall muscle by GFP-tagging proteins expressed in muscle and determining their location within the cell. For this project, we focused on proteins that we know are expressed in muscle and are orthologs or at least homologs of human proteins. To date we have analyzed the expression of about 227 GFP-tagged proteins that show localized expression in the body wall muscle of this nematode (e.g. dense bodies, M-lines, myofilaments, mitochondria, cell membrane, nucleus or nucleolus). For most proteins analyzed in this study no prior data on sub-cellular localization was available. In addition to discrete sub-cellular localization we observe overlapping patterns of localization including the presence of a protein in the dense body and the nucleus, or the dense body and the M-lines. In total we discern more than 14 sub-cellular localization patterns within nematode body wall muscle. The localization of this large set of proteins within a muscle cell will serve as an invaluable resource in our investigation of muscle sarcomere assembly and function.

  7. Treatment of osteoarthritis using a helper-dependent adenoviral vector retargeted to chondrocytes

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Merry ZC Ruan

    2016-01-01

    Full Text Available Osteoarthritis (OA is a joint disease characterized by degeneration of the articular cartilage, subchondral bone remodeling, and secondary inflammation. It is among the top three causes of chronic disability, and currently there are no treatment options to prevent disease progression. The localized nature of OA makes it an ideal candidate for gene and cell therapy. However, gene and cell therapy of OA is impeded by inefficient gene transduction of chondrocytes. In this study, we developed a broadly applicable system that retargets cell surface receptors by conjugating antibodies to the capsid of helper-dependent adenoviral vectors (HDVs. Specifically, we applied this system to retarget chondrocytes by conjugating an HDV to an α-10 integrin monoclonal antibody (a10mab. We show that a10mab-conjugated HDV (a10mabHDV-infected chondrocytes efficiently in vitro and in vivo while detargeting other cell types. The therapeutic index of an intra-articular injection of 10mabHDV-expressing proteoglycan 4 (PRG4 into a murine model of post-traumatic OA was 10-fold higher than with standard HDV. Moreover, we show that PRG4 overexpression from articular, superficial zone chondrocytes is effective for chondroprotection in postinjury OA and that α-10 integrin is an effective protein for chondrocyte targeting.

  8. Sub-polyhedral scheduling using (unit-)two-variable-per-inequality polyhedra

    OpenAIRE

    Upadrasta , Ramakrishna; Cohen , Albert

    2013-01-01

    International audience; Polyhedral compilation has been successful in the design and implementation of complex loop nest optimizers and parallelizing compilers. The algorithmic complexity and scalability limitations remain one important weakness. We address it using sub-polyhedral under-aproximations of the systems of constraints resulting from affine scheduling problems. We propose a sub-polyhedral scheduling technique using (Unit-)Two-Variable-Per-Inequality or (U)TVPI Polyhedra. This techn...

  9. UO{sub 2}{sup 2+}/protein complexation sites screening

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Guilbaud, P.; Pible, O

    2004-07-01

    Uranium(VI) is likely to make strong coordination with some proteins in the plasma and in targeted cells. In the frame of a nuclear toxicology program, a biochemical strategy has been developed to identify these targets in complex biological media. The present work focuses on an approach based on the screening of 3D protein structures in order to identify proteins able to bind UO{sub 2}{sup 2+} and the corresponding complexation sites in these proteins. Our preliminary results show that indeed a few proteins display a high affinity to uranyl salt. The site of interaction may be mapped using molecular modeling, providing coherent results with the biochemical data. (authors)

  10. Improving protein resistance of {alpha}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} membranes by modification with POEGMA brushes

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    He Huating [State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009 (China); Jing Wenheng, E-mail: jingwenheng@yahoo.com.cn [State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009 (China); Xing Weihong; Fan Yiqun [State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009 (China)

    2011-11-15

    A kind of protein-resistant ceramic membrane is prepared by grafting poly(oligo (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (POEGMA) brushes onto the surfaces and pore walls of {alpha}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} membrane (AM) by surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP). Contact-angle, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were measured to confirm that the surfaces and pore walls of the ceramic porous membranes have been modified by the brushes with this method successfully. The protein interaction behavior with the POEGMA modified membranes (AM-POEGMA) was studied by the model protein of bovine serum albumin (BSA). A protein-resistant mechanism of AM-POEGMA was proposed to describe an interesting phenomenon discovered in the filtration experiment, in which the initial flux filtrating BSA solution is higher than the pure water flux. The fouling of AM-POEGMA was easier to remove than AM for the action of POEGMA brushes, indicated that the ceramic porous membranes modified with POEGMA brushes exhibit excellent protein resistance.

  11. Statistical discovery of site inter-dependencies in sub-molecular hierarchical protein structuring.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Durston, Kirk K; Chiu, David Ky; Wong, Andrew Kc; Li, Gary Cl

    2012-07-13

    Much progress has been made in understanding the 3D structure of proteins using methods such as NMR and X-ray crystallography. The resulting 3D structures are extremely informative, but do not always reveal which sites and residues within the structure are of special importance. Recently, there are indications that multiple-residue, sub-domain structural relationships within the larger 3D consensus structure of a protein can be inferred from the analysis of the multiple sequence alignment data of a protein family. These intra-dependent clusters of associated sites are used to indicate hierarchical inter-residue relationships within the 3D structure. To reveal the patterns of associations among individual amino acids or sub-domain components within the structure, we apply a k-modes attribute (aligned site) clustering algorithm to the ubiquitin and transthyretin families in order to discover associations among groups of sites within the multiple sequence alignment. We then observe what these associations imply within the 3D structure of these two protein families. The k-modes site clustering algorithm we developed maximizes the intra-group interdependencies based on a normalized mutual information measure. The clusters formed correspond to sub-structural components or binding and interface locations. Applying this data-directed method to the ubiquitin and transthyretin protein family multiple sequence alignments as a test bed, we located numerous interesting associations of interdependent sites. These clusters were then arranged into cluster tree diagrams which revealed four structural sub-domains within the single domain structure of ubiquitin and a single large sub-domain within transthyretin associated with the interface among transthyretin monomers. In addition, several clusters of mutually interdependent sites were discovered for each protein family, each of which appear to play an important role in the molecular structure and/or function. Our results

  12. Isolation, culture and adenoviral transduction of parietal cells from mouse gastric mucosa

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Gliddon, Briony L; Nguyen, Nhung V; Gunn, Priscilla A; Gleeson, Paul A; Driel, Ian R van

    2008-01-01

    Here we describe a method for the isolation of intact gastric glands from mice and primary culture and transfection of mouse gastric epithelial cells. Collagenase digestion of PBS-perfused mouse stomachs released large intact gastric glands that were plated on a basement membrane matrix. The heterogeneous gland cell cultures typically contain ∼60% parietal cells. Isolated mouse parietal cells remain viable in culture for up to 5 days and react strongly with an antibody specific to the gastric H + /K + ATPase. Isolated intact mouse gastric glands and primary cultures of mouse parietal cells respond to the secretagogue, histamine. Typical morphological changes from a resting to an acid-secreting active parietal cell were observed. In resting cultures of mouse parietal cells, the H + /K + ATPase displayed a cytoplasmic punctate staining pattern consistent with tubulovesicle element structures. Following histamine stimulation, an expansion of internal apical vacuole structures was observed together with a pronounced redistribution of the H + /K + ATPase from the cytoplasm to the apical vacuoles. A reproducible procedure to express genes of interest exogenously in these cultures of mouse parietal cells was also established. This method combines recombinant adenoviral transduction with magnetic field-assisted transfection resulting in ∼30% transduced parietal cells. Adenoviral-transduced parietal cells maintain their ability to undergo agonist-induced activation. This protocol will be useful for the isolation, culture and expression of genes in parietal cells from genetically modified mice and as such will be an invaluable tool for studying the complex exocytic and endocytic trafficking events of the H + /K + ATPase which underpin the regulation of acid secretion

  13. A Genetically Modified Adenoviral Vector with a Phage Display-Derived Peptide Incorporated into Fiber Fibritin Chimera Prolongs Survival in Experimental Glioma.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Kim, Julius W; Kane, J Robert; Young, Jacob S; Chang, Alan L; Kanojia, Deepak; Morshed, Ramin A; Miska, Jason; Ahmed, Atique U; Balyasnikova, Irina V; Han, Yu; Zhang, Lingjiao; Curiel, David T; Lesniak, Maciej S

    2015-09-01

    The dismal clinical context of advanced-grade glioma demands the development of novel therapeutic strategies with direct patient impact. Adenovirus-mediated virotherapy represents a potentially effective approach for glioma therapy. In this research, we generated a novel glioma-specific adenovirus by instituting more advanced genetic modifications that can maximize the efficiency and safety of therapeutic adenoviral vectors. In this regard, a glioma-specific targeted fiber was developed through the incorporation of previously published glioma-specific, phage-panned peptide (VWT peptide) on a fiber fibritin-based chimeric fiber, designated as "GliomaFF." We showed that the entry of this virus was highly restricted to glioma cells, supporting the specificity imparted by the phage-panned peptide. In addition, the stability of the targeting moiety presented by fiber fibritin structure permitted greatly enhanced infectivity. Furthermore, the replication of this virus was restricted in glioma cells by controlling expression of the E1 gene under the activity of the tumor-specific survivin promoter. Using this approach, we were able to explore the combinatorial efficacy of various adenoviral modifications that could amplify the specificity, infectivity, and exclusive replication of this therapeutic adenovirus in glioma. Finally, virotherapy with this modified virus resulted in up to 70% extended survival in an in vivo murine glioma model. These data demonstrate that this novel adenoviral vector is a safe and efficient treatment for this difficult malignancy.

  14. A Novel Apoptosis Correlated Molecule: Expression and Characterization of Protein Latcripin-1 from Lentinula edodes C<sub>91–3sub>

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Min Huang

    2012-05-01

    Full Text Available An apoptosis correlated molecule—protein Latcripin-1 of Lentinula edodes C<sub>91sub>->3sub>—was expressed and characterized in Pichia pastoris GS115. The total RNA was obtained from Lentinula edodes C<sub>91–3sub>. According to the transcriptome, the full-length gene of Latcripin-1 was isolated with 3'-Full Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE and 5'-Full RACE methods. The full-length gene was inserted into the secretory expression vector pPIC9K. The protein Latcripin-1 was expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115 and analyzed by Sodium Dodecylsulfonate Polyacrylate Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The Western blot showed that the protein was expressed successfully. The biological function of protein Latcripin-1 on A549 cells was studied with flow cytometry and the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-Diphenyl-tetrazolium Bromide (MTT method. The toxic effect of protein Latcripin-1 was detected with the MTT method by co-culturing the characterized protein with chick embryo fibroblasts. The MTT assay results showed that there was a great difference between protein Latcripin-1 groups and the control group (p < 0.05. There was no toxic effect of the characterized protein on chick embryo fibroblasts. The flow cytometry showed that there was a significant difference between the protein groups of interest and the control group according to apoptosis function (p < 0.05. At the same time, cell ultrastructure observed by transmission electron microscopy supported the results of flow cytometry. The work demonstrates that protein Latcripin-1 can induce apoptosis of human lung cancer cells A549 and brings new insights into and advantages to finding anti-tumor proteins.

  15. Adenoviral transfer of the heme oxygenase-1 gene protects striatal astrocytes from heme-mediated oxidative injury.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Teng, Zhi-Ping; Chen, Jing; Chau, Lee-Young; Galunic, Nicholas; Regan, Raymond F

    2004-11-01

    Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is induced in the CNS after hemorrhage, and may have an effect on injury to surrounding tissue. Hemin, the preferred substrate of HO, is a neurotoxin that is present in intracranial hematomas. In a prior study, we observed that HO inhibitors increased the vulnerability of cultured cortical astrocytes to heme-mediated oxidative injury. To investigate the effect of HO more specifically, we used an adenoviral vector encoding the human HO-1 gene to specifically increase HO-1 expression. Incubation with 100 MOI of the HO-1 adenovirus (Adv-HHO-1) for 24 h increased both HO-1 protein and HO activity; a control adenovirus lacking the HO-1 gene had no effect. Using a DNA probe that was specific for human HO-1, 80.5 +/- 7.2% of astrocytes were observed to be infected by in situ hybridization. The cell death produced by 30-60 microM hemin was significantly reduced by pretreatment with 100 MOI Adv-HHO-1, as assessed by LDH release, propidium iodide exclusion, and MTT reduction assay. The threefold increase in cell protein oxidation produced by hemin was also attenuated in cultures pretreated with Adv-HHO-1. These results support the hypothesis that HO-1 protects astrocytes from heme-mediated oxidative injury. Specifically increasing astrocytic HO-1 by gene transfer may have a beneficial effect on hemorrhagic CNS injury.

  16. Adenoviral vector immunity: its implications and circumvention strategies.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ahi, Yadvinder S; Bangari, Dinesh S; Mittal, Suresh K

    2011-08-01

    Adenoviral (Ad) vectors have emerged as a promising gene delivery platform for a variety of therapeutic and vaccine purposes during last two decades. However, the presence of preexisting Ad immunity and the rapid development of Ad vector immunity still pose significant challenges to the clinical use of these vectors. Innate inflammatory response following Ad vector administration may lead to systemic toxicity, drastically limit vector transduction efficiency and significantly abbreviate the duration of transgene expression. Currently, a number of approaches are being extensively pursued to overcome these drawbacks by strategies that target either the host or the Ad vector. In addition, significant progress has been made in the development of novel Ad vectors based on less prevalent human Ad serotypes and nonhuman Ad. This review provides an update on our current understanding of immune responses to Ad vectors and delineates various approaches for eluding Ad vector immunity. Approaches targeting the host and those targeting the vector are discussed in light of their promises and limitations.

  17. Uranium metalla-allenes with carbene imido R{sub 2}C=U{sup IV}=NR' units (R=Ph{sub 2}PNSiMe{sub 3}; R'=CPh{sub 3}): alkali-metal-mediated push-pull effects with an amido auxiliary

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lu, Erli; Tuna, Floriana; Kaltsoyannis, Nikolas; Liddle, Stephen T. [School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester (United Kingdom); Lewis, William [School of Chemistry, The University of Nottingham (United Kingdom)

    2016-08-08

    We report uranium(IV)-carbene-imido-amide metalla-allene complexes [U(BIPM{sup TMS})(NCPh{sub 3})(NHCPh{sub 3})(M)] (BIPM{sup TMS}=C(PPh{sub 2}NSiMe{sub 3}){sub 2}; M=Li or K) that can be described as R{sub 2}C=U=NR' push-pull metalla-allene units, as organometallic counterparts of the well-known push-pull organic allenes. The solid-state structures reveal that the R{sub 2}C=U=NR' units adopt highly unusual cis-arrangements, which are also reproduced by gas-phase theoretical studies conducted without the alkali metals to remove their potential structure-directing roles. Computational studies confirm the double-bond nature of the U=NR' and U=CR{sub 2} interactions, the latter increasingly attenuated by potassium then lithium when compared to the hypothetical alkali-metal-free anion. Combined experimental and theoretical data show that the push-pull effect induced by the alkali metal cations and amide auxiliary gives a fundamental and tunable structural influence over the C=U{sup IV}=N units. (copyright 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  18. Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of recombinant immunoglobulin G-binding protein from Streptococcus suis

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Khan, Abdul Hamid; Chu, Fuliang; Feng, Youjun; Zhang, Qinagmin [Center for Molecular Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101 (China); Qi, Jianxun [Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080 (China); Gao, George Fu, E-mail: gaof@im.ac.cn [Center for Molecular Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101 (China)

    2008-08-01

    Crystallization of recombinant IgG-binding protein expressed in Escherichia coli using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method is described. The crystals belonged to space group P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters a = 38.98, b = 43.94, c = 78.17 Å. Streptococcus suis, an important zoonotic pathogen, expresses immunoglobulin G-binding protein, which is thought to be helpful to the organism in eluding the host defence system. Recombinant IgG-binding protein expressed in Escherichia coli has been crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belonged to space group P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters a = 38.98, b = 43.94, c = 78.17 Å and one molecule in the asymmetric unit. Diffraction data were collected to 2.60 Å resolution.

  19. Synthesis and structural characterization of Li{sub 3}K{sub 3}Eu{sub 7}(BO{sub 3}){sub 9}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Braeuchle, Sebastian; Huppertz, Hubert [Innsbruck Univ. (Austria). Inst. fuer Allgemeine, Anorganische und Theoretische Chemie; Seibald, Markus [OSRAM GmbH, Schwabmuenchen (Germany). Corporate Innovation

    2017-07-01

    Li{sub 3}K{sub 3}Eu{sub 7}(BO{sub 3}){sub 9} was prepared by high-temperature solid state synthesis at 900 C in a platinum crucible from lithium carbonate, potassium carbonate, boric acid, and europium(III) oxide. The title compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pca2{sub 1} (no. 29) (Z = 4). The structure was refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data: a = 21.126(2), b = 6.502(2), c = 17.619(2) Aa, V = 2420.1(2) Aa{sup 3}, R1 = 0.0183 and wR2 = 0.0412 for all data. The crystal structure of Li{sub 3}K{sub 3}Eu{sub 7}(BO{sub 3}){sub 9} is isotypic to Li{sub 3}K{sub 3}Y{sub 7}(BO{sub 3}){sub 9} featuring isolated BO{sub 3} units and LiO{sub 6} octahedra forming [Li{sub 3}B{sub 4}O{sub 21}] units in the ac plane, which are linked by additional BO{sub 3} units. The K{sup +} and Eu{sup 3+} cations are arranged in the cavities of the structure.

  20. Bacteriophage SP6 encodes a second tailspike protein that recognizes Salmonella enterica serogroups C{sub 2} and C{sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gebhart, Dana; Williams, Steven R.; Scholl, Dean, E-mail: dean@avidbiotics.com

    2017-07-15

    SP6 is a salmonella phage closely related to coliphage K1-5. K1-5 is notable in that it encodes two polysaccharide-degrading tailspike proteins, an endosialidase that allows it to infect E. coli K1, and a lyase that enables it to infect K5 strains. SP6 is similar to K1-5 except that it encodes a P22-like endorhamnosidase tailspike, gp46, allowing it to infect group B Salmonella. We show here that SP6 can also infect Salmonella serogroups C{sub 2} and C{sub 3} and that a mutation in a putative second tailspike, gp47, eliminates this specificity. Gene 47 was fused to the coding region of the N-terminal portion of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa R2 pyocin tail fiber and expressed in trans such that the fusion protein becomes incorporated into pyocin particles. These pyocins, termed AvR2-SP47, killed serogroups C{sub 2} and C{sub 3}Salmonella. We conclude that SP6 encodes two tail proteins providing it a broad host range among Salmonella enterica. - Highlights: • SP6 is a “dual specificity” bacteriophage that encodes two different receptor binding proteins giving it a broad host range. • These receptor binding proteins can be used to re-target the spectrum of R-type bacteriocins to Salmonella enterica. • Both SP6 and the engineered R-type bacteriocins can kill the Salmonella serovars most associated with human disease making them attractive for development as antimicrobial agents.

  1. A method for projecting full-scale performance of CO/sub 2/ flooding in the Willard Unit

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Bilhartz, H.L.; Charlson, G.S.; Stalkup, F.I.; Miller, C.C.

    1985-01-01

    A non-producing CO/sub 2/ flood tertiary recovery test was recently completed in the Willard Unit of Wasson Field. Flood responses during waterflood and alternate injection of CO/sub 2/ and water were monitored at a logging observation well using compensated neutron and pulsed neutron logs. A pressure core was taken to measure residual oil saturations at the test conclusion. The overall objective of the testing was to obtain information for evaluating the potential for full-scale CO/sub 2/ flooding in the unit. Out method for making this evaluation involves: (1) defining CO/sub 2/ flood displacement efficiency and representing this efficiency in a miscible flood reservoir simulator; (2) defining a representative average reservoir description; and (3) projecting full-scale CO/sub 2/ flood performance with the simulator. The paper provides a status report on progress to assess CO/sub 2/ flooding potential for the Willard Unit in this manner

  2. Efficient Gene Delivery to Pig Airway Epithelia and Submucosal Glands Using Helper-Dependent Adenoviral Vectors

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Huibi Cao

    2013-01-01

    Full Text Available Airway gene delivery is a promising strategy to treat patients with life-threatening lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF. However, this strategy has to be evaluated in large animal preclinical studies in order to translate it to human applications. Because of anatomic and physiological similarities between the human and pig lungs, we utilized pig as a large animal model to examine the safety and efficiency of airway gene delivery with helper-dependent adenoviral vectors. Helper-dependent vectors carrying human CFTR or reporter gene LacZ were aerosolized intratracheally into pigs under bronchoscopic guidance. We found that the LacZ reporter and hCFTR transgene products were efficiently expressed in lung airway epithelial cells. The transgene vectors with this delivery can also reach to submucosal glands. Moreover, the hCFTR transgene protein localized to the apical membrane of both ciliated and nonciliated epithelial cells, mirroring the location of wild-type CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR. Aerosol delivery procedure was well tolerated by pigs without showing systemic toxicity based on the limited number of pigs tested. These results provide important insights into developing clinical strategies for human CF lung gene therapy.

  3. Adenoviral Mediated Expression of BMP2 by Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Cultured in 3D Copolymer Scaffolds Enhances Bone Formation.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sharma, Sunita; Sapkota, Dipak; Xue, Ying; Sun, Yang; Finne-Wistrand, Anna; Bruland, Ove; Mustafa, Kamal

    2016-01-01

    Selection of appropriate osteoinductive growth factors, suitable delivery method and proper supportive scaffold are critical for a successful outcome in bone tissue engineering using bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC). This study examined the molecular and functional effect of a combination of adenoviral mediated expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) in BMSC and recently developed and characterized, biodegradable Poly(L-lactide-co-є-caprolactone){poly(LLA-co-CL)}scaffolds in osteogenic molecular changes and ectopic bone formation by using in vitro and in vivo approaches. Pathway-focused custom PCR array, validation using TaqMan based quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) and ALP staining showed significant up-regulation of several osteogenic and angiogenic molecules, including ALPL and RUNX2 in ad-BMP2 BMSC group grown in poly(LLA-co-CL) scaffolds both at 3 and 14 days. Micro CT and histological analyses of the subcutaneously implanted scaffolds in NOD/SCID mice revealed significantly increased radiopaque areas, percentage bone volume and formation of vital bone in ad-BMP2 scaffolds as compared to the control groups both at 2 and 8 weeks. The increased bone formation in the ad-BMP2 group in vivo was paralleled at the molecular level with concomitant over-expression of a number of osteogenic and angiogenic genes including ALPL, RUNX2, SPP1, ANGPT1. The increased bone formation in ad-BMP2 explants was not found to be associated with enhanced endochondral activity as evidenced by qRT-PCR (SOX9 and FGF2) and Safranin O staining. Taken together, combination of adenoviral mediated BMP-2 expression in BMSC grown in the newly developed poly(LLA-co-CL) scaffolds induced expression of osteogenic markers and enhanced bone formation in vivo.

  4. Exploring overlapping functional units with various structure in protein interaction networks.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Xiao-Fei Zhang

    Full Text Available Revealing functional units in protein-protein interaction (PPI networks are important for understanding cellular functional organization. Current algorithms for identifying functional units mainly focus on cohesive protein complexes which have more internal interactions than external interactions. Most of these approaches do not handle overlaps among complexes since they usually allow a protein to belong to only one complex. Moreover, recent studies have shown that other non-cohesive structural functional units beyond complexes also exist in PPI networks. Thus previous algorithms that just focus on non-overlapping cohesive complexes are not able to present the biological reality fully. Here, we develop a new regularized sparse random graph model (RSRGM to explore overlapping and various structural functional units in PPI networks. RSRGM is principally dominated by two model parameters. One is used to define the functional units as groups of proteins that have similar patterns of connections to others, which allows RSRGM to detect non-cohesive structural functional units. The other one is used to represent the degree of proteins belonging to the units, which supports a protein belonging to more than one revealed unit. We also propose a regularizer to control the smoothness between the estimators of these two parameters. Experimental results on four S. cerevisiae PPI networks show that the performance of RSRGM on detecting cohesive complexes and overlapping complexes is superior to that of previous competing algorithms. Moreover, RSRGM has the ability to discover biological significant functional units besides complexes.

  5. Calcium phosphate-gold nanoparticles nanocomposite for protein adsorption and mediator-free H{sub 2}O{sub 2} biosensor construction

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Xu Qin [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225002 (China); Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering and Monitoring, Yangzhou 225002 (China); Lu Guiju; Bian XiaoJun; Jin Gendi [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225002 (China); Wang Wei [School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, 224051 (China); Hu Xiaoya, E-mail: xyhu@yzu.edu.cn [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225002 (China); Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering and Monitoring, Yangzhou 225002 (China); Wang Yang; Yang Zhanjun [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225002 (China)

    2012-04-01

    This work reports a new method for the preparation and application of a kind of biocompatible calcium phosphate-gold nanoparticles (Ca{sub 3}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2}-AuNPs) nanocomposite. UV-vis spectroscopy and transmittance electron microscopy (TEM) have been used to monitor the formation process of the nanocomposite and to examine the interaction between calcium phosphate and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The nanocomposite has multiple sites and improved conductivity which make it suitable for the binding of proteins to construct electrochemical sensors. Myoglobin (Mb) adsorbed on the nanocomposite retained its native structure which was proved by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Direct electron transfer between the adsorbed Mb and the electrode was observed. Further results demonstrated that the adsorbed Mb has good electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of H{sub 2}O{sub 2} in the absence of any mediator. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Using gelatin modified gold nanoparticles to prepare needle-like calcium phosphate. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Calcium phosphate provides multiple sites for protein adsorption. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Gold nanoparticles act as electron tunneling. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Myoglobin adsorbed on the material showed direct electrochemistry and good catalysis.

  6. A cesium rare-earth silicate Cs{sub 3}RESi{sub 6}O{sub 15} (RE = Dy-Lu, Y, In). The parent of an unusual structural class featuring a remarkable 57 Aa unit cell axis

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Terry, Rylan; Vinton, Daniel; McMillen, Colin D.; Kolis, Joseph W. [Department of Chemistry and Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), Clemson University, H.L. Hunter Laboratories (United States)

    2018-02-19

    The structure of Cs{sub 3}RESi{sub 6}O{sub 15}, where RE = Dy-Lu, Y, In, is unusual in that it contains octahedrally coordinated rare-earth ions; their relative orientation dictates the structure, as they rotate about the c-axis supported by the cyclic Si{sub 6}O{sub 15} framework. The repeat unit of the rotation is eight units generating a very long (ca. 57 Aa) unit cell axis. This unusual repeat unit is created by the structural flexibility of the hexasilicate ring, which is in turn affected by the size of the rare earth ion as well as the size of alkali ion residing within the silicate layers. Previous work showed for the smaller Sc{sup 3+} ion, the rotation of the octahedra is not sufficient to achieve closure at an integral repeat unit and an incommensurate structure results. The products are prepared as large, high quality single crystals using a high-temperature (650 C) hydrothermal method with CsOH and F{sup -} mineralizers. The presence of fluoride is essential to the formation of the product. (copyright 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  7. Human cDNA clones for an α subunit of G/sub i/ signal-transduction protein

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Bray, P.; Carter, A.; Guo, V.; Puckett, C.; Kamholz, J.; Spiegel, A.; Nirenberg, M.

    1987-01-01

    Two cDNA clones were obtained from a λgt11 cDNA human brain library that correspond to α/sub i/ subunits of G signal-transduction proteins (where α/sub i/ subunits refer to the α subunits of G proteins that inhibit adenylate cyclase). The nucleotide sequence of human brain α/sub i/ is highly homologous to that of bovine brain α/sub i/ and the predicted amino acid sequences are identical. However, human and bovine brain α/sub i/ cDNAs differ significantly from α/sub i/ cDNAs from human monocytes, rat glioma, and mouse macrophages in amino acid (88% homology) and nucleotide (71-75% homology) sequences. In addition, the nucleotide sequences of the 3' untranslated regions of human and bovine brain α/sub i/ cDNAs differ markedly from the sequences of human monocyte, rat glioma, and mouse macrophage α/sub i/ cDNAs. These results suggest there are at least two classes of α/sub i/ mRNA

  8. Generation of a functional and durable vascular niche by the adenoviral E4ORF1 gene

    OpenAIRE

    Seandel, Marco; Butler, Jason M.; Kobayashi, Hideki; Hooper, Andrea T.; White, Ian A.; Zhang, Fan; Vertes, Eva L.; Kobayashi, Mariko; Zhang, Yan; Shmelkov, Sergey V.; Hackett, Neil R.; Rabbany, Sina; Boyer, Julie L.; Rafii, Shahin

    2008-01-01

    Vascular cells contribute to organogenesis and tumorigenesis by producing unknown factors. Primary endothelial cells (PECs) provide an instructive platform for identifying factors that support stem cell and tumor homeostasis. However, long-term maintenance of PECs requires stimulation with cytokines and serum, resulting in loss of their angiogenic properties. To circumvent this hurdle, we have discovered that the adenoviral E4ORF1 gene product maintains long-term survival and facilitates orga...

  9. Comparison of adenovirus fiber, protein IX, and hexon capsomeres as scaffolds for vector purification and cell targeting

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Campos, Samuel K.; Barry, Michael A.

    2006-01-01

    The direct genetic modification of adenoviral capsid proteins with new ligands is an attractive means to confer targeted tropism to adenoviral vectors. Although several capsid proteins have been reported to tolerate the genetic fusion of foreign peptides and proteins, direct comparison of cell targeting efficiencies through the different capsomeres has been lacking. Likewise, direct comparison of with one or multiple ligands has not been performed due to a lack of capsid-compatible ligands available for retargeting. Here we utilize a panel of metabolically biotinylated Ad vectors to directly compare targeted transduction through the fiber, protein IX, and hexon capsomeres using a variety of biotinylated ligands including antibodies, transferrin, EGF, and cholera toxin B. These results clearly demonstrate that cell targeting with a variety of high affinity receptor-binding ligands is only effective when transduction is redirected through the fiber protein. In contrast, protein IX and hexon-mediated targeting by the same set of ligands failed to mediate robust vector targeting, perhaps due to aberrant trafficking at the cell surface or inside targeted cells. These data suggest that vector targeting by genetic incorporation of high affinity ligands will likely be most efficient through modification of the adenovirus fiber rather than the protein IX and hexon capsomeres. In contrast, single-step monomeric avidin affinity purification of Ad vectors using the metabolic biotinylation system is most effective through capsomeres like protein IX and hexon

  10. A formalism for scattering of complex composite structures. I. Applications to branched structures of asymmetric sub-units

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Svaneborg, Carsten; Pedersen, Jan Skov

    2012-01-01

    to structural connectivity is completely decoupled from internal structure of the sub-units. This allows sub-units to be replaced by more complex structures. We illustrate the physical interpretation of the formalism diagrammatically. By applying a self-consistency requirement, we derive the pair distributions...

  11. Super-resolution imaging and tracking of protein-protein interactions in sub-diffraction cellular space

    Science.gov (United States)

    Liu, Zhen; Xing, Dong; Su, Qian Peter; Zhu, Yun; Zhang, Jiamei; Kong, Xinyu; Xue, Boxin; Wang, Sheng; Sun, Hao; Tao, Yile; Sun, Yujie

    2014-07-01

    Imaging the location and dynamics of individual interacting protein pairs is essential but often difficult because of the fluorescent background from other paired and non-paired molecules, particularly in the sub-diffraction cellular space. Here we develop a new method combining bimolecular fluorescence complementation and photoactivated localization microscopy for super-resolution imaging and single-molecule tracking of specific protein-protein interactions. The method is used to study the interaction of two abundant proteins, MreB and EF-Tu, in Escherichia coli cells. The super-resolution imaging shows interesting distribution and domain sizes of interacting MreB-EF-Tu pairs as a subpopulation of total EF-Tu. The single-molecule tracking of MreB, EF-Tu and MreB-EF-Tu pairs reveals intriguing localization-dependent heterogonous dynamics and provides valuable insights to understanding the roles of MreB-EF-Tu interactions.

  12. Sidestream smoke exposure increases the susceptibility of airway epithelia to adenoviral infection.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Priyanka Sharma

    Full Text Available Although significant epidemiological evidence indicates that cigarette smoke exposure increases the incidence and severity of viral infection, the molecular mechanisms behind the increased susceptibility of the respiratory tract to viral pathogens are unclear. Adenoviruses are non-enveloped DNA viruses and important causative agents of acute respiratory disease. The Coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR is the primary receptor for many adenoviruses. We hypothesized that cigarette smoke exposure increases epithelial susceptibility to adenovirus infection by increasing the abundance of apical CAR.Cultured human airway epithelial cells (CaLu-3 were used as a model to investigate the effect of sidestream cigarette smoke (SSS, mainstream cigarette smoke (MSS, or control air exposure on the susceptibility of polarized respiratory epithelia to adenoviral infection. Using a Cultex air-liquid interface exposure system, we have discovered novel differences in epithelial susceptibility between SSS and MSS exposures. SSS exposure upregulates an eight-exon isoform of CAR and increases adenoviral entry from the apical surface whilst MSS exposure is similar to control air exposure. Additionally, the level of cellular glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β is downregulated by SSS exposure and treatment with a specific GSK3β inhibitor recapitulates the effects of SSS exposure on CAR expression and viral infection.This is the first time that SSS exposure has been shown to directly enhance the susceptibility of a polarized epithelium to infection by a common respiratory viral pathogen. This work provides a novel understanding of the impact of SSS on the burden of respiratory viral infections and may lead to new strategies to alter viral infections. Moreover, since GSK3β inhibitors are under intense clinical investigation as therapeutics for a diverse range of diseases, studies such as these might provide insight to extend the use of clinically relevant

  13. Adenoviral overexpression of Lhx2 attenuates cell viability but does not preserve the stem cell like phenotype of hepatic stellate cells

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Genz, Berit [Institute for Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock (Germany); Thomas, Maria [Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart (Germany); Pützer, Brigitte M. [Institute of Experimental Gene Therapy and Cancer Research, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock (Germany); Siatkowski, Marcin; Fuellen, Georg [Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock (Germany); Vollmar, Brigitte [Institute for Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock (Germany); Abshagen, Kerstin, E-mail: kerstin.abshagen@uni-rostock.de [Institute for Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock (Germany)

    2014-11-01

    Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are well known initiators of hepatic fibrosis. After liver cell damage, HSC transdifferentiate into proliferative myofibroblasts, representing the major source of extracellular matrix in the fibrotic organ. Recent studies also demonstrate a role of HSC as progenitor or stem cell like cells in liver regeneration. Lhx2 is described as stem cell maintaining factor in different organs and as an inhibitory transcription factor in HSC activation. Here we examined whether a continuous expression of Lhx2 in HSC could attenuate their activation and whether Lhx2 could serve as a potential target for antifibrotic gene therapy. Therefore, we evaluated an adenoviral mediated overexpression of Lhx2 in primary HSC and investigated mRNA expression patterns by qRT-PCR as well as the activation status by different in vitro assays. HSC revealed a marked increase in activation markers like smooth muscle actin alpha (αSMA) and collagen 1α independent from adenoviral transduction. Lhx2 overexpression resulted in attenuated cell viability as shown by a slightly hampered migratory and contractile phenotype of HSC. Expression of stem cell factors or signaling components was also unaffected by Lhx2. Summarizing these results, we found no antifibrotic or stem cell maintaining effect of Lhx2 overexpression in primary HSC. - Highlights: • We performed adenoviral overexpression of Lhx2 in primary hepatic stellate cells. • Hepatic stellate cells expressed stem cell markers during cultivation. • Cell migration and contractility was slightly hampered upon Lhx2 overexpression. • Lhx2 overexpression did not affect stem cell character of hepatic stellate cells.

  14. Adenoviral overexpression of Lhx2 attenuates cell viability but does not preserve the stem cell like phenotype of hepatic stellate cells

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Genz, Berit; Thomas, Maria; Pützer, Brigitte M.; Siatkowski, Marcin; Fuellen, Georg; Vollmar, Brigitte; Abshagen, Kerstin

    2014-01-01

    Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are well known initiators of hepatic fibrosis. After liver cell damage, HSC transdifferentiate into proliferative myofibroblasts, representing the major source of extracellular matrix in the fibrotic organ. Recent studies also demonstrate a role of HSC as progenitor or stem cell like cells in liver regeneration. Lhx2 is described as stem cell maintaining factor in different organs and as an inhibitory transcription factor in HSC activation. Here we examined whether a continuous expression of Lhx2 in HSC could attenuate their activation and whether Lhx2 could serve as a potential target for antifibrotic gene therapy. Therefore, we evaluated an adenoviral mediated overexpression of Lhx2 in primary HSC and investigated mRNA expression patterns by qRT-PCR as well as the activation status by different in vitro assays. HSC revealed a marked increase in activation markers like smooth muscle actin alpha (αSMA) and collagen 1α independent from adenoviral transduction. Lhx2 overexpression resulted in attenuated cell viability as shown by a slightly hampered migratory and contractile phenotype of HSC. Expression of stem cell factors or signaling components was also unaffected by Lhx2. Summarizing these results, we found no antifibrotic or stem cell maintaining effect of Lhx2 overexpression in primary HSC. - Highlights: • We performed adenoviral overexpression of Lhx2 in primary hepatic stellate cells. • Hepatic stellate cells expressed stem cell markers during cultivation. • Cell migration and contractility was slightly hampered upon Lhx2 overexpression. • Lhx2 overexpression did not affect stem cell character of hepatic stellate cells

  15. ERK2-Mediated Phosphorylation of Transcriptional Coactivator Binding Protein PIMT/NCoA6IP at Ser298 Augments Hepatic Gluconeogenesis

    Science.gov (United States)

    Parsa, Kishore V. L.; Kain, Vasundhara; Behera, Soma; Suraj, Sashidhara Kaimal; Babu, Phanithi Prakash; Kar, Anand; Panda, Sunanda; Zhu, Yi-jun; Jia, Yuzhi; Thimmapaya, Bayar; Reddy, Janardan K.; Misra, Parimal

    2013-01-01

    PRIP-Interacting protein with methyl transferase domain (PIMT) serves as a molecular bridge between CREB-binding protein (CBP)/ E1A binding protein p300 (Ep300) -anchored histone acetyl transferase and the Mediator complex sub-unit1 (Med1) and modulates nuclear receptor transcription. Here, we report that ERK2 phosphorylates PIMT at Ser298 and enhances its ability to activate PEPCK promoter. We observed that PIMT is recruited to PEPCK promoter and adenoviral-mediated over-expression of PIMT in rat primary hepatocytes up-regulated expression of gluconeogenic genes including PEPCK. Reporter experiments with phosphomimetic PIMT mutant (PIMTS298D) suggested that conformational change may play an important role in PIMT-dependent PEPCK promoter activity. Overexpression of PIMT and Med1 together augmented hepatic glucose output in an additive manner. Importantly, expression of gluconeogenic genes and hepatic glucose output were suppressed in isolated liver specific PIMT knockout mouse hepatocytes. Furthermore, consistent with reporter experiments, PIMTS298D but not PIMTS298A augmented hepatic glucose output via up-regulating the expression of gluconeogenic genes. Pharmacological blockade of MAPK/ERK pathway using U0126, abolished PIMT/Med1-dependent gluconeogenic program leading to reduced hepatic glucose output. Further, systemic administration of T4 hormone to rats activated ERK1/2 resulting in enhanced PIMT ser298 phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of PIMT led to its increased binding to the PEPCK promoter, increased PEPCK expression and induction of gluconeogenesis in liver. Thus, ERK2-mediated phosphorylation of PIMT at Ser298 is essential in hepatic gluconeogenesis, demonstrating an important role of PIMT in the pathogenesis of hyperglycemia. PMID:24358311

  16. A Comparative Analysis of United States and Chinese Economic Engagement in Sub Saharan Africa

    Science.gov (United States)

    2016-03-01

    education opportunities for aspiring sub-Saharan Africa leaders, improve drinking water , and protect forests—all of which is an interesting foreign...ANALYSIS OF UNITED STATES AND CHINESE ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA by James Housley Furman, Jr. March 2016 Thesis Advisor...ENGAGEMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 5. FUNDING NUMBERS 6. AUTHOR(S) James Housley Furman, Jr. 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES

  17. Nanoscale organization of {beta}{sub 2}-adrenergic receptor-Venus fusion protein domains on the surface of mammalian cells

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Vobornik, Dusan; Rouleau, Yanouchka; Haley, Jennifer [Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0R6 (Canada); Bani-Yaghoub, Mahmud [Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0R6 (Canada); Taylor, Rod [Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0R6 (Canada); Johnston, Linda J., E-mail: Linda.Johnston@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca [Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0R6 (Canada); Pezacki, John Paul, E-mail: John.Pezacki@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca [Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0R6 (Canada)

    2009-04-24

    Adrenergic receptors are a key component of nanoscale multiprotein complexes that are responsible for controlling the beat rate in a mammalian heart. We demonstrate the ability of near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) to visualize {beta}{sub 2}-adrenergic receptors ({beta}{sub 2}AR) fused to the GFP analogue Venus at the nanoscale on HEK293 cells. The expression of the {beta}{sub 2}AR-Venus fusion protein was tightly controlled using a tetracycline-induced promoter. Both the size and density of the observed nanoscale domains are dependent on the level of induction and thus the level of protein expression. At concentrations between 100 and 700 ng/ml of inducer doxycycline, the size of domains containing the {beta}{sub 2}AR-Venus fusion protein appears to remain roughly constant, but the number of domains per cell increase. At 700 ng/ml doxycycline the functional receptors are organized into domains with an average diameter of 150 nm with a density similar to that observed for the native protein on primary murine cells. By contrast, larger micron-sized domains of {beta}{sub 2}AR are observed in the membrane of the HEK293 cells that stably overexpress {beta}{sub 2}AR-GFP and {beta}{sub 2}AR-eYFP. We conclude that precise chemical control of gene expression is highly advantageous for the use {beta}{sub 2}AR-Venus fusion proteins as models for {beta}{sub 2}AR function. These observations are critical for designing future cell models and assays based on {beta}{sub 2}AR, since the receptor biology is consistent with a relatively low density of nanoscale receptor domains.

  18. Structure and properties of ZnO-B{sub 2}O{sub 3}-P{sub 2}O{sub 5}-TeO{sub 2} glasses

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mosner, Petr, E-mail: petr.mosner@upce.cz [Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology, 53210 Pardubice (Czech Republic); Vosejpkova, Katerina; Koudelka, Ladislav [Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology, 53210 Pardubice (Czech Republic); Montagne, Lionel; Revel, Bertrand [Unite de Catalyse et de Chimie du Solide - UCCS, Univ Lille Nord de France, F-59000, CNRS UMR 8181, USTL F-59655, ENSCL F-59652, Villeneuve d' Ascq (France)

    2010-11-01

    Zinc borophosphate glasses doped with TeO{sub 2} were studied in the compositional series (100 - x)[0.5ZnO-0.1B{sub 2}O{sub 3}-0.4P{sub 2}O{sub 5}]-xTeO{sub 2} in a broad concentration range of x = 0-80 mol% TeO{sub 2}. The structure of the glasses was studied by Raman and IR spectroscopy and by {sup 31}P and {sup 11}B MAS NMR spectroscopy. According to the Raman and IR spectra, TeO{sub 2} is incorporated in the structural network in the form of TeO{sub 3}, TeO{sub 3+1} and TeO{sub 4} structural units. The ratio of TeO{sub 4}/TeO{sub 3} increases with increasing TeO{sub 2} content in the glasses. The incorporation of TeO{sub x} units into the glass network is associated with the depolymerisation of phosphate chains, as revealed by Raman spectroscopy. The incorporation of TeO{sub 2} modifies also the coordination of boron atoms, where B(OP){sub 4} structural units are gradually replaced by B(OP){sub 4-n}(OTe){sub n} units. The addition of TeO{sub 2} to the parent zinc borophosphate glass results in a decrease of glass transition temperature associated with the replacement of stronger P-O and B-O bonds by weaker Te-O bonds. Chemical durability of glasses reveals a minimum at the glass containing 10 mol% TeO{sub 2}, but with further additions of TeO{sub 2} it improves and the glasses with a high TeO{sub 2} content reveal better durability than the parent zinc borophosphate glass.

  19. Hexagonal perovskites with cationic vacancies. 2. Ba/sub 8/Re/sub 2/W/sub 3/vacant/sub 3/O/sub 24/ - a novel hexagonal perovskite (24 L-type)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kemmler-Sack, S [Tuebingen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Inst. fuer Chemie

    1978-07-01

    The yellow Ba/sub 8/Re/sub 2/W/sub 3/vacant/sub 3/O/sub 24/ crystallizes in a rhombohedral layer structure of 24 L-type with a = 5.81/sub 3/ A; c = 55.52/sub 5/ A for the unit cell in trigonal setting and 3 formula units in the cell (rhosub(gef.) = 7.2/sub 6/ g/cm/sup 3/; rhosub(ber.) = 7.37/sub 8/ g/cm/sup 3/).

  20. Synthesis, crystal and electronic structures and optical properties of (HIm)<sub>2sub> Hg<sub>3sub>Cl>8sub> and (HIm)HgI<sub>3sub> (HIm = imidazolium)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Nhalil, Hariharan [Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Whiteside, Vincent R. [Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States). Homer L. Dodge Dept. of Physics & Astronomy; Sellers, Ian R. [Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States). Homer L. Dodge Dept. of Physics & Astronomy; Ming, Wenmei [Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Materials Science & Technology Division; Du, Mao-Hua [Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Materials Science & Technology Division; Saparov, Bayrammurad [Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry

    2017-11-22

    Here, we report synthesis, crystal and electronic structures, and optical properties of two new Hg-based zero-dimensional hybrid organic-inorganic halides (HIm)2Hg3Cl8 and (HIm)HgI3 (HIm = imidazolium). (HIm)<sub>2sub>Hg>3sub>Cl>8sub> crystallizes in the triclinic P-1 space group with a pseudo-layered structure made of organic imidazolium cation layers and anionic inorganic layers containing [Hg<sub>2sub>Cl>6sub>]2- units and linear [HgCl<sub>2sub>]0 molecules. (HIm)HgI<sub>3sub> crystallizes in the monoclinic P2<sub>1sub>/c space group featuring anionic [HgI<sub>3sub>]- units that are surrounded by imidazolium cations. Based on density functional theory calculations, (HIm)<sub>2sub>Hg>3sub>Cl>8sub> has an indirect band gap, whereas (HIm)HgI<sub>3sub> has a direct band gap with the measured onsets of optical absorption at 3.43 and 2.63 eV, respectively. (HIm)<sub>2sub>Hg>3sub>Cl>8sub> and (HIm)HgI<sub>3sub> are broadband light emitters with broad photoluminescence peaks centered at 548 nm (2.26 eV) and 582 nm (2.13 eV), respectively. In conclusion, following the crystal and electronic structure considerations, the PL peaks are assigned to self-trapped excitons.

  1. Investigations of the R<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>4sub> Intermetallic Compounds by X-Ray Resonant Magnetic Scattering

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tan, Lizhi [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

    2008-08-18

    The XRMS experiment on the Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> system has shown that, below the Neel temperature, T<sub>N> = 127 K, the magnetic unit cells is the same as the chemical unit cell. From azimuth scans and the Q dependence of the magnetic scattering, all three Gd sites in the structure were determined to be in the same magnetic space group Pnma. The magnetic moments are aligned along the c-axis and the c-components of the magnetic moments at the three different sites are equal. The ferromagnetic slabs are stacked antiferromagnetically along the b-direction. They found an unusual order parameter curve in Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub>. A spin-reorientation transition is a possibility in Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub>, which is similar to the Tb<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> case. Tb<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> possesses the same Sm<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub>-type crystallographic structure and the same magnetic space group as Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> does. The difference in magnetic structure is that Tb<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> has a canted one but Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> has nearly a collinear one in the low temperature antiferromagnetic phase. The competition between the magneto-crystalline anisotropy and the nearest-neighbor magnetic exchange interactions may allow a 3-dimensional canted antiferromagnetic structure in Tb<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub>. The spin-reorientation transition in both Gd<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> and Tb<sub>5sub>Ge>4sub> may arise from the competition between the magnetic anisotropy from the spin-orbit coupling of the conduction electrons and the dipolar interactions anisotropy.

  2. Li{sub 4}Ba[BN{sub 2}]{sub 2} - structure and vibrational spectra

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Seidel, Stefan; Rodewald, Ute C.; Poettgen, Rainer [Institut fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Universitaet Muenster (Germany); Somer, Mehmet; Kiraz, Kamil [Chemistry Department, Koc University, Sariyer-Istanbul (Turkey)

    2017-12-13

    The nitridoborate Li{sub 4}Ba[BN{sub 2}]{sub 2} was synthesized from a 4:1 molar ratio of Li{sub 3}[BN]{sub 2} and Ba{sub 3}[BN{sub 2}]{sub 2} in an arc-welded niobium ampoule at a maximum annealing temperature of 1173 K. The structure was refined from single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data: new type, P1, a = 533.9(2), b = 585.0(3), c = 860.6(4) pm, α = 80.72(3), β = 73.84(6), γ = 89.87(4) , wR{sub 2} = 0.1196, 1429 F{sup 2} values, 50 variables. The Li{sub 4}Ba[BN{sub 2}]{sub 2} structure contains two crystallographically independent [BN{sub 2}]{sup 3-} units with 134 pm B-N distance, which are slightly bent: 178 for N2-B1-N1 and 175 for N4-B2-N3. Due to the high lithium content both [BN{sub 2}]{sup 3-} units have a strongly distorted coordination by 8Li{sup +} + 3Ba{sup 2+}. The four crystallographically independent lithium cations show distorted tetrahedral coordination by [BN{sub 2}]{sup 3-} units with Li-N distances ranging from 195 to 247 pm. IR and Raman spectra show the typical vibrations of the [BN{sub 2}] unit along with a well-resolved splitting of the ν({sup 10}B) and ν({sup 11}B) frequencies. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  3. Induction of Human Somatostatin Receptor Subtype 2 on Breast Tumors with an Adenoviral Vector for Their Treatment and Detection with a Radiolabeled Peptide

    National Research Council Canada - National Science Library

    Rogers, Buck

    2002-01-01

    .... An adenoviral vector encoding the human somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (AdSSTr2) has been produced. The MDA- MB-468 and BT-474 human breast cancer cells were infected with AdSSTr2 and harvested 48 h later for membrane preparations...

  4. Magnetic signature of charge ordering in Li[Mn sub 1 sub . sub 9 sub 6 Li sub 0 sub . sub 0 sub 4]O sub 4 and Li sub 0 sub . sub 2 [Mn sub 1 sub . sub 9 sub 6 Li sub 0 sub . sub 0 sub 4]O sub 4

    CERN Document Server

    Verhoeven, V W J; Mulder, F M

    2002-01-01

    The stoichiometric compound LiMn sub 2 O sub 4 is known to show charge ordering with well-defined Mn sup 3 sup + and Mn sup 4 sup + sites just below room temperature (RT). Above RT the electrons are hopping rapidly between sites. For lithium-ion batteries the material Li[Mn sub 1 sub . sub 9 sub 6 Li sub 0 sub . sub 0 sub 4]O sub 4 is technologically relevant. Due to the small amount of Li on the Mn site, the low-T regular ordering of the Mn charge appears to be destroyed completely, as is evidenced by neutron diffraction in the magnetically ordered state. However, the charges are still fixed in an irregular fashion, as can also be deduced from sup 7 Li nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. In the lithium-extracted compound Li sub 0 sub . sub 2 [Mn sub 1 sub . sub 9 sub 6 Li sub 0 sub . sub 0 sub 4]O sub 4 , predominantly Mn sup 4 sup + is present. Neutron diffraction in the magnetically ordered state shows a well-defined antiferromagnetic ordering, with doubling of the unit cell in three directions. Clear...

  5. Adenoviral gene transfer of PLD1-D4 enhances insulin sensitivity in mice by disrupting phospholipase D1 interaction with PED/PEA-15.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Angela Cassese

    Full Text Available Over-expression of phosphoprotein enriched in diabetes/phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes (PED/PEA-15 causes insulin resistance by interacting with the D4 domain of phospholipase D1 (PLD1. Indeed, the disruption of this association restores insulin sensitivity in cultured cells over-expressing PED/PEA-15. Whether the displacement of PLD1 from PED/PEA-15 improves insulin sensitivity in vivo has not been explored yet. In this work we show that treatment with a recombinant adenoviral vector containing the human D4 cDNA (Ad-D4 restores normal glucose homeostasis in transgenic mice overexpressing PED/PEA-15 (Tg ped/pea-15 by improving both insulin sensitivity and secretion. In skeletal muscle of these mice, D4 over-expression inhibited PED/PEA-15-PLD1 interaction, decreased Protein Kinase C alpha activation and restored insulin induced Protein Kinase C zeta activation, leading to amelioration of insulin-dependent glucose uptake. Interestingly, Ad-D4 administration improved insulin sensitivity also in high-fat diet treated obese C57Bl/6 mice. We conclude that PED/PEA-15-PLD1 interaction may represent a novel target for interventions aiming at improving glucose tolerance.

  6. Circumventing antivector immunity: potential use of nonhuman adenoviral vectors.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Lopez-Gordo, Estrella; Podgorski, Iva I; Downes, Nicholas; Alemany, Ramon

    2014-04-01

    Adenoviruses are efficient gene delivery vectors based on their ability to transduce a wide variety of cell types and drive high-level transient transgene expression. While there have been advances in modifying human adenoviral (HAdV) vectors to increase their safety profile, there are still pitfalls that need to be further addressed. Preexisting humoral and cellular immunity against common HAdV serotypes limits the efficacy of gene transfer and duration of transgene expression. As an alternative, nonhuman AdV (NHAdV) vectors can circumvent neutralizing antibodies against HAdVs in immunized mice and monkeys and in human sera, suggesting that NHAdV vectors could circumvent preexisting humoral immunity against HAdVs in a clinical setting. Consequently, there has been an increased interest in developing NHAdV vectors for gene delivery in humans. In this review, we outline the recent advances and limitations of HAdV vectors for gene therapy and describe examples of NHAdV vectors focusing on their immunogenicity, tropism, and potential as effective gene therapy vehicles.

  7. The PP4R1 sub-unit of protein phosphatase PP4 is essential for inhibition of NF-κB by merkel polyomavirus small tumour antigen.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Abdul-Sada, Hussein; Müller, Marietta; Mehta, Rajni; Toth, Rachel; Arthur, J Simon C; Whitehouse, Adrian; Macdonald, Andrew

    2017-04-11

    Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive skin cancer with a high metastatic potential. The majority of MCC cases are caused by the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), through expression of the virus-encoded tumour antigens. Whilst mechanisms attributing tumour antigen expression to transformation are being uncovered, little is known of the mechanisms by which MCPyV persists in the host. We previously identified the MCPyV small T antigen (tAg) as a novel inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) signalling and a modulator of the host anti-viral response. Here we demonstrate that regulation of NF-kB activation involves a previously undocumented interaction between tAg and regulatory sub-unit 1 of protein phosphatase 4 (PP4R1). Formation of a complex with PP4R1 and PP4c is required to bridge MCPyV tAg to the NEMO adaptor protein, allowing deactivation of the NF-kB pathway. Mutations in MCPyV tAg that fail to interact with components of this complex, or siRNA depletion of PP4R1, prevents tAg-mediated inhibition of NF-kB and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Comparison of tAg binding partners from other human polyomavirus demonstrates that interactions with NEMO and PP4R1 are unique to MCPyV. Collectively, these data identify PP4R1 as a novel target for virus subversion of the host anti-viral response.

  8. An easy method for preparation of Cre-loxP regulated fluorescent adenoviral expression vectors and its application for direct reprogramming into hepatocytes

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Chitose Kurihara

    2016-12-01

    Full Text Available The recombinant adenoviral gene expression system is a powerful tool for gene delivery. However, it is difficult to obtain high titers of infectious virus, principally due to the toxicity of the expressed gene which affects on virus replication in the host HEK293 cells. To avoid these problems, we generated a Cre-loxP-regulated fluorescent universal vector (termed pAxCALRL. This vector produces recombinant adenoviruses that express the red fluorescent protein (RFP instead of the inserted gene during proliferation, which limits toxicity and can be used to monitor viral replication. Expression of the gene of interest is induced by co-infection with an adenovirus that expresses Cre-recombinase (AxCANCre. Recombinant adenovirus produced by this system that express Hnf4α and Foxa2 were used to reprogram mouse embryo fibroblast (MEF into induced-hepatocyte-like cells (iHep following several rounds of infection, demonstrating the efficacy of this new system.

  9. Dispersing Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} at high solids loading - applied to protein forming

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lyckfeldt, O.; Palmqvist, L. [Swedish Ceramic Inst., Goeteborg (Sweden); Poeydemenge, F. [ENSCI, Limoges (France)

    2002-07-01

    The dispersing of a Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} powder (UBE SN-E10) at high solids loading in aqueous media was investigated. The powder was used in the as-received (raw) state, after thermal (calcinations) and/or mechanical pre-treatments (ball milling{yields}freeze granulation{yields}freeze-drying). Slips were prepared using pH adjustment with NH{sub 4}OH or an addition of Tiron (low-M{sub w} sulphonic acid). Zeta potential measurements of diluted systems and rheological evaluations of concentrated suspensions were conducted. The effect of adding whey protein concentrate (WPC) was also studied. Zeta potential measurements showed a clear decrease in pH{sub iep} by calcination, whereas Tiron slightly increased the pH{sub iep} of calcined powder and decreased the pH{sub iep} of the as-received powder. Rheological data showed that pH adjustment to 10 was more efficient in stabilising the as-received powder than the calcined powder. pH adjustment was also considered to be the most important effect of adding small amounts of Tiron (0.08 wt%). However, for calcined powder, Tiron was shown to be equally efficient as pH adjustment. Pre-milling followed by freeze granulation/freeze-drying resulted in de-agglomerated powders with improved ability to rapidly disperse and, hence, extend the possibility of achieving extreme solids loadings. When approaching the practical limits in solids loading of these pre-milled powders, slips with 49.5 vol% of as-received and 46.6 vol% of calcined powders displayed clear shear thickening behaviour. However, addition of WPC (12 wt% based on water) significantly decreased the degree of shear thickening although the viscosity at lower shear rates increased. The gelling of WPC was distinct and rapid in suspensions with the two pre-milled powders, as-received stabilised at pH 10 and calcined stabilised with Tiron. (orig.)

  10. Bioactive proteins against pathogenic and spoilage bacteria

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mahmoud Z. Sitohy

    2014-10-01

    Full Text Available Background: It is likely that both human nutrition and the nutrition of livestock are benefited by the presence of bioactive proteins within their respective diet regimes. Bioactive proteins have been defined as specific protein fragments that positively impact bodily functions or conditions and may, ultimately, influence overall human health. The ingestion of bioactive proteins may have an effect on the major body systems—namely, the cardiovascular, digestive, immune and nervous systems. According to their functional properties, bioactive proteins may be classified as antimicrobial, antithrombotic, antihypertensive, opioid, immune-modulatory, mineral binding and anti-oxidative. There are many examples of biologically active food proteins and active peptides that can be obtained from various food protein sources. They have a physiological significance beyond the pure nutritional requirements; in other wordsthey have the acquisition of nitrogen for normal growth and maintenance. Objective: This study aims to specify and characterize the extent and mode of action of bioactive proteins in their native form, (glycinin, glycinin basic sub-unit and β-conglycinin against specific main pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. We will be using standard media while identifying the main constituents responsible for this action. Methods: Glycinin, basic sub-unit and β-conglycinin were isolated from soybean protein and tested for their antimicrobial action against pathogenic and spoilage bacteria, They were thencompared to the properties of penicillin. Methylated soybean protein and also methylated chickpea protein (MSP and MCP, with isoelectric points around pI 8, were prepared by esterifying. 83 % of their free carboxyl groups and their interactions with Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria were examined. Results: The three divisions of cationic proteins exhibited antibacterial

  11. Lysyl Oxidase-Like 1 Protein Deficiency Protects Mice from Adenoviral Transforming Growth Factor-β1-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Bellaye, Pierre-Simon; Shimbori, Chiko; Upagupta, Chandak; Sato, Seidai; Shi, Wei; Gauldie, Jack; Ask, Kjetil; Kolb, Martin

    2018-04-01

    Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the lung parenchyma. The abnormal ECM deposition slowly overtakes normal lung tissue, disturbing gas exchange and leading to respiratory failure and death. ECM cross-linking and subsequent stiffening is thought to be a major contributor of disease progression and also promotes the activation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, one of the main profibrotic growth factors. Lysyl oxidase-like (LOXL) 1 belongs to the cross-linking enzyme family and has been shown to be up-regulated in active fibrotic regions of bleomycin-treated mice and patients with IPF. We demonstrate in this study that LOXL1-deficient mice are protected from experimental lung fibrosis induced by overexpression of TGF-β1 using adenoviral (Ad) gene transfer (AdTGF-β1). The lack of LOXL1 prevented accumulation of insoluble cross-linked collagen in the lungs, and therefore limited lung stiffness after AdTGF-β1. In addition, we applied mechanical stretch to lung slices from LOXL1 +/+ and LOXL1 -/- mice treated with AdTGF-β1. Lung stiffness (Young's modulus) of LOXL1 -/- lung slices was significantly lower compared with LOXL1 +/+ lung slices. Moreover, the release of activated TGF-β1 after mechanical stretch was significantly lower in LOXL1 -/- mice compared with LOXL1 +/+ mice after AdTGF-β1. These data support the concept that cross-linking enzyme inhibition represents an interesting therapeutic target for drug development in IPF.

  12. Loss of Endothelial Barrier in Marfan Mice (mgR/mgR Results in Severe Inflammation after Adenoviral Gene Therapy.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Philipp Christian Seppelt

    Full Text Available Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder of connective tissue. The vascular complications of Marfan syndrome have the biggest impact on life expectancy. The aorta of Marfan patients reveals degradation of elastin layers caused by increased proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs. In this study we performed adenoviral gene transfer of human tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (hTIMP-1 in aortic grafts of fibrillin-1 deficient Marfan mice (mgR/mgR in order to reduce elastolysis.We performed heterotopic infrarenal transplantation of the thoracic aorta in female mice (n = 7 per group. Before implantation, mgR/mgR and wild-type aortas (WT, C57BL/6 were transduced ex vivo with an adenoviral vector coding for human TIMP-1 (Ad.hTIMP-1 or β-galactosidase (Ad.β-Gal. As control mgR/mgR and wild-type aortas received no gene therapy. Thirty days after surgery, overexpression of the transgene was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC and collagen in situ zymography. Histologic staining was performed to investigate inflammation, the neointimal index (NI, and elastin breaks. Endothelial barrier function of native not virus-exposed aortas was evaluated by perfusion of fluorescent albumin and examinations of virus-exposed tissue were performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM.IHC and ISZ revealed sufficient expression of the transgene. Severe cellular inflammation and intima hyperplasia were seen only in adenovirus treated mgR/mgR aortas (Ad.β-Gal, Ad.hTIMP-1 NI: 0.23; 0.43, but not in native and Ad.hTIMP-1 treated WT (NI: 0.01; 0.00. Compared to native mgR/mgR and Ad.hTIMP-1 treated WT aorta, the NI is highly significant greater in Ad.hTIMP-1 transduced mgR/mgR aorta (p = 0.001; p = 0.001. As expected, untreated Marfan grafts showed significant more elastolysis compared to WT (p = 0.001. However, elastolysis in Marfan aortas was not reduced by adenoviral overexpression of hTIMP-1 (compared to untreated

  13. Crystal structures of KM(AsF{sub 6}){sub 3} (M{sup 2+} = Mg, Co, Mn, Zn), KCu(SbF{sub 6}){sub 3} and [Co(HF){sub 2}]Sr[Sr(HF)]{sub 2}-[Sr(HF){sub 2}]{sub 2}[AsF{sub 6}]{sub 12}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mazej, Zoran; Goreshnik, Evgeny [Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana (Slovakia). Dept. of Inorganic Chemisrty and Technology

    2015-05-01

    The KM(AsF{sub 6}){sub 3} (M{sup 2+} = Mg, Co, Mn, Zn) and KCu(SbF{sub 6}){sub 3} compounds crystallize isotypically to previously known KNi(AsF{sub 6}){sub 3}. The main features of the structure of these compounds are rings of MF{sub 6} octahedra sharing apexes with AsF{sub 6} octahedra connected into infinite tri-dimensional frameworks. In this arrangement cavities are formed where K{sup +} cations are placed. Single crystals of CoSr{sub 5}(AsF{sub 6}){sub 12}.8HF were obtained as one of the products after the crystallization of 3KF/CoF{sub 2}/SrF{sub 2} mixture in the presence of AsF{sub 5} in anhydrous HF. The CoSr{sub 5}(AsF{sub 6}){sub 12}.8HF is monoclinic, C/2c (No.15), with a = 26.773(5) Aa, b = 10.087(2) Aa, c = 21.141(5) Aa, β = 93.296(13) {sup circle}, V = 5699.9(19) Aa{sup 3} at 200 K, and Z = 4. There are three crystallographically non-equivalent Sr{sup 2+} cations in the crystal structure of CoSr{sub 5}(AsF{sub 6}){sub 12}.8HF. The Sr1 is coordinated by ten fluorine atoms from eight different [AsF{sub 6}]- anions, meanwhile Sr2 and Sr3 are bound to nine fluorine atoms provided by one HF and eight AsF{sub 6} units or by two HF and six AsF{sub 6} units, respectively. The Co{sup 2+} is coordinated distorted-octahedrally by six fluorine atoms from two HF molecules and four different AsF{sub 6} units. All those moieties in the crystal structure of [Co(HF){sub 2}]Sr[Sr(HF)]{sub 2}[Sr(HF){sub 2}]{sub 2}[AsF{sub 6}]{sub 12} are connected into tridimensional framework. The CoSr{sub 5}(AsF{sub 6}){sub 12}.8HF is a unique example of compound where HF molecules are directly bound via fluorine atoms to two different metal centres.

  14. A three-dimensional coordination polymer based on 1,2,3-triazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid (H{sub 3}tda): ([Cd{sub 12}(tda){sub 8}(H{sub 2}O){sub 11}] · (H{sub 2}O)6.25){sub n}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhou, Xin-Hui, E-mail: iamxhzhou@njupt.edu.cn; Chen, Qiang [Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays and Institute of Advanced Materials, National Jiangsu Syngerstic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM) (China)

    2017-03-15

    The title coordination polymer ([Cd{sub 12}(tda){sub 8}(H{sub 2}O){sub 11}] · (H{sub 2}O){sub 6.25}){sub n} (H{sub 3}tda = 1,2,3-triazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid), has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex crystallizes in orthorhombic sp. gr. Pmn2{sub 1} with Z = 4. The Cd{sub 2} unit doublebridged by one carboxylate oxygen atom and two neighboring nitrogen atoms from the tda{sup 3–} ligands are linked by the tda{sup 3–}ligands to lead to the 2D (4,4) network in the ac plane. The almost coplanar Cd{sub 2}(μ{sub 5}-tda){sub 2} unit comprised of two Cd ions double-bridged by two tda{sup 3–} ligands through the neighboring nitrogen atoms is connected with the other four Cd{sub 2}(μ{sub 5}-tda){sub 2} units form the undulating 2D network in the ac plane. The (4,4) networks and undulating 2D networks are alternatively connected along the b axis by the tda{sup 3–} ligands coordinating to the Cd ions to form the 3D framework.

  15. The trafficking pathway of a wheat storage protein in transgenic rice endosperm.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Oszvald, Maria; Tamas, Laszlo; Shewry, Peter R; Tosi, Paola

    2014-04-01

    The trafficking of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of plant cells is a topic of considerable interest since this organelle serves as an entry point for proteins destined for other organelles, as well as for the ER itself. In the current work, transgenic rice was used to study the pattern and pathway of deposition of the wheat high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin sub-unit (GS) 1Dx5 within the rice endosperm using specific antibodies to determine whether it is deposited in the same or different protein bodies from the rice storage proteins, and whether it is located in the same or separate phases within these. The protein distribution and the expression pattern of HMW sub-unit 1Dx5 in transgenic rice endosperm at different stages of development were determined using light and electron microscopy after labelling with antibodies. The use of HMW-GS-specific antibodies showed that sub-unit 1Dx5 was expressed mainly in the sub-aleurone cells of the endosperm and that it was deposited in both types of protein body present in the rice endosperm: derived from the ER and containing prolamins, and derived from the vacuole and containing glutelins. In addition, new types of protein bodies were also formed within the endosperm cells. The results suggest that the HMW 1Dx5 protein could be trafficked by either the ER or vacuolar pathway, possibly depending on the stage of development, and that its accumulation in the rice endosperm could compromise the structural integrity of protein bodies and their segregation into two distinct populations in the mature endosperm.

  16. Geomechanical Framework for Secure CO<sub>2sub> Storage in Fractured Reservoirs and Caprocks for Sedimentary Basins in theMidwest United States

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sminchak, Joel [Battelle, Columbus, OH (United States)

    2017-09-29

    This report presents final technical results for the project Geomechanical Framework for Secure CO<sub>2sub> Storage in Fractured Reservoirs and Caprocks for Sedimentary Basins in the Midwest United States (DE-FE0023330). The project was a three-year effort consisting of seven technical tasks focused on defining geomechanical factors for CO<sub>2sub> storage applications in deep saline rock formations in Ohio and the Midwest United States, because geomechancial issues have been identified as a significant risk factor for large-scale CO<sub>2sub> storage applications. A basin-scale stress-strain analysis was completed to describe the geomechanical setting for rock formations of Ordovician-Cambrian age in Ohio and adjacent areas of the Midwest United States in relation to geologic CO<sub>2sub> storage applications. The tectonic setting, stress orientation-magnitude, and geomechanical and petrophysical parameters for CO<sub>2sub> storage zones and caprocks in the region were cataloged. Ten geophysical image logs were analyzed for natural fractures, borehole breakouts, and drilling-induced fractures. The logs indicated mostly less than 10 fractures per 100 vertical feet in the borehole, with mostly N65E principal stress orientation through the section. Geophysical image logs and other logs were obtained for three wells located near the sites where specific models were developed for geomechanical simulations: Arches site in Boone County, Kentucky; Northern Appalachian Basin site in Chautauqua County, New York; and E-Central Appalachian Basin site in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. For these three wells, 9,700 feet of image logs were processed and interpreted to provide a systematic review of the distribution within each well of natural fractures, wellbore breakouts, faults, and drilling induced fractures. There were many borehole breakouts and drilling-induced tensile fractures but few natural fractures. Concentrated fractures were present at the Rome-basal sandstone

  17. On the calculation of {sup 3}J{sub {alpha}{beta}}-coupling constants for side chains in proteins

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Steiner, Denise [Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH (Switzerland); Allison, Jane R. [Massey University Albany, Centre for Theoretical Chemistry and Physics, Institute for Natural Sciences (New Zealand); Eichenberger, Andreas P.; Gunsteren, Wilfred F. van, E-mail: wfvgn@igc.phys.chem.ethz.ch [Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH (Switzerland)

    2012-07-15

    Structural knowledge about proteins is mainly derived from values of observables, measurable in NMR spectroscopic or X-ray diffraction experiments, i.e. absorbed or scattered intensities, through theoretically derived relationships between structural quantities such as atom positions or torsional angles on the one hand and observable quantities such as squared structure factor amplitudes, NOE intensities or {sup 3}J-coupling constants on the other. The standardly used relation connecting {sup 3}J-couplings to torsional angles is the Karplus relation, which is used in protein structure refinement as well as in the evaluation of simulated properties of proteins. The accuracy of the simple and generalised Karplus relations is investigated using side-chain structural and {sup 3}J{sub {alpha}{beta}}-coupling data for three different proteins, Plastocyanin, Lysozyme, and FKBP, for which such data are available. The results show that the widely used Karplus relations are only a rough estimate for the relation between {sup 3}J{sub {alpha}{beta}}-couplings and the corresponding {chi}{sub 1}-angle in proteins.

  18. Adenoviral hemorrhagic disease in California mule deer, 1990-2014.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Woods, Leslie W; Schumaker, Brant A; Pesavento, Patricia A; Crossley, Beate M; Swift, Pamela K

    2018-03-01

    We reviewed case records from the California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) laboratory and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) spanning 25 years (1990-2014) for all deer accessions submitted to CAHFS for pathology and/or histopathology, with and without a diagnosis of adenoviral hemorrhagic disease (AHD), in order to determine the prevalence of AHD in California. We also examined spatial and temporal distribution, age, and mule deer subspecies in deer that died from AHD. Of 483 deer submitted to CAHFS for diagnostic testing in 1990-2014, 17.2% were diagnosed with confirmed AHD, and 26.5% were confirmed plus suspected cases of AHD. Columbian black-tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), particularly fawns and juveniles, were most frequently affected. Deer adenovirus ( Odocoileus adenovirus 1; OdAdV-1) was detected by immunohistochemistry in archived CDFW formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from deer that died in mortality events in 1981, 1983, and 1986-1987. OdAdV-1 is a common cause of hemorrhagic disease mortality events in California deer, and mortality as a result of AHD is documented as early as 1981.

  19. M/sub r/ 25,000 heparin-binding protein from guinea pig brain is a high molecular weight form of basic fibroblast growth factor

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Moscatelli, D.; Joseph-Silverstein, J.; Manejias, R.; Rifkin, D.B.

    1987-01-01

    A M/sub r/ 25,000 form of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been isolated from guinea pig grain along with the typical M/sub r/ 18,000 form. Both forms were purified to homogeneity by a combination of heparin-affinity chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography on an FPLC Mono S column. The M/sub r/ 25,000 form, like the M/sub r/ 18,000 form was not eluted from the heparin-affinity column with 0.95 M NaCl, but was eluted with 2 M NaCl. The M/sub r/ 25,000 guinea pig protein stimulated plasminogen activator production by cultured bovine capillary endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner at concentration of 0.1-10 ngml, the same range that was effective for guinea pig and human M/sub r/ 18,000 bFGFs. The binding of human 125 I-labeled bFGF to baby hamster kidney cells is inhibited equally by the M/sub r/ 25,000 guinea pig protein and the M/sub r/ 18,000 guinea pig and human bFGFs. Polyclonal antibodies raised against human bFGF recognize both the M/sub r/ 25,000 and 18,000 guinea pig proteins in an immunoblot analysis. In a radioimmunoassay, both the M/sub r/ 25,000 and M/sub r/ 18,000 guinea pig proteins compete equally well with iodinated human bFGF for binding to the anti-human bFGF antibodies. When treated with low concentrations of trypsin, the M/sub r/ 25,000 guinea pig bFGF was converted to a M/sub r/ 18,000 protein. These results show that the two molecules are closely related and suggest that the M/sub r/ 25,000 protein shares substantial homology with the M/sub r/ 18,000 bFGF

  20. Adenoviral-mediated correction of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase deficiency in murine fibroblasts and human hepatocytes

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Korson Mark

    2007-04-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA, a common organic aciduria, is caused by deficiency of the mitochondrial localized, 5'deoxyadenosylcobalamin dependent enzyme, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MUT. Liver transplantation in the absence of gross hepatic dysfunction provides supportive therapy and metabolic stability in severely affected patients, which invites the concept of using cell and gene delivery as future treatments for this condition. Methods To assess the effectiveness of gene delivery to restore the defective metabolism in this disorder, adenoviral correction experiments were performed using murine Mut embryonic fibroblasts and primary human methylmalonyl-CoA mutase deficient hepatocytes derived from a patient who harbored two early truncating mutations, E224X and R228X, in the MUT gene. Enzymatic and expression studies were used to assess the extent of functional correction. Results Primary hepatocytes, isolated from the native liver after removal subsequent to a combined liver-kidney transplantation procedure, or Mut murine fibroblasts were infected with a second generation recombinant adenoviral vector that expressed the murine methylmalonyl-CoA mutase as well as eGFP from distinct promoters. After transduction, [1-14C] propionate macromolecular incorporation studies and Western analysis demonstrated complete correction of the enzymatic defect in both cell types. Viral reconstitution of enzymatic expression in the human methylmalonyl-CoA mutase deficient hepatocytes exceeded that seen in fibroblasts or control hepatocytes. Conclusion These experiments provide proof of principle for viral correction in methylmalonic acidemia and suggest that hepatocyte-directed gene delivery will be an effective therapeutic treatment strategy in both murine models and in human patients. Primary hepatocytes from a liver that was unsuitable for transplantation provided an important resource for these studies.

  1. Toxicity and biodistribution of a first-generation recombinant adenoviral vector, in the presence of hydroxychloroquine, following retroductal delivery to a single rat submandibular gland

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Zheng, C.; Voutetakis, A.; Kok, M. R.; Goldsmith, C. M.; Smith, G. B. J.; Elmore, S.; Nyska, A.; Vallant, M.; Irwin, R. D.; Baum, B. J.

    2006-01-01

    We examined the toxicity and biodistribution associated with a single administration of a first-generation, serotype 5, adenoviral vector encoding human growth hormone (hGH; AdCMVhGH) to a single rat submandibular gland in the presence of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Previously, we showed that hGH is

  2. La{sub 3}Cu{sub 4}P{sub 4}O{sub 2} and La{sub 5}Cu{sub 4}P{sub 4}O{sub 4}Cl{sub 2}. Synthesis, structure and {sup 31}P solid state NMR spectroscopy

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bartsch, Timo; Eul, Matthias; Poettgen, Rainer [Muenster Univ. (Germany). Inst. fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Benndorf, Christopher; Eckert, Hellmut [Muenster Univ. (Germany). Inst. fuer Physikalische Chemie; Sao Paulo Univ., Sao Carlos, SP (Brazil). Inst. of Physics

    2016-04-01

    The phosphide oxides La{sub 3}Cu{sub 4}P{sub 4}O{sub 2} and La{sub 5}Cu{sub 4}P{sub 4}O{sub 4}Cl{sub 2} were synthesized from lanthanum, copper(I) oxide, red phosphorus, and lanthanum(III) chloride through a ceramic technique. Single crystals can be grown in a NaCl/KCl flux. Both structures were refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data: I4/mmm, a = 403.89(4), c = 2681.7(3) pm, wR2 = 0.0660, 269 F{sup 2} values, 19 variables for La{sub 3}Cu{sub 4}P{sub 4}O{sub 2} and a = 407.52(5), c = 4056.8(7) pm, wR2 = 0.0905, 426 F{sup 2} values, 27 variables for La{sub 5}Cu{sub 4}P{sub 4}O{sub 4}Cl{sub 2}. Refinement of the occupancy parameters revealed full occupancy for the oxygen sites in both compounds. The structures are composed of cationic (La{sub 2}O{sub 2}){sup 2+} layers and covalently bonded (Cu{sub 4}P{sub 4}){sup 5-} polyanionic layers with metallic characteristics, and an additional La{sup 3+} between two adjacent (Cu{sub 4}P{sub 4}){sup 5-} layers. The structure of La{sub 5}Cu{sub 4}P{sub 4}O{sub 4}Cl{sub 2} comprises two additional LaOCl slabs per unit cell. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility studies revealed Pauli paramagnetism. The phosphide substructure of La{sub 3}Cu{sub 4}P{sub 4}O{sub 2} was studied by {sup 31}P solid state NMR spectroscopy. By using a suitable dipolar re-coupling approach the two distinct resonances belonging to the P{sub 2}{sup 4-} and the P{sup 3-} units could be identified.

  3. α/sub i/-3 cDNA encodes the α subunit of G/sub k/, the stimulatory G protein of receptor-regulated K+ channels

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Codina, J.; Olate, J.; Abramowitz, J.; Mattera, R.; Cook, R.G.; Birnbaumer, L.

    1988-01-01

    cDNA cloning has identified the presence in the human genome of three genes encoding α subunits of pertussis toxin substrates, generically called G/sub i/. They are named α/sub i/-1, α/sub i/-2 and α/sub i/-3. However, none of these genes has been functionally identified with any of the α subunits of several possible G proteins, including pertussis toxin-sensitive G/sub p/'s, stimulatory to phospholipase C or A 2 , G/sub i/, inhibitory to adenylyl cyclase, or G/sub k/, stimulatory to a type of K + channels. The authors now report the nucleotide sequence and the complete predicted amino acid sequence of human liver α/sub i/-3 and the partial amino acid sequence of proteolytic fragments of the α subunit of human erythrocyte G/sub k/. The amino acid sequence of the proteolytic fragment is uniquely encoded by the cDNA of α/sub i/-3, thus identifying it as α/sub k/. The probable identity of α/sub i/-1 with α/sub p/ and possible roles for α/sub i/-2, as well as additional roles for α/sub i/-1 and α/sub i/-3 (α/sub k/) are discussed

  4. Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of the praseodymium borate-nitrate Pr[B{sub 5}O{sub 8}(OH)(H{sub 2}O){sub 0.87}]NO{sub 3}.2H{sub 2}O

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ortner, Teresa S.; Huppertz, Hubert [Innsbruck Univ. (Austria). Inst. fuer Allgemeine, Anorganische und Theoretische Chemie

    2017-10-01

    The praseodymium borate-nitrate Pr[B{sub 5}O{sub 8}(OH)(H{sub 2}O){sub 0.87}]NO{sub 3}.2H{sub 2}O was obtained in a hydrothermal synthesis. It crystallizes monoclinically in the space group P2{sub 1}/n (no. 14) with four formula units (Z=4) and unit cell parameters of a=641.9(3), b=1551.8(7), c=1068.4(5) pm, with β=90.54(2) yielding V=1.0643(8) nm{sup 3}. The defect variant constitutes the missing member in the series of isostructural, early rare earth borate-nitrates of the composition RE[B{sub 5}O{sub 8}(OH)(H{sub 2}O){sub x}]NO{sub 3}.2H{sub 2}O [RE=La (x=0; 1), Ce (x=1), Nd (x=0.85), Sm (x=0)]. In addition to powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, the novel borate-nitrate was characterized through IR and Raman spectroscopy.

  5. [O{sub 2}Pb{sub 3}]{sub 2}(BO{sub 3})Br. An oxidoborate oxide bromide with the {sub ∞}{sup 1}[O{sub 2}Pb{sub 3}] double chains based on edge-sharing OPb{sub 4} tetrahedra

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Dong, Lingyun [College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding (China); Biology and Chemistry Department, Baoding University (China); Yang, Jiao; Shen, Shigang; Liu, Zhenzhen; Sun, Sufang [College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Hebei University, Baoding (China); Chen, Xiaojing [Biology and Chemistry Department, Baoding University (China)

    2017-04-04

    Through extensive research on the PbO / PbBr{sub 2} / B{sub 2}O{sub 3} system, a new single crystal of yellow lead-containing oxyborate bromine, [O{sub 2}Pb{sub 3}]{sub 2}(BO{sub 3})Br, was grown from the melt. It crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group Cmcm (no. 63) of the orthorhombic system with the following unit cell dimensions: a = 9.5748(8) Aa, b = 20.841(2) Aa, c = 5.7696(5) Aa, and Z = 4. The whole structure is characterized by an infinite one-dimensional (1D) {sub ∞}{sup 1}[O{sub 2}Pb{sub 3}] double chain, which is based on the OPb{sub 4} oxocentered tetrahedra and considered as the derivative of the continuous sheet of OPb{sub 4} tetrahedra from the tetragonal modification of α-PbO. The 1D {sub ∞}{sup 1}[O{sub 2}Pb{sub 3}] double chains are further bridged by the BO{sub 3} units through common oxygen atoms to form two-dimensional (2D) {sub ∞}{sup 1}[(O{sub 2}Pb{sub 3})(BO{sub 3})] layers, with Br atoms situated between the layers. IR spectroscopy, UV/Vis/NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and thermal analysis were also performed on the reported material. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  6. Engineering [Ln(DPA){sub 3}]{sup 3-} binding sites in proteins: a widely applicable method for tagging proteins with lanthanide ions

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jia Xinying; Yagi, Hiromasa; Su Xuncheng; Stanton-Cook, Mitchell; Huber, Thomas; Otting, Gottfried, E-mail: gottfried.otting@anu.edu.au [Australian National University, Research School of Chemistry (Australia)

    2011-08-15

    Paramagnetic relaxation enhancements from unpaired electrons observed in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra present powerful long-range distance restraints. The most frequently used paramagnetic tags, however, are tethered to the protein via disulfide bonds, requiring proteins with single cysteine residues for covalent attachment. Here we present a straightforward strategy to tag proteins site-specifically with paramagnetic lanthanides without a tether and independent of cysteine residues. It relies on preferential binding of the complex between three dipicolinic acid molecules (DPA) and a lanthanide ion (Ln{sup 3+}), [Ln(DPA){sub 3}]{sup 3-}, to a pair of positively charged amino acids whose charges are not compensated by negatively charged residues nearby. This situation rarely occurs in wild-type proteins, allowing the creation of specific binding sites simply by introduction of positively charged residues that are positioned far from glutamate or aspartate residues. The concept is demonstrated with the hnRNPLL RRM1 domain. In addition, we show that histidine- and arginine-tags present binding sites for [Ln(DPA){sub 3}]{sup 3-}.

  7. Protein Sub-Nuclear Localization Based on Effective Fusion Representations and Dimension Reduction Algorithm LDA.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Wang, Shunfang; Liu, Shuhui

    2015-12-19

    An effective representation of a protein sequence plays a crucial role in protein sub-nuclear localization. The existing representations, such as dipeptide composition (DipC), pseudo-amino acid composition (PseAAC) and position specific scoring matrix (PSSM), are insufficient to represent protein sequence due to their single perspectives. Thus, this paper proposes two fusion feature representations of DipPSSM and PseAAPSSM to integrate PSSM with DipC and PseAAC, respectively. When constructing each fusion representation, we introduce the balance factors to value the importance of its components. The optimal values of the balance factors are sought by genetic algorithm. Due to the high dimensionality of the proposed representations, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is used to find its important low dimensional structure, which is essential for classification and location prediction. The numerical experiments on two public datasets with KNN classifier and cross-validation tests showed that in terms of the common indexes of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and MCC, the proposed fusing representations outperform the traditional representations in protein sub-nuclear localization, and the representation treated by LDA outperforms the untreated one.

  8. Crystal structures of Ni sup 2 sup + -and Tl sup + -exchanged zeolite X, Ni sub 1 sub 7 Tl sub 5 sub 8 Si sub 1 sub 0 sub 0 Al sub 9 sub 2 O sub 3 sub 8 sub 4 and Ni sub 1 sub 2 Tl sub 6 sub 8 Si sub 1 sub 0 sub 0 Al sub 9 sub 2 O sub 3 sub 8 sub 4

    CERN Document Server

    Song, M K; Kim, Y

    2001-01-01

    The crystal structures of fully dehydrated Ni sup 2 sup + - and Tl sup + -exchanged zeolite X (Ni sub 1 sub 7 Tl sub 5 sub 8 -X, and Ni sub 1 sub 2 Tl sub 6 sub 8 -X; X=Si sub 1 sub 0 sub 0 Al sub 9 sub 2 O sub 3 sub 8 sub 4) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd3 at 21(1) .deg. C (a=24.380(4) A, 24.660(4) A, respectively). Their structures have been refined to the final error indices R sub 1 =0.037 and R sub 2 =0.043 with 485 reflections, and R sub 1 =0.039 and R sub 2 =0.040 with 306 reflections, respectively, for which I>3 sigma(I). In Ni sub 1 sub 7 Tl sub 5 sub 8 -X, 17 Ni sup 2 sup + ions per unit cell were found at only two sites: 15 at site I at the center of the hexagonal prism (Ni-O=2.203(9) A). and the remaining 2 at site II near single six-oxygen rings in the supercage (Ni-O=2.16(3) A). Fifty-eight Tl sup + ions were found at five crystallographic sites: 28 at site II (Tl-O=2.626(8) A, 2 at site I' in the sodalite cavity near the hexagonal ...

  9. Novel approach to abuse the hyperactive K-Ras pathway for adenoviral gene therapy of colorectal cancer

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Naumov, Inna; Kazanov, Dina; Lisiansky, Victoria; Starr, Alex; Aroch, Ilan; Shapira, Shiran; Kraus, Sarah; Arber, Nadir

    2012-01-01

    Background: Functional activation of oncogenic K-Ras signaling pathway plays an important role in the early events of colorectal carcinogenesis (CRC). K-Ras proto-oncogene is involved in 35–40% of CRC cases. Mutations in the Ras gene trigger the transduction of proliferative and anti-apoptotic signals, even in the absence of extra cellular stimuli. The objective of the current study was to use a gene-targeting approach to kill human CRC cells selectively harboring mutated K-Ras. Results: A recombinant adenovirus that carries a lethal gene, PUMA, under the control of a Ras responsive promoter (Ad-Py4-SV40-PUMA) was used selectively to target CRC cells (HCT116, SW480, DLD1 and RIE-Ras) that possess a hyperactive Ras pathway while using HT29 and RIE cells as a control that harbors wild type Ras and exhibit very low Ras activity. Control vector, without the Ras responsive promoter elements was used to assess the specificity of our “gene therapy” approach. Both adenoviral vectors were assed in vitro and in xenograft model in vivo. Ad-Py4-SV40-PUMA showed high potency to induce ∼ 50% apoptosis in vitro, to abolish completely tumor formation by infecting cells with the Ad-Py4-SV40-PUMA prior xenografting them in nude mice and high ability to suppress by ∼ 35% tumor progression in vivo in already established tumors. Conclusions: Selective targeting of CRC cells with the activated Ras pathway may be a novel and effective therapy in CRC. The high potency of this adenoviral vector may help to overcome an undetectable micro metastasis that is the major hurdle in challenging with CRC.

  10. Novel approach to abuse the hyperactive K-Ras pathway for adenoviral gene therapy of colorectal cancer

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Naumov, Inna [Integrated Cancer Prevention Center, Tel Aviv (Israel); Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv (Israel); Kazanov, Dina [Integrated Cancer Prevention Center, Tel Aviv (Israel); Lisiansky, Victoria [Integrated Cancer Prevention Center, Tel Aviv (Israel); Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv (Israel); Starr, Alex [Lung and Allergy Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv (Israel); Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv (Israel); Aroch, Ilan; Shapira, Shiran; Kraus, Sarah [Integrated Cancer Prevention Center, Tel Aviv (Israel); Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv (Israel); Arber, Nadir, E-mail: narber@post.tau.ac.il [Integrated Cancer Prevention Center, Tel Aviv (Israel); Department of Gastroenterology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv (Israel); Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv (Israel)

    2012-01-15

    Background: Functional activation of oncogenic K-Ras signaling pathway plays an important role in the early events of colorectal carcinogenesis (CRC). K-Ras proto-oncogene is involved in 35-40% of CRC cases. Mutations in the Ras gene trigger the transduction of proliferative and anti-apoptotic signals, even in the absence of extra cellular stimuli. The objective of the current study was to use a gene-targeting approach to kill human CRC cells selectively harboring mutated K-Ras. Results: A recombinant adenovirus that carries a lethal gene, PUMA, under the control of a Ras responsive promoter (Ad-Py4-SV40-PUMA) was used selectively to target CRC cells (HCT116, SW480, DLD1 and RIE-Ras) that possess a hyperactive Ras pathway while using HT29 and RIE cells as a control that harbors wild type Ras and exhibit very low Ras activity. Control vector, without the Ras responsive promoter elements was used to assess the specificity of our 'gene therapy' approach. Both adenoviral vectors were assed in vitro and in xenograft model in vivo. Ad-Py4-SV40-PUMA showed high potency to induce {approx} 50% apoptosis in vitro, to abolish completely tumor formation by infecting cells with the Ad-Py4-SV40-PUMA prior xenografting them in nude mice and high ability to suppress by {approx} 35% tumor progression in vivo in already established tumors. Conclusions: Selective targeting of CRC cells with the activated Ras pathway may be a novel and effective therapy in CRC. The high potency of this adenoviral vector may help to overcome an undetectable micro metastasis that is the major hurdle in challenging with CRC.

  11. Protein kinase activity associated with Fcγ/sub 2a/ receptor of a murine macrophage like cell line, P388D1

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Hirata, Y.; Suzuki, T.

    1987-01-01

    The properties of protein kinase activity associated with Fc receptor specific for IgG/sub 2a/(Fcγ/sub 2a/R) of a murine macrophage like cell line, P388D 1 , were investigated. IgG/sub 2a/-binding protein isolated from the detergent lysate of P388D 1 cells by affinity chromatography of IgG-Sepharose was found to contain four distinct proteins of M/sub r/ 50,000, 43,000, 37,000, and 17,000, which could be autophosphorylated upon incubation with [γ- 32 P]ATP. The autophosphorylation of Fcγ/sub 2a/ receptor complex ceased when exogenous phosphate acceptors (casein or histone) were added in the reaction mixture. Phosphorylation of casein catalyzed by Fcγ/sub 2a/ receptor complex was dependent on casein concentration, increased with time or temperature, was dependent on the concentration of ATP and Mg 2+ , and was maximum at pH near 8. Casein phosphorylation was significantly inhibited by a high concentration of Mn 2+ or KCl or by a small amount of heparin and was enhanced about 2-fold by protamine. Casein kinase activity associated with Fcγ/sub 2a/ receptor used ATP as substrate with an apparent K/sub m/ of 2 μM as well as GTP with an apparent K/sub m/ of 10 μM. Prior heating (60 0 C for 15 min) or treatment with protease (trypsin or Pronase) of Fcγ/sub 2a/ receptor complex almost totally abolished casein kinase activity. Thin-layer chromatography of a partial acid hydrolysate of the phosphorylated casein showed that the site of phosphorylation is at a seryl residue. These results suggest that Fcγ 2 /sub a/ receptor forms a molecule complex with protein kinase, whose characteristics resemble those of type II casein kinase but are different from those of cyclic nucleotide dependent protein kinase or from those of C protein kinase

  12. K/sub 4/Si/sub 4/Te/sub 10/, the first tellurosilicate with adamantane-like Si/sub 4/Te/sub 10//sup 4 -/ anions

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Eisenmann, B; Schaefer, H [Technische Hochschule Darmstadt (Germany, F.R.). Fachbereich Anorganische Chemie und Kernchemie

    1982-08-01

    The new compound K/sub 4/Si/sub 4/Te/sub 10/ crystallizes in the orthorhombic system (space group Pnma) with following constants: a = 2125.8(8) pm, b = 1200.5(7) pm, c = 1060.8(7) pm. The structure is characterized by SiTe/sub 4/ tetrahedra, connected by common corners to adamantane-like Si/sub 4/Te/sub 10//sup 4 -/ units.

  13. ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} antiferromagnetic structure redetermination

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kremenović, Aleksandar, E-mail: akremenovic@rgf.bg.ac.rs [Laboratory for Crystallography, Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade, Đušina 7, Belgrade 11000 (Serbia); Antić, Bratislav [Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear Sciences “Vinča”, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, Belgrade 11001 (Serbia); Vulić, Predrag [Laboratory for Crystallography, Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade, Đušina 7, Belgrade 11000 (Serbia); Blanuša, Jovan [Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear Sciences “Vinča”, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, Belgrade 11001 (Serbia); Tomic, Aleksandra [Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear Sciences “Vinča”, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, Belgrade 11001 (Serbia); Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027 (United States)

    2017-03-15

    Magnetic structure of ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} normal spinel is re-examined. Antiferromagnetic structure non-collinear model is established within C{sub a}2 space group having four different crystallographic/magnetic sites for 32 Fe{sup 3+} spins within magnetic unit cell. - Highlights: • Magnetic structure of ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} normal spinel is re-examined. • Antiferromagnetic non-collinear structure model is established within C{sub a}2 space group. • Four different crystallographic/magnetic sites contain 32 Fe{sup 3+} spins within magnetic unit cell.

  14. Protein Sub-Nuclear Localization Based on Effective Fusion Representations and Dimension Reduction Algorithm LDA

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Shunfang Wang

    2015-12-01

    Full Text Available An effective representation of a protein sequence plays a crucial role in protein sub-nuclear localization. The existing representations, such as dipeptide composition (DipC, pseudo-amino acid composition (PseAAC and position specific scoring matrix (PSSM, are insufficient to represent protein sequence due to their single perspectives. Thus, this paper proposes two fusion feature representations of DipPSSM and PseAAPSSM to integrate PSSM with DipC and PseAAC, respectively. When constructing each fusion representation, we introduce the balance factors to value the importance of its components. The optimal values of the balance factors are sought by genetic algorithm. Due to the high dimensionality of the proposed representations, linear discriminant analysis (LDA is used to find its important low dimensional structure, which is essential for classification and location prediction. The numerical experiments on two public datasets with KNN classifier and cross-validation tests showed that in terms of the common indexes of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and MCC, the proposed fusing representations outperform the traditional representations in protein sub-nuclear localization, and the representation treated by LDA outperforms the untreated one.

  15. Malonyl-CoA decarboxylase (MCD) is differentially regulated in subcellular compartments by 5'AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Studies using H9c2 cells overexpressing MCD and AMPK by adenoviral gene transfer technique.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Sambandam, Nandakumar; Steinmetz, Michael; Chu, Angel; Altarejos, Judith Y; Dyck, Jason R B; Lopaschuk, Gary D

    2004-07-01

    Malonyl-CoA, a potent inhibitor of carnitine pamitoyl transferase-I (CPT-I), plays a pivotal role in fuel selection in cardiac muscle. Malonyl-CoA decarboxylase (MCD) catalyzes the degradation of malonyl-CoA, removes a potent allosteric inhibition on CPT-I and thereby increases fatty acid oxidation in the heart. Although MCD has several Ser/Thr phosphorylation sites, whether it is regulated by AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been controversial. We therefore overexpressed MCD (Ad.MCD) and constitutively active AMPK (Ad.CA-AMPK) in H9c2 cells, using an adenoviral gene delivery approach in order to examine if MCD is regulated by AMPK. Cells infected with Ad.CA-AMPK demonstrated a fourfold increase in AMPK activity as compared with control cells expressing green fluorescent protein (Ad.GFP). MCD activity increased 40- to 50-fold in Ad.MCD + Ad.GFP cells when compared with Ad.GFP control. Co-expressing AMPK with MCD further augmented MCD expression and activity in Ad.MCD + Ad.CA-AMPK cells compared with the Ad.MCD + Ad.GFP control. Subcellular fractionation further revealed that 54.7 kDa isoform of MCD expression was significantly higher in cytosolic fractions of Ad.MCD + Ad.CA-AMPK cells than of the Ad.MCD +Ad.GFP control. However, the MCD activities in cytosolic fractions were not different between the two groups. Interestingly, in the mitochondrial fractions, MCD activity significantly increased in Ad.MCD + Ad.CA-AMPK cells when compared with Ad.MCD + Ad.GFP cells. Using phosphoserine and phosphothreonine antibodies, no phosphorylation of MCD by AMPK was observed. The increase in MCD activity in mitochondria-rich fractions of Ad.MCD + Ad.CA-AMPK cells was accompanied by an increase in the level of the 50.7 kDa isoform of MCD protein in the mitochondria. This differential regulation of MCD expression and activity in the mitochondria by AMPK may potentially regulate malonyl-CoA levels at sites nearby CPT-I on the mitochondria.

  16. A Plasmodium Promiscuous T Cell Epitope Delivered within the Ad5 Hexon Protein Enhances the Protective Efficacy of a Protein Based Malaria Vaccine.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Jairo Andres Fonseca

    Full Text Available A malaria vaccine is a public health priority. In order to produce an effective vaccine, a multistage approach targeting both the blood and the liver stage infection is desirable. The vaccine candidates also need to induce balanced immune responses including antibodies, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Protein-based subunit vaccines like RTS,S are able to induce strong antibody response but poor cellular reactivity. Adenoviral vectors have been effective inducing protective CD8+ T cell responses in several models including malaria; nonetheless this vaccine platform exhibits a limited induction of humoral immune responses. Two approaches have been used to improve the humoral immunogenicity of recombinant adenovirus vectors, the use of heterologous prime-boost regimens with recombinant proteins or the genetic modification of the hypervariable regions (HVR of the capsid protein hexon to express B cell epitopes of interest. In this study, we describe the development of capsid modified Ad5 vectors that express a promiscuous Plasmodium yoelii T helper epitope denominated PyT53 within the hexon HVR2 region. Several regimens were tested in mice to determine the relevance of the hexon modification in enhancing protective immune responses induced by the previously described protein-based multi-stage experimental vaccine PyCMP. A heterologous prime-boost immunization regime that combines a hexon modified vector with transgenic expression of PyCMP followed by protein immunizations resulted in the induction of robust antibody and cellular immune responses in comparison to a similar regimen that includes a vector with unmodified hexon. These differences in immunogenicity translated into a better protective efficacy against both the hepatic and red blood cell stages of P. yoelii. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a hexon modification is used to deliver a promiscuous T cell epitope. Our data support the use of such modification to enhance the immunogenicity

  17. Experimental study on the effects of recombinant adenoviral-mediated mIκBα gene combined with irradiation on the treatment of hepatocarcinoma

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Zhang Kejun; Li Dechun; Zhu Dongming; Song Caixia

    2007-01-01

    Objective: To explore the effect of recombinant adenovirus vector mediated mutant IκBα (mIκBα) combined with radiation on the hepatocarcinoma. Methods: Limited dilution method was used to test the virus titer in 293 cells. The HCC9204 cells were infected with MOI 10,20,30 and 50 for 48 h, respectively. The expression of p65 and mIκBα protein was analyzed by Western blot. Transfected HCC9204 cells and controls were treated with 4 Gy γ rays. The inhibition rate of HCC9204 cells was examined by MTT. Rat models of HCC9204 was constructed. AdmIκBα plasmids were injected into tumor tissue and the tumors were administered with 6 Gy γ irradiation 48 hours later. Tumor growth at different time points was recorded during 28 days. Results: The titer of AdmIκBΑ is 1.252 x 10 9 pfu/ml. The expression of mIκBα protein was increased with titer of AdmIκBα, and p65 protein began to decrease when MOI was 10, and reached the lowest when MOI was 50, they were all dose-dependent. The proliferation of HCC9204 cell lines were suppressed, as was more significant combined with radiation, and the effect was in a viral dose-dependent manner. From days 7 to 28 after AdmIκBα gene and radiotherapy, the tumor growth was significantly slower than after irradiation or gene therapy alone. Conclusions: Recombinant adenoviral-mediated mIκBα gene, combined with irradiation, can increase the cell-killing effect. It is better than that of either one alone. (authors)

  18. Ammonothermal synthesis of alkali-alkaline earth metal and alkali-rare earth metal carbodiimides. K{sub 5-x}M{sub x}(CN{sub 2}){sub 2+x}(HCN{sub 2}){sub 1-x} (M = Sr, Eu) and Na{sub 4.32}Sr{sub 0.68}(CN{sub 2}){sub 2.68}(HCN{sub 2}){sub 0.32}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mallmann, Mathias; Haeusler, Jonas; Cordes, Niklas; Schnick, Wolfgang [Department of Chemistry, University of Munich (LMU) (Germany)

    2017-12-13

    Alkali-alkaline earth metal and alkali-rare earth metal carbodiimides, namely K{sub 5-x}M{sub x}(CN{sub 2}){sub 2+x}(HCN{sub 2}){sub 1-x} (x = 0 - 1) (M = Sr, Eu) and Na{sub 4.32}Sr{sub 0.68}(CN{sub 2}){sub 2.68}(HCN{sub 2}){sub 0.32}, were synthesized under ammonothermal conditions in high-pressure autoclaves. The structures of the three compounds can be derived from homeotypic K{sub 5}H(CN{sub 2}){sub 3} and Na{sub 5}H(CN{sub 2}){sub 3} by partial substitution of K{sup +} or Na{sup +}by Sr{sup 2+} or Eu{sup 2+}. The reactions were carried out in two step syntheses (T{sub 1} = 673 K, T{sub 2} = 823 K) starting from sodium or potassium azide, dicyandiamide and strontium or Eu(NH{sub 2}){sub 2}, respectively. The crystal structures were solved and refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data [K{sub 4.16}Sr{sub 0.84}(CN{sub 2}){sub 2.84}(HCN{sub 2}){sub 0.16}: space group Im3m (no. 229), a = 7.8304(5) Aa, Z = 2, R{sub 1} = 0.024, wR{sub 2} = 0.052; K{sub 4.40}Eu{sub 0.60}(CN{sub 2}){sub 2.60}(HCN{sub 2}){sub 0.40}: space group Im anti 3m (no. 229), a = 7.8502(6) Aa, Z = 2, R{sub 1} = 0.022, wR{sub 2} = 0.049]. In contrast to the potassium carbodiimides, the sodium-strontium carbodiimide was only synthesized as microcrystalline powder. The crystal structure was determined by powder X-ray diffraction and refined by the Rietveld method [Na{sub 4.32}Sr{sub 0.68}(CN{sub 2}){sub 2.68}(HCN{sub 2}){sub 0.32}: space group Im3m (no. 229), a = 7.2412(1) Aa, Z = 2, R{sub wp} = 0.050]. The presence of hydrogencyanamide units ([HNCN]{sup -}) next to carbodiimide units ([CN{sub 2}]{sup 2-}) in all compounds was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  19. Syntheses, crystal structures and solid-state properties of the lanthanoid-containing nanoclusters [(Ln{sub 2}PW{sub 10}O{sub 38}){sub 4}(W{sub 3}O{sub 8})(OH){sub 4}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}]{sup 26-}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gupta, Rakesh; Saini, Mukesh Kumar; Hussain, Firasat [Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi (India)

    2014-12-15

    A series of lanthanoid-substituted polyoxometalates have been synthesized by a self-assembly process in potassium chloride solution by the reaction of dilacunary [P{sub 2}W{sub 19}O{sub 69}(H{sub 2}O)]{sup 14-} with mid- and late-lanthanoid Ln(NO{sub 3}){sub 3}.nH{sub 2}O salts leading to the formation of the tetrameric tungstophosphates [(Ln{sub 2}PW{sub 10}O{sub 38}){sub 4}(W{sub 3}O{sub 8})(OH){sub 4}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}]{sup 26-} [Ln = Y{sup 3+} (1), Sm{sup 3+} (2), Eu{sup 3+} (3), Gd{sup 3+} (4), Tb{sup 3+} (5), Dy{sup 3+} (6), Ho{sup 3+} (7), Er{sup 3+} (8), Tm{sup 3+} (9), Yb{sup 3+} (10)]. The polyanions were isolated as potassium or mixed-alkali salts. Most of the compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and various analytical techniques, such as FTIR, UV/Vis, {sup 31}P NMR and photoluminescence spectroscopy, magnetism, as well as thermogravimetric analysis. The FTIR spectra suggest that all the compounds are isomorphous. The crystal structures of these complexes consist of four A-[α-PW{sub 10}O{sub 36}]{sup 7-} units, each incorporating two Ln{sup III} ions to create four Keggin-like anions that further assemble with three additional tungstate units to form a tetramer species with C{sub 2} symmetry. The photoluminescent properties of 3a and 6a were investigated following photoexcitation at room temperature. The magnetic properties of 3a, 4a, 5a and 6a were investigated at room temperature, the complexes exhibiting paramagnetic behaviour. (Copyright copyright 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  20. A simple and robust protocol for high-yield expression of perdeuterated proteins in Escherichia coli grown in shaker flasks

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Cai, Mengli [National Institutes of Health, Laboratories of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (United States); Huang, Ying; Yang, Renbin; Craigie, Robert, E-mail: robertc@niddk.nih.gov [National Institutes of Health, Laboratories of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (United States); Clore, G. M., E-mail: mariusc@mail.nih.gov [National Institutes of Health, Laboratories of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (United States)

    2016-10-15

    We present a simple, convenient and robust protocol for expressing perdeuterated proteins in E. coli BL21(DE3) cells in shaker flasks that reduces D{sub 2}O usage tenfold and d{sub 7}-glucose usage by 30 %. Using a modified M9 medium and optimized growth conditions, we were able to grow cells in linear log phase to an OD{sub 600} of up to 10. Inducing the cells with isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside at an OD{sub 600} of 10, instead of less than 1, enabled us to increase the cell mass tenfold per unit volume of cell culture. We show that protein expression levels per cell are the same when induced at an OD{sub 600} between 1 and 10 under these growth conditions. Thus, our new protocol can increase protein yield per unit volume of cell culture tenfold. Adaptation of E. coli from H{sub 2}O-based to D{sub 2}O-based medium is also key for ensuring high levels of protein expression in D{sub 2}O. We find that a simple three-step adaptation approach—Luria–Bertani (LB) medium in H{sub 2}O to LB in D{sub 2}O to modified-M9 medium in D{sub 2}O is both simple and reliable. The method increases the yield of perdeuterated proteins by up to tenfold using commonly available air shakers without any requirement for specialized fermentation equipment.

  1. Structure and crystallization kinetics of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}-B{sub 2}O{sub 3} glasses

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Cheng Yin [College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082 (China); Xiao Hanning [College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082 (China)]. E-mail: zjbcy@126.com; Guo Wenming [College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082 (China); Guo Weiming [College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082 (China)

    2006-05-15

    The experimental IR (infrared spectra) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}-B{sub 2}O{sub 3} glasses, containing 30-60 mol% Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}, have been investigated in the article. The composition dependence of IR absorption suggests that addition of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} results in a change in the short-range order structure of the borate matrix. The increase of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} content causes a progressive conversion of [BO{sub 3}] to [BO{sub 4}] units. Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}, in the form of [BiO{sub 6}] octahedral units, plays the role of glass former. The crystallization kinetics of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}-B{sub 2}O{sub 3} glasses were described by thermal stability indexes (k {sub gl}, {delta}T), activation energy (E) for crystallization and numerical factors(n, m) depending on the nucleation process and growth morphology, which were calculated by Satava method and the modified Ozawa-Chen method. When Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} {<=} 45 mol%, the increase of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} tends to improve the thermal stabilities of the glasses. In this case, k {sub gl} may be more suitable for estimating the glass thermal stability in above composition range than {delta}T. A further increase of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} content will increase the crystallization trends of investigated glasses. Two possible kinds of growth mechanisms were involved in Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}-B{sub 2}O{sub 3} glasses: one-dimensional growth and two-dimensional growth. Moreover, structures of crystallized glasses were observed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). BiBO{sub 3} crystal with special non-linear optical properties can be obtained when Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} {>=} 50 mol%.

  2. Imaging analysis of nuclear antiviral factors through direct detection of incoming adenovirus genome complexes

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Komatsu, Tetsuro [Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, MFP CNRS UMR 5234, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33076 (France); Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575 (Japan); Will, Hans [Department of Tumor Biology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg (Germany); Nagata, Kyosuke [Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575 (Japan); Wodrich, Harald, E-mail: harald.wodrich@u-bordeaux.fr [Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, MFP CNRS UMR 5234, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux 33076 (France)

    2016-04-22

    Recent studies involving several viral systems have highlighted the importance of cellular intrinsic defense mechanisms through nuclear antiviral proteins that restrict viral propagation. These factors include among others components of PML nuclear bodies, the nuclear DNA sensor IFI16, and a potential restriction factor PHF13/SPOC1. For several nuclear replicating DNA viruses, it was shown that these factors sense and target viral genomes immediately upon nuclear import. In contrast to the anticipated view, we recently found that incoming adenoviral genomes are not targeted by PML nuclear bodies. Here we further explored cellular responses against adenoviral infection by focusing on specific conditions as well as additional nuclear antiviral factors. In line with our previous findings, we show that neither interferon treatment nor the use of specific isoforms of PML nuclear body components results in co-localization between incoming adenoviral genomes and the subnuclear domains. Furthermore, our imaging analyses indicated that neither IFI16 nor PHF13/SPOC1 are likely to target incoming adenoviral genomes. Thus our findings suggest that incoming adenoviral genomes may be able to escape from a large repertoire of nuclear antiviral mechanisms, providing a rationale for the efficient initiation of lytic replication cycle. - Highlights: • Host nuclear antiviral factors were analyzed upon adenovirus genome delivery. • Interferon treatments fail to permit PML nuclear bodies to target adenoviral genomes. • Neither Sp100A nor B targets adenoviral genomes despite potentially opposite roles. • The nuclear DNA sensor IFI16 does not target incoming adenoviral genomes. • PHF13/SPOC1 targets neither incoming adenoviral genomes nor genome-bound protein VII.

  3. Imaging analysis of nuclear antiviral factors through direct detection of incoming adenovirus genome complexes

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Komatsu, Tetsuro; Will, Hans; Nagata, Kyosuke; Wodrich, Harald

    2016-01-01

    Recent studies involving several viral systems have highlighted the importance of cellular intrinsic defense mechanisms through nuclear antiviral proteins that restrict viral propagation. These factors include among others components of PML nuclear bodies, the nuclear DNA sensor IFI16, and a potential restriction factor PHF13/SPOC1. For several nuclear replicating DNA viruses, it was shown that these factors sense and target viral genomes immediately upon nuclear import. In contrast to the anticipated view, we recently found that incoming adenoviral genomes are not targeted by PML nuclear bodies. Here we further explored cellular responses against adenoviral infection by focusing on specific conditions as well as additional nuclear antiviral factors. In line with our previous findings, we show that neither interferon treatment nor the use of specific isoforms of PML nuclear body components results in co-localization between incoming adenoviral genomes and the subnuclear domains. Furthermore, our imaging analyses indicated that neither IFI16 nor PHF13/SPOC1 are likely to target incoming adenoviral genomes. Thus our findings suggest that incoming adenoviral genomes may be able to escape from a large repertoire of nuclear antiviral mechanisms, providing a rationale for the efficient initiation of lytic replication cycle. - Highlights: • Host nuclear antiviral factors were analyzed upon adenovirus genome delivery. • Interferon treatments fail to permit PML nuclear bodies to target adenoviral genomes. • Neither Sp100A nor B targets adenoviral genomes despite potentially opposite roles. • The nuclear DNA sensor IFI16 does not target incoming adenoviral genomes. • PHF13/SPOC1 targets neither incoming adenoviral genomes nor genome-bound protein VII.

  4. Structure of Na/sub 2/As/sub 4/O/sub 11/

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Driss, A.; Jouini, T.; Omezzine, M.

    1988-05-15

    Disodium tetraarsenate, M/sub r/=521.66, monoclinic, C2/c, a=9.049(3), b=8.287(3), c=11.508(5) A, ..beta..=102.74(4)/sup 0/, V=842(2) A/sup 3/, Z=4, D/sub m/=4.06 (by flotation), D/sub x/=4.11 Mg m/sup -3/, lambda(AgK anti ..cap alpha..)=0.5608 A, ..mu..=8.6 mm/sup -1/, F(000)=968, room temperature, final R=0.046 and ..omega..R=0.048 for 1153 independent reflections. The main feature of this structure is the existence of the first three-dimensional anion (As/sub 4/O/sub 11/)/sub n//sup 2n-/ in the chemistry of the condensed arsenates. It has the lowest O/As ratio (2.75) of the known arsenates showing marked condensation: all the O atoms are shared except one per AsO/sub 4/ tetrahedron. The structural unit is the As/sub 4/O/sub 15/ ring with point symmetry 2, built up from alternate AsO/sub 4/ tetrahedra and AsO/sub 6/ octahedra sharing corners. In addition, the two octahedra share one O atom located on the 2 axis. The As/sub 4/O/sub 15/ ring derives from the known centrosymmetric As/sub 4/O/sub 14/ ring by the cleavage of one As-O-As linkage between the two octahedra of the ring to form two new As-O-As linkages with AsO/sub 4/ tetrahedra connecting two rings, leading to a decrease of the O/As ratio. The As/sub 4/O/sub 15/ rings are further linked by sharing edges of AsO/sub 6/ octahedra to form a three-dimensional framework. This completes the set of the already known arrangements of the As/sub 4/O/sub 14/ ring (isolated units, infinite chains, layers).

  5. Mis-translation of a Computationally Designed Protein Yields an Exceptionally Stable Homodimer: Implications for Protein Engineering and Evolution.

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Dantas, Gautam; Watters, Alexander L.; Lunde, Bradley; Eletr, Ziad; Isern, Nancy G.; Roseman, Toby; Lipfert, Jan; Doniach, Sebastian; Tompa, Martin; Kuhlman, Brian; Stoddard, Barry L.; Varani, Gabriele; Baker, David

    2006-10-06

    We recently used computational protein design to create an extremely stable, globular protein, Top7, with a sequence and fold not observed previously in nature. Since Top7 was created in the absence of genetic selection, it provides a rare opportunity to investigate aspects of the cellular protein production and surveillance machinery that are subject to natural selection. Here we show that a portion of the Top7 protein corresponding to the final 49 C-terminal residues is efficiently mistranslated and accumulates at high levels in E. coli. We used circular dichroism spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography, small-angle x-ray scattering, analytical ultra-centrifugation, and NMR spectroscopy to show that the resulting CFr protein adopts a compact, extremely-stable, obligate, symmetric, homo-dimeric structure. Based on the solution structure, we engineered an even more stable variant of CFr by disulfide-induced covalent circularisation that should be an excellent platform for design of novel functions. The accumulation of high levels of CFr exposes the high error rate of the protein translation machinery, and the rarity of correspondingly stable fragments in natural proteins implies a stringent evolutionary pressure against protein sub-fragments that can independently fold into stable structures. The symmetric self-association between two identical mistranslated CFr sub-units to generate an extremely stable structure parallels a mechanism for natural protein-fold evolution by modular recombination of stable protein sub-structures.

  6. Electrochemical characteristics of TiS/sub 2/, ZrSe/sub 2/ and VSe/sub 2/ in secondary lithium battery

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Onuki, Y; Inada, R; Tanuma, S; Yamanaka, S; Kamimura, H

    1981-08-01

    The layered transition metal dichalcogenides of TiS/sub 2/, ZrSe/sub 2/ and VSe/sub 2/ were found to react reversibly with lithium in electrochemical cells. The energy densities of these cathode materials were determined to be 500, 240 and 250 W.h/kg for one lithium intercalation per unit cell, respectively, and 420 W.h/kg for two lithium intercalation per unit cell of VSe/sub 2/. It was found for ZrSe/sub 2/ that more than two lithium ions per unit cell can be intercalated in the first discharge when the cell temperature is increased to 60/sup 0/C, while one lithium ion can be intercalated at 20/sup 0/C. 5 refs.

  7. Discharge source coupled to a deceleration unit for anion beam generation: Application to H{sub 2}{sup −} photodetachment

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rudnev, V.; Ureña, A. González [Unidad de Láseres y Haces Moleculares, Instituto Pluridisciplinar, Universidad Complutense, Juan XXIII-1, Madrid 28040 (Spain)

    2013-12-15

    A cathode discharge source coupled to a deceleration unit for anion beam generation is described. The discharge source, made of stainless steel or duralumin electrodes and Macor insulators, is attached to the exit nozzle valve plate at one end, and to an Einzel lens to the other end. Subsequently, a cylindrical retardation unit is attached to the Einzel lens to decelerate the ions in order to optimize the laser beam interaction time required for spectroscopic investigations. The compact device is able to produce beam intensities of the order of 2 × 10{sup 12} anions/cm{sup 2} s and 20 μrad of angular divergence with kinetic energies ranging from 30 to 120 eV. Using distinct gas mixtures for the supersonic expansion together with a linear time-of-flight spectrometer, anions of great relevance in molecular astrophysics like, for example, H{sub 2}{sup −}, C{sub 3}H{sup −}, C{sub 2}{sup −}, C{sub 2}H{sup −}, HCN{sub 2}{sup −}, CO{sub 2}{sup −}, CO{sub 2}H{sup −}, C{sub 4}{sup −}, C{sub 4}H{sup −}, C{sub 5}H{sub 4}{sup −}, C{sub 5}H{sub 6}{sup −}, C{sub 7}N{sup −}, and C{sub 10}N{sup −} were produced. Finally, in order to demonstrate the capability of the experimental technique the photodetachment cross-section of the metastable H{sub 2}{sup −}, predominantly in the (v = 0, J = 26) state, was measured following laser excitation at λ{sub exc}= 565 nm obtaining a value of σ{sub ph}= 0.04 Å. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that this anion cross-section has been measured.

  8. Structure of RbAlAs[sub 2]O[sub 7]. Structure de RbAlAs[sub 2]O[sub 7

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Boughzala, H. (Dept. de Chimie, Faculte des Sciences, Tunis (Tunisia)); Driss, A. (Dept. de Chimie, Faculte des Sciences, Tunis (Tunisia)); Jouini, T. (Dept. de Chimie, Faculte des Sciences, Tunis (Tunisia))

    1993-03-15

    Rubidium aluminium pyroarsenate, M[sub r]=374.29, triclinic, P anti 1, a=8.233(5), b=6.34(2), c=6.241(5) A, [alpha]=102.6(1), [beta]=103.89(7), [gamma]=96.7(1) , V=303.9 A[sup 3], Z=2, D[sub m]=3.9(3) (pycnometry), D[sub x]=4.09 g cm[sup -3], [lambda](Ag K anti [alpha])=0.5608 A, [mu]=108.14 cm[sup -1], F(000)=344, T=296 K, R=0.049, wR=0.053 for 2193 reflections. The first structural investigation on a pyroarsenate is reported. It is built from AlAs[sub 2]O[sub 11] units comprising one AlO[sub 6] octahedron and one As[sub 2]O[sub 7] pyroarsenate group in which two AsO[sub 4] tetrahedra point in opposite directions. These units are connected by heteropolyhedral linkages to form a three-dimensional framework having intersecting tunnels where the Rb[sup +] ions are located. Although this structure is not isotypic with the phosphate analogues, it is closely related to that of the pyrophosphates of type I represented by KAlP[sub 2]O[sub 7]. (orig.).

  9. Inhibitory GTP binding protein G/sub i/ regulates β-adrenoceptor affinity towards β-agonists

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Marbach, I.; Levitzki, A.

    1987-01-01

    Treatment of S-49 lymphoma cell membranes with pertussis toxin (PT) causes a three-fold reduction of β-adrenoceptor (βAR) affinity towards isoproterenol. A similar treatment with cholera toxin (CT) does not cause such a modulation. The effects were studied by the detailed analysis of 125 I-cyanopindolol (CYP) binding curves in the absence and presence of increasing agonist concentrations. Thus, the authors were able to compare in detail the effects of G/sub s/ and G/sub i/ on the agonist-associated state of the βAR. In contrast to these findings, PT treatment does not have any effect on the displacement of 125 I-CYP by (-)isoproterenol. These results demonstrate that the inhibitory GTP protein G/sub i/ modulates the βAR affinity towards β-agonists. This might be due to the association of G/sub i/ with the agonist-bound βAR x G/sub s/ x C complex within the membrane. This hypothesis, as well as others, is under investigation

  10. Magnetism of CuCl{sub 2}·2D{sub 2}O and CuCl{sub 2}·2H{sub 2}O, and of CuBr{sub 2}·6H{sub 2}O

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    DeFotis, G.C., E-mail: gxdefo@wm.edu [Department of Chemistry, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187 (United States); Hampton, A.S.; Van Dongen, M.J.; Komatsu, C.H.; Benday, N.S.; Davis, C.M. [Department of Chemistry, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187 (United States); Hays, K.; Wagner, M.J. [Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 20052 (United States)

    2017-07-15

    Highlights: • CuCl{sub 2}·2D{sub 2}O is examined magnetically and compared with CuCl{sub 2}·2H{sub 2}O. • Slightly lower magnetic characteristic temperatures occur for deuterated dihydrate. • The new compound CuBr{sub 2}·6H{sub 2}O is examined magnetically. • Unexpected relationships appears between magnetic behaviors of CuBr{sub 2}·6H{sub 2}O and CuBr{sub 2}. • Two alternative monoclinic unit cells can account for diffraction data on CuBr{sub 2}·6H{sub 2}O. - Abstract: The magnetic properties of little examined CuCl{sub 2}·2D{sub 2}O are studied and compared with those of CuCl{sub 2}·2H{sub 2}O. New CuBr{sub 2}·6H{sub 2}O is also examined. Susceptibility maxima appear for chlorides at 5.35 and 5.50 K, in the above order, with estimated antiferromagnetic ordering at 4.15 and 4.25 K. Curie-Weiss fits yield g of 2.210 and 2.205, and Weiss θ of −6.0 and −4.7 K, respectively, in χ{sub M} = C/(T − θ). One-dimensional Heisenberg model fits to susceptibilities, including interchain exchange in a mean-field approximation, are performed. Interchain exchange is significant but much weaker than intrachain. The bromide hexahydrate strongly differs magnetically from any chloride hydrate, but exhibits notable similarities and differences compared to previously studied CuBr{sub 2}. A broad susceptibility maximum occurs near 218 K, only 4% lower than for CuBr{sub 2}, but with almost twice the magnitude. Powder X-ray diffraction data for CuBr{sub 2}·6H{sub 2}O may be best accounted for by a monoclinic unit cell that is metrically orthorhombic. The volume per formula unit is consistent with trends in metal ionic radii. However, an alternative monoclinic cell with 5% smaller volume more readily rationalizes the magnetism.

  11. An empirical assessment of near-source strong ground motion for a 6.6 m{sub b} (7.5 M{sub S}) earthquake in the Eastern United States

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Campbell, Kenneth W

    1984-06-01

    To help assess the impact of the current U.S. Geological Survey position on the seismic safety of nuclear power plants in the Eastern United States (EUS), several techniques for estimating near-source strong ground motion for a Charleston size earthquake were evaluated. The techniques for estimating the near-source strong ground motion for a 6.6 m{sub b} (7.5 M{sub S}) in the Eastern United States which were assessed are methods based on site specific analyses, semi-theoretical scaling techniques, and intensity-based estimates. The first involves the statistical analysis of ground motion records from earthquakes and recording stations having the same general characteristics (earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.5 M{sub S} or larger, epicentral distances of 25 km or less, and sites of either soil or rock). Some recommendations for source and characterization scaling of the bias resulting primarily from an inadequate sample of near-source recordings from earthquakes of large magnitude are discussed. The second technique evaluated requires that semi-theoretical estimates of peak ground motion parameters for a 6.6 m{sub b} (7.5 M{sub S}) earthquake be obtained from scaling relations. Each relation uses a theoretical expression between peak acceleration magnitude and distance together with available strong motion data (majority coming from California) to develop a scaling relation appropriate for the Eastern United States. None of the existing ground motion models for the EUS include the potential effects of source or site characteristics. Adjustments to account for fault mechanisms, site topography, site geology, and the size and embedment of buildings are discussed. The final approach used relations between strong ground motion parameters and Modified Mercalli Intensity in conjunction with two methods to estimate peak parameters for a 6.6 m{sub s} (7.5 M{sub S}) earthquake. As with other techniques, adjustment of peak acceleration estimates are discussed. Each method

  12. Effect of B{sub 2}O{sub 3}/P{sub 2}O{sub 5} substitution on the properties and structure of tin boro-phosphate glasses

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Saitoh, Akira, E-mail: asaito@ehime-u.ac.jp [Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, 3 Bunkyo-cho (Japan); Tricot, Grégory [LASIR UMR-CNRS 8516, Université de Lille 1, Villeneuve d' Ascq 59655 (France); UCCS UMR-CNRS 8181, Université de Lille 1, Villeneuve d' Ascq 59655 (France); Rajbhandari, Prashant [UCCS UMR-CNRS 8181, Université de Lille 1, Villeneuve d' Ascq 59655 (France); Anan, Shoji; Takebe, Hiromichi [Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, 3 Bunkyo-cho (Japan)

    2015-01-15

    Effect of B{sub 2}O{sub 3}/P{sub 2}O{sub 5} substitution on the properties and structure of the ternary 67SnO–(33–x)P{sub 2}O{sub 5}–xB{sub 2}O{sub 3} composition line (from x = 0–33 mol%) are examined in this contribution. We show that density and glass transition temperature increase while molar volume and thermal expansion coefficient decrease with increasing B{sub 2}O{sub 3} concentration. Density and thermal properties experience an original three-domain evolution with rapid (region I: 0 ≤ x < 5), substantial (II: 5 < x ≤ 15), and moderate (III: 15 < x ≤ 33) increase. In order to explain this unconventional behaviour, the glass structure has been investigated using high magnetic field 1 dimensional {sup 31}P and {sup 11}B MAS–NMR, micro-Raman and infrared spectroscopies. {sup 11}B MAS–NMR experiments allow to (i) monitor the 3- and 4-fold coordinated borate species proportion and (ii) highlight the presence of unreported 4-fold coordinated species in the region (III). Finally, it is shown that substitution of P{sub 2}O{sub 5} by B{sub 2}O{sub 3} induces an alteration of the dimeric phosphate network and formation of mixed anion structure that consists of Q{sup 0} phosphate units, 3- and 4-fold coordinated borate units and their combinations. - Highlights: • We examined B{sub 2}O{sub 3}/P{sub 2}O{sub 5} substitution effect on the ternary SnO–P{sub 2}O{sub 5}–B{sub 2}O{sub 3} glasses. • We show a three-domains evolution for density and thermal properties. • The structure was investigated by {sup 31}P and {sup 11}B NMR, Raman and IR spectroscopies. • 3 and 4-folded borate species and unreported 4-folded species are revealed. • Mixed anion structure consists of Q{sup 0} phosphate unit and 3- and 4-folded borate units.

  13. Methanesulfonates of high-valent metals. Syntheses and structural features of MoO{sub 2}(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}){sub 2}, UO{sub 2}(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}){sub 2}, ReO{sub 3}(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}), VO(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}){sub 2}, and V{sub 2}O{sub 3}(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}){sub 4} and their thermal decomposition under N{sub 2} and O{sub 2} atmosphere

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Betke, Ulf; Neuschulz, Kai; Wickleder, Mathias S. [Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry (Germany)

    2011-11-04

    Oxide methanesulfonates of Mo, U, Re, and V have been prepared by reaction of MoO{sub 3}, UO{sub 2}(CH{sub 3}COO){sub 2}.2 H{sub 2}O, Re{sub 2}O{sub 7}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}, and V{sub 2}O{sub 5} with CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}H or mixtures thereof with its anhydride. These compounds are the first examples of solvent-free oxide methanesulfonates of these elements. MoO{sub 2}(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}){sub 2} (Pbca, a=1487.05(4), b=752.55(2), c=1549.61(5) pm, V=1.73414(9) nm{sup 3}, Z=8) contains [MoO{sub 2}] moieties connected by [CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}] ions to form layers parallel to (100). UO{sub 2}(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}){sub 2} (P2{sub 1}/c, a=1320.4(1), b=1014.41(6), c=1533.7(1) pm, β=112.80(1) {sup circle}, V=1.8937(3) nm{sup 3}, Z=8) consists of linear UO{sub 2}{sup 2+} ions coordinated by five [CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}] ions, forming a layer structure. VO(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}){sub 2} (P2{sub 1}/c, a=1136.5(1), b=869.87(7), c=915.5(1) pm, β=113.66(1) {sup circle}, V=0.8290(2) nm{sup 3}, Z=4) contains [VO] units connected by methanesulfonate anions to form corrugated layers parallel to (100). In ReO{sub 3}(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}) (P anti 1, a=574.0(1), b=1279.6(3), c=1641.9(3) pm, α=102.08(2), β=96.11(2), γ=99.04(2) {sup circle}, V=1.1523(4) nm{sup 3}, Z=8) a chain structure exhibiting infinite O-[ReO{sub 2}]-O-[ReO{sub 2}]-O chains is formed. Each [ReO{sub 2}]-O-[ReO{sub 2}] unit is coordinated by two bidentate [CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}] ions. V{sub 2}O{sub 3}(CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}){sub 4} (I2/a, a=1645.2(3), b=583.1(1), c=1670.2(3) pm, β=102.58(3), V=1.5637(5) pm{sup 3}, Z=4) adopts a chain structure, too, but contains discrete [VO]-O-[VO] moieties, each coordinated by two bidentate [CH{sub 3}SO{sub 3}] ligands. Additional methanesulfonate ions connect the [V{sub 2}O{sub 3}] groups along [001]. Thermal decomposition of the compounds was monitored under N{sub 2} and O{sub 2} atmosphere by thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis and XRD measurements. Under N{sub 2} the decomposition proceeds

  14. Oxidation of SO{sub 2} and formation of water droplets under irradiation of 20 MeV protons in N{sub 2}/H{sub 2}O/SO{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tomita, Shigeo [Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573 (Japan); Nakai, Yoichi, E-mail: nakaiy@riken.jp [Radioactive Isotope Physics Laboratory, RIKEN Nishina Center, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 (Japan); Funada, Shuhei; Tanikawa, Hideomi; Harayama, Isao [Institute of Applied Physics, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573 (Japan); Kobara, Hitomi [National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569 (Japan); Sasa, Kimikazu [Tandem Accelerator Complex, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577 (Japan); Pedersen, Jens Olaf Pepke [National Space Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby (Denmark); Hvelplund, Preben [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C (Denmark)

    2015-12-15

    We have performed an experiment on charged droplet formation in a humidified N{sub 2} gas with trace SO{sub 2} concentration and induced by 20 MeV proton irradiation. It is thought that SO{sub 2} reacts with the chemical species, such as OH radicals, generated through the reactions triggered by N{sub 2}{sup +} production. Both droplet number and droplet size increased with SO{sub 2} consumption for the proton irradiation. The total charged droplet numbers entering the differential mobility analyzer per unit time were proportional to the 0.68 power of the SO{sub 2} consumption. These two findings suggest that coagulation among the small droplets contributes to the formation of the droplets. The charged droplet volume detected per unit time is proportional to the SO{sub 2} consumption, which indicates that a constant amount of sulfur atoms is contained in a unit volume of droplet, regardless of different droplet-size distributions depending on the SO{sub 2} consumption.

  15. Biological activity and safety of adenoviral vector-expressed wild-type p53 after intratumoral injection in melanoma and breast cancer patients with p53-overexpressing tumors

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Dummer, R; Bergh, J; Karlsson, Y; Horovitz, JA; Mulder, NH; Huinin, DT; Burg, G; Hofbauer, G; Osanto, S

    p53 mutations are common genetic alterations in human cancer. Gene transfer of a wild-type (wt) p53 gene reverses the loss of normal p53 function in vitro and in vivo. A phase I dose escalation study of single intratumoral (i.t.) injection of a replication-defective adenoviral expression vector

  16. Four crystal forms of a Bence-Jones protein

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Makino, Debora L.; Henschen-Edman, Agnes H.; McPherson, Alexander, E-mail: amcphers@uci.edu [Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, 560 Steinhaus Hall, Irvine, CA 92697-3900 (United States)

    2005-01-01

    Four crystal forms have been grown and characterized by X-ray diffraction of a Bence-Jones protein collected from the urine of a multiple myeloma patient more than 40 y ago. The trigonal crystal form may shed some light on the formation of fibrils common to certain storage diseases. Four crystal forms have been grown and characterized by X-ray diffraction of a Bence-Jones protein collected from the urine of a multiple myeloma patient more than 40 years ago. Closely related tetragonal and orthorhombic forms belonging to space groups P4{sub 3}2{sub 1}2 and P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 68.7, c = 182.1 and a = 67.7, b = 69.4, c = 87.3 Å, diffract to 1.5 and 1.9 Å, respectively. Two closely related trigonal forms, both belonging to space group P3{sub 1}21 with unit-cell parameters a = b = 154.3 Å but differing by a doubling of the c axis, one 46.9 Å and the other 94.0 Å, diffract to 2.9 and 2.6 Å resolution, respectively. The trigonal crystal of short c-axis length shows a positive indication of twinning. The trigonal crystal of longer c axis, which appeared only after eight months of incubation at room temperature, is likely to be composed of proteolytically degraded molecules and unlike the other crystal forms contains two entire Bence-Jones dimers in the asymmetric unit. This latter crystal form may shed some light on the formation of fibrils common to certain storage diseases.

  17. Imaging expression of adenoviral HSV1-tk suicide gene transfer using the nucleoside analogue FIRU

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Nanda, Dharmin; Jong, Marion de; Bakker, Willem; Bijster, Magda; Cox, Peter; Vogels, Ronald; Havenga, Menzo; Driesse, Maarten; Avezaat, Cees; Morin, Kevin; Naimi, Ebrahim; Knaus, Edward; Wiebe, Leonard; Smitt, Peter Sillevis

    2002-01-01

    Substrates for monitoring HSV1-tk gene expression include uracil and acycloguanosine derivatives.The most commonly used uracil derivative to monitor HSV1-tk gene transfer is 1-(2-fluoro-2-deoxy-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-[*I]iodouracil (fialuridine; I*-FIAU), where the asterisk denotes any of the radioactive iodine isotopes that can be used. We have previously studied other nucleosides with imaging properties as good as or better than FIAU, including 1-(2-fluoro-2-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-5-[*I]iodouracil (FIRU). The first aim of this study was to extend the biodistribution data of 123 I-labelled FIRU. Secondly, we assessed the feasibility of detecting differences in HSV1-tk gene expression levels following adenoviral gene transfer in vivo with 123 I-FIRU. 9L rat gliosarcoma cells were stably transfected with the HSV1-tk gene (9L-tk+). 123 I-FIRU was prepared by radioiodination of 1-(2-fluoro-2-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-5-tributylstannyl uracil (FTMRSU; precursor compound) and purified using an activated Sep-Pak column. Incubation of 9L-tk+ cells and the parental 9L cells with 123 I-FIRU resulted in a 100-fold higher accumulation of radioactivity in the 9L-tk+ cells after an optimum incubation time of 4 h. NIH-bg-nu-xid mice were then inoculated subcutaneously with HSV1-tk (-) 9L cells or HSV1-tk (+) 9L-tk+ cells into both flanks. Biodistribution studies and gamma camera imaging were performed at 15 min and 1, 2, 4 and 24 h p.i. At 15 min, the tumour/muscle, tumour/blood and tumour/brain ratios were 5.2, 1.0 and 30.3 respectively. Rapid renal clearance of the tracer from the body resulted in increasing tumour/muscle, tumour/blood and tumour/brain ratios, reaching values of 32.2, 12.5 and 171.6 at 4 h p.i. A maximum specific activity of 22%ID/g tissue was reached in the 9L-tk+ tumours 4 h after 123 I-FIRU injection. Two Ad5-based adenoviral vectors containing the HSV1-tk gene were constructed: a replication-incompetent vector with the transgene in the former E1

  18. Synthesis and characterization of new fluoride-containing manganese vanadates A{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2} (A=Rb, Cs) and Mn{sub 2}VO{sub 4}F

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sanjeewa, Liurukara D. [Department of Chemistry and Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0973 (United States); McGuire, Michael A. [Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 (United States); Smith Pellizzeri, Tiffany M.; McMillen, Colin D. [Department of Chemistry and Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0973 (United States); Ovidiu Garlea, V. [Quantum Condensed Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 (United States); Willett, Daniel; Chumanov, George [Department of Chemistry and Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0973 (United States); Kolis, Joseph W., E-mail: kjoseph@clemson.edu [Department of Chemistry and Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies (COMSET), Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0973 (United States)

    2016-09-15

    Large single crystals of A{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2} (A=Rb, Cs) and Mn{sub 2}VO{sub 4}F were grown using a high-temperature (~600 °C) hydrothermal technique. Single crystal X-ray diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction were utilized to characterize the structures, which both possess MnO{sub 4}F{sub 2} building blocks. The A{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2} series crystallizes as a new structure type in space group Pbcn (No. 60), Z=4 (Rb{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2}: a=7.4389(17) Å, b=11.574(3) Å, c=10.914(2) Å; Cs{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2}: a=7.5615(15) Å, b=11.745(2) Å, c=11.127(2) Å). The structure is composed of zigzag chains of edge-sharing MnO{sub 4}F{sub 2} units running along the a-axis, and interconnected through V{sub 2}O{sub 7} pyrovanadate groups. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements on this interesting one-dimensional structural feature based on Mn{sup 2+} indicated that Cs{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2} is antiferromagnetic with a Neél temperature, T{sub N}=~3 K and a Weiss constant, θ, of −11.7(1) K. Raman and infrared spectra were also analyzed to identify the fundamental V–O vibrational modes in Cs{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2}. Mn{sub 2}(VO{sub 4})F crystalizes in the monoclinic space group of C2/c (no. 15), Z=8 with unit cell parameters of a=13.559(2) Å, b=6.8036(7) Å, c=10.1408(13) Å and β=116.16(3)°. The structure is associated with those of triplite and wagnerite. Dynamic fluorine disorder gives rise to complex alternating chains of five-and six-coordinate Mn{sup 2+}. These interpenetrating chains are additionally connected through isolated VO{sub 4} tetrahedra to form the condensed structure. - Graphical abstract: New vanadate fluorides A{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2} (A=Rb, Cs) and Mn{sub 2}(VO{sub 4})F have been synthesized hydrothermally. Upon cooling, the one-dimensional Mn(II) substructure results in antiferromagnetic

  19. Involvement of Src tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C in the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor induced by H{sub 2}O{sub 2} in HL-1 mouse cardiac muscle cells

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rao, F. [Department of Cardiology, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou (China); Research Center of Medical Sciences, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangzhou (China); Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou (China); Deng, C.Y. [Research Center of Medical Sciences, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangzhou (China); Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou (China); Zhang, Q.H.; Xue, Y.M. [Department of Cardiology, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou (China); Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou (China); Xiao, D.Z.; Kuang, S.J.; Lin, Q.X.; Shan, Z.X.; Liu, X.Y.; Zhu, J.N. [Research Center of Medical Sciences, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangzhou (China); Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou (China); Yu, X.Y. [Department of Cardiology, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou (China); Research Center of Medical Sciences, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangzhou (China); Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou (China); Wu, S.L. [Department of Cardiology, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou (China); Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou (China)

    2013-09-06

    Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a pleiotropic cytokine, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation; however, the upstream regulation of MIF in atrial myocytes remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether and how MIF is regulated in response to the renin-angiotensin system and oxidative stress in atrium myocytes (HL-1 cells). MIF protein and mRNA levels in HL-1 cells were assayed using immunofluorescence, real-time PCR, and Western blot. The result indicated that MIF was expressed in the cytoplasm of HL-1 cells. Hydrogen peroxide (H{sub 2}O{sub 2}), but not angiotensin II, stimulated MIF expression in HL-1 cells. H{sub 2}O{sub 2}-induced MIF protein and gene levels increased in a dose-dependent manner and were completely abolished in the presence of catalase. H{sub 2}O{sub 2}-induced MIF production was completely inhibited by tyrosine kinase inhibitors genistein and PP1, as well as by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X, suggesting that redox-sensitive MIF production is mediated through tyrosine kinase and PKC-dependent mechanisms in HL-1 cells. These results suggest that MIF is upregulated by HL-1 cells in response to redox stress, probably by the activation of Src and PKC.

  20. Local motifs in GeS{sub 2}–Ga{sub 2}S{sub 3} glasses

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Pethes, I., E-mail: pethes.ildiko@wigner.mta.hu [Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1525 Budapest, P.O. 49 (Hungary); Nazabal, V.; Chahal, R.; Bureau, B. [Institut Sciences Chimiques de Rennes, UMR-CNRS 6226, Campus de Beaulieu, Université de Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes, Cedex (France); Kaban, I. [IFW Dresden, Institute for Complex Materials, Helmholtzstr. 20, 01069 Dresden (Germany); Belin, S. [Synchrotron SOLEIL, L' Orme des Merisiers, Saint Aubin, 91192 Gif sur Yvette (France); Jóvári, P. [Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1525 Budapest, P.O. 49 (Hungary)

    2016-07-15

    The structure of (GeS{sub 2}){sub 0.75}(Ga{sub 2}S{sub 3}){sub 0.25} and (GeS{sub 2}){sub 0.83}(Ga{sub 2}S{sub 3}){sub 0.17} glasses was investigated by Raman scattering, high energy X-ray diffraction and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements at the Ga and Ge K-edges. The reverse Monte Carlo simulation technique (RMC) was used to obtain structural models compatible with diffraction and EXAFS datasets. It was found that the coordination number of Ga is close to four. While Ge atoms have only S neighbors, Ga binds to S as well as to Ga atoms showing a violation of chemical ordering in GeS{sub 2}–Ga{sub 2}S{sub 3} glasses. Analysis of the corner- and edge-sharing between [GeS{sub 4/2}] units revealed that about 30% of germanium atoms participate in the edge-shared tetrahedra. - Highlights: • Structural models of GeS{sub 2}–Ga{sub 2}S{sub 3} glasses consistent with XRD + EXAFS data are created. • Chemical order is respected but Ga–Ga bonds are present caused by S-deficiency. • The coordination number of Ga is 3.7 ± 0.3. • The frequency and geometry of corner/edge-sharing [GeS{sub 4/2}] units were determined.

  1. Electron transfer reactions in structural units of copper proteins

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Faraggi, M.

    1975-01-01

    In previous pulse radiolysis studies it was suggested that the reduction of the Cu(II) ions in copper proteins by the hydrated electron is a multi-step electron migration process. The technique has been extended to investigate the reduction of some structural units of these proteins. These studies include: the reaction of the hydrated electron with peptides, the reaction of the disulphide bridge with formate radical ion and radicals produced by the reduction of peptides, and the reaction of Cu(II)-peptide complex with esub(aq)sup(-) and CO 2 - . Using these results the reduction mechanism of copper and other proteins will be discussed. (author)

  2. Protein turnover and metabolism in the elderly intensive care unit patient

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Phillips, Stuart M.; Dickerson, Roland N.; Moore, Frederick A.; Paddon-Jones, Douglas; Weijs, Peter J. M.

    2017-01-01

    Many intensive care unit (ICU) patients do not achieve target protein intakes particularly in the early days following admittance. This period of iatrogenic protein undernutrition contributes to a rapid loss of lean, in particular muscle, mass in the ICU. The loss of muscle in older (aged >60 years)

  3. Adenoviral overexpression of Lhx2 attenuates cell viability but does not preserve the stem cell like phenotype of hepatic stellate cells.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Genz, Berit; Thomas, Maria; Pützer, Brigitte M; Siatkowski, Marcin; Fuellen, Georg; Vollmar, Brigitte; Abshagen, Kerstin

    2014-11-01

    Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are well known initiators of hepatic fibrosis. After liver cell damage, HSC transdifferentiate into proliferative myofibroblasts, representing the major source of extracellular matrix in the fibrotic organ. Recent studies also demonstrate a role of HSC as progenitor or stem cell like cells in liver regeneration. Lhx2 is described as stem cell maintaining factor in different organs and as an inhibitory transcription factor in HSC activation. Here we examined whether a continuous expression of Lhx2 in HSC could attenuate their activation and whether Lhx2 could serve as a potential target for antifibrotic gene therapy. Therefore, we evaluated an adenoviral mediated overexpression of Lhx2 in primary HSC and investigated mRNA expression patterns by qRT-PCR as well as the activation status by different in vitro assays. HSC revealed a marked increase in activation markers like smooth muscle actin alpha (αSMA) and collagen 1α independent from adenoviral transduction. Lhx2 overexpression resulted in attenuated cell viability as shown by a slightly hampered migratory and contractile phenotype of HSC. Expression of stem cell factors or signaling components was also unaffected by Lhx2. Summarizing these results, we found no antifibrotic or stem cell maintaining effect of Lhx2 overexpression in primary HSC. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Inelastic neutron scattering studies of TbNiAlH sub 1 sub . sub 4 and UNiAlH sub 2 sub . sub 0 hydrides

    CERN Document Server

    Bordallo, H N; Kolomiets, A V; Kalceff, W; Nakotte, H; Eckert, J

    2003-01-01

    The optical vibrations of hydrogen in TbNiAlH sub 1 sub . sub 4 and UNiAlH sub 2 sub . sub 0 were investigated by means of inelastic neutron scattering. The experimental data were analysed, including multiphonon neutron scattering contributions, calculated in an isotropic harmonic approximation. At least two fundamental H optical peaks were observed in TbNiAlH sub 1 sub . sub 4 , and were assigned to the vibrational modes of hydrogen atoms occupying different interstitial sites in the metal sublattice. The high-energy part of the UNiAlH sub 2 sub . sub 0 spectra is characterized by strong anharmonicity, and a broad fundamental band. The latter can be accounted for by a large dispersion of phonon modes due to the strong H-H interactions, and/or different metal-hydrogen force constants, which may originate from different metal atoms surrounding the H atoms in the unit cell.

  5. Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structures of Na{sub 2}Be{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4}.H{sub 2}O and Cs{sub 2}[Mg(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Shen, Chen; Mei, Dajiang; Sun, Chuanling; Liu, Yunsheng; Wu, Yuandong [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science (China)

    2017-09-04

    The selenites, Na{sub 2}Be{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4}.H{sub 2}O and Cs{sub 2}[Mg(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4}, were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The crystal structures of Na{sub 2}Be{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4}.H{sub 2}O and Cs{sub 2}[Mg(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4} were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffractions. Na{sub 2}Be{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4}.H{sub 2}O crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 (no. 2) with unit cell parameters a = 4.8493(9), b = 12.013(2), c = 12.077(2) Aa, and Z = 2, whereas Cs{sub 2}[Mg(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4} crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m (no. 12) with lattice cell parameters a = 12.596(6), b = 7.297(4), c = 16.914(8) Aa, and Z = 2. Na{sub 2}Be{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4}.H{sub 2}O features a three-dimensional open framework structure formed by BeO{sub 4} tetrahedra and SeO{sub 3} trigonal pyramids. Na cations and H{sub 2}O molecules are located in different tunnels. Cs{sub 2}[Mg(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{sub 3}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 4} has a structure composed of isolated [Mg(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}] octahedra and SeO{sub 3} trigonal pyramids interacted by hydrogen bonds, and Cs cations are resided in-between. Both compounds were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  6. Hexagonal perovskites with cationic vacancies. 26. Ba/sub 12/Ba/sub 2//sub 2/3/M/sub 7//sup V//sub 1/3/vacant/sub 2/O/sub 33/vacant/sub 3/ (Msup(V) =Nb, Ta) - the first stacking polytypes of a rhombohedral 36 L-type

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kemmler-Sack, S [Tuebingen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Lehrstuhl fuer Anorganische Chemie 2

    1981-05-01

    In the systems BaO-M/sub 2//sup V/O/sub 5/ (M/sup V/ = Nb, Ta) for a Ba:M/sup V/ ratio of 2:1 polymorphism is observed. Here the low temperature modifications are described. They crystallize in a rhombohedral 36 L structure with three formula units Ba/sub 12/Ba/sub 2//sub 2/3/M/sub 7//sup V//sub 1/3/vacant/sub 2/O/sub 33/vacant/sub 3/ for the trigonal setting (M/sup V/ = Nb: a = 5.92/sub 2/ A; c = 93./sub 25/ A; Ta: a = 5.92/sub 2/ A; c = 93.4 A).

  7. A study of accelerated radiation damage effects in PuO{sub 2} and gadolinia-stabilized cubic zirconia, Zr{sub 0.79}Gd{sub 0.14}Pu{sub 0.07}O{sub 1.93}, doped with {sup 238}Pu

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Burakov, B.E., E-mail: burakov@peterlink.ru [V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2-nd Murinskiy Ave., St. Petersburg, 194021 (Russian Federation); Yagovkina, M.A. [A.F. Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, 26, Politekhnicheskaya, St. Petersburg, 194021 (Russian Federation)

    2015-12-15

    Polycrystalline samples of cubic zirconia, Zr{sub 0.79}Gd{sub 0.14}Pu{sub 0.07}O{sub 1.93}, doped with approximately 9.9 wt.% {sup 238}Pu, and PuO{sub 2} containing 11.0 wt. % {sup 238}Pu (and main isotope is {sup 239}Pu) have been repeatedly studied during many years by X-ray diffraction analysis. At a temperature of 25 °C the unit-cell parameter of PuO{sub 2} increases depending on accumulated dose, and is accompanied by decrease of coherent scattering region (CSR). Self-irradiation of Zr{sub 0.79}Gd{sub 0.14}Pu{sub 0.07}O{sub 1.93} is accompanied with repeated change of unit-cell parameter and CSR.

  8. Synthesis, characterization, and chemical bonding analysis of the lithium alkaline-earth metal gallide nitrides Li{sub 2}(Ca{sub 3}N){sub 2}[Ga{sub 4}] and Li{sub 2}(Sr{sub 3}N){sub 2}[Ga{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Pathak, Manisha; Bobnar, Matej; Ormeci, Alim; Hoehn, Peter [Chemische Metallkunde, Max-Planck-Institut fuer Chemische Physik fester Stoffe, Dresden (Germany); Stoiber, Dominik; Niewa, Rainer [Institut fuer Anorganische Chemie, Universitaet Stuttgart (Germany); Ovchinnikov, Alexander [Chemische Metallkunde, Max-Planck-Institut fuer Chemische Physik fester Stoffe, Dresden (Germany); Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)

    2017-11-17

    Large single crystals of Li{sub 2}(Ca{sub 3}N){sub 2}[Ga{sub 4}] and Li{sub 2}(Sr{sub 3}N){sub 2}[Ga{sub 4}] up to several mm in size were grown from mixtures of the respective elements and binary alkaline-earth metal nitrides in reactive lithium melts employing a modified high-temperature centrifugation-aided filtration (HTCAF) technique. The main structural features of these isotypic phases are stella quadrangula building units [Ga{sub 4}]Li{sub 4/2} and octahedra (Nae{sub 6/2}), which form two independent interpenetrating networks. The phases crystallize in the η-carbide structure and represent diamagnetic small bandgap semiconductors. Real-space chemical bonding analysis indicates predominantly ionic bonding. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  9. Magnetic structures of Er{sub 6}Mn{sub 23} and Dy{sub 6}Mn{sub 23}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ouladdiaf, B. [Institut Max von Laue - Paul Langevin, 38 - Grenoble (France); Deportes, J. [Laboratoire de Magnetisme L. Neel, C.N.R.S., BP 166, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9 (France); Rodriguez-Carvajal, J. [Institut Max von Laue - Paul Langevin, 38 - Grenoble (France)]|[Laboratoire Leon Brillouin (CEA-CNRS), Centre d`Etudes de Saclay, Gif sur Yvette (France)

    1995-08-01

    The R{sub 6}Mn{sub 23} (R=rare earth) compounds crystallize in the cubic Th{sub 6}Mn{sub 23}-type structure with space group Fm3m. Powder neutron-diffraction experiments were performed on Dy{sub 6}Mn{sub 23} and Er{sub 6}Mn{sub 23}. The magnetic unit cell coincides with the chemical one. The R moments have a ferromagnetic non-collinear arrangement, whereas the Mn moments are parallel to the [1 1 1] direction. The magnetic structures belong to the three-dimensional {Gamma}{sub 5g} irreducible representation of Fm3m associated with the wave vector K=[0 0 0]. The spin configurations in both compounds result from the competition between the R-R, R-Mn magnetic interactions and the crystal electric field on the R ions. (orig.).

  10. Priming of CD8 T Cells by Adenoviral Vectors Is Critically Dependent on B7 and Dendritic Cells but Only Partially Dependent on CD28 Ligation on CD8 T Cells

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Nielsen, Karen N; Steffensen, Maria A; Christensen, Jan P

    2014-01-01

    expression resulted in a delayed primary response, whereas memory CD8 T cells generated in CD28-deficient mice appeared almost normal in terms of both phenotype and effector cytokine profile, but they exhibited a significantly reduced proliferative capacity upon secondary challenge while retaining immediate...... in vivo effector capabilities: in vivo cytotoxicity and short-term in vivo protective capacity. Overall, our data point to an absolute requirement for professional APCs and the expression of the costimulatory molecules CD80/86 for efficient CD8 T cell priming by adenoviral vectors. Additionally, our......Adenoviral vectors have long been forerunners in the development of effective CD8 T cell-based vaccines; therefore, it is imperative that we understand the factors controlling the induction of robust and long-lasting transgene-specific immune responses by these vectors. In this study, we...

  11. Magnetoimpedance studies on urine treated Co{sub 66}Ni{sub 7}Si{sub 7}B{sub 20} ribbons

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kotagiri, Ganesh [Advanced Magnetic Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036 (India); Markandeyulu, G., E-mail: mark@iitm.ac.in [Advanced Magnetic Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036 (India); Doble, Mukesh; Nandakumar, V. [Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036 (India)

    2015-11-15

    Magnetoimpedance (MI) response of Co{sub 66}Ni{sub 7}Si{sub 7}B{sub 20} ribbons treated with artificial urine with protein bovine serum albumin (BSA), artificial urine without protein BSA and healthy male urine was studied as a function of time of incubation. The maximum MI [(MI){sub m}] values of the ribbons treated with artificial urine without protein (RTAU) after 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h of incubation are 30% (at 4 MHz), 15% (at 5 MHz), 14% (at 10 MHz) and 8% (at 13 MHz) respectively. On the other hand, the respective (MI){sub m} values of the ribbons treated with artificial urine with protein (RTAUP) are 33% (at 4 MHz), 25% (at 5 MHz), 20% (at 8 MHz) and 15% (12 MHz). However (MI){sub m} values of the ribbons treated with healthy male urine (RTHMU) after 4 h, 5 h, 10 h and 15 h of incubation are 71% (at 3 MHz), 57% (at 3 MHz), 25% (at 6 MHz) and 25% (at 5 MHz), respectively. The saturation magnetization (M{sub s}) values of RTAU after 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h of incubation are 71 emu/g, 65 emu/g, 63 emu/g and 60 emu/g respectively whereas, the respective M{sub s} values of RTAUP are 73 emu/g, 69 emu/g, 67 emu/g and 64 emu/g. The M{sub s} values of RTHMU after 4 h, 5 h, 10 h and 15 h of incubation are 96 emu/g, 90 emu/g, 75 emu/g and 75 emu/g respectively. The decrease in M{sub s} and (MI){sub m} values in RTAU and RTAUP compared to as-quenched ribbon is related to the amounts of various elements etched out from the ribbons and increased surface roughness. The M{sub s} and (MI){sub m} values of RTHMU are seen to have increased after 4 h and 5 h of incubation, due to strain relaxation through removal of strain developed during rapid quenching of the ribbons. On the other hand, the M{sub s} and (MI){sub m} values of RTHMU after 10 h and 15 h have decreased due to deterioration of the surface of the ribbons and thus, increase in magnetic (surface) anisotropy. The decrease in (MI){sub m} and M{sub S} of RTAU with the time of incubation are more rapid compared to that

  12. Magnetism and charge transfer in PrNiO{sub 3}-La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3} heterostructures

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bluschke, Martin; Frano, Alex [Max-Planck-Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart (Germany); Helmholz-Zentrum Berlin (Germany); Schierle, Enrico; Weschke, Eugen [Helmholz-Zentrum Berlin (Germany); Hepting, Matthias; Minola, Matteo; Christiani, Georg; Logvenov, Gennady; Benckiser, Eva; Keimer, Bernhard [Max-Planck-Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart (Germany)

    2015-07-01

    Heterostructures of the bulk antiferromagnet PrNiO{sub 3} (PNO) and the bulk ferromagnetic metal La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3} (LCMO) are grown by pulsed laser deposition on LaSrAlO{sub 4} substrates for a systematic series of superlattice geometries. A characterization of the structural, magnetization, and transport properties is combined with the results of soft x-ray absorption and resonant scattering measurements to understand how the bulk properties of the individual components are modified via epitaxial strain and heterostructuring. In particular the PNO-LCMO interface is studied. A net transfer of electrons from Mn to Ni sites is observed near the interface. In addition the saturation magnetization and Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic response are found to be reduced compared to bulk LCMO. The antiferromagnetic order characteristic of bulk PNO is observed in superlattices containing 8 unit cells of PNO per bilayer, but suppressed below the detection limit for thinner 4 unit cell layers. Finally a transition between metallic and insulating behaviour in PNO is observed as the layer thickness is reduced from 12 to 4 unit cells, whereas the LCMO layers studied (4-18 unit cells) were insulating in all cases.

  13. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of rat protein tyrosine phosphatase η

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Matozo, Huita C.; Nascimento, Alessandro S.; Santos, Maria A. M. [Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Departamento de Física e Informática, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São Carlense 400, CEP 13566-590 São Carlos, SP (Brazil); Iuliano, Rodolfo [Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro (Italy); Fusco, Alfredo [Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, c/o Instituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale del CNR, Facolta di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Napoli ‘Federico II’, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples (Italy); NOGEC (Naples Oncogenomocs Center)-CEINGE, Biotecnologie Avanzate, Via Comunale Margherita 482, 80145 Naples (Italy); Polikarpov, Igor, E-mail: ipolikarpov@if.sc.usp.br [Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Departamento de Física e Informática, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São Carlense 400, CEP 13566-590 São Carlos, SP (Brazil); Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron, Campinas, SP (Brazil)

    2006-09-01

    In this study, the catalytic domain of rat protein tyrosine phosphatase η was produced in Escherichia coli in soluble form and purified to homogeneity. Crystals were obtained by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The rat protein tyrosine phosphatase η (rPTPη) is a cysteine-dependent phosphatase which hydrolyzes phosphoester bonds in proteins and other molecules. rPTPη and its human homologue DEP-1 are involved in neoplastic transformations. Thus, expression of the protein is reduced in all oncogene-transformed thyroid cell lines and is absent in highly malignant thyroid cells. Moreover, consistent with the suggested tumour suppression role of PTPη, inhibition of the tumorigenic process occurs after its exogenous reconstitution, suggesting that PTPη might be important for gene therapy of cancers. In this study, the catalytic domain of rPTPη was produced in Escherichia coli in soluble form and purified to homogeneity. Crystals were obtained by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Diffraction data were collected to 1.87 Å resolution. The crystal belongs to space group P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters a = 46.46, b = 63.07, c = 111.64 Å, and contains one molecule per asymmetric unit.

  14. Stability of influenza sub-unit vaccine. Does a couple of days outside the refrigerator matter?

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Coenen, F; Tolboom, J T B M; Frijlink, H W

    2006-01-01

    In this study 27 full scale production batches of influenza sub-unit vaccine were evaluated on their stability. The batches varied with respect to the strains they contained and regarding the presence of the preservative thiomersal in the solution. The stability study showed that haemagglutinin

  15. Phase diagram of the CsH/sub 2/AsO/sub 4/-CsH /SUB 0. 1/ D /SUB 1. 9/ AsO/sub 4/ System

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rakhimov, K.; Karapetyan, F.S.; Kozhenkov, V.Y.; Polyakov, Y.A.; Zhigarnovskii, B.M.

    1986-05-01

    The authors determined the melting point of dueterated cesium hydrogen arsenate of composition CsH /SUB 0.1/ D /SUB 1.9/ AsO/sub 4/ melts. Specimens for investigation of the system were prepared by fusion of appropriate amounts of CsH/sub 2/AsO/sub 4/ and CsH /SUB 0.1/ D /SUB 1.9/ AsO/sub 4/ in sealed quartz ampuls. In addition, the unit-cell parameters of the phases of the specimens practically did not differ from the corresponding parameters of the starting products over the entire range of concentrations.

  16. Synthesis and structural characterization of the Zintl phases Na{sub 3}Ca{sub 3}TrPn{sub 4}, Na{sub 3}Sr{sub 3}TrPn{sub 4}, and Na{sub 3}Eu{sub 3}TrPn{sub 4} (Tr=Al, Ga, In; Pn=P, As, Sb)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wang, Yi [Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Delaware, 304A Drake Hall, Newark, DE 19716 (United States); Suen, Nian-Tzu [Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Delaware, 304A Drake Hall, Newark, DE 19716 (United States); College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225002 (China); Kunene, Thabiso; Stoyko, Stanislav [Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Delaware, 304A Drake Hall, Newark, DE 19716 (United States); Bobev, Svilen, E-mail: bobev@udel.edu [Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Delaware, 304A Drake Hall, Newark, DE 19716 (United States)

    2017-05-15

    15 new quaternary Zintl phases have been synthesized by solid-state reactions from the respective elements, and their structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Na{sub 3}E{sub 3}TrPn{sub 4} (E=Ca, Sr, Eu; Tr=Al, Ga, In; Pn=P, As, Sb) crystallize in the hexagonal crystal system with the non-centrosymmetric space group P6{sub 3}mc (No. 186). The structure represents a variant of the K{sub 6}HgS{sub 4} structure type (Pearson index hP22) and features [TrPn{sub 4}]{sup 9–} tetrahedral units, surrounded by Na{sup +} and Ca{sup 2+}, Sr{sup 2+}, Eu{sup 2+} cations. The nominal formula rationalization [Na{sup +}]{sub 3}[E{sup 2+}]{sub 3}[TrPn{sub 4}]{sup 9–} follows the octet rule, suggesting closed-shell configurations for all atoms and intrinsic semiconducting behavior. However, structure refinements for several members hint at disorder and mixing of cations that potentially counteract the optimal valence electron count. - Graphical abstract: The hexagonal, non-centrosymmetric structure of Na{sub 3}E{sub 3}TrPn{sub 4} (E=Ca, Sr, Eu; Tr=Al, Ga, In; Pn=P, As, Sb) features [TrPn{sub 4}]{sup 9–} tetrahedral units, surrounded by Na{sup +} and Ca{sup 2+}, Sr{sup 2+}, Eu{sup 2+} cations. - Highlights: • 15 quaternary phosphides, arsenides, and antimonides are synthesized and structurally characterized. • The structure is a variant of the hexagonal K{sub 6}HgS{sub 4}-type, with distinctive pattern for the cations. • Occupational and/or positional disorder of yet unknown origin exists for some members of the series.

  17. HP-CsB{sub 5}O{sub 8}. Synthesis and characterization of an outstanding borate exhibiting the simultaneous linkage of all structural units of borates

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sohr, Gerhard; Huppertz, Hubert [Institut fuer Allgemeine, Anorganische und Theoretische Chemie, Leopold-Franzens-Universitaet Innsbruck (Austria); Toebbens, Daniel M. [Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fuer Materialien und Energie GmbH, Berlin (Germany); Schmedt auf der Guenne, Joern [Department fuer Chemie/Biologie, Universitaet Siegen (Germany)

    2014-12-15

    The new cesium pentaborate HP-CsB{sub 5}O{sub 8} is synthesized under high-pressure/high-temperature conditions of 6 GPa and 900 C in a Walker-type multianvil apparatus. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (Z=4) with the parameters a=789.7(1), b=961.2(1), c=836.3(1) pm, V=0.6348(1) nm{sup 3}, R{sub 1}=0.0359 and wR{sub 2}=0.0440 (all data). The new structure type of HP-CsB{sub 5}O{sub 8} exhibits the simultaneous linkage of trigonal BO{sub 3} groups, corner-sharing BO{sub 4} tetrahedra, and edge-sharing BO{sub 4} tetrahedra including the presence of threefold-coordinated oxygen atoms. With respect to the rich structural chemistry of borates, HP-CsB{sub 5}O{sub 8} is the second structure type possessing this outstanding combination of the main structural units of borates in one compound. The structure consists of corrugated chains of corner- and edge-sharing BO{sub 4} tetrahedra interconnected through BO{sub 3} groups forming octagonal channels. Inside these channels, cesium is 13+3-fold coordinated by oxygen atoms. {sup 11}B MQMAS NMR spectra are analyzed to estimate the isotropic chemical shift values and quadrupolar parameters. IR and Raman spectra are obtained and compared to the calculated vibrational frequencies at the Γ-point. The high-temperature behavior is examined by means of temperature-programmed powder diffraction. (copyright 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  18. Half metallic ferromagnetism in tri-layered perovskites Sr{sub 4}T{sub 3}O{sub 10}(T = Co, Rh)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ghimire, Madhav Prasad, E-mail: ghimire.mpg@gmail.com [Faculty of Science, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 3323, Khumaltar, Lalitpur (Nepal); International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba 305-0044 (Japan); Thapa, R. K.; Sandeep [Department of Physics, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796-004 (India); Rai, D. P. [Department of Physics, Pachhunga University College, Aizawl 796-001 (India); Sinha, T. P. [Department of Physics, Bose Institute, Kolkata 700-009 (India); Hu, Xiao [International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba 305-0044 (Japan)

    2015-02-14

    First-principles density functional theory (DFT) is used to investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of Sr{sub 4}Rh{sub 3}O{sub 10}, a member of the Ruddlesden-Popper series. Based on the DFT calculations taking into account the co-operative effect of Coulomb interaction (U) and spin-orbit couplings (SOC), Sr{sub 4}Rh{sub 3}O{sub 10} is found to be a half metallic ferromagnet (HMF) with total magnetic moment μ{sub tot} = 12 μ{sub B} per unit cell. The material has almost 100% spin-polarization at the Fermi level despite of sizable SOC. Replacement of Rh atom by the isovalent Co atom is considered. Upon full-replacement of Co, a low-spin to intermediate spin transition happens resulting in a HMF state with the total magnetic moment three-time larger (i.e., μ{sub tot} = 36 μ{sub B} per unit cell), compared to Sr{sub 4}Rh{sub 3}O{sub 10}. We propose Sr{sub 4}Rh{sub 3}O{sub 10} and Sr{sub 4}Co{sub 3}O{sub 10} as candidates of half metals.

  19. Expression, purification and crystallization of a lyssavirus matrix (M) protein

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Assenberg, René [Division of Structural Biology and Oxford Protein Production Facility, The Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN (United Kingdom); Delmas, Olivier [UPRE Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host Adaptation, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies, Institut Pasteur, 28 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris CEDEX 15 (France); Graham, Stephen C.; Verma, Anil; Berrow, Nick; Stuart, David I.; Owens, Raymond J. [Division of Structural Biology and Oxford Protein Production Facility, The Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN (United Kingdom); Bourhy, Hervé [UPRE Lyssavirus Dynamics and Host Adaptation, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Rabies, Institut Pasteur, 28 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris CEDEX 15 (France); Grimes, Jonathan M., E-mail: jonathan@strubi.ox.ac.uk [Division of Structural Biology and Oxford Protein Production Facility, The Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN (United Kingdom)

    2008-04-01

    The expression, purification and crystallization of the full-length matrix protein from three lyssaviruses is described. The matrix (M) proteins of lyssaviruses (family Rhabdoviridae) are crucial to viral morphogenesis as well as in modulating replication and transcription of the viral genome. To date, no high-resolution structural information has been obtained for full-length rhabdovirus M. Here, the cloning, expression and purification of the matrix proteins from three lyssaviruses, Lagos bat virus (LAG), Mokola virus and Thailand dog virus, are described. Crystals have been obtained for the full-length M protein from Lagos bat virus (LAG M). Successful crystallization depended on a number of factors, in particular the addition of an N-terminal SUMO fusion tag to increase protein solubility. Diffraction data have been recorded from crystals of native and selenomethionine-labelled LAG M to 2.75 and 3.0 Å resolution, respectively. Preliminary analysis indicates that these crystals belong to space group P6{sub 1}22 or P6{sub 5}22, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 56.9–57.2, c = 187.9–188.6 Å, consistent with the presence of one molecule per asymmetric unit, and structure determination is currently in progress.

  20. Design and syntheses of hybrid metal–organic materials based on K{sub 3}[M(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 3}]·3H{sub 2}O [M(III)=Fe, Al, Cr] metallotectons

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sun, Yayong; Zong, Yingxia; Ma, Haoran; Zhang, Ao; Liu, Kang; Wang, Debao, E-mail: dbwang@qust.edu.cn; Wang, Wenqiang; Wang, Lei, E-mail: inorchemwl@126.com

    2016-05-15

    By using K{sub 3}[M(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 3}]·3H{sub 2}O [M(III)=Fe, Al, Cr] (C{sub 2}O{sub 4}{sup 2−}=oxalate) metallotectons as the starting material, we have synthesized eight novel complexes with formulas [{Fe(C_2O_4)_2(H_2O)_2}{sub 2}]·(H–L{sub 1}){sub 2}·H{sub 2}O 1, [Fe(C{sub 2}O{sub 4})Cl{sub 2}]·(H{sub 2}–L{sub 2}){sub 0.5}·(L{sub 2}){sub 0.5}·H{sub 2}O 2, [{Fe(C_2O_4)_1_._5Cl_2}{sub 2}]·(H–L{sub 3}){sub 4}3, [Fe{sub 2}(C{sub 2}O{sub 4})Cl{sub 8}]·(H{sub 2}–L{sub 4}){sub 2}·2H{sub 2}O 4, K[Al(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 3}]·(H{sub 2}–L{sub 5})·2H{sub 2}O 5, K[Al(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 3}]·(H–L{sub 6}){sub 2}·2H{sub 2}O 6, K[Cr(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 3}]·2H{sub 2}O 7, Na[Fe(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 3}]·(H–L{sub 6}){sub 2}·2H{sub 2}O 8 (with L{sub 1}=4-dimethylaminopyridine, L{sub 2}=2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, L{sub 3}=2-aminobenzimidazole, L{sub 4}=1,4-bis-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene, L{sub 5}=1,4-bis((2-methylimidazol-1-yl)methyl)benzene, L{sub 6}=2-methylbenzimidazole). Their structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, elemental analyses, IR spectra and thermogravimetric analyses. Compound 3 is a 2D H-bonded supramolecular architecture. Others are 3D supramolecular structures. Compound 1 shows a [Fe(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}]{sup −} unit and 3D antionic H-bonded framework. Compound 2 features a [Fe(C{sub 2}O{sub 4})Cl{sub 2}]{sup -} anion and 1D iron-oxalate-iron chain. Compound 3 features a [Fe{sub 2}(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 3}Cl{sub 4}]{sup 4−} unit. Compound 4 features distinct [Fe{sub 2}(C{sub 2}O{sub 4})Cl{sub 8}]{sup 4−} units, which are mutual linked by water molecules to generated a 2D H-bonded network. Compound 5 features infinite ladder-like chains constructed by [Al(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 3}]{sup 3−} units and K{sup +} cations. The 1D chains are further extended into 3D antionic H-bonded framework through O–H···O H-bonds. Compounds 6–8 show 2D [KAl(C{sub 2}O{sub

  1. Hf{sub 3}Fe{sub 4}Sn{sub 4} and Hf{sub 9}Fe{sub 4−x}Sn{sub 10+x}: Two stannide intermetallics with low-dimensional iron sublattices

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Calta, Nicholas P. [Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University (United States); Kanatzidis, Mercouri G., E-mail: m-kanatzidis@northwestern.edu [Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University (United States); Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory (United States)

    2016-04-15

    This article reports two new Hf-rich intermetallics synthesized using Sn flux: Hf{sub 3}Fe{sub 4}Sn{sub 4} and Hf{sub 9}Fe{sub 4−x}Sn{sub 10+x}. Hf{sub 3}Fe{sub 4}Sn{sub 4} adopts an ordered variant the Hf{sub 3}Cu{sub 8} structure type in orthorhombic space group Pnma with unit cell edges of a=8.1143(5) Å, b=8.8466(5) Å, and c=10.6069(6) Å. Hf{sub 9}Fe{sub 4−x}Sn{sub 10+x}, on the other hand, adopts a new structure type in Cmc2{sub 1} with unit cell edges of a=5.6458(3) Å, b=35.796(2) Å, and c=8.88725(9) Å for x=0. It exhibits a small amount of phase width in which Sn substitutes on one of the Fe sites. Both structures are fully three-dimensional and are characterized by pseudo one- and two-dimensional networks of Fe–Fe homoatomic bonding. Hf{sub 9}Fe{sub 4−x}Sn{sub 10+x} exhibits antiferromagnetic order at T{sub N}=46(2) K and its electrical transport behavior indicates that it is a normal metal with phonon-dictated resistivity. Hf{sub 3}Fe{sub 4}Sn{sub 4} is also an antiferromagnet with a rather high ordering temperature of T{sub N}=373(5) K. Single crystal resistivity measurements indicate that Hf{sub 3}Fe{sub 4}Sn{sub 4} behaves as a Fermi liquid at low temperatures, indicating strong electron correlation. - Graphical abstract: Slightly different growth conditions in Sn flux produce two new intermetallic compounds: Hf{sub 3}Fe{sub 4}Sn{sub 4} and Hf{sub 9}Fe{sub 4−x}Sn{sub 10+x}. - Highlights: • Single crystals of both Hf{sub 3}Fe{sub 4}Sn{sub 4} and Hf{sub 9}Fe{sub 4−x}Sn{sub 10+x} were grown using Sn flux. • The crystal structures were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction. • The Fe moments in Hf{sub 3}Fe{sub 4}Sn{sub 4} display AFM order below T{sub N}=373 K. • The Fe moments in Hf{sub 9}Fe{sub 4−x}Sn{sub 10+x} display AFM order below T{sub N}=46 K.

  2. Solvothermal synthesis of a new 3-D mixed-metal sulfide framework, (H{sub 1.33}tren)[In{sub 2.67}Sb{sub 1.33}S{sub 8}]·tren

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lampkin, John D., E-mail: j.lampkin@pgr.rdg.ac.uk; Powell, Anthony V., E-mail: a.v.powell@rdg.ac.uk; Chippindale, Ann M., E-mail: a.m.chippindale@rdg.ac.uk

    2016-11-15

    A new indium(III) antimony(V) sulfide, (H{sub 1.33}tren)[In{sub 2.67}Sb{sub 1.33}S{sub 8}]·tren, has been prepared solvothermally at 433 K. The compound crystallises in the tetragonal space group I-42d (lattice parameters, a=12.6248(5) and c=19.4387(18) Å at 150 K) and contains adamantane-like T2 supertetrahedral units comprised of corner-sharing InS{sub 4}{sup 5−} and SbS{sub 4}{sup 3−} tetrahedra. The adamantane-like units are then linked through sulfur vertices to generate an open, 3-D framework structure containing large pores in which neutral, protonated tren (tris(2-aminoethylene)amine) molecules reside. The presence of the organic components was confirmed by solid-state {sup 13}C NMR (10 kHz), combustion and thermogravimetric analysis. The band gap, obtained from UV–vis diffuse reflectance measurements, is 2.7(2) eV. Stirring with either water or alkali-metal salt solution leads to removal of the neutral tren molecules and an ~9% reduction in unit-cell volume on formation of (H{sub 1.33}tren)[In{sub 2.67}Sb{sub 1.33}S{sub 8}]·(H{sub 2}O){sub 4}. - Graphical abstract: Linking of In(III)-Sb(V)-S adamantane units to form a 3-D open framework. - Highlights: • Preparation and structural characterisation of a new mixed-metal thiometallate. • The first mixed In(III)/Sb(V) supertetrahedron. • Optical band gap of 2.7(2) eV. • Soaking in aqueous alkali-metal solutions leads to removal of ca. 50% of the organic content.

  3. Ex vivo adenoviral vector-mediated neurotrophin gene transfer to olfactory ensheathing glia : effects on rubrospinal tract regeneration, lesion size, and functional recovery after implantation in the injured rat spinal cord

    NARCIS (Netherlands)

    Ruitenberg, Marc J; Plant, Giles W; Hamers, Frank P T; Wortel, Joke; Blits, Bas; Dijkhuizen, Paul A; Gispen, Willem Hendrik; Boer, Gerard J; Verhaagen, J.

    2003-01-01

    The present study uniquely combines olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG) implantation with ex vivo adenoviral (AdV) vector-based neurotrophin gene therapy in an attempt to enhance regeneration after cervical spinal cord injury. Primary OEG were transduced with AdV vectors encoding rat brain-derived

  4. New multicell model for describing the atomic structure of La{sub 3}Ga{sub 5}SiO{sub 14} piezoelectric crystal: Unit cells of different compositions in the same single crystal

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Dudka, A. P., E-mail: dudka@ns.crys.ras.ru [Russian Academy of Sciences, Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography, Federal Scientific Research Centre “Crystallography and Photonics” (Russian Federation)

    2017-03-15

    Accurate X-ray diffraction study of langasite (La{sub 3}Ga{sub 5}SiO{sub 14}) single crystal has been performed using the data obtained on a diffractometer equipped with a CCD area detector at 295 and 90.5 K. Within the known La{sub 3}Ga{sub 5}SiO{sub 14} model, Ga and Si cations jointly occupy the 2d site. A new model of a “multicell” consisting of two different unit cells is proposed. Gallium atoms occupy the 2d site in one of these cells, and silicon atoms occupy this site in the other cell; all other atoms correspondingly coordinate these cations. This structure implements various physical properties exhibited by langasite family crystals. The conclusions are based on processing four data sets obtained with a high resolution (sin θ/λ ≤ 1.35 Å{sup –1}), the results reproduced in repeated experiments, and the high relative precision of the study (sp. gr. P321, Z = 1; at 295 K, a = 8.1652(6) Å, c = 5.0958(5) Å, R/wR = 0.68/0.68%, 3927 independent reflections; at 90.5 K, a = 8.1559(4) Å, c = 5.0913(6) Å, R/wR = 0.92/0.93%, 3928 reflections).

  5. The single crystal structure determination of Ln{sub 6}MnSb{sub 15} (Ln=La, Ce), Ln{sub 6}Mn{sub 1-x}Zn{sub x}Sb{sub 15} (x∝0.5), and Ln{sub 6}ZnSb{sub 15} (Ln=La-Pr)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Benavides, Katherine A.; McCandless, Gregory T.; Chan, Julia Y. [Texas Univ., Dallas, Richardson, TX (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry

    2017-09-01

    Single crystals of Ln{sub 6}MnSb{sub 15} (Ln=La, Ce), Ln{sub 6}Mn{sub 1-x}Zn{sub x}Sb{sub 15} (x∝0.5), and Ln{sub 6}ZnSb{sub 15} (Ln=La-Pr) have been successfully grown and the compounds adopt the orthorhombic Ln{sub 6}MnSb{sub 15} structure type (space group Immm), with a∝4.3 Aa, b∝15 Aa, and c∝19 Aa. This structure is comprised of antimony nets and antimony ribbons which exhibit positional disorder at connecting points between antimony substructures, in addition to two partially occupied transition metal sites. The unit cell volumes of the La analogs displayed a systematic decrease upon Zn substitution. However, for the Ce{sub 6}Mn{sub 1-x}Zn{sub x}Sb{sub 15} and Pr{sub 6}Mn{sub 1-x}Zn{sub x}Sb{sub 15} (x∝0.5), the volumes deviate from linearity as observed in the parent compounds.

  6. The europium(II) oxide halides Eu{sub 2}OBr{sub 2} and Eu{sub 2}OI{sub 2}; Die Europium(II)-Oxidhalogenide Eu{sub 2}OBr{sub 2} und Eu{sub 2}OI{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rudolph, Daniel; Schleid, Thomas [Stuttgart Univ. (Germany). Inst. fuer Anorganische Chemie

    2017-07-01

    The syntheses and crystal structures of the two isotypic europium(II) oxide halides Eu{sub 2}OBr{sub 2} and Eu{sub 2}OI{sub 2} are reported. They crystallize orthorhombically in the space group Ibam (Z=4; Eu{sub 2}OBr{sub 2}: a=709.86(5), b=1200.34(9), c=628.71(4) pm; Eu{sub 2}OI{sub 2}: a=739.78(5), b=1295.13(9), c=644.82(4) pm). The unit cell parameters presented here, and thus the interatomic distances of Eu{sub 2}OI{sub 2}, are significantly smaller than the ones reported in the literature, which is explained by the substitution of europium with larger barium cations due to the synthesis route described in the early study. Central building blocks of both crystal structures are trans-edge-connected [OEu{sub 4}]{sup 6+} tetrahedra forming straight {sup 1}{sub ∞}{[OEu"e_4_/_2]"2"+} chains running parallel to the [001] direction. Bundled like a hexagonal rod packing, their interaction is achieved by Br{sup -} or I{sup -} anions for charge compensation.

  7. Ab initio molecular dynamics study of lithium diffusion in tetragonal Li{sub 7}La{sub 3}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 12}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Andriyevsky, B., E-mail: bohdan.andriyevskyy@tu.koszalin.pl [Faculty of Electronics and Computer Sciences, Koszalin University of Technology, 2 Śniadeckich Str., PL-75-453, Koszalin (Poland); Institute of Electrochemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, D-89069, Ulm (Germany); Doll, K. [Institute of Electrochemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, D-89069, Ulm (Germany); Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Pfaffenwaldring 55, D-70569, Stuttgart (Germany); Jacob, T. [Institute of Electrochemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, D-89069, Ulm (Germany); Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU) for Electrochemical Energy Storage, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, D-89081, Ulm (Germany)

    2017-01-01

    Using ab initio density functional theory the thermally-stimulated migration of lithium ions in the garnet-type material Li{sub 7}La{sub 3}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 12} is investigated. The methods of ab initio molecular dynamics have been applied to calculate the lithium ion self-diffusion coefficient and the diffusion barriers as function of lithium ion concentration. The concentration of lithium in the initial Li{sub 7}La{sub 3}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 12} crystal unit cell is varied from 53 to 59 atoms, where 56 lithium atoms represent the stoichiometric concentration. Almost monotonous dependencies of the main characteristics on the number of lithium atoms N{sup (Li)} have been found, except for a non-monotonous peculiarity of the stoichiometric compound (N{sup (Li)} = 56). Finally, the influence of the unit cell volume change on lithium ion diffusion parameters as well as lithium ion hopping rates has been studied. - Highlights: • Partial lithium atoms subtraction from LLZO increases diffusion coefficient D{sup (Li)}. • Partial subtraction of lithium atoms from LLZO decreases activation energy E{sub a}{sup (Li)}. • Activation energy E{sub a}{sup (Li)} is the smallest for tetrahedral oxygen surrounding. • Compression of LLZO leads to a decrease of lithium ion diffusion coefficient D{sup (Li)}.

  8. Description and crystal structure of albrechtschraufite, MgCa{sub 4}F{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}]{sub 2}.17-18H{sub 2}O

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mereiter, K. [Vienna Univ. of Technology (Austria). Inst. of Chemical Technologies and Analytics

    2013-04-15

    Albrechtschraufite, MgCa{sub 4}F{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}]{sub 2}.17-18H{sub 2}O, triclinic, space group P anti 1, a = 13.569(2), b = 13.419(2), c = 11.622(2) Aa, α = 115.82(1), β = 107.61(1), γ = 92.84(1) (structural unit cell, not reduced), V = 1774.6(5) Aa{sup 3}, Z = 2, Dc = 2.69 g/cm{sup 3} (for 17.5 H{sub 2}O), is a mineral that was found in small amounts with schroeckingerite, NaCa{sub 3}F[UO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}](SO{sub 4}).10H{sub 2}O, on a museum specimen of uranium ore from Joachimsthal (Jachymov), Czech Republic. The mineral forms small grain-like subhedral crystals (= 0.2 mm) that resemble in appearance liebigite, Ca{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}]. ∝ 11H{sub 2}O. Colour pale yellow-green, luster vitreous, transparent, pale bluish green fluorescence under ultraviolet light. Optical data: Biaxial negative, nX = 1.511(2), nY = 1.550(2), nZ = 1.566(2), 2V = 65(1) (λ = 589 nm), r < v weak. After qualitative tests had shown the presence of Ca, U, Mg, CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2}O, the chemical formula was determined by a crystal structure analysis based on X-ray four-circle diffractometer data. The structure was later on refined with data from a CCD diffractometer to R1 = 0.0206 and wR2 = 0.0429 for 9,236 independent observed reflections. The crystal structure contains two independent [UO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}]{sup 4-} anions of which one is bonded to two Mg and six Ca while the second is bonded to only one Mg and three Ca. Magnesium forms a MgF{sub 2}(O{sub carbonate}){sub 3}(H{sub 2}O) octahedron that is linked via the F atoms with three Ca atoms so as to provide each F atom with a flat pyramidal coordination by one Mg and two Ca. Calcium is 7- and 8-coordinate forming CaFO{sub 6}, CaF{sub 2}O{sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 4}, CaFO{sub 3}(H{sub 2}O){sub 4} and CaO{sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 6} coordination polyhedra. The crystal structure is built up from MgCa{sub 3}F{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 3}].8H{sub 2}O layers parallel to (001) which

  9. Crystallization and initial X-ray analysis of polyhydroxyalkanoate granule-associated protein from Aeromonas hydrophila

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhao, Minglian; Li, Zhenguo; Zheng, Wei; Lou, Zhiyong [MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Science, Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (China); Chen, Guo-Qiang, E-mail: chengq@stu.edu.cn [MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Science, Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (China); Multidisciplinary Research Center, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, Guangdong (China)

    2006-08-01

    The phasin PhaP{sub Ah} from A. hydrophila strain 4AK4 was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) granule-associated proteins (phasins) were discovered in PHA-accumulating bacteria. They play a crucial role as a structural protein during initial PHA-granule formation and granule growth and also serve as interfaces for granule stabilization in vivo. The phasin PhaP{sub Ah} from Aeromonas hydrophila strain 4AK4 was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Single crystals were cryocooled for X-ray diffraction analysis. The phasin crystals belonged to space group P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters a = 80.8, b = 108.9, c = 134.4 Å.

  10. Imaging expression of adenoviral HSV1-tk suicide gene transfer using the nucleoside analogue FIRU

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Nanda, Dharmin [Department of Neurology, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Centre, University Hospital Rotterdam (Netherlands); Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Rotterdam (Netherlands); Jong, Marion de; Bakker, Willem; Bijster, Magda; Cox, Peter [Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Rotterdam (Netherlands); Vogels, Ronald; Havenga, Menzo [Crucell Holland BV, Leiden (Netherlands); Driesse, Maarten; Avezaat, Cees [Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Rotterdam (Netherlands); Morin, Kevin; Naimi, Ebrahim; Knaus, Edward; Wiebe, Leonard [Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton (Canada); Smitt, Peter Sillevis [Department of Neurology, Daniel den Hoed Cancer Centre, University Hospital Rotterdam (Netherlands)

    2002-07-01

    Substrates for monitoring HSV1-tk gene expression include uracil and acycloguanosine derivatives.The most commonly used uracil derivative to monitor HSV1-tk gene transfer is 1-(2-fluoro-2-deoxy-{beta}-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-[*I]iodouracil (fialuridine; I*-FIAU), where the asterisk denotes any of the radioactive iodine isotopes that can be used. We have previously studied other nucleosides with imaging properties as good as or better than FIAU, including 1-(2-fluoro-2-deoxy-{beta}-D-ribofuranosyl)-5-[*I]iodouracil (FIRU). The first aim of this study was to extend the biodistribution data of {sup 123}I-labelled FIRU. Secondly, we assessed the feasibility of detecting differences in HSV1-tk gene expression levels following adenoviral gene transfer in vivo with {sup 123}I-FIRU. 9L rat gliosarcoma cells were stably transfected with the HSV1-tk gene (9L-tk+). {sup 123}I-FIRU was prepared by radioiodination of 1-(2-fluoro-2-deoxy-{beta}-D-ribofuranosyl)-5-tributylstannyl uracil (FTMRSU; precursor compound) and purified using an activated Sep-Pak column. Incubation of 9L-tk+ cells and the parental 9L cells with {sup 123}I-FIRU resulted in a 100-fold higher accumulation of radioactivity in the 9L-tk+ cells after an optimum incubation time of 4 h. NIH-bg-nu-xid mice were then inoculated subcutaneously with HSV1-tk (-) 9L cells or HSV1-tk (+) 9L-tk+ cells into both flanks. Biodistribution studies and gamma camera imaging were performed at 15 min and 1, 2, 4 and 24 h p.i. At 15 min, the tumour/muscle, tumour/blood and tumour/brain ratios were 5.2, 1.0 and 30.3 respectively. Rapid renal clearance of the tracer from the body resulted in increasing tumour/muscle, tumour/blood and tumour/brain ratios, reaching values of 32.2, 12.5 and 171.6 at 4 h p.i. A maximum specific activity of 22%ID/g tissue was reached in the 9L-tk+ tumours 4 h after {sup 123}I-FIRU injection. Two Ad5-based adenoviral vectors containing the HSV1-tk gene were constructed: a replication-incompetent vector with

  11. Genetic Passive Immunization with Adenoviral Vector Expressing Chimeric Nanobody-Fc Molecules as Therapy for Genital Infection Caused by Mycoplasma hominis.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Daria A Burmistrova

    Full Text Available Developing pathogen-specific recombinant antibody fragments (especially nanobodies is a very promising strategy for the treatment of infectious disease. Nanobodies have great potential for gene therapy application due to their single-gene nature. Historically, Mycoplasma hominis has not been considered pathogenic bacteria due to the lack of acute infection and partially due to multiple studies demonstrating high frequency of isolation of M. hominis samples from asymptomatic patients. However, recent studies on the role of latent M. hominis infection in oncologic transformation, especially prostate cancer, and reports that M. hominis infects Trichomonas and confers antibiotic resistance to Trichomonas, have generated new interest in this field. In the present study we have generated specific nanobody against M. hominis (aMh, for which the identified target is the ABC-transporter substrate-binding protein. aMh exhibits specific antibacterial action against M. hominis. In an attempt to improve the therapeutic properties, we have developed the adenoviral vector-based gene therapy approach for passive immunization with nanobodies against M. hominis. For better penetration into the mucous layer of the genital tract, we fused aMh with the Fc-fragment of IgG. Application of this comprehensive approach with a single systemic administration of recombinant adenovirus expressing aMh-Fc demonstrated both prophylactic and therapeutic effects in a mouse model of genital M. hominis infection.

  12. Synthesis and characterization of the novel rare earth orthophosphates Y{sub 0.5}Er{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4} and Y{sub 0.5}Yb{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Schildhammer, Daniel; Petschnig, Lucas L.; Fuhrmann, Gerda; Heymann, Gunter; Schottenberger, Herwig; Huppertz, Hubert [Innsbruck Univ. (Austria). Inst. fuer Allgemeine, Anorganische und Theoretische Chemie; Tribus, Martina [Innsbruck Univ. (Austria). Inst. fuer Mineralogie und Petrographie

    2016-02-01

    The new mixed rare earth (RE) orthophosphates Y{sub 0.5}Er{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4} and Y{sub 0.5}Yb{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4} were synthesized by a classical solid state reaction in an electrical furnace at 1200 C. As starting materials, the corresponding rare earth oxides and diammonium hydrogen phosphate were used. The powder diffraction analyses revealed that the new compounds Y{sub 0.5}Er{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4} and Y{sub 0.5}Yb{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4} crystallize in a zircon-type structure being isostructural with the rare earth orthophosphate YPO{sub 4}. Y{sub 0.5}Er{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4} and Y{sub 0.5}Yb{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4} crystallize in the tetragonal space group I4{sub 1}/amd (no. 141) with four formula units in the unit cell. The structural parameters based on Rietveld refinements are a = 687.27(2), c = 601.50(2) pm, V = 0.28412(1) nm{sup 3}, R{sub p} = 0.0143, and R{sub wp} = 0.0186 (all data) for Y{sub 0.5}Er{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4} and a = 684.61(2), c = 599.31(2) pm, V = 0.28089(2) nm{sup 3}, R{sub p} = 0.0242, and R{sub wp} = 0.0313 (all data) for Y{sub 0.5}Yb{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4}. Furthermore, the structure of Y{sub 0.5}Er{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4} was refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data: a = 687.78(5), c = 601.85(4) pm, V = 0.28470(5) nm{sup 3}, R{sub 1} = 0.0165, and wR{sub 2} = 0.0385 (all data). In both compounds, the rare earth metal ions are eightfold coordinated by oxygen atoms, forming two unique interlocking tetrahedra with two individual RE-O distances. The tetrahedral phosphate groups [PO{sub 4}]{sup 3-} are slightly distorted in both compounds. The individual rare earth ions share a common position (Wyckoff site 4a). The presence of two rare earth ions in the structures of the new orthophosphates Y{sub 0.5}Er{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4} and Y{sub 0.5}Yb{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4} was additionally confirmed by single-crystal EDX spectroscopy revealing a ratio of 1:1.

  13. Synthesis, single-crystal structure determination and Raman spectrum of Ca{sub 2.57(4)}Sr{sub 0.43(4)}Cl{sub 2}[CBN

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Reckeweg, Olaf; DiSalvo, Francis J. [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Biology; Schulz, Armin [Max-Planck-Institut fuer Festkoerperforschung, Stuttgart (Germany)

    2017-05-01

    Solid-state reaction of Ca, CaCl{sub 2}, Sr, SrCl{sub 2}, C and BN at 900 C for 3 days yielded transparent red needles of Ca{sub 2.57(4)}Sr{sub 0.43(4)}Cl{sub 2}[CBN] as minority product (<10%) mixed with crystals of isotypic yellow Ca{sub 3}Cl{sub 2}[CBN] and orange Sr{sub 3}Cl{sub 2}[CBN]. Ca{sub 2.57(4)}Sr{sub 0.43(4)}Cl{sub 2}[CBN] crystallizes in the space group Pnma (no.62) with the unit cell parameters of a=1389.2(6), b=386.05(15) and c=1131.2(4)pm (Z=4). The Raman spectrum confirms the presence of the [CBN]{sup 4-} unit. The incremental volume of the [CBN]{sup 4-} is calculated to be 50.7(10) Aa{sup 3}.

  14. Syntheses and structural characterization of vanado-tellurites and vanadyl-selenites: SrVTeO{sub 5}(OH), Cd{sub 2}V{sub 2}Te{sub 2}O{sub 11}, Ca{sub 3}VSe{sub 4}O{sub 13}·H{sub 2}O and Ba{sub 2}VSe{sub 3}O{sub 10}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Konatham, Satish; Vidyasagar, Kanamaluru, E-mail: kvsagar@iitm.ac.in

    2017-05-15

    Four new quaternary vanado-tellurites and vanadyl-selenites, namely, SrVTeO{sub 5}(OH)(1), Cd{sub 2}V{sub 2}Te{sub 2}O{sub 11}(2), Ca{sub 3}VSe{sub 4}O{sub 13}·H{sub 2}O(3) and Ba{sub 2}VSe{sub 3}O{sub 10}(4) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The oxidation state of vanadium is +5 in tellurites 1 and 2 and +4 in selenites 3 and 4. The structures of SrVTeO{sub 5}(OH)(1) and Cd{sub 2}V{sub 2}Te{sub 2}O{sub 11}(2) compounds consist of (VTeO{sub 5}(OH)){sup 2-} and (V{sub 2}Te{sub 2}O{sub 11}){sup 4-}anionic chains respectively, which are built from tetrahedral VO{sub 4} and disphenoidal TeO{sub 4} moieties. Similarly the structures of Ca{sub 3}VSe{sub 4}O{sub 13}·H{sub 2}O(3) and Ba{sub 2}VSe{sub 3}O{sub 10}(4) respectively contain (VSe{sub 2}O{sub 7}){sup 2-} and (VSe{sub 3}O{sub 10}){sup 4-} anionic chains, which are made up of octahedral VO{sub 6} and pyramidal SeO{sub 3} units. Compounds 1 and 3 have been characterized by thermogravimetric and infrared spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 and 2 are wide band gap semiconductors. - Graphical abstract: Ca{sub 3}VSe{sub 4}O{sub 13}·H{sub 2}O and Ba{sub 2}VSe{sub 3}O{sub 10} compounds contain (VSe{sub 2}O{sub 7}){sup 2-} and (VSe{sub 3}O{sub 10}){sup 4-} chains. - Highlights: • Four new vanado-tellurites and vanadyl-selenites are synthesized. • Their structural features are different. • The vanado-tellurites are wide band gap semiconductors.

  15. Chaperonin Structure - The Large Multi-Subunit Protein Complex

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Irena Roterman

    2009-03-01

    Full Text Available The multi sub-unit protein structure representing the chaperonins group is analyzed with respect to its hydrophobicity distribution. The proteins of this group assist protein folding supported by ATP. The specific axial symmetry GroEL structure (two rings of seven units stacked back to back - 524 aa each and the GroES (single ring of seven units - 97 aa each polypeptide chains are analyzed using the hydrophobicity distribution expressed as excess/deficiency all over the molecule to search for structure-to-function relationships. The empirically observed distribution of hydrophobic residues is confronted with the theoretical one representing the idealized hydrophobic core with hydrophilic residues exposure on the surface. The observed discrepancy between these two distributions seems to be aim-oriented, determining the structure-to-function relation. The hydrophobic force field structure generated by the chaperonin capsule is presented. Its possible influence on substrate folding is suggested.

  16. Crystal structures and magnetic properties of iron (III)-based phosphates: Na{sub 4}NiFe(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} and Na{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}Fe(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Essehli, Rachid, E-mail: rachid_essehli@yahoo.fr [Laboratory of Mineral Solid and Analytical Chemistry ' LCSMA' , Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed I, Po. Box 717, 60000 Oujda (Morocco); Bali, Brahim El [Laboratory of Mineral Solid and Analytical Chemistry ' LCSMA' , Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohamed I, Po. Box 717, 60000 Oujda (Morocco); Benmokhtar, Said [LCMS, Laboratoire de Chimie des Materiaux Solides, Departement de chimie, Faculte des Sciences Ben M' SIK, Casablanca (Morocco); Bouziane, Khalid [Physics Department, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 36, Postal Code 123 Al Khod, Sultanate of Oman (Oman); Manoun, Bouchaib [Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie des Materiaux, Departement de Chimie, FST Errachidia, University Moulay Ismail, B.P. 509 Boutalamine, Errachidia (Morocco); Abdalslam, Mouner Ahmed [Materials Science, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt (Germany); Ehrenberg, Helmut [IFW Dresden, Helmholtzstr. 20, D-01069 Dresden (Germany)

    2011-01-28

    Graphical abstract: A perspective view of the Na{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}Fe(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} structure along the [0 0 1] direction. Both compounds seem to exibit antiferromagnetic interactions between magnetic entities at low temperature. Display Omitted Research highlights: > Nasicon and Alluaudite compounds, Iron(III)-based phosphates, Crystal structures of Na{sub 4}NiFe(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} and Na{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}Fe(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}. > Magnetism behaviours of Na{sub 4}NiFe(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} and Na{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}Fe(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}. > Antiferromagnetism interactions. > Mossbauer spectroscopy. - Abstract: Crystal structures from two new phosphates Na{sub 4}NiFe(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} (I) and Na{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}Fe(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} (II) have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound (I) crystallizes in a rhombohedral system (S. G: R-3c, Z = 6, a = 8.7350(9) A, c = 21.643(4) A, R{sub 1} = 0.041, wR{sub 2}=0.120). Compound (II) crystallizes in a monoclinic system (S. G: C2/c, Z = 4, a = 11.729(7) A, b = 12.433(5) A, c = 6.431(2) A, {beta} = 113.66(4){sup o}, R{sub 1} = 0.043, wR{sub 2}=0.111). The three-dimensional structure of (I) is closely related to the Nasicon structural type, consisting of corner sharing [(Ni/Fe)O{sub 6}] octahedra and [PO{sub 4}] tetrahedra forming [NiFe(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}]{sup 4+} units which align in chains along the c-axis. The Na{sup +} cations fill up trigonal antiprismatic sites within these chains. The crystal structure of (II) belongs to the alluaudite type. Its open framework results from [Ni{sub 2}O{sub 10}] units of edge-sharing [NiO{sub 6}] octahedra, which alternate with [FeO{sub 6}] octahedra that form infinite chains. Coordination of these chains yields two distinct tunnels in which site Na{sup +}. The magnetization data of compound (I) reveal antiferromagnetic (AFM) interactions by the onset of deviations from a Curie-Weiss behaviour at low temperature as confirmed by Moessbauer measurements performed at 4.2 K. The

  17. Experimental study on the effects of recombinant adenoviral-mediated mI{kappa}B{alpha} gene combined with irradiation on the treatment of hepatocarcinoma

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kejun, Zhang; Dechun, Li; Dongming, Zhu [The First Affiliated Hospital to Suzhou Univ., Suzhou (China); Caixia, Song

    2007-10-15

    Objective: To explore the effect of recombinant adenovirus vector mediated mutant I{kappa}B{alpha} (mI{kappa}B{alpha}) combined with radiation on the hepatocarcinoma. Methods: Limited dilution method was used to test the virus titer in 293 cells. The HCC9204 cells were infected with MOI 10,20,30 and 50 for 48 h, respectively. The expression of p65 and mI{kappa}B{alpha} protein was analyzed by Western blot. Transfected HCC9204 cells and controls were treated with 4 Gy {gamma} rays. The inhibition rate of HCC9204 cells was examined by MTT. Rat models of HCC9204 was constructed. AdmI{kappa}B{alpha} plasmids were injected into tumor tissue and the tumors were administered with 6 Gy {gamma} irradiation 48 hours later. Tumor growth at different time points was recorded during 28 days. Results: The titer of AdmI{kappa}B{alpha} is 1.252 x 10{sup 9} pfu/ml. The expression of mI{kappa}B{alpha} protein was increased with titer of AdmI{kappa}B{alpha}, and p65 protein began to decrease when MOI was 10, and reached the lowest when MOI was 50, they were all dose-dependent. The proliferation of HCC9204 cell lines were suppressed, as was more significant combined with radiation, and the effect was in a viral dose-dependent manner. From days 7 to 28 after AdmI{kappa}B{alpha} gene and radiotherapy, the tumor growth was significantly slower than after irradiation or gene therapy alone. Conclusions: Recombinant adenoviral-mediated mI{kappa}B{alpha} gene, combined with irradiation, can increase the cell-killing effect. It is better than that of either one alone. (authors)

  18. X-ray diffraction studies of the Tl(GaS{sub 2}){sub 1–x}(InSe{sub 2}){sub x} solid solutions

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sheleg, A. U.; Hurtavy, V. G., E-mail: hurtavy@physics.by; Chumak, V. A. [National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Scientific-Practical Materials Research Center (Belarus); Mustafaeva, S. N.; Kerimova, E. M. [Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics (Azerbaijan)

    2016-07-15

    The unit-cell parameters of crystals obtained in the Tl(GaS{sub 2}){sub 1–x}(InSe{sub 2}){sub x} system are measured by X-ray diffraction. The relationship between these parameters and composition is determined. It is shown that, with growing x, the a, b, and c parameters increase and the β angle decreases. Two types of solid solutions are found in the Tl(GaS{sub 2}){sub 1–x}(InSe{sub 2}){sub x} system: one is based on compound TlGaS{sub 2} with monoclinic structure and the other is based on TlInSe{sub 2} with tetragonal structure.

  19. Hybrid Encapsulated Ionic Liquids for Post-Combustion Carbon Dioxide (CO<sub>2sub>) Capture

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Brennecke, Joan F [Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States); Degnan, Jr, Thomas Francis [Univ. of Notre Dame, IN (United States); McCready, Mark J. [Univ. of Notre Dame, IN (United States); Stadtherr, Mark A. [Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States); Stolaroff, Joshua K [Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Ye, Congwang [Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

    2017-11-03

    Ionic liquids (ILs) and Phase Change Ionic Liquids (PCILs) are excellent materials for selective removal of carbon dioxide from dilute post-combustion streams. However, they are typically characterized as having high viscosities, which impairs their effectiveness due to mass transfer limitations, caused by the high viscosities. In this project, we are examining the benefits of encapsulating ILs and PCILs in thin polymeric shells to produce particles of approximately 100 to 600 µm in diameter that can be used in a fluidized bed absorber. The particles are produced by microencapsulation of the ILs and PCILs in CO<sub>2sub>-permeable polymer shells. Here we report on the encapsulation of the IL and PCIL materials, thermodynamic testing of the encapsulated materials, mass transfer measurements in both a fluidized bed and a packed bed, determination of the effect of impurities (SO<sub>2sub>, NO<sub>x> and water) on the free and encapsulated IL and PCIL, recyclability of the CO<sub>2sub> uptake, selection and synthesis of kg quantities of the IL and PCIL, identification of scale-up methods for encapsulation and production of a kg quantity of the PCIL, construction and shakedown of the laboratory scale unit to test the encapsulated particles for CO<sub>2sub> capture ability and efficiency, use of our mass transfer model to predict mass transfer and identify optimal properties of the encapsulated particles, and initial testing of the encapsulated particles in the laboratory scale unit. We also show our attempts at developing shell materials that are resistant to water permeation. Overall, we have shown that the selected IL and PCIL can be successfully encapsulated in polymer shells and the methods scaled up to production levels. The IL/PCIL and encapsulated IL/PCIL react irreversibly with SO<sub>2sub> and NO<sub>x> so the CO<sub>2sub> capture unit would need to be placed after the flue gas desulfurization and NO<sub>x> reduction units. However

  20. Completing the series. New coordination networks of composition {sup 3}{sub ∞}[RE{sub 2}(ADC){sub 3}(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}].2H{sub 2}O with RE = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Y and ADC{sup 2-} = acetylenedicarboxylate ({sup -}O{sub 2}C-C≡C-CO{sub 2}{sup -})

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gramm, Verena K.; Schuy, Andrea; Ruschewitz, Uwe [Institut fuer Anorganische Chemie, Koeln Univ. (Germany); Suta, Markus; Wickleder, Claudia [Anorganische Chemie, Universitaet Siegen (Germany); Sternemann, Christian [Fakultaet Physik / DELTA, Technische Universitaet Dortmund (Germany)

    2018-02-01

    The crystal structures of {sup 3}{sub ∞}[RE{sub 2}(ADC){sub 3}(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}].2H{sub 2}O (RE = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy) were solved and refined from X-ray single crystal data. They crystallize in a structure type already known for RE = La, Ce and Gd (P1, no. 2, Z = 2), which is characterized by REO{sub 9} polyhedra forming dimeric units being the nodes of a 3D framework structure linked by ADC{sup 2-} anions ({sup -}O{sub 2}C-C≡C-CO{sub 2}{sup -} = acetylenedicarboxylate). From synchrotron powder diffraction data it was shown that isostructural coordination networks are formed for RE = Ho, Er, Y, whereas for RE = Tm, Yb, Lu a new structure type crystallizing in a highly complex crystal structure with a large orthorhombic unit cell is found. All compounds are obtained by slow evaporation of an aqueous solution containing RE(OAc){sub 3}.xH{sub 2}O and acetylenedicarboxylic acid (H{sub 2}ADC). The coordination networks of composition {sup 3}{sub ∞}[RE{sub 2}(ADC){sub 3}(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}].2H{sub 2}O were thoroughly investigated by thermal analysis and for RE = Eu, Tb, a strong red and green photoluminescence was observed and investigated by means of UV/Vis spectroscopy. (copyright 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  1. On the dimorphism of Pr{sub 6}Mo{sub 10}O{sub 39}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rudolph, Daniel; Laufer, Sonja; Hartenbach, Ingo [Stuttgart Univ. (Germany). Inst. for Inorganic Chemistry

    2017-07-01

    Attempts to synthesize Pr{sub 4}Mo{sub 7}O{sub 27} using Pr, Pr{sub 6}O{sub 11} and MoO{sub 3} in a molar ratio of 8:6:77 led to a main product of scheelite-type Pr{sub 0.667}[MoO{sub 4}] and few single crystals of the triclinic A-type Pr{sub 6}Mo{sub 10}O{sub 39}. The latter crystallizes in space group P anti 1 (a=945.25(1), b=1058.49(2), c=1815.16(3) pm; α=104.149(1), β=95.220(1), γ=102.617(1) , Z=2). Its crystal structure comprises six crystallographically independent Pr{sup 3+} cations, eight tetrahedral [MoO{sub 4}]{sup 2-} units, and one [Mo{sub 2}O{sub 7}]{sup 2-} entity. The cations display coordination numbers of seven (1 x) and eight (5 x), while the [MoO{sub 4}]{sup 2-} tetrahedra are surrounded by five Pr{sup 3+} cations each. The [Mo{sub 2}O{sub 7}]{sup 2-} anions exhibit a coordination environment of seven Pr{sup 3+} cations. The attempt to synthesize PrF[MoO{sub 4}] using PrOF (from in situ thermal decomposition of PrF[CO{sub 3}]) as reagent did not lead to the desired product but to monoclinic B-type Pr{sub 6}Mo{sub 10}O{sub 39}. This slightly less dense modification compared to its triclinic analogue crystallizes in space group C2/c (a=1247.93(3), b=1989.68(6), c=1392.52 (4) pm, β=100.505(2) , Z=4) with three crystallographically independent Pr{sup 3+} cations, four [MoO{sub 4}]{sup 2-} tetrahedra, and again one [Mo{sub 2}O{sub 7}]{sup 2-} unit in the crystal structure. Thus, both Pr{sub 6}Mo{sub 10}O{sub 39} modifications are better described with the structured formula Pr{sub 6}[MoO{sub 4}]{sub 8}[Mo{sub 2}O{sub 7}]. The coordination numbers around the Pr{sup 3+} cations are seven (1 x) and eight (2 x) while all four [MoO{sub 4}]{sup 2-} anions are again surrounded by five Pr{sup 3+} cations each. Six of the latter represent the coordination environment around the [Mo{sub 2}O{sub 7}]{sup 2-} entities. Besides the thorough comparison of the crystal structures single crystal Raman spectra were recorded for both Pr{sub 6}Mo{sub 10}O{sub 39

  2. 78 FR 30393 - Preparations for the 43rd Session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport...

    Science.gov (United States)

    2013-05-22

    .... PHMSA-2013-0090; Notice No. 13-04] DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Occupational Safety and Health Administration Preparations for the 43rd Session of the United Nations Sub- Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE TDG) and the 25th Session of the UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized...

  3. Synthesis and magnetic structure of the layered manganese oxide selenide Sr{sub 2}MnO{sub 2}Ag{sub 1.5}Se{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Blandy, Jack N. [Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QR (United Kingdom); Diamond Light Source Ltd., Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE (United Kingdom); Boskovic, Jelena C. [Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QR (United Kingdom); Clarke, Simon J., E-mail: simon.clarke@chem.ox.ac.uk [Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QR (United Kingdom)

    2017-01-15

    The synthesis of a high-purity sample of the layered oxide selenide Sr{sub 2}MnO{sub 2}Ag{sub 1.5}Se{sub 2} is reported. At ambient temperature it crystallises in the space group I4/mmm with two formula units in the unit cell and lattice parameters a=4.08771(1) Å, c=19.13087(8) Å. The compound displays mixed-valent manganese in a formal oxidation state close to +2.5 and powder neutron diffraction measurements reveal that below the Néel temperature of 63(1) K this results in an antiferromagnetic structure which may be described as A-type, modelled in the magnetic space group P{sub I}4/mnc (128.410 in the Belov, Neronova and Smirnova (BNS) scheme) in which localised Mn moments of 3.99(2) μ{sub B} are arranged in ferromagnetic layers which are coupled antiferromagnetically. In contrast to the isostructural compound Sr{sub 2}MnO{sub 2}Cu{sub 1.5}S{sub 2}, Sr{sub 2}MnO{sub 2}Ag{sub 1.5}Se{sub 2} does not display long range ordering of coinage metal ions and vacancies, nor may significant amounts of the coinage metal readily be deintercalated using soft chemical methods. - Graphical abstract: Sr{sub 2}MnO{sub 2}Ag{sub 1.5}Se{sub 2} containing mixed valent Mn ions undergoes magnetic ordering with ferromagnetic coupling within MnO{sub 2} sheets and antiferromagnetic coupling between MnO{sub 2} sheets. - Highlights: • High purity sample of Sr{sub 2}MnO{sub 2}Ag{sub 1.5}Se{sub 2} obtained. • Magnetic structure determined. • Compared with related mixed-valent manganite oxide chalcogenides.

  4. Magnetic ordering of Hf{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}Si{sub 3}-type {Sm, Tb, Er}{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} and {Tb, Ho}{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} compounds

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Morozkin, A.V., E-mail: morozkin@tech.chem.msu.ru [Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, House 1, Building 3, Moscow, GSP-1, 119991 (Russian Federation); Yapaskurt, V.O. [Department of Petrology, Geological Faculty Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow 119991 (Russian Federation); Nirmala, R. [Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036 (India); Quezado, S.; Malik, S.K. [Departamento de Física Teórica e Experimental, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59082-970 (Brazil); Mozharivskyj, Y. [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M1 (Canada); Isnard, O. [CNRS, Institut. Néel, 25 rue des Martyrs BP166 x, F-38042 Grenoble (France); Université Grenoble Alpes, Inst. Néel, F-38042 Grenoble (France)

    2017-02-15

    The magnetic ordering of Hf{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}Si{sub 3}-type {Sm, Tb, Er}{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} and {Tb, Ho}{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} compounds (space group Cmcm, oC32) was investigated via magnetization measurements and neutron diffraction study in a zero-applied field. {Sm, Tb, Er}{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} and Ho{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} exhibit field sensitive complex antiferromagnetic orderings with T{sub N}=51 K, T{sub m}=10 K for Sm{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3}, T{sub N}=34 K, T{sub m}=13 K for Tb{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3}, T{sub N}=7 K for Er{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} and T{sub N}=11 K for Ho{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}Ge{sub 3}. At 2 K and above the critical field of ~5 kOe, 20 kOe, 4 kOe and 7 kOe for Sm{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3}, Tb{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3}, Er{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} and Ho{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}Ge{sub 3}, respectively, saturation magnetizations per rare-earth atom are 6.5 μ{sub B} for Tb{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3}, 7.0 μ{sub B} for Er{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} and 8.0 μ{sub B} for Ho{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} in the field of 140 kOe, whereas magnetization of Sm{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} has an antiferromagnetic behaviour. The isothermal magnetic entropy change, ΔS{sub m}, indicates a field-induced ferromagnetic ordering in Sm{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3}, Tb{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge3, Er{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} and Ho{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} with a maximal ΔS{sub m} value of −10.9 J/kg K for Ho{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} at 11 K for a field change of 50 kOe. In a zero-applied magnetic field, below T{sub N}=33 K and down to T{sub m}{sup ND}=15 K Tb{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}Ge{sub 3} shows an ac-antiferromagnetic ordering with the C2′/c magnetic space group, a K{sub 0}=[0, 0, 0] propagation vector and a a{sub Tb3Ni2Ge3}×b{sub Tb3Ni2Ge3}×c{sub Tb3Ni2Ge3} magnetic unit cell. Below T{sub m}{sup ND}=15 K, its magnetic structure is a sum of the ac-antiferromagnetic component with the C2′/c magnetic space group of the K{sub 0} vector and a sine-modulated a

  5. Study of the halogenation of EuBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 6]. Etude de l'halogenation de EuBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 6

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kabeya, D.T. (Rennes-1 Univ., 35 (France). Lab. de Chimie du Solide et Inorganique Moleculaire); Mokhtari, M. (Rennes-1 Univ., 35 (France). Lab. de Chimie du Solide et Inorganique Moleculaire); Perrin, C. (Rennes-1 Univ., 35 (France). Lab. de Chimie du Solide et Inorganique Moleculaire); Sergent, M. (Rennes-1 Univ., 35 (France). Lab. de Chimie du Solide et Inorganique Moleculaire); Grushko, Yu. (Russian Academy of Sciences, Gatchina (Russian Federation). Nuclear Physics Inst.); Kokovina, L. (Russian Academy of Sciences, Gatchina (Russian Federation). Nuclear Physics Inst.); Rozhniakova, N. (Russian Academy of Sciences, Gatchina (Russian Federation). Nuclear Physics Inst.)

    1994-11-01

    Sintered samples of EuBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 6] have been halogenated at low temperature (t<300 C) by treatments under NF[sub 3] or CCl[sub 4] flow diluted in nitrogen, or by reaction with iodine in sealed tubes. Such mild conditions of synthesis allowed to avoid the decomposition of the material during the reactions. The incorporation of the halogen in the sample has been evidenced by the weight gain, by the evolution of the unit-cell parameters and by SEM and EDS analyses. After fluorination and chlorination, the samples become superconducting, but no superconducting behaviour is observed after iodination. These results are compared to the ones previously obtained during the halogenation of YBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 6]. (orig.).

  6. Synthesis, crystal structure, and vibrational spectroscopic and UV-visible studies of Cs{sub 2}MnP{sub 2}O{sub 7}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kaoua, Saida; Krimi, Saida [LPCMI, Faculte des Sciences Aien Chok, UH2C, Casablanca (Morocco); Pechev, Stanislav; Gravereau, Pierre; Chaminade, Jean-Pierre [CNRS, Universite de Bordeaux, ICMCB, 87, Avenue du Dr. A. Schweitzer, Pessac (France); Couzi, Michel [CNRS, Universite de Bordeaux, ISM, UMR 5255, F-33400 Talence (France); El Jazouli, Abdelaziz, E-mail: eljazouli_abdelaziz@yahoo.fr [LCMS, URAC 17, Faculte des Sciences Ben M' Sik, UH2MC, Casablanca (Morocco)

    2013-02-15

    A new member of the A{sub 2}MP{sub 2}O{sub 7} diphosphate family, Cs{sub 2}MnP{sub 2}O{sub 7}, has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The crystal structure was determined by single crystal X-Ray diffraction. Cs{sub 2}MnP{sub 2}O{sub 7} crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pnma ( Music-Sharp-Sign 62), with the unit cell parameters a=16.3398(3), b=5.3872(1), c=9.8872(2) A, Z=4 and V=870.33(3) A{sup 3}. The structure parameters were refined to a final R{sub 1}/wR{sub 2}=0.0194/0.0441 for 1650 observed reflections. The 2D framework of Cs{sub 2}MnP{sub 2}O{sub 7} structure consists of P{sub 2}O{sub 7} and MnO{sub 5} units. The corner-shared MnO{sub 5} and P{sub 2}O{sub 7} units are alternately arranged along the b axis to form [(MnO)P{sub 2}O{sub 7}]{sub {infinity}} chains. These chains are interconnected by an oxygen atom to form sheets parallel to the (b, c) plane. The cesium atoms are located between the sheets in 9- and 10-fold coordinated sites. The infrared and Raman vibrational spectra have been investigated. A factor group analysis leads to the determination of internal modes of (P{sub 2}O{sub 7}) groups. UV-visible spectrum consists of weak bands, between 340 and 700 nm, assigned to the forbidden d-d transitions of Mn{sup 2+} ion, and of a strong band around 250 nm, attributed to the O--Mn charge transfer. - Graphical abstract: Structure of Cs{sub 2}MnP{sub 2}O{sub 7}: The 2D structure of Cs{sub 2}MnP{sub 2}O{sub 7} is built from P{sub 2}O{sub 7} diphosphate groups and MnO{sub 5} square pyramids which share corners and form [(MnO)P{sub 2}O{sub 7}]{sub {infinity}} chains along b axis. These chains are interconnected by an oxygen atom to form wavy (MnP{sub 2}O{sub 7}){sup 2-} sheets parallel to the (b, c) plane. The cesium ions are located between these sheets in the inter-layers space, in zigzag positions. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A new diphosphate, Cs{sub 2}MnP{sub 2}O{sub 7}, has been synthesized and structurally

  7. Transduction proteins of olfactory receptor cells: identification of guanine nucleotide binding proteins and protein kinase C

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Anholt, R.R.H.; Mumby, S.M.; Stoffers, D.A.; Girard, P.R.; Kuo, J.F.; Snyder, S.H.

    1987-01-01

    The authors have analyzed guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G-proteins) in the olfactory epithelium of Rana catesbeiana using subunit-specific antisera. The olfactory epithelium contained the α subunits of three G-proteins, migrating on polyacrylamide gels in SDS with apparent molecular weights of 45,000, 42,000, and 40,000, corresponding to G/sub s/, G/sub i/, and G/sub o/, respectively. A single β subunit with an apparent molecular weight of 36,000 was detected. An antiserum against the α subunit of retinal transducin failed to detect immunoreactive proteins in olfactory cilia detached from the epithelium. The olfactory cilia appeared to be enriched in immunoreactive G/sub sα/ relative to G/sub ichemical bond/ and G/sub ochemical bond/ when compared to membranes prepared from the olfactory epithelium after detachment of the cilia. Bound antibody was detected by autoradiography after incubation with [ 125 I]protein. Immunohistochemical studies using an antiserum against the β subunit of G-proteins revealed intense staining of the ciliary surface of the olfactory epithelium and of the axon bundles in the lamina propria. In contrast, an antiserum against a common sequence of the α subunits preferentially stained the cell membranes of the olfactory receptor cells and the acinar cells of Bowman's glands and the deep submucosal glands. In addition to G-proteins, they have identified protein kinase C in olfactory cilia via a protein kinase C specific antiserum and via phorbol ester binding. However, in contrast to the G-proteins, protein kinase C occurred also in cilia isolated from respiratory epithelium

  8. Practical Considerations for Detection and Characterization of Sub-Micron Particles in Protein Solutions by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Gruia, Flaviu; Parupudi, Arun; Polozova, Alla

    2015-01-01

    Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) is an emerging analytical technique developed for detection, sizing, and counting of sub-micron particles in liquid media. Its feasibility for use in biopharmaceutical development was evaluated with particle standards and recombinant protein solutions. Measurements of aqueous suspensions of NIST-traceable polystyrene particle standards showed accurate particle concentration detection between 2 × 10(7) and 5 × 10(9) particles/mL. Sizing was accurate for particle standards up to 200 nm. Smaller than nominal value sizes were detected by NTA for the 300-900 nm particles. Measurements of protein solutions showed that NTA performance is solution-specific. Reduced sensitivity, especially in opalescent solutions, was observed. Measurements in such solutions may require sample dilution; however, common sample manipulations, such as dilution and filtration, may result in particle formation. Dilution and filtration case studies are presented to further illustrate such behavior. To benchmark general performance, NTA was compared against asymmetric flow field flow fractionation coupled with multi-angle light scattering (aF4-MALS) and dynamic light scattering, which are other techniques for sub-micron particles. Data shows that all three methods have limitations and may not work equally well under certain conditions. Nevertheless, the ability of NTA to directly detect and count sub-micron particles is a feature not matched by aF4-MALS or dynamic light scattering. Thorough characterization of particulate matter present in protein therapeutics is limited by the lack of analytical methods for particles in the sub-micron size range. Emerging techniques are being developed to bridge this analytical gap. In this study, Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis is evaluated as a potential tool for biologics development. Our results indicate that method performance is molecule-specific and may not work as well under all solution conditions, especially when

  9. Comparison of [{sup 18}F]FHBG and [{sup 14}C]FIAU for imaging of HSV1-tk reporter gene expression: adenoviral infection vs stable transfection

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Min, Jung-Jun; Iyer, Meera [The Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, UCLA School of Medicine, B3-399A BRI 700 Westwood Plaza, CA 90095-1770, Los Angeles (United States); Gambhir, Sanjiv S. [The Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, UCLA School of Medicine, B3-399A BRI 700 Westwood Plaza, CA 90095-1770, Los Angeles (United States); Department of Radiology, Bio-X Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California (United States)

    2003-11-01

    Earlier studies involving comparison of different reporter probes have shown conflicting results between pyrimidine nucleosides [e.g., 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxy-1-{beta}-d-arabinofuranosyl-5-iodouracil (FIAU)] and acycloguanosine derivatives [e.g., penciclovir (PCV), 9-(4-fluoro-3-hydroxymethylbutyl)guanine (FHBG)]. We hypothesized that this reported discrepancy may be related to how the reporter gene is delivered to the cells - stably transfected vs adenoviral infection. We directly compared the uptake characteristics of [{sup 18}F]FHBG, [{sup 3}H]PCV, and [{sup 14}C]FIAU in cell culture and in vivo using an adenoviral mediated gene transfer model and stably transfected cells. We further compared the uptake of three reporter probes using both HSV1-tk and a mutant HSV1-sr39tk expressing cells to assess the optimal reporter probe/reporter gene combination. [{sup 14}C]FIAU accumulation was greater than that of [{sup 3}H]PCV and [{sup 18}F]FHBG in control cells and in HSV1-tk stably transfected cells (P<0.001). After infection of C6 cells with AdCMV-HSV1-tk (1.5 x 10{sup 8} pfu), [{sup 18}F]FHBG and [{sup 3}H]PCV accumulation was significantly greater than that of [{sup 14}C]FIAU (P<0.01). [{sup 18}F]FHBG and [{sup 3}H]PCV accumulated to a significantly greater extent than [{sup 14}C]FIAU in C6-stb-sr39tk+ and AdCMV-HSV1-sr39tk infected C6 cells (P<0.001). Results from the nude mice supported the results in cell culture. [{sup 14}C]FIAU led to significantly higher %ID/g in C6-stb-tk+ xenografts than [{sup 18}F]FHBG (P<0.05); however, compared with [{sup 14}C]FIAU, [{sup 18}F]FHBG led to as high %ID/g in HSV1-tk expressing hepatocytes and to significantly greater %ID/g in C6-stb-sr39tk+ xenografts and HSV1-sr39tk expressing hepatocytes. Dynamic sequential images showed that [{sup 18}F]FHBG was well retained in HSV1-sr39tk expressing cells (C6-stb-sr39tk+) for at least 4 h after injection, while it was rapidly cleared from HSV1-tk expressing cells (MH3924A

  10. Lead apatites: structural variations among Pb<sub>5sub>(BO>4sub>)>3sub> Cl with B = P (pyromorphite), As (mimetite) and V (vanadinite)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Antao, Sytle M.; Dhaliwal, Inayat

    2018-01-01

    The crystal structure of four Pb apatite samples, Pb<sub>5sub>(BO>4sub>)>3sub>Cl, was refined with synchrotron high-resolution powder X-ray diffraction data, Rietveld refinements, space groupP6<sub>3sub>/mandZ= 2. For this isotypic series,B= P5+ is pyromorphite,B= As5+is mimetite andB= V5+is vanadinite. The ionic radius for As5+(0.355 Å) is similar to that of V5+(0.335 Å), and this is twice as large as that for P5+(0.170 Å). However, thecunit-cell parameter for mimetite is surprisingly different from that of vanadinite, although their unit-cell volumes,V, are almost equal to each other. No explanation was available for this peculiarc-axis value for mimetite. Structural parameters such as average $\\langle$B—O$\\rangle$ [4], $\\langle$Pb1—O<sub>9sub>$\\rangle$ [9] and $\\langle$Pb2—O<sub>6sub>Cl>2sub>$\\rangle$ [8] distances increase linearly withV (the coordination numbers for the cations are given in square brackets). Mimetite has a short Pb2—O1 distance, so the O1 oxygen atom interacts with the 6s2lone-pair electrons of the Pb2+ cation that causes the Cl—Cl distance (=c/2) to increase to the largest value in the series because of repulsion, which causes thec-axis to increase anomalously. Although Pb apatite minerals occur naturally in ore deposits, they are also formed as scaly deposits in lead water pipes that give rise to lead in tap water, as was found recently in Flint, Michigan, USA. It is important to identify Pb-containing phases in water-pipe deposits.

  11. Structural study of the semimagnetic semiconductor Zn{sub 0.5}Mn{sub 0.5}In{sub 2}Te{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Delgado, G.E. [Laboratorio de Cristalografia, Departamento de Quimica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Merida (Venezuela); Sagredo, V. [Laboratorio de Magnetismo en Solidos, Departamento de Quimica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Merida (Venezuela)

    2009-02-15

    The semimagnetic semiconductor alloy Zn{sub 0.5}Mn{sub 0.5}In{sub 2}Te{sub 4} was refined from an X-ray powder diffraction pattern using the Rietveld method. This compound crystallizes in the space group I anti 42m (N {sup circle} 121), Z=2, with unit cell parameters a=6.1738(1)A, c=12.3572(4)A, V=471.00(2)A3, c/a=2.00. This material crystallizes in a stannite-type structure. (copyright 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) (orig.)

  12. C{sub 60}{sup 3-} versus C{sub 60}{sup 4-} /C{sub 60}{sup 2-} - synthesis and characterization of five salts containing discrete fullerene anions

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Boeddinghaus, M. Bele; Klein, Wilhelm; Wahl, Bernhard; Faessler, Thomas F. [Department of Chemistry, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Garching (Germany); Jakes, Peter; Eichel, Ruediger A. [Institut fuer Energie- und Klimaforschung (IEK-9), Forschungszentrum Juelich (Germany)

    2014-04-15

    Five new compounds, [Rb(18crown-6)]{sub 3}[C{sub 60}] (1), [Rb(18crown-6)]{sub 6}[C{sub 60}]{sub 2}(C{sub 3}H{sub 7}NO){sub 2}(C{sub 4}H{sub 8}O){sub 2} (2), [Rb(benzo18crown-6)]{sub 6}[C{sub 60}]{sub 2}(C{sub 2}H{sub 8}N{sub 2}){sub 5} (3), [Cs(benzo18crown-6)]{sub 3}C{sub 60}(C{sub 2}H{sub 8}N{sub 2}){sub 2} (4), and [Cs{sub 3}(benzo18crown-6){sub 5}]C{sub 60}(C{sub 2}H{sub 8}N{sub 2}){sub (4.5+x)} (5) were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure determination. All compounds contain discrete C{sub 60} anions, which are ordered in 1, 2, and 4, where direct cation-anion contacts occur. The unit cells of 1 and 2 contain two independent fullerides, which coordinate to the rubidium atoms either of two or of four [Rb(18crown-6)] units. Owing to the presence of differently coordinated fullerene units in compounds 1 and 2, a possible disproportionation of C{sub 60}{sup 3-} into C{sub 60}{sup 2-} and C{sub 60}{sup 4-} anions is discussed. In 3 and 4 the C{sub 60} anions are coordinated by three Rb and Cs atoms, respectively. In all compounds the average charge of the anion is -3. Magnetic data reveal a doublet spin state for 3. The EPR spectra are discussed for compounds 3 and 5. The role of a dynamic Jahn-Teller distortion is discussed, and we report the first IR spectroscopic data of fullerene trianions, which have been obtained in solution. (Copyright copyright 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  13. Atomic disorder in Gd{sub 2}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 7} pyrochlore

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhang, F. X. [State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei 066004 (China); Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (United States); Lang, M. [Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 (United States); Ewing, R. C. [Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 (United States)

    2015-05-11

    Gd{sub 2}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 7} pyrochlore with different degrees of cation disorder were synthesized by isothermal annealing at various temperatures (1100–1550 °C), and the related changes in the structure were investigated by ambient and high pressure x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. Unit cell parameters increase almost linearly with increasing treatment temperature. The degree of cation order in pyrochlore also increases with the increase of temperature, but saturates at ∼60%. The compressibility of the pyrochlore structures decreases when the degree of cation order increases. High pressure XRD measurements also indicate that the phase stability of Gd{sub 2}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 7} is not very sensitive to the degree of atomic disorder in the pyrochlore structure.

  14. Vibratory Reaction Unit for the Rapid Analysis of Proteins and Glycochains

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Yukie Sasakura

    2007-01-01

    Full Text Available A protein digestion system using immobilized enzymes for protein identification and glycochain analyses has been developed, and a vibration reaction unit for micro-scale sample convection on an enzyme-immobilized solid surface was constructed. BSA as a model substrate was digested by this unit, and was successfully identified by mass spectrometry (MS analyses. Compared to the conventional liquid-phase digestion, the reaction unit increased the number of matched peptides from 9 to 26, protein score from 455 to 1247, and sequence coverage from 21% to 48%. Glycopeptidase F (NGF, an enzyme that cleaves N-glycans from glycoproteins, was also immobilized and used to remove the glycochains from human immunoglobulin G (IgG. Trypsin and NGF were immobilized on the same solid surface and used to remove glycochains from IgG in single-step. Glycochains were labeled with fluorescent reagent and analyzed by HPLC. Several peaks corresponding to the glycochains of IgG were detected. These results suggested that the single-step digestion system, by immobilized multiple enzymes (trypsin and NGF would be effective for the rapid structural analysis of glycoproteins.Abbreviations: BSA: bovine serum albumin; MS: mass spectrometry; NGF: glycopeptidase F; IgG: immunoglobulin G; PTM: post-translational modification; HPLC: high-performance liquid chromatography; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; DTT: dithiothreitol; RT: retention time; ABOE: p-aminobenzoic acid octyl ester; PDMS: polydimethylsiloxane; ArgC: endoprotease Arginine C.

  15. Synthesis, crystal structure and characterization of a 1D polyoxometalate-based compound: {l_brace}[Pr(H{sub 2}O){sub 7}][CrMo{sub 6}H{sub 6}O{sub 24}]{r_brace} . 4H{sub 2}O

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhao Lijie; Shen Shuchang; Yu Haiming [Qiqihar Univ., HL (China). Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

    2008-07-15

    A novel polyoxometalated-based compound, {l_brace}[Pr(H{sub 2}O){sub 7}][CrMo{sub 6}H{sub 6}O{sub 24}]{r_brace} . 4H{sub 2}O, was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy, TG measurement and single crystal X-ray diffraction. A chain-like coordination polymer is formed from a heteropolyanion [CrMo{sub 6}H{sub 6}O{sub 24}]{sup 3} as a building unit and [Pr(H{sub 2}O){sub 7}]{sup 3+} cations as linker. The chains are linked into an extensive three-dimensional supramolecular network through hydrogen bonding. The synthesis of 1 is accomplished only from pre-synthesized Anderson clusters, but not from simple starting materials. (orig.)

  16. Post-spinal cord injury astrocyte-mediated functional recovery in rats after intraspinal injection of the recombinant adenoviral vectors Ad5-VEGF and Ad5-ANG.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Povysheva, Tatyana; Shmarov, Maksim; Logunov, Denis; Naroditsky, Boris; Shulman, Ilya; Ogurcov, Sergey; Kolesnikov, Pavel; Islamov, Rustem; Chelyshev, Yuri

    2017-07-01

    OBJECTIVE The most actively explored therapeutic strategy for overcoming spinal cord injury (SCI) is the delivery of genes encoding molecules that stimulate regeneration. In a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and in preliminary clinical trials in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the combined administration of recombinant adenoviral vectors (Ad5-VEGF+Ad5-ANG) encoding the neurotrophic/angiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) and angiogenin ( ANG) was found to slow the development of neurological deficits. These results suggest that there may be positive effects of this combination of genes in posttraumatic spinal cord regeneration. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of Ad5-VEGF+Ad5-ANG combination therapy on motor function recovery and reactivity of astrocytes in a rat model of SCI. METHODS Spinal cord injury was induced in adult Wistar rats by the weight-drop method. Rats (n = 51) were divided into 2 groups: the experimental group (Ad5-VEGF+Ad5-ANG) and the control group (Ad5-GFP [green fluorescent protein]). Recovery of motor function was assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scale. The duration and intensity of infectivity and gene expression from the injected vectors were assessed by immunofluorescent detection of GFP. Reactivity of glial cells was assessed by changes in the number of immunopositive cells expressing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), S100β, aquaporin 4 (AQP4), oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2, and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4. The level of S100β mRNA expression in the spinal cord was estimated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Partial recovery of motor function was observed 30 days after surgery in both groups. However, Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores were 35.9% higher in the Ad5-VEGF+Ad5-ANG group compared with the control group. Specific GFP signal was observed at distances of up to 5 mm in the rostral and caudal

  17. The evolution of the tape measure protein: units, duplications and losses

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Poisson Guylaine

    2011-10-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background A large family of viruses that infect bacteria, called phages, is characterized by long tails used to inject DNA into their victims' cells. The tape measure protein got its name because the length of the corresponding gene is proportional to the length of the phage's tail: a fact shown by actually copying or splicing out parts of DNA in exemplar species. A natural question is whether there exist units for these tape measures, and if different tape measures have different units and lengths. Such units would allow us to retrace the evolution of tape measure proteins using their duplication/loss history. The vast number of sequenced phages genomes allows us to attack this problem with a comparative genomics approach. Results Here we describe a subset of phages whose tape measure proteins contain variable numbers of an 11 amino acids sequence repeat, aligned with sequence similarity, structural properties, and simple arithmetics. This subset provides a unique opportunity for the combinatorial study of phage evolution, without the added uncertainties of multiple alignments, which are trivial in this case, or of protein functions, that are well established. We give a heuristic that reconstructs the duplication history of these sequences, using divergent strains to discriminate between mutations that occurred before and after speciation, or lineage divergence. The heuristic is based on an efficient algorithm that gives an exhaustive enumeration of all possible parsimonious reconstructions of the duplication/speciation history of a single nucleotide. Finally, we present a method that allows, when possible, to discriminate between duplication and loss events. Conclusions Establishing the evolutionary history of viruses is difficult, in part due to extensive recombinations and gene transfers, and high mutation rates that often erase detectable similarity between homologous genes. In this paper, we introduce new tools to address this

  18. The first quinary rare earth thiophosphates. Cs{sub 5}Ln{sub 3}X{sub 3}(P{sub 2}S{sub 6}){sub 2}(PS{sub 4}) (Ln = La, Ce, X = Br, Cl) and the quasi-quaternary Cs{sub 10}Y{sub 4}Cl{sub 10}(P{sub 2}S{sub 6}){sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Schoop, Leslie Mareike; Eger, Roland; Nuss, Juergen; Pielnhofer, Florian [Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart (Germany); Lotsch, Bettina Valeska [Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart (Germany); Nanosystems Initiative Munich (NIM) and Center for Nanoscience, Muenchen (Germany)

    2017-12-13

    We report the first examples of quinary rare earth thiophosphates with a fully ordered cation and anion distribution, Cs{sub 5}Ln{sub 3}X{sub 3}(P{sub 2}S{sub 6}){sub 2}(PS{sub 4}), (Ln = La, Ce and X = Br, Cl) as well as the quasi-quaternary Cs{sub 10}Y{sub 4}Cl{sub 10}(P{sub 2}S{sub 6}){sub 3}. These four new compounds crystallize in three different, unknown structure types. The yellowish, transparent, brittle Cs{sub 5}Ce{sub 3}Br{sub 3}(P{sub 2}S{sub 6}){sub 2}(PS{sub 4}) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (no. 62) with a = 13.276(3), b = 14.891(3), c = 19.593(4) Aa, and V = 3873(1) Aa{sup 3} in a novel structure type. Colorless crystals of Cs{sub 5}La{sub 3}Br{sub 3}(P{sub 2}S{sub 6}){sub 2}(PS{sub 4}) and Cs{sub 5}La{sub 3}Cl{sub 3}(P{sub 2}S{sub 6}){sub 2}(PS{sub 4}) are isotypic and were obtained in the monoclinic space group P2{sub 1}/m (no. 11) with a = 9.715(2), b = 14.310(3), c = 13.685(3) Aa, β = 100.16(3) and V = 1873(1) Aa{sup 3} and a = 9.513(2), b = 14.182(3), c = 13.699(3) Aa, β = 99.39(3) and V = 1823(1) Aa{sup 3}, respectively. Both structures contain isolated hexathiohypodiphosphate(IV) [P{sub 2}S{sub 6}]{sup 4-} and thiophosphate [PS{sub 4}]{sup 3-} units that are arranged alternately in layers. Cs{sub 10}Y{sub 4}Cl{sub 10}(P{sub 2}S{sub 6}){sub 3} crystallizes in colorless transparent platelets in the orthorhombic space group Pnnm (no. 58) with a = 13.153(3), b = 28.964(6), c = 7.780(2) Aa, and V = 2964(1) Aa{sup 3}. The structure is composed of isolated [P{sub 4/2}S{sub 6}]{sup 4-} octahedra containing four half occupied P positions surrounded octahedrally by sulfur. We show with Raman scattering that this disordered thiophosphate anion shows a Raman spectrum that is distinct from spectra published for other literature-known thiophosphate anions. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  19. G/sub o/ protein of fat cells: role in hormonal regulation of agonist-stimulated phosphatidyl inositol breakdown

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Rapiejko, P.J.; Northup, J.K.; Malbon, C.C.

    1986-01-01

    Incubating rat fat cell membranes in the presence of [ 32 P]NAD + and pertussis toxin (PT) results in the ADP-ribosylation of two peptides (M/sub r/ = 41,000 and 40,000). The 41,000-M/sub r/ peptide is the inhibitory G-protein of adenylate cyclase (G/sub i/). The 40,000-M/sub r/ peptide radiolabeled in the presence of [ 32 P]NAD + and PT has been purified from rabbit heart and bovine brain, but has not been identified uniformly in membranes of fat cells. Two rabbit polyclonal antisera raised against the alpha-subunit of bovine brain G/sub o/ were used to probe the nature of the 40,000-M/sub r/ peptide in rat fat cell membranes that had been separated by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and transferred electrophoretically to nitrocellulose. Both antisera specific for the alpha-subunit of G/sub o/ recognized the M/sub r/ = 40,000 peptide of fat cells that is ADP-ribosylated in the presence of PT. PT treatment of rat fat cells blocks epinephrine-stimulated inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP 3 ) generation. The inhibition of IP 3 generation by PT suggests a role for either G/sub i/ or G/sub o/ in receptor-mediated phosphatidyl inositol breakdown in the rat fat cell

  20. Particles on surfaces of laser ablated Y{sub 1}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-{delta}} films

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zheng, X.Y.; Zhu, S. [Tennessee Univ., Knoxville, TN (United States); Lowndes, D.H.; Warmack, R.J. [Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)

    1993-09-01

    Pulsed laser deposition of Y{sub 1}Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-{delta}} films grown at heater temperature of 720 and 800 C on SrTiO{sub 3} and MgO substrates with thickness ranging from a nominal 5 unit cells to 200 nm were studied by STM and SEM. Size and density of particles present in the films were found to depend on film thickness, growth temperature and substrate. STM images indicate a correlation between film growth mode and particle density: the onset of big particles comes after the growth mode changes from layer-like to island growth.

  1. Thickness-dependent coherent phonon frequency in ultrathin FeSe/SrTiO<sub>3sub> films

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Yang, Shuolong [SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States); Sobota, Jonathan A. [SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Leuenberger, Dominik [SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States); Kemper, Alexander F. [Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Lee, James J. [SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States); Schmitt, Felix T. [SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States); Li, Wei [SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States); Moore, Rob G. [SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States); Kirchmann, Patrick S. [SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Shen, Zhi -Xun [SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA (United States)

    2015-06-01

    Ultrathin FeSe films grown on SrTiO<sub>3sub> substrates are a recent milestone in atomic material engineering due to their important role in understanding unconventional superconductivity in Fe-based materials. By using femtosecond time- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, we study phonon frequencies in ultrathin FeSe/SrTiO<sub>3sub> films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. After optical excitation, we observe periodic modulations of the photoelectron spectrum as a function of pump–probe delay for 1-unit-cell, 3-unit-cell, and 60-unit-cell thick FeSe films. The frequencies of the coherent intensity oscillations increase from 5.00 ± 0.02 to 5.25 ± 0.02 THz with increasing film thickness. By comparing with previous works, we attribute this mode to the Se A<sub>1gsub> phonon. The dominant mechanism for the phonon softening in 1-unit-cell thick FeSe films is a substrate-induced lattice strain. Results demonstrate an abrupt phonon renormalization due to a lattice mismatch between the ultrathin film and the substrate.

  2. Super-resolution imaging and tracking of protein–protein interactions in sub-diffraction cellular space

    Science.gov (United States)

    Liu, Zhen; Xing, Dong; Su, Qian Peter; Zhu, Yun; Zhang, Jiamei; Kong, Xinyu; Xue, Boxin; Wang, Sheng; Sun, Hao; Tao, Yile; Sun, Yujie

    2014-01-01

    Imaging the location and dynamics of individual interacting protein pairs is essential but often difficult because of the fluorescent background from other paired and non-paired molecules, particularly in the sub-diffraction cellular space. Here we develop a new method combining bimolecular fluorescence complementation and photoactivated localization microscopy for super-resolution imaging and single-molecule tracking of specific protein–protein interactions. The method is used to study the interaction of two abundant proteins, MreB and EF-Tu, in Escherichia coli cells. The super-resolution imaging shows interesting distribution and domain sizes of interacting MreB–EF-Tu pairs as a subpopulation of total EF-Tu. The single-molecule tracking of MreB, EF-Tu and MreB–EF-Tu pairs reveals intriguing localization-dependent heterogonous dynamics and provides valuable insights to understanding the roles of MreB–EF-Tu interactions. PMID:25030837

  3. Structure elucidation of 3-[1-(6-methoxy-2-naphtyl)ethyl]-6-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-7H-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazine, C<sub>23sub>H>18sub>Cl>2sub>N>4sub>OS from synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gündoğdu, Gülsüm; Aytaç, Sevim Peri; Müller, Melanie; Tozkoparan, Birsen; Kaynak, Filiz Betül

    2017-12-01

    The 3-[1-(6-methoxy-2-naphtyl)ethyl]-6-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-7H-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazine, C<sub>23sub>H>18sub>Cl>2sub>N>4sub>OS compound was synthesized, as a member of the family of novel potential anticancer agents. The structure of the title compound was characterized by IR,1H-NMR, mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis, previously. In this study, the crystal structure of this compound has been determined from synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data. The crystal structure was solved by simulated annealing and the final structure was achieved by Rietveld refinement method using soft restrains on all interatomic bond lengths and angles. This compound crystallizes in space groupP21,Z= 2, with the unit-cell parametersa= 15.55645(11) Å,b= 8.61693(6) Å,c= 8.56702(6) Å,β= 104.3270(4)°, andV= 1112.68(1) Å3. In the crystal structure, strong C-H∙∙∙πand weak intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions link the molecules into a three-dimensional network. The molecules are in a head-to-head arrangement in the unit cell.

  4. Case Studies of the ROZ CO<sub>2sub> Flood and the Combined ROZ/MPZ CO<sub>2sub> Flood at the Goldsmith Landreth Unit, Ector County, Texas. Using ''Next Generation'' CO<sub>2sub> EOR Technologies to Optimize the Residual Oil Zone CO<sub>2sub> Flood

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Trentham, Robert C. [Univ. of Texas, Midland, TX (United States); Melzer, L. Stephen [Univ. of Texas, Midland, TX (United States); Kuuskraa, Vello [Advanced Resources International, Inc., Arlington, VA (United States); Koperna, George [Advanced Resources International, Inc., Arlington, VA (United States)

    2015-06-30

    preferred mode of producing the two intervals. Finally, the project attempted to document for the first time the production performance of commingled MPZ and ROZ CO<sub>2sub> EOR project at the nearby Seminole San Andres Unit. The analysis shows that over 10,000 bopd can be shown to be coming from the ROZ interval, a zone that would have produced no oil under primary or water flood phases. A similar analysis was done for the GLSAU project illustrating that 2000 bopd of incremental EOR oil is currently being produced. The results of the modeling work would suggest that 800 bopd can be attributed to the ROZ alone at GLSAU.

  5. Room temperature photoinduced magnetism in [py.H]{sub 3}[FeCl{sub 4}]{sub 2}Cl

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Baniasadi, F. [Physics Department, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Tehranchi, M.M., E-mail: teranchi@sbu.ac.ir [Physics Department, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Fathi, M.B. [Physics Department, Kharazmi University, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Hamidi, S.M. [Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of); Safari, N.; Amani, V. [Faculty of Chemistry, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of)

    2015-11-15

    Photoinduced magnetism in a homogeneous solution of [py.H]{sub 3}[FeCl{sub 4}]{sub 2}Cl is measured by Faraday rotation in visible light (λ∼450–750 nm) at room temperature. The physics of this phenomenon may be attributed to electronic transitions caused by absorption of light. X-ray diffraction and Debye function analysis are therefore applied to find the abundant unit of molecules dissolved in the solution which are being further utilized to investigate the electronic structure and molecular orbitals by means of hybrid density function theory (B3LYP). Faraday rotation is observed at certain wavelengths consistent with energy differences of HOMO-LUMO energy levels. Thus this work puts forward a new material with certain photomagnetic properties which may be used in fabrication of room temperature magneto-optical switches. - Highlights: • Photoinduced magnetism in (FeCl{sub 4}){sub 2}(py.H){sub 3}Cl is illustrated via Faraday rotation. • The abundant unit of molecule is characterized by Debye function analysis of XRD. • PIM in the molecule is attributed to the charge transfer between HOMO-LUMO.

  6. The ITO-capped WO{sub 3} nanowires biosensor based on field-effect transistor in label-free protein sensing

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Shariati, Mohsen [Sharif University of Technology, Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tehran (Iran, Islamic Republic of)

    2017-05-15

    The fabrication of ITO-capped WO{sub 3} nanowires associated with their bio-sensing properties in field-effect transistor diagnostics basis as a biosensor has been reported. The bio-sensing property for manipulated nanowires elucidated that the grown nanostructures were very sensitive to protein. The ITO-capped WO{sub 3} nanowires biosensor showed an intensive bio-sensing activity against reliable protein. Polylysine strongly charged bio-molecule was applied as model system to demonstrate the implementation of materialized biosensor. The employed sensing mechanism was 'label-free' and depended on bio-molecule's intrinsic charge. For nanowires synthesis, the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism was used. Nanowires were beyond a few hundred nanometers in lengths and around 15-20 nm in diameter, while the globe cap's size on the nanowires was around 15-25 nm. The indium tin oxide (ITO) played as catalyst in nanofabrication for WO{sub 3} nanowires growth and had outstanding role in bio-sensing especially for bio-molecule adherence. In applied electric field presence, the fabricated device showed the great potential to enhance medical diagnostics. (orig.)

  7. Hexagonal perovskites with cationic vacancies. 4. Ba/sub 8/Re/sub 3/Msup(V)Wvacant/sub 3/O/sub 24/ with Msup(V) = Nb, Ta - perovskite stacking polytypes of 24 L type

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kemmler-Sack, S [Tuebingen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Inst. fuer Chemie

    1978-11-01

    The yellow perovskite stacking polytypes Ba/sub 8/Re/sub 3/NbWvacant/sub 3/O/sub 24/ and Ba/sub 8/Re/sub 3/TaWvacant/sub 3/O/sub 24/ have a rhombohedral layer structure of 24 L type with 3 formula units in the trigonal setting (Ba/sub 8/Re/sub 3/NbWvacant/sub 3/O/sub 24/: a = 5,82 A; c = 55.6 A; Ba/sub 8/Re/sub 3/TaWvacant/sub 3/O/sub 24/; a = 5,81 A; c = 55.6 A).

  8. Crystallographic data and vibrational spectra of some tellurium containing perovskites of the type A/sub 3/sup(II)B/sub 2/sup(III)TeO/sub 9/

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Botto, I L; Baran, E J [La Plata Univ. Nacional (Argentina). Facultad de Ciencias Exactas

    1981-02-01

    The preparation of some new mixed oxides, of the type Sr/sub 3/M/sub 2/TeO/sub 9/ (M = Al, Ga, In) and Ca/sub 3/M/sub 2/TeO/sub 9/ (M = Al, Ga, In, Co, Fe, Cr) is described, which are structurally related to the perovskite. The unit cell parameters of these phases have been determined from the corresponding powder diagrams. The vibrational spectra are recorded and assigned and the force constants for the TeO/sub 6/ units present in these lattices are calculated. It is also shown, that the incorporation of trivalent lanthanide cations in these systems is only possible in a limited extent.

  9. Live-cell topology assessment of URG7, MRP6{sub 102} and SP-C using glycosylatable green fluorescent protein in mammalian cells

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lee, Hunsang [School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747 (Korea, Republic of); Lara, Patricia [Center for Biomembrane Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm (Sweden); Ostuni, Angela [Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza (Italy); Presto, Jenny [Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Novum 5th Floor, 141 86 Stockholm (Sweden); Johansson, Janne [Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Novum 5th Floor, 141 86 Stockholm (Sweden); Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, The Biomedical Centre, 751 23 Uppsala (Sweden); Institute of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tallinn University, Narva mnt 25, 101 20 Tallinn (Estonia); Nilsson, IngMarie [Center for Biomembrane Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm (Sweden); Kim, Hyun, E-mail: joy@snu.ac.kr [School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747 (Korea, Republic of)

    2014-08-08

    Highlights: • Glycosylatable GFP (gGFP) is developed for the use in mammalian cells. • gGFP selectively loses its fluorescence upon N-linked glycosylation in the ER lumen. • Differential fluorescence/glycosylation pattern probes membrane protein topology. • Membrane topology of URG7, MRP6{sub 102}, and SP-C was determined by gGFP tagging in vivo. - Abstract: Experimental tools to determine membrane topology of a protein are rather limited in higher eukaryotic organisms. Here, we report the use of glycosylatable GFP (gGFP) as a sensitive and versatile membrane topology reporter in mammalian cells. gGFP selectively loses its fluorescence upon N-linked glycosylation in the ER lumen. Thus, positive fluorescence signal assigns location of gGFP to the cytosol whereas no fluorescence signal and a glycosylated status of gGFP map the location of gGFP to the ER lumen. By using mammalian gGFP, the membrane topology of disease-associated membrane proteins, URG7, MRP6{sub 102}, SP-C(Val) and SP-C(Leu) was confirmed. URG7 is partially targeted to the ER, and inserted in C{sub in} form. MRP6{sub 102} and SP-C(Leu/Val) are inserted into the membrane in C{sub out} form. A minor population of untargeted SP-C is removed by proteasome dependent quality control system.

  10. Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}–CuO–P{sub 2}O{sub 5} system: Two novel compounds built from the intergrowths oxocentered polycationic 1D-ribbons

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Colmont, Marie, E-mail: marie.colmont@ensc-lille.fr [Universite Lille 1, Universite Lille Nord France, ENSCL, CNRS, UCCS, UMR 8181, F-59652 Villeneuve d' Ascq (France); Endara, Diana; Aliev, Almaz [Universite Lille 1, Universite Lille Nord France, ENSCL, CNRS, UCCS, UMR 8181, F-59652 Villeneuve d' Ascq (France); Terryn, Christine [Plateforme Imagerie Cellulaire et Tissulaire, 51 Rue Cognacq-Jay, 51100 Reims (France); Huvé, Marielle; Mentré, Olivier [Universite Lille 1, Universite Lille Nord France, ENSCL, CNRS, UCCS, UMR 8181, F-59652 Villeneuve d' Ascq (France)

    2013-07-15

    Single crystals of two novel bismuth copper oxyphosphates were grown from a unique melt. They have been structurally characterized by means of single crystal X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Bi{sub 29.4}Cu{sub 9.29}O{sub 32}(PO{sub 4}){sub 16}Cu{sub 2.63} (1) is orthorhombic, space group Pca2{sub 1}, a=33.0549(2)A, b=11.6991(4)A and c=5.2902(2)A, R{sub 1}=0.059 and wR{sub 2}=0.061. Bi{sub 37.2}Cu{sub 18.8}O{sub 44}(PO{sub 4}){sub 24}Cu{sub 5} (2) is orthorhombic, space group Pna2{sub 1}, a=11.6010(3)A, b=47.4384(5)A and c=5.267(2)A, R{sub 1}=0.0940 and wR{sub 2}=0.0981. Both compounds are formed of similar 1D building units (BUs) organized into two different 3D regular intergrowths mediated by phosphate groups. Here, the so-called 1D-BUs are infinite ribbons formed by edge-sharing O(Bi,M){sub 4} tetrahedra with n=4 and n=3 tetrahedra-wide units. Both compounds were analyzed from the viewpoint of their relationship with the parent δ-Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3} fluorite-like structure, where phosphorus atoms substitutes for some Bi sites. A non-exhaustive review of the related structural types is given. We have checked by second harmonic generacy (SHG) microscopy that the two non-centrosymmetric structures (despite polar subunits) lead to SHG before the samples are irreversibly damaged. - Graphical abstract: This paper reports the crystal structure of two new bismuth oxophosphate compounds. Both are built on the association of n=3 and 4 building unit ribbons surrounded by isolated PO4 tetrahedra and tunnels hosting Cu{sup 2+} cations. They come in addition to the numerous Bi-based compounds already pointed out. Once more, this is the proof of the richness of this crystal system. - Highlights: • Two new bismuth oxophosphates were synthesized. • Crystal structure were solved thanks to single crystal X-Ray diffraction. • They show two different associations of n=3 and 4 ribbons built on [O,(Bi,M){sub 4}] tetrahedral sharing edges and surrounded by isolated PO4 groups. • SHG

  11. The occurrence of gibberellin-binding protein(s) in pea

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Liu, Z.H.

    1988-01-01

    In vitro gibberellin (GA) binding properties of a cytosol fraction from epicotyls of dwarf pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Progress No. 9) and tall pea (Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) were investigated using ({sup 3}H)GA{sub 4} in a DEAE filter paper assay at 0-3 C. The binding obtained is saturable, reversible, and temperature labile in dwarf pea, and has a half-life of dissociation of 5-6 min. By varying the concentration of ({sup 3}H)GA{sub 4} in the incubation medium the Kd was estimated to be 120-140 nM in dwarf pea and 70 nM in tall pea. The number of binding sites (n) was estimated to be 0.66 and 0.43 pmole mg{sup {minus}1} soluble protein in dwarf pea and in tall pea, respectively. In competition binding assays, biologically active GAs, such as GA{sub 3} and GA{sub 4} could reduce the level of ({sup 3}H)GA{sub 4} binding much more than the biologically inactive GA{sub 4} methyl ester and epi-GA{sub 4}. Changes in gibberellin-binding protein(s) were studied during seed germination. While the Kd of the binding protein(s) for ({sup 3}H)GA{sub 4} remained the same, there was a marked increase in the number of binding sites from 24 h soaked seed to 8-day old seedlings. Also, the Kd and the number of binding sites in the GA-responsive apical part and in the nonresponsive basal part in the epicotyl were similar. The effect of light on gibberellin-binding protein in dwarf pea was also studied. The GA-binding protein in dwarf pea was partially purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography.

  12. Micro-computed tomography of pulmonary fibrosis in mice induced by adenoviral gene transfer of biologically active transforming growth factor-β1

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Gauldie Jack

    2010-12-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT is a novel tool for monitoring acute and chronic disease states in small laboratory animals. Its value for assessing progressive lung fibrosis in mice has not been reported so far. Here we examined the importance of in vivo micro-CT as non-invasive tool to assess progression of pulmonary fibrosis in mice over time. Methods Pulmonary fibrosis was induced in mice by intratracheal delivery of an adenoviral gene vector encoding biologically active TGF-ß1 (AdTGF-ß1. Respiratory gated and ungated micro-CT scans were performed at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks post pulmonary adenoviral gene or control vector delivery, and were then correlated with respective histopathology-based Ashcroft scoring of pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Visual assessment of image quality and consolidation was performed by 3 observers and a semi-automated quantification algorithm was applied to quantify aerated pulmonary volume as an inverse surrogate marker for pulmonary fibrosis. Results We found a significant correlation between classical Ashcroft scoring and micro-CT assessment using both visual assessment and the semi-automated quantification algorithm. Pulmonary fibrosis could be clearly detected in micro-CT, image quality values were higher for respiratory gated exams, although differences were not significant. For assessment of fibrosis no significant difference between respiratory gated and ungated exams was observed. Conclusions Together, we show that micro-CT is a powerful tool to assess pulmonary fibrosis in mice, using both visual assessment and semi-automated quantification algorithms. These data may be important in view of pre-clinical pharmacologic interventions for the treatment of lung fibrosis in small laboratory animals.

  13. Hexagonal perovskites with cationic vacancies. 21. Structure of Ba/sub 4/Nb/sub 2/WvacantO/sub 12/ and Ba/sub 3/LaNb/sub 3/vacantO/sub 12/

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rother, H J; Kemmler-Sack, S; Treiber, U; Cyris, W R [Tuebingen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Lehrstuhl fuer Anorganische Chemie 2

    1980-07-01

    Compounds of type Ba/sub 4/M/sub 2/sup(V)WvacantO/sub 12/ and Ba/sub 3/LaM/sub 3/sup(V)vacantO/sub 12/ with Msup(V) = Nb, Ta belong to the group of rhombohedral 12 L stacking polytypes (space group R-3m, sequence (hhcc)/sub 3/). The structure determinations on powder patterns for the Nb compounds gave a refined, intensity related R' value of 6.3% (Ba/sub 4/Nb/sub 2/WvacantO/sub 12/) and 6.6% (Ba/sub 3/LaNb/sub 3/vacantO/sub 12/). The octahedral net consists of blocks of three face connected octahedra with a central void (M/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/ unit), which are linked to each other through single corner sharing octahedra. In both compounds the M atoms in the M/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/ groups are displaced in the direction of the central void. The A atoms move in the same direction but the dislocation for A in the hexagonal packed sheets (neighbouring the vacancies) is stronger than in the cubic packed AO/sub 3/ sheets. The results of the vibrational spectroscopic investigations are reported for Ba/sub 4/Nb/sub 2/WvacantO/sub 12/, Ba/sub 4/Ta/sub 2/WvacantO/sub 12/, Ba/sub 3/LaNb/sub 3/vacantO/sub 12/ and Ba/sub 4/CeW/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/; they are discussed in connection with the factor group analysis.

  14. Sub-nanoscale surface ruggedness provides a water-tight seal for exposed regions in soluble protein structure.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Erica Schulz

    2010-09-01

    Full Text Available Soluble proteins must maintain backbone hydrogen bonds (BHBs water-tight to ensure structural integrity. This protection is often achieved by burying the BHBs or wrapping them through intermolecular associations. On the other hand, water has low coordination resilience, with loss of hydrogen-bonding partnerships carrying significant thermodynamic cost. Thus, a core problem in structural biology is whether natural design actually exploits the water coordination stiffness to seal the backbone in regions that are exposed to the solvent. This work explores the molecular design features that make this type of seal operative, focusing on the side-chain arrangements that shield the protein backbone. We show that an efficient sealing is achieved by adapting the sub-nanoscale surface topography to the stringency of water coordination: an exposed BHB may be kept dry if the local concave curvature is small enough to impede formation of the coordination shell of a penetrating water molecule. Examination of an exhaustive database of uncomplexed proteins reveals that exposed BHBs invariably occur within such sub-nanoscale cavities in native folds, while this level of local ruggedness is absent in other regions. By contrast, BHB exposure in misfolded proteins occurs with larger local curvature promoting backbone hydration and consequently, structure disruption. These findings unravel physical constraints fitting a spatially dependent least-action for water coordination, introduce a molecular design concept, and herald the advent of water-tight peptide-based materials with sufficient backbone exposure to remain flexible.

  15. Method for generating O.sub.2-rich gas from air using water

    Science.gov (United States)

    Nakano, Anna; Nakano, Jinichiro; Bennett, James P.

    2018-01-30

    The present disclosure is directed to a method for enriching an inlet air stream utilizing a number of enrichment sub-units connected in series, where each enrichment sub-unit conducts both a dissolution and degasification cycle. Each enrichment sub-unit comprises a compressor, an aeration unit, a deaeration unit, and a pump for the recirculation of water between the aeration and deaeration units. The methodology provides a manner in which the relationship between the respective Henry's coefficients of the oxygen and nitrogen in water may be exploited to enrich the O.sub.2 volume percent and diminish the N.sub.2 volume percent over repeated dissolution and degasification cycles. By utilizing a number of enrichment sub-units connected in series, the water contained in each enrichment sub-unit acts to progressively increase the O.sub.2 volume percent. Additional enrichment sub-units may be added and utilized until the O.sub.2 volume percent equals or exceeds a target O.sub.2 volume percent. In a particular embodiment, air having a general composition of about 78 vol. % N.sub.2 and 21 vol. % O.sub.2 is progressively enriched to provide a final mixture of about 92% vol. % O.sub.2 and 8% vol. % N.sub.2.

  16. Method for generating O.sub.2-rich gas from air using water

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Nakano, Anna; Nakano, Jinichiro; Bennett, James P.

    2018-01-30

    The present disclosure is directed to a method for enriching an inlet air stream utilizing a number of enrichment sub-units connected in series, where each enrichment sub-unit conducts both a dissolution and degasification cycle. Each enrichment sub-unit comprises a compressor, an aeration unit, a deaeration unit, and a pump for the recirculation of water between the aeration and deaeration units. The methodology provides a manner in which the relationship between the respective Henry's coefficients of the oxygen and nitrogen in water may be exploited to enrich the O.sub.2 volume percent and diminish the N.sub.2 volume percent over repeated dissolution and degasification cycles. By utilizing a number of enrichment sub-units connected in series, the water contained in each enrichment sub-unit acts to progressively increase the O.sub.2 volume percent. Additional enrichment sub-units may be added and utilized until the O.sub.2 volume percent equals or exceeds a target O.sub.2 volume percent. In a particular embodiment, air having a general composition of about 78 vol. % N.sub.2 and 21 vol. % O.sub.2 is progressively enriched to provide a final mixture of about 92% vol. % O.sub.2 and 8% vol. % N.sub.2.

  17. Triangular Zn{sub 3} and Ga{sub 3} units in Sr{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Zn{sub 3}, Eu{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Zn{sub 3}, Sr{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Ga{sub 3}, and Eu{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Ga{sub 3}. Structure, magnetism, {sup 151}Eu Moessbauer and {sup 69;71}Ga solid state NMR spectroscopy

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gerke, Birgit; Niehaus, Oliver; Poettgen, Rainer [Muenster Univ. (Germany). Inst. fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Korthaus, Alexander; Haarmann, Frank [RWTH Aachen Univ. (Germany). Inst. fuer Anorganische Chemie

    2016-08-01

    The gold-rich intermetallic compounds Sr{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Zn{sub 3}, Eu{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Zn{sub 3}, Sr{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Ga{sub 3}, and Eu{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Ga{sub 3} were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum ampoules in induction or muffle furnaces. The europium compounds are reported for the first time and their structures were refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data: Sr{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Zn{sub 3} type, R anti 3c, a = 837.7(1), c = 2184.5(4) pm, wR2 = 0.0293, 572 F{sup 2} values for Eu{sub 2}Au{sub 6.04}Zn{sub 2.96} and a = 838.1(2), c = 2191.7(5) pm, wR2 = 0.0443, 513 F{sup 2} values for Eu{sub 2}Au{sub 6.07}Ga{sub 2.93} with 20 variables per refinement. The structures consist of a three-dimensional gold network with a 6R stacking sequence, similar to the respective diamond polytype. The cavities of the network are filled in a ratio of 2:1 by strontium (europium) atoms and Ga{sub 3} (Zn{sub 3}) triangles in an ordered manner. Sr{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Zn{sub 3} and Sr{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Ga{sub 3} are diamagnetic with room temperature susceptibilities of -3.5 x 10{sup -4} emu mol{sup -1}. Temperature dependent susceptibility and {sup 151}Eu Moessbauer spectroscopic measurements show a stable divalent ground state for both europium compounds. Eu{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Zn{sub 3} and Eu{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Ga{sub 3} order antiferromagnetically below Neel temperatures of 16.3 and 12.1 K, respectively. Anisotropic electrical conductivity of Sr{sub 2}Au{sub 6}Ga{sub 3} is proven by an alignment of the crystallites in the magnetic field. Orientation-dependent {sup 69;71}Ga NMR experiments combined with quantum mechanical calculations (QM) give evidence for a highly anisotropic charge distribution of the Ga atoms.

  18. Ternary indides Eu{sub 2}Pd{sub 2}In and Eu{sub 2}Pt{sub 2}In

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Muts, Ihor [Inorganic Chemistry Department, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (Ukraine); Institut fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet Muenster (Germany); Zaremba, Vasyl I. [Inorganic Chemistry Department, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (Ukraine); Poettgen, Rainer [Institut fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet Muenster (Germany)

    2012-01-15

    The indides Eu{sub 2}Pd{sub 2}In and Eu{sub 2}Pt{sub 2}In were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum tubes in an induction furnace. The samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction. The structures were refined on the basis of single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data: HT-Pr{sub 2}Co{sub 2}Al type, C2/c, a = 1035.7(2), b = 592.9(1), c = 823.6(2) pm, β = 104.26(1) , wR2 = 0.026, 1075 F{sup 2} values, 25 variables for Eu{sub 2}Pd{sub 2}In and a = 1017.2(2), b = 588.7(1), c = 826.5(1) pm, β = 103.76(1) , wR2 = 0.062, 706 F{sup 2} values, 25 variables for Eu{sub 2}Pt{sub 2}In. The indium atoms have four platinum (palladium) neighbors in strongly distorted tetrahedral coordination at Pt-In and Pd-In distances ranging from 273 to 275 pm. These InPd{sub 4/2} and InPt{sub 4/2} units are condensed via common edges to infinite InPd{sub 2} and InPt{sub 2} chains, which are surrounded by the europium atoms. The chains form the motif of hexagonal rod packing. (Copyright copyright 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  19. Synthesis, crystal structure, and properties of Bi{sub 3}TeBO{sub 9} or Bi{sub 3}(TeO{sub 6})(BO{sub 3}): a non-centrosymmetric borate-tellurate(VI) of bismuth

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Daub, Michael; Krummer, Michael; Hoffmann, Anke [Institut fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet, Albertstrasse 21, 79104, Freiburg (Germany); Bayarjargal, Lkhamsuren [Institut fuer Geowissenschaften, Abt. Kristallographie, Goethe-Universitaet, Altenhoeferallee 1, 60438, Frankfurt am Main (Germany); Hillebrecht, Harald [Institut fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet, Albertstrasse 21, 79104, Freiburg (Germany); Freiburger Materialforschungszentrum FMF, Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet, Stefan-Meier-Strasse 25, 79104, Freiburg (Germany)

    2017-01-26

    Pale-yellow single crystals of the new borate tellurate(VI) Bi{sub 3}TeBO{sub 9} were obtained by reaction of stoichiometric amounts of Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}, B{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and Te(OH){sub 6} at 780 C. The non-centrosymmetric crystal structure (P6{sub 3}, Z=2, a=8.7454(16), c=5.8911(11) Aa, 738 refl., 43 param, R1=0.037, wR2=0.093) contains isolated trigonal-planar BO{sub 3} units and nearly undistorted TeO{sub 6} octahedra. The Bi{sup 3+} cations are located in between in octahedral voids. The BiO{sub 6} octahedra are significantly distorted to a [3+3] pattern (2.25/2.50 Aa) due to the ns{sup 2} configuration. According to the structural features, the formula can be written as Bi{sub 3}(TeO{sub 6})(BO{sub 3}). Alternatively, the structure can also be described as hcp of oxygen with Te{sup VI} and Bi{sup III} in octahedral voids and B{sup III} in trigonal- planar voids. The vibrational spectra show the typical features of BO{sub 3} and TeO{sub 6} units with a significant {sup 10}B/{sup 11}B isotopic splitting of the IR-active B-O valence mode (1248 and 1282 cm{sup -1}). The UV/Vis spectrum shows an optical band edge with an onset around 480 nm (2.6 eV). MAS-NMR spectra of {sup 11}B show an anisotropic signal with a quadrupole coupling constant of C{sub Q}=2.55 MHz. and a very small deviation from rotational symmetry (η=0.2). The isotropic chemical shift is 20.1 ppm. The second harmonic generation (SHG) test was positive with an activity comparable to potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP). Bi{sub 3}TeBO{sub 9} decomposes in air at 825 C to Bi{sub 2}TeO{sub 5}. (copyright 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  20. Na{sub 8}Au{sub 9.8(4)}Ga{sub 7.2} and Na{sub 17}Au{sub 5.87(2)}Ga{sub 46.63}: The diversity of pseudo 5-fold symmetries in the Na–Au–Ga system

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Smetana, Volodymyr; Corbett, John D., E-mail: jcorbett@iastate.edu; Miller, Gordon J.

    2013-11-15

    The Na-rich part (∼30% Na) of the Na–Au–Ga system between NaAu{sub 2}, NaGa{sub 4}, and Na{sub 22}Ga{sub 39} has been found to contain the ternary phases Na{sub 8}Au{sub 9.8(4)}Ga{sub 7.2} (I) and Na{sub 17}Au{sub 5.87(2)}Ga{sub 46.63} (II), according to the results of single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. I is orthorhombic, Cmcm, a=5.3040(1), b=24.519(5), c=14.573(3) Å, and contains a network of clusters with local 5-fold symmetry along the a-axis. Such clusters are frequent building units in decagonal quasicrystals and their approximants. II is rhombohedral, R3{sup ¯}m, a=16.325(2), c=35.242(7) Å, and contains building blocks that are structurally identical to the Bergman-type clusters as well as fused icosahedral units known with active metals, triels and late transition elements. II also contains a polycationic network with elements of the clathrate V type structure. Tight-binding electronic structure calculations using linear muffin–tin-orbital (LMTO) methods on idealized models of I and II indicate that both compounds are metallic with evident pseudogaps at the corresponding Fermi levels. The overall Hamilton bond populations are generally dominated by Au–Ga and Au–Au bonds in I and by Ga–Ga bonds in II; moreover, the Na–Au and Na–Ga contributions in I are unexpectedly large, ∼20% of the total. A similar involvement of sodium in covalent bonding has also been found in the electron-richer i-Na{sub 13}Au{sub 12}Ga{sub 15} quasicrystal approximant. - Graphical abstract: Multiply-endohedral Bergman-related clusters in the structure of Na{sub 17}Au{sub 5.9(1)}Ga{sub 46.6.} Display Omitted - Highlights: • Two new compounds with the local 5-fold symmetry have been investigated. • Na{sub 8}Au{sub 9.8(4)}Ga{sub 7.2} is an orthorhombic approximant of the Na{sub 13}Au{sub 12}Ga{sub 15} quasicrystal. • Na{sub 17}Au{sub 5.87(2)}Ga{sub 46.63} represents a rhombohedral distortion of the Bergman-type phases.

  1. Study and characterization of the hexa ferrite Ba{sub 2}Co{sub 2}Fe{sub 12}O{sub 22} (Co{sub 2}-Y); Sintese e caracterizacao da hexaferrita Ba{sub 2}Co{sub 2}Fe{sub 12}O{sub 22} (Co{sub 2}-Y)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Pires Junior, G.F.M.; Rodrigues, H.O. [Universidade Federal do Ceara (DETI/UFC), Fortaleza, CE (Brazil). Dept. de Teleinformatica; Sales, J.C [Universidade Estadual Vale do Acarau (UVA), Fortaleza, CE (Brazil). Dept. de Engenharia; Sancho, E.O. [Universidade Federal do Ceara (UFC), Fortaleza, CE (Brazil). Dept. de Engenharia de Materiais; Sombra, A.S.B. [Universidade Federal do Ceara (LOCEM/UFC), Fortaleza, CE (Brazil). Dept. de Fisica. Lab. de Telecomunicacoes e Ciencias e Engenharia de Materiais

    2009-07-01

    The objective of this work is to synthesize and to characterize the Hexaferrita Ba2Co{sub 2}Fe{sub 12}O{sub 22} (Co{sub 2}Y). The Y-type Hexaferrita (Co{sub 2}Y) was prepared by the ceramic conventional method. The mixed powder by 1 h was calcined at 1050 deg C for 3 h. After of the calcination the powders were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) using a diffractometer DMAXB of the Rigaku (Japan), CuK{sub {alpha}} radiation ({lambda}=1.5405 angstrom) in a tax of 0.5 deg /min and linear band (20 deg at 80 deg) in 2{theta}. The characterization more detailed by XRD was made using the DBWS9807a program that uses the method of Rietveld for refinement of crystalline structures and confirmed the isolated attainment of the phase (Co{sub 2}Y) with hexagonal crystalline structure (a = b = 5,8560 angstrom and c = 43,4977 angstrom; {alpha} = {beta} = 90 deg and {gamma} = 120 deg) with density and volume of the unit cell calculated of 5.45 g/cm{sup 3} and 1292,3 angstrom respectively. (author)

  2. Synthesis and characterization of Cu{sub 3}TaIn{sub 3}Se{sub 7} and CuTa{sub 2}InTe{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Calderon, E.; Munoz-Pinto, M.; Duran-Pina, S.; Quintero, M.; Quintero, E.; Morocoima, M. [Centro de Estudios de Semiconductores, Departamento de Fisica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Merida (Venezuela); Delgado, G.E. [Laboratorio de Cristalografia, Departamento de Quimica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Merida (Venezuela); Romero, H. [Laboratorio de Magnetismo, Departamento de Fisica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Merida (Venezuela); Briceno, J.M.; Fernandez, J. [Laboratorio de Analisis Quimico y Estructural (LAQUEM), Departamento de Fisica, Facultad de Ciencias, Merida (Venezuela); Grima-Gallardo, P.

    2008-07-15

    Polycrystalline samples of Cu{sub 3}TaIn{sub 3}Se{sub 7} and CuTa{sub 2}InTe{sub 4} were synthesized by the usual melt and anneal technique. X-ray powder diffraction showed a single phase behavior for both samples with tetragonal symmetry and unit cell parameter values a=5.794{+-}0.002 A, c=11.66{+-}0.01 A, c/a=2.01, V=391{+-}1 A{sup 3} and a=6.193{+-}0.001 A, c=12.400 {+-}0.002A, c/a=2.00, V=475{+-}1 A{sup 3}, respectively. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements suggested a complicated behavior near the melting point with several thermal transitions observed in the heating and cooling runs. From the shape of the DTA peaks it was deduced that the melting is incongruent for both materials. Magnetic susceptibility measurements (zero-field cooling and field cooling) indicated an antiferromagnetic character with transition temperatures of T=70 K (Cu{sub 3}TaIn{sub 3}Se{sub 7}) and 42 K (CuTa{sub 2}InTe{sub 4}). A spin-glass transition was observed in Cu{sub 3}TaIn{sub 3}Se{sub 7} with T{sub f}{approx}50 K. (copyright 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) (orig.)

  3. The Drosophila melanogaster DmCK2beta transcription unit encodes for functionally non-redundant protein isoforms.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Jauch, Eike; Wecklein, Heike; Stark, Felix; Jauch, Mandy; Raabe, Thomas

    2006-06-07

    Genes encoding for the two evolutionary highly conserved subunits of a heterotetrameric protein kinase CK2 holoenzyme are present in all examined eukaryotic genomes. Depending on the organism, multiple transcription units encoding for a catalytically active CK2alpha subunit and/or a regulatory CK2beta subunit may exist. The phosphotransferase activity of members of the protein kinase CK2alpha family is thought to be independent of second messengers but is modulated by interaction with CK2beta-like proteins. In the genome of Drosophila melanogaster, one gene encoding for a CK2alpha subunit and three genes encoding for CK2beta-like proteins are present. The X-linked DmCK2beta transcription unit encodes for several CK2beta protein isoforms due to alternative splicing of its primary transcript. We addressed the question whether CK2beta-like proteins are redundant in function. Our in vivo experiments show that variations of the very C-terminal tail of CK2beta isoforms encoded by the X-linked DmCK2beta transcription unit influence their functional properties. In addition, we find that CK2beta-like proteins encoded by the autosomal D. melanogaster genes CK2betates and CK2beta' cannot fully substitute for a loss of CK2beta isoforms encoded by DmCK2beta.

  4. Effect of uv and gamma irradiation on vitamin B/sub 6/ content and protein constituents of feeds

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Koesters, W W; Kirchgessner, M [Technische Univ. Muenchen, Weihenstephan (Germany, F.R.). Inst. fuer Tierernaehrung

    1976-01-01

    In irradiation studies using UV and gamma rays, the extent of loss of vitamin B/sub 6/ in different feeds was investigated. During UV irradiation for periods of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, a dependence of the vitamin B/sub 6/ destruction upon the length of irradiation was demonstrated. The extent of vitamin B/sub 6/ destruction after irradiation for 96 hours amounted to about of 33% in both dried skim milk and flaked oats. In fish meal, however, the decay of vitamin B/sub 6/ was only 17% even after 120 hours. Gamma irradiation of dried skim milk and a piglet prestarter at doses of 5, 7 and 14.3 Mrad resulted in an increasing loss of vitamin B/sub 6/ in response to the radiation dose. The addition of 0.03% ascorbic acid as an antioxidant increased the vitamin B/sub 6/ destruction, while vitamin E and smaller amounts of ascorbic acid remained without influence. In both feeds the loss of vitamin B/sub 6/ was about 40% after the dose of 14.3 Mrad. Simultaneous studies on amino acid composition and lysine availability revealed that high doses of gamma radiation may adversely affect the protein constituents of feeds.

  5. ELEVATED CO{sub 2} IN A PROTOTYPE FREE-AIR CO{sub 2} ENRICHMENT FACILITY AFFECTS PHOTOSYNTHETIC NITROGEN RELATIONS IN A MATURING PINE FOREST

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    ELLSWORTH,D.S.; LA ROCHE,J.; HENDREY,G.R.

    1998-03-01

    A maturing loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) forest was exposed to elevated CO{sub 2} in the natural environment in a perturbation study conducted over three seasons using the free-air CO{sub 2} enrichment (FACE) technique. At the time measurements were begun in this study, the pine canopy was comprised entirely of foliage which had developed under elevated CO{sub 2} conditions (atmospheric [CO{sub 2}] {approx} 550 {micro}mol mol{sup {minus}1}). Measurements of leaf photosynthetic responses to CO{sub 2} were taken to examine the effects of elevated CO{sub 2} on photosynthetic N nutrition in a pine canopy under elevated CO{sub 2}. Photosynthetic CO{sub 2} response curves (A-c{sub i} curves) were similar in FACE trees under elevated CO{sub 2} compared with counterpart trees in ambient plots for the first foliage cohort produced in the second season of CO{sub 2} exposure, with changes in curve form detected in the foliage cohorts subsequently produced under elevated CO{sub 2}. Differences in the functional relationship between carboxylation rate and N{sub a} suggest that for a given N{sub a} allocated among successive cohorts of foliage in the upper canopy, V{sub c max} was 17% lower in FACE versus Ambient trees. The authors also found that foliar Rubisco content per unit total protein derived from Western blot analysis was lower in late-season foliage in FACE foliage compared with ambient-grown foliage. The results illustrate a potentially important mode of physiological adjustment to growth conditions that may operate in forest canopies. Their findings suggest that mature loblolly pine trees growing in the field may have the capacity for shifts in intrinsic nitrogen utilization for photosynthesis under elevated CO{sub 2} that are not dependent on changes in leaf N. While carboxylation efficiency per unit N apparently decreased under elevated CO{sub 2}, photosynthetic rates in trees at elevated CO{sub 2} concentrations {approx} 550 pmol mol{sub {minus}1} are still

  6. Synthesis, crystal and electronic structures, and magnetic properties of LiLn{sub 9}Mo{sub 16}O{sub 35} (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, and Nd) compounds containing the original cluster Mo{sub 16}O{sub 36}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gougeon, Patrick; Gall, Philippe [UMR CNRS 6226 - ' ' Sciences Chimiques de Rennes' ' , Universite de Rennes 1 - INSA (France); Cuny, Jerome; Gautier, Regis; Le Polles, Laurent [UMR CNRS 6226 - ' ' Sciences Chimiques de Rennes' ' , Ecole Nationale Superieure de Chimie de Rennes (France); Delevoye, Laurent; Trebosc, Julien [UMR CNRS 8181 - UCCS, ENSCL, Universite Lille Nord de France, Villeneuve d' Ascq (France)

    2011-12-02

    The new compounds LiLn{sub 9}Mo{sub 16}O{sub 35} (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, and Nd) were synthesized from stoichiometric mixtures of Li{sub 2}MoO{sub 4}, Ln{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Pr{sub 6}O{sub 11} or CeO{sub 2}, MoO{sub 3}, and Mo heated at 1600 C for 48 h in a molybdenum crucible sealed under a low argon pressure. The crystal structure, determined from a single crystal of the Nd member, showed that the main building block is the Mo{sub 16}O{sub 36} unit, the Mo{sub 16} core of which is totally new and results from the fusion of two bioctahedral Mo{sub 10} clusters. It can also be viewed as a fragment of an infinite twin chain of edge-sharing Mo{sub 6} octahedra. The Mo{sub 16}O{sub 36} cluster units share some oxygen atoms to form infinite chains running parallel to the b axis, which are separated by the rare-earth and lithium cations. {sup 7}Li-NMR experiments, carried out at high field on the nonmagnetic LiLa{sub 9}Mo{sub 16}O{sub 35}, provided insights into the local environment of the lithium ions. Magnetic susceptibility measurements confirmed the trivalent oxidation state of the magnetic rare-earth cations and indicated the absence of localized moments on the Mo{sub 16} clusters. The electronic structure of the LiLn{sub 9}Mo{sub 16}O{sub 35} compounds was analyzed using molecular and periodic quantum calculations. The study of the molecular orbital diagrams of isolated Mo{sub 16}O{sub 36} models allowed the understanding of this unique metallic architecture. Periodic density functional theory calculations demonstrated that few interactions occur between the Mo{sub 16} clusters, and predicted semiconducting properties for LiLn{sub 9}Mo{sub 16}O{sub 35} as a band gap of 0.57 eV was computed for the lanthanum phase. (Copyright copyright 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  7. Pengaruh lama fermentasi EM-4 terhadap kandungan protein kasar padatan kering lumpur organik unit gas bio

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    M. Wildan Fajarudin

    2014-02-01

    Full Text Available The objective of this research is to know good duration against the influence of the duration of EM-4 fermentation by adding EM-4 to increase contents of crude protein for dry solids of unit organic sludge bio gas. The materials of this research were dry solids of organic sludge biogas unit resulted from the separation of organic sludge. The research method was experiments using Completely Randomized Design with different duration of fermentation treatments as follow 0 hour (P1, 24 hours (P2, 48 hours (P3, and 72 hours (P4 with 6 times recurrences to each treatments. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA and continued by Duncan's Multiple Range test if they were significantly different. The result of Analysis of Variance shows that there was an increase of rough protein to P1, P2, P3, and P4. Specifically for P4 treatment gave very different influence (P<0.01 against crude protein contents. The research suggested adding EM-4 in the fermentation process of organic sludge solids biogas unit for 72 hour to increase the crude protein content. Keywords: fermentation, biogas, sludge, crude protein

  8. Human Adenovirus Core Protein V Is Targeted by the Host SUMOylation Machinery To Limit Essential Viral Functions.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Freudenberger, Nora; Meyer, Tina; Groitl, Peter; Dobner, Thomas; Schreiner, Sabrina

    2018-02-15

    Human adenoviruses (HAdV) are nonenveloped viruses containing a linear, double-stranded DNA genome surrounded by an icosahedral capsid. To allow proper viral replication, the genome is imported through the nuclear pore complex associated with viral core proteins. Until now, the role of these incoming virion proteins during the early phase of infection was poorly understood. The core protein V is speculated to bridge the core and the surrounding capsid. It binds the genome in a sequence-independent manner and localizes in the nucleus of infected cells, accumulating at nucleoli. Here, we show that protein V contains conserved SUMO conjugation motifs (SCMs). Mutation of these consensus motifs resulted in reduced SUMOylation of the protein; thus, protein V represents a novel target of the host SUMOylation machinery. To understand the role of protein V SUMO posttranslational modification during productive HAdV infection, we generated a replication-competent HAdV with SCM mutations within the protein V coding sequence. Phenotypic analyses revealed that these SCM mutations are beneficial for adenoviral replication. Blocking protein V SUMOylation at specific sites shifts the onset of viral DNA replication to earlier time points during infection and promotes viral gene expression. Simultaneously, the altered kinetics within the viral life cycle are accompanied by more efficient proteasomal degradation of host determinants and increased virus progeny production than that observed during wild-type infection. Taken together, our studies show that protein V SUMOylation reduces virus growth; hence, protein V SUMOylation represents an important novel aspect of the host antiviral strategy to limit virus replication and thereby points to potential intervention strategies. IMPORTANCE Many decades of research have revealed that HAdV structural proteins promote viral entry and mainly physical stability of the viral genome in the capsid. Our work over the last years showed that this

  9. Identifying essential proteins based on sub-network partition and prioritization by integrating subcellular localization information.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Li, Min; Li, Wenkai; Wu, Fang-Xiang; Pan, Yi; Wang, Jianxin

    2018-06-14

    Essential proteins are important participants in various life activities and play a vital role in the survival and reproduction of living organisms. Identification of essential proteins from protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks has great significance to facilitate the study of human complex diseases, the design of drugs and the development of bioinformatics and computational science. Studies have shown that highly connected proteins in a PPI network tend to be essential. A series of computational methods have been proposed to identify essential proteins by analyzing topological structures of PPI networks. However, the high noise in the PPI data can degrade the accuracy of essential protein prediction. Moreover, proteins must be located in the appropriate subcellular localization to perform their functions, and only when the proteins are located in the same subcellular localization, it is possible that they can interact with each other. In this paper, we propose a new network-based essential protein discovery method based on sub-network partition and prioritization by integrating subcellular localization information, named SPP. The proposed method SPP was tested on two different yeast PPI networks obtained from DIP database and BioGRID database. The experimental results show that SPP can effectively reduce the effect of false positives in PPI networks and predict essential proteins more accurately compared with other existing computational methods DC, BC, CC, SC, EC, IC, NC. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Adenoviral short hairpin RNA therapy targeting phosphodiesterase 5a relieves cardiac remodeling and dysfunction following myocardial infarction

    Science.gov (United States)

    Li, Longhu; Haider, Husnain Kh.; Wang, Linlin; Lu, Gang

    2012-01-01

    We previously showed that treatment with tadalafil, a long-acting phosphodiesterase-5a (PDE5a) inhibitor, effectively prevented adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling of the infarcted heart. We hypothesized that short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) therapy targeting PDE5a would simulate the effects of pharmacological intervention for treatment of postinfarction LV remodeling and dysfunction. Experimental model of myocardial infarction was developed in female mice by permanent ligation of left coronary artery. Immediately after that, an adenoviral vector encoding for shRNA sequence targeting PDE5a (Ad-shPDE5a) was injected intramyocardially, which specifically inhibited PDE5a in the heart. Four weeks later, Ad-shPDE5a treated mice showed significant mitigation of the left ventricle (LV) dilatation and dysfunction as indicated by smaller LV cavity and more preserved ejection fraction and fractional shortening. Infarction size and fibrosis were significantly reduced in Ad-shPDE5a-treated mice. Additionally, more salvaged cardiomyocytes, significantly reduced collagen contents, and higher blood vessel density were observed in Ad-shPDE5a-treated mice. The cytoprotective effects of Ad-shPDE5a were demonstrated in vitro in Ad-shPDE5a transfected cardiomyocytes cultured under oxygen glucose deprivation. Among downstream mediators of PDE5a signaling, cyclic GMP (cGMP) and cGMP-dependent protein kinase G (PKG) were activated with concomitant reduction in caspase-3 activity. However, no significant change in PKA and cAMP activities were observed in Ad-shPDE5a-treated hearts. Inhibition with shRNA improved cardiac remodeling and dysfunction by reducing infarction size and cardiac fibrosis and increased cGMP and PKG activity. These findings suggest that PDE5 inhibition with Ad-shPDE5a is a novel approach for treatment of myocardial infarction. PMID:22447941

  11. High-pressure synthesis and single-crystal structure elucidation of the indium oxide-borate In{sub 4}O{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ortner, Teresa S.; Vitzthum, Daniela; Heymann, Gunter; Huppertz, Hubert [Department of General, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry, Centre of Chemistry and Biomedicine (CCB), Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck (Austria)

    2017-12-29

    The indium oxide-borate In{sub 4}O{sub 2}B{sub 2}O{sub 7} was synthesized under high-pressure/high-temperature conditions at 12.5 GPa/1420 K using a Walker-type multianvil apparatus. Single-crystal X-ray structure elucidation showed edge-sharing OIn{sub 4} tetrahedra and B{sub 2}O{sub 7} units building up the oxide-borate. It crystallizes with Z = 8 in the monoclinic space group P2{sub 1}/n (no. 14) with a = 1016.54(3), b = 964.55(3), c = 1382.66(4) pm, and β = 109.7(1) . The compound was also characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  12. Effect of hydrogenation on the crystal structure of La{sub 2}Pd{sub 2}In

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kolomiets, A.V., E-mail: kolomiet@mag.mff.cuni.cz [Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 5, 121 16 Prague 2 (Czech Republic); Department of Physics, Lviv Polytechnic National University, 12 Bandera Str., 79013 Lviv (Ukraine); Maskova, S.; Havela, L.; Matej, Z.; Kuzel, R. [Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 5, 121 16 Prague 2 (Czech Republic)

    2011-03-10

    Research highlights: > La{sub 2}Pd{sub 2}In hydride is crystalline with 1.5 H atoms per formula unit and amorphous at 4 H atoms/f.u. > Volume expansion of La{sub 2}Pd{sub 2}In due to hydrogenation reaches 6.0% (or +4.9 A{sup 3}/H atom) and is anisotropic. > Hydrogenation 'softens' the lattice of La{sub 2}Pd{sub 2}In. - Abstract: The paper is focusing on the modification of the crystal lattice upon the hydrogenation of La{sub 2}Pd{sub 2}In and hydrogen desorption from La{sub 2}Pd{sub 2}In hydrides. The synthesis at 1 bar of hydrogen produces a crystalline hydride with 1.5 H atoms per formula unit and the volume expansion of {Delta}V/V = 6.0%. The synthesis at 10 and 100 bar H{sub 2} pressures leads to an amorphous state and with 4 + {delta} H atoms/f.u. The uptake of hydrogen leads to the decrease of the Debye temperature of La{sub 2}Pd{sub 2}In and modification of the optical phonon spectrum.

  13. Growth and characterization of acentric BaHf(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} and BaZr(BO{sub 3}){sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mączka, Mirosław, E-mail: m.maczka@int.pan.wroc.pl [Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 1410, 50-950 Wrocław 2 (Poland); Szymborska-Małek, Katarzyna; Gągor, Anna [Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 1410, 50-950 Wrocław 2 (Poland); Majchrowski, Andrzej [Institute of Applied Physics, Military University of Technology, 2 Kaliskiego Str., 00-908 Warszawa (Poland)

    2015-05-15

    Growth, single crystal X-ray diffraction, polarized Raman and infrared (IR) studies of BaHf(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} are presented. Raman and IR spectra of polycrystalline BaZr(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} are also reported to facilitate assignment of modes. BaHf(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} borate crystallizes in trigonal system, space group R3c, with lattice parameters: a=5.1540(4) Å, c=33.901(3) Å. It accommodates dolomite-like structure doubled in the c direction, which is built of alternating layers of HfO{sub 6} octahedra and BaO{sub 6} distorted trigonal prisms that are connected through borate groups. The obtained structural as well as spectroscopic data show that BaHf(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} is isostructural with BaZr(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} and the deviations from centrosymmetry is small. - Graphical abstract: Arrangement of BO{sub 3} groups in BaHf(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} along the c direction in one unit cell. Dark and light blue denote different borate groups. - Highlights: • BaHf(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} single crystals were grown. • X-ray diffraction showed that this borate crystallizes in the acentric R3c structure. • Raman and IR spectra were measured for BaHf(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} and BaZr(BO{sub 3}){sub 2}, respectively. • Assignment of modes is proposed.

  14. Expression, purification and preliminary X-ray analysis of the Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane protein PorB

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tanabe, Mikio; Iverson, Tina M.; (Vanderbilt)

    2010-01-28

    The Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane protein PorB was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified from inclusion bodies by denaturation in urea followed by refolding in buffered LDAO on a size-exclusion column. PorB has been crystallized in three different crystal forms: C222, R32 and P6{sub 3}. The C222 crystal form may contain either one or two PorB monomers in the asymmetric unit, while both the R32 and P6{sub 3} crystal forms contained one PorB monomer in the asymmetric unit. Of the three, the P6{sub 3} crystal form had the best diffraction quality, yielding data extending to 2.3 {angstrom} resolution.

  15. Structure and superconductivity in (Bi{sub 0.35}Cu{sub 0.65})Sr{sub 2}YCu{sub 2}O{sub 7} and related materials

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jennings, R.A.; Williams, S.P.; Greaves, C. [Univ. of Birmingham (United Kingdom)

    1994-12-31

    The recently reported (Bi/Cu)Sr{sub 2}YCu{sub 2}O{sub 7} phase has been studied by time of flight powder neutron diffraction. The proposed 1212 structure has been confirmed and refinements have shown the oxygen in the (Bi/Cu)O layer is displaced by 0.78{angstrom} from the ideal (1/2,1/2,0) site (P4/mmm space group) along (100). Bond Valence Sum calculations have suggested oxidation states of Bi{sup 5+} and Cu{sup 2+} for the cations in the (Bi/Cu)O layers. The material is non-superconducting and all attempts to induce superconductivity have been unsuccessful. Work on the related material (Ce/Cu)Sr{sub 2}YCu{sub 2}O{sub y} has shown the ideal Ce content to be 0.5 Ce per formula unit. The introduction of Ba (10%) onto the Sr site dramatically increases phase stability and also induces superconductivity (62K).

  16. Solvothermal syntheses, crystal structures, and properties of lanthanide(III) thioarsenates [Ln(dien){sub 2}(μ-1κ,2κ{sup 2}-AsS{sub 4})]{sub n} (Ln==Sm, Eu, Gd) and [Ln(dien){sub 2}(1κ{sup 2}-AsS{sub 4})] (Ln==Tb, Dy, Ho)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wang, Fang; Tang, Chunying; Chen, Ruihong; Zhang, Yong; Jia, Dingxian, E-mail: jiadingxian@suda.edu.cn

    2013-10-15

    Solvothermal reactions of Ln{sub 2}O{sub 3}, As and S in diethylenetriamine (dien) at 170 °C for 6 days afforded two structural types of lanthanide thioarsenates with the general formulae [Ln(dien){sub 2}(μ-1κ,2κ{sup 2}-AsS{sub 4})]{sub n} [Ln=Sm(1), Eu(2), Gd(3)] and [Ln(dien){sub 2}(1κ{sup 2}-AsS{sub 4})] [Ln=Tb(4), Dy(5), Ho(6)]. The Ln{sub 2}O{sub 3} oxides were converted to [Ln(dien){sub 2}]{sup 3+} complex units in the solvothermal reactions. The As atom binds four S atoms, forming a tetrahedral AsS{sub 4} unit. In 1−3, the AsS{sub 4} units interconnect the [Ln(dien){sub 2}]{sup 3+} cations via Ln−S bonds as tridentate μ-1κ,2κ{sup 2}-AsS{sub 4} bridging ligands, resulting in the neutral coordination polymers [Ln(dien){sub 2}(μ-1κ,2κ{sup 2}-AsS{sub 4})]{sub n} (Ln1). In 4−6, the AsS{sub 4} units coordinate with the Ln{sup 3+} ion of [Ln(dien){sub 2}]{sup 3+} as 1κ{sup 2}-AsS{sub 4} chelating ligands to form neutral coordination compounds [Ln(dien){sub 2}(1κ{sup 2}-AsS{sub 4})] (Ln2). The Ln{sup 3+} ions are in nine- and eight-coordinated environments in Ln1 and Ln2, respectively. The formation of Ln1 and Ln2 is related with ionic size of the Ln{sup 3+} ions. Optical absorption spectra showed that 1−6 have potential use as semiconductors with the band gaps in the range 2.18−3.21 eV. - Graphical abstract: Two types of Ln-thioarsenates [Ln(dien){sub 2}(μ-1κ,2κ{sup 2}-AsS{sub 4})]{sub n} and [Ln(dien){sub 2}(1κ{sup 2}-AsS{sub 4})] were prepared by solvothermal methods and the soft Lewis basic AsS{sub 4}{sup 3–} ligand to Ln(III) centers with polyamine co-ligand was obtained. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Lanthanide thioarsenates were prepared by solvothermal methods. • The soft Lewis basic AsS{sub 4} ligand coordinate Ln{sup 3+} ions with coexistence polyamine ligands. • Two structural types of Ln-thioarsenates with structural turnover at Tb were obtained along Ln series. • The Ln-thioarsenates are potential semiconductors

  17. Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the transpeptidase domain of penicillin-binding protein 2B from Streptococcus pneumoniae

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Yamada, Mototsugu, E-mail: mototsugu-yamada@meiji.co.jp; Watanabe, Takashi; Baba, Nobuyoshi; Miyara, Takako; Saito, Jun; Takeuchi, Yasuo [Pharmaceutical Research Center, Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd, 760 Morooka-cho, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 222-8567 (Japan)

    2008-04-01

    The selenomethionyl-substituted transpeptidase domain of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2B from S. pneumoniae was isolated from a limited proteolysis digest of the soluble form of recombinant PBP 2B and then crystallized. MAD data were collected to 2.4 Å resolution. Penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2B from Streptococcus pneumoniae catalyzes the cross-linking of peptidoglycan precursors that occurs during bacterial cell-wall biosynthesis. A selenomethionyl (SeMet) substituted PBP 2B transpeptidase domain was isolated from a limited proteolysis digest of a soluble form of recombinant PBP 2B and then crystallized. The crystals belonged to space group P4{sub 3}2{sub 1}2, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 86.39, c = 143.27 Å. Diffraction data were collected to 2.4 Å resolution using the BL32B2 beamline at SPring-8. The asymmetric unit contains one protein molecule and 63.7% solvent.

  18. Adenoviral vectors for highly selective gene expression in central serotonergic neurons reveal quantal characteristics of serotonin release in the rat brain

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Teschemacher Anja G

    2009-03-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background 5-hydroxytryptamine (5 HT, serotonin is one of the key neuromodulators in mammalian brain, but many fundamental properties of serotonergic neurones and 5 HT release remain unknown. The objective of this study was to generate an adenoviral vector system for selective targeting of serotonergic neurones and apply it to study quantal characteristics of 5 HT release in the rat brain. Results We have generated adenoviral vectors which incorporate a 3.6 kb fragment of the rat tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH-2 gene which selectively (97% co-localisation with TPH-2 target raphe serotonergic neurones. In order to enhance the level of expression a two-step transcriptional amplification strategy was employed. This allowed direct visualization of serotonergic neurones by EGFP fluorescence. Using these vectors we have performed initial characterization of EGFP-expressing serotonergic neurones in rat organotypic brain slice cultures. Fluorescent serotonergic neurones were identified and studied using patch clamp and confocal Ca2+ imaging and had features consistent with those previously reported using post-hoc identification approaches. Fine processes of serotonergic neurones could also be visualized in un-fixed tissue and morphometric analysis suggested two putative types of axonal varicosities. We used micro-amperometry to analyse the quantal characteristics of 5 HT release and found that central 5 HT exocytosis occurs predominantly in quanta of ~28000 molecules from varicosities and ~34000 molecules from cell bodies. In addition, in somata, we observed a minority of large release events discharging on average ~800000 molecules. Conclusion For the first time quantal release of 5 HT from somato-dendritic compartments and axonal varicosities in mammalian brain has been demonstrated directly and characterised. Release from somato-dendritic and axonal compartments might have different physiological functions. Novel vectors generated in this

  19. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of PH1010 from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3, a member of the archaeal DUF54 family of proteins

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Shirokane, Michio; Sawano, Yoriko; Miyazono, Ken-ichi; Nagata, Koji; Tanokura, Masaru, E-mail: amtanok@mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp [Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657 (Japan)

    2007-06-01

    PH1010, a DUF54-family protein from the hyperthermophilic archaeon P. horikoshii OT3, was crystallized and X-ray diffraction data were collected to 1.90 Å resolution. PH1010 from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3, a member of the archaeal DUF54 family of proteins, was expressed, purified and crystallized. Crystallization was performed by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method using PEG 3350 as the precipitant. The crystal diffracted X-rays to 1.90 Å resolution using a synchrotron-radiation source. The space group of the crystal was determined to be P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters a = 46.9, b = 49.5, c = 132.7 Å. The crystal contained two PH1010 molecules in the asymmetric unit (V{sub M} = 2.4 Å{sup 3} Da{sup −1}) and had a solvent content of 48%.

  20. From Ba{sub 3}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 14}N to LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2}: Decreasing the optical band gap of a photocatalyst

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Anke, B. [Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin (Germany); Bredow, T. [Mulliken Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Universität Bonn, Beringstr. 4, 53115 Bonn (Germany); Pilarski, M.; Wark, M. [Institut für Chemie, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Str. 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg (Germany); Lerch, M., E-mail: martin.lerch@tu-berlin.de [Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin (Germany)

    2017-02-15

    Yellow LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2} was successfully synthesized as phase-pure material crystallizing isostructurally to previously reported Ba{sub 3}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 14}N and mixed-valence Ba{sub 3}Ta{sup V}{sub 4}Ta{sup IV}O{sub 15}. The electronic structure of LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2} was studied theoretically with the range-separated hybrid method HSE06. The most stable structure was obtained when lanthanum was placed on 2a and nitrogen on 4h sites confirming Pauling's second rule. By incorporating nitrogen, the measured band gap decreases from ∼3.8 eV for the oxide via 2.74 eV for Ba{sub 3}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 14}N to 2.63 eV for the new oxide nitride, giving rise to an absorption band well in the visible-light region. Calculated fundamental band gaps confirm the experimental trend. The atom-projected density of states has large contributions from N2p orbitals close to the valence band edge. These are responsible for the observed band gap reduction. Photocatalytic hydrogen formation was investigated and compared with that of Ba{sub 3}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 14}N revealing significantly higher activity for LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2} under UV-light. - Graphical abstract: X-ray powder diffraction pattern of LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2} with the results of the Rietveld refinements. Inset: Unit cell of LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2} and polyhedral representation of the crystal structure. - Highlights: • Synthesis of a new oxide nitride LaBa{sub 2}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 13}N{sub 2}. • Refinement of the crystal structure. • Quantum chemical calculations provided band gap close to the measured value. • New phase shows a higher photocatalytic H{sub 2} evolution rate compared to prior tested Ba{sub 3}Ta{sub 5}O{sub 14}N.

  1. The structure and band gap design of high Si doping level Ag{sub 1−x}Ga{sub 1−x}Si{sub x}Se{sub 2} (x=1/2)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhang, Shiyan [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620 (China); Mei, Dajiang, E-mail: meidajiang718@pku.edu.cn [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620 (China); Du, Xin [Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Materials Chemistry and Applications, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); Lin, Zheshuai [Center for Crystal Research and Development, Key Laboratory of Functional Crystals and Laser Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190 (China); Zhong, Junbo [Key Laboratory of Green Catalysis of Higher Education Institutes of Sichuan, College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 643000 (China); Wu, Yuandong, E-mail: wuyuandong2013@outlook.com [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620 (China); Xu, Jingli [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620 (China)

    2016-06-15

    Ag{sub 1−x}Ga{sub 1−x}Si{sub x}Se{sub 2} solutions with high Si doping level (x=1/2) are considered and new compound AgGaSiSe{sub 4} has been synthesized. It crystallizes in space group Aea2 and possesses very long axis of a=63.06(1)Å. The three-dimensional framework in AgGaSiSe{sub 4} is composed of AgSe{sub 3} trigonal planar units, AgSe{sub 4} tetrahedra and MSe{sub 4}(M=Si, Ga) tetrahedra. AgGaSiSe{sub 4} is a congruently melting compound with the melt temperature of 759 °C. The diffuse reflectance measurements reveal the band gap of 2.63 eV in AgGaSiSe{sub 4} and the value is 0.33 eV larger than that of Ag{sub 3}Ga{sub 3}SiSe{sub 8} (2.30 eV). - Graphical abstract: The Ag{sub 1−x}Ga{sub 1−x}Si{sub x}Se{sub 2} with high Si doping level (x=1/2) has been studied and the new compound AgGaSiSe{sub 4} was synthesized for the first time. AgGaSiSe{sub 4} crystallizes in a new structure type in space group Aea2 and adopts a three-dimensional framework consisting of AgSe{sub 3} trigonal planar units, AgSe{sub 4} tetrahedra and MSe{sub 4} (M=Si, Ge) tetrahedra. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Study of Ag{sub 1−x}Ga{sub 1−x}Si{sub x}Se{sub 2} with high Si doping level (x=1/2). • Successful synthesis of new compound named AgGaSiSe{sub 4}. • AgGaSiSe{sub 4} crystallizes in space group Aea2 and adopts a three-dimensional framework. • The energy band gap of AgGaSiSe{sub 4} is enlarged compared with Ag{sub 3}Ga{sub 3}SiSe{sub 8}.

  2. Hexagonal perovskites with cationic vacancies. 7. Vibrational spectroscopic investigations on the rhombohedral 12 L-stacking polytypes Ba/sub 4/Bsup(II)(Re/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/) and Ba/sub 4/Bsub(2/3)sup(III)vacantsub(1/3)(Re/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Fadini, A; Kemmler-Sack, S; Schittenhelm, H J; Rother, H J; Treiber, U [Tuebingen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Lehrstuhl fuer Anorganische Chemie 2

    1979-07-01

    For the rhombohedral 12 L stacking polytypes Ba/sub 4/Bsup(II)(Re/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/) and Ba/sub 4/Bsub(2/3)sup(III)vacantsub(1/3)(Re/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/), space group R3m, sequence (3)(1), the lattice consists of groups of three face sharing octahedra with the composition Re/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/. They are isolated from each other by the Ba and B ions. The vibrational spectra are interpreted according to the factor group analysis. For the Re/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/ unit (symmetry Dsub(3d) the results of a complete vibrational analysis and the calculation of the force constants are reported.

  3. Detection and phylogenetic analysis of a new adenoviral polymerase gene in reptiles in Korea.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Bak, Eun-Jung; Jho, Yeonsook; Woo, Gye-Hyeong

    2018-06-01

    Over a period of 7 years (2004-2011), samples from 34 diseased reptiles provided by local governments, zoos, and pet shops were tested for viral infection. Animals were diagnosed based on clinical signs, including loss of appetite, diarrhea, rhinorrhea, and unexpected sudden death. Most of the exotic animals had gastrointestinal problems, such as mucosal redness and ulcers, while the native animals had no clinical symptoms. Viral sequences were found in seven animals. Retroviral genes were amplified from samples from five Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus), an adenovirus was detected in a panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis), and an adenovirus and a paramyxovirus were detected in a tropical girdled lizard (Cordylus tropidosternum). Phylogenetic analysis of retroviruses and paramyxoviruses showed the highest sequence identity to both a Python molurus endogenous retrovirus and a Python curtus endogenous retrovirus and to a lizard isolate, respectively. Partial sequencing of an adenoviral DNA polymerase gene from the lizard isolate suggested that the corresponding virus was a novel isolate different from the reference strain (accession no. AY576677.1). The virus was not isolated but was detected, using molecular genetic techniques, in a lizard raised in a pet shop. This animal was also coinfected with a paramyxovirus.

  4. Crystal structure of a novel cerium indide Ce{sub 6}Pt{sub 11}In{sub 14}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Stepien-Damm, J.; Bukowski, Z.; Zaremba, V.I.; Pikul, A.P.; Kaczorowski, D

    2004-10-06

    The crystal structure of a new intermetallic compound Ce{sub 6}Pt{sub 11}In{sub 14} has been determined from single crystal X-ray data and was refined by a full-matrix least-squares method down to R{sub 1}=0.0497 for 1215 structure factors and 96 parameters. The unit cell is monoclinic, space group C2/m, Z=2 with the lattice parameters: a=22.729(5) A, b=4.3960(10) A, c=14.780(3) A and {beta}=118.35(3) deg. . It represents a new type of crystal structure of intermetallic compounds.

  5. Adenovirus Protein E4-ORF1 activation of PI3 kinase reveals differential regulation of downstream effector pathways in adipocytes

    OpenAIRE

    Chaudhary, Natasha; Gonzalez, Eva; Chang, Sung-Hee; Geng, Fuqiang; Rafii, Shahin; Altorki, Nasser K.; McGraw, Timothy E.

    2016-01-01

    Insulin activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) regulates metabolism, including the translocation of the Glut4 glucose transporter to the plasma membrane and inactivation of the FoxO1 transcription factor. Adenoviral protein E4-ORF1 stimulates cellular glucose metabolism by mimicking growth-factor activation of PI3K. We have used E4-ORF1 as a tool to dissect PI3K-mediated signaling in adipocytes. E4-ORF1 activation of PI3K in adipocytes recapitulates insulin regulation of FoxO1 but...

  6. Communication: Microsecond dynamics of the protein and water affect electron transfer in a bacterial bc{sub 1} complex

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Martin, Daniel R.; Matyushov, Dmitry V., E-mail: dmitrym@asu.edu [Department of Physics and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 871504, Tempe, Arizona 85287 (United States)

    2015-04-28

    Cross-membrane electron transport between cofactors localized in proteins of mitochondrial respiration and bacterial photosynthesis is the source of all biological energy. The statistics and dynamics of nuclear fluctuations in these protein/membrane/water heterogeneous systems are critical for their energetic efficiency. The results of 13 μs of atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of the membrane-bound bc{sub 1} bacterial complex are analyzed here. The reaction is affected by a broad spectrum of nuclear modes, with the slowest dynamics in the range of time-scales ∼0.1-1.6 μs contributing half of the reaction reorganization energy. Two reorganization energies are required to describe protein electron transfer due to dynamical arrest of protein conformations on the observation window. This mechanistic distinction allows significant lowering of activation barriers for reactions in proteins.

  7. The rat acute-phase protein {alpha}{sub 2}-macroglobulin plays a central role in amifostine-mediated radioprotection

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mirjana, Mihailovic; Goran, Poznanovic; Nevena, Grdovic; Melita, Vidakovic; Svetlana, Dinic; Ilijana, Grigorov; Desanka, Bogojevic, E-mail: mista@ibiss.bg.ac.r [Department of Molecular Biology, Institute for Biological Research ' Sinisa Stankovic' , University of Belgrade, Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade (Serbia)

    2010-09-15

    Previously we reported that elevated circulating concentrations of the acute-phase (AP) protein {alpha}{sub 2}-macroglobulin ({alpha}{sub 2}M), either as typically occurring in pregnant female rats or after administration to male rats, provides radioprotection, displayed as 100% survival of experimental animals exposed to total-body irradiation with 6.7 Gy (LD{sub 50/30}) x-rays, that is as effective as that afforded by the synthetic radioprotector amifostine. The finding that amifostine administration induces a 45-fold increase in {alpha}{sub 2}M in the circulation led us to hypothesise that {alpha}{sub 2}M assumes an essential role in both natural and amifostine-mediated radioprotection in the rat. In the present work we examined the activation of cytoprotective mechanisms in rat hepatocytes after the exogenous administration of {alpha}{sub 2}M and amifostine. Our results showed that the IL6/JAK/STAT3 hepatoprotective signal pathway, described in a variety of liver-injury models, upregulated the {alpha}{sub 2}M gene in amifostine-pretreated animals. In both {alpha}{sub 2}M- and amifostine-pretreated rats we observed the activation of the Akt signalling pathways that mediate cellular survival. At the cellular level this was reflected as a significant reduction of irradiation-induced DNA damage that allowed for the rapid and complete restoration of liver mass and ultimately at the level of the whole organism the complete restoration of body weight. We conclude that the selective upregulation of {alpha}{sub 2}M plays a central role in amifostine-provided radioprotection.

  8. Two Outer Membrane Proteins Contribute to Caulobacter crescentus Cellular Fitness by Preventing Intracellular S-Layer Protein Accumulation

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Overton, K. Wesley; Park, Dan M.; Yung, Mimi C.; Dohnalkova, Alice; Smit, John; Jiao, Yongqin

    2016-09-23

    ABSTRACT

    Surface layers, or S-layers, are two-dimensional protein arrays that form the outermost layer of many bacteria and archaea. They serve several functions, including physical protection of the cell from environmental threats. The high abundance of S-layer proteins necessitates a highly efficient export mechanism to transport the S-layer protein from the cytoplasm to the cell exterior.Caulobacter crescentusis unique in that it has two homologous, seemingly redundant outer membrane proteins, RsaF<sub>a>and RsaF<sub>b>, which together with other components form a type I protein translocation pathway for S-layer export. These proteins have homology toEscherichia coliTolC, the outer membrane channel of multidrug efflux pumps. Here we provide evidence that, unlike TolC, RsaF<sub>a>and RsaF<sub>b>are not involved in either the maintenance of membrane stability or the active export of antimicrobial compounds. Rather, RsaF<sub>a>and RsaF<sub>b>are required to prevent intracellular accumulation and aggregation of the S-layer protein RsaA; deletion of RsaF<sub>a>and RsaF<sub>b>led to a general growth defect and lowered cellular fitness. Using Western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), we show that loss of both RsaF<sub>a>and RsaF<sub>b>led to accumulation of insoluble RsaA in the cytoplasm, which in turn caused upregulation of a number of genes involved in protein misfolding and degradation pathways. These findings provide new insight into the requirement for RsaF<sub>a>and RsaF<sub>b>in cellular fitness and tolerance to antimicrobial agents and further our understanding of the S-layer export mechanism on both the transcriptional and translational levels in

  9. Piezoelectric Ca{sub 3}NbGa{sub 3}Si{sub 2}O{sub 14} crystal: crystal growth, piezoelectric and acoustic properties

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Roshchupkin, Dmitry; Emelin, Evgenii [Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microelectronics Technology and High-Purity Materials, Chernogolovka, Moscow District (Russian Federation); National University of Science and Technology MISiS, Moscow (Russian Federation); Ortega, Luc [Univ. Paris-Sud, CNRS, UMR 8502, Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Orsay Cedex (France); Plotitcyna, Olga; Irzhak, Dmitry [Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microelectronics Technology and High-Purity Materials, Chernogolovka, Moscow District (Russian Federation); Erko, Alexei; Zizak, Ivo; Vadilonga, Simone [Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin fuer Materialien und Energie GmbH, Institute for Nanometre Optics and Technology, Berlin (Germany); Buzanov, Oleg [FOMOS Materials Co., Moscow (Russian Federation); Leitenberger, Wolfram [Universitaet Potsdam Institut fuer Physik, Potsdam (Germany)

    2016-08-15

    Ca{sub 3}NbGa{sub 3}Si{sub 2}O{sub 14} (CNGS), a five-component crystal of lanthanum-gallium silicate group, was grown by the Czochralski method. The parameters of the elementary unit cell of the crystal were measured by powder diffraction. The independent piezoelectric strain coefficients d{sub 11} and d{sub 14} were determined by the triple-axis X-ray diffraction in the Bragg and Laue geometries. Excitation and propagation of surface acoustic waves (SAW) were studied by high-resolution X-ray diffraction at BESSY II synchrotron radiation source. The velocity of SAW propagation and power flow angles in the Y-, X- and yxl/+36 {sup circle} -cuts of the CNGS crystal were determined from the analysis of the diffraction spectra. The CNGS crystal was found practically isotropic by its acoustic properties. (orig.)

  10. Protein preparation and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of a putative glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase from Streptococcus mutants

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hu, Guan-Jing; Li, Lan-Fen; Li, Dan; Liu, Cong [National Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Plant Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); Wei, Shi-Cheng, E-mail: kqsc-wei@bjmu.edu.cn [Peking University School of Stomatology, Beijing 100081 (China); Liang, Yu-He, E-mail: kqsc-wei@bjmu.edu.cn; Su, Xiao-Dong [National Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Plant Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China)

    2007-09-01

    A glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase homologue from S. mutans was expressed, purified and crystallized. Diffraction data have been collected to 2.4 Å resolution. The SMU.636 protein from Streptococcus mutans is a putative glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase with 233 residues. The smu.636 gene was PCR-amplified from S. mutans genomic DNA and cloned into the expression vector pET-28a(+). The resultant His-tagged fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity in two steps. Crystals of the fusion protein were obtained by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals diffracted to 2.4 Å resolution and belong to space group P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters a = 53.83, b = 82.13, c = 134.70 Å.

  11. In brown adipocytes, adrenergically induced β{sub 1}-/β{sub 3}-(G{sub s})-, α{sub 2}-(G{sub i})- and α{sub 1}-(G{sub q})-signalling to Erk1/2 activation is not mediated via EGF receptor transactivation

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wang, Yanling; Fälting, Johanna M.; Mattsson, Charlotte L.; Holmström, Therése E.; Nedergaard, Jan, E-mail: jan@metabol.su.se

    2013-10-15

    Brown adipose tissue is unusual in that the neurotransmitter norepinephrine influences cell destiny in ways generally associated with effects of classical growth factors: regulation of cell proliferation, of apoptosis, and progression of differentiation. The norepinephrine effects are mediated through G-protein-coupled receptors; further mediation of such stimulation to e.g. Erk1/2 activation is in cell biology in general accepted to occur through transactivation of the EGF receptor (by external or internal pathways). We have examined here the significance of such transactivation in brown adipocytes. Stimulation of mature brown adipocytes with cirazoline (α{sub 1}-adrenoceptor coupled via G{sub q}), clonidine (α{sub 2} via G{sub i}) or CL316243 (β{sub 3} via G{sub s}) or via β{sub 1}-receptors significantly activated Erk1/2. Pretreatment with the EGF receptor kinase inhibitor AG1478 had, remarkably, no significant effect on Erk1/2 activation induced by any of these adrenergic agonists (although it fully abolished EGF-induced Erk1/2 activation), demonstrating absence of EGF receptor-mediated transactivation. Results with brown preadipocytes (cells in more proliferative states) were not qualitatively different. Joint stimulation of all adrenoceptors with norepinephrine did not result in synergism on Erk1/2 activation. AG1478 action on EGF-stimulated Erk1/2 phosphorylation showed a sharp concentration–response relationship (IC{sub 50} 0.3 µM); a minor apparent effect of AG1478 on norepinephrine-stimulated Erk1/2 phosphorylation showed nonspecific kinetics, implying caution in interpretation of partial effects of AG1478 as reported in other systems. Transactivation of the EGF receptor is clearly not a universal prerequisite for coupling of G-protein coupled receptors to Erk1/2 signalling cascades. - Highlights: • In brown adipocytes, norepinephrine regulates proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation. • EGF receptor transactivation is supposed to mediate GPCR

  12. Dosimetric and thermoluminescent characteristics of sintered samples based on Li{sub 2}OAl{sub 2}O{sub 3}nSiO{sub 2} systems

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Cogollo P, R.; Salcedo Q, J. [Universidad de Cordoba, Materials and Applied Physics Group, Carrera 6 No. 76-103, Monteria, Cordoba (Colombia); Gutierrez F, O., E-mail: rafaelcogollo@correo.unicordoba.edu.co [Metropolitan Technological Institute, Alquimia Group, Calle 54 No. 30-01, Medellin (Colombia)

    2013-10-01

    This work describes the thermoluminescent (Tl) characteristics of lithium aluminosilicates, Li{sub 2}OAl{sub 2}O{sub 3}nSiO{sub 2}, for its possible use as Tl dosimeter for low doses. The sinterized tablets of Li{sub 2}OAl{sub 2}O{sub 3}nSiO{sub 2} were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), and irradiated at different doses using a Theratron 780 C-{sup 60}Co unit in air at room temperature. The Rasheedy's technique was used for the kinetic trap parameters determination. The XRD results show a mixture of two phases of 64% {beta}-spodumene and 36% {beta}-eucryptite in the sinterized tablets. Tl analysis indicates that in these systems, recombination processes prevail, and that these systems can be used successfully as Tl dosimeters for therapeutic dose ranges. (Author)

  13. Crystallization, data collection and phasing of the molybdate-binding protein of the phytopathogen Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Santacruz, C. P.; Balan, A.; Ferreira, L. C. S. [Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas II, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP (Brazil); Barbosa, J. A. R. G., E-mail: joao@lnls.br [Centro de Biologia Molecular e Estrutural (CeBiMe), Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron (LNLS), CP 6192, Campinas, SP 13084-971 (Brazil); Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas II, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP (Brazil)

    2006-03-01

    The molybdate-binding protein (ModA) from X. axonopodis pv. citri was crystallized with sodium molybdate in the presence of PEG or sulfate. The crystal diffracted to a maximum resolution of 1.7 Å and belongs to the orthorhombic space group C222{sub 1,} with unit-cell parameters a = 68.15, b = 172.14, c = 112.04 Å. Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri ModA protein is the ABC periplasmic binding component responsible for the capture of molybdate. The protein was crystallized with sodium molybdate using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method in the presence of PEG or sulfate. X-ray diffraction data were collected to a maximum resolution of 1.7 Å using synchrotron radiation. The crystal belongs to the orthorhombic space group C222{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters a = 68.15, b = 172.14, c = 112.04 Å. The crystal structure was solved by molecular-replacement methods and structure refinement is in progress.

  14. Fall risk as a function of time after admission to sub-acute geriatric hospital units.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Rapp, Kilian; Ravindren, Johannes; Becker, Clemens; Lindemann, Ulrich; Jaensch, Andrea; Klenk, Jochen

    2016-10-07

    There is evidence about time-dependent fracture rates in different settings and situations. Lacking are data about underlying time-dependent fall risk patterns. The objective of the study was to analyse fall rates as a function of time after admission to sub-acute hospital units and to evaluate the time-dependent impact of clinical factors at baseline on fall risk. This retrospective cohort study used data of 5,255 patients admitted to sub-acute units in a geriatric rehabilitation clinic in Germany between 2010 and 2014. Falls, personal characteristics and functional status at admission were extracted from the hospital information system. The rehabilitation stay was divided in 3-day time-intervals. The fall rate was calculated for each time-interval in all patients combined and in subgroups of patients. To analyse the influence of covariates on fall risk over time multivariate negative binomial regression models were applied for each of 5 time-intervals. The overall fall rate was 10.2 falls/1,000 person-days with highest fall risks during the first week and decreasing risks within the following weeks. A particularly pronounced risk pattern with high fall risks during the first days and decreasing risks thereafter was observed in men, disoriented people, and people with a low functional status or impaired cognition. In disoriented patients, for example, the fall rate decreased from 24.6 falls/1,000 person-days in day 2-4 to about 13 falls/1,000 person-days 2 weeks later. The incidence rate ratio of baseline characteristics changed also over time. Fall risk differs considerably over time during sub-acute hospitalisation. The strongest association between time and fall risk was observed in functionally limited patients with high risks during the first days after admission and declining risks thereafter. This should be considered in the planning and application of fall prevention measures.

  15. The gold-rich indide Eu{sub 5}Au{sub 17.7}In{sub 4.3} and its relation with the structures of SrAu{sub 4.76}In{sub 1.24} and BaLi{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Muts, Ihor [Muenster Univ. (Germany). Inst. fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Ivan Franko National Univ. of Lviv (Ukraine). Inorganic Chemistry Dept.; Rodewald, Ute C.; Poettgen, Rainer [Muenster Univ. (Germany). Inst. fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie; Zaremba, Vasyl' I.; Pavlosyuk, Orest [Ivan Franko National Univ. of Lviv (Ukraine). Inorganic Chemistry Dept.

    2012-02-15

    The gold-rich indide Eu{sub 5}Au{sub 17.7}In{sub 4.3} was synthesized from the elements in a sealed tantalum ampoule that was heated in a high-frequency furnace. Eu{sub 5}Au{sub 17.7}In{sub 4.3} crystallizes with a new monoclinic structure type: C2/m, a = 902.7(2), b = 722.8(3), c = 1734.1(4) pm, {beta} = 94.31(3) , wR2 = 0.0907, 2640 F{sup 2} values and 74 variables. Eu{sub 5}Au{sub 17.7}In{sub 4.3} has a pronounced gold substructure with Au.Au distances ranging from 278 to 300 pm. The striking structural motifs in the gold substructure are networks of Au6 hexagons and discrete units of corner- and edge-sharing Au{sub 4} tetrahedra. Eu{sub 5}Au{sub 17.70}In{sub 4.30} exhibits a small homogeneity range with In/Au mixing on two Wyckoff sites. Geometrically, the Eu{sub 5}Au{sub 17.7}In{sub 4.3} structure can be explained as an intergrowth variant of slightly distorted SrAu{sub 4.76}In{sub 1.24}- and BaLi{sub 4}-related slabs. The europium coordination in the BaLi{sub 4} slabs is similar to binary EuAu{sub 2}. (orig.)

  16. Adenovirally delivered shRNA strongly inhibits Na+-Ca2+ exchanger expression but does not prevent contraction of neonatal cardiomyocytes.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Hurtado, Cecilia; Ander, Bradley P; Maddaford, Thane G; Lukas, Anton; Hryshko, Larry V; Pierce, Grant N

    2005-04-01

    The cardiac Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX1) is the main mechanism for Ca(2+) efflux in the heart and is thought to serve an essential role in cardiac excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling. The demonstration that an NCX1 gene knock-out is embryonic lethal provides further support for this essential role. However, a recent report employing the Cre/loxP technique for cardiac specific knock-out of NCX1 has revealed that cardiac function is remarkably preserved in these mice, which survived to adulthood. This controversy highlights the necessity for further investigation of NCX1 function in the heart. In this study, we report on a novel approach for depletion of NCX1 in postnatal rat myocytes that utilizes RNA interference (RNAi), administered with high efficiency via adenoviral transfection. Depletion of NCX1 was confirmed by immunocytochemical detection, Western blots and radioisotopic assays of Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange activity. Exchanger expression was inhibited by up to approximately 94%. Surprisingly, spontaneous beating of these cardiomyocytes was still maintained, although at a lower frequency. Electrical stimulation could elicit a normal beating rhythm, although NCX depleted cells exhibited a depressed Ca(2+) transient amplitude, a depressed rate of Ca(2+) rise and decline, elevated diastolic [Ca(2+)], and shorter action potentials. We also observed a compensatory increase in sarcolemmal Ca(2+) pump expression. Our data support an important, though non-essential, role for the NCX1 in E-C coupling in these neonatal heart cells. Furthermore, this approach provides a valuable means for assessing the role of NCX1 and could be utilized to examine other cardiac proteins in physiological and pathological studies.

  17. Synthesis, crystal structure, and properties of Na{sub 2}RbAuO{sub 2}; Synthese, Kristallstruktur und Eigenschaften von Na{sub 2}RbAuO{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mudring, A.V.; Jansen, M. [Max-Planck-Inst. fuer Festkoerperforschung, Stuttgart (Germany)

    2001-02-01

    Single phase samples of Na{sub 2}RbAuO{sub 2} were prepared by reacting RbAu with Na{sub 2}O{sub 2} in an equimolar ratio in sealed silver cylinders (placed under argon in glas tubes) at 400 C for two weeks. The colourless single crystals of needle shaped habitus decompose immediately when exposed to air. Na{sub 2}RbAuO{sub 2} (Pearsoncode oP12, Pnnm, a = 992.76(6), b = 559.03(3), c = 408.64(3) pm, Z = 2, 414 reflections with I{sub o} > 2{sigma}(I), R{sub 1} = 0.0363, wR{sub 2} = 0.1057) crystallizes isotypic with Na{sub 2}KAuO{sub 2}. Besides linear [O-Au-O] units, which are characteristic for oxoaurate(I), the structure reveals uncommon low coordination numbers for the alkali metal cations. (orig.)

  18. Hexagonal perovskites with cationic vacancies. 20. Ba/sub 6/Nb/sub 4/ZrvacantO/sub 18/ - a new stacking polytype with a rhombohedral 18 L structure

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Schittenhelm, H J; Kemmler-Sack, S [Tuebingen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Lehrstuhl fuer Anorganische Chemie 2

    1980-06-01

    The white Ba/sub 6/Nb/sub 4/ZrvacantO/sub 18/ crystallizes in a rhombohedral 18 L structure (a = 5.82/sub 1/ A; c = 42.6/sub 3/ A; space group R3m) with three formula units for the trigonal setting (rhosub(exp) = 6.0/sub 5/ g/cm/sup 3/; rhosub(calc) = 6.27/sub 1/ g/cm/sup 3/). The corresponding Tisup(IV) and Hfsup(IV) compounds, Ba/sub 6/Nb/sub 4/TivacantO/sub 18/ and Ba/sub 6/Nb/sub 4/HfvacantO/sub 18/, are isotypic.

  19. The crystal structure of Cs{sub 2}S{sub 2}O{sub 3}.H{sub 2}O

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Winkler, Verena; Schlosser, Marc; Pfitzner, Arno [Regensburg Univ. (Germany). Inst. fuer Anorganische Chemie

    2016-08-01

    A reinvestigation of the alkali metal thiosulfates has led to the new phase Cs{sub 2}S{sub 2}O{sub 3}.H{sub 2}O. At first cesium thiosulfate monohydrate was obtained as a byproduct of the synthesis of Cs{sub 4}In{sub 2}S{sub 5}. Further investigations were carried out using the traditional synthesis reported by J. Meyer and H. Eggeling. Cs{sub 2}S{sub 2}O{sub 3}.H{sub 2}O crystallizes in transparent, colorless needles. The crystal structure of the title compound was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction at room temperature: space group C2/m (No. 12), unit cell dimensions: a = 11.229(4), b = 5.851(2), c = 11.260(5) Aa, β = 95.89(2) , with Z = 4 and a cell volume of V = 735.9(5) Aa{sup 3}. The positions of all atoms including the hydrogen atoms were located in the structure refinement. Cs{sub 2}S{sub 2}O{sub 3}.H{sub 2}O is isotypic with Rb{sub 2}S{sub 2}O{sub 3}.H{sub 2}O. Isolated tetrahedra [S{sub 2}O{sub 3}]{sup 2-} are coordinated by the alkali metal cations, and in addition they serve as acceptors for hydrogen bonding. For both Cs atoms the shortest distances are observed to oxygen atoms of the S{sub 2}O{sub 3}{sup 2-} anions whereas the terminating sulfur atom has its shortest contacts to the water hydrogen atoms. Thus, an extended hydrogen bonding network is formed. The title compound has also been characterized by IR spectroscopy. IR spectroscopy reveals the vibrational bands of the water molecules at 3385 cm{sup -1}. They show a red shift in the OH stretching and bending modes as compared to free water. This is due both to the S..H hydrogen bonding and to the coordination of H{sub 2}O molecules to the cesium atoms.

  20. Tellurium sulfates from reactions in oleum and sulfur trioxide: syntheses and crystal structures of TeO(SO{sub 4}), Te{sub 4}O{sub 3}(SO{sub 4}){sub 5}, and Te(S{sub 2}O{sub 7}){sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Logemann, Christian; Bruns, Joern; Schindler, Lisa Verena; Zimmermann, Vanessa; Wickleder, Mathias S. [Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Institute of Chemistry (Germany)

    2015-04-15

    The reaction of K{sub 2}TeO{sub 4} with fuming sulfuric acid (65 % SO{sub 3}) in sealed glass ampoules at 250 C led to colorless single crystals of TeO(SO{sub 4}) [triclinic, P anti 1, Z = 8, a = 819.89(3) pm, b = 836.95(4) pm, c = 1179.12(5) pm, α = 82.820(2) , β = 70.645(2) , γ = 81.897(2) , V = 753.11(6) x 10{sup 6} pm{sup 3}]. A horseshoe type [Te{sub 4}O{sub 3}] fragment is the basic motif in the layer structure of the compound. The [Te{sub 4}O{sub 3}] moieties are linked to infinite chains by further oxide ions. Monomeric [Te{sub 4}O{sub 3}] horseshoes are found in the crystal structure of Te{sub 4}O{sub 3}(SO{sub 4}){sub 5} [trigonal, P3{sub 2}21, Z = 3, a = 859.05(2) pm, c = 2230.66(7) pm, V = 1425.61(6) x 10{sup 6} pm{sup 3}], which was obtained from TeO{sub 2} and fuming sulfuric acid (65 % SO{sub 3}) at 200 C as colorless single crystals. By switching to neat SO{sub 3} as reaction medium colorless crystals of Te(S{sub 2}O{sub 7}){sub 2} [P2{sub 1}/n, Z = 4, a = 1065.25(3) pm, b = 818.50(2) pm, c = 1206.27(3) pm, β = 102.097(1) , V = 1028.40(5) x 10{sup 6} pm{sup 3}] form when ortho-telluric acid, H{sub 6}TeO{sub 6}, is used as the tellurium source. The compound was reported previously, however, obviously with a wrong crystallographic description. In the crystal structure the tellurium atoms are coordinated by two chelating disulfate ions. Further Te-O contacts link the [Te(S{sub 2}O{sub 7}){sub 2}] units to an extended network. (Copyright copyright 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  1. Assessing the osteoblast transcriptome in a model of enhanced bone formation due to constitutive G{sub s}–G protein signaling in osteoblasts

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wattanachanya, Lalita, E-mail: lalita_md@yahoo.com [Endocrine Research Unit, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA (United States); Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok (Thailand); Wang, Liping, E-mail: lipingwang05@yahoo.com [Endocrine Research Unit, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA (United States); Millard, Susan M., E-mail: susan.millard@mater.uq.edu.au [Endocrine Research Unit, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA (United States); Lu, Wei-Dar, E-mail: weidar_lu@yahoo.com [Endocrine Research Unit, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA (United States); O’Carroll, Dylan, E-mail: dylancocarroll@gmail.com [Endocrine Research Unit, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA (United States); Hsiao, Edward C., E-mail: Edward.Hsiao@ucsf.edu [Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA (United States); Conklin, Bruce R., E-mail: bconklin@gladstone.ucsf.edu [Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA (United States); Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA (United States); Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA (United States); Nissenson, Robert A., E-mail: Robert.Nissenson@ucsf.edu [Endocrine Research Unit, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA (United States)

    2015-05-01

    G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling in osteoblasts (OBs) is an important regulator of bone formation. We previously described a mouse model expressing Rs1, an engineered constitutively active G{sub s}-coupled GPCR, under the control of the 2.3 kb Col I promoter. These mice showed a dramatic age-dependent increase in trabecular bone of femurs. Here, we further evaluated the effects of enhanced G{sub s} signaling in OBs on intramembranous bone formation by examining calvariae of 1- and 9-week-old Col1(2.3)/Rs1 mice and characterized the in vivo gene expression specifically occurring in osteoblasts with activated G{sub s} G protein-coupled receptor signaling, at the cellular level rather than in a whole bone. Rs1 calvariae displayed a dramatic increase in bone volume with partial loss of cortical structure. By immunohistochemistry, Osterix was detected in cells throughout the inter-trabecular space while Osteocalcin was expressed predominantly in cells along bone surfaces, suggesting the role of paracrine mediators secreted from OBs driven by 2.3 kb Col I promoter could influence early OB commitment, differentiation, and/or proliferation. Gene expression analysis of calvarial OBs revealed that genes affected by Rs1 signaling include those encoding proteins important for cell differentiation, cytokines and growth factors, angiogenesis, coagulation, and energy metabolism. The set of G{sub s}-GPCRs and other GPCRs that may contribute to the observed skeletal phenotype and candidate paracrine mediators of the effect of G{sub s} signaling in OBs were also determined. Our results identify novel detailed in vivo cellular changes of the anabolic response of the skeleton to G{sub s} signaling in mature OBs. - Highlights: • OB expression of an engineered G{sub s}-coupled receptor dramatically increases bone mass. • We investigated the changes in gene expression in vivo in enhanced OB G{sub s} signaling. • Genes in cell cycle and transcription were increased in

  2. Quantitative measurement of exchange dynamics in proteins via {sup 13}C relaxation dispersion of {sup 13}CHD{sub 2}-labeled samples

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rennella, Enrico; Schuetz, Anne K.; Kay, Lewis E., E-mail: kay@pound.med.utoronto.ca [University of Toronto, Departments of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Chemistry (Canada)

    2016-06-15

    Methyl groups have emerged as powerful probes of protein dynamics with timescales from picoseconds to seconds. Typically, studies involving high molecular weight complexes exploit {sup 13}CH{sub 3}- or {sup 13}CHD{sub 2}-labeling in otherwise highly deuterated proteins. The {sup 13}CHD{sub 2} label offers the unique advantage of providing {sup 13}C, {sup 1}H and {sup 2}H spin probes, however a disadvantage has been the lack of an experiment to record {sup 13}C Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill relaxation dispersion that monitors millisecond time-scale dynamics, implicated in a wide range of biological processes. Herein we develop an experiment that eliminates artifacts that would normally result from the scalar coupling between {sup 13}C and {sup 2}H spins that has limited applications in the past. The utility of the approach is established with a number of applications, including measurement of ms dynamics of a disease mutant of a 320 kDa p97 complex.

  3. Preliminary structural studies on the leucine-zipper homology region of the human protein Bap31

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mukasa, Takashi; Santelli, Eugenio [Program on Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Infectious Diseases, The Burnham Institute for Medical Research, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037 (United States); Reed, John C. [Program on Apoptosis, Cancer Center, The Burnham Institute for Medical Research, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037 (United States); Pascual, Jaime, E-mail: pascual@burnham.org [Program on Infectious Diseases, Center for Inflammation and Infectious Diseases, The Burnham Institute for Medical Research, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037 (United States)

    2007-04-01

    A leucine-zipper with properties as apoptotic regulator in the ER has been crystallized. X-ray data to 2.5 Å resolution were collected, molecular replacement solutions were identified and refinement has been started. B-cell receptor-associated protein 31 (Bap31) is an integral membrane protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that participates in the transport and quality control of membrane proteins and plays a role in determining cell sensitivity to ER stress and apoptosis. Its cytoplasmic region contains two target sites for caspase cleavage in certain apoptotic pathways. Here, the subcloning, expression, purification and crystallization of the Homo sapiens Bap31 leucine-zipper C-terminal fragment, which spans residues Gly160–Glu246, are reported. An N-terminally His-tagged protein was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified by chromatographic methods. X-ray diffraction data were collected in-house to 2.5 Å resolution. Crystals belong to space group P6{sub 1}22/P6{sub 5}22, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 70.7, c = 80.6 Å. Data analysis indicates the presence of one molecule per asymmetric unit.

  4. Genetic deficiency of the α subunit of the guanine nucleotide-binding protein G/sub s/ as the molecular basis for Albright hereditary osteodystrophy

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Levine, M.A.; Ahn, T.G.; Klupt, S.F.; Kaufman, K.D.; Smallwood, P.M.; Bourne, H.R.; Sullivan, K.A.; Van Dop, C.

    1988-01-01

    Patients who have pseudohypoparathyroidism type I associated with Albright hereditary osteodystrophy commonly have a genetic deficiency of the α subunit of the G protein that stimulated adenylyl cyclase αG/sub s/. To discover the molecular mechanism that causes αG/sub s/ deficiency in these patients, the authors examined eight kindreds with one or more members affected with Albright hereditary osteodystrophy or pseudohypoparathyroidism and αG/sub s/ deficiency. In these families, αG/sub s/, deficiency and the Albright hereditary osteodystrophy phenotype were transmitted together in a dominant inheritance pattern. Using a cDNA hybridization probe for αG/sub s/, restriction analysis with several analysis with several endonucleases showed no abnormalities of restriction fragments or gene dosage. RNA blot and dot blot analysis of total RNA from cultured fibroblasts obtained from the patients revealed ∼ 50% reduced mRNA levels for αG/sub s/ in affected members of six of the pedigrees but normal levels in affected members of the two other pedigrees, compared to mRNA levels in fibroblasts from unaffected individuals. By contrast, mRNA levels encoding the α subunit of the G protein that inhibits adenylyl cyclase were not altered. These findings suggest that several molecular mechanisms produce αG/sub s/ deficiency in patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia and that major gene rearrangements or deletions are not a common cause for αG/sub s/ deficiency in pseudohypoparathyroidism type I

  5. The RecX protein interacts with the RecA protein and modulates its activity in Herbaspirillum seropedicae

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Galvão, C.W. [Departamento de Biologia Estrutural, Molecular e Genética, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, PR (Brazil); Souza, E.M. [Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR (Brazil); Etto, R.M. [Departamento de Biologia Estrutural, Molecular e Genética, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, PR (Brazil); Pedrosa, F.O.; Chubatsu, L.S.; Yates, M.G. [Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR (Brazil); Schumacher, J.; Buck, M. [Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London (United Kingdom); Steffens, M.B.R. [Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR (Brazil)

    2012-10-15

    DNA repair is crucial to the survival of all organisms. The bacterial RecA protein is a central component in the SOS response and in recombinational and SOS DNA repairs. The RecX protein has been characterized as a negative modulator of RecA activity in many bacteria. The recA and recX genes of Herbaspirillum seropedicae constitute a single operon, and evidence suggests that RecX participates in SOS repair. In the present study, we show that the H. seropedicae RecX protein (RecX{sub Hs}) can interact with the H. seropedicae RecA protein (RecA{sub Hs}) and that RecA{sub Hs} possesses ATP binding, ATP hydrolyzing and DNA strand exchange activities. RecX{sub Hs} inhibited 90% of the RecA{sub Hs} DNA strand exchange activity even when present in a 50-fold lower molar concentration than RecA{sub Hs}. RecA{sub Hs} ATP binding was not affected by the addition of RecX, but the ATPase activity was reduced. When RecX{sub Hs} was present before the formation of RecA filaments (RecA-ssDNA), inhibition of ATPase activity was substantially reduced and excess ssDNA also partially suppressed this inhibition. The results suggest that the RecX{sub Hs} protein negatively modulates the RecA{sub Hs} activities by protein-protein interactions and also by DNA-protein interactions.

  6. Synthesis, crystal structure, and physical properties of the Gd{sub 3}BiO{sub 3} and Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8} phases

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Forbes, Scott; Yuan, Fang [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M1 (Canada); Kosuda, Kosuke; Kolodiazhnyi, Taras [Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044 (Japan); Mozharivskyj, Yurij, E-mail: mozhar@mcmaster.ca [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M1 (Canada)

    2016-01-15

    The second and third known rare-earth bismuthide oxides, Gd{sub 3}BiO{sub 3} and Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8}, have been discovered via high temperature reactions at 1300 °C. Like its Gd–Sb–O counterparts, the Gd{sub 3}BiO{sub 3} and Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8} phases crystallize in the monoclinic C2/m space group, with the latter containing disordered Bi atoms along the b direction of the unit cell. Unlike the RE{sub 8}Sb{sub 3}O{sub 8} series, the formation of the Gd{sub 3}BiO{sub 3} phase does not necessarily precede the formation of Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8}, which is likely due to the difficulty of accommodating bismuth in the RE–O framework due to its larger size. Physical property measurements performed on a pure Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8} sample reveal semiconducting behavior. Although electronic structure calculations predict metallic behavior due to an unbalanced electron count, the semiconducting behavior originates from the Anderson localization of the Bi p states near the Fermi level as a result of atomic disorder. - Graphical abstract: Reaction of GdBi and Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} at high temperatures yields Gd–Bi–O phases. - Highlights: • Gd{sub 3}BiO{sub 3} and Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8}, the second and third rare-earth bismuthide oxides, have been discovered. • Gd{sub 3}BiO{sub 3} and Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8} are isostructural with RE{sub 3}SbO{sub 3} and RE{sub 8}Sb{sub 3}O{sub 8}. • Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8} displays semiconducting behavior despite an unbalanced electron count. • Anderson localization of Bi p states results in semiconducting behavior in Gd{sub 8}Bi{sub 3}O{sub 8}.

  7. Raman and FTIR spectra of CeO{sub 2} and Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} in iron phosphate glasses

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lai, Yuanming, E-mail: laiyuanming@ipm.com.cn [State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies for Comprehensive Utilization of Platinum Metals, Kunming Institute of Precious Metals, Kunming 650106 (China); State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Nonmetal Composite and Functional Materials, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010 (China); Liang, Xiaofeng; Yang, Shiyuan [State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Nonmetal Composite and Functional Materials, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010 (China); Liu, Pei; Zeng, Yiming; Hu, Changyi [State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies for Comprehensive Utilization of Platinum Metals, Kunming Institute of Precious Metals, Kunming 650106 (China)

    2014-12-25

    Highlights: • The structure of the studied samples has been investigated by Raman and FTIR spectroscopy. • The structure for the all samples has similar features. • The structure consists of predominantly Q{sup 1} with a fraction of Q{sup 0} and Q{sup 2} units. • The Ce and Gd enters in the structure of studied glasses as a network modifier. - Abstract: In the present work, multicomponent oxide samples of composition x(CeO{sub 2} + Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3})–(40 − x)Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}–60P{sub 2}O{sub 5} (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 8 mol%) were produced by conventional melting method. The samples were investigated to examine the effect of the CeO{sub 2} and Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} composition on the structure of the iron phosphate glasses system. The X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the x ⩽ 6 mol% samples show all the samples formed homogeneous glass, but for the x = 8 mol% samples show the presence of randomly distributed crystalline phase embedded in an amorphous matrix. The x(CeO{sub 2} + Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3})–(40 − x)Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}–60P{sub 2}O{sub 5} glass containing 8 mol% CeO{sub 2} and Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3} partially crystallized during annealing and Ce/Gd-rich were identified by EDS in the crystalline phase. The structure of the studied samples has been investigated using Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The Raman and FTIR spectra for the samples have analogous spectral features. The Raman and FTIR spectra suggest that the structure is mainly constituted by the pyrophosphate glass based structure, with a part proportion of metaphosphate and orthophosphate structure. Raman and FTIR spectra allowed us to identify the structural units which appear in the structural network of these phosphate glasses and also the network modifier role of cerium and gadolinium ions.

  8. Functional engineering of perovskite nanosheets. Impact of lead substitution on exfoliation in the solid solution RbCa{sub 2-x}Pb{sub x}Nb{sub 3}O{sub 10}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ziegler, Christian; Lotsch, Bettina V. [Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart (Germany); Department of Chemistry, University of Munich (LMU), Munich (Germany); Nanosystems Initiative Munich (NIM) and Center for Nanoscience (CeNS), Munich (Germany); Dennenwaldt, Teresa [Max-Planck-Institut fuer Eisenforschung GmbH, Duesseldorf (Germany); Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (Switzerland); Weber, Daniel; Duppel, Viola; Kamella, Claudia; Tuffy, Brian; Moudrakovski, Igor [Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart (Germany); Podjaski, Filip [Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart (Germany); Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (Switzerland); Scheu, Christina [Max-Planck-Institut fuer Eisenforschung GmbH, Duesseldorf (Germany)

    2017-11-17

    Tuning the chemical composition and structure for targeted functionality in two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets has become a major objective in the rapidly growing area of 2D materials. In the context of photocatalysis, both miniaturization and extending the light absorption of UV active photocatalysts are major assets. Here, we investigate the solid solution between two photocatalytic systems known from literature to evolve H{sub 2} from water/methanol under UV - RbCa{sub 2}Nb{sub 3}O{sub 10} (E{sub g} = 3.7 eV) - and visible light irradiation - RbPb{sub 2}Nb{sub 3}O{sub 10} (E{sub g} = 3.0 eV) - by synthesizing hypothetical RbCa{sub 2-x}Pb{sub x}Nb{sub 3}O{sub 10}. While the calcium niobate can easily be exfoliated into individual nanosheets via cation-proton exchange and subsequent treatment with tetra-n-butylammonium hydroxide (TBAOH), the lead niobate barely yields nanosheets. Spectroscopic and microscopic analysis suggest that this is caused by volatilization of Pb during synthesis, leading to a local 3D linkage of RbPb{sub 2}Nb{sub 3}O{sub 10} perovskite units with Pb deficient units. On the one hand, this linkage progressively prevents exfoliation along with an increasing Pb content. On the other hand, introducing Pb into the perovskite blocks successively leads to bandgap narrowing, thus gradually enhancing the light harvesting capability of the solid solution. Finding a compromise between this narrowing of the bandgap and the possibility of exfoliation, visible light sensitized nanosheets can be engineered in good yield for an initial molar ratio of Ca:Pb ≥ 1:1. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  9. Synthesis, structural characteristics and dielectric properties of a new K{sub 2}NiF{sub 4}-type phase Sr{sub 2}Mn{sub 0.5}Ti{sub 0.5}O{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Chupakhina, T.I., E-mail: chupakhina@ihim.uran.ru [Institute of Solid State Chemistry of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 91, Pervomaiskaya Str., Ekaterinburg (Russian Federation); Melnikova, N.V. [Ural Federal University, 19, Mira Str., Ekaterinburg (Russian Federation); Gyrdasova, O.I. [Institute of Solid State Chemistry of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 91, Pervomaiskaya Str., Ekaterinburg (Russian Federation)

    2016-06-15

    A new K{sub 2}NiF{sub 4}-type phase Sr{sub 2}Mn{sub 0,5}Ti{sub 0,5}O{sub 4} have been synthesized by a sol–gel procedure and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. There are no oxide ion vacancies in these materials; oxidation states of manganese and titanium were estimated as +4. Rietveld profile analysis shows that the phase crystallizes with tetragonal unit cell in the space group I4/mmm. Substitution of Ti{sup 4+} for Mn{sup 4+} does not affect the distortion of coordination polyhedra (Mn,Ti)O{sub 6} and SrO{sub 9}. The dielectric properties of the ceramic samples are caused by structural and charge characteristics, regular coordination polyhedra SrO{sub 9} and lack of charge ordering, which can lead to significant permittivity. Increase of the dielectric constant at temperatures above 453 K is caused mainly by the grain boundary processes explained in terms of the Maxwell–Wagner polarization model. - Highlights: • The new complex oxide Sr{sub 2}Mn{sub 0,5}Ti{sub 0,5}O{sub 4} was prepared. • The structures of the compound were analyzed by Rietveld refinement. • Distortions of SrO{sub 9} and (Mn,Ti)O{sub 6} polyhedra are not strong. • Dielectric properties are determined by regular structure and lack of charge ordering. • Permittivity increase under heat is associated with processes at the grain boundaries.

  10. Facile synthesis of Ba<sub>1-xsub>Kx>Fe₂As₂ superconductors via hydride route

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zaikina, Julia V. [Univ. of California at Davis, Davis, CA (United States); Batuk, Maria [Univ. of Antwerp, Antwerp (Belgium); Abakumov, Artem M. [Univ. of Antwerp, Antwerp (Belgium); Navrotsky, Alexandra [Univ. of California at Davis, Davis, CA (United States); Kauzlarich, Susan M. [Univ. of California at Davis, Davis, CA (United States)

    2014-12-03

    We have developed a fast, easy, and scalable synthesis method for Ba<sub>1-xsub>Kx>Fe₂As₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) superconductors using hydrides BaH₂ and KH as a source of barium and potassium metals. Synthesis from hydrides provides better mixing and easier handling of the starting materials, consequently leading to faster reactions and/or lower synthesis temperatures. The reducing atmosphere provided by the evolved hydrogen facilitates preparation of oxygen-free powders. By a combination of methods we have shown that Ba<sub>1-xsub>Kx>Fe₂As₂ obtained via hydride route has the same characteristics as when it is prepared by traditional solid-state synthesis. Refinement from synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data confirms a linear dependence of unit cell parameters upon K content as well as the tetragonal to orthorhombic transition at low temperatures for compositions with x < 0.2. Magnetic measurements revealed dome-like dependence of superconducting transition temperature T<sub>c> upon K content with a maximum of 38 K for x close to 0.4. Electron diffraction and high-resolution high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy indicates an absence of Ba/K ordering, while local inhomogeneity in the Ba/K distribution takes place at a scale of several angstroms along [110] crystallographic direction.

  11. Study and characterization of the BBT (BaBi{sub 4}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 15}) ceramic added with 1 wt. % Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5}; Estudo e caracterizacao da ceramica BBT (BaBi{sub 4}Ti{sub 4}O{sub 15}) dopada com 1% de Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Silva, P.M.O.; Sales, A.J.M.; Freitas, D.B.; Oliveira, R.G.M.; Sombra, A.S.B., E-mail: paulo2003@gmail.com [Universidade Federal do Ceara (UFC), Fortaleza, CE (Brazil); Sales, J.C. [Universidade Estadual Vale do Acarau (UVA), Fortaleza, CE (Brazil)

    2012-07-01

    This study aims to synthesize and characterize the ceramic BBT (BaBi{sub 4}TI{sub 4}O{sub 15}) doped with 1% by mass of the densification Nb2O5 to improve the products. The phase of the BBT has been found by solid state reaction. The mixed oxides starting processed by high-energy milling in planetary mill reactor polymer and spheres of zirconia and calcined at 850°C/3h. Later, 'bulks' prepared with the calcined powder were sintered at 950°C/3h. The calcined powder was characterized by X-ray diffraction data and refined by the beta 3.2 DBWSTools program using the Rietveld method. The grain morphology and distribution of pores on the surface of the 'bulks' were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The result confirmed the refined to obtain the single phase with tetragonal structure BaBi{sub 4}TI{sub 4}O{sub 15} density of 5.088 g/cm3 calculated in the unit cell. SEM analysis by SEM showed improved densification of the doped. (author)

  12. Quantitative analysis of residual protein contamination of podiatry instruments reprocessed through local and central decontamination units.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Smith, Gordon Wg; Goldie, Frank; Long, Steven; Lappin, David F; Ramage, Gordon; Smith, Andrew J

    2011-01-10

    The cleaning stage of the instrument decontamination process has come under increased scrutiny due to the increasing complexity of surgical instruments and the adverse affects of residual protein contamination on surgical instruments. Instruments used in the podiatry field have a complex surface topography and are exposed to a wide range of biological contamination. Currently, podiatry instruments are reprocessed locally within surgeries while national strategies are favouring a move toward reprocessing in central facilities. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of local and central reprocessing on podiatry instruments by measuring residual protein contamination of instruments reprocessed by both methods. The residual protein of 189 instruments reprocessed centrally and 189 instruments reprocessed locally was determined using a fluorescent assay based on the reaction of proteins with o-phthaldialdehyde/sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate. Residual protein was detected on 72% (n = 136) of instruments reprocessed centrally and 90% (n = 170) of instruments reprocessed locally. Significantly less protein (p podiatry instruments when protein contamination is considered, though no significant difference was found in residual protein between local decontamination unit and central decontamination unit processes for Blacks files. Further research is needed to undertake qualitative identification of protein contamination to identify any cross contamination risks and a standard for acceptable residual protein contamination applicable to different instruments and specialities should be considered as a matter of urgency.

  13. Polymorphism of tungsten perovskite compounds Ba/sub 2/SEsub(0. 67)WO/sub 6/

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Schittenhelm, H J; Kemmler-Sack, S [Tuebingen Univ. (F.R. Germany). Inst. fuer Anorganische Chemie

    1976-09-01

    The compounds Ba/sub 2/SEsub(0.67)WO/sub 6/ with SE = Gd-Lu are polymorphic. Above 1200/sup 0/C the instable cubic modification (ordered perovskite with 4 formula units Ba/sub 2/SEsub(0.67)vacantsub(0.33)WO/sub 6/ per cell) transforms irreversibly into a hexagonal modification with completely filled cationic lattice. For Ba/sub 2/Eusub(0.67)WO/sub 6/ the transformation is incomplete. With SE = Nd and Sm only the cubic modification is formed.

  14. Purification and crystallization of the ABC-type transport substrate-binding protein OppA from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gao, Jinlan; Li, Xiaolu [State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100005, People' s Republic of China (China); Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People' s Republic of China (China); Feng, Yue; Zhang, Bo [Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People' s Republic of China (China); Miao, Shiying [State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100005, People' s Republic of China (China); Wang, Linfang, E-mail: lfwangz@yahoo.com [State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100005, People' s Republic of China (China); Wang, Na, E-mail: nawang@tsinghua.edu.cn [Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, People' s Republic of China (China)

    2012-06-22

    Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We truncated the signal peptide of OppA{sub TTE0054} to make it express in Escherichia coli as a soluble protein. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Crystals of OppA{sub TTE0054} were grown by sitting-drop vapor diffusion method. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The crystal of OppA{sub TTE0054} diffracted to 2.25 A. -- Abstract: Di- and oligopeptide- binding protein OppAs play important roles in solute and nutrient uptake, sporulation, biofilm formation, cell wall muropeptides recycling, peptide-dependent quorum-sensing responses, adherence to host cells, and a variety of other biological processes. Soluble OppA from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis was expressed in Escherichia coli. The protein was found to be >95% pure with SDS-PAGE after a series of purification steps and the purity was further verified by mass spectrometry. The protein was crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method with PEG 400 as the precipitant. Crystal diffraction extended to 2.25 A. The crystal belonged to space group C222{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters of a = 69.395, b = 199.572, c = 131.673 A, and {alpha} = {beta} = {gamma} = 90 Degree-Sign .

  15. Effect of lead on nucleic acid and protein contents of rice (Oryza sativa L. ) seedlings and its interaction with IAA and GA/sub 3/ in different plant systems

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Maitra, P.; Mukherh, S.

    1979-09-01

    Activity of lead acetate, (CH/sub 3/COO)/sub 2/Pb, 3 H/sub 2/O, was studied in germinating rice seedlings with respect to RNA, DNA and alkali soluble protein contents. RNA, DNA and protein contents greatly reduced both in embryo and endosperm with increasing concentrations of lead and with concomitant increase in amino acid content in embryo. When IAA was supplied in combination with lead acetate, variable amounts of relief of elongation inhibition of wheat coleoptile sections were noticed. With GA/sub 3/, however, lead-induced inhibition of either lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) hypocotyl elongation or ..cap alpha..-amylase production in rice half seeds was largely overcome.

  16. Bench Scale Process for Low Cost CO<sub>2sub> Capture Using a Phase-Changing Absorbent: Final Scientific/Technical Report

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Westendorf, Tiffany [GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York (United States); Buddle, Stanlee [GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York (United States); Caraher, Joel [GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York (United States); Chen, Wei [GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York (United States); Doherty, Mark [GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York (United States); Farnum, Rachel [GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York (United States); Giammattei, Mark [GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York (United States); Hancu, Dan [GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York (United States); Miebach, Barbara [GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York (United States); Perry, Robert [GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York (United States); Rubinsztajn, Gosia; Spiry, Irina; Wilson, Paul; Wood, Benjamin

    2017-05-31

    The objective of this project is to design and build a bench-scale process for a novel phase-changing aminosilicone-based CO<sub>2sub>-capture solvent. The project will establish scalability and technical and economic feasibility of using a phase-changing CO<sub>2sub>-capture absorbent for post-combustion capture of CO<sub>2sub> from coal-fired power plants. The U.S. Department of Energy’s goal for Transformational Carbon Capture Technologies is the development of technologies available for demonstration by 2025 that can capture 90% of emitted CO<sub>2sub> with at least 95% CO<sub>2sub> purity for less than $40/tonne of CO<sub>2sub> captured. In the first budget period of the project, the bench-scale phase-changing CO2 capture process was designed using data and operating experience generated under a previous project (ARPA-e project DE-AR0000084). Sizing and specification of all major unit operations was completed, including detailed process and instrumentation diagrams. The system was designed to operate over a wide range of operating conditions to allow for exploration of the effect of process variables on CO<sub>2sub> capture performance. In the second budget period of the project, individual bench-scale unit operations were tested to determine the performance of each of each unit. Solids production was demonstrated in dry simulated flue gas across a wide range of absorber operating conditions, with single stage CO<sub>2sub> conversion rates up to 75mol%. Desorber operation was demonstrated in batch mode, resulting in desorption performance consistent with the equilibrium isotherms for GAP-0/CO<sub>2sub> reaction. Important risks associated with gas humidity impact on solids consistency and desorber temperature impact on thermal degradation were explored, and adjustments to the bench-scale process were made to address those effects. Corrosion experiments were conducted to support selection of suitable materials of construction for the major

  17. Electrical properties, phase transitions and conduction mechanisms of the [(C{sub 2}H{sub 5})NH{sub 3}]{sub 2}CdCl{sub 4} compound

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mohamed, C. Ben; Karoui, K. [Laboratory of Condensed Matter, Faculty of Science of Sfax, University of Sfax, BP1171- 3000 Sfax (Tunisia); Saidi, S. [Laboratory of Materials, Organization and Properties (LMOP), Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Tunis-El Manar University, 2092 Tunis (Tunisia); Guidara, K. [Laboratory of Condensed Matter, Faculty of Science of Sfax, University of Sfax, BP1171- 3000 Sfax (Tunisia); Rhaiem, A. Ben, E-mail: abdallahrhaiem@yahoo.fr [Laboratory of Condensed Matter, Faculty of Science of Sfax, University of Sfax, BP1171- 3000 Sfax (Tunisia)

    2014-10-15

    The [(C{sub 2}H{sub 5})NH{sub 3}]{sub 2}CdCl{sub 4} hybrid material was prepared and its calorimetric study and electric properties were investigated at low temperature. The X-ray powder diffractogram has shown that the compound is crystallized in the orthorhombic system with Abma space group, and the refined unit cell parameters are a=7.546 Å, b=7.443 Å, and c=21.831 Å. The calorimetric study has revealed two endothermic peaks at 216 K and 357 K, which are confirmed by the variation of f{sub p} and σ{sub dc} as a function of temperature. The equivalent circuit based on the Z-View-software was proposed and the conduction mechanisms were determined. The obtained results have been discussed in terms of the correlated barrier hopping model (CBH) in phase I (low temperature (OLT)), non-overlapping small polaron tunneling model (NSPT) in phase II (room temperature (ORT)) and the overlapping large polaron tunneling model in phase III (high temperature (OHT)). The density of localized states N{sub F}(E) at the Fermi level and the binding energy W{sub m} were calculated. The variation of the dielectric loss log(ε″) with log(ω) was found to follow the empirical law, ε″=B ω{sup m(T)}.

  18. Abundant immunohistochemical expression of dopamine D{sub 2} receptor and p53 protein in meningiomas: follow-up, relation to gender, age, tumor grade, and recurrence

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Trott, G.; Pereira-Lima, J.F.S.; Leães, C.G.S. [Programa de Graduação em Patologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil); Centro de Neuroendocrinologia, Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil); Ferreira, N.P. [Centro de Neuroendocrinologia, Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil); Barbosa-Coutinho, L.M. [Programa de Graduação em Patologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil); Oliveira, M.C. [Programa de Graduação em Patologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil); Centro de Neuroendocrinologia, Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil)

    2015-03-03

    Meningiomas are common, usually benign tumors, with a high postoperative recurrence rate. However, the genesis and development of these tumors remain controversial. We aimed to investigate the presence and implications of a mutated p53 protein and dopamine D{sub 2} receptor in a representative series of meningiomas and to correlate these findings with age, gender, tumor grade, and recurrence. Tumor tissue samples of 157 patients diagnosed with meningioma (37 males and 120 females, mean age 53.6±14.3 years) who underwent surgical resection between 2003 and 2012 at our institution were immunohistochemically evaluated for the presence of p53 protein and dopamine D{sub 2} receptor and were followed-up to analyze tumor recurrence or regrowth. Tumors were classified as grades I (n=141, 89.8%), II (n=13, 8.3%), or grade III (n=3, 1.9%). Dopamine D{sub 2} receptor and p53 protein expression were positive in 93.6% and 49.7% of the cases, respectively. Neither of the markers showed significant expression differences among different tumor grades or recurrence or regrowth statuses. Our findings highlight the potential role of p53 protein in meningioma development and/or progression. The high positivity of dopamine D{sub 2} receptor observed in this study warrants further investigation of the therapeutic potential of dopamine agonists in the evolution of meningiomas.

  19. Structural investigation and microwave characteristics of (Ba{sub 0.2}La{sub 0.8})Fe{sub 0.2}Mn{sub 0.4}Ti{sub 0.4}O{sub 3} absorbing materials

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Manaf, Azwar [Dept. of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Indonesia of University (Indonesia); Adi, Wisnu Ari, E-mail: dwisnuaa@batan.go.id [Center for Technology of Nuclear Industry Material, National Nuclear Energy Agency (Indonesia)

    2014-03-24

    Synthesis and characterization of (Ba{sub 0.2}La{sub 0.8})Fe{sub 0.2}Mn{sub 0.4}Ti{sub 0.4}O{sub 3} absorbing material by mechanical alloying process has been performed. The absorbing material was prepared by oxide materials, namely BaCO{sub 3}, La{sub 2}O{sub 3}, TiO{sub 2}, Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and MnCO{sub 3}. The mixture was milled for 10 h and then sintered at a temperature of 1000 ° C for 10 h. The refinement results of x-ray diffraction pattern of lanthanum manganite substituted with barium showed that the sample consisted of two phases, namely, La{sub 0.9125}MnO{sub 3} phase which has a structure monoclinic (I12/a1) with lattice parameters a = 5.527(1) Å, b = 5.572(1) Å and c = 7.810(1) Å, α = γ = 90° and β = 89.88(5)°, the unit cell volume of V = 240.57(8) Å{sup 3}, and the atomic density of ρ = 6.238 gr.cm{sup −3}. The microstructure analyses showed that the particle shapes was polygonal with the varied particle sizes of 1 ∼ 3 μm distributed homogeneously on the surface of the samples. The results of the electromagnetic wave absorption curve analysis by using a vector network analyzer (VNA) showed that the sample can absorb microwaves in the frequency range of 8-15 GHz with a very wide absorption bandwidth. It indicates that the as prepared absorber presents potential absorbing property in X and Ku-band. We concluded that the (Ba{sub 0.2}La{sub 0.8})Fe{sub 0.2}Mn{sub 0.4}Ti{sub 0.4}O{sub 3} material can be applied as a candidate absorber material of microwaves or electromagnetic wave.

  20. Lacritin and Other New Proteins of the Lacrimal Functional Unit

    OpenAIRE

    McKown, Robert L.; Wang, Ningning; Raab, Ronald W.; Karnati, Roy; Zhang, Yinghui; Williams, Patricia B.; Laurie, Gordon W.

    2008-01-01

    The lacrimal functional unit (LFU) is defined by the 2007 International Dry Eye WorkShop as ‘an integrated system comprising the lacrimal glands, ocular surface (cornea, conjunctiva and meibomian glands) and lids, and the sensory and motor nerves that connect them’. The LFU maintains a healthy ocular surface primarily through a properly functioning tear film that provides protection, lubrication, and an environment for corneal epithelial cell renewal. LFU cells express thousands of proteins. ...

  1. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of choline-binding protein F from Streptococcus pneumoniae

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Molina, Rafael [Grupo de Cristalografía Macromolecular y Biología Estructural, Instituto Química Física Rocasolano, CSIC, Serrano 119, 28006 Madrid (Spain); González, Ana; Moscoso, Miriam; García, Pedro [Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid (Spain); Stelter, Meike; Kahn, Richard [Institut de Biologie Structurale J.-P. Ebel CEA CNRS UJF, Laboratoire de Cristallographie Macromoléculaire, 41 Rue Jules Horowitz, 38027 Grenoble CEDEX 1 (France); Hermoso, Juan A., E-mail: xjuan@iqfr.csic.es [Grupo de Cristalografía Macromolecular y Biología Estructural, Instituto Química Física Rocasolano, CSIC, Serrano 119, 28006 Madrid (Spain)

    2007-09-01

    The modular choline-binding protein F (CbpF) from S. pneumoniae has been crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. A SAD data set from a gadolinium-complex derivative has been collected to 2.1 Å resolution. Choline-binding protein F (CbpF) is a modular protein that is bound to the pneumococcal cell wall through noncovalent interactions with choline moieties of the bacterial teichoic and lipoteichoic acids. Despite being one of the more abundant proteins on the surface, along with the murein hydrolases LytA, LytB, LytC and Pce, its function is still unknown. CbpF has been crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method at 291 K. Diffraction-quality orthorhombic crystals belong to space group P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2, with unit-cell parameters a = 49.13, b = 114.94, c = 75.69 Å. A SAD data set from a Gd-HPDO3A-derivatized CbpF crystal was collected to 2.1 Å resolution at the gadolinium L{sub III} absorption edge using synchrotron radiation.

  2. Chrystal structure properties of Al-doped Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} synthesized by solid state reaction method

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sandi, Dianisa Khoirum, E-mail: dianisa875@gmail.com; Suryana, Risa, E-mail: rsuryana@staff.uns.ac.id [Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Sebelas Maret University (Indonesia); Priyono, Slamet, E-mail: slam013@lipi.go.id [Physics Research Center (P2F)-LIPI, Puspiptek Area, Serpong, Tangerang (Indonesia)

    2016-02-08

    This research aim is to analyze the effect of Aluminum (Al) doping in the structural properties of Al-doped Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} as anode in lithium ion battery. Al-doped Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} powders were synthesized by solid state reaction method. LiOH.H{sub 2}O, TiO{sub 2}, and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} were raw materials. These materials were milled for 15 h, calcined at temperature of 750{sup o}C and sintered at temperature of 800{sup o}C. Mole percentage of doping Al (x) was varied at x=0; x=0.025; and x =0.05. Al-doped Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} powders were synthesized by solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction was employed to determine the structure of Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12}. The PDXL software was performed on the x-ray diffraction data to estimate the phase percentage, the lattice parameter, the unit cell volume, and the crystal density. Al-doped Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} has cubic crystal structure. Al-doping at x=0 and x=0.025 does not change the phase as Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} while at x=0.050 the phase changes to the LiTiAlO{sub 4}. The diffraction patterns show that the angle shifted to the right as the increase of x which indicated that Al substitute Ti site. Percentage of Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} phase at x=0 and x=0.025 was 97.8% and 96.8%, respectively. However, the lattice parameters, the unit cell volume, and the crystal density does not change significantly at x=0; x=0.025; and x=0.050. Based on the percentage of Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} phase, the Al-doped Li at x=0 and x=0.025 is promising as a lithium battery anode.

  3. Structural, dielectric and magnetic properties of (Pb{sub 1−x}Ca{sub x})(Fe{sub 0.5}Nb{sub 0.5})O{sub 3} solid solution ceramics

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Puri, Maalti; Bahel, Shalini [Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjab (India); Raevski, I.P. [Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don (Russian Federation); Narang, Sukhleen Bindra [Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjab (India)

    2016-06-01

    Ceramic samples of (Pb{sub 1−x}Ca{sub x})(Fe{sub 0.5}Nb{sub 0.5})O{sub 3} with x=0.0, 0.20, 0.40, 0.45, 0.50, 0.55, 0.60 and 1.0 were fabricated by columbite precursor method. All the synthesized samples have a perovskite structure and unit cell volume decreases with increasing Ca content. The substitution of Ca for Pb has been found to have a pronounced effect on structural, dielectric and magnetic properties. Saturated magnetic loops were observed at room temperature for compositions with x≥0.40. The observed maximal magnetization at room temperature is rather small and varies non-monotonically with increasing Ca contents. It is supposed that room-temperature magnetic properties of (Pb{sub 1−x}Ca{sub x})(Fe{sub 0.5}Nb{sub 0.5})O{sub 3} ceramics might be due to the presence of ferromagnetic impurity, presumably PbFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} and/or CaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19}. - Highlights: • Ceramic samples have been synthesized using columbite precursor method. • The substitution of Ca for Pb has a pronounced effect on various properties. • Low losses at high frequencies make these ceramics suitable for microwave applications. • M–H loops at room temperature are reported first time.

  4. Ordered perovskites with cationic vacancies. 10. Compounds of type A/sub 2/sup(II)Bsub(1/4)sup(II)Bsub(1/2)sup(III)vacantsub(1/4)Msup(VI)O/sub 6/ equal to A/sub 8/sup(II)Bsup(II)B/sub 2/sup(III)vacantM/sub 4/sup(VI)O/sub 24/ with Asup(II), Bsup(II) = Ba, Sr, Ca and Msup(VI) = U, W

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Betz, B; Schittenhelm, H J; Kemmler-Sack, S [Tuebingen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Lehrstuhl fuer Anorganische Chemie 2

    1982-01-01

    Perovskites of type Ba/sub 8/Bsup(II)B/sub 2/sup(III)vacantU/sub 4/sup(VI)O/sub 24/ show polymorphic phase transformations of order disorder type. An 1:1 ordered orthorhombic HT form is transformed into a higher ordered LT modification with a fourfold cell content (four formula units Ba/sub 8/Bsup(II)B/sub 2/sup(III)vacantU/sub 4/O/sub 24/), compared to cubic 1:1 ordered perovskites A/sub 2/BMO/sub 6/. In the series Ba/sub 8/BaB/sub 2/sup(III)vacantW/sub 4/O/sub 24/ and Sr/sub 8/SrB/sub 2/sup(III)vacantW/sub 4/O/sub 24/ different ordering phenomena are observed. In comparison with 1:1 ordered cubic perovskites A/sub 2/BMO/sub 6/, the cell contains eight formula units A/sub 8/sup(II)Bsup(II) B/sub 2/sup(III)vacantW/sub 4/O/sub 2/4. The higher ordered cells with Usup(VI) and Wsup(VI) are face centered, which has its origin in an ordering of cationic vacancies.

  5. Lattice contraction and lattice deformation of UO{sub 2} and ThO{sub 2} doped with Gd{sub 2}O{sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Baena, Angela [Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK-CEN), Institute for Nuclear Materials Science, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol (Belgium); KU Leuven, Department of Chemistry, Celestijnenlaan 200F, P.O. Box 2404, B-3001 Heverlee (Belgium); Cardinaels, Thomas; Govers, Kevin; Pakarinen, Janne [Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK-CEN), Institute for Nuclear Materials Science, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol (Belgium); Binnemans, Koen [KU Leuven, Department of Chemistry, Celestijnenlaan 200F, P.O. Box 2404, B-3001 Heverlee (Belgium); Verwerft, Marc, E-mail: marc.verwerft@sckcen.be [Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK-CEN), Institute for Nuclear Materials Science, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol (Belgium)

    2015-12-15

    The lattice deformations in two doped fluorite systems, (U{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x})O{sub 2.00} and (Th{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x})O{sub 2−x/2}, have been reassessed by precise X-ray and electron diffraction investigations and the results were interpreted using the Bond Valence Sum (BVS) approach. For the (U{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x})O{sub 2.00} system, the experimental findings and theoretical assessment confirm earlier work: the lattice keeps its fluorite structure with a unit cell parameter that contracts linearly with dopant concentration. The lattice contraction in the (Th{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x})O{sub 2−x/2} system has for the first time been analyzed up to the solubility limit. Similar as for (U{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x})O{sub 2.00}, the (Th{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x})O{sub 2−x/2} solid solution contracts linearly as a function of dopant concentration but additionally, it develops a superstructure which is closely related to the parent fluorite structure. An excess anion bixbyite trial model is proposed to describe this superstructure. - Highlights: • Lattice deformations of (U{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x})O{sub 2.00} & (Th{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x})O{sub 2−x/2} are not identical. • (U{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x})O{sub 2.00} retains its fluorite structure. • (Th{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x})O{sub 2−x/2} forms an excess-anion bixbyite structure. • (U{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x})O{sub 2.00} and (Th{sub 1−x}Gd{sub x})O{sub 2−x/2} contractions were evaluated with high precision.

  6. Frequency distribution of the reduced unit cells of centred lattices from the Protein Data Bank.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Swaminathan, Kunchithapadam

    2012-03-01

    In crystallography, a centred conventional lattice unit cell has its corresponding reduced primitive unit cell. This study presents the frequency distribution of the reduced unit cells of all centred lattice entries of the Protein Data Bank (as of 23 August 2011) in four unit-cell-dimension-based groups and seven interaxial-angle-based subgroups. This frequency distribution is an added layer of support during space-group assignment in new crystals. In addition, some interesting patterns of distribution are discussed as well as how some reduced unit cells could be wrongly accepted as primitive lattices in a different crystal system.

  7. Synthesis of Eu{sub x}Si{sub 6-z}Al{sub z}O{sub z}N{sub 8-z} green phosphor and its luminescent properties

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ryu, Jeong Ho; Won, Hyong Sik; Park, Youn-Gon; Kim, Sang Hyun; Song, Won Young; Suzuki, Hideo; Yoon, Chulsoo [Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., LTD, Corporate R and D Institute, Suwon, Gyunggi-Do (Korea)

    2009-06-15

    Rare-earth-doped oxynitride or nitride compounds have been reported to be photoluminescent and may then serve as new phosphors because of their good thermal and chemical stabilities. In this work, Eu{sup 2+}-doped {beta}-SiAlON phosphor with a composition of Eu{sub x}Si{sub 6-z}Al{sub z}O{sub z}N{sub 8-z} (x=0.018,z=0.23) was prepared by gas-pressured solid state reaction. The crystallinity and particle morphology of the prepared phosphor were characterized. The Stokes shift and zero-phonon line were calculated mathematically and estimated from the spectral data. The temperature dependence of photoluminescence was measured from 25 to 250 C. The prepared Eu{sup 2+}-doped {beta}-SiAlON green phosphor showed superior thermal quenching property compared to silicate (SrBaSiO{sub 4}:Eu{sup 2+}) green phosphor. The white light-emitting diode (LED) back-lighting unit (BLU) using the prepared {beta}-SiAlON:Eu{sup 2+} green phosphor exhibited higher color gamut than a commercial silicate phosphor. (orig.)

  8. Effects of sub-lethal neurite outgrowth inhibitory concentrations of chlorpyrifos oxon on cytoskeletal proteins and acetylcholinesterase in differentiating N2a cells

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Flaskos, J., E-mail: flaskos@vet.auth.gr [Laboratory of Biochemistry and Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki (Greece); Nikolaidis, E. [Laboratory of Biochemistry and Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki (Greece); Harris, W. [School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham NG11 8NS (United Kingdom); Sachana, M. [Laboratory of Biochemistry and Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki (Greece); Hargreaves, A.J., E-mail: alan.hargreaves@ntu.ac.uk [School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham NG11 8NS (United Kingdom)

    2011-11-15

    Previous work in our laboratory has shown that sub-lethal concentrations (1-10 {mu}M) of chlorpyrifos (CPF), diazinon (DZ) and diazinon oxon (DZO) inhibit the outgrowth of axon-like neurites in differentiating mouse N2a neuroblastoma cells concomitant with altered levels and/or phosphorylation state of axonal cytoskeleton and growth-associated proteins. The aim of the present work was to determine whether chlorpyrifos oxon (CPO) was capable of inhibiting N2a cell differentiation in a similar manner. Using experimental conditions similar to our previous work, sub-lethal concentrations (1-10 {mu}M) of CPO were found to inhibit N2a cell differentiation. However, unlike previous studies with DZ and DZO, there was a high level of sustained inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in CPO treated cells. Impairment of neurite outgrowth was also associated with reduced levels of growth associated protein-43 and neurofilament heavy chain (NFH), and the distribution of NFH in cells stained by indirect immunofluorescence was disrupted. However, in contrast to previous findings for DZO, the absolute level of phosphorylated NFH was unaffected by CPO exposure. Taken together, the findings suggest that sub-lethal concentrations of CPO inhibit axon outgrowth in differentiating N2a cells and that this effect involves reduced levels of two proteins that play key roles in axon outgrowth and maintenance. Although the inhibition of neurite outgrowth is unlikely to involve AChE inhibition directly, further work will help to determine whether the persistent inhibition of AChE by CPO can account for the different effects induced by CPO and DZO on the levels of total and phosphorylated NFH. -- Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Sub-lethal levels of chlorpyrifos oxon inhibit neurite outgrowth in N2a cells Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Acetylcholinesterase exhibits sustained inhibition throughout exposure Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The levels of neurofilament heavy chain and GAP-43

  9. Effects of sub-lethal neurite outgrowth inhibitory concentrations of chlorpyrifos oxon on cytoskeletal proteins and acetylcholinesterase in differentiating N2a cells

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Flaskos, J.; Nikolaidis, E.; Harris, W.; Sachana, M.; Hargreaves, A.J.

    2011-01-01

    Previous work in our laboratory has shown that sub-lethal concentrations (1–10 μM) of chlorpyrifos (CPF), diazinon (DZ) and diazinon oxon (DZO) inhibit the outgrowth of axon-like neurites in differentiating mouse N2a neuroblastoma cells concomitant with altered levels and/or phosphorylation state of axonal cytoskeleton and growth-associated proteins. The aim of the present work was to determine whether chlorpyrifos oxon (CPO) was capable of inhibiting N2a cell differentiation in a similar manner. Using experimental conditions similar to our previous work, sub-lethal concentrations (1–10 μM) of CPO were found to inhibit N2a cell differentiation. However, unlike previous studies with DZ and DZO, there was a high level of sustained inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in CPO treated cells. Impairment of neurite outgrowth was also associated with reduced levels of growth associated protein-43 and neurofilament heavy chain (NFH), and the distribution of NFH in cells stained by indirect immunofluorescence was disrupted. However, in contrast to previous findings for DZO, the absolute level of phosphorylated NFH was unaffected by CPO exposure. Taken together, the findings suggest that sub-lethal concentrations of CPO inhibit axon outgrowth in differentiating N2a cells and that this effect involves reduced levels of two proteins that play key roles in axon outgrowth and maintenance. Although the inhibition of neurite outgrowth is unlikely to involve AChE inhibition directly, further work will help to determine whether the persistent inhibition of AChE by CPO can account for the different effects induced by CPO and DZO on the levels of total and phosphorylated NFH. -- Highlights: ► Sub-lethal levels of chlorpyrifos oxon inhibit neurite outgrowth in N2a cells ► Acetylcholinesterase exhibits sustained inhibition throughout exposure ► The levels of neurofilament heavy chain and GAP-43 protein are reduced ► Neurofilament heavy chain forms aggregates in cell

  10. Magnetic correlations in UPt3 and U/sub 1-x/Th/sub x/Pt3

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Aeppli, G.; Bucher, E.; Goldman, A.I.; Shirane, G.; Broholm, C.; Kjems, J.K.

    1988-01-01

    Neutron scattering experiments on UPt 3 and U/sub 1-x/Th/sub x/Pt 3 are reviewed. At relatively high energies (/approximately/5 MeV), the magnetic fluctuation spectrum is modulated by the structure factor derived from short-range antiferromagnetic correlations where the two U ions in each unit cell are oppositely polarized. In contrast, at low energies (≤ 1 MeV), the diffuse inelastic scattering is associated with antiferromagnetic correlations where the unit cell is doubled. Nominally pure UPt 3 exhibits magnetic order with the wavevector corresponding to this doubling and a static moment of 0.02 +- 0.01 μ/sub B/. (U/sub 1-x/Th/sub x/)Pt 3 with x ≅ 0.05 exhibits ordering of the same type, but with a much larger static moment, 0.65 +- 0.1 μ/sub B/. Neutron scattering measurements on UPt 3 with implications for superconductivity are surveyed. 23 refs., 7 figs

  11. The Λ-parameter in 3-flavour QCD and α{sub s}(m{sub Z}) by the Alpha collaboration

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bruno, M. [Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY (United States). Physics Dept.; Dalla Brida, Mattia [Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Zeuthen (Germany). John von Neumann-Inst. fuer Computing NIC; Milano-Bicocca Univ. (Italy). Dipt. di Fisica; INFN, Milano-Bicocca (Italy); Fritzsch, P. [CERN, Geneva (Switzerland). PH-TH; Univ. Autonoma de Madrid (Spain). Inst. de Fisica Teorica; Korzec, T. [Wuppertal Univ. (Germany). Dept. of Physics; Ramos, Alberto [CERN, Geneva (Switzerland). PH-TH; Schaefer, Stefan; Simma, Hubert [Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Zeuthen (Germany). John von Neumann-Inst. fuer Computing NIC; Sint, S. [Trinity Coll., Dublin (Ireland). School of Mathematics and Hamilton Mathematics Inst.; Sommer, R. [Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Zeuthen (Germany). John von Neumann-Inst. fuer Computing NIC; Humboldt-Universitaet, Berlin (Germany). Inst. fuer Physik; Collaboration: ALPHA Collaboration

    2017-01-15

    We present results by the ALPHA collaboration for the Λ-parameter in 3-flavour QCD and the strong coupling constant at the electroweak scale, α{sub s}(m{sub Z}), in terms of hadronic quantities computed on the CLS gauge configurations. The first part of this proceedings contribution contains a review of published material and yields the Λ-parameter in units of a low energy scale, 1/L{sub had}. We then discuss how to determine this scale in physical units from experimental data for the pion and kaon decay constants. We obtain Λ{sup (3)}{sub MS}=332(14) MeV which translates to α{sub s}(M{sub Z})=0.1179(10)(2) using perturbation theory to match between 3-, 4- and 5-flavour QCD.

  12. Cluster-spin dynamics in a GaMo{sub 4}S{sub 8}-type compound: {sup 27}Al nuclear magnetic resonance study of AlMo{sub 4}S{sub 8}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ikeno, R; Nakamura, H; Kohara, T [Graduate School of Material Science, University of Hyogo, Kamigori, Ako-gun, Hyogo 678-1297 (Japan)

    2007-01-31

    The cluster-spin dynamics of the tetrahedral Mo{sub 4} cluster, involved in AlMo{sub 4}S{sub 8} with a cubic GaMo{sub 4}S{sub 8} type structure, was investigated by NMR of the nonmagnetic {sup 27}Al site located outside the cluster. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation is described well by the conventional local moment model assuming the presence of S=1/2 at each cluster, indicating that each Mo{sub 4} cluster behaves like a local spin with rigid magnitude. This behaviour is in contrast to the in-cluster relaxation, which reflects the spin-density fluctuations inside the cluster as a small unit of metal.

  13. Cu and Zn substituted silicon clathrates with the cubic type-II structure. Synthesis and characterization of Cs{sub 8}Na{sub 16}Cu{sub 3.8}Si{sub 132.2} and Cs{sub 8}Na{sub 16}Zn{sub 6.9}Si{sub 129.1}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Schaefer, Marion C.; Bobev, Svilen [Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)

    2017-12-13

    Studies in the systems Cs-Na-Cu-Si and Cs-Na-Zn-Si yielded the novel clathrates Cs{sub 8}Na{sub 16}(Cu,Si){sub 136} and Cs{sub 8}Na{sub 16}(Zn,Si){sub 136}, both with the cubic type-II structure [space group Fd anti 3m (no. 227), Pearson symbol cF160]. The structures of the title compounds were established from single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods, confirming the complete ordering of the Cs and Na guest atoms. The framework-building Si atoms are found to be randomly substituted by Cu atoms on framework site 96g, exclusively. In the structure of Cs{sub 8}Na{sub 16}(Zn,Si){sub 136}, the refinements indicate that the Zn and Si atoms co-occupy two of the three framework sites with notable preference for site 96g over site 32e. The corresponding refined compositions and unit cell parameters are as follows: Cs{sub 8}Na{sub 16}Cu{sub 3.8}Si{sub 132.2(1)} [a = 14.7583(15) Aa]; Cs{sub 8}Na{sub 16}Zn{sub 6.9}Si{sub 129.1(1)} [a = 14.7682(5) Aa], respectively. The type-II clathrates can be obtained only from experiments employing both Na and Cs, whereas work in the ternary Cs-Cu-Si, Cs-Zn-Si, Na-Cu-Si, and Na-Zn-Si systems failed to yield any clathrate phases. At the same conditions, exploratory studies in the K-Zn-Si and Rb-Zn-Si systems provided evidence that type-I clathrates are favored. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  14. Use of a Combined SpO<sub>2sub>/PtcCO>2sub> Sensor in the Delivery Room

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Costantino Romagnoli

    2012-08-01

    Full Text Available Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO<sub>2sub> and partial arterial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO<sub>2sub> are important respiratory parameters in critically ill neonates. A sensor combining a pulse oximeter with the Stow-Severinghaus electrode, required for the measurement of peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO<sub>2sub> and transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PtcCO<sub>2sub>, respectively, has been recently used in neonatal clinical practice (TOSCA500ÒRadiometer. We evaluated TOSCA usability and reliability in the delivery room (DR, throughout three different periods, on term, late-preterm, and preterm neonates. During the first period (period A, 30 healthy term neonates were simultaneously monitored with both TOSCA and a MASIMO pulse oximeter. During the second period (period B, 10 healthy late-preterm neonates were monitored with both TOSCA and a transcutaneous device measuring PtcCO<sub>2sub> (TINAÒ TCM3, Radiometer. During the third period (period C, 15 preterm neonates were monitored with TOSCA and MASIMO after birth, during stabilization, and during transport to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU. Blood gas analyses were performed to compare transcutaneous and blood gas values. TOSCA resulted easily and safely usable in the DR, allowing reliable noninvasive SaO<sub>2sub> estimation. Since PtcCO<sub>2sub> measurements with TOSCA required at least 10 min to be stable and reliable, this parameter was not useful during the early resuscitation immediately after birth. Moreover, PtcCO<sub>2sub> levels were less precise if compared to the conventional transcutaneous monitoring. However, PtcCO<sub>2sub> measurement by TOSCA was useful as trend-monitoring after stabilization and during transport to NICU.

  15. Structural evolution of Ba{sub 8}Ti{sub 3}Nb{sub 4}O{sub 24} from BaTiO{sub 3} using a series of Ba(Ti{sub 1−5x}Nb{sub 4x})O{sub 3} solid solutions

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Barrientos Hernández, F.R., E-mail: frbh68@hotmail.com [Academic Area of Earth Sciences and Materials, Autonomous University of Hidalgo State, Road Pachuca-Tulancingo km 4.5, Mineral de la Reforma zip code 42184, Hidalgo (Mexico); Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, ESIQIE, National Polytechnic Institute, UPALM, Zacatenco, Mexico City, zip code 07738 (Mexico); Lira Hernández, I.A. [Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, ESIQIE, National Polytechnic Institute, UPALM, Zacatenco, Mexico City, zip code 07738 (Mexico); Industrial Engineering Department, Technological Institute of Pachuca, Road México-Pachuca km. 87.5, Pachuca de Soto zip code 42080, Hidalgo (Mexico); Gómez Yáñez, C. [Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, ESIQIE, National Polytechnic Institute, UPALM, Zacatenco, Mexico City, zip code 07738 (Mexico); Arenas Flores, A. [Academic Area of Earth Sciences and Materials, Autonomous University of Hidalgo State, Road Pachuca-Tulancingo km 4.5, Mineral de la Reforma zip code 42184, Hidalgo (Mexico); Cabrera Sierra, R. [Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, ESIQIE, National Polytechnic Institute, UPALM, Zacatenco, Mexico City, zip code 07738 (Mexico); Pérez Labra, M. [Academic Area of Earth Sciences and Materials, Autonomous University of Hidalgo State, Road Pachuca-Tulancingo km 4.5, Mineral de la Reforma zip code 42184, Hidalgo (Mexico)

    2014-01-15

    Highlights: • The evolution phase Ba{sub 8}Ti{sub 3}Nb{sub 4}O{sub 24} was obtained through the mechanism Ba(Ti{sub 1-5x}Nb{sub 4x})O{sub 3}. • Addition of niobium can accelerate grain growth of BaTiO{sub 3} ceramics. • Ba{sub 8}Ti{sub 3}Nb{sub 4}O{sub 24} presents a dielectric loss of 0.0035 and permittivity value of 54.6. • Electrical measurements showed that Nb{sup 5+} content drops Curie temperature. • Samples with x ⩾ 0.0625 shows an insulating behavior. -- Abstract: In this work, the structural evolution of hexagonal phase Ba{sub 8}Ti{sub 3}Nb{sub 4}O{sub 24} by adding Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} to perovskite structure of BaTiO{sub 3} was investigated. The compositions Ba(Ti{sub 1-5x}Nb{sub 4x})O{sub 3} ceramics, with 0.00025 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.125 were prepared by the conventional solid state route in air atmosphere, the powders precursors, BaTiO{sub 3}, BaCO{sub 3} and Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5}, were mixed in stoichiometric proportions and ground in a ball mill using alumina balls and acetone. The mixed powders were calcined at temperatures up to 1500 °C. The phase transformation of Ba{sub 8}Ti{sub 3}Nb{sub 4}O{sub 24} from BaTiO{sub 3} was studied by DRX, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, electrical measurements (relative permittivity and P–E hysteresis loops); Rietveld’s refinement was used to structurally characterize the samples. For the devices obtained capacitance was measured at 1 kHz; with these values we calculated the relative permittivity. The samples show typical P–E hysteresis loops at room temperature accompanied by saturation polarization (Ps) and remnant polarization (Pr). The DRX and Rietveld’s refinement results show x ⩽ 0.01 has a ferroelectric behavior. When the doped level is increased x ⩾ 0.02, a peak displacement is observed, this is due to the phase transformation of tetragonal to cubic into the unit cell. Finally, with x = 0.125 the crystal structure transforms to the characteristic hexagonal phase Ba{sub 8}Ti{sub 3}Nb{sub 4}O{sub 24} which

  16. Accelerating large-scale protein structure alignments with graphics processing units

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Pang Bin

    2012-02-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background Large-scale protein structure alignment, an indispensable tool to structural bioinformatics, poses a tremendous challenge on computational resources. To ensure structure alignment accuracy and efficiency, efforts have been made to parallelize traditional alignment algorithms in grid environments. However, these solutions are costly and of limited accessibility. Others trade alignment quality for speedup by using high-level characteristics of structure fragments for structure comparisons. Findings We present ppsAlign, a parallel protein structure Alignment framework designed and optimized to exploit the parallelism of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs. As a general-purpose GPU platform, ppsAlign could take many concurrent methods, such as TM-align and Fr-TM-align, into the parallelized algorithm design. We evaluated ppsAlign on an NVIDIA Tesla C2050 GPU card, and compared it with existing software solutions running on an AMD dual-core CPU. We observed a 36-fold speedup over TM-align, a 65-fold speedup over Fr-TM-align, and a 40-fold speedup over MAMMOTH. Conclusions ppsAlign is a high-performance protein structure alignment tool designed to tackle the computational complexity issues from protein structural data. The solution presented in this paper allows large-scale structure comparisons to be performed using massive parallel computing power of GPU.

  17. Structure refinement of Ba{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.8}Fe{sub 0.2}O{sub 3-d} as cathode materials for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFC)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zakaria, Nurhamidah, E-mail: nurhamidahzakaria@yahoo.com; Idris, Mohd Sobri, E-mail: sobri@unimap.edu.my [Centre of Excellence for Frontier Materials Research, School of Materials Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Taman Muhibbah, Jejawi 02600, Arau, Perlis (Malaysia); Osman, Rozana A. M., E-mail: rozana@unimap.edu.my [School of Microelectronics Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Pauh Putra, 02600, Arau, Perlis (Malaysia)

    2016-07-19

    Ba{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.8}Fe{sub 0.2}O{sub 3-δ} was successfully prepared using modified solid-state synthesis routes. The lowest temperature to obtained single phase of Ba{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.8}Fe{sub 0.2}O{sub 3-δ} is about 900°C for 15 hours. Longer period of time are required compared to only 5 hours at 950°C as established in literatures. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) data confirmed that Ba{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.8}Fe{sub 0.2}O{sub 3-δ} is formed a cubic perovskite with the space group of Pm-3m. The lattice parameters of Ba{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.8}Fe{sub 0.2}O{sub 3-δ} are a = 3.990 (1) Å and unit cell volume is V = 63.5 (1) Å{sup 3}. The Rietveld refinement of XRD data revealed that the crystal structure of Ba{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 0.5}Co{sub 0.8}Fe{sub 0.2}O{sub 3-δ} slightly changes as a function of temperature.

  18. A full-potential linear-muffin-tin-orbital molecular-dynamics study of B{sub 7}, B{sub 10} and B{sub 13} clusters

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Cao Peilin Cao; Zhao Wei; Li Baoxing; Song Bin; Zhou Xuyan [Department of Physics and State Key Laboratory of Silicon Material, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang (China)

    2001-06-04

    The structures of B{sub 7}, B{sub 10} and B{sub 13} boron clusters are studied using the full-potential linear-muffin-tin-orbital molecular-dynamics method. Seven stable structures for B{sub 7} and fifteen for B{sub 10} have been obtained. C{sub 2h}-B{sub 10} is the most stable among the 15 structures, but C{sub 2v}-B{sub 10} is not stable. For B{sub 13}, three degenerate ground-state structures have been found. The potential surface near C{sub 2v}-B{sub 7} (ground state) and D{sub 6h}-B{sub 7} is very flat. As a fundamental unit in constructing bigger clusters, C{sub 2v}-B{sub 7} will change its form easily. The most stable structures for B{sub 7}, B{sub 10} and B{sub 13} clusters are two-dimensional (quasi-) planar clusters, rather than the three-dimensional ones. General speaking, these clusters obey the 'Aufbau principle'. (author)

  19. CO{sub 2} emissions - sequestration, costs; Emisja CO{sub 2} - sekwestracja, koszty

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rakowski, J. [Inst. of Power Industry, Warsaw (Poland). Thermal Process Department

    2004-07-01

    The paper discusses and compares costs of technologies for limiting emissions of carbon dioxide in both before and after combustion in power generation - natural gas combined cycle; coal power unit with pulverised fuel boiler at both supercritical conditions and ultra supercritical conditions; and integrated gasification combined cycle. It then discusses in some detail the concept of an IGCC unit adapted to the removal of CO{sub 2} with the simultaneous production of hydrogen, and the use of an oxygen plant with CO{sub 2} recycling. 17 refs., 2 figs., 10 tabs.

  20. Quantitative analysis of residual protein contamination of podiatry instruments reprocessed through local and central decontamination units

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Ramage Gordon

    2011-01-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background The cleaning stage of the instrument decontamination process has come under increased scrutiny due to the increasing complexity of surgical instruments and the adverse affects of residual protein contamination on surgical instruments. Instruments used in the podiatry field have a complex surface topography and are exposed to a wide range of biological contamination. Currently, podiatry instruments are reprocessed locally within surgeries while national strategies are favouring a move toward reprocessing in central facilities. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of local and central reprocessing on podiatry instruments by measuring residual protein contamination of instruments reprocessed by both methods. Methods The residual protein of 189 instruments reprocessed centrally and 189 instruments reprocessed locally was determined using a fluorescent assay based on the reaction of proteins with o-phthaldialdehyde/sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate. Results Residual protein was detected on 72% (n = 136 of instruments reprocessed centrally and 90% (n = 170 of instruments reprocessed locally. Significantly less protein (p Conclusions Overall, the results show the superiority of central reprocessing for complex podiatry instruments when protein contamination is considered, though no significant difference was found in residual protein between local decontamination unit and central decontamination unit processes for Blacks files. Further research is needed to undertake qualitative identification of protein contamination to identify any cross contamination risks and a standard for acceptable residual protein contamination applicable to different instruments and specialities should be considered as a matter of urgency.

  1. Structural and biophysical studies with the MjTX-I, a Lys49-phospholipase A{sub 2} homologue from Bothrops moojeni venom

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Salvador, G.H.M.; Fernandes, C.A.H.; Fernandez, R.M.; Fontes, M.R.M. [UNESP, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP (Brazil); Marchi-Salvador, D.P. [Universidade Federal da Paraiba (UFPB), Joao Pessoa, PB (Brazil); Soares, A.M. [Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP-RP), Ribeirao Preto, SP (Brazil); Oliveira, C.L.P [Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP), SP (Brazil)

    2012-07-01

    Full text: Phospholipases A{sub 2} (PLA{sub 2}) are small proteins found in a great diversity of organisms and belong to a superfamily of proteins involved in many important pharmacological processes, such as neurotoxicity, myotoxicity, platelet aggregation, and anticoagulant activity. Ophidic accidents caused by snakes from Bothrops genus are not efficiently neutralized by conventional serum therapy, and then detailed studies with this class of proteins may be very important to supplement this conventional therapy. Miotoxin-I (MjTX-I) is a basic Lys49-PLA{sub 2}, isolated from Bothrops moojeni snake venom, which induces a drastic local myonecrosis. Crystal structure of MjTX-I shows four molecules in the asymmetric unit, an unusually oligomeric conformation for snake venom Lys49-PLA{sub 2}s. However, bioinformatics techniques indicate a dimer as the biological oligomeric conformation. To get additional information of its biological conformation, we also performed Dynamic Light Scattering, Size Exclusion Chromatography and Small Angle X-ray Scattering experiments. These techniques showed a monomer as the most probable biological conformation in water; however small changes in pH and ionic strength result in different oligomeric assemblies. These novel information for Lys49-PLA{sub 2}s may result in important conclusions for this intriguing class of toxins. (author)

  2. Quaternary selenostannates Na{sub 2-x}Ga{sub 2-x}Sn{sub 1+x}Se{sub 6} and AGaSnSe{sub 4} (A=K, Rb, and Cs) through rapid cooling of melts. Kinetics versus thermodynamics in the polymorphism of AGaSnSe{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hwang, S -J; Iyer, R G; Kanatzidis, M G

    2004-10-01

    The quaternary alkali-metal gallium selenostannates, Na{sub 2-x}Ga{sub 2-x}Sn{sub 1+x}Se{sub 6} and AGaSnSe{sub 4} (A=K, Rb, and Cs), were synthesized by reacting alkali-metal selenide, Ga, Sn, and Se with a flame melting-rapid cooling method. Na{sub 2-x}Ga{sub 2-x}Sn{sub 1+x}Se{sub 6} crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric space group C2 with cell constants a=13.308(3) A, b=7.594(2) A, c=13.842(3) A, {beta}=118.730(4) deg., V=1226.7(5) A{sup 3}. {alpha}-KGaSnSe{sub 4} crystallizes in the tetragonal space group I4/mcm with a=8.186(5) A and c=6.403(5) A, V=429.1(5) A{sup 3}. {beta}-KGaSnSe{sub 4} crystallizes in the space group P2{sub 1}/c with cell constants a=7.490(2) A, b=12.578(3) A, c=18.306(5) A, {beta}=98.653(5) deg., V=1705.0(8) A{sup 3}. The unit cell of isostructural RbGaSnSe{sub 4} is a=7.567(2) A, b=12.656(3) A, c=18.277(4) A, {beta}=95.924(4) deg., V=1741.1(7) A{sup 3}. CsGaSnSe{sub 4} crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pmcn with a=7.679(2) A, b=12.655(3) A, c=18.278(5) A, V=1776.1(8) A{sup 3}. The structure of Na{sub 2-x}Ga{sub 2-x}Sn{sub 1+x}Se{sub 6} consists of a polar three-dimensional network of trimeric (Sn,Ga){sub 3}Se{sub 9} units with Na atoms located in tunnels. The AGaSnSe{sub 4} possess layered structures. The compounds show nearly the same Raman spectral features, except for Na{sub 2-x}Ga{sub 2-x}Sn{sub 1+x}Se{sub 6}. Optical band gaps, determined from UV-Vis spectroscopy, range from 1.50 eV in Na{sub 2-x}Ga{sub 2-x}Sn{sub 1+x}Se{sub 6} to 1.97 eV in CsGaSnSe{sub 4}. Cooling of the melts of KGaSnSe{sub 4} and RbGaSnSe{sub 4} produces only kinetically stable products. The thermodynamically stable product is accessible under extended annealing, which leads to the so-called {gamma}-form (BaGa{sub 2}S{sub 4}-type) of these compounds.

  3. Magnetically controlled space charge capacitance at La{sub 1-x}Sr{sub x}MnO{sub 3}/Sr{sub x}La{sub 1-x}TiO{sub 3} interfaces

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Schmidt, Rainer; Garcia-Barriocanal, Javier; Leon, Carlos; Santamaria, Jacobo [Facultad de Ciencias Fisicas, Dpto. Fisica Aplicada III, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, GFMC (Spain); Unidad Asociada ' ' Laboratorio de Heteroestructuras con Aplicacion en Espintronica' ' , UCM/CSIC, Madrid (Spain); Varela, Maria [Facultad de Ciencias Fisicas, Dpto. Fisica Aplicada III, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, GFMC (Spain); Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Instituto Pluridisciplinar, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain); Garcia-Hernandez, Mar [Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (ICMM-CSIC), Madrid (Spain)

    2016-08-15

    This work reports on magnetocapacitance (MC) effects in epitaxial heterostructures of nominally 15 unit cells (u.c.) LaMnO{sub 3} (LMO) and 2 u.c. SrTiO{sub 3} (STO) with an alternating layer-repetition rate of 8: (LMO{sub 15}/STO{sub 2}){sub 8}. Epitaxial multilayer growth at high temperatures (900 C) activates a selective inter-diffusion of La{sup 3+} and Sr{sup 2+} cations across the interfaces, which gives rise to Sr p-doping of the LMO and La n-doping of the STO layers. MC effects at the buried La{sub 1-x}Sr{sub x}MnO{sub 3}/Sr{sub x}La{sub 1-x}TiO{sub 3} (LSMO/SLTO) interfaces are probed by frequency, temperature and magnetic field dependent AC impedance spectroscopy. The technique is shown to be appropriate to account for the separate analysis of different resistance and capacitance contributions at the buried interfaces. As a result of the La/Sr inter-diffusion process, Schottky barriers are formed at the LSMO/SLTO interfaces, which give rise to massive MC of up to ∼ -200% in the out-of-plane film direction. The capacitance of the manganite-titanate LSMO/SLTO interfaces may be coupled indirectly to the resistance of the LSMO layers, because the Schottky space-charge layers and their capacitance can be modulated by varying the concentration of highly mobile charge carriers in the LSMO with a magnetic field. (copyright 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  4. Electrical resistivity of YbRh{sub 2}Si{sub 2} and EuT{sub 2}Ge{sub 2} (T=Co,Cu) at extreme conditions of pressure and temperature

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Dionicio, G.A.

    2006-07-01

    This investigation addresses the effect that pressure, p, and temperature, T, have on 4f states of the rare-earth elements in the isostructural YbRh{sub 2}Si{sub 2}, EuCo{sub 2}Ge{sub 2}, and EuCu{sub 2}Ge{sub 2} compounds. Upon applying pressure the volume of the unit cell reduces, enforcing either the enhancement of the hybridization of the 4f localized electrons with the ligand or a change in the valence state of the rare-earth ions. Here, we probe the effect of a pressure-induced lattice contraction on these system by means of electrical-resistivity measurements, {rho}(T), from room temperature down to 100 mK. (orig.)

  5. Kinetics of the CH{sub 3} + HCl/DCl {sup {yields}} CH{sub 4}/CH{sub 3}D + Cl and CD{sub 3} + HCl/DCl {sup {yields}} CD{sub 3}H/CD{sub 4} + Cl reactions: An experimental H atom tunneling investigation

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Eskola, Arkke J. [Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, P.O. Box 55 (A.I. Virtasen aukio 1), FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Helsinki (Finland); Seetula, Jorma A. [Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, P.O. Box 55 (A.I. Virtasen aukio 1), FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Helsinki (Finland)], E-mail: seetula@csc.fi; Timonen, Raimo S. [Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, P.O. Box 55 (A.I. Virtasen aukio 1), FIN-00014, University of Helsinki, Helsinki (Finland)

    2006-12-11

    The kinetics of the radical reactions of CH{sub 3} with HCl or DCl and CD{sub 3} with HCl or DCl have been investigated in a temperature controlled tubular reactor coupled to a photoionization mass spectrometer. The CH{sub 3} (or CD{sub 3}) radical, R, was produced homogeneously in the reactor by a pulsed 193 nm exciplex laser photolysis of CH{sub 3}COCH{sub 3} (or CD{sub 3}COCD{sub 3}). The decay of CH{sub 3}/CD{sub 3} was monitored as a function of HCl/DCl concentration under pseudo-first-order conditions to determine the rate constants as a function of temperature, typically from 188 to 500 K. The rate constants of the CH{sub 3} and CD{sub 3} reactions with HCl had strong non-Arrhenius behavior at low temperatures. The rate constants were fitted to a modified Arrhenius expression k = QA exp (-E {sub a}/RT) (error limits stated are 1{sigma} + Students t values, units in cm{sup 3} molecule{sup -1} s{sup -1}): k(CH{sub 3} + HCl) = [1.004 + 85.64 exp (-0.02438 x T/K)] x (3.3 {+-} 1.3) x 10{sup -13} exp [-(4.8 {+-} 0.6) kJ mol{sup -1}/RT] and k(CD{sub 3} + HCl) = [1.002 + 73.31 exp (-0.02505 x T/K)] x (2.7 {+-} 1.2) x 10{sup -13} exp [-(3.5 {+-} 0.5) kJ mol{sup -1}/RT]. The radical reactions with DCl were studied separately over a wide ranges of temperatures and in these temperature ranges the rate constants determined were fitted to a conventional Arrhenius expression k = A exp (-E {sub a}/RT) (error limits stated are 1{sigma} + Students t values, units in cm{sup 3} molecule{sup -1} s{sup -1}): k(CH{sub 3} + DCl) = (2.4 {+-} 1.6) x 10{sup -13} exp [-(7.8 {+-} 1.4) kJ mol{sup -1}/RT] and k(CD{sub 3} + DCl) = (1.2 {+-} 0.4) x 10{sup -13} exp [-(5.2 {+-} 0.2) kJ mol{sup -1}/RT] cm{sup 3} molecule{sup -1} s{sup -1}. Curvature in the Arrhenius plots of the H-atom abstraction reactions at low temperatures was analyzed by considering H-atom tunneling through the reaction barrier and primary kinetic isotope effect. Contribution of tunneling in it was concluded to be

  6. Mn induced ferromagnetism spin fluctuation enhancement in Sr{sub 2}Ru{sub 1−x}Mn{sub x}O{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zheng, Long; Cai, Jinzhu; Xie, Qiyun; Lv, Bin [Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093 (China); Mao, Z.Q. [Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118 (United States); Wu, X.S., E-mail: xswu@nju.edu.cn [Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093 (China)

    2013-09-15

    We establish that Sr{sub 2}RuO{sub 4} is extremely close to incommensurate spin density wave instability. With increasing Mn content, the RuO{sub 6} octahedron in the unit cell varies. The octahedron of RuO{sub 6} contracts along c-axis for x<0.20, Mn element mainly showing the +3 chemical valence (Mn{sup 3+}), and it expands along c-axis with further increasing Mn content (x>0.20), and Mn element shows the +4 chemical valence (Mn{sup 4+}). Spin-glass-related ferromagnetism enhancement is observed for x>0.20, which indicates the critical ferromagnetic spin fluctuation due to Mn doping in Sr{sub 2}Ru{sub 1−x}Mn{sub x}O{sub 4}. - Highlights: • The chemical valence of Mn ions changed from Mn{sup 3+} to Mn{sup 4+} with the increase of Mn content. • Spin-glass-related ferromagnetism enhancement behavior is observed. • The electrical resistivity can be fitted using Mott's variable-range hopping model. • The evolution of octahedron with increase of Mn content is given. • The spin fluctuation effect plays an important role in the magnetic property.

  7. Transactivation of the proenkephalin gene promoter by the Tax sub 1 protein of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Joshi, J.B. (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Inst., Bethesda, MD (United States)); Dave, H.P.G. (National Inst. of Health, Bethesda, MD (United States))

    1992-02-01

    Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I), an etiologic agent for adult T-cell leukemia, is strongly associated with certain neurological diseases. The HTLV-I genome encodes a protein, Tax{sub 1}, that transactivates viral gene transcription. CD4-positive T helper lymphocytes express the proenkephalin gene, and enkephalins have been implicated as neuroimmunomodulators. The authors have investigated the effect of Tax{sub 1} on the proenkephalin gene promoter in C6 rat glioma cells and demonstrated its transactivation. Analysis using 5{prime} deletion mutants of the promoter region showed that sequences upstream of base pair - 190 are necessary for maximal transactivation. Forskolin, a cAMP modulator, synergistically increased Tax{sub 1}-mediated transactivation of the proenkephalin promoter. Neither Tax{sub 1} transactivation alone nor Tax{sub 1}/cAMP synergism exclusively involved cAMP-responsive elements. Endogenous proenkephalin gene expression increased in Tax{sub 1}-expressing C6 cells. Since HTLV-I infects lymphocytes, which express proenkephalin mRNA, Tax{sub 1} transregulation of proenkephalin expression may provide bidirectional communication between the nervous and immune systems in HTLV-I-related diseases.

  8. Synthesis, structure and optical properties of thin films from GeS{sub 2}–In{sub 2}S{sub 3} system deposited by thermal co-evaporation

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Todorov, R., E-mail: rossen@iomt.bas.bg [Institute of Optical Materials and Technologies “Acad. J. Malinowski”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., bl. 109, 1113 Sofia (Bulgaria); Petkov, K. [Institute of Optical Materials and Technologies “Acad. J. Malinowski”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., bl. 109, 1113 Sofia (Bulgaria); Kincl, M. [Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of Czech Academy of Science, Heyrovsky sq. 2, 162 06 Prague 6 (Czech Republic); Černošková, E. [Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Studentská 84, 532 10 Pardubice (Czech Republic); Vlček, Mil.; Tichý, L. [Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of Czech Academy of Science, Heyrovsky sq. 2, 162 06 Prague 6 (Czech Republic)

    2014-05-02

    This paper deals with the properties of the glasses and thin films from multi-component chalcogenide prepared by co-evaporation technique. The thin chalcogenide layers from GeS{sub 2}–In{sub 2}S{sub 3} system were deposited by thermal co-evaporation of GeS{sub 2} and In{sub 2}S{sub 3}. Using X-ray microanalysis it was found that the film compositions are closed to the expected ones. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the thin films deposited by co-evaporation are amorphous. The refractive index, n and the optical band gap, E{sub g}{sup opt} were calculated from the transmittance and reflectance spectra. The thin film's structure was investigated by infrared spectroscopy. It was found that the photo-induced optical changes decrease with increase of indium content while significant thermo-induced changes in the optical properties and structure were observed at 14 at.% indium. The infrared spectra demonstrated high transmittance of the thin films in the range 4000–500 cm{sup −1}. The far-infrared spectra indicated that the indium participates in the glass network of the layers from Ge–S–In system in four coordinated InS{sub 4/2}{sup −} tetrahedral and six-coordinated InS{sub 6/2}{sup 3−} octahedral units. The changes in infrared spectra after annealing of the thin films evidence an increase of population of ethane-like S{sub 3}Ge–GeS{sub 3} units and/or structural or phase change of indium contain units. - Highlights: • The thin layers from GeS{sub 2}–In{sub 2}S{sub 3} system were deposited by thermal co-evaporation. • The photo-induced optical changes decrease with increase of indium content. • The thermo-induced changes in the optical properties and structure were investigated. • The structure of the thin films was investigated by infrared spectroscopy.

  9. Crystal structure of full-length Zika virus NS5 protein reveals a conformation similar to Japanese encephalitis virus NS5

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Upadhyay, Anup K.; Cyr, Matthew; Longenecker, Kenton; Tripathi, Rakesh; Sun, Chaohong; Kempf, Dale J. (AbbVie)

    2017-02-21

    The rapid spread of the recentZika virus(ZIKV) epidemic across various countries in the American continent poses a major health hazard for the unborn fetuses of pregnant women. To date, there is no effective medical intervention. The nonstructural protein 5 ofZika virus(ZIKV-NS5) is critical for ZIKV replication through the 5'-RNA capping and RNA polymerase activities present in its N-terminal methyltransferase (MTase) and C-terminal RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domains, respectively. The crystal structure of the full-length ZIKV-NS5 protein has been determined at 3.05 Å resolution from a crystal belonging to space groupP2<sub>1sub>2<sub>1sub>2 and containing two protein molecules in the asymmetric unit. The structure is similar to that reported for the NS5 protein fromJapanese encephalitis virusand suggests opportunities for structure-based drug design targeting either its MTase or RdRp domain.

  10. Disorder influence on the magnetic properties of La{sub 0.55}Sr{sub 0.45}MnO{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} superlattices

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Haberkorn, N. E-mail: nhaberk@cab.cnea.gov.ar; Sirena, M.; Guimpel, J.; Steren, L.B

    2004-05-01

    The structural and physical properties of La{sub 0.55}Sr{sub 0.45}MnO{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} superlattices grown by magnetron sputtering are studied. Two deposition temperatures and different mismatched substrates and buffer layers were used. The structure was determined by refinement through X-ray diffraction pattern fitting. The results indicate 1 unit cell (u.c.) interdiffusion at the interfaces and a 1 u.c. layer thickness fluctuation, i.e. roughness. In-plane hysteresis loops show the expected ferromagnetic behavior, while the perpendicular-to-plane hysteresis loops show anomalies which could evidence magnetic domain size inhomogeneities and stress.

  11. Response of eight tropical plants to enhanced ammonia deposition under field, conditions prevalent with SO{sub 2} and NH{sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rao, M.V.; Khijneri, S.; Dubey, P.S.; Kumawat, D.M. [Vikram University, Ujjain (India). School of Studies in Botany

    1993-12-01

    The impact of SO{sub 2} on the deposition of ammonia and the response of eight tropical tree species to excess deposition of ammonia was investigated. This was achieved by studying physiological aspects like total sugars, protein, nitrate reductace (NR) activity, organic/inorganic nitrogen ratio, specific leaf area and foliar injury in plants growing under field conditions prevalent with SO{sub 2} and NH{sub 3}. Analysis of water soluble substances present on foliar surfaces of the trees indicated enhanced NH{sub 4}{sup +} deposition and thereby result in enhanced foliar protein contents. Though the enhanced nitrogen was almost the same in different plants, the plants exhibited differential metabolic disturbances. Critical analysis of the reults indicated three distinct types of plant response. Plants like {ital Azadirachta indica}, {ital Acacia auriculiformis} and {ital Bambusa arundinaceae} maintained enhanced total sugars and NR activity and incorporated excess NH{sub 4}{sup +} into proteins, thus enabling the plant to compensate/alleviate SO{sub 2} induced injury. Ficus benghalensis and Ficus religiosa maintained unaltered total sugars and NR activity and could partly incorporate NH{sub 4}{sup +} into proteins, thus modifying rhe SO{sub 2} impact to some extent. {ital Dalbergia sissoo}, {ital Eucalyptus rostrat}a and {ital Mangifera indica} could not incorporate the excess NH{sub 4}{sup +}, mainly due to declined total sugars. The results indicate the ability of a plant to undergo species specific metabolic changes in order to cope with the excess nitrogen deposition, which may ultimately result in increasing or decreasing tolerance to SO{sub 2}. 23 refs., 3 figs., 9 tabs.

  12. Synthesis and crystal structure of the cesium silver permanganate Cs{sub 3}Ag[MnO{sub 4}]{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Bauchert, Joerg M.; Henning, Harald; Schleid, Thomas [Institut fuer Anorganische Chemie, Universitaet Stuttgart (Germany)

    2012-09-15

    After successful syntheses and structural refinements of the already known permanganates of cesium (Cs[MnO{sub 4}]) and silver (Ag[MnO{sub 4}]) we started to blend aqueous solutions of both components in various molar ratios. From crystallization experiments of these mixtures only three species of crystals with different chemical compositions were obtained: tricesium monosilver tetrakispermanganate (Cs{sub 3}Ag[MnO{sub 4}]{sub 4}) and, depending upon the respective ratio, either additional silver permanganate or surplus cesium permanganate, namely. The new title compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnnm (no. 58) with two formula units per unit cell and cell dimensions of a = 764.53(4), b = 1883.57(9) and c = 584.34(3) pm. The crystal structure of Cs{sub 3}Ag[MnO{sub 4}]{sub 4} consists of two crystallographically distinguishable cesium cations. (Cs1){sup +} is surrounded by fourteen oxygen atoms constructing a slightly distorted bicapped hexagonal prism. These polyhedra are connected through edge-sharing with two other polyhedra of this kind to form chains along [001]. The chains are linked to each other via sixfold coordinated Ag{sup +} cations (d(Ag-O) = 238-246 pm), arranged in such a manner that they link three oxygen atoms of two cesium polyhedra, leading to a two-dimensional layer spreading out parallel to the (001) plane. Together with the two crystallographically different tetrahedral oxomanganate(VII) anions [MnO{sub 4}]{sup -} (d(Mn-O) = 161-162 pm) the other kind of cesium cations ((Cs2){sup +} with CN = 13) finally connect these layers three-dimensionally. (Copyright copyright 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  13. Ternary scandium-rich indides Sc{sub 50}T{sub 13}In{sub 3} and Sc{sub 50}Rh{sub 13}In{sub 3}O{sub y} (T = Rh, Ir; y {approx} 8) - synthesis and crystal structure

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zaremba, R.; Poettgen, R. [Inst. fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Univ. Muenster (Germany)

    2007-12-15

    New intermetallic compounds Sc{sub 50}Rh{sub 13.3}In{sub 2.7} and Sc{sub 50}Ir{sub 13.6}In{sub 2.4} and the suboxides Sc{sub 49.2}Rh{sub 13}In{sub 3.8}O{sub 8.8} and Sc{sub 49.2}Rh{sub 13.7}In{sub 2.8}O{sub 8.0} were synthesized from the elements or with Sc{sub 2}O{sub 3} as an oxygen source, respectively, in sealed tantalum tubes in a water-cooled sample chamber of an induction furnace. They crystallize with a new cubic structure type, space group F m anti 3, a = 1772.5(6) pm, wR2 = 0.032, 1111 F{sup 2} values, 34 variables for Sc{sub 50}Rh{sub 13.3}In{sub 2.7}, a = 1766.5(6) pm, wR2 = 0.041, 745 F{sup 2} values, 34 variables for Sc{sub 50}Ir{sub 13.6}In{sub 2.4}, a = 1764.4(2) pm, wR2 = 0.044, 640 F{sup 2} values, 41 variables for Sc{sub 49.2}Rh{sub 13}In{sub 3.8}O{sub 8.8}, and a = 1761.5(6) pm, wR2 = 0.054, 740 F{sup 2} values, 42 variables for Sc{sub 49.2}Rh{sub 13.7}In{sub 2.8}O{sub 8.0}. The main structural motifs are rhodium-centered indium cubes in an fcc like arrangement in which the octahedral and tetrahedral voids are filled by In2Sc{sub 12} and In1Sc{sub 12} icosahedra, respectively, resembling a Li{sub 3}Bi-like structure. The Rh1 (Ir1) and Sc4 atoms lie between these polyhedral units. The oxygen atoms partially fill Sc{sub 6} octahedra in Sc{sub 49.2}Rh{sub 13}In{sub 3.8}O{sub 8.8} and Sc{sub 49.2}Rh{sub 13.7}In{sub 2.8}O{sub 8.0} with Sc-O distances of 214 - 230 pm. These octahedra are condensed via common edges and faces, encapsulating the In2Sc{sub 12} icosahedra. Due to the high scandium content one observes strong Sc-Sc bonding with Sc-Sc distances ranging from 303 to 362 pm in Sc{sub 49.2}Rh{sub 13}In{sub 3.8}O{sub 8.8}. The shortest distances occur for Sc-Rh (267 - 295 pm). The crystal chemical relationship with the Li{sub 3}Bi-related suboxide Ti{sub 12}Sn{sub 3}O{sub 10} is discussed. (orig.)

  14. Crystal structure and dielectric measurements of mixed caesium-ammonium mercury chloride: Cs{sub 0.7}(NH{sub 4}){sub 0.3}HgCl{sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kabadou, A.; Hassen, R.B.; Salah, A.B. [Fac. des Sci., Sfax (Tunisia). Lab. de l`Etat Solide; Jouini, T.

    1998-08-01

    The title compound crystallises in the space group P3{sub 2} and has the unit cell dimensions a = 13.295(11) A, c = 9.419(8) A, V = 1441.82(2), Z = 9, D{sub exp} = 4.17, D{sub calc} = 4.153. The structure at room temperature is considered as distorted perovskite tentatively with R = 0.057 and WR{sub 2} = 0.153 for 700 observed reflections. The dielectric permittivity measured in the frequency and temperatures ranges 10{sup 3} to 10{sup 6} Hz and 307 to 613 K, respectively, reveals a transition at T = 449 K. Transport properties in this material appear to be due to the high mobility of NH{sub 4}{sup +} in the tunnels. (orig.) 13 refs.

  15. Crystal structure of a new polar borate Na{sub 2}Ce{sub 2}[BO{sub 2}(OH)][BO{sub 3}]{sub 2} · H{sub 2}O with isolated boron triangles

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Topnikova, A. P.; Belokoneva, E. L., E-mail: elbel@geol.msu.ru; Dimitrova, O. V.; Volkov, A. S. [Moscow State University, Faculty of Geology (Russian Federation)

    2016-11-15

    Crystals of a new polar borate Na{sub 2}Ce{sub 2}[BO{sub 2}(OH)][BO{sub 3}]{sub 2} · H{sub 2}O were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. The crystals are orthorhombic, a = 7.2295(7) Å, b = 11.2523(8) Å, c = 5.1285(6) Å, Z = 2, sp. gr. C2mm (Amm2), R = 0.0253. The formula of the compound was derived from the structure determination. The Ce and Na atoms are coordinated by nine and six O atoms, respectively. The Ce position is split, and a small amount of Ce is incorporated into the Na1 site with the isomorphous substitution for Na. The anionic moieties exist as isolated BO{sub 3} and BO{sub 2}(OH) triangles. The planes of the BO{sub 2}(OH) triangles with mm2 symmetry are parallel to the ab plane. The planes of the BO{sub 3} triangles with m symmetry are perpendicular to the ab plane and are rotated in a diagonal way. The splitting of the Ce positions and the polar arrangement of the BO{sub 2}(OH) triangles, water molecules, and Na atoms are observed along the polar a axis. The new structure is most similar to the new borate NaCa{sub 4}[BO{sub 3}]{sub 3} (sp. gr. Ama2), in which triangles of one type are arranged in a polar fashion along the c axis. Weak nonlinear-optical properties of both polar borates are attributed to the quenching of the second-harmonic generation due to the mutually opposite orientation of two-thirds of B triangles in the unit cell.

  16. Synthesis, structure, and characterization of two new bismuth(III) selenite/tellurite nitrates: [(Bi{sub 3}O{sub 2})(SeO{sub 3}){sub 2}](NO{sub 3}) and [Bi(TeO{sub 3})](NO{sub 3})

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Meng, Chang-Yu; Wei, Ming-Fang [Department of Chemistry and Materials, Yulin Normal University,Yulin, Guangxi 537000 (China); Geng, Lei, E-mail: lgeng.cn@gmail.com [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, Anhui 235000 (China); Hu, Pei-Qing; Yu, Meng-Xia [Department of Chemistry and Materials, Yulin Normal University,Yulin, Guangxi 537000 (China); Cheng, Wen-Dan [State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002 (China)

    2016-07-15

    Two new bismuth(III) selenite/tellurite nitrates, [(Bi{sub 3}O{sub 2})(SeO{sub 3}){sub 2}](NO{sub 3}) and [Bi(TeO{sub 3})](NO{sub 3}), have been synthesized by conventional facile hydrothermal method at middle temperature 200 °C and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder diffraction, UV–vis–NIR optical absorption spectrum, infrared spectrum and thermal analylsis. Both [(Bi{sub 3}O{sub 2})(SeO{sub 3}){sub 2}](NO{sub 3}) and [Bi(TeO3)](NO3) crystallize in the monoclinic centronsymmetric space group P2{sub 1}/c with a=9.9403(4) Å, b=9.6857(4) Å, c=10.6864(5) Å, β=93.1150(10)° for [(Bi{sub 3}O{sub 2})(SeO{sub 3}){sub 2}](NO{sub 3}) and a=8.1489(3) Å, b=9.0663(4) Å, c=7.4729(3) Å, β=114.899(2)° for Bi(TeO3)(NO3), respectively. The two compounds, whose structures are composed of three different asymmetric building units, exhibit two different types of structures. The structure of [(Bi{sub 3}O{sub 2})(SeO{sub 3}){sub 2}](NO{sub 3}) features a three-dimensional (3D) bismuth(III) selenite cationic tunnel structure [(Bi{sub 3}O{sub 2})(SeO{sub 3}){sub 2}] {sup 3}{sub ∞} with NO{sub 3}{sup −} anion group filling in the 1D tunnel along b axis. The structure of [Bi(TeO{sub 3})](NO{sub 3}) features 2D bismuth(III) tellurite [Bi(TeO{sub 3}){sub 2}]{sup 2}{sub ∞} layers separated by NO{sub 3}{sup −} anion groups. The results of optical diffuse-reflectance spectrum measurements and electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory methods show that the two compounds are wide band-gap semiconductors. - Graphical abstract: Two novel bismuth{sup III} selenite/tellurite nitrates [(Bi{sub 3}O{sub 2})(SeO{sub 3}){sub 2}](NO{sub 3}) with 3D tunnel structure and [Bi(TeO{sub 3})](NO{sub 3}) with 2D layer structure have been firstly synthesized and characterized. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Two novel bismuth{sup III} nitrates [(Bi{sub 3}O{sub 2})(SeO{sub 3}){sub 2}](NO{sub 3}) and [Bi(TeO{sub 3})](NO{sub 3}) were firstly

  17. Protein Molecular Structures, Protein SubFractions, and Protein Availability Affected by Heat Processing: A Review

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Yu, P.

    2007-01-01

    The utilization and availability of protein depended on the types of protein and their specific susceptibility to enzymatic hydrolysis (inhibitory activities) in the gastrointestine and was highly associated with protein molecular structures. Studying internal protein structure and protein subfraction profiles leaded to an understanding of the components that make up a whole protein. An understanding of the molecular structure of the whole protein was often vital to understanding its digestive behavior and nutritive value in animals. In this review, recently obtained information on protein molecular structural effects of heat processing was reviewed, in relation to protein characteristics affecting digestive behavior and nutrient utilization and availability. The emphasis of this review was on (1) using the newly advanced synchrotron technology (S-FTIR) as a novel approach to reveal protein molecular chemistry affected by heat processing within intact plant tissues; (2) revealing the effects of heat processing on the profile changes of protein subfractions associated with digestive behaviors and kinetics manipulated by heat processing; (3) prediction of the changes of protein availability and supply after heat processing, using the advanced DVE/OEB and NRC-2001 models, and (4) obtaining information on optimal processing conditions of protein as intestinal protein source to achieve target values for potential high net absorbable protein in the small intestine. The information described in this article may give better insight in the mechanisms involved and the intrinsic protein molecular structural changes occurring upon processing.

  18. New Co–Pd–Zn γ-Brasses with Dilute Ferrimagnetism and Co<sub>2sub>Zn>11sub> Revisited: Establishing the Synergism between Theory and Experiment

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Xie, Weiwei; Miller, Gordon J

    2014-04-22

    A synergism between electronic structure theory and the targeted synthesis of new ternary γ-brass compounds is demonstrated in the Co–Zn system. Co<sub>2sub>Zn>11sub>, which adopts a cubic γ-brass structure, is shown to be at the Zn-rich end of a homogeneity range that varies from 15.4 to 22.1 atom % Co. Four samples were examined by single-crystal diffraction, all of which crystallize in space group I43¯m with the lattice parameter ranging from 8.9851(1) to 8.8809(1) Å as the Co content increases. In the 26-atom γ-brass clusters, Co atoms preferentially occupy the outer tetrahedron (OT) sites and then replace Zn atoms at the octahedron (OH) sites at higher Co concentrations. In addition, a small fraction of vacancies occurs on the inner tetrahedron (IT) sites. The electronic structure of Co<sub>2sub>Zn>11sub> shows two distinct pseudogaps near the Fermi level: one at 292 valence electrons per primitive unit cell and the other at 302–304 valence electrons per primitive unit cell. Using molecular orbital arguments applied to the body-centered cubic packing of the 26-atom Co<sub>4sub>Zn>22sub> γ-brass cluster, these pseudogaps arise from (i) splitting among the valence s and p orbitals, which gives rise to the Hume–Rothery electron counting rule, and (ii) splitting within the manifold of Co 3d orbitals via Co–Zn orbital interactions. Co<sub>2sub>Zn>11sub> is Pauli paramagnetic, although the density of states at the Fermi level is large, whereas Curie–Weiss behavior emerges for higher Co concentrations. Because Pd has a size and an electronegativity similar to those of Zn, and inspired by the pseudogaps in the electronic density of states curve of Co<sub>2sub>Zn>11sub>, Pd-doped γ-brass compounds were designed and two new γ-brass compounds were obtained: Co<sub>0.92(2)sub>Pd>1.08sub>Zn>11sub> and Co<sub>2.50(1)sub>Pd>2.50sub>Zn>8sub>. In these, the site preferences for Co and Pd can

  19. The complex structure of liquid Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} alloy

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Qin Jingyu; Gu Tingkun; Bian Xiufang [Key Laboratory of Liquid Structure and Heredity of Materials, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Southern Campus, Jinan 250061 (China); Liu Hui [Shandong High Performance Computing Center, Shandong University, Southern Campus, Jinan 250061 (China)

    2009-04-15

    By applying ab initio molecular dynamics simulation to liquid Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} alloy, the hetero-coordination tendency is discovered by Bathia-Thornton partial correlation functions and a chemical short-range parameter. However the local structural environment of Sn in l-Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} alloy resembles that of liquid Sn by Voronoi analysis. A new feature, i.e. a subpeak in between the first and second peaks, is discovered by the present method which implies that topologically disordered {beta}-Sn-type structural units may exist in l-Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} alloy. The local density states of electrons show that both Cu-Sn and Sn-Sn bonding exist in l-Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} alloy. This work suggests that chemical short-range order between unlike atoms and self-coordination between Sn atoms coexists in l-Cu{sub 6}Sn{sub 5} alloy.

  20. Structure of the new Tl(Ba sub 1.0 Sr sub 1.0) PrCu sub 2 O sub 7-x by Rietveld analysis

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Yang, P.; Fun, H. K.; Lee, T.J.; Ku, H.C.; Lai, C.C.

    1994-01-01

    The crystalline structure of Tl(Ba sub 1.0 Sr sub 1.0)PrCu sub 2 O sub 7-x was obtained at room temperature from x-ray powder diffraction with CuK sub α radiation using Rietveld analysis. Tl(Ba sub 1.0 Sr sub 1.0)PrCu sub 2 O sub 7-x isomorphous at both room temperature (300 K) and low temperature (100 K) with TlBa sub 2 ca Cu sub 2 O sub 7-x type (1212) structure, crystallized with space group P4/mmm and one formula in the unit cell. At 300 K, cell parameters a=3.8892(2) A, c=12.3099(6) A, the structure was refined with 25 parameters to R sub WP = 6.30%, R sub P = 4.38% for 3551 step intensities and R sub b = 5.01%, R sub f = 4.20% for 156 reflections. The goodness of fitting S=3.18. At 100K, cell parameters a=3.8866(4) A, c= 12.289(1) A, the structure was refined with 26 parameters to R sub WP = 8.42%, R sub P = 6.21% for 2676 step intensities and R sub b = 6.72%, R sub f = 5.28% for 120 reflections. The goodness of fitting S=2.32. Reasonable anisotropic thermal parameters were obtained. The compositions of Ba and Sr atoms were refined to about Ba sub 1.1 Sr sub 0.9 compared with the stoichiometric Ba sub 1.0 Sr sub 1.0

  1. Hemolysin coregulated protein 1 as a molecular gluing unit for the assembly of nanoparticle hybrid structures

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Tuan Anh Pham

    2016-03-01

    Full Text Available Hybrid nanoparticle (NP structures containing organic building units such as polymers, peptides, DNA and proteins have great potential in biosensor and electronic applications. The nearly free modification of the polymer chain, the variation of the protein and DNA sequence and the implementation of functional moieties provide a great platform to create inorganic structures of different morphology, resulting in different optical and magnetic properties. Nevertheless, the design and modification of a protein structure with functional groups or sequences for the assembly of biohybrid materials is not trivial. This is mainly due to the sensitivity of its secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure to the changes in the interaction (e.g., hydrophobic, hydrophilic, electrostatic, chemical groups between the protein subunits and the inorganic material. Here, we use hemolysin coregulated protein 1 (Hcp1 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a building and gluing unit for the formation of biohybrid structures by implementing cysteine anchoring points at defined positions on the protein rim (Hcp1_cys3. We successfully apply the Hcp1_cys3 gluing unit for the assembly of often linear, hybrid structures of plasmonic gold (Au NP, magnetite (Fe3O4 NP, and cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CoFe2O4 NP. Furthermore, the assembly of Au NPs into linear structures using Hcp1_cys3 is investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy, TEM and cryo-TEM. One key parameter for the formation of Au NP assembly is the specific ionic strength in the mixture. The resulting network-like structure of Au NPs is characterized by Raman spectroscopy, showing surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS by a factor of 8·104 and a stable secondary structure of the Hcp1_cys3 unit. In order to prove the catalytic performance of the gold hybrid structures, they are used as a catalyst in the reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol showing similar catalytic activity as the pure Au NPs. To further extend the

  2. Local structure and thermoelectric properties of Mg{sub 2}Si{sub 0.977−x}Ge{sub x}Bi{sub 0.023} (0.1 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.4)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Farahi, Nader [Department of Chemistry and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 (Canada); Prabhudev, Sagar; Botton, Gianluigi A. [Materials Science and Engineering Department, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8 (Canada); Zhao, Jianbao; Tse, John S. [Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2 (Canada); Liu, Zhenxian [Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC 20015 (United States); Salvador, James R. [General Motors Research & Development Center, Warren, MI 48090 (United States); Kleinke, Holger, E-mail: kleinke@uwaterloo.ca [Department of Chemistry and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 (Canada)

    2015-09-25

    Highlights: • Incorporating Ge into Bi-doped Mg{sub 2}Si decreases the thermal conductivity and enhances the thermoelectric performance. • Ge-rich domains, identified via TEM, contribute to these changes. • Interstitial sites are in part filled with Mg atoms, as revealed via TEM. • Doping with Bi is advantageous over doping with Sb, resulting in an increase of 48% of the thermoelectric figure of merit. • The highest figure-of-merit of these materials is zT{sub max} = 0.7 at 773 K, realized for Mg{sub 2}Si{sub 0.677}Ge{sub 0.3}Bi{sub 0.023}. - Abstract: We investigated the effect of germanium substitution for silicon in bismuth doped Mg{sub 2}Si. This alloying reduces the thermal conductivity from above 7 W m{sup −1} K{sup −1} to 2.7 W m{sup −1} K{sup −1} at around 300 K in part due to the added mass contrast. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) revealed the presence of Ge-rich domains within the Mg{sub 2}(Si,Ge,Bi) particles, contributing to decreasing thermal conductivity with increasing Ge content up to 0.3 Ge per formula unit. The electrical conductivity also decreases with Ge alloying because of the increasing amount of scattering centers, while the Seebeck coefficient increased only very slightly. In total, the positive effect of Ge substitution on the thermoelectric properties of Bi doped Mg{sub 2}Si resulted in a figure of merit of 0.7 at 773 K for Mg{sub 2}Si{sub 0.677}Ge{sub 0.3}Bi{sub 0.023} sample. The optimum amount of Bi seems to be 0.023 per formula unit (0.77 at%), since lower Bi content resulted in electrical conductivity that is too low, and higher Bi content generated the Mg{sub 3}Bi{sub 2} intermetallic phase.

  3. A novel π–conjugated Zn⟵S→Zn unit interface in the ZnS/Zn(S){sub 2}L inorganic/orgainc hybrids for significant photoelectric response

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gao, Yuanhao, E-mail: gyh-2007@sohu.com [Key Laboratory of Micro–Nano Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion of Henan Province and Institute of Surface Micro and Nano Materials, Xuchang University, Xuchang 461000 (China); Zhang, Xiaofei; Wang, Peipei [College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000 (China); Lei, Yan, E-mail: leiyan361@163.com [Key Laboratory of Micro–Nano Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion of Henan Province and Institute of Surface Micro and Nano Materials, Xuchang University, Xuchang 461000 (China); Yang, Xiaognag; Fa, Wenjun [Key Laboratory of Micro–Nano Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion of Henan Province and Institute of Surface Micro and Nano Materials, Xuchang University, Xuchang 461000 (China); Niu, Helin [Department of Chemistry, Anhui University, Hefei 230039 (China); Zheng, Zhi [Key Laboratory of Micro–Nano Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion of Henan Province and Institute of Surface Micro and Nano Materials, Xuchang University, Xuchang 461000 (China)

    2017-04-30

    Highlights: • ZnS/Zn(S){sub 2}L is synthesized by using ZnS nanocrystals and Zn(S){sub 2}L complex. • There is a novel Zn⟵S→Zn unit interface in ZnS/Zn(S){sub 2}L hybrid system. • Luminescence quantum efficiency of ZnS/Zn(S){sub 2}L is up to 69%. • The π–conjugated Zn⟵S→Zn bridge enhanced the electron transfer effectively. - Abstract: By using a novel Zn(S){sub 2}L complex (L = N–hexyl–3–{2–(4–(2,2′:6′,2′′–terpyridin–4′–yl)phenyl)ethenyl}carbazole) as a surface stabilizing agent, the self–assembled microspheres of Zn(S){sub 2}L–capped ZnS nanocrystals are obtained in a simple ethanol solvothermal process. Because of the strong π character of the two terminal sulfur atoms (S{sup 1–} valence state) in the Zn(S){sub 2}L complex, the Zn(S){sub 2}L complex could incorporate ZnS nanocrystals together by a homologous Zn⟵S→Zn unit interface. In the work, the homologous Zn⟵S→Zn unit interface is proposed to function as a π–conjugated bridge for effective electron–transfer transition from Zn(S){sub 2}L moiety to ZnS nanocrystal to significantly improve the photoelectric response performance, such as the long lifetime of photogenerated charge carriers from 8 × 10{sup −8} s to 4 × 10{sup −5} s and the high recombination luminescence quantum efficiency (QE) up to 69%, which are confirmed by the systematically investigation with Raman spectra, XPS spectra, Uv–vis absorption spectra, photoluminescence (PL) spectra and transient photovoltage (TPV) technique. The ZnS/Zn(S){sub 2}L used as extra electron donor in organic/inorganic hybrid solar cell device could increase performance up to about 30%.

  4. Synthesis, crystal structure and photoluminescence of a new Eu-doped Sr containing sialon (Sr{sub 0.94}Eu{sub 0.06})(Al{sub 0.3}Si{sub 0.7}){sub 4}(N{sub 0.8}O{sub 0.2}){sub 6}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Yamane, Hisanori, E-mail: yamane@tagen.tohoku.ac.jp [Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8577 (Japan); Shimooka, Satoshi; Uheda, Kyota [Mitsubishi Chemical Group, Science and Technology Research Center, Inc. 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama 227-8502 (Japan)

    2012-06-15

    Colorless transparent platelet single crystals of a novel Eu{sup 2+}-doped strontium silicon aluminum oxynitride, (Sr{sub 0.94}Eu{sub 0.06})(Al{sub 0.3}Si{sub 0.7}){sub 4}(N{sub 0.8}O{sub 0.2}){sub 6}, were prepared at 1800 Degree-Sign C and 0.92 MPa of N{sub 2}. Fundamental reflections of electron and X-ray diffraction of the crystals were indexed with a face-centered orthorhombic unit cell (a=5.8061(5) A, b=37.762(3) A, c=9.5936(9) A). Diffuse streaks elongated in the b-axis direction were observed around the fundamental reflections hkl with h=2n+1 of the electron and X-ray diffraction, indicating stacking faults of (0 1 0)[1 0 0]/2. A crystal structure model without the stacking faults was obtained using the X-ray diffraction data of the fundamental reflections with the space group Fdd2. A SiN{sub 4}-tetrahedron double layer of [SiN{sub 2}]{sub 2} and a Sr/Eu double layer of [(Sr{sub 0.94}Eu{sub 0.06})Al{sub 1.2}Si{sub 0.8}N{sub 0.8} O{sub 1.2}]{sub 2} are stacked alternately along the b-axis direction. The title compound showed an emission with a peak wavelength of 490 nm under 334 nm excitation at room temperature. - Graphical abstract: Single crystals of a novel Eu{sup 2+}-doped strontium silicon aluminum oxynitride, (Sr{sub 0.94}Eu{sub 0.06})(Al{sub 0.3}Si{sub 0.7}){sub 4}(N{sub 0.8}O{sub 0.2}){sub 6}, having stacking faults on the (0 1 0) plane of an orthorhombic cell, were prepared at 1800 Degree-Sign C and 0.92 MPa of N{sub 2}. The compound showed emission with a peak wavelength of 490 nm under 334 nm excitation at room temperature. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A new compound Eu{sup 2+}-doped (Sr{sub 0.94}Eu{sub 0.06})(Al{sub 0.3}Si{sub 0.7}){sub 4}(N{sub 0.8}O{sub 0.2}){sub 6} was prepared. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Stacking faults in the compound were clarified by electron and X-ray diffraction. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A basic crystal structure model was obtained based on the X-ray diffraction data. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer An

  5. Transport properties of La{sub 2/3}Sr{sub 1/3}MnO{sub 3}/LaAlO{sub 3}/Pt tunnel junctions

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Galceran, R.; Balcells, Ll.; Pomar, A.; Konstantinović, Z.; Sandiumenge, F.; Martínez, B. [Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Barcelona - CSIC, Campus UAB, Bellaterra 08193 (Spain)

    2015-03-14

    Magnetotransport properties of La{sub 2/3}Sr{sub 1/3}MnO{sub 3}/LaAlO{sub 3}/Pt tunnel junctions have been thoroughly analyzed, as a function of temperature and magnetic field, to test the suitability of LaAlO{sub 3} for insulating barriers and spin injection processes. The insulating behavior of LaAlO{sub 3} maintained down to 1–2 nm (corresponding to 4–5 unit cells) renders this material useful as tunnel barrier. The temperature dependence of the junction resistance, R(T), down to 200 K confirms direct tunneling as the dominant conduction channel. The barrier parameters of the junctions, φ{sub 0} and s, are estimated using Simmons' model in the intermediate voltage range. The energy of the barrier was estimated to be φ{sub 0} ∼ 0.4 eV at room temperature. The dependence of R(T) and φ{sub 0} on the magnetic field shows an anisotropic tunneling magnetoresistance of ∼4% at low T when changing the direction of the magnetization with respect to the current flow.

  6. Synthesis, structure and electrochemical properties of LiNaCo{sub 0.5}Fe{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4}F fluoride-phosphate

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Fedotov, Stanislav S. [Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow (Russian Federation); Skoltech Center for Electrochemical Energy Storage, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 143026 Moscow (Russian Federation); Kuzovchikov, Sergey M.; Khasanova, Nellie R.; Drozhzhin, Oleg A.; Filimonov, Dmitriy S. [Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow (Russian Federation); Karakulina, Olesia M.; Hadermann, Joke [EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp (Belgium); Abakumov, Artem M. [Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow (Russian Federation); Skoltech Center for Electrochemical Energy Storage, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 143026 Moscow (Russian Federation); EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp (Belgium); Antipov, Evgeny V. [Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow (Russian Federation)

    2016-10-15

    LiNaCo{sub 0.5}Fe{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4}F fluoride-phosphate was synthesized via conventional solid-state and novel freeze-drying routes. The crystal structure was refined based on neutron powder diffraction (NPD) data and validated by electron diffraction (ED) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The alkali ions are ordered in LiNaCo{sub 0.5}Fe{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4}F and the transition metals jointly occupy the same crystallographic sites. The oxidation state and oxygen coordination environment of the Fe atoms were verified by {sup 57}Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Electrochemical tests of the LiNaCo{sub 0.5}Fe{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4}F cathode material demonstrated a reversible activity of the Fe{sup 3+}/Fe{sup 2+} redox couple at the electrode potential near 3.4 V and minor activity of the Co{sup 3+}/Co{sup 2+} redox couple over 5 V vs Li/Li{sup +}. The material exhibited the discharge capacity of more than 82% (theo.) regarding Fe{sup 3+}/Fe{sup 2+} in the 2.4÷4.6 V vs Li/Li{sup +} potential range. - Graphical abstract: The ball-polyhedral representation of the LiNaCo{sub 0.5}Fe{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4}F crystal structure. The MO{sub 4}F{sub 2} units are depicted as blue octahedra, PO{sub 4} units as orange tetrahedra, sodium atoms are designated as yellow (Na1), lithium – red and brown (Li2, Li3 resp.), fluorine – green, oxygen – violet spheres. - Highlights: • Freeze-drying method was successfully applied to the synthesis of LiNaCo{sub 0.5}Fe{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4}F. • The crystal structure of LiNaCo{sub 0.5}Fe{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4}F was refined based on NPD and validated by ED and HRTEM. • LiNaCo{sub 0.5}Fe{sub 0.5}PO{sub 4}F demonstrated a reversible Li de/intercalation in the 2.5÷4.6 V vs Li/Li{sup +} range.

  7. Structural influence of aluminium, gallium and indium metal oxides by means of dielectric and spectroscopic properties of CaO-Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3}-B{sub 2}O{sub 3} glass system

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Srinivasa Reddy, M. [Department of Physics, Acharya Nagarjuna University P.G. Centre, Nuzvid 521 201, AP (India); Naga Raju, G. [Department of Physics, Acharya Nagarjuna University P.G. Centre, Nuzvid 521 201, AP (India); Nagarjuna, G. [Department of Chemistry, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjunanagar, AP (India); Veeraiah, N. [Department of Physics, Acharya Nagarjuna University P.G. Centre, Nuzvid 521 201, AP (India)]. E-mail: nvr8@rediffmail.com

    2007-07-12

    Dielectric constant ({epsilon}'), loss (tan {delta}), ac conductivity ({sigma}) of CaO-Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3}-B{sub 2}O{sub 3}:M{sub 2}O{sub 3} (Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} and In{sub 2}O{sub 3}) glasses with varying concentrations of M{sub 2}O{sub 3} (0-5 mol%), were measured as a function of frequency and temperature over moderately wide ranges. The analysis of results of these studies along with IR, Raman and optical absorption spectra and also DTA studies indicated that in the concentration ranges, 0 {<=} Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} {<=} 4, 0 {<=} Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} {<=} 2 and 1 {<=} In{sub 2}O{sub 3} {<=} 5, Al{sup 3+}, Ga{sup 3+} ions occupy tetrahedral positions whereas In{sup 3+} ions take up octahedral substitutional positions, cross-link with the other structural units in the glass network and increase the rigidity of the glass network.

  8. Structural study of (N{sub 2}H{sub 5},H){sub 2.9}U{sub 1.1}Ce{sub 0.9}(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 5}·10H{sub 2}O from a conventional X-ray diffraction diagram obtained on a powder synthesized by a fast vortex process

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Brackx, E., E-mail: Emmanuelle.brackx@cea.fr [CEA, DEN, DTEC, SGCS, LMAC, Marcoule, 30207 Bagnols sur Cèze (France); Laval, J.P. [Centre Européen de la Céramique, SPCTS, UMR-CNRS 7315, Université de Limoges, Faculté des Sciences, 12 rue Atlantis, 87068 Limoges (France); Dugne, O. [CEA, DEN, DTEC, SGCS, LMAC, Marcoule, 30207 Bagnols sur Cèze (France); Feraud, J.P. [CEA, DEN, DTEC, SGCS, LGCI, Marcoule, 30207 Bagnols sur Cèze (France); Arab-Chapelet, B. [CEA, DEN, DRCP, SCPS, LC2A, Marcoule, 30207 Bagnols sur Cèze (France)

    2015-01-15

    In the context of research on U/minor actinides for nuclear fuel reprocessing in the transmutation process, developments are first studied with surrogates containing uranium and lanthanides to facilitate testing. The tests consist of precipitating and calcining a hydrazinium uranium/cerium oxalate. The structure of this oxalate had not been previously determined, but was necessary to validate the physicochemical mechanisms involved. The present study, firstly demonstrates the structural similarity of the U/Ce oxalate phase (N{sub 2}H{sub 5},H){sub 2.9}U{sub 1.1}Ce{sub 0.9}(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 5}·10H{sub 2}O, synthesized using a vortex precipitator for continuous synthesis of actinide oxalates, with previously known oxalates, crystallizing in P6{sub 3}/mmc symmetry, obtained by more classical methods. This fast precipitation process induces massive nucleation of fine powders. Their structural and microstructural determination confirms that the raw and dried phases belong to the same structural family as (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}U{sub 2}(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 5}·0.7H{sub 2}O whose structure was described by Chapelet-Arab in P6{sub 3}/mmc symmetry, using single crystal data. However, they present an extended disorder inside the tunnels of the structure, even after drying at 100 °C, between water and hydrazinium ions. This disorder is directly related to the fast vortex method. This structure determination can be used as a basis for further semi-quantitative analysis on the U/minor actinides products formed under various experimental conditions. - Highlights: • Uranium cerium oxalate precipitate characterization by X-ray powder diffraction. • Morphology characterization by SEM analysis. • Structure determination by unit cell Rietveld refinement.

  9. Practical considerations for investigation of protein conformational dynamics by {sup 15}N R{sub 1ρ} relaxation dispersion

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Walinda, Erik [Kyoto University, Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine (Japan); Morimoto, Daichi; Shirakawa, Masahiro; Sugase, Kenji, E-mail: sugase@moleng.kyoto-u.ac.jp [Kyoto University, Department of Molecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering (Japan)

    2017-03-15

    It is becoming increasingly apparent that proteins are not static entities and that their function often critically depends on accurate sampling of multiple conformational states in aqueous solution. Accordingly, the development of methods to study conformational states in proteins beyond their ground-state structure (“excited states”) has crucial biophysical importance. Here we investigate experimental schemes for optimally probing chemical exchange processes in proteins on the micro- to millisecond timescale by {sup 15}N R{sub 1ρ} relaxation dispersion. The schemes use selective Hartmann–Hahn cross-polarization (CP) transfer for excitation, and derive peak integrals from 1D NMR spectra (Korzhnev et al. in J Am Chem Soc 127:713–721, 2005; Hansen et al. in J Am Chem Soc 131:3818–3819, 2009). Simulation and experiment collectively show that in such CP-based schemes care has to be taken to achieve accurate suppression of undesired off-resonance coherences, when using weak spin-lock fields. This then (i) ensures that relaxation dispersion profiles in the absence of chemical exchange are flat, and (ii) facilitates extraction of relaxation dispersion profiles in crowded regions of the spectrum. Further improvement in the quality of the experimental data is achieved by recording the free-induction decays in an interleaved manner and including a heating-compensation element. The reported considerations will particularly benefit the use of CP-based R{sub 1ρ} relaxation dispersion to analyze conformational exchange processes in larger proteins, where resonance line overlap becomes the main limiting factor.

  10. Advanced Low Energy Enzyme Catalyzed Solvent for CO<sub>2sub> Capture

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zaks, Alex [Akermin Inc., St. Louis, MO (United States); Reardon, John [Akermin Inc., St. Louis, MO (United States)

    2013-09-30

    A proof-of-concept biocatalyst enhanced solvent process was developed and demonstrated in an integrated bench-scale system using coal post combustion flue gas. The biocatalyst was deployed as a coating on M500X structured packing. Rate enhancement was evaluated using a non-volatile and non-toxic 20 wt% potassium carbonate solution. Greater than 500-fold volumetric scale-up from laboratory to bench scale was demonstrated in this project. Key technical achievements included: 10-fold mass transfer enhancement demonstrated in laboratory testing relative to blank potassium carbonate at 45°C; ~ 7-fold enhancement over blank in bench-scale field testing at National Carbon Capture Center; aerosol emissions were below detection limits (< 0.8 ppm); 90% capture was demonstrated at ~19.5 Nm3/hr (dry basis); and ~ 80% CO<sub>2sub> capture was demonstrated at ~ 30 Nm3/hr (dry basis) for more than 2800-hrs on flue gas with minimal detectible decline in activity. The regeneration energy requirement was 3.5 GJ/t CO<sub>2sub> for this solvent, which was below the target of <2.1 GJ/t CO<sub>2sub>. Bench unit testing revealed kinetic limitations in the un-catalyzed stripper at around 85°C, but process modeling based on bench unit data showed that equivalent work of less than 300 kWh/t CO<sub>2sub> including all CO<sub>2sub> compression can be achieved at lower temperature stripping conditions. Cost analysis showed that 20% potassium carbonate in a basic solvent flow sheet with biocatalyst coated packing has economic performance comparable to the reference NETL Case-12, 30% MEA. A detailed techno-economic analysis indicated that addition of catalyst in the stripper could reduce the cost of capture by ~6% and cost of avoided CO<sub>2sub> by ~10% below reference NETL Case-12. Based on these results, a directional plan was identified to reduce the cost of CO<sub>2sub> capture in future work.

  11. Coloring problem and magnetocaloric effect of Gd{sub 3}Co{sub 2.2}Si{sub 1.8}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Yao, Jinlei, E-mail: materyao@gmail.com [Research Center for Solid State Physics and Materials, School of Mathematics and Physics, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009 (China); Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M1 (Canada); Morozkin, A.V. [Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, House 1, Building 3, GSP-2, Moscow 119992 (Russian Federation); Mozharivskyj, Yurij [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4M1 (Canada)

    2013-02-15

    Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Gd{sub 3}Co{sub 2.2}Si{sub 1.8} adopts the Er{sub 3}Ge{sub 4} structure (space group Cmcm). Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Si and Co show site preference. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The electronic factors determine the site occupation of Si and Co. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Gd{sub 3}Co{sub 2.2}Si{sub 1.8} order ferromagnetically below 172 K. - Abstract: The Gd{sub 3}Co{sub 2.2}Si{sub 1.8} compound was synthesized by arc melting the constituent elements and subsequent annealing at 1070 K for 120 h. It adopts the Dy{sub 3}Co{sub 2.2}Si{sub 1.8}-type structure with the space group Cmcm and the unit cell parameters of a = 4.1176(7) A, b = 10.305(2) A, c = 12.778(2) A and V = 542.2(2) A{sup 3}. The Co and Si atoms preferentially occupy the 8f and 4a/4c sites, respectively. The atomic electronegativity and electron density at a given site determine its site occupation, according to the analysis of the electronic structure. Gd{sub 3}Co{sub 2.2}Si{sub 1.8} orders ferromagnetically with the Curie temperature of 172 K. The isothermal magnetic entropy change, -{Delta}S{sub m}, reaches the maximum value of 7.09 J/kg K at 170 K for a field change of 0-50 kOe.

  12. Adsorption-controlled growth of Bi{sub 4}Ti{sub 3}O{sub 12} by reactive MBE

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Theis, C.D.; Yeh, J.; Schlom, D.G. [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802-5005 (United States); Hawley, M.E.; Brown, G.W. [Center for Materials Science, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States); Jiang, J.C.; Pan, X.Q. [University of Michigan, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2136 (United States)

    1998-06-01

    Adsorption-controlled conditions have been identified and utilized to grow epitaxial bismuth titanate thin films by reactive molecular beam epitaxy. Growth of stoichiometric, phase pure, c-axis oriented, epitaxial films is achieved by supplying a large overabundance of bismuth and ozone continuously to the surface of the depositing film. Titanium is supplied to the film in the form of shuttered bursts each containing a three monolayer dose of titanium to grow one formula unit of Bi{sub 4}Ti{sub 3}O{sub 12}. It is seen from measured film thickness, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry composition measurements, monitoring of reflection high-energy electron diffraction half-order intensity oscillations during growth, and {ital in situ} flux measurements using atomic absorption spectroscopy that at suitable temperature and ozone background pressure, the titanium sticking coefficient approaches one and the excess bismuth desorbs from the surface. Film growth proceeds by the formation of mounds whose step heights are predominantly integral multiples of a half-unit cell.{copyright} {ital 1998 American Institute of Physics.}

  13. The Tl{sub 2}S–PbS–SiS{sub 2} system and the crystal and electronic structure of quaternary chalcogenide Tl{sub 2}PbSiS{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Mozolyuk, M.Y.; Piskach, L.V. [Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Lesya Ukrainka Eastern European National University, 13 Voli Avenue, 43025, Lutsk (Ukraine); Fedorchuk, A.O. [Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Lviv National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies, 50 Pekarska Street, 79010, Lviv (Ukraine); Olekseyuk, I.D.; Parasyuk, O.V. [Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Lesya Ukrainka Eastern European National University, 13 Voli Avenue, 43025, Lutsk (Ukraine); Khyzhun, O.Y., E-mail: khyzhun@ipms.kiev.ua [Frantsevych Institute for Problems of Materials Science, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 3 Krzhyzhanivsky Street, 03142, Kyiv (Ukraine)

    2017-07-01

    Chalcogenides of the quasi-ternary system Tl{sub 2}S–PbS–SiS{sub 2} were synthesized in the evacuated silica ampoules by the melting and annealing technique. Phase equilibria in the system was investigated by XRD method. Isothermal section of the system was studied, and two intermediate quaternary phases were discovered to exist (Tl{sub 2}PbSiS{sub 4}, ∼Tl{sub 2}PbSi{sub 3}S{sub 8}). The quasi-binary section Tl{sub 2}SiS{sub 3}–PbS was investigated by DTA. Its phase diagram was constructed, and it was established that the equimolar compound melts incongruently at 818 K. The crystal structure of the quaternary compound Tl{sub 2}PbSiS{sub 4} was determined by X-ray powder diffraction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2{sub 1}/a with the unit-cell parameters a = 8.8141(4), b = 9.0150(5), c = 10.4383(5) Å, and β = 94.490(4)° (Tl{sub 2}PbGeS{sub 4} structure type). Reliability factors calculated in the isotropic approximation were found to be R{sub I} = 0.0564 and R{sub P} = 0.1070. The Tl{sub 2}PbSiS{sub 4} single crystal was tested with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In particular, the XPS core-level and valence-band spectra were recorded for pristine and Ar{sup +}-ion bombarded surfaces of Tl{sub 2}PbSiS{sub 4}. The Tl{sub 2}PbSiS{sub 4} single crystal was found to be rather stable with respect to Ar{sup +}-ion irradiation. We have also measured the X-ray emission band depicting the energy distribution of mainly the S 3p states and compared it on a common energy scale with the XPS valence-band spectrum of the Tl{sub 2}PbSiS{sub 4} crystal. The above comparison indicates that the S 3p states contribute substantively in the upper portion of the valence band of Tl{sub 2}PbSiS{sub 4}, with their significant contributions in other portions of the valence-band region. - Highlights: • Chalcogenides of the quasi-ternary system Tl{sub 2}S–PbS–SiS{sub 2} were synthesized. • Two intermediate quaternary phases were discovered to exist (Tl{sub

  14. Structural characterization of ZnCl{sub 2} modified tellurite based glasses

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Dhankhar, Sunil, E-mail: dhankhar.sunil@gmail.com; Kundu, R. S.; Sunita [Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar (Haryana) – 125001 (India); Punia, R. [Indira Gandhi University, Meerpur, Rewari (Haryana) -123401 (India); Parmar, R. [Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak (Haryana)-124001 (India); Sanjay [Rawal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Faridabad (Haryana)-121004 (India); Kishore, N. [Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh (Haryana)-123029 (India)

    2016-05-06

    Glass composition 70 TeO{sub 2}-(30-x) BaO – x ZnCl{sub 2}; x = 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 have been prepared by rapid melt quenching technique under controlled atmospheric conditions. Amorphous nature of the samples was confirmed by x-ray diffractogram. The glass transition temperature (T{sub g}) has been determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and its value is observed to decrease with increase in ZnCl{sub 2} content. The peaks in the Raman and FTIR spectra have been estimated by deconvolutation of the spectra and each of deconvoluted spectra exhibits several peaks. IR and Raman spectra of the present glass system indicate that TeO{sub 2} exists as TeO{sub 3} trigonal pyramidal (tp), TeO{sub 4} trigonal bipyramidal (tbp) and TeO{sub 6} polyhedra structural units. With increase in zinc halide content, transformation of some of TeO{sub 4} structural units into TeO{sub 3} structural units is observed Increase in TeO{sub 3} structural units shows that non-bridging oxygen contribution increases which confirms the decrease in glass transition temperature.

  15. Oxide meets silicide. Synthesis and single-crystal structure of Ca{sub 21}SrSi{sub 24}O{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Reckeweg, Olaf; DiSalvo, Francis J. [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Biology

    2017-06-01

    A few black, rectangular thin plates of Ca{sub 21}SrSi{sub 24}O{sub 2} were obtained by serendipity in a solid-state reaction of calcium metal, strontium chloride and silicon powder at 1200 K for 2 days designed to produce 'Ca{sub 2}SrCl{sub 2}[Si{sub 3}]'. The title compound forms next to some CaSi and some remaining educts. Ca{sub 21}SrSi{sub 24}O{sub 2} crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m (no. 12) with unit cell parameters of a=1895.2(2), b=450.63(5) and c=1397.33(18) pm and β=112.008(7) (Z=1). The title compound shows planar, eight-membered, kinked Si{sub 8} chains with Si-Si distances between 241.4 and 245.0 pm indicating bonding interactions and kinked 'rope ladders' connecting the chains with interatomic Si-Si distances in the range 268.1-274.7 pm. Embedded in between these silicon substructures are columns of oxygen centered, apex sharing [(Ca{sub 1-x} Sr{sub x}){sub 6/2}O] octahedra and calcium ions.

  16. New high-pressure polymorph of In{sub 2}S{sub 3} with defect Th{sub 3}P{sub 4}-type structure

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lai, Xiaojing; Zhu, Feng; Wu, Ye; Huang, Rong [Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, MOE, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); Wu, Xiang, E-mail: xiang.wu@pku.edu.cn [Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, MOE, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); Zhang, Qian [Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, MOE, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); Yang, Ke [Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204 (China); Qin, Shan, E-mail: sqin@pku.edu.cn [Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, MOE, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China)

    2014-02-15

    The high pressure behavior of β-In{sub 2}S{sub 3} (I4{sub 1}/amd and Z=16) has been studied by in situ synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction combined with diamond anvil cell up to 71.7 GPa. Three pressure-induced phase transitions are evidenced at ∼6.6 GPa, ∼11.1 GPa at room temperature and 35.6 GPa after the high-temperature annealing using a portable laser heating system. The new polymorph of In{sub 2}S{sub 3} at 35.6 GPa is assigned to the denser cubic defect Th{sub 3}P{sub 4} structure (I4¯3d and Z=5.333), whose unit-cell parameters are a=7.557(1) Å and V=431.6(2) Å{sup 3}. The Th{sub 3}P{sub 4}-type phase can be stable at least up to 71.7 GPa and cannot be preserved at ambient pressure. The pressure–volume relationship is well described by the second-order Birch–Murnaghan Equation of State, which yields B{sub 0}=63(3) GPa and B{sub 0}′=4 (fixed) for the β-In{sub 2}S{sub 3} phase and B{sub 0}=87(3) GPa and B{sub 0}′=4 (fixed) for the defect Th{sub 3}P{sub 4}-type phase respectively. - Graphical abstract: The structure and Rietveld refinement of new polymorph the defect Th{sub 3}P{sub 4}-type In{sub 2}S{sub 3}. This structure was observed at 35.6 GPa after laser heating by X-ray diffraction. Display Omitted - Highlights: Three pressure-induced phase transitions of β-In{sub 2}S{sub 3} were observed. β-In{sub 2}S{sub 3} was stable up to 6.6 GPa. The defect Th{sub 3}P{sub 4}-type In{sub 2}S{sub 3} was identified at 35.6 GPa after laser heating and was stable up to 71.7 GPa. Elastic properties of β-In{sub 2}S{sub 3} and Th{sub 3}P{sub 4}-type In{sub 2}S{sub 3} are well presented by Birch–Murnaghan EoS.

  17. Synthesis and structure of Li{sub 4}GeS{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Matsushita, Y [National Inst. of Materials and Chemical Research, Tsukuba (Japan). High Pressure Lab.; Kanatzidis, M G [Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States). Dept. of Chemistry

    1998-01-01

    The compound Li{sub 4}GeS{sub 4} has been prepared as transparent, light yellow moisture-sensitive crystals. Li{sub 4}GeS{sub 4} belongs to the space group Pnma with a = 14.107(6) A, b = 7.770(3) A and c = 6.162(2) A. The crystal structure was solved by direct-methods. The final R and R{sub w}-values are 1.85 and 1.65% for 866 observed reflections. The Li{sub 4}GeS{sub 4} structure has three crystallographically independent lithium sites and one germanium site. The lithium atoms adopt two different coordination types. The Li1 atom is coordinated to five sulfur atoms in a square pyramidal geometry, while the Li2 and Li3 atoms have distorted tetrahedral coordination. The Ge atom is tetrahedrally coordinated by four sulfur atoms and is found as [GeS{sub 4}]{sup 4-} units. The anisotropic three-dimensional crystal structure of Li{sub 4}GeS{sub 4} is described. (orig.) 57 refs.

  18. Room temperature inverse magnetocaloric effect in Pd substituted Ni{sub 50}Mn{sub 37}Sn{sub 13} Heusler alloys

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Saha, Ritwik, E-mail: ritwik.saha@tifr.res.in; Nigam, A.K.

    2014-09-01

    The structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric effects for Ni{sub 50−x}Pd{sub x}Mn{sub 37}Sn{sub 13} Heusler alloys have been investigated around both structural and magnetic transitions. The room temperature X-ray diffraction indicates 10 M modulated martensitic structure with an orthorhombic unit cell for x=0 and 1. However, the superstructure reflections for x=2 alloy imply that the pattern is related to the L2{sub 1} phase. The maximum entropy change occurring at the martensitic transition is found to be 21 J kg{sup −1} K{sup −1} for Ni{sub 50}Mn{sub 37}Sn{sub 13} alloy around room temperature. Despite the smaller change in entropy around room temperature, 3.8 times larger value of refrigerant capacity (184.6 J/kg) is achieved for 2% substitution of Pd, due to occurrence of magnetic entropy change in a broader temperature region.

  19. Elevated CO{sub 2} in a prototype free-air CO{sub 2} enrichment facility affects photosynthetic nitrogen relations in a maturing pine forest

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ellsworth, D.S.; LaRoche, J.; Hendrey, G.R.

    1998-03-01

    A maturing loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) forest was exposed to elevated CO{sub 2} in the natural environment in a perturbation study conducted over three seasons using the free-air CO{sub 2} enrichment (FACE) technique. At the time measurements were begun in this study, the pine canopy was comprised entirely of foliage which had developed under elevated CO{sub 2} conditions (atmospheric CO{sub 2} {approx} 550 {micro}mol/mol{sup {minus}1}). Measurements of leaf photosynthetic responses to CO{sub 2} were taken to examine the effects of elevated CO{sub 2} on photosynthetic N nutrition in a pine canopy under elevated CO{sub 2}. Photosynthetic CO{sub 2} response curves (A-c{sub i} curves) were similar in FACE trees under elevated CO{sub 2} compared with counterpart trees in ambient plots for the first foliage cohort produced in the second season of CO{sub 2} exposure, with changes in curve form detected in the foliage cohorts subsequently produced under elevated CO{sub 2}. Differences in the functional relationship between carboxylation rate and N{sub a} suggest that for a given N{sub a} allocated among successive cohorts of foliage in the upper canopy, V{sub c max} was 17% lower in FACE versus Ambient trees. The authors also found that foliar Rubisco content per unit total protein derived from Western blot analysis was lower in late-season foliage in FACE foliage compared with ambient-grown foliage. The results illustrate a potentially important mode of physiological adjustment to growth conditions that may operate in forest canopies. Findings suggest that mature loblolly pine trees growing in the field may have the capacity for shifts in intrinsic nitrogen utilization for photosynthesis under elevated CO{sub 2} that are not dependent on changes in leaf N. Findings suggest a need for continued examination of internal feedbacks at the whole-tree and ecosystem level in forests that may influence long-term photosynthetic responses to elevated CO{sub 2}.

  20. Crystallization of Spätzle, a cystine-knot protein involved in embryonic development and innate immunity in Drosophila melanogaster

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hoffmann, Anita; Neumann, Piotr [Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Abteilung Physikalische Biotechnologie, Kurt-Mothes-Strasse 3, 06120 Halle (Saale) (Germany); Schierhorn, Angelika [Max-Planck-Institut für Proteinfaltung, Abteilung Massenspektrometrie, Kurt-Mothes-Strasse 3, 06120 Halle (Saale) (Germany); Stubbs, Milton T., E-mail: stubbs@biochemtech.uni-halle.de [Institut für Biochemie und Biotechnologie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Abteilung Physikalische Biotechnologie, Kurt-Mothes-Strasse 3, 06120 Halle (Saale) (Germany); Mitteldeutsches Zentrum für Struktur und Dynamik der Proteine (MZP), Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg (Germany)

    2008-08-01

    Crystallization of the cystine-knot protein Spätzle occurred following serendipitous limited degradation of the pro-Spätzle propeptide during the crystallization experiment. The Spätzle protein is involved in both the definition of the dorsal–ventral axis during embryonic development and in the adult innate immune response. The disulfide-linked dimeric cystine-knot protein has been expressed as a proprotein in inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli and refolded in vitro by rapid dilution. Initial orthorhombic crystals that diffracted to 7 Å resolution were obtained after three months by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. Optimization of the crystallization conditions resulted in orthorhombic crystals (space group P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters a = 53.0, b = 59.2, c = 62.5 Å) that diffracted to 2.8 Å resolution in-house. The small volume of the asymmetric unit indicated that it was not possible for the crystals to contain the complete pro-Spätzle dimer. Mass spectrometry, N-terminal sequencing and Western-blot analysis revealed that the crystals contained the C-terminal disulfide-linked cystine-knot dimer. Comparison of various crystallization experiments indicated that degradation of the N-terminal prodomain was dependent on the buffer conditions.

  1. Structural characterization and electron density distribution studies of (La{sub 0.8}Ca{sub 0.2})(Cr{sub 0.9−x}Co{sub 0.1}Mn{sub x})O{sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Saravanan, R. [Research Centre and Post Graduate Department of physics, The Madura College, Madurai 625011 (India); Thenmozhi, N., E-mail: thenmozhi.n6@gmail.com [PG and Research Department of Physics, NMSSVN College, Nagamalai, Madurai 625019 (India); Fu, Yen-Pei [Department of materials Science and Engineering, National Dong-Hwa University, Shou-Feng, Hualien 974, Taiwan (China)

    2016-07-15

    The doped lanthanum chromite (La{sub 0.8}Ca{sub 0.2})(Cr{sub 0.9−x}Co{sub 0.1}Mn{sub x})O{sub 3} (x=0.03, 0.06, 0.09 and 0.12) were synthesized by solid state reaction technique. The samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction for structural and charge density analysis. XRD data show that the grown samples are orthorhombic in structure with single phase. The spatial charge density distribution in the unit cell for the synthesized samples has been studied using maximum entropy method. Further, the samples were analyzed by UV–visible spectrometry for optical properties and scanning electron microscopy for surface morphology. From the optical data, it was found that the direct band gap of the samples range from 2.27 to 2.46 eV. The samples were also investigated by vibrating sample magnetometry for magnetic properties. From VSM data, it is inferred that all the samples in this series are found to be predominantly antiferromagnetic in nature. Since the doped lanthanum chromites have good mechanical properties and electrical conductivity at high temperature, these materials are used in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC).

  2. POINeT: protein interactome with sub-network analysis and hub prioritization

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Lai Jin-Mei

    2009-04-01

    Full Text Available Abstract Background Protein-protein interactions (PPIs are critical to every aspect of biological processes. Expansion of all PPIs from a set of given queries often results in a complex PPI network lacking spatiotemporal consideration. Moreover, the reliability of available PPI resources, which consist of low- and high-throughput data, for network construction remains a significant challenge. Even though a number of software tools are available to facilitate PPI network analysis, an integrated tool is crucial to alleviate the burden on querying across multiple web servers and software tools. Results We have constructed an integrated web service, POINeT, to simplify the process of PPI searching, analysis, and visualization. POINeT merges PPI and tissue-specific expression data from multiple resources. The tissue-specific PPIs and the numbers of research papers supporting the PPIs can be filtered with user-adjustable threshold values and are dynamically updated in the viewer. The network constructed in POINeT can be readily analyzed with, for example, the built-in centrality calculation module and an integrated network viewer. Nodes in global networks can also be ranked and filtered using various network analysis formulas, i.e., centralities. To prioritize the sub-network, we developed a ranking filtered method (S3 to uncover potential novel mediators in the midbody network. Several examples are provided to illustrate the functionality of POINeT. The network constructed from four schizophrenia risk markers suggests that EXOC4 might be a novel marker for this disease. Finally, a liver-specific PPI network has been filtered with adult and fetal liver expression profiles. Conclusion The functionalities provided by POINeT are highly improved compared to previous version of POINT. POINeT enables the identification and ranking of potential novel genes involved in a sub-network. Combining with tissue-specific gene expression profiles, PPIs specific to

  3. Interaction of Ce{sub 1−x}Er{sub x}O{sub 2−y} nanoparticles with Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Krajczyk, L.; Kraszkiewicz, P.; Kepinski, L., E-mail: L.Kepinski@int.pan.wroc.pl

    2015-02-01

    The interaction of nanocrystalline Ce{sub 0.5}Er{sub 0.5}O{sub 1.75} mixed oxide with an amorphous Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} in oxidizing and reducing atmosphere up to 1100 °C was studied by XRD, TEM, SEM-EDS and BET. Uniform, chemically homogeneous Ce{sub 0.5}Er{sub 0.5}O{sub 1.75} nanoparticles (2 nm in size) were prepared by microemulsion method and deposited on a high surface γ-alumina support. The nanoparticles were structurally and chemically stable in the oxidizing atmosphere up to 1100 °C, exhibiting only an increase of the mean crystallite size to 9 nm after 3 h treatment. Prolonged heating (24 h) at 1100 °C caused partial decomposition of the mixed oxide and reaction of the extracted erbium with the support with formation of hexagonal (P6{sub 3}/mmc) ErAlO{sub 3} aluminate. The same hexagonal ErAlO{sub 3} occurred also in Er/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} sample prepared by impregnation of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} support with an aqueous solution of Er nitrate and subjected to heating in air or hydrogen at 1100 °C. In the reducing atmosphere the Ce{sub 0.5}Er{sub 0.5}O{sub 1.75} reacted with Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} already at 800 °C, to form an amorphous surface phase. At 900 °C monoclinic (P2{sub 1}/c) (Er,Ce){sub 4}Al{sub 2}O{sub 9} mixed aluminate was formed with the unit cell volume 4.5% bigger than that of pure Er{sub 4}Al{sub 2}O{sub 9} phase. After 3 h treatment at 1000 °C more than half of the (Er,Ce){sub 4}Al{sub 2}O{sub 9} aluminate decomposed into two nanocrystalline mixed monoaluminates: tetragonal (I4/mcm) (Ce,Er)AlO{sub 3} and hexagonal (P6{sub 3}/mmc) (Er,Ce)AlO{sub 3}. Nanocrystalline mixed aluminate particles with Er{sup 3+} ions placed in well-defined lattice sites and supported at the surface of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} support, may be interesting as highly efficient active components of optical waveguides amplifiers. - Graphical abstract: Structure evolution of Ce{sub 0.5}Er{sub 0.5}O{sub 1.75} on Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} in air and in H{sub 2}. - Highlights:

  4. Global and local structural variations near the antiferroelectric regime in Na{sub 0.5}Bi{sub 0.5}TiO{sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Thangavelu, Karthik [Advanced Functional Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, ODF-Campus-502205 (India); Department of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, ODF-Campus-502205 (India); Rayaprol, S. [UGC-DAE CSR Mumbai Centre, BARC Campus, Mumbai - 400085 (India); Siruguri, V. [Solid State Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai - 400085 (India); Sastry, P. U.; Asthana, Saket, E-mail: asthanas@iith.ac.in

    2015-06-24

    Rietveld refinement of neutron and x-ray diffraction data of Na{sub 0.5}Bi{sub 0.5}TiO{sub 3} shows R3c phase stabilization at room temperature. The intermediate antiferroelectric region between 180°C to 280°C exhibits phase coexistence i.e R3c + Pnma, along with decrease in octahedral tilt angle and increase in unit cell volume. The local structural changes observed from Raman scattering in the A-O, Ti-O and TiO{sub 6} phonon modes favor the global structural variation. A possible antiparallel cation displacement due to Pnma phase formation leads to the origin of antiferroelectric ordering in Na{sub 0.5}Bi{sub 0.5}TiO{sub 3}.

  5. Purification, identification and preliminary crystallographic studies of Pru du amandin, an allergenic protein from Prunus dulcis

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gaur, Vineet; Sethi, Dhruv K.; Salunke, Dinakar M., E-mail: dinakar@nii.res.in [National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067 (India)

    2008-01-01

    The purification, identification, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic studies of an allergy-related protein, Pru du amandin, from P. dulcis nuts are reported. Food allergies appear to be one of the foremost causes of hypersensitivity reactions. Nut allergies account for most food allergies and are often permanent. The 360 kDa hexameric protein Pru du amandin, a known allergen, was purified from almonds (Prunus dulcis) by ammonium sulfate fractionation and ion-exchange chromatography. The protein was identified by a BLAST homology search against the nonredundant sequence database. Pru du amandin belongs to the 11S legumin family of seed storage proteins characterized by the presence of a cupin motif. Crystals were obtained by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belong to space group P4{sub 1} (or P4{sub 3}), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 150.7, c = 164.9 Å.

  6. Ga-Ga bonding and tunnel framework in the new Zintl phase Ba{sub 3}Ga{sub 4}Sb{sub 5}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Park, S -M; Kim, S -J; Kanatzidis, M G

    2003-11-01

    A new Zintl phase Ba{sub 3}Ga{sub 4}Sb{sub 5} was obtained from the reaction of Ba and Sb in excess Ga flux at 1000 deg. C, and its structure was determined with single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (No. 62) with a=13.248(3) A, b=4.5085(9) A, c=24.374(5) A and Z=4. Ba{sub 3}Ga{sub 4}Sb{sub 5} has a three-dimensional [Ga{sub 4}Sb{sub 5}]{sup 6-} framework featuring large tunnels running along the b-axis and accommodating the Ba ions. The structure also has small tube-like tunnels of pentagonal and rhombic cross-sections. The structure contains ethane-like dimeric Sb{sub 3}Ga-GaSb{sub 3} units and GaSb{sub 4} tetrahedra that are connected to form 12- and 14-membered tunnels. Band structure calculations confirm that the material is a semiconductor and indicate that the structure is stabilized by strong Ga-Ga covalent bonding interactions.

  7. Overexpression, purification and crystallization of a choline-binding protein CbpI from Streptococcus pneumoniae

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Paterson, Neil G., E-mail: neison@chem.gla.ac.uk; Riboldi-Tunicliffe, Alan [Department of Chemistry and WestCHEM, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre (GBRC), University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA,Scotland (United Kingdom); Mitchell, Timothy J. [Division of Infection and Immunity (IBLS), Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre (GBRC), University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA,Scotland (United Kingdom); Isaacs, Neil W. [Department of Chemistry and WestCHEM, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre (GBRC), University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA,Scotland (United Kingdom)

    2006-07-01

    The choline-binding protein CbpI from S. pneumoniae has been purified and crystallized and diffraction data have been collected to 3.5 Å resolution. The choline-binding protein CbpI from Streptococcus pneumoniae is a 23.4 kDa protein with no known function. The protein has been successfully purified initially using Ni–NTA chromatography and to homogeneity using Q-Sepharose ion-exchange resin as an affinity column. CbpI was crystallized using PEG 3350 as a precipitant and X-ray crystallographic analysis showed that the crystals belonged to the tetragonal space group P4, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 83.31, c = 80.29 Å, α = β = γ = 90°. The crystal contains two molecules in the asymmetric unit with a solvent content of 55.7% (V{sub M} = 2.77 Å{sup 3} Da{sup −1}) and shows a diffraction limit of 3.5 Å.

  8. Murine protein H is comprised of 20 repeating units, 61 amino acids in length

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Kristensen, Torsten; Tack, B F

    1986-01-01

    A cDNA library constructed from size-selected (greater than 28 S) poly(A)+ RNA isolated from the livers of C57B10. WR mice was screened by using a 249-base-pair (bp) cDNA fragment encoding 83 amino acid residues of human protein H as a probe. Of 120,000 transformants screened, 30 hybridized......, 448 bp of 3'-untranslated sequence, and a polyadenylylated tail of undetermined length. Murine pre-protein H was deduced to consist of an 18-amino acid signal peptide and 1216 residues of H-protein sequence. Murine H was composed of 20 repetitive units, each about 61 amino acid residues in length...

  9. Crystallographic and magnetic properties of Ba/sub 2/(UCu)O/sub 6/

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Padel, L; Poix, P [Paris-11 Univ., 91 - Orsay (France)

    1975-07-07

    Ba/sub 2/(UCu)O/sub 6/ structure can be described by a tetragonal unit cell whose parameters are a=5.777A and c=8.838A. Tetragonal distorsion is attributed to the Jahn-Teller effect of Cu/sup 2 +/; Copper octahedral sites are irregular. The compound presents antiferromagnetic properties with a Neel's temperature of 13K.

  10. Transition metal-centered trigonal prisms as building units in RE{sub 14}T{sub 3}In{sub 3} (RE = Y, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu; T = Pd, Ir, Pt) and Y{sub 4}IrIn

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zaremba, R.; Rodewald, U.C.; Poettgen, R. [Inst. fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Univ. Muenster (Germany)

    2007-12-15

    The indides RE{sub 14}T{sub 3}In{sub 3} (RE = Y, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu; T = Pd, Ir, Pt) and Y{sub 4}IrIn were synthesized from the elements by are-melting and subsequent annealing for crystal growth. Their structures were characterized on the basis of X-ray powder and single crystal data: Lu{sub 14}Co{sub 3}In{sub 3}-type, space group P4{sub 2}/nmc, a = 970.2(1), c = 2340.7(5) pm for Y{sub 13.95}Pd{sub 3}In{sub 3.05}, a = 959.7(1), c = 2309.0(5) pm for Ho{sub 14}Pd{sub 2.95}In{sub 3}, a = 955.5(1), c = 2305.1(5) pm for Er{sub 14}Pd{sub 3}In{sub 3}, a = 950.9(1), c = 2291.6(5) pm for Tm{sub 13.90}Pd{sub 3}In{sub 3.10}, a = 944.4(1), c = 2275.5(5) pm for Lu{sub 13.93}Pd{sub 3}In{sub 3.07}, a = 962.9(1), c = 2343.0(5) pm for Y{sub 13.86}Ir{sub 2.97}In{sub 3.02}, a = 967.6(1), c = 2347.8(5) pm for Y{sub 13.92}Pt{sub 3.05}In{sub 2.91}, and Gd{sub 4}RhIn-type, space group F anti 43m, a = 1368.6(2) pm for Y{sub 4}IrIn. The main structural motifs are transition metal-centered trigonal prisms of the rare Earth elements which are condensed to two-dimensional networks in the RE{sub 14}T{sub 3}In{sub 3} indides and to a three-dimensional one in Y{sub 4}IrIn. The indium atoms in both structure types show segregation in the metal-rich matrix, i.e. In{sub 2} dumbbells in the RE{sub 14}T{sub 3}In{sub 3} indides (309 pm In2-In2 in Y{sub 13.86}Ir{sub 2.97}In{sub 3.02}) and In{sub 4} tetrahedra (322 pm In-In) in Y{sub 4}IrIn. The crystal chemical peculiarities of both structure types are discussed. (orig.)

  11. Demonstration of natural gas reburn for NO{sub x} emissions reduction at Ohio Edison Company`s cyclone-fired Niles Plant Unit Number 1

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Borio, R.W.; Lewis, R.D.; Koucky, R.W. [ABB Power Plant Labs., Windsor, CT (United States); Lookman, A.A. [Energy Systems Associates, Pittsburgh, PA (United States); Manos, M.G.; Corfman, D.W.; Waddingham, A.L. [Ohio Edison, Akron, OH (United States); Johnson, S.A. [Quinapoxet Engineering Solutions, Inc., Windham, NH (United States)

    1996-04-01

    Electric utility power plants account for about one-third of the NO{sub x} and two-thirds of the SO{sub 2} emissions in the US cyclone-fired boilers, while representing about 9% of the US coal-fired generating capacity, emit about 14% of the NO{sub x} produced by coal-fired utility boilers. Given this background, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Gas Research Institute, the Electric Power Research Institute, the Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, and the Ohio Coal Development Office sponsored a program led by ABB Combustion Engineering, Inc. (ABB-CE) to demonstrate reburning on a cyclone-fired boiler. Ohio Edison provided Unit No. 1 at their Niles Station for the reburn demonstration along with financial assistance. The Niles Unit No. 1 reburn system was started up in September 1990. This reburn program was the first full-scale reburn system demonstration in the US. This report describes work performed during the program. The work included a review of reburn technology, aerodynamic flow model testing of reburn system design concepts, design and construction of the reburn system, parametric performance testing, long-term load dispatch testing, and boiler tube wall thickness monitoring. The report also contains a description of the Niles No. 1 host unit, a discussion of conclusions and recommendations derived from the program, tabulation of data from parametric and long-term tests, and appendices which contain additional tabulated test results.

  12. An Imaging System to Monitor Efficacy of Adenovirus-Based Virotherapy Agents

    Science.gov (United States)

    2006-02-01

    Izumo, S. (2000). Transgenic expression of green fluorescence protein can cause dilated cardiomyopathy . Nat Med 6(5), 482-483. 20 Kelkar, S. A...for adenoviral transduction of canine osteosarcoma cells. Gene Ther. 2006 Mar;13(5):389-99. 3. Le LP, Le HN, N elson AM, Yamamoto M, Curiel DT...Infectivity enhancement for adenoviral transduction of canine osteosarcoma cells LP Le1,4, AA Rivera1,4, JN Glasgow1, VV Ternovoi1, H Wu1, M Wang1, BF

  13. The effects of combining ionizing radiation and adenoviral p53 therapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Li Jianhua; Lax, Stuart A.; Kim, John; Klamut, Henry; Liu Feifei

    1999-01-01

    Purpose: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant disease of the head/neck region, with a 5-year survival level of approximately 65%. To explore gene therapy as a novel approach which might improve outcome, we have shown previously that introduction of human recombinant wild-type p53 mediated by the adenoviral vector (Ad5CMV-p53) was cytotoxic in two human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines (CNE-1 and CNE-2Z). The current work was designed to determine whether this strategy, combined with ionizing radiation (XRT), was more effective than either treatment alone. Methods and Materials: CNE-1, CNE-2Z, and a normal human nasopharyngeal fibroblast strain, KS1, were infected with 2- and 6-plaque-forming units (pfu)/cell of Ad5CMV-p53, respectively. These doses were iso-effective for β-galactosidase activity in the CNE-1 and CNE-2Z cells. XRT was administered 24 h post-infection, and Western blot analyses were conducted for p53, p21 WAF1/CIP1 , bax, and bcl-2 2 days after XRT. Cell survival was assessed using a clonogenic assay. Presence of DNA ladders reflecting apoptosis was detected using DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, and cell cycle was analyzed using flow cytometry. Results: The combination of Ad5CMV-p53 plus XRT (2, 4, and 6 Gy) resulted in an approximately 1-log greater level of cytotoxicity compared to that observed with XRT alone for both NPC cell lines. The two modalities appear to be interacting in a synergistic manner in cancer cells, but not in KS1 fibroblasts. XRT alone stimulated minimal p53 expression in control cells; Ad5CMV-p53 alone induced significant recombinant p53 expression, which was not further enhanced by the addition of XRT. Similar observations were made for p21 WAF1/CIP1 expression. No changes were observed for bax or bcl-2 expression with any of these treatments. Apoptosis was induced following 4 Gy of XRT alone, but was observed after only 2 Gy when combined with Ad5CMV-p53. Cell cycle analysis indicated that Ad5CMV-p53

  14. RKIP phosphorylation–dependent ERK1 activation stimulates adipogenic lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes overexpressing LC3

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hahm, Jong Ryeal [Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, JinJu, 527-27 (Korea, Republic of); Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, JinJu, 527-27 (Korea, Republic of); Ahmed, Mahmoud [Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, JinJu, 527-27 (Korea, Republic of); Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, JinJu, 527-27 (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Deok Ryong, E-mail: drkim@gnu.ac.kr [Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, JinJu, 527-27 (Korea, Republic of); Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, JinJu, 527-27 (Korea, Republic of)

    2016-09-09

    3T3-L1 preadipocytes undergo adipogenesis in response to treatment with dexamethaxone, 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine, and insulin (DMI) through activation of several adipogenic transcription factors. Many autophagy-related proteins are also highly activated in the earlier stages of adipogenesis, and the LC3 conjugation system is required for formation of lipid droplets. Here, we investigated the effect of overexpression of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-LC3 fusion protein on adipogenesis. Overexpression of GFP-LC3 in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes using poly-L-lysine-assisted adenoviral GFP-LC3 transduction was sufficient to produce intracellular lipid droplets. Indeed, GFP-LC3 overexpression stimulated expression of some adipogenic transcription factors (e.g., C/EBPα or β, PPARγ, SREBP2). In particular, SREBP2 was highly activated in preadipocytes transfected with adenoviral GFP-LC3. Also, phosphorylation of Raf kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP) at serine 153, consequently stimulating extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK)1 activity, was significantly increased during adipogenesis induced by either poly-L-lysine-assisted adenoviral GFP-LC3 transduction or culture in the presence of dexamethasone, 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine, and insulin. Furthermore, RKIP knockdown promoted ERK1 and PPARγ activation, and significantly increased the intracellular accumulation of triacylglycerides in DMI-induced adipogenesis. In conclusion, GFP-LC3 overexpression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes stimulates adipocyte differentiation via direct modulation of RKIP-dependent ERK1 activity. - Highlights: • Overexpression of GFP-LC3 in 3T3-L1 cells produces intracellular lipid droplets. • SREBP2 is highly activated in preadipocytes transfected with adenoviral GFP-LC3. • RKIP phosphorylation at serine 153 is significantly increased during adipogenesis. • RKIP knockdown promotes ERK1 and PPARγ activation during adipogenesis. • RKIP-dependent ERK1 activation increases triacylglycerides in

  15. Sonochemical synthesis of magnetic core-shell Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}-ZrO{sub 2} nanoparticles and their application to the highly effective immobilization of myoglobin for direct electrochemistry

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Peng Huaping; Liang Ruping; Zhang Li [Department of Chemistry, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031 (China); Qiu Jianding, E-mail: jdqiu@ncu.edu.c [Department of Chemistry, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031 (China)

    2011-04-15

    Graphical abstract: Display Omitted Highlights: Magnetic core-shell Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}-ZrO{sub 2} nanoparticle was synthesized by sonochemical approach. Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}-ZrO{sub 2} NPs provided high capacity for trapping Mb on magnetic glassy carbon electrode surface. The constructed Mb/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}-ZrO{sub 2} film exhibited excellent electrocatalytic ability for the reduction of H{sub 2}O{sub 2}. The proposed method simplifies the immobilization methodology of proteins. - Abstract: In this study, bifunctional Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}-ZrO{sub 2} magnetic core-shell nanoparticles (NPs), synthesized by a simple and effective sonochemical approach, were attached to the surface of a magnetic glassy carbon electrode (MGCE) and successfully applied to the immobilization/adsorption of myoglobin (Mb) for constructing a novel biosensor platform. With the advantages of the magnetism and the excellent biocompatibility of the Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}-ZrO{sub 2} NPs, Mb could be easily immobilized on the surface of the electrode in the present of external magnetic field and well retained its bioactivity, hence dramatically facilitated direct electron transfer of Mb was demonstrated. The proposed Mb/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}-ZrO{sub 2} biofilm electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic behaviors towards the reduction of H{sub 2}O{sub 2} with a linear range from 0.64 {mu}M to 148 {mu}M. This presented system avoids the complex synthesis for protecting Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} NPs, supplies a simple, effective and inexpensive way to immobilize protein, and is promising for construction of third-generation biosensors and other bio-magnetic induction devices.

  16. Prophylactic and therapeutic adenoviral vector-based multivirus-specific T-cell immunotherapy for transplant patients

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Vijayendra Dasari

    2016-01-01

    Full Text Available Viral infections including cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, adenovirus, and BK virus are a common and predictable problem in transplant recipients. While cellular immune therapies have been successfully used to tackle infectious complications in transplant recipients, manufacturing immunotherapies to address the multitude of possible pathogens can be technically challenging and labor-intensive. Here we describe a novel adenoviral antigen presentation platform (Ad-MvP as a tool for rapid generation of multivirus-specific T-cells in a single step. Ad-MvP encodes 32 CD8+ T-cell epitopes from cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, adenovirus, and BK virus as a contiguous polyepitope. We demonstrate that Ad-MvP vector can be successfully used for rapid in vitro expansion of multivirus-specific T-cells from transplant recipients and in vivo priming of antiviral T-cell immunity. Most importantly, using an in vivo murine model of Epstein-Barr virus-induced lymphoma, we also show that adoptive immunotherapy with Ad-MvP expanded autologous and allogeneic multivirus-specific T-cells is highly effective in controlling Epstein-Barr virus tumor outgrowth and improving overall survival. We propose that Ad-MvP has wide ranging therapeutic applications in greatly facilitating in vivo priming of antiviral T-cells, the generation of third-party T-cell banks as “off-the-shelf” therapeutics as well as autologous T-cell therapies for transplant patients.

  17. Targeted Adenoviral Vector Demonstrates Enhanced Efficacy for In Vivo Gene Therapy of Uterine Leiomyoma.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Abdelaziz, Mohamed; Sherif, Lotfy; ElKhiary, Mostafa; Nair, Sanjeeta; Shalaby, Shahinaz; Mohamed, Sara; Eziba, Noura; El-Lakany, Mohamed; Curiel, David; Ismail, Nahed; Diamond, Michael P; Al-Hendy, Ayman

    2016-04-01

    Gene therapy is a potentially effective non-surgical approach for the treatment of uterine leiomyoma. We demonstrated that targeted adenovirus vector, Ad-SSTR-RGD-TK/GCV, was highly effective in selectively inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation of human leiomyoma cells in vitro while sparing normal myometrial cells. An in-vivo study, to compare efficacy and safety of modified adenovirus vector Ad-SSTR-RGD-TK/GCV versus untargeted vector for treatment of leiomyoma. Female nude mice were implanted with rat leiomyoma cells subcutaneously. Then mice were randomized into three groups. Group 1 received Ad-LacZ (marker gene), Group 2 received untargeted Ad-TK, and Group 3 received the targeted Ad-SSTR-RGD-TK. Tumors were measured weekly for 4 weeks. Then mice were sacrificed and tissue samples were collected. Evaluation of markers of apoptosis, proliferation, extracellular matrix, and angiogenesis was performed using Western Blot & Immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA. Dissemination of adenovirus was assessed by PCR. In comparison with the untargeted vector, the targeted adenoviral vector significantly shrank leiomyoma size (P leiomyoma lesions with both targeted and untargeted adenovirus. Targeted adenovirus, effectively reduces tumor size in leiomyoma without dissemination to other organs. Further evaluation of this localized targeted strategy for gene therapy is needed in appropriate preclinical humanoid animal models in preparation for a future pilot human trial. © The Author(s) 2016.

  18. Effects of water deficit and nitrogen levels on grain yield and oil and protein contents of maize

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Kazem Ghassemi-Golezani

    2015-02-01

    Full Text Available This research was conducted in 2014, to evaluate the effects of water deficit and nitrogen fertilizer on grain yield, oil and protein contents of maize (cv. double Cross 303. The experiment was arranged as split-plot based on Randomized Complete Block design (RCB with three replications. Irrigation treatments (irrigation after 60, 90, 120 and 150 mm evaporation and nitrogen levels (0, 46 and 92 kg N/ha were located in the main and sub plots, respectively. Mean grain yield per unit area decreased with decreasing water availability, but it was improved with increasing nitrogen fertilizer. Grain oil percentage significantly decreased, but protein percentage slightly increased as a result of water deficit. In general, oil and protein yields significantly decreased under moderate and severe water stress, mainly because of decreasing grain yield under these conditions. Nitrogen application decreased oil percentage, but increased protein percentage significantly. Nevertheless, nitrogen fertilizer enhanced oil and protein yields per unit area, with no significant difference between nitrogen rates. These results were positively related with grain yield per unit area in maize.

  19. CO<sub>2sub> Storage and Enhanced Oil Recovery: Bald Unit Test Site, Mumford Hills Oil Field, Posey County, Indiana

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Frailey, Scott M. [Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, IL (United States); Krapac, Ivan G. [Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, IL (United States); Damico, James R. [Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, IL (United States); Okwen, Roland T. [Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, IL (United States); McKaskle, Ray W. [Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, IL (United States)

    2012-03-30

    The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) carried out a small-scale carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2sub>) injection test in a sandstone within the Clore Formation (Mississippian System, Chesterian Series) in order to gauge the large-scale CO<sub>2sub> storage that might be realized from enhanced oil recovery (EOR) of mature Illinois Basin oil fields via miscible liquid CO<sub>2sub> flooding.

  20. Seismic yield verification and a regional M/sub s/ vs m/sub b/ anomaly

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Rodean, H.C.

    1976-01-01

    The surface-wave magnitude (M/sub s/) and body-wave magnitude (m/sub b/) data for explosions in the western United States are anomalous with respect to such data for the Aleutians, the Sahara, and the USSR. The degree of this anomaly is such that it has significant implications with respect to using magnitude vs yield data from the Nevada Test Site to estimate the yields of explosions in other parts of the world. This report presents the results of a literature survey of seismic and other geophysical evidence relating to this anomaly. The geology and geophysics of three regions are considered: (1) the Basin and Range province in the western United States, (2) the Baikal rift zone in the USSR, and (3) central Kazakhstan in the USSR. Complete geophysical models, which would be of value in explaining the M/sub s/ vs m/sub b/ anomaly, have not been developed for any of these regions

  1. Structure, ferroelectric ordering, and semiempirical quantum calculations of lanthanide based metal-organic framework: [Nd(C{sub 4}H{sub 5}O{sub 6})(C{sub 4}H{sub 4}O{sub 6})][3H{sub 2}O

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ahmad, Bhat Zahoor; Want, Basharat, E-mail: bawant@kashmiruniversity.ac.in [Solid State Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006 (India)

    2016-04-14

    We investigate the structure and ferroelectric behavior of a lanthanide based metal-organic framework (MOF), [Nd(C{sub 4}H{sub 5}O{sub 6})(C{sub 4}H{sub 4}O{sub 6})][3H{sub 2}O]. X-ray crystal structure analyses reveal that it crystallizes in the P4{sub 1}2{sub 1}2 space group with Nd centres, coordinated by nine oxygen atoms, forming a distorted capped square antiprismatic geometry. The molecules, bridged by tartrate ligands, form a 2D chiral structure. The 2D sheets are further linked into a 3D porous framework via strong hydrogen-bonding scheme (O-H…O ≈ 2.113 Å). Dielectric studies reveal two anomalies at 295 K and 185 K. The former is a paraelectric-ferroelectric transition, and the later is attributed to the freezing down of the motion of the hydroxyl groups. The phase transition is of second order, and the spontaneous polarization in low temperature phase is attributed to the ordering of protons of hydroxyl groups. The dielectric nonlinearity parameters have been calculated using Landau– Devonshire phenomenological theory. In addition, the most recent semiempirical models, Sparkle/PM7, Sparkle/RM1, and Sparkle/AM1, are tested on the present system to assay the accuracy of semiempirical quantum approaches to predict the geometries of solid MOFs. Our results show that Sparkle/PM7 model is the most accurate to predict the unit cell structure and coordination polyhedron geometry. The semiempirical methods are also used to calculate different ground state molecular properties.

  2. Improving cyanobacterail O<sub>2sub>-tolerance using CBS hydrogenase for hydrogen production

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Maness, Pin-Ching [National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Eckert, Carrie [National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Wawrousek, Karen [National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Noble, Scott [National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Pennington, Grant [National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Yu, Jianping [National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

    2016-11-11

    Cyanobacterial H<sub>2sub> production is a viable path to renewable H<sub>2sub> with water serving as the electron donor and sunlight the energy source. A grand challenge is the sensitivity of the underlying hydrogenase to O<sub>2sub>, the latter an inherent byproduct of oxygenic photosynthesis. This challenge has been identified as a technical barrier in the Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) Multi-year Research, Development and Deployment Plan. One solution is to express in cyanobacterium an O<sub>2sub>-tolerant hydrogenase to circumvent this barrier. We have uncovered an O<sub>2sub>-tolerant hydrogenase from a photosynthetic bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus CBS (Casa Bonita Strain; hereafter “CBS”) with a half-life near 21 h when exposed to ambient O<sub>2sub>. We sequenced the CBS genome and identified two sets of maturation machineries hyp1 and hyp2. Transcripts expression analysis and mutagenesis revealed that hyp1 is responsible for the assembly of the O<sub>2sub>-tolerant CO-oxidation (Coo) hydrogenase and hyp2 is involved in the maturation of a H<sub>2sub>-uptake hydrogenase. The structural genes encoding the O<sub>2sub>-tolerant hydrogenase (cooLXUH) and maturation genes hyp1FABCDE were therefore cloned and expressed in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. We obtained several recombinants displaying hydrogenase activity in a Synechocystis host lacking background activity, suggesting that the CBS hydrogenase is active in Synechocystis. Yet the activity is extremely low. To ensure balanced protein expression, we systematically optimized heterologous expression of 10 CBS genes by using stronger promoters and better ribosome binding site. Moreover we attempted the expression of cooM and cooK genes, verified to be important in CBS to afford activity. CooM is a very large protein and both CooM and CooK are membrane-associated. These properties limited our success in expressing both genes in Synechocystis, although they

  3. Structural characterization of Mg{sub 3}MnH{sub {approx}}{sub 6}--a new high-pressure phase synthesized in a multi-anvil cell at 6 GPa

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Blomqvist, Helen; Roennebro, Ewa; Kyoi, Daisuke; Sakai, Tetsuo; Noreus, Dag

    2003-08-25

    With modern X-ray diffraction refinement methods it was shown to be possible to identify a new Mg{sub 3}MnH{sub {approx}}{sub 6} phase from a minute sample volume in spite of poor crystallinity and coexisting impurity phases. The new hydride was synthesized at 6 GPa in a high-pressure multi-anvil cell at 873 K. A monoclinic unit cell was found with a=8.827(2), b=4.657(2), c=4.676(2) A and {beta}=105.74(2) deg., space group P2{sub 1}/m (no. 11), Z=2, V=184.99 A{sup 3}. Manganese is surrounded by a distorted cube of magnesium with average Mn-Mg distances of 2.78(2) A. The cubes share edges in the b and c directions of the unit cell but are separated by a distance of {approx}3.6 A along a, forming a layered structure. The hydrogen positions were not possible to determine, as only a small sample amount could be prepared. If the metal atom structure of the title compound is compared to the already known Mg{sub 3}MnH{sub 7} it can be concluded that Mg{sub 3}MnH{sub {approx}}{sub 6} also consists of manganese hydrido complexes counterbalanced by magnesium ions, but with a different alignment of the magnesium cubes.

  4. Surfactant protein D attenuates sub-epithelial fibrosis in allergic airways disease through TGF-β.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Ogawa, Hirohisa; Ledford, Julie G; Mukherjee, Sambuddho; Aono, Yoshinori; Nishioka, Yasuhiko; Lee, James J; Izumi, Keisuke; Hollingsworth, John W

    2014-11-29

    Surfactant protein D (SP-D) can regulate both innate and adaptive immunity. Recently, SP-D has been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of airway allergic inflammation and bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. However, in allergic airways disease, the role of SP-D in airway remodeling remains unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the contribution of functional SP-D in regulating sub-epithelial fibrosis in a mouse chronic house dust mite model of allergic airways disease. C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and SP-D-/- mice (C57BL/6 background) were chronically challenged with house dust mite antigen (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dp). Studies with SP-D rescue and neutralization of TGF-β were conducted. Lung histopathology and the concentrations of collagen, growth factors, and cytokines present in the airspace and lung tissue were determined. Cultured eosinophils were stimulated by Dp in presence or absence of SP-D. Dp-challenged SP-D-/- mice demonstrate increased sub-epithelial fibrosis, collagen production, eosinophil infiltration, TGF-β1, and IL-13 production, when compared to Dp-challenged WT mice. By immunohistology, we detected an increase in TGF-β1 and IL-13 positive eosinophils in SP-D-/- mice. Purified eosinophils stimulated with Dp produced TGF-β1 and IL-13, which was prevented by co-incubation with SP-D. Additionally, treatment of Dp challenged SP-D-/- mice with exogenous SP-D was able to rescue the phenotypes observed in SP-D-/- mice and neutralization of TGF-β1 reduced sub-epithelial fibrosis in Dp-challenged SP-D-/- mice. These data support a protective role for SP-D in the pathogenesis of sub-epithelial fibrosis in a mouse model of allergic inflammation through regulation of eosinophil-derived TGF-β.

  5. Higher Protein Intake Is Not Associated with Decreased Kidney Function in Pre-Diabetic Older Adults Following a One-Year Intervention—A Preview Sub-Study

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Grith Møller

    2018-01-01

    Full Text Available Concerns about detrimental renal effects of a high-protein intake have been raised due to an induced glomerular hyperfiltration, since this may accelerate the progression of kidney disease. The aim of this sub-study was to assess the effect of a higher intake of protein on kidney function in pre-diabetic men and women, aged 55 years and older. Analyses were based on baseline and one-year data in a sub-group of 310 participants included in the PREVIEW project (PREVention of diabetes through lifestyle Intervention and population studies in Europe and around the World. Protein intake was estimated from four-day dietary records and 24-hour urinary urea excretion. We used linear regression to assess the association between protein intake after one year of intervention and kidney function markers: creatinine clearance, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR, urinary urea/creatinine ratio (UCR, serum creatinine, and serum urea before and after adjustments for potential confounders. A higher protein intake was associated with a significant increase in UCR (p = 0.03 and serum urea (p = 0.05 after one year. There were no associations between increased protein intake and creatinine clearance, eGFR, ACR, or serum creatinine. We found no indication of impaired kidney function after one year with a higher protein intake in pre-diabetic older adults.

  6. Magnetic, ferroelectric, and spin phonon coupling studies of Sr{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Fe{sub 24}O{sub 41} multiferroic Z-type hexaferrite

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Raju, N.; Shravan Kumar Reddy, S.; Ramesh, J.; Gopal Reddy, Ch.; Yadagiri Reddy, P., E-mail: yadagirireddy@yahoo.com; Rama Reddy, K. [Department of Physics, Osmania University, Hyderabad-500007 (India); Sathe, V. G.; Raghavendra Reddy, V. [UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, University Campus, Khandwa Road, Indore-452001 (India)

    2016-08-07

    The magnetic, Raman, ferroelectric, and in-field {sup 57}Fe Mössbauer studies of polycrystalline multiferroic Sr{sub 3}Co{sub 2}Fe{sub 24}O{sub 41} are reported in this paper. From the magnetization studies, it is observed that the sample is soft magnetic in nature with low temperature magnetic spin transitions like longitudinal to transverse conical structure around 130 K and change in magnetic crystalline anisotropy from conical to planar structure at 250 K. Ferroelectric studies of the sample exhibit the spontaneous polarization at low temperature. Strong spin phonon and spin lattice coupling is observed through low temperature Raman spectroscopy. From the in-field {sup 57}Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, spin up and spin down site occupations of Fe ions are calculated in the unit cell.

  7. Lanthanide(III) complexes with μ-SnSe{sub 4} and μ-Sn{sub 2}Se{sub 6} linkers. Solvothermal syntheses and properties of new Ln(III) selenidostannates decorated with linear polyamine

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Liu, Shuzhen; Sun, Peipei; Shen, Yali; Han, Jingyu; Sun, Hui; Jia, Dingxian [Soochow Univ., Suzhou (China). College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

    2017-06-01

    New lanthanide-selenidostannate complexes [{La(peha)(Cl)}{La(peha)(NO_3)}(μ-1κ{sup 2}:2κ{sup 2}-SnSe{sub 4})] (1), [H{sub 2}trien][{La(trien)_2}{sub 2}(μ-1-κ:2κ-Sn{sub 2}Se{sub 6})][Sn{sub 2}Se{sub 6}].H{sub 2}O (2) and [{Ln(tepa)(μ-OH)}{sub 2}(μ-1κ:2κ-Sn{sub 2}Se{sub 6})]{sub n}.nH{sub 2}O (Ln=Sm(3), Eu(4)) were prepared by solvothermal methods in pentaethylenehexamine (peha), triethylenetetramine (trien) and tetraethylenepentamine (tepa), respectively. Acting as a tetradentate chelating and bridging ligand, μ-1κ{sup 2}:2κ{sup 2}-SnSe{sub 4}, the tetrahedral SnSe{sub 4} unit joins {La(peha)(Cl)}{sup 2+} and {La(peha)(NO_3)}{sup 2+} complex fragments to generate the neutral coordination compound 1. The tetradentate μ-1κ{sup 2}:2κ{sup 2} bridge in 1 represents a new coordination mode for the SnSe{sub 4} tetrahedron. In 2, dinuclear [Sn{sub 2}Se{sub 6}]{sup 4-} anions are formed of SnSe{sub 4} tetrahedra via edge-sharing. One [Sn{sub 2}Se{sub 6}]{sup 4-} anion acts as a bidentate bridging ligand in a μ-1κ:2κ coordination mode to join two {La(trien)_2}{sup 3+} units, and the other [Sn{sub 2}Se{sub 6}]{sup 4-} anion exists as a free charge compensating ion. In 3 and 4, the [Sn{sub 2}Se{sub 6}]{sup 4-} anion connects binuclear [{Ln(tepa)(μ-OH)}{sub 2}]{sup 2+}(Ln=Sm, Eu) units with a bidentate μ-1κ:2κ mode, giving neutral coordination polymers [{Ln(tepa)(μ-OH)}{sub 2}(μ-1κ:2κ-Sn{sub 2}Se{sub 6})]{sub n}. The La(2){sup 3+} ion in 1 is in a 10-fold coordination environment of LaN{sub 6}O{sub 2}Se{sub 2}, whereas the La(1){sup 3+} ions in 1 and 2 are in 9-fold coordinated environments forming polyhedra LaN{sub 6}ClSe{sub 2} and LaN{sub 8}Se, respectively. The Sm{sup 3+} and Eu{sup 3+} ions in 3 and 4 are both in an 8-fold coordination environment of LnN{sub 5}O{sub 2}Se. Compounds 1-4 exhibit optical band gaps between 2.21 and 2.42 eV. Their thermal stabilities were investigated by thermogravimetric analyses.

  8. Pengaruh cairan lumpur organik unit gas bio terhadap persentase kandungan bahan organik dan protein kasar padatan lumpur organik unit gas bio

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Mochammad Junus

    2015-04-01

    Full Text Available The purposes of this study were to analyze: 1 the constitution and characteristics of sludge, solid sludge and sludge flour derived from Biogas Unit (BGU; 2 the influence of organic sludge liquid on the percentage of organic and crude protein content of the BGU organic sludge (BGUOS. The methods used in the study were observation and randomized controlled trial experiments. Data derived from field study were analyzed descriptively while data derived from experiments were analyzed using variance analysis. Differences were shown using the smallest significance-p test with CI 95%. The results showed that organic sludge constitution were odious, the organic sludge was clotting after drying process. In addition it became powder as soft as bran after dried, powdered and brooded. The experiment showed that the composition of BGUOS liquid gave influence to the amount of organic content and crude protein in the powder constitution of BGUOS. The fifth treatment brought the optimum percentage of the organic content and crude protein. The research concluded that BGUOS constitution was detestable in its form of sludge, however it could be transformed into bran constitution by drying and brooding treatment. The optimum amount of organic content and crude protein of BGUOS bran were gained by using 5th treatment. The research suggest it is necessary to maintain BGUOS on the basis of local technology and to study the application of BGUOS solid powder or bran as fish and livestock feed. Keywords: Solid Biogas Unit Organic Sludge (Solid BGUOS, CP

  9. Co-suppression of synthesis of major x-kafirin sub-class together with y-kafirin-1 and y-kafirin-2 required for substantially improved protein digestibility in transgenic sorghum

    CSIR Research Space (South Africa)

    Grootboom, AW

    2014-01-01

    Full Text Available Co-suppressing major kafirin sub-classes is fundamental to improved protein digestibility and nutritional value of sorghum. The improvement is linked to an irregularly invaginated phenotype of protein bodies....

  10. Structural chemistry and magnetic properties of the perovskite SrLa{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}TeO{sub 9}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Paria Sena, Robert; Hadermann, Joke [EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp (Belgium); Chin, Chun-Mann; Hunter, Emily C. [Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QR (United Kingdom); Battle, Peter D., E-mail: peter.battle@chem.ox.ac.uk [Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QR (United Kingdom)

    2016-11-15

    A polycrystalline sample of SrLa{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}TeO{sub 9} has been synthesized using a standard ceramic method and characterized by neutron diffraction, magnetometry and electron microscopy. The compound adopts a monoclinic, perovskite-like structure with space group P2{sub 1}/n and unit cell parameters a=5.6008(1), b=5.5872(1), c=7.9018(2) Å, β=90.021(6)° at room temperature. The two crystallographically-distinct B sites are occupied by Ni{sup 2+} and Te{sup 6+} in ratios of 83:17 and 50:50. Both ac and dc magnetometry suggest that the compound is a spin glass below 35 K but the neutron diffraction data show that some regions of the sample are antiferromagnetic. Electron microscopy revealed twinning on a nanoscale and local variations in composition. These defects are thought to be responsible for the presence of two distinct types of antiferromagnetic ordering. - Highlights: • Coexistence of spin-glass and ordered phases. • Local inhomogeneity despite long-range inhomogeneity. • Contrasting magnetic properties of SrLa{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}TeO{sub 9} and La{sub 3}Ni{sub 2}SbO{sub 9}.

  11. Metal–organic frameworks assembled from lanthanide and 2,5-pyridinedicaboxylate with cubane-like [Ln{sub 4}(OH){sub 4}] building units

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Abdelbaky, Mohammed S.M. [Departamentos de Química Física y Analítica y Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, University of Oviedo—CINN, Oviedo 33006 (Spain); Amghouz, Zakariae, E-mail: amghouz.uo@uniovi.es [Departamentos de Química Física y Analítica y Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, University of Oviedo—CINN, Oviedo 33006 (Spain); Servicios Científico-Técnicos, University of Oviedo—CINN, Oviedo 33006 (Spain); Fernández-Zapico, Eva; García-Granda, Santiago; García, José R. [Departamentos de Química Física y Analítica y Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, University of Oviedo—CINN, Oviedo 33006 (Spain)

    2015-09-15

    Lanthanide–organic frameworks based on 2,5-pyridinedicaboxylate (25p) ligand, formulated as [Yb{sub 4}(OH){sub 4}(25p){sub 4}(H{sub 2}O){sub 3}]·H{sub 2}O (25pYb), [Y{sub 4}(OH){sub 4}(25p){sub 4}(H{sub 2}O){sub 3}]·H{sub 2}O (25pY-1) and [Y{sub 6}(OH){sub 8}(25p){sub 5}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}] (25pY-2), have been obtained as single phases under hydrothermal conditions. 25pYb and 25pY-1 are isostructural, and crystallize in the triclinic space group, P-1, with a=8.6075(5) Å, b=14.8478(7) Å, c=15.9164(9) Å, α=86.277(4)°, β=80.196(5)°, γ=81.785(4)°, and a=8.7166(6) Å, b=14.966(1) Å, c=15.966(1) Å, α=86.260(6)°, β=80.036(6)°, γ=81.599(6)°, respectively. 25pY-2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group, P2{sub 1}/c, with a=24.9117(17) Å, b=13.7340(8) Å, c=14.3385(10) Å, β=100.551(7)°. 25pYb and 25pY-2 have been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The 25pYb structure is based on tetranuclear cubane-like [Yb{sub 4}(OH){sub 4}]{sup 8+} clusters, which are interconnected to eight neighbouring clusters through teen surrounding 25p ligands leading to neutral 3D framework, while the structure of 25pY-2 is based on two independent cuban-like [Y{sub 4}(OH){sub 4}]{sup 8+} clusters, which are joined together through Y1 cation leading to the formation of hexanuclear [Y{sub 6}(OH){sub 8}]{sup 10+} clusters, which in turn are joined via Y2 cation resulting in infinite inorganic chain extending along c-axis, and each chain is interconnected to six adjacent chains through 25p ligands leading finally to 3D framework. The luminescence properties of Eu{sup 3+} and Tb{sup 3+} doped 25pY-1 and 25pY-2 compounds have also been investigated. All materials has been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analyses (TG–SDTA–MS), FTIR spectroscopy, C–H–N elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX), and powder X-ray thermodiffraction. - Graphical abstract: Nowadays, lanthanide–organic frameworks (LOFs) attract

  12. SrNi{sub 7.90(8)}In{sub 5.10(8)}. A new superstructure in the NaZn{sub 13} family

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hoffmann, Rolf-Dieter; Poettgen, Rainer [Inst. fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie and NRW Graduate School of Chemistry, Univ. Muenster (Germany); Muts, Ihor [Inst. fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie and NRW Graduate School of Chemistry, Univ. Muenster (Germany); Inorganic Chemistry Dept., Ivan Franko National Univ., Lviv (Ukraine); Zaremba, Vasyl [Inorganic Chemistry Dept., Ivan Franko National Univ., Lviv (Ukraine)

    2009-07-01

    SrNi{sub 7.90(8)}In{sub 5.10(8)} was synthesized by induction melting of the elements in a sealed tantalum tube in a water-cooled silica sample chamber. The structure was refined on the basis of single crystal X-ray diffractometer data: Cccm, a = 1615.2(4), b = 1822.3(4), c = 1238.5(4) pm, wR2 = 0.1481, 4144F{sup 2} values and 150 variables. The striking structural motifs of the SrNi{sub 7.90}In{sub 5.10} structure are one-dimensional [Ni{sub 7} ] cluster units (242-286 pm Ni-Ni) which are surrounded by indium atoms. The structural relationship to the other NaZn{sub 13} superstructures is discussed on the basis of a group-subgroup scheme. (orig.)

  13. High temperature properties of rare-earth tungstates RE{sub 2}W{sub 2}O{sub 9}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Marrero-López, D., E-mail: damarre@uma.es [Dpto. de Física Aplicada I, Universidad de Málaga, 29071-Málaga (Spain); Canales-Vázquez, J. [Renewable Energy Research Institute, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071-Albacete (Spain); Ruiz-Morales, J.C.; Núñez, P. [Dpto. de Química, U.D. Química Inorgánica, Universidad de la Laguna, 38206-Tenerife (Spain)

    2015-02-15

    Highlights: • RE{sub 2}W{sub 2}O{sub 9} (RE = Nd, Pr, Sm, Eu and Gd) are prepared by freeze-drying precursor. • The samples crystallize in the monoclinic s.g. P2{sub 1}/c. • A first order phase transition was detected between 330 and 590 °C. • These materials exhibit low ionic conductivity of 10{sup -5} S cm{sup -1} at 800 °C. - Abstract: RE{sub 2}W{sub 2}O{sub 9} (RE = Ce, Nd, Pr, Sm, Eu, Gd and Tb) compounds have been prepared by a freeze-drying precursor method in order to explore their high temperature thermal properties by different techniques. Samples with Nd, Pr, Sm, Eu and Gd crystallize in the same monoclinic structure with space group P2{sub 1}/c. The thermal, X-ray diffraction, and electrical analysis reveal the existence of a reversible first order phase transition, which is accompanied by a sudden decrease of the unit cell volume and conductivity. A large thermal hysteresis of about 250 °C is also observed during the heating and cooling processes. These materials exhibit low electrical conductivity of the order of 10{sup -5} S cm{sup -1} at 800 °C.

  14. Preliminary crystallographic studies of yeast mitochondrial peripheral membrane protein Tim44p

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Josyula, Ratnakar [Department of Cell Biology, Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (United States); Jin, Zhongmin [SER-CAT, APS, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439 (United States); McCombs, Deborah; DeLucas, Lawrence [Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (United States); Sha, Bingdong, E-mail: bdsha@uab.edu [Department of Cell Biology, Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (United States)

    2006-02-01

    Tim44p is an essential mitochondrial peripheral membrane protein. To investigate the mechanism by which Tim44p functions in the TIM23 translocon to deliver the mitochondrial protein precursors, the yeast Tim44p has been crystallized. Protein translocations across mitochondrial membranes play critical roles in mitochondrion biogenesis. Protein transport from the cell cytosol to the mitochondrial matrix is carried out by the translocase of the outer membrane (TOM) complex and the translocase of the inner membrane (TIM) complexes. Tim44p is an essential mitochondrial peripheral membrane protein and a major component of the TIM23 translocon. To investigate the mechanism by which Tim44p functions in the TIM23 translocon to deliver the mitochondrial protein precursors, the yeast Tim44p was crystallized. The crystals diffract to 3.2 Å using a synchrotron X-ray source and belong to space group P6{sub 3}22, with unit-cell parameters a = 124.25, c = 77.83 Å. There is one Tim44p molecule in one asymmetric unit, which corresponds to a solvent content of approximately 43%. Structure determination by MAD methods is under way.

  15. Hepatitis B virus X protein suppresses caveolin-1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating DNA methylation

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Yan, Jun; Lu, Qian; Dong, Jiahong; Li, Xiaowu; Ma, Kuansheng; Cai, Lei

    2012-01-01

    To understand the molecular mechanisms of caveolin-1 downregulation by hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx). The DNA methylation status of the caveolin-1 promoter was examined by nested methylation-specific PCR of 33 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples. The SMMC-7721 hepatoma cell line was transfected with a recombinant HBx adenoviral vector, and the effects of HBx protein on caveolin-1 expression and promoter methylation were examined and confirmed by sequencing. A reporter gene containing the caveolin-1 promoter region was constructed, and the effects of HBx on the transcriptional activity of the promoter were also studied. Methylation of the caveolin-1 promoter was detected in 84.8% (28/33) of HBV-infected HCC samples. Expression of caveolin-1 was significantly downregulated (P = 0.022), and multiple CpG sites in the promoter region of caveolin-1 were methylated in SMMC-7721 cells after HBx transfection. Transfected HBx significantly suppressed caveolin-1 promoter activity (P = 0.001). HBx protein induces methylation of the caveolin-1 promoter region and suppresses its expression

  16. Guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins in retinal pigment epithelial cells

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jiang, Meisheng; Tran, V.T.; Fong, H.K.W. (Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles (United States)); Pandey, S. (Doheny Eye Inst., Los Angeles, CA (United States))

    1991-05-01

    The expression of GTP-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells was analyzed by RNA blot hybridization and cDNA amplification. Both adult and fetal human RPE cells contain mRNA for multiple G protein {alpha} subunits (G{alpha}) including G{sub s}{alpha}, G{sub i-1}{alpha}, G{sub i-2}{alpha}, G{sub i-3}{alpha}, and G{sub z}{alpha} (or G{sub x}{alpha}), where G{sub s} and G{sub i} are proteins that stimulate or inhibit adenylyl cyclase, respectively, and G{sub z} is a protein that may mediate pertussis toxin-insensitive events. Other G{alpha}-related mRNA transcripts were detected in fetal RPE cells by low-stringency hybridization to G{sub i-2}{alpha} and G{sub s}{alpha} protein-coding cDNA probes. The diversity of G proteins in RPE cells was further studied by cDNA amplification with reverse transcriptase and the polymerase chain reaction. This approach revealed that, besides the above mentioned members of the G{alpha} gene family, at least two other G{alpha} subunits are expressed in RPE cells. Human retinal cDNA clones that encode one of the additional G{alpha} subunits were isolated and characterized. The results indicate that this G{alpha} subunit belongs to a separate subfamily of G proteins that may be insensitive to inhibition by pertussis toxin.

  17. Magnetic properties of nanoscaled paramelaconite Cu{sub 4}O{sub 3−x} (x=0.0 and 0.5)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Djurek, D., E-mail: danijel.djurek@zg.t-com.hr [A. Volta Applied Ceramics (AVAC), 49247 Zlatar Bistrica, A. Šenoe 14 (Croatia); Prester, M.; Drobac, Dj. [Institute of Physics, 10000 Zagreb, Bijenička c. 46 (Croatia); Ivanda, M.; Vojta, D. [Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Bijenička c. 54 (Croatia)

    2015-01-01

    Pure paramelaconite Cu{sub 4}O{sub 3−x} has been prepared in the form of nanoparticles with 56 nm in diameter. This mixed valency oxide crystallizes in a tetragonal lattice with 4 unit formulae and forms a pyrochlore structure which manifests in two stoichiometric forms; Cu{sub 4}O{sub 3} and Cu{sub 4}O{sub 2.5}, the latter form having two oxygen vacancies per unit cell. Magnetic lattice consists of Cu spin 1/2, and both stoichiometric forms obey transition to the antiferromagnetic state at T{sub N}=45–55 K. Defect free Cu{sub 4}O{sub 3} is indicated by an inversion symmetry and exhibits both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic state, where the latter is supposedly due to the superexchange interaction in Cu–O(1n)–Cu bonds. An additional magnetic transition was observed in Cu{sub 4}O{sub 3} at T=120 K, probably as a result of an incommensurate ordering. Absence of an inversion symmetry in the oxygen defect Cu{sub 4}O{sub 2.5} results in a long range Dzyaloshinsky–Moriya interaction accompanied by the strong superparamagnetism. - Highlights: • The first successful preparation of pure paramelaconite Cu{sub 4}O{sub 3−x}. • High resolution AC susceptibility measurements. • Evidence is presented for two stoichiometric forms of paramelaconite; defect free Cu{sub 4}O{sub 3} and Cu{sub 4}O{sub 2.5}. • Additional magnetic transition is observed at T=120 K in the defect free Cu{sub 4}O{sub 3}.

  18. Muscle protein turnover in rats treated with corticosterone (CC) or/and nandrolone decanoate (ND) and fed an adequate or a low-protein diet

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Santidrian, S.; Cuevillas, F.; Goena, M.; Larralde, J.

    1986-03-01

    In order to investigate the possible antagonistic effect between glucocorticoids and androgens on muscle protein turnover, the authors have measured the fractional rates of gastrocnemius muscle protein synthesis (k/sub s/) and degradation (k/sub d/) by the constant-intravenous-infusion method using L-//sup 14/C/-tyrosine in rats receiving via s.c. per 100 g b.wt. 10 mg of CC, or 2 mg of ND or CC+ND at the indicated doses, and fed either an 18% or 5% protein diets over a period of 5 days. As an additional index of protein synthesis, RNA activity (g of synthesized protein/day/g RNA) was determined as well. Results showed that as compared to vehicle-injected animals fed the adequate diet, CC-treated rats exhibited a reduction of muscle k/sub d/, while ND-treated rats had an outstanding increase of muscle k/sub s/. However, rats receiving CC+ND showed k/sub s/ and k/sub d/ values similar to those displayed by control animals. Nevertheless, when the steroids were injected to rats fed the low-protein diet, CC has a catabolic effect on muscle protein but by reducing k/sub s/, while the anabolic action of ND is still displayed but by a significant reduction of muscle k/sub d/. CC+ND given to these protein-deficient rats caused an increase in muscle k/sub s/ and a reduction in k/sub d/. These results might indicate that, at least in part, ND antagonizes the catabolic action of high doses of CC on muscle protein metabolism.

  19. Muscle protein turnover in rats treated with corticosterone (CC) or/and nandrolone decanoate (ND) and fed an adequate or a low-protein diet

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Santidrian, S.; Cuevillas, F.; Goena, M.; Larralde, J.

    1986-01-01

    In order to investigate the possible antagonistic effect between glucocorticoids and androgens on muscle protein turnover, the authors have measured the fractional rates of gastrocnemius muscle protein synthesis (k/sub s/) and degradation (k/sub d/) by the constant-intravenous-infusion method using L-/ 14 C/-tyrosine in rats receiving via s.c. per 100 g b.wt. 10 mg of CC, or 2 mg of ND or CC+ND at the indicated doses, and fed either an 18% or 5% protein diets over a period of 5 days. As an additional index of protein synthesis, RNA activity (g of synthesized protein/day/g RNA) was determined as well. Results showed that as compared to vehicle-injected animals fed the adequate diet, CC-treated rats exhibited a reduction of muscle k/sub d/, while ND-treated rats had an outstanding increase of muscle k/sub s/. However, rats receiving CC+ND showed k/sub s/ and k/sub d/ values similar to those displayed by control animals. Nevertheless, when the steroids were injected to rats fed the low-protein diet, CC has a catabolic effect on muscle protein but by reducing k/sub s/, while the anabolic action of ND is still displayed but by a significant reduction of muscle k/sub d/. CC+ND given to these protein-deficient rats caused an increase in muscle k/sub s/ and a reduction in k/sub d/. These results might indicate that, at least in part, ND antagonizes the catabolic action of high doses of CC on muscle protein metabolism

  20. Pilot test and optimization of plasma based DeNO{sub x}. Final report

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Stamate, E.; Chen, W.; Michelsen, P.K. (Risoe DTU. PLF, Roskilde (Denmark)); Joergensen, L.; Jensen, T.K.; Kristensen, P.G.; Tobiasen, L.; Simonsen, P. (Dansk Gasteknisk Center, Hoersholm (Denmark))

    2010-12-15

    A technique for NO{sub x} reduction for combustion processes was examined. The technique is based on injecting ozone into the NO{sub x} containing flue gas where it will react with NO{sub x}, forming an anhydride of nitric acid, N{sub 2}O{sub 5}. N{sub 2}O{sub 5} is easily removed later using a water scrubber. The technique was tested on a gas engine based CHP unit and a CHP unit based on a straw-fired boiler and a steam turbine. It was found that: 1) NO{sub x} emissions can be reduced by more than 95 % by adding ozone to the flue gas; 2) The technique is applicable on flue gas from biomass combustion despite the presence of compounds such as SO{sub 2} and HCl; 3) Reduction of NO{sub x} emissions requires approximately half as much O{sub 3} when it is applied to the natural gas fired engine unit compared to the straw-fired boiler unit; 4) The higher O{sub 3} consumption on straw-fired units is due both to higher flue gas temperature and to larger NO{sub x} fluctuations in the flue gas compared to the gas engine unit; 5) For the gas engine unit the formaldehyde emission was reduced by 60%; 6) SO{sub 2} emissions are eliminated by the deNO{sub x} unit. It can be concluded that at present the plasma deNO{sub x} process suffers from too high capital and operating costs and too low plant operating time to be an attractive alternative for gas engine CHP plants. Furthermore, there is only a small gap of approx. 25 % between the specific ozone consumption obtained at the pilot test in Ringsted and the theoretically achievable value. This difference is too small to have a major impact on process economy in case of an optimized deNO{sub x} process. At straw fired plants the technology tends to be more promising for several reasons: 1) Significant potential for optimizing specific ozone consumption. 2) Larger NO{sub x} reduction due to the fact that higher concentration levels in the flue gas generate higher income from e.g. fertilizer sales. 3) Reduced or zero SO{sub 2

  1. Hyperoside attenuates hydrogen peroxide-induced L02 cell damage via MAPK-dependent Keap{sub 1}-Nrf{sub 2}-ARE signaling pathway

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Xing, Hai-Yan; Liu, Yao; Chen, Jian-Hong; Sun, Feng-Jun; Shi, Hui-Qing [Department of Pharmacy, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038 (China); Xia, Pei-Yuan, E-mail: py_xia@yahoo.com.cn [Department of Pharmacy, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038 (China)

    2011-07-15

    Highlights: {yields} Hyperoside attenuated H{sub 2}O{sub 2}-induced L02 cell damage. {yields} Hyperoside up-regulated HO-1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels. {yields} Hyperoside activated both Nrf{sub 2} nuclear translocation and gene expression. {yields} Hyperoside may inhibit Keap{sub 1} mRNA translation or protein degradation. {yields} Phosphorylation of ERK and p38 is involved in hyperoside-mediated Nrf{sub 2} activation. -- Abstract: The flavonoid hyperoside has been reported to elicit cytoprotection against oxidative stress partly by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. Here, hepatic L02 cells exposed to H{sub 2}O{sub 2} (100 {mu}M) were used to demonstrate that hyperoside protected cells by significantly inhibiting overproduction of intracellular ROS, depletion of the mitochondrial membrane potential and leakage of lactate dehydrogenase. Hyperoside further enhanced the cellular antioxidant defense system through increasing the activity of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and by up-regulating HO-1 expression. Meanwhile, real time PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence studies revealed that hyperoside stimulated nuclear translocation of the Nrf{sub 2} transcription factor in a dose-dependent manner, and this effect was significantly suppressed by pharmacological inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) p38 and ERK. Collectively, our data provide the first description of the mechanism underlying hyperoside's ability to attenuate H{sub 2}O{sub 2}-induced cell damage, namely this compound interacts with the MAPK-dependent Keap{sub 1}-Nrf{sub 2}-ARE signaling pathway to up-regulate HO-1 expression and enhance intracellular antioxidant activity.

  2. Ordered perovskites with cationic vacancies. 6. Structure determination on Ba/sub 2/Cesub(3/4)sup(IV)vacant sub(1/4)Sbsup(V)O/sub 6/

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Treiber, U; Kemmler-Sack, S [Tuebingen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Lehrstuhl fuer Anorganische Chemie 2

    1980-04-01

    The ochre coloured Ba/sub 2/Cesub(3/4)sup(IV)vacantsub(1/4)Sbsup(V)O/sub 6/ crystallizes in a tetragonal superstructure of the perovskite type (a=11.95/sub 4/A; c=17.00/sub 0/A) with 16 formula units in the cell: Ba/sub 32/Ce/sub 12/vacant/sub 4/Sb/sub 16/O/sub 96/. The intensity calculations on powder data gives with the space group P4/mmm a refined, intensity related R' value of 4.9%. In the structure the four cationic vacancies are ordered. They form a face centered lattice. All barium ions are displaced by approximately 0.29 A in the direction of the neighbouring vacancies, while the rest of the cations maintain their ideal positions.

  3. Effects of out-of-plane disorder on the superconductivity of Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2-x}La{sub x}CuO{sub 6+{delta}}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Roehler, Juergen; Trabant, Christoph; Frielingsdorf, Johanna; Djemour, Rabia [Universitaet Koeln, 50937 Koeln (Germany); Martovitsky, Victor [Lebedev-Institute, 119991 Moscow (Russian Federation); Dudy, Lenart; Dwelk, Helmut; Krapf, Alica [Humboldt Universitaet Berlin, 12489 Berlin (Germany)

    2008-07-01

    The effects of out-of-plane substitutional order/disorder on cuprate superconductivity remains to a large extent an unresolved issue. We have investigated the connection between superconductivity and the lattice effects arising from the heterovalent doping of Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2-x}La{sub x}CuO{sub 6+{delta}}, x = 0.8-0.1. Decreasing lanthanum content tunes the compound through the entire underdoped and overdoped regimes. Cu-K and La- K EXAFS served as local structural probes, and single crystal X-ray diffraction for the determination of the basic unit cell, and the symmetry of the supercell. The oxygen atoms in the CuO{sub 2} planes were found significantly disordered, dependent on doping, and to exhibit minimum disorder around x{sub opt}=0.33. But the degree of substitutional disorder in the out-of-plane La environment turned out independent on the concentration of the La dopants, the superstructure symmetry, and the crystal growth parameters, whereas T{sub c} depends sensitively on them. No evidence was found for possible concentration dependent site changes of the La dopant from the nominal Sr to the Bi sites. We discuss the probably crucial role of the interstitial oxygen atoms for the superconducting properties of the Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2-x}La{sub x}CuO{sub 6+{delta}} system.

  4. The crystal structure and electronic properties of a new metastable non-stoichiometric BaAl{sub 4}-type compound crystallized from amorphous La{sub 6}Ni{sub 34}Ge{sub 60} alloy

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hasegawa, Masashi [Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, Katahira 980-8577 (Japan); Suzuki, Shoichiro [Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, Katahira 980-8577 (Japan); Ohsuna, Tetsu [Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, Katahira 980-8577 (Japan); Matsubara, Eiichiro [Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, Katahira 980-8577 (Japan); Endo, Satoshi [Center for Low Temperature Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Katahira 980-8577 (Japan); Inoue, Akihisa [Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai, Katahira 980-8577 (Japan)

    2004-11-17

    A new metastable La-Ge-Ni ternary BaAl{sub 4}-type (ThCr{sub 2}Si{sub 2}-type) compound, of which the space group is I4/mmm is synthesized. It is obtained by a polymorphic transformation from an La{sub 6}Ni{sub 34}Ge{sub 60} amorphous alloy on crystallizing. The formula of the compound is (La{sub 0.3}Ge{sub 0.7})(Ni{sub 0.85}Ge{sub 0.15}){sub 2}Ge{sub 2}. This indicates that it is highly non-stoichiometric compared to the stoichiometric LaNi{sub 2}Ge{sub 2}. It is found that the c-axis lattice parameter of this compound is much longer than that of LaNi{sub 2}Ge{sub 2}. It should be noted that the longer c-axis unit cell parameter is attributable only to the longer interlayer distance between Ge site and Ni site layers. The temperature dependences of electrical resistivity and thermoelectric power of the (La{sub 0.3}Ge{sub 0.7})(Ni{sub 0.85}Ge{sub 0.15}){sub 2}Ge{sub 2} compound and La{sub 6}Ni{sub 34}Ge{sub 60} amorphous alloy are also clarified. The comparison of these electronic properties between the two materials indicates that sp-electrons mainly contribute to the density of states around the Fermi level of this compound.

  5. Unprecedented connection mode of [V{sub 16}Sb{sub 4}O{sub 42}(H{sub 2}O)]{sup 8-} cluster anions by Mn{sup 2+} centered complexes. Solvothermal synthesis and properties of {[Mn(teta)]_4V_1_6Sb_4O_4_2(H_2O)}{sub n}.[(H{sub 2}O){sub 12}]{sub n}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rasmussen, Maren; Naether, Christian; Bensch, Wolfgang [Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel (Germany); Leusen, Jan van; Koegerler, Paul [Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (Germany)

    2017-11-17

    The new compound {[Mn(teta)]_4V_1_6Sb_4O_4_2}{sub n}.[(H{sub 2}O){sub 12}]{sub n} (teta = triethylenetetraamine) was synthesized under solvothermal conditions. The crystal structure features the high nuclearity [V{sub 16}{sup IV}Sb{sub 4}{sup III}O{sub 42}(H{sub 2}O)]{sup 8-} cluster anion, which consists of two rings composed of 8 edge-sharing VO{sub 5} polyhedra. The rings are perpendicular to each other generating four niches, which are occupied by two VO{sub 5} pyramids and two handle-like Sb{sub 2}O{sub 5} units. The two unique anions are each surrounded by eight Mn{sup 2+} centered complexes via Mn-O{sub term}-V bonds. Such an expansion has never been observed in heterometal polyoxovanadate chemistry. The connection mode between cluster anions and complex cations generates two individual layers stacked onto each other. Between the layers weak Sb..O contacts are observed. The crystal water molecules are mainly located in the empty space between the layers. Upon heating H{sub 2}O molecules are removed, while the crystal structure remains intact. The magnetic behavior is dominated by strong antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the central V{sup 4+} ions, while the interaction between the cluster anion and central Mn{sup 2+} ions is significantly less pronounced. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  6. eEF1A Mediates the Nuclear Export of SNAG-Containing Proteins via the Exportin5-Aminoacyl-tRNA Complex

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    José Manuel Mingot

    2013-11-01

    Full Text Available Exportin5 mediates the nuclear export of double-stranded RNAs, including pre-microRNAs, adenoviral RNAs, and tRNAs. When tRNAs are aminoacylated, the Exportin5-aminoacyl (aa-tRNA complex recruits and coexports the translation elongation factor eEF1A. Here, we show that eEF1A binds to Snail transcription factors when bound to their main target, the E-cadherin promoter, facilitating their export to the cytoplasm in association with the aa-tRNA-Exportin5 complex. Snail binds to eEF1A through the SNAG domain, a protein nuclear export signal present in several transcription factor families, and this binding is regulated by phosphorylation. Thus, we describe a nuclear role for eEF1A and provide a mechanism for protein nuclear export that attenuates the activity of SNAG-containing transcription factors.

  7. Local structure and influence of bonding on the phase-change behavior of the chalcogenide compounds K{sub 1-} {sub x} Rb {sub x} Sb{sub 5}S{sub 8}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wachter, J B [Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 (United States); Chrissafis, K [Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki (Greece); Petkov, V [Department of Physics, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 (United States); Malliakas, C D [Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 (United States); Bilc, D [Department of Physics, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859 (United States); Kyratsi, Th [Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 (United States); Paraskevopoulos, K M [Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki (Greece); Mahanti, S D [Department of Physics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 (United States); Torbruegge, T [Institut fuer Physikalische Chemie, Westf. Wilhelms-Universitaet Muenster (Germany); Eckert, H [Institut fuer Physikalische Chemie, Westf. Wilhelms-Universitaet Muenster (Germany); Kanatzidis, M.G. [Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 (United States)], E-mail: m-kanatzidis@northwestern.edu

    2007-02-15

    KSb{sub 5}S{sub 8} and its solid solution analogs with Rb and Tl were found to exhibit a reversible and tunable glass{sup {yields}}crystal{sup {yields}}glass phase transition. Selected members of this series were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry to measure the effect of the substitution on the thermal properties. The solid solutions K{sub 1-} {sub x} Rb {sub x} Sb{sub 5}S{sub 8} exhibited clear deviations in melting and crystallization behavior and temperatures from the parent structure. The crystallization process of the glassy KSb{sub 5}S{sub 8} as a function of temperature could clearly be followed with Raman spectroscopy. The thermal conductivity of both glassy and crystalline KSb{sub 5}S{sub 8} at room temperature is {approx}0.40 W/m K, among the lowest known values for any dense solid-state material. Electronic band structure calculations carried out on KSb{sub 5}S{sub 8} and TlSb{sub 5}S{sub 8} show the presence of large indirect band-gaps and confirm the coexistence of covalent Sb-S bonding and predominantly ionic K(Tl)...S bonding. Pair distribution function analyses based on total X-ray scattering data on both crystalline and glassy K{sub 1-} {sub x} Rb {sub x} Sb{sub 5}S{sub 8} showed that the basic structure-defining unit is the same and it involves a distorted polyhedron of 'SbS{sub 7}' fragment of {approx}7 A diameter. The similarity of local structure between the glassy and crystalline phases accounts for the facile crystallization rate in this system. - Graphical abstract: The KSb{sub 5}S{sub 8} is a good example of a phase-change material with a mixed ionic/covalent bonding. The members of the K{sub 1-} {sub x} Rb {sub x} Sb{sub 5}S{sub 8} series exhibit phase-change properties with greater glass forming ability (GFA) than KSb{sub 5}S{sub 8}. The GFA increases with increasing Rb content. In this case, the random alloy disorder in the alkali metal sublattice seems to predominate over the increased degree of ionicity in going from K

  8. Tritellurides of comples cations: Synthesis and crystal structure of (Ba(en)/sub 3/)Te/sub 3/ and (Ba(en)/sub 4,5/)Te/sub 3/

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zagler, R; Eisenmann, B; Schaefer, H

    1987-02-01

    The two title compounds have been prepared by reaction of appropriate mixtures of the elements in ethylenediamine. The structures have been determined on the basis of single crystal data. (Ba(en)/sub 3/Te/sub 3/ crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2/sub 1/c with a = 918.0(4), b = 1203.7(6), c = 1639,9(6) pm, ..beta.. = 93.4(1)/sup 0/. In the structure there are bent tritelluride anions Te/sub 3//sup 2 -/ (bond lengths 273,9-278,5 pm, bond angle (105.7/sup 0/). The Ba/sup 2 +/ cations are six coordinate by the bidentate ligand ethylenediamine. (Ba(en)/sub 4,5/)Te/sub 3/ crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group Cc with a = 1752.8(6), b = 938.9(4), c = 3041.7(8) pm, ..beta.. = 91.3(1)/sup 0/. In this structure the bond lengths in the TE/sub 3//sup 2 -/ anions are shorter (272.1-273.1 pm, bond angles 110.9-112.2/sup 0/). The cations are coordinated by four bidentate ligands, and are connected into pairs by a further ethylenediamine molecule. The resulting dinuclear (Ba(en)/sub 4/)en(Ba(en)/sub 4/)/sup 4 +/ units have the Ba/sup 2 +/ cations in CN 9.

  9. The role of carbonic anhydrase in C<sub>4sub> photosynthesis

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Studer, Anthony [Life Sciences Research Foundation, Baltimore, MD (United States)

    2015-10-01

    Current pressures on the global food supply have accelerated the urgency for a second green revolution using novel and sustainable approaches to increase crop yield and efficiency. This proposal outlines experiments to address fundamental questions regarding the biology of C<sub>4sub> photosynthesis, the method of carbon fixation utilized by the most productive food, feed and bioenergy crops. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) has been implicated in multiple cellular functions including nitrogen metabolism, water use efficiency, and photosynthesis. CA catalyzes the first dedicated step in C<sub>4sub> photosynthesis, the hydration of CO<sub>2sub> into bicarbonate, and is potentially rate limiting in C<sub>4sub> grasses. Using insertional mutagenesis, we have generated CA mutants in maize, and propose the characterization of these mutants using phenotypic, physiological, and transcriptomic profiling to assay the plant’s response to altered CA activity. In addition, florescent protein tagging experiments will be employed to study the subcellular localization of CA paralogs, providing critical data for modeling carbon fixation in C<sub>4sub> plants. Finally, I propose parallel experiments in Setaria viridis to explore its relevance as model C<sub>4sub> grass. Using a multifaceted approach, this proposal addresses important questions in basic biology, as well as the need for translation research in response to looming global food challenges.

  10. Cloning, Expression, Purification, Crystallization and Preliminary X-ray Analysis of Mycoplasma Genitalium Protein MG289

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sippel, K.; Boehlein, S; Sakai, Y; Quirit, J; Agbandje-McKenna, M; Rosser, C; McKenna, R

    2009-01-01

    Mycoplasma genitalium is a human pathogen that is associated with nongonococcal urethritis in men and cervicitis in women. The cloning, expression, purification and crystallization of the protein MG289 from M. genitalium strain G37 are reported here. Crystals of MG289 diffracted X-rays to 2.8 {angstrom} resolution. The crystals belonged to the orthorhombic space group P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters a = 49.7, b = 90.9, c = 176.1 {angstrom}. The diffraction data after processing had an overall R{sub merge} of 8.7%. The crystal structure of Cypl, the ortholog of MG289 from M. hyorhinis, has recently been determined, providing a reasonable phasing model; molecular replacement is currently under way.

  11. Expression, purification and crystallization of two major envelope proteins from white spot syndrome virus

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tang, Xuhua; Hew, Choy Leong, E-mail: dbshewcl@nus.edu.sg [Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543 (Singapore)

    2007-07-01

    The crystallization of the N-terminal transmembrane region-truncated VP26 and VP28 of white spot syndrome virus is described. White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a major virulent pathogen known to infect penaeid shrimp and other crustaceans. VP26 and VP28, two major envelope proteins from WSSV, have been identified and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. In order to facilitate purification and crystallization, predicted N-terminal transmembrane regions of approximately 35 amino acids have been truncated from both VP26 and VP28. Truncated VP26 and VP28 and their corresponding SeMet-labelled proteins were purified and the SeMet proteins were crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Crystals of SeMet-labelled VP26 were obtained using a reservoir consisting of 0.1 M citric acid pH 3.5, 3.0 M sodium chloride and 1%(w/v) polyethylene glycol 3350, whereas SeMet VP28 was crystallized using a reservoir solution consisting of 25% polyethylene glycol 8000, 0.2 M calcium acetate, 0.1 M Na HEPES pH 7.5 and 1.5%(w/v) 1,2,3-heptanetriol. Crystals of SeMet-labelled VP26 diffract to 2.2 Å resolution and belong to space group R32, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 73.92, c = 199.31 Å. SeMet-labelled VP28 crystallizes in space group P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters a = 105.33, b = 106.71, c = 200.37 Å, and diffracts to 2.0 Å resolution.

  12. Two hexagonal series of lanthanoid(III) oxide fluoride selenides.: M{sub 6}O{sub 2}F{sub 8}Se{sub 3} (M = La - Nd) and M{sub 2}OF{sub 2}Se (M = Nd, Sm, Gd - Ho)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zimmermann, Dirk D.; Grossholz, Hagen; Wolf, Sarah; Schleid, Thomas [Institut fuer Anorganische Chemie, Universitaet Stuttgart (Germany); Janka, Oliver [Institut fuer Anorganische Chemie, Universitaet Stuttgart (Germany); Institut fuer Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet Muenster (Germany); Mueller, Alexander C. [Institut fuer Anorganische Chemie, Universitaet Stuttgart (Germany); Institut fuer Textilchemie und Chemiefasern, Denkendorf (Germany)

    2015-09-15

    Two hexagonal series of lanthanoid(III) oxide fluoride selenides with similar structure types can be obtained by the reaction of the components MF{sub 3}, M{sub 2}O{sub 3}, M, and Se in sealed niobium tubes at 850 C using CsI as fluxing agent. The compounds with the lighter and larger representatives (M = La - Nd) occur with the formula M{sub 6}O{sub 2}F{sub 8}Se{sub 3}, whereas with the heavier and smaller ones (M = Nd, Sm, Gd - Ho) their composition is M{sub 2}OF{sub 2}Se. For both systems single-crystal determinations were used in all cases. The compounds crystallize in the hexagonal crystal system (space group: P6{sub 3}/m) with lattice parameters of a = 1394-1331 pm and c = 403-372 pm (Z = 2 for M{sub 6}O{sub 2}F{sub 8}Se{sub 3} and Z = 6 for M{sub 2}OF{sub 2}Se). The (M1){sup 3+} cations show different square antiprismatic coordination spheres with or without an extra capping fluoride anion. All (M2){sup 3+} cations exhibit a ninefold coordination environment shaped as tricapped trigonal prism. In both structure types the Se{sup 2-} anions are sixfold coordinated as trigonal prisms of M{sup 3+} cations, being first condensed by edges to generate trimeric units and then via faces to form strands running along [001]. The light anions reside either in threefold triangular or in fourfold tetrahedral cationic coordination. For charge compensation, both structures have to contain a certain amount of oxide besides fluoride anions. Since F{sup -} and O{sup 2-} can not be distinguished by X-ray diffraction, bond-valence calculations were used to address the problem of their adjunction to the available crystallographic sites. (Copyright copyright 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  13. New uranium chalcoantimonates, RbU{sub 2}SbS{sub 8} and KU{sub 2}SbSe{sub 8}, with a polar noncentrosymmetric structure

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Choi, K S; Kanatzidis, M G

    1999-09-01

    The new compounds, RbU{sub 2}SbS{sub 8} and KU{sub 2}SbSe{sub 8}, were prepared as golden-black, blocklike crystals by the polychalcogenide molten flux method. RbU{sub 2}SbS{sub 8} has a two-dimensional character with layers running perpendicular to the c-axis. The coordination geometry around the U{sup 4+} atoms is best described as a bicapped trigonal prism. The trigonal prisms share triangular faces with neighboring prisms, forming one-dimensional columns along the a-axis. The columns are then joined to construct sheets by sharing capping S atoms. Sb{sup 3+} ions are sitting at the center of a slightly distorted seesaw coordination environment (CN = 4). Rb{sup +} ions are stabilized in 8-coordinate bicapped trigonal prismatic sites. KU{sub 2}SbSe{sub 8} has essentially the same structure as RbU{sub 2}SbS{sub 8}. However, Sb{sup 3+} and K{sup +} ions appear disordered in every other layer resulting in a different unit cell. RbU{sub 2}SbS{sub 8} is a semiconductor with a band gap of 1.38 eV. The band gap of KU{sub 2}SbSe{sub 8} could not be determined precisely due to the presence of overlapping intense f-f transitions in the region (0.5--1.1 eV). The Raman spectra show the disulfide stretching vibration in RbU{sub 2}SbS{sub 8} at 479 cm{sup {minus}1} and the diselenide stretching vibration in KU{sub 2}SbSe{sub 8} at 252 cm{sup {minus}1}. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate the presence of U{sup 4+} centers in the compounds. The compounds do not melt below 1,000 C under vacuum.

  14. Quantitation of mRNAs for α<sub>1sub>-acid glycoprotein and for serum albumin in livers of normal, stressed, fasted, and refed rats. [125I or 131I radioimmunoassay for protein products of specific mRNA activity

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Harris, Linda Jean [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)

    1978-01-01

    A new procedure for determining the relative levels of a specific mRNA species was developed and applied to mRNA for rat serum albumin (RSA) and α<sub>1sub>-AGP) in rat liver. The method is a radioimmunoassay (125In or 131I) for the completed protein, but which also detects antigenic determinants in nascent polypeptide chains on plysomes synthesizing the specific protein. Results show that 24 hs after stressing the rat by turpentine injection the total number of polysomes per mg DNA has increased by 20 to 25%; however, the number of RSA synthesizing polysomes per mg DNA has decreased slightly. In rats fasted for 6 days, the number of RSA synthesizing polysomes per mg polysomal RNA is only slightly below normal, but the total number of RSA synthesizing polysomes per mg DNA has decreased by 40%. Again, it is seen that RSA mRNA levels do not decrease as sharply as the rate of RSA synthesis. Twelve hours after refeeding the rats, the number of RSA synthesizing polysomes begins to increase, reaching a peak two to three times normal levels 24 to 48 hours after commencement of refeeding. During the first 24 hs after turpentine injection, there is a linear increase in the number of α<sub>1sub>-AGP synthesizing polysomes. The increase is smaller during the next 24 hs and there is a small decrease between 48 and 72 hs. The serum concentrations of α<sub>1sub>-AGP following turpentine treatment reflect these changes in polysome levels. It was not possible to compare the number of α<sub>1sub>-AGP synthesizing polysomes in livers of normal, fasted, and refed rats because the levels detected were only slightly higher than those seen in rat and rat kidney polysome controls. This background activity must be eliminated before the technique can be applied to quantitating mRNA for proteins synthesized in very small quantities. This technique offers several advantages over other procedures commonly used to quantitate mRNA. (ERB)

  15. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of Cs{sub 2}Er[Si{sub 6}O{sub 14}]F and Cs{sub 2}Er[Si{sub 4}O{sub 10}]F

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Dabic, Predrag; Kremenovic, Aleksandar; Vulic, Predag [Belgrade Univ. (Serbia). Lab. of Crystallography; Kahlenberg, Volker; Schmidmair, Daniela [Innsbruck Univ. (Austria). Inst. of Mineralogy and Petrography

    2016-07-01

    Single-crystal growth experiments in the system CsF-Er{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2} resulted in the simultaneous crystallization of two chemically related compounds within the same run: Cs{sub 2}Er[Si{sub 6}O{sub 14}]F (phase I) and Cs{sub 2}Er[Si{sub 4}O{sub 10}]F (phase II). They represent the first examples for cesium erbium silicates containing fluorine. Basic crystallographic data are - phase I: space group Cmca, a=17.2556(6) Aa, b=24.6565(7) Aa, c=14.4735(5) Aa, V=6157.9(3) Aa{sup 3}, Z=16; phase II: space group Pnma, a=22.3748(7) Aa, b=8.8390(2) Aa, c=11.9710(4) Aa, V=2367.5(1) Aa{sup 3}, Z=8. The structures were determined by direct methods and refined to residuals of R(vertical stroke F vertical stroke)=0.0229 for 2920 (phase I) and 0.0231 for 2314 (phase II) independent observed reflections with I>2σ(I). The structure of phase I represents a previously unknown structure type with a three dimensional tetrahedral framework consisting of Q{sup 3} and Q{sup 4} groups in the ratio 2:1. Basic building units of the network are unbranched sechser single-chains running parallel to [001]. The network can be conveniently built up from the condensation of tetrahedral layers parallel to (010) or (100), respectively. The crystal structure of phase II can be classified as a tubular or columnar chain silicate indicating that the backbones of the structure are multiple chains of silicate tetrahedra. This structure is isotypic to a Cs{sub 2}Y[Si{sub 4}O{sub 10}]F, a compound that has been characterized previously. Alternatively, both compounds can be described as mixed octahedral-tetrahedral frameworks, which can be classified according to their polyhedral microensembles. A topological analysis of both nets is presented.

  16. Spin structures of S = 5/2 antiferromagnetic triangular lattices: AAg{sub 2}M[VO{sub 4}]{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Moeller, Angela; Amuneke, Ngozi E.; Tapp, Joshua [Department of Chemistry and TcSUH, University of Houston (United States); Cruz, Clarina R. de la [Quantum Condensed Matter Division, ORNL, Oak Ridge (United States)

    2015-07-01

    The AAg{sub 2}M[VO{sub 4}]{sub 2} compounds present a unique series for studying structure-property relationships. The size of the A cation (Ba{sup 2+}, K{sup +}, Rb{sup +}, or Ag{sup +}) controls (i) the inter-layer distances between the magnetic triangular lattices (M, here Mn{sup 2+} or Fe{sup 3+}) and (ii) the distortion of the non-magnetic vanadate units. The crystal and magnetic structures were refined from neutron diffraction data under applied fields (ORNL, HB2A) and reveal the complex magnetic phase diagrams of frustrated S=5/2 triangular lattices with axial and XY-anisotropy, respectively.

  17. Lacritin and other new proteins of the lacrimal functional unit.

    Science.gov (United States)

    McKown, Robert L; Wang, Ningning; Raab, Ronald W; Karnati, Roy; Zhang, Yinghui; Williams, Patricia B; Laurie, Gordon W

    2009-05-01

    The lacrimal functional unit (LFU) is defined by the 2007 International Dry Eye WorkShop as 'an integrated system comprising the lacrimal glands, ocular surface (cornea, conjunctiva and meibomian glands) and lids, and the sensory and motor nerves that connect them'. The LFU maintains a healthy ocular surface primarily through a properly functioning tear film that provides protection, lubrication, and an environment for corneal epithelial cell renewal. LFU cells express thousands of proteins. Over 200 new LFU proteins have been discovered in the last decade. Lacritin is a new LFU-specific growth factor in human tears that flows through ducts to target corneal epithelial cells on the ocular surface. When applied topically in rabbits, lacritin appears to increase the volume of basal tear secretion. Lacritin is one of only a handful of tear proteins preliminarily reported to be downregulated in blepharitis and in two dry eye syndromes. Computational analysis predicts an ordered C-terminal domain that binds the corneal epithelial cell surface proteoglycan syndecan-1 (SDC1) and is required for lacritin's low nanomolar mitogenic activity. The lacritin-binding site on the N-terminus of SDC1 is exposed by heparanase. Heparanase is constitutively expressed by the corneal epithelium and appears to be a normal constituent of tears. Binding triggers rapid signaling to downstream NFAT and mTOR. A wealth of other new proteins, originally designated as hypothetical when first identified by genomic sequencing, are expressed by the human LFU including: ALS2CL, ARHGEF19, KIAA1109, PLXNA1, POLG, WIPI1 and ZMIZ2. Their demonstrated or implied roles in human genetic disease or basic cellular functions are fuel for new investigation. Addressing topical areas in ocular surface physiology with new LFU proteins may reveal interesting new biological mechanisms and help get to the heart of ocular surface dysfunction.

  18. Cholinergic regulation of protein phosphorylation in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Haycock, J.W.; Browning, M.D.; Greengard, P.

    1988-01-01

    Chromaffin cells were isolated from bovine adrenal medullae and maintained in primary culture. After prelabeling with 32 PO 4 , exposure of the chromaffin cells to acetylcholine increased the phosphorylation of a M/sub r/ ≅ 100,000 protein and a M/sub r/ ≅ 60,000 protein (tyrosine hydroxylase), visualized after separation of total cellular proteins in NaDodSO 4 /polyacrylamide gels. Immunoprecipitation with antibodies to three known phosphoproteins (100-kDa, 87-kDa, and protein III) revealed an acetylcholine-dependent phosphorylation of these proteins. These three proteins were also shown to be present in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells by immunolabeling techniques. 100-kDa is a M/sub r/ ≅ 100,000 protein selectively phosphorylated by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase III, 87-kDa is a M/sub r/ ≅ 87,000 protein selectively phosphorylated by protein kinase C, and protein III is a phosphoprotein doublet of M/sub r/ ≅ 74,000 (IIIa) and M/sub r/ ≅ 55,000 (IIIb) phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I. The data demonstrate that cholinergic activation of chromaffin cells increases the phosphorylation of several proteins and that several protein kinase systems may be involved in these effects

  19. Integrated dry NO{sub x}/SO{sub 2} emissions control system: integrated system test report

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Smith, R.A.; Muzio, L.J. [Fossil Energy Research Corp., Laguna Hills, CA (United States); Hunt, T. [Public Service Co. of Colorado, Denver, CO (United States)

    1997-04-01

    The DOE sponsored Integrated Dry NO{sub x}/SO{sub 2} Emissions Control System Program, is a Clean Coal Technology III demonstration, being conducted by Public Service Company of Colorado. The test site is Arapahoe Generating Station Unit 4, a 100 MWe, down-fired utility boiler burning a low-sulfur Western coal. The project goal is to demonstrate up to 70 percent reductions in NO{sub x} and SO{sub 2} emissions through the integration of: (1) down-fired low NO{sub x} burners with overfire air; (2) Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) for additional NO{sub x} removal; and (3) Dry Sorbent Injection (DSI) and duct humidification for SO{sub 2} removal. This report documents the final phase of the test program, in which the overall performance of the integrated system was evaluated. Previous testing has shown that the goal of 70 percent NO{sub x} removal was easily achieved with the combination of low-NO{sub x} burners, overfire air, and urea-based SNCR. Similarly, the ability of the sodium-based DSI system to achieve 70 percent SO{sub 2} removal was also demonstrated previously. The integrated tests demonstrated the synergistic benefit of operating the SNCR and sodium-based DSI systems concurrently. With the automatic control system set to limit the NH{sub 3} emissions to less than 8 ppm, the NO{sub 2} emissions from the sodium-based DSI system were reduced by nominally 50 percent compared to operation with the DSI system alone. Comparably, the combined operation reduced NH{sub 3} emissions, as reflected by a higher urea injection rate for a fixed NH{sub 3} emission limit. With combined DSI and SNCR operation, an ammonia odor problem was encountered around the Unit 4 ash silo (this did not occur with the SNCR system operated alone at comparable NH{sub 3} slip levels). This odor problem is attributed to the sodium changing the rate at which NH{sub 3} is released from the ash when it is wetted for truck transport to the disposal site.

  20. Structural, magnetic and optical characterization of Ni{sub 0.8}Zn{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nano particles prepared by co-precipitation method

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kannan, Y.B., E-mail: ybkans@gmail.com [Department of Physics, Arumugam Pillai Seethai Ammal College, Tiruppattur 630211 (India); Saravanan, R. [Research Centre & PG Department of Physics, The Madura College, Madurai 625011 (India); Srinivasan, N. [Research Centre & PG Department of Physics, Thiagarajar College, Madurai 625009 (India); Praveena, K. [School of Physics, Univeristy of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046 (India); Sadhana, K. [Material Research Center, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012 (India)

    2016-12-01

    Bond strength values, between tetrahedral sites and octahedral sites atoms in the unit cell, are evaluated using maximum entropy method (MEM) for the Ni{sub 0.8}Zn{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nano ferrite particles, prepared by co-precipitation method and sintered at 900 °C. The spinel structure is confirmed from the XRD analysis done using the Rietveld method. Substitution of zinc ion causes increase in lattice parameter value. Thermal behavior, morphology, magnetic properties and optical band gap energy values of the sample are determined by using thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscope, vibrating sample magnetometer and UV–VIS–NIR techniques respectively. Low value of saturation magnetization is attributed to the disorder in cation distribution.

  1. Growth, structure and spectral properties of Dy{sup 3+}-doped Li{sub 3}Ba{sub 2}La{sub 3}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 8} crystal for potential use in solid-state yellow lasers

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Song, Mingjun, E-mail: smj521@hotmail.com [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Weifang University, Weifang, Shandong 261061 (China); Wu, Mingyan [Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002 (China); Zhou, Weiwei [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huainan Normal University, Huainan, Anhui 232001 (China); Zhou, Xiaojing [College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Weifang University, Weifang, Shandong 261061 (China); Wei, Bo [School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu, Jiangsu 215500 (China); Wang, Guofu [Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002 (China)

    2014-09-01

    Highlights: • Dy{sup 3+}:Li{sub 3}Ba{sub 2}La{sub 3}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 8} crystal was grown by the top seeded solution growth method. • The morphology, structure and spectral properties of the crystal were studied. • The main spectroscopic parameters were calculated by J–O theory and F–L formula. • The fluorescence dynamics was analyzed based on the Inokuti–Hirayama (I–H) model. • Comparisons with other reported crystals were made and the prospect was concluded. - Abstract: Dy{sup 3+}:Li{sub 3}Ba{sub 2}La{sub 3}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 8} crystal has been grown by the top seeded solution growth (TSSG) method from a flux of Li{sub 2}MoO{sub 4} and its morphology, structure and spectral properties were investigated. The crystal crystallizes in the monoclinic system with the space group C2/c, and the unit cell parameters are a = 5.3091(5), b = 13.0211(11), c = 19.3301(15), β = 90.891(7)°, V = 1336.1(2) Å{sup 3}. Based on the Judd–Ofelt (J–O) theory and the Füchtbauer–Ladenburg (F–L) formula, the main spectroscopic parameters of Dy{sup 3+}:Li{sub 3}Ba{sub 2}La{sub 3}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 8} crystal, including the intensity parameters Ω{sub t} (t = 2, 4, 6), spontaneous emission probabilities, radiative lifetimes and emission cross sections were calculated and analyzed. The room temperature decay curve was analyzed through the frame work of the Inokuti–Hirayama (I–H) model and the results shows that electric dipole–dipole interaction is responsible for the energy transfer processes in Dy{sup 3+}:Li{sub 3}Ba{sub 2}La{sub 3}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 8} crystal.

  2. Regulation of epithelial differentiation in rat intestine by intraluminal delivery of an adenoviral vector or silencing RNA coding for Schlafen 3.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Pavlo L Kovalenko

    Full Text Available Although we stimulate enterocytic proliferation to ameliorate short gut syndrome or mucosal atrophy, less effort has been directed at enterocytic differentiation. Schlafen 3 (Slfn3 is a poorly understood protein induced during IEC-6 enterocytic differentiation. We hypothesized that exogenous manipulation of Slfn3 would regulate enterocytic differentiation in vivo. Adenoviral vector coding for Slfn3 cDNA (Ad-GFP-Slfn3 or silencing RNA for Slfn3 (siSlfn3 was introduced intraluminally into rat intestine. We assessed Slfn3, villin, sucrase-isomaltase (SI, Dpp4, and Glut2 by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. We also studied Slfn3 and these differentiation markers in atrophic defunctionalized jejunal mucosa and the crypt-villus axis of normal jejunum. Ad-GFP-Slfn3 but not Ad-GFP increased Slfn3, villin and Dpp4 expression in human Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells. Injecting Ad-GFP-Slfn3 into rat jejunum in vivo increased mucosal Slfn3 mRNA three days later vs. intraluminal Ad-GFP. This Slfn3 overexpression was associated with increases in all four differentiation markers. Injecting siSlfn3 into rat jejunum in vivo substantially reduced Slfn3 and all four intestinal mucosal differentiation markers three days later, as well as Dpp4 specific activity. Endogenous Slfn3 was reduced in atrophic mucosa from a blind-end Roux-en-Y anastomosis in parallel with differentiation marker expression together with AKT and p38 signaling. Slfn3 was more highly expressed in the villi than the crypts, paralleling Glut2, SI and Dpp4. Slfn3 is a key intracellular regulator of rat enterocytic differentiation. Understanding how Slfn3 works may identify targets to promote enterocytic differentiation and maintain mucosal function in vivo, facilitating enteral nutrition and improving survival in patients with mucosal atrophy or short gut syndrome.

  3. Crystal structure and Mössbauer spectroscopy of a new iron phosphate Mg{sub 2.88}Fe{sub 4.12}(PO{sub 4}){sub 6}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Saad, Y. [UR Matériaux Inorganiques, Faculté des Sciences, 5019 Monastir (Tunisia); Hidouri, M., E-mail: mourad_hidouri@yahoo.fr [UR Matériaux Inorganiques, Faculté des Sciences, 5019 Monastir (Tunisia); Álvarez-Serrano, I.; Veiga, M.L. [Departamento de Química Inorgánica I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid (Spain); Wattiaux, A. [Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux, CNRS, Université de Bordeaux I, 87 Avenue du Dr. A. Schweitzer, 33608 Pessac-Cedex (France); Amara, Mongi B. [UR Matériaux Inorganiques, Faculté des Sciences, 5019 Monastir (Tunisia)

    2014-01-25

    Highlights: • This study reports the synthesis and characterization of a new iron phosphate. • The cationic distribution is supported by a Mössbauer spectroscopy study. • The magnetic susceptibility results are discussed. -- Abstract: A new mixed valence iron phosphate Mg{sub 2.88}Fe{sub 4.12}(PO{sub 4}){sub 6} has been prepared as single crystals by the flux method and as a powder by solid state reaction and its crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction. This compound crystallises in the triclinic system with space group P1{sup ¯} and a = 6.325(5) Å, b = 7.911(3) Å, c = 9.271(3) Å, α = 104.62(1)°, β = 108.41(1)° and γ = 101.24(1)° and Z = 1. Its structure is similar to that of the mineral howardevansite. It consists of Fe{sub 2}O{sub 10} bioctahedral units and MgO{sub 5} trigonal bipyramids sharing edges to form infinite zigzag chains. Such chains are linked to each other by MO{sub 6} (0.88 Mg{sup 2+} + 0.12 Fe{sup 2+}) octahedra and PO{sub 4} tetrahedra resulting in a 3D covalent framework. Magnetic measurements indicated two successive transitions at 46 K and 22 K. Mössbauer spectroscopy confirmed the mixed valence of iron and gave accurate information about its local environment.

  4. A new oxytelluride: Perovskite and CsCl intergrowth in Ba{sub 3}Yb{sub 2}O{sub 5}Te

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Whalen, J.B., E-mail: icatchsnook@yahoo.com [The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Condensed Matter Science Department, 1800 E. Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32310 (United States); Specialized Crystal Processing, Inc., 400 Capital Circle SE, Suite 18227, Tallahassee, FL 32301-3839 (United States); Besara, T. [The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Condensed Matter Science Department, 1800 E. Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32310 (United States); The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University-The Florida State University (FAMU-FSU) College of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL 32310-6046 (United States); Vasquez, R.; Herrera, F. [The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University-The Florida State University (FAMU-FSU) College of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL 32310-6046 (United States); Sun, J. [The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Condensed Matter Science Department, 1800 E. Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32310 (United States); The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University-The Florida State University (FAMU-FSU) College of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL 32310-6046 (United States); Ramirez, D. [The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Condensed Matter Science Department, 1800 E. Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32310 (United States); The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University-The Florida State University (FAMU-FSU) College of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL 32310-6046 (United States); Specialized Crystal Processing, Inc., 400 Capital Circle SE, Suite 18227, Tallahassee, FL 32301-3839 (United States); Stillwell, R.L. [The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Condensed Matter Science Department, 1800 E. Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32310 (United States); and others

    2013-07-15

    The new oxytelluride Ba{sub 3}Yb{sub 2}O{sub 5}Te was obtained from an alkaline earth flux. Ba{sub 3}Yb{sub 2}O{sub 5}Te crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P4/mmm (#123), with a=4.3615(3) Å and c=11.7596(11) Å, Z=1. The structure combines two distinct building blocks, a Ba{sub 2}Yb{sub 2}O{sub 5} perovskite-like double layer with square bipyramidal coordination of the ytterbium ions, and a CsCl-type BaTe layer. Short range magnetic order is apparent at below 5 K, with the magnetic behavior above this temperature dominated by crystal field effects. The structure may be considered as an analog to the Ruddlesden–Popper phases, where the NaCl-type layer has been replaced by the CsCl-type layer. The two-dimensional magnetic behavior is expected based on the highly anisotropic nature of the structure. - Graphical abstract: Optical images of Ba{sub 3}Yb{sub 2}O{sub 5}Te in transmission (left) and reflected (right) light, with atomic unit cell overlay. - Highlights: • Single crystal synthesis and characterization of a new phase, Ba{sub 3}Yb{sub 2}O{sub 5}Te. • The structure features the BaTe high pressure polymorph intergrowth. • Magnetic susceptibility measurements show short range 2 dimensional ordering. • Heat capacity measurements show a feature at the magnetic ordering temperature. • Optical reflectivity measurements show a {sup 2}F{sub 7/2}→{sup 2}F{sub 5/2} absorption at 976 nm.

  5. Simulation of the behaviour of a set of Cu/sub 2/S-CdS unit photocells

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jacquemin, J L; Bordure, G

    1982-03-01

    With the help of a general simulation program (the Spice II program from the University of California, Berkeley), adapted to photocell modelling, we studied the behaviour of a large solar photocell consisting of smaller Cu/sub 2/S-CdS unit solar cells in parallel. In particular we examined a theoretical set of photocells identical with the best cell made in the laboratory, a set of 30 real photocells characterized individually and the effect of introducing low efficiency cells. We indicate the role of each parameter characterizing the photocells in order to improve the behaviour of photovoltaic panels of larger dimensions.

  6. A new anion-deficient fluorite-related superstructure of Bi{sub 28}V{sub 8}O{sub 62}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Đorđević, T., E-mail: tamara.djordjevic@univie.ac.at [Institut für Mineralogie und Kristallographie-Geozentrum, Universität Wien, Althansstr. 14, A-1090 Wien (Austria); Karanović, Lj., E-mail: ljika2002@yahoo.com [Laboratory for Crystallography, Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade, Đušina 7, 11000 Belgrade (Serbia)

    2014-12-15

    New hydrothermally synthesized Bi{sub 28}V{sub 8}O{sub 62} was structurally characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Bi{sub 28}V{sub 8}O{sub 62} crystallizes in the novel type of defect fluorite structure related to the face-centered cubic δ-Bi{sub 2}O{sub 3}. It is monoclinic, s. g. P2{sub 1}/c, and the relation to the fluorite subcell is given as a∼(3/2)a{sub F}+(3/2)c{sub F}; b∼ −b{sub F}; c∼2a{sub F} −4c{sub F} (F in subscript indicate the unit cell parameter of fluorite). Its structure is characterized by slabs of edge sharing OBi{sub 4} tetrahedra surrounded by the OBi{sub 3} triangles. As a part of these OBi{sub 3} triangles, two positionally disordered Bi{sup 3+} cations were observed in the marginal part of the slabs. The slabs are extending along b axis and are linked by inter-slab portion of the structure composed of VO{sub 4} tetrahedra and BiO{sub 6−x} coordination polyhedra, where x is a number of vacant oxygen sites. Raman spectra verified the coordination environment of vanadium atoms in the structure. - Graphical abstract: The [4{sup ¯}01] projection of two slabs and inter-slab part of the structure in one layer parallel to the (3{sup ¯}08)=(002{sup ¯}){sub F} plane (F in subscript indicate a fluorite type structure). The large green circles are Bi atoms. Small blue circles represent partly and fully occupied O sites, respectively. Pink (hatched black) are V1O{sub 4} and blue (hatched white) are V2O{sub 4} coordination tetrahedra. - Highlights: • Single crystals of Bi{sub 28}V{sub 8}O{sub 62} were grown using hydrothermal technique. • The crystal structure of Bi{sub 28}V{sub 8}O{sub 62} was solved using single-crystal XRD method. • Bi{sub 28}V{sub 8}O{sub 62} has an anion-deficient fluorite-related superstructure. • Raman spectrum confirmed the coordination environment of vanadium atoms. • Relation to the structurally related compound was discussed.

  7. Theoretical study of hydration in Y{sub 2}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12}: Effects on structure and negative thermal expansion

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wu, Ming-Yi; Wang, Lei; Jia, Yu; Sun, Qiang, E-mail: qsun@zzu.edu.cn [International Laboratory for Quantum Functional Materials of Henan, and School of Physics and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001 (China); Guo, Zheng-Xiao [Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WC1H 0AJ (United Kingdom)

    2015-02-15

    We report ab-initio calculations of water absorption in Y{sub 2}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12}. The absorption geometry of H{sub 2}O in Y{sub 2}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12} and the binding property between H{sub 2}O and Y{sub 2}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12} have been first identified. Our calculated results show that water is chemisorbed in Y{sub 2}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12} with O of the water binding to the Y{sup 3+} cation, which is further strengthened by hydrogen bonding between each of the hydrogen atoms of H{sub 2}O and the bridge O in Y{sub 2}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12}, shared by polyhedrons YO{sub 6} and MoO{sub 4}. The absorption of water leads to a reduced angle of Y-O-Mo and shortened Y-Mo distance, and consequently volume contraction of the material, almost linearly with the increasing number of water molecules per unit cell, up to eight in total. In addition, our phonon calculation show that the transverse vibration of Y-O-Mo is restricted due to water absorption, which in turn hinders the NTE, as it is mainly originated from this vibrational mode. Our results clarify further the fundamental mechanisms of the large volume shrinkage and the lost NTE of the framework oxide due to water absorption.

  8. Effects of sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin on enteroaggregative Escherichia coli and the role of the surface protein dispersin

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Fowlkes, Jason Davidson [ORNL; Doktycz, Mitchel John [ORNL; Allison, David Post [ORNL

    2011-01-01

    Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) are bacterial pathogens that cause watery diarrhoea, which is often persistent and can be inflammatory. The antibiotic ciprofloxacin is used to treat EAEC infections, but a full understanding of the antimicrobial effects of ciprofloxacin is needed for more efficient treatment of bacterial infections. In this study, it was found that sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of ciprofloxacin had an inhibitory effect on EAEC adhesion to glass and mammalian HEp-2 cells. It was also observed that bacterial surface properties play an important role in bacterial sensitivity to ciprofloxacin. In an EAEC mutant strain where the hydrophobic positively charged surface protein dispersin was absent, sensitivity to ciprofloxacin was reduced compared with the wild-type strain. Identified here are several antimicrobial effects of ciprofloxacin at sub-MIC concentrations indicating that bacterial surface hydrophobicity affects the response to ciprofloxacin. Investigating the effects of sub-MIC doses of antibiotics on targeted bacteria could help to further our understanding of bacterial pathogenicity and elucidate future antibiotic treatment modalities.

  9. Two anhydrous zeolite X crystal structures, Pd sub 1 sub 8 Tl sub 5 sub 6 Si sub 1 sub 0 sub 0 Al sub 9 sub 2 O sub 3 sub 8 sub 4 and Pd sub 2 sub 1 Tl sub 5 sub 0 Si sub 1 sub 0 sub 0 Al sub 9 sub 2 O sub 3 sub 8 sub 4

    CERN Document Server

    Yoon, B Y; Lee, S H; Kim, Y

    2001-01-01

    The crystal structures of fully dehydrated Pd sup 2 sup + - and Tl sup + -exchanged zeolite X, Pd sub 1 sub 8 Tl sub 5 sub 6 Si sub 1 sub 0 sub 0 Al sub 9 sub 2 O sub 3 sub 8 sub 4 (Pd sub 1 sub 8 Tl sub 5 sub 6 X, a = 24.935(4) A) and Pd sub 2 sub 1 Tl sub 5 sub 0 Si sub 1 sub 0 sub 0 Al sub 9 sub 2 O sub 3 sub 8 sub 4 (Pd sub 2 sub 1 Tl sub 5 sub 0 -X, a = 24.914(4) A), have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods in the cubic space group Fd3 at 21(1) .deg. C. The crystals were prepared using an exchange solution that had a Pd(NH sub 3) sub 4 Cl sub 2 : TINO sub 3 mole ratio of 50 : 1 and 200 : 1, respectively, with a total concentration of 0.05 M for 4 days. After dehydration at 360 .deg. C and 2 x 10 sup - sup 6 Torr in flowing oxygen for 2 days, the crystals were evacuated at 21(1) .deg. C for 2 hours. They were refined to the final error indices R sub 1 = 0.045 and R sub 2 = 0.038 with 344 reflections for Pd sub 1 sub 8 Tl sub 5 sub 6 -X, and R sub 1 = 0.043 and R sub 2 = 0.045 with ...

  10. Ordered perovskites with cationic vacancies. 3. Ba/sub 2/CeSbsub(4/5)vacantsub(1/5)O/sub 6/, the first representant of a new perovskite variant

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rauser, G; Kemmler-Sack, S [Tuebingen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Inst. fuer Chemie

    1978-11-01

    The lemon coloured Ba/sub 2/CeSbsub(4/5)vacantsub(1/5)O/sub 6/ is polymorphic. The HT modification has a cubic face centered (a = 8.53 A) and the TT form a cubic primitive lattice (a = 8.53 A). According to the density measurement there are 4 formula units of Ba/sub 2/CeSbsub(4/5)vacantsub(1/5)O/sub 6/ in the unit cell.

  11. Enhancement in dielectric behavior of (Ni, Zn)Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} ferrite

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sheikh, Javed R.; Gaikwad, Vishwajit M.; Moon, Vaibhav C.; Acharya, Smita A., E-mail: saha275@yahoo.com [Advanced Materials Laboratory, Department of Physics, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University Campus, Nagpur-440033 (India)

    2016-05-06

    In present work, NiFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}(NFO), ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (ZFO) and Ni{sub 0.5}Zn{sub 0.5}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (NZFO) are synthesized by microwave assisted co-precipitation route. Their structural properties are confirmed by X-ray diffraction and data is fitted through Reitveld refinement using Full-Prof software suite. After refinement, the systematic crystal structures of NFO, ZFO and NZFO compounds are generated using output .cif file by VESTA (Visualization for Electronic and Structural Analysis) program. Structural parameters obtained after refinement and unit cell construction, are systematically tabulated. Room temperature frequency dependence dielectric properties are studied. We found enhanced values of dielectric constant for NZFO than individual NFO and ZFO phases. For NZFO sample, greater electron exchange between Fe{sup 2+} and Fe{sup 3+} which enhances polarization and dielectric constant.

  12. Microstructure study of the rare-earth intermetallic compounds R<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>4sub> and R<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>3sub>

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Cao, Qing [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

    2012-01-01

    The unique combination of magnetic properties and structural transitions exhibited by many members of the R<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>4sub> family (R = rare earths, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1) presents numerous opportunities for these materials in advanced energy transformation applications. Past research has proven that the crystal structure and magnetic ordering of the R<sub>5sub>(SixGe>1-xsub>)>4sub> compounds can be altered by temperature, magnetic field, pressure and the Si/Ge ratio. Results of this thesis study on the crystal structure of the Er<sub>5sub>Si>4sub> compound have for the first time shown that the application of mechanical forces (i.e. shear stress introduced during the mechanical grinding) can also result in a structural transition from Gd<sub>5sub>Si>4sub>-type orthorhombic to Gd<sub>5sub>Si>2sub>Ge>2sub>-type monoclinic. This structural transition is reversible, moving in the opposite direction when the material is subjected to low-temperature annealing at 500 °C.

  13. Mucosal immunization with recombinant adenoviral vectors expressing murine gammaherpesvirus-68 genes M2 and M3 can reduce latent viral load

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Hoegh-Petersen, Mette; Thomsen, Allan R; Christensen, Jan P

    2009-01-01

    -68 (MHV-68) is a member of the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily and represents a useful murine model for this category of infections, in which new vaccination strategies may initially be evaluated. Two attenuated variants of MHV-68 have successfully been used as vaccines, but the oncogenic potential...... of the gammaherpesvirinae speaks against using a similar approach in humans. DNA immunization with plasmids encoding the MHV-68 genes M2 or M3 caused a reduction in either acute or early latent viral load, respectively, but neither immunization had an effect at times later than 14 days post-infection. Adenovirus......-based vaccines are substantially more immunogenic than DNA vaccines and can be applied to induce mucosal immunity. Here we show that a significant reduction of the late viral load in the spleens, at 60 days post-infection, was achieved when immunizing mice both intranasally and subcutaneously with adenoviral...

  14. Factors involved in the maturation of murine dendritic cells transduced with adenoviral vector variants

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    Kanagawa, Naoko; Koretomo, Ryosuke; Murakami, Sayaka; Sakurai, Fuminori; Mizuguchi, Hiroyuki; Nakagawa, Shinsaku; Fujita, Takuya; Yamamoto, Akira; Okada, Naoki

    2008-01-01

    Adenoviral vector (Ad)-mediated gene transfer is an attractive method for manipulating the immunostimulatory properties of dendritic cells (DCs) for cancer immunotherapy. DCs treated with Ad have phenotype alterations (maturation) that facilitate T cell sensitization. We investigated the mechanisms of DC maturation with Ad transduction. Expression levels of a maturation marker (CD40) on DCs treated with conventional Ad, fiber-modified Ads (AdRGD, AdF35, AdF35ΔRGD), or a different serotype Ad (Ad35) were correlated with their transduction efficacy. The α v -integrin directional Ad, AdRGD, exhibited the most potent ability to enhance both foreign gene expression and CD40 expression, and induced secretion of interleukin-12, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-α in DCs. The presence of a foreign gene expression cassette in AdRGD was not necessary for DC maturation. Maturation of DCs treated with AdRGD was suppressed by destruction of the Ad genome, inhibition of endocytosis, or endosome acidification, whereas proteasome inhibition increased CD40 expression levels on DCs. Moreover, inhibition of α v -integrin signal transduction and blockade of cytokine secretion affected the maturation of DCs treated with AdRGD only slightly or not at all, respectively. Thus, our data provide evidence that Ad-induced DC maturation is due to Ad invasion of the DCs, followed by nuclear transport of the Ad genome, and not to the expression of foreign genes

  15. High-pressure synthesis and crystal structures of the strontium oxogallates Sr{sub 2}Ga{sub 2}O{sub 5} and Sr{sub 5}Ga{sub 6}O{sub 14}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kahlenberg, Volker, E-mail: volker.kahlenberg@uibk.ac.at [Institute of Mineralogy and Petrography, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, Innsbruck A-6020 (Austria); Goettgens, Valerie; Mair, Philipp; Schmidmair, Daniela [Institute of Mineralogy and Petrography, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, Innsbruck A-6020 (Austria)

    2015-08-15

    High-pressure synthesis experiments in a piston–cylinder apparatus at 1.5 GPa/3.0 GPa and 1000 °C resulted in the formation of single-crystals of Sr{sub 2}Ga{sub 2}O{sub 5} and Sr{sub 5}Ga{sub 6}O{sub 14}, respectively. The structures of both compounds have been solved from single-crystal diffraction data sets using direct methods. The first compound is orthorhombic with space group type Pbca (a=10.0021(4) Å, b=9.601(4) Å, c=10.6700(4) Å, V=1024.6(4) Å{sup 3}, M{sub r}=394.68 u, Z=8, D{sub x}=5.12 g/cm{sup 3}) and belongs to the group of single layer gallates. Individual sheets are parallel to (0 0 1) and can be built from the condensation of unbranched vierer single chains running along [0 1 0]. The layers are characterized by the presence of four- and strongly elliptical eight-membered rings of corner connected tetrahedra in UUDD and UUUUDDDD conformation. Strontium atoms are sandwiched between the tetrahedral layers for charge compensation and are coordinated by six and seven oxygen ligands, respectively. Sr{sub 2}Ga{sub 2}O{sub 5} is isotypic with several other double sulfides and selenides. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first example of an oxide with this structure type. From a structural point of view, Sr{sub 5}Ga{sub 6}O{sub 14} is a phyllogallate as well. The crystal structure adopts the monoclinic space group P2{sub 1}/c (a=8.1426(3) Å, b=8.1803(3) Å, c=10.8755(4) Å, β=91.970(4)° V=723.98(5) Å{sup 3}, M{sub r}=1080.42 u, Z=2, D{sub x}=4.96 g/cm{sup 3}). Individual sheets extend along (0 0 1). Basic building units are unbranched dreier single chains parallel to [1 0 0]. The layers contain tertiary (Q{sup 3}) und quaternary (Q{sup 4}) connected [GaO{sub 4}]-tetrahedra in the ratio 2:1 resulting in a Ga:O ratio of 3:7 and the formation of exclusively five-membered rings. Linkage between adjacent tetrahedral sheets is provided by three symmetrically independent strontium ions which are surrounded by six to eight oxygen atoms. The layers

  16. Properties of lithium disilicate reinforced with ZrO{sub 2} (3mol%Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}; Propriedades de dissilicato de litio reforcado com ZrO{sub 2} (3mol%Y{sub 2}O{sub 3})

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Alves, M.F.R.P.; Cossu, C.M.F.A.; Santos, C., E-mail: manuelfellipealves@gmail.com [Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Resende, RJ (Brazil). Faculdade de Tecnologia; Silva, C.L.M. [Centro Universitario de Volta Redonda (UniFOA), Volta Redonda, RJ (Brazil); Simba, B.G. [Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Guaratingueta, SP (Brazil). Faculdade de Engenharia; Fernandes, M.H.F. [Universidade de Aveiro (Portugal)

    2016-07-01

    The new generation of dental ceramics based on lithium disilicate, Li{sub 2}Si{sub 2}O{sub 5}, allows the production of restorative prosthetic with reduced times compared to alumina and / or zirconia (Y-TZP). A great limitation of their use is related low fracture strength of such glass-ceramics, which reduces their use in unit fixed prosthesis. In this work, lithium disilicate reinforced with 10% ZrO{sub 2} (3-mol% Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}) is characterized by relative density, crystalline phase, hardness, fracture toughness and microstructural aspects. Lithium metasilicate and tetragonal zirconia, prior to heat treatment. After thermal treatment under vacuum at 840 deg C-8min the lithium metasilicate is converted to lithium disilicate as the ZrO{sub 2} phase remains in the tetragonal structure. This maintenance of the tetragonal phase ensures the material a good fracture toughness, reaching average values near 2MPam{sup 1/2}, while the average hardness of 600HV. Morphological analysis of the samples indicates that ZrO{sub 2} particles are uniformly dispersed in the matrix composed of high aspect ratio lithium disilicate grains, which contributes to the results presented.. A critical analysis of the performance of toughening mechanisms such as cracks deflection, phase transformation of ZrO{sub 2} (T-M), residual stress between the matrix and the reinforcement are presented, discussed and compared with other ceramic materials used in dentistry restorer. (author)

  17. Formation of covalent linkages between nuclear and protein constituents of ribosomes of E. coli MRE 600 irradiated by gamma rays

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ekert, B; Giocanti, N [Institut du Radium, 91 - Orsay (France)

    1977-04-01

    Gamma irradiation of E.coli MRE 600 ribosomes in aqueous suspensions led to covalent linkages between the RNA and some ribosomal proteins. The presence of oxygen during the irradiation strongly inhibited this phenomenon. It appears clearly that only a few proteins were able to participate in these cross-linking reactions, which occurred simultaneously in the two sub-units. The radiochemical yield was determined at several concentrations and was relatively low.

  18. Dopamine D/sub 2/ and D/sub 1/ receptors: biochemical characterization

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Niznik, H B

    1986-01-01

    In order to label dopamine D/sub 2/ receptors reversibly and selectively the potent substituted benzamide neuroleptic, YM-09151-2, was tritium labeled and its binding characteristics to striatal homogenates investigated. (/sup 3/H) YM-09151-2 bound to D/sub 2/ receptors with high affinity in a specific, saturable, reversible and sodium dependent fashion, displaying an appropriate pharmacological D/sub 2/ receptor profile. (/sup 3/H) YM-09151-2 appears to be the ligand of choice for labeling D/sub 2/ receptors since it displays approximately 20-fold lower affinity for serotonergic S/sub 2/ receptors than does (/sup 3/H) spiperone. As an initial step towards the molecular identification of the ligand binding subunit of the striatal D/sub 2/ receptor, photolabile analogues of the substituted benzamide clebopride were synthesized and their reversible and irreversible binding interactions to D/sub 2/ receptors characterized. D/sub 2/ receptor photoinactivation was prevented in a concentration and stereoselective manner by dopaminergic agonists and antagonists. In vivo biodistribution studies with (/sup 125/I) iodoazidoclebopride confirmed the ligand's ability to bind to D/sub 2/ receptor-rich regions and as such, may become a useful tool for the molecular characterization of D/sub 2/ receptor proteins. Digitonin solubilized striatal dopamine D/sub 2/ and D/sub 1/ receptors can be completely separated with full retention of biological activity by steric exclusion High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with corresponding Stokes radii of 7.1 and 5.6 nm.

  19. Single-crystal structure refinement of YbF{sub 2} with a remark about YbH{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Reckeweg, Olaf; DiSalvo, Francis J. [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Biology

    2017-07-01

    Transparent-yellow single crystals of YbF{sub 2} were obtained as only crystalline product from the solid-state reaction of Yb and teflon designed to yield 'Yb{sub 3}C{sub 3}F{sub 2}' in addition to some amorphous black material. The first single-crystal structure determination of YbF{sub 2} (cubic space group Fm anti 3m, CaF{sub 2}-type structure, a = 559.46(16) pm; R1 = 1.2%, wR2 = 3.2%) was the starting point to compare isostructural binary fluorides MF{sub 2} and hydrides MH{sub 2} (M = Ca, Yb, Eu, Sr and Ba) exhibiting an as-yet unexplained small volume per formula unit for YbH{sub 2}.

  20. Atomic and electronic structures of lattice mismatched Cu{sub 2}O/TiO{sub 2} interfaces

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wang, Shuzhi [Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Mail Stop 66, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States); Kavaipatti, Balasubramaniam; Ramesh, Ramamoorthy [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States); Kim, Sung-Joo; Pan, Xiaoqing [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (United States); Ager, Joel W.; Wang, Lin-Wang, E-mail: lwwang@lbl.gov [Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Mail Stop 66, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States); Joint Center of Artificial Photosynthesis, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

    2014-05-26

    Heterojunction interfaces between metal oxides are often highly lattice mismatched. The atomic and electronic structures of such interfaces, however, are not well understood. We have synthesized Cu{sub 2}O/TiO{sub 2} heterojunction thin films with 13% lattice mismatch and studied the interface via experimental methods and large-scale density function theory calculations of supercells containing ∼1300 atoms. We find that an interface of epitaxial quality is formed via a coincidence site lattice of 8 Cu{sub 2}O unit cells matching 9 TiO{sub 2} unit cells. Calculations reveal the existence of a dislocation core of the O sublattices at the interface and a random arrangement of one layer of interfacial Cu atoms. The interfacial electronic structure is found to be mostly determined by the interfacial Cu distribution, rather than by the O dislocation core. The conduction band minimum and valence band maximum states are spatially separated, and there is no strongly localized state near the core.

  1. Structural and Magnetothermal Properties of Compounds: Yb<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub>,Sm>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub>, EuO, and Eu<sub>3sub>O>4sub>

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ahn, Kyunghan [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

    2007-01-01

    The family of R<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> alloys demonstrates a variety of unique physical phenomena related to magneto-structural transitions associated with reversible breaking and reforming of specific bonds that can be controlled by numerous external parameters such as chemical composition, magnetic field, temperature, and pressure. Therefore, R<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> systems have been extensively studied to uncover the mechanism of the extraordinary magneto-responsive properties including the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) and colossal magnetostriction, as well as giant magnetocaloric effect (GMCE). Until now, more than a half of possible R<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> pseudobinary systems have been completely or partially investigated with respect to their crystallography and phase relationships (R = La, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er, Lu, Y). Still, there are other R<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> systems (R = Ce, Sm, Ho, Tm, and Yb) that are not studied yet. Here, we report on phase relationships and structural, magnetic, and thermodynamic properties in the Yb<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub>and Sm<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> pseudobinary systems, which may exhibit mixed valence states. The crystallography, phase relationships, and physical properties of Yb<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> alloys with 0 ≤ x ≤ 4 have been examined by using single crystal and powder x-ray diffraction at room temperature, and dc magnetization and heat capacity measurements between 1.8 K and 400 K in magnetic fields ranging from 0 to 7 T. Unlike the majority of R<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> systems studied to date, where R is the rare earth metal, all Yb-based germanide-silicides with the 5:4 stoichiometry crystallize in the same Gd<sub>5sub>Si>4sub>-type structure. The magnetic properties of Yb<sub>5sub>SixGe>4-xsub> materials are nearly composition

  2. KAP1 Is a Host Restriction Factor That Promotes Human Adenovirus E1B-55K SUMO Modification

    DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

    Bürck, Carolin; Mund, Andreas; Berscheminski, Julia

    2016-01-01

    Once transported to the replication sites, HAdVs need to assure decondensation and transcriptional activation of their viral genomes to synthesize viral proteins and initiate steps to reprogram the host cell for viral replication. These early stages during adenoviral infection are poorly characte......Once transported to the replication sites, HAdVs need to assure decondensation and transcriptional activation of their viral genomes to synthesize viral proteins and initiate steps to reprogram the host cell for viral replication. These early stages during adenoviral infection are poorly...... characterized, but represent a decisive moment in establishing a productive infection. Here, we identify a novel host viral restriction factor, KAP1. This heterochromatin associated transcription factor regulates the dynamic organization of host chromatin structure via its ability to influence epigenetic marks...

  3. Neutron diffraction study on the magnetic structure of Fe{sub 2}P-based Mn{sub 0.66}Fe{sub 1.29}P{sub 1−x}Si{sub x} melt-spun ribbons

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Ou, Z.Q., E-mail: z.ou@tudelft.nl [Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft (Netherlands); Zhang, L. [Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft (Netherlands); BASF Nederland B.V., Strijkviertel 67, 3454PK De Meern (Netherlands); Dung, N.H. [Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft (Netherlands); Eijck, L. van [Neutron and Positron Methods in Materials, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft (Netherlands); Mulders, A.M. [University of New South Wales in Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 (Australia); Avdeev, M. [Bragg Institute, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO), Kirrawee DC NSW 2232 (Australia); Dijk, N.H. van; Brück, E. [Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft (Netherlands)

    2013-08-15

    We report on the magnetic and structural properties of Mn{sub 0.66}Fe{sub 1.29}P{sub 1−x}Si{sub x} melt-spun ribbons with 0.34≤x≤0.42 that are promising candidates for high-temperature magnetocaloric applications. A magnetic moment of up to 4.57 μ{sub B}/f.u. for x=0.34 indicates high magnetic density in the system, which is certainly advantageous for the magnetocaloric effects. Introducing site disorder at the 3g site by replacing 1/3 of Fe with Mn appears to enhance the magnetic interaction, while the strong magnetoelastic coupling is maintained. This site disorder also shows a stabilizing effect on the hexagonal crystal structure, which is maintained to a high Si content. The moment alignment within the crystallographic unit cell is also affected when the Si content is increased from x=0.34 to 0.42 in the Mn{sub 0.66}Fe{sub 1.29}P{sub 1−x}Si{sub x} compounds as the canting angle with respect to the c-direction increases. - Highlights: • The magnetic structure is determined using neutron diffraction. • A magnetic moment of up to 4.57 μ{sub B}/f.u. is observed. • Alignment of the magnetic moment is canted when varying the Si content. • The 3g site disorder shows a stabilizing effect on the hexagonal crystal structure.

  4. Protein crystal growth results from the United States Microgravity Laboratory-1 mission

    Science.gov (United States)

    Delucas, Lawrence J.; Moore, K. M.; Vanderwoerd, M.; Bray, T. L.; Smith, C.; Carson, M.; Narayana, S. V. L.; Rosenblum, W. M.; Carter, D.; Clark, A. D, Jr.

    1994-01-01

    Protein crystal growth experiments have been performed by this laboratory on 18 Space Shuttle missions since April, 1985. In addition, a number of microgravity experiments also have been performed and reported by other investigators. These Space Shuttle missions have been used to grow crystals of a variety of proteins using vapor diffusion, liquid diffusion, and temperature-induced crystallization techniques. The United States Microgravity Laboratory - 1 mission (USML-1, June 25 - July 9, 1992) was a Spacelab mission dedicated to experiments involved in materials processing. New protein crystal growth hardware was developed to allow in orbit examination of initial crystal growth results, the knowledge from which was used on subsequent days to prepare new crystal growth experiments. In addition, new seeding hardware and techniques were tested as well as techniques that would prepare crystals for analysis by x-ray diffraction, a capability projected for the planned Space Station. Hardware that was specifically developed for the USML-1 mission will be discussed along with the experimental results from this mission.

  5. CsSc{sub 3}F{sub 6}[SeO{sub 3}]{sub 2}. A new rare-earth metal(III) fluoride oxoselenate(IV) with sections of the ReO{sub 3}-type structure

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Greiner, Stefan; Schleid, Thomas [Institut fuer Anorganische Chemie, Universitaet Stuttgart (Germany)

    2017-09-04

    A new representative of rare-earth metal(III) fluoride oxoselenates(IV) derivatized with alkali metals could be synthesized via solid-state reactions. Colorless single crystals of CsSc{sub 3}F{sub 6}[SeO{sub 3}]{sub 2} were obtained through the reaction of Sc{sub 2}O{sub 3}, ScF{sub 3}, and SeO{sub 2} (molar ratio 1:1:3) with CsBr as reactant and fluxing agent. For this purpose, corundum crucibles embedded as liners into evacuated silica ampoules were applied as containers for these reactions at 700 C for seven days. The new quintenary compound crystallizes in the trigonal space group P3m1 with a = 565.34(4) and c = 1069.87(8) pm (c/a = 1.892) for Z = 1. The crystal structure of CsSc{sub 3}F{sub 6}[SeO{sub 3}]{sub 2} contains two crystallographically different Sc{sup 3+} cations. Each (Sc1){sup 3+} is surrounded by six fluoride anions as octahedron, while the octahedra about (Sc2){sup 3+} are formed by three fluoride anions and three oxygen atoms from three terminal [SeO{sub 3}]{sup 2-} anions. The [(Sc1)F{sub 6}]{sup 3-} octahedra link via common F{sup -} vertices to six fac-[(Sc2)F{sub 3}O{sub 3}]{sup 6-} octahedra forming {sup 2}{sub ∞}{[Sc_3F_6O_6]"9"-} layers parallel to (001). These layers are separated by oxygen-coordinated Cs{sup +} cations (C.N. = 12), arranging for the charge compensation, while Se{sup 4+} cations within the layers surrounded by three oxygen atoms as ψ{sup 1}-tetrahedral [SeO{sub 3}]{sup 2-} units complete the structure. EDX measurements confirmed the composition of the title compound and single-crystal Raman studies showed the typical vibrational modes of isolated [SeO{sub 3}]{sup 2-} anions with ideal C{sub 3v} symmetry. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  6. Mechanism of superconductivity in Yb sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x (Ba sub 0 sub . sub 8 Sr sub O sub . sub 2) sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 6 sub + subdelta

    CERN Document Server

    Anvekar, T S; Sarode, P R; Kamat-Dalal, V N; Narlikar, Anant V

    2002-01-01

    EXAFS, X-ray Rietveld refinement and infra-red absorption measurements have been made on Yb sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x (Ba sub 0 sub . sub 8 Sr sub 0 sub . sub 2) sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub 6 sub + subdelta in order to understand the effect of Ca doping on the local structure of planar Cu ion. The study indicates that restoration of superconductivity is due to oxidation of copper ions in the CuO sub 2 planes. (author)

  7. Synthesis and structure of novel lithium-ion conductor Li{sub 7}Ge{sub 3}PS{sub 12}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Inoue, Yuki [Department of Electronic Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama 226-8502 (Japan); Suzuki, Kota [Department of Electronic Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama 226-8502 (Japan); Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama 226-8502 (Japan); Matsui, Naoki [Department of Electronic Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama 226-8502 (Japan); Hirayama, Masaaki [Department of Electronic Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama 226-8502 (Japan); Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama 226-8502 (Japan); Kanno, Ryoji, E-mail: kanno@echem.titech.ac.jp [Department of Electronic Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama 226-8502 (Japan); Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori, Yokohama 226-8502 (Japan)

    2017-02-15

    The novel lithium-ion conductor Li{sub 7}Ge{sub 3}PS{sub 12} was synthesized by slow cooling from the ternary Li{sub 2}S–GeS{sub 2}–P{sub 2}S{sub 5} system, and was shown to exhibit a cubic argyrodite-type structure. The phase composition was determined by varying the ratio of starting materials; the observed monophasic properties were close to those for the Li{sub 7}Ge{sub 3}PS{sub 12} composition. The lattice parameter (a =9.80192(3) Å) of Li{sub 7}Ge{sub 3}PS{sub 12} was slightly smaller than that of Li{sub 7}PS{sub 6} (a =9.993 Å), indicating that substitution of a Li cation by the smaller Ge cation contracted the cubic lattice. In addition, the novel structure consisted of a framework composed of four isolated (Ge/P)S{sub 4} tetrahedra. Li{sup +} ions occupied tetrahedral sites within the framework, forming a three-dimensional conduction pathway. Finally, Li{sub 7}Ge{sub 3}PS{sub 12} exhibited a high ionic conductivity of 1.1×10{sup −4} S cm{sup −1} at 25 °C and an activation energy of 25 kJ mol{sup −1}. - Graphical abstract: A novel Li{sub 7}Ge{sub 3}PS{sub 12} solid lithium ion conductor, with cubic argyrodite strucuture, shows high ion conductivity of 1.1×10{sup –4} S cm{sup –1} with an activation energy of 25 kJ mol{sup –1}. The argyrodite structure consists of (Ge/P)S{sub 4} tetrahedra units along with partial occupation of lithium and germanium at 48 h site. - Highlights: • A novel lithium-ion conductor Li{sub 7}Ge{sub 3}PS{sub 12} was detected. • This was achieved through slow cooling of the ternary Li{sub 2}S–GeS{sub 2}–P{sub 2}S{sub 5} system. • This novel conductor revealed a cubic argyrodite-type structure. • Li{sub 7}Ge{sub 3}PS{sub 12} exhibited a high ionic conductivity of 1.1×10{sup −4} S cm{sup −1} at 25 °C. • These properties will aid in the design of superior lithium-ion conductors.

  8. Hexagonal perovskites with cationic vacancies. 18. Structure of the rhombohedral 12 L-stacking polytypes Ba/sub 2/La/sub 2/Bsup(II)(W/sub 2/sup(VI)vacantO/sub 12/)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Rother, H J; Fadini, A; Kemmler-Sack, S [Tuebingen Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Lehrstuhl fuer Anorganische Chemie 2

    1980-04-01

    According to the intensity calcualtions for Ba/sub 2/La/sub 2/Zn(W/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/) the compounds of this type crystallize in the space group R3m-Dsub(3d)/sup 5/ with the sequence (3)(1)equivalent (hhcc)/sub 3/. The refined, intensity related R' value is 5,8%. The octahedral net consists of blocks of three face connected octahedra which are linked to each other by corner sharing BO/sub 6/ octahedra. The cationic vacancies are located in the centers of the groups of three octahedra. The two tungsten atoms in the outer positions are displaces by about 0.13 A from their ideal positions in direction of the central void. The (Ba, La) atoms neighbouring a vacancy (all in hexagonal close packed (Ba, La)O/sub 3/ sheets) are also dislocated in direction of the void, while the (Ba, La) atoms in the cubic packed sheets maintain nearly their ideal positions. The vibrational spectra of the compounds Ba/sub 2/La/sub 2/ Bsup(II)(W/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/) are discussed. The force constants for the W/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/ groups (factor group and Ppoint Dsub(3d)) were calculated and compared with the correspoinding values of Re/sub 2/vacantO/sub 12/ and ReWvacantO/sub 12/ units.

  9. Preferential orientation relationships in Ca{sub 2}MnO{sub 4} Ruddlesden-Popper thin films

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lacotte, M.; David, A.; Prellier, W., E-mail: wilfrid.prellier@ensicaen.fr [Laboratoire CRISMAT, CNRS UMR 6508, ENSICAEN, Université de Basse-Normandie, 6 Bd Maréchal Juin, F-14050 Caen Cedex 4 (France); Rohrer, G. S.; Salvador, P. A. [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213 (United States)

    2015-07-28

    A high-throughput investigation of local epitaxy (called combinatorial substrate epitaxy) was carried out on Ca{sub 2}MnO{sub 4} Ruddlesden-Popper thin films of six thicknesses (from 20 to 400 nm), all deposited on isostructural polycrystalline Sr{sub 2}TiO{sub 4} substrates. Electron backscatter diffraction revealed grain-over-grain local epitaxial growth for all films, resulting in a single orientation relationship (OR) for each substrate-film grain pair. Two preferred epitaxial ORs accounted for more than 90% of all ORs on 300 different microcrystals, based on analyzing 50 grain pairs for each thickness. The unit cell over unit cell OR ([100][001]{sub film} ∥ [100][001]{sub substrate}, or OR1) accounted for approximately 30% of each film. The OR that accounted for 60% of each film ([100][001]{sub film} ∥ [100][010]{sub substrate}, or OR2) corresponds to a rotation from OR1 by 90° about the a-axis. OR2 is strongly favored for substrate orientations in the center of the stereographic triangle, and OR1 is observed for orientations very close to (001) or to those near the edge connecting (100) and (110). While OR1 should be lower in energy, the majority observation of OR2 implies kinetic hindrances decrease the frequency of OR1. Persistent grain over grain growth and the absence of variations of the OR frequencies with thickness implies that the growth competition is finished within the first few nm, and local epitaxy persists thereafter during growth.

  10. The effect of doped zinc on the structural properties of nano-crystalline (Se{sub 0.8}Te{sub 0.2}){sub 100-x}Zn{sub x}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Kumar, Arun, E-mail: arunkumar82@pu.ac.in [Department of Physics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, INDIA-160014. (India); Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, Panjab, INDIA-141421. (India); Singh, Harkawal; Gill, P. S. [Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector-26, Chandigarh, INDIA-160026. (India); Goyal, Navdeep, E-mail: n.goyal@pu.ac.in [Department of Physics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, INDIA-160014. (India)

    2016-05-06

    The effect of metallic zinc (Zn) on the structural properties of (Se{sub 0.8}Te{sub 0.2}){sub 1-X}Zn{sub X} (x=0, 2, 6, 8, 10) samples analyzed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The presence of sharp peaks in XRD patterns confirmed the crystalline nature of the samples and is indexed in orthorhombic crystal structure. XRD studies predicts that the average particle size of all the samples are about 46.29 nm, which is less than 100 nm and hence have strong tendency of agglomeration. Williamson-Hall plot method was used to evaluate the lattice strain. The dislocation density and no. of unit cells of the samples were calculated which show the inverse relation with each other. Morphology index derived from FWHM of XRD data explains the direct relationship with the particle size.

  11. Further characterization of protein kinase C in mouse mast cells

    International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

    White, J.R.; Ishizaka, T.

    1986-01-01

    Bridging of cell-bound IgE antibody molecules on colony stimulating factor dependent mouse mast cell line (PT-18) cells by multivalent antigen induces the mobilization and uptake of Ca 2+ monitored by Quin-2 and the production of diacylglycerol. Exposure of the sensitized cells to antigen also induces a substantial increase in protein kinase C (PKC) activity in the plasma membrane (340 units to 1375 units: 1 unit = 1 pmol of 32 P incorporated into Histone H-1/min/10 7 cells), within 30 seconds. There is also an increase in 3 H phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate ( 3 H-PDB) binding which parallels the increase in PKC activity both in kinetics and antigen dose dependency. Determination of K/sub m/ and V/sub max/ for PKC revealed no difference between the cytosolic and membranous forms of PKC. Partial purification of PKC from the membrane of sensitized mast cells which had been labeled with 32 P and stimulated with DNP-HSA revealed a protein of 80-84,000 molecular weight, which migrated on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis just above an authentic standard of PKC purified from rat brain. Treatment of the PKC from mouse mast cell membrane with alkaline phosphatase resulted in a reduction of phosphorylating activity and bindability of 3 H-PDB. In conclusion, the authors speculate that activation of mouse mast cells by cross-linking IgE results in the phosphorylation of a silent-pool of PKC converting it from an inactive state to an activated form

  12. Solubility studies, thermodynamics and electrical conductivity in the Th{sub 1-x}Sr{sub x}O{sub 2} system

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Subasri, R.; Mallika, C.; Mathews, T.; Sastry, V.S.; Sreedharan, O.M. E-mail: oms@igcar.ernet.in

    2003-02-01

    A polymeric gel combustion method was employed for the lower temperature synthesis of 1, 2, 3, 5, 7.5, 10 and 15 mol.% SrO doped ThO{sub 2} solid solutions. After final sintering of these samples at 1573 K in Ar, the solubility limit was found to be 1 mol.%, giving rise to a composition-independent value of (559.84{+-}0.02) pm (at 300 K) for the CaF{sub 2}-type unit cell. AC impedance measurements carried out on discs of 1, 2, 3 and 5 mol.% SrO in ThO{sub 2} discs in flowing Ar, yielded values of 116, 115, 128 and 96 kJ/mol, respectively as the activation energies for the bulk ionic conductivity. The thermodynamic activities of SrO in the 1, 2 and 3 mol.% solid solutions were measured using [SrO]{sub ThO{sub 2}},SrF{sub 2},O{sub 2},Pt as the test electrodes and SrZrO{sub 3},ZrO{sub 2},SrF{sub 2},O{sub 2},Pt as the reference with sintered SrF{sub 2} as the electrolyte over the range of approximately 650-800 K. The activity values differed marginally from each other, but were indicative of the combined (and not free) state of SrO. Hence, only a limiting value of a{sub SrO} for the just saturated (mole fraction of SrO=0.01) thoria solid solution could be derived as log a{sub SrO}=0.36-4602/T (K)

  13. Protein-detergent interactions in single crystals of membrane proteins studied by neutron crystallography

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Timmins, P.A. [ILL, Grenoble (France); Pebay-Peyroula, E. [IBS-UJF Grenoble (France)

    1994-12-31

    The detergent micelles surrounding membrane protein molecules in single crystals can be investigated using neutron crystallography combined with H{sub 2}O/D{sub 2}O contrast variation. If the protein structure is known then the contrast variation method allows phases to be determined at a contrast where the detergent dominates the scattering. The application of various constraints allows the resulting scattering length density map to be realistically modeled. The method has been applied to two different forms of the membrane protein porin. In one case both hydrogenated and partially deuterated protein were used, allowing the head group and tail to be distinguished.

  14. {sup 103}Rh NMR investigation of the superconductor Rh{sub 17}S{sub 15}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Koyama, T., E-mail: t-koyama@sci.u-hyogo.ac.j [Graduate School of Material Science, University of Hyogo, Kamigori, Hyogo 678-1297 (Japan); Kanda, K.; Motoyama, G.; Ueda, K.; Mito, T.; Kohara, T. [Graduate School of Material Science, University of Hyogo, Kamigori, Hyogo 678-1297 (Japan); Nakamura, H. [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501 (Japan)

    2010-12-15

    We present {sup 103}Rh NMR studies for the superconductor Rh{sub 17}S{sub 15} (T{sub c} 5.4 K). We have identified the observed NMR lines corresponding to four different Rh sites in the cubic unit cell and deduced the temperature (T) dependence of the Knight shift components in Rh 24m site whose point symmetry is not axial. The isotropic part of the Knight shift K decreases with T in the normal state, indicating the negative hyperfine coupling and the enhancement of the spin susceptibility at lower T. The sudden change of K below T{sub c} is an indication of the spin-singlet Cooper paring.

  15. Anisotropic expansion and amorphization of Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} irradiated with 946 MeV Au ions

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tracy, Cameron L. [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (United States); Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 (United States); Lang, Maik [Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 (United States); Severin, Daniel; Bender, Markus [GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, 64291 Darmstadt (Germany); Trautmann, Christina [GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, 64291 Darmstadt (Germany); Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt (Germany); Ewing, Rodney C. [Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 (United States)

    2016-05-01

    The structural response of β-Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} to irradiation-induced electronic excitation was investigated. A polycrystalline pellet of this material was irradiated with 946 MeV Au ions and the resulting structural modifications were characterized using in situ X-ray diffraction analysis at various ion fluences, up to 1 × 10{sup 13} cm{sup −2}. Amorphization was induced, with the accumulation of the amorphous phase following a single-impact mechanism in which each ion produces an amorphous ion track along its path. Concurrent with this phase transformation, an increase in the unit cell volume of the material was observed and quantified using Rietveld refinement. This unit cell expansion increased as a function of ion fluence before saturating at 1.8%. This effect is attributed to the generation of defects in an ion track shell region surrounding the amorphous track cores. The unit cell parameter increase was highly anisotropic, with no observed expansion in the [0 1 0] direction. This may be due to the structure of β-Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3}, which exhibits empty channels of connected interstitial sites oriented in this direction.

  16. Manipulation of polar order in the “empty” tetragonal tungsten bronzes: Ba{sub 4-x}Sr{sub x}Dy{sub 0.67}□{sub 1.33}Nb{sub 10}O{sub 30}, x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gardner, Jonathan; Morrison, Finlay D., E-mail: finlay.morrison@st-andrews.ac.uk [EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews KY16 9ST (United Kingdom)

    2016-08-15

    A series of “empty” tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) ferroelectrics, Ba{sub 4-x}Sr{sub x}Dy{sub 0.67}□{sub 1.33}Nb{sub 10}O{sub 30} (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3; □ = vacancy), is reported. With increasing x the unit cell contracts in both the ab plane and c-axis; x ≤ 1 compounds are normal ferroelectrics (FE) with decreasing T{sub C} as x increases, while x ≥ 2 are relaxor ferroelectrics (RFE) with associated frequency dependent permittivity peaks and with similar T{sub m} and T{sub f} (Vogel-Fulcher freezing temperatures) values. This observation is rationalised by differing cation occupancies: for x ≤ 1, Sr{sup 2+} principally occupies the A2-site (co-occupied by Ba{sup 2+} with the A1-site occupied by Dy{sup 3+} and vacancies); for x ≥ 2 significant Sr A1-site occupation leads to the observed RFE characteristics. This FE to RFE crossover is consistent with a previously proposed TTB crystal chemical framework where both a decrease in average A-site size and concurrent increase in A1-site tolerance factor (t{sub A1}) favour destabilization of long range polar order and relaxor behaviour. The effect of increasing t{sub A1} as a result of Sr occupancy at the A1 site is dominant in the compounds reported here.

  17. (Pt{sub 1–x}Cu{sub x}){sub 3}Cu{sub 2}B and Pt{sub 9}Cu{sub 3}B{sub 5}, the first examples of copper platinum borides. Observation of superconductivity in a novel boron filled β-Mn-type compound

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Salamakha, Leonid P. [Institute of Solid State Physics, TU Wien, A-1040 Wien (Austria); Sologub, Oksana, E-mail: oksana.sologub@univie.ac.at [Institute of Solid State Physics, TU Wien, A-1040 Wien (Austria); Stöger, Berthold [Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, TU Wien, A-1040 Wien (Austria); Michor, Herwig; Bauer, Ernst [Institute of Solid State Physics, TU Wien, A-1040 Wien (Austria); Rogl, Peter F. [Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Vienna, A-1090 Wien (Austria)

    2015-09-15

    New ternary copper platinum borides have been synthesized by arc melting of pure elements followed by annealing at 600 °C. The structures have been studied by X-ray single crystal and powder diffraction. (Pt{sub 1−x}Cu{sub x}){sub 3}Cu{sub 2}B (x=0.33) forms a B-filled β-Mn-type structure (space group P4{sub 1}32; a=0.6671(1) nm). Cu atoms are distributed preferentially on the 8c atom sites, whereas the 12d site is randomly occupied by Pt and Cu atoms (0.670(4) Pt±0.330(4) Cu). Boron is located in octahedral voids of the parent β-Mn-type structure. Pt{sub 9}Cu{sub 3}B{sub 5} (space group P-62m; a=0.9048(3) nm, c=0.2908(1) nm) adopts the Pt{sub 9}Zn{sub 3}B{sub 5–δ}-type structure. It has a columnar architecture along the short translation vector exhibiting three kinds of [Pt{sub 6}] trigonal prism columns (boron filled, boron semi-filled and empty) and Pt channels with a pentagonal cross section filled with Cu atoms. The striking structural feature is a [Pt{sub 6}] cluster in form of an empty trigonal prism at the origin of the unit cell, which is surrounded by coupled [BPt{sub 6}] and [Pt{sub 6}] trigonal prisms, rotated perpendicularly to the central one. There is no B–B contact as well as Cu–B contact in the structure. The relationships of Pt{sub 9}Cu{sub 3}B{sub 5} structure with the structure of Ti{sub 1+x}Os{sub 2−x}RuB{sub 2} as well as with the structure families of metal sulfides and aluminides have been elucidated. (Pt{sub 1–x}Cu{sub x}){sub 3}Cu{sub 2}B (x=0.3) (B-filled β-Mn-type structure) is a bulk superconductor with a transition temperature of about 2.06 K and an upper critical field μ{sub 0}H{sub C2}(0){sup WHH} of 1.2 T, whereas no superconducting transition has been observed up to 0.3 K in Pt{sub 9}Cu{sub 3}B{sub 5} (Pt{sub 9}Zn{sub 3}B{sub 5–δ}-type structure) from electrical resistivity measurements. - Highlights: • First two copper platinum borides, (Pt{sub 0.67}Cu{sub 0.33}){sub 3}Cu{sub 2}B and Pt{sub 9}Cu{sub 3}B{sub

  18. Increased precision for analysis of protein-ligand dissociation constants determined from chemical shift titrations

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Markin, Craig J.; Spyracopoulos, Leo, E-mail: leo.spyracopoulos@ualberta.ca [University of Alberta, Department of Biochemistry (Canada)

    2012-06-15

    NMR is ideally suited for the analysis of protein-protein and protein ligand interactions with dissociation constants ranging from {approx}2 {mu}M to {approx}1 mM, and with kinetics in the fast exchange regime on the NMR timescale. For the determination of dissociation constants (K{sub D}) of 1:1 protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions using NMR, the protein and ligand concentrations must necessarily be similar in magnitude to the K{sub D}, and nonlinear least squares analysis of chemical shift changes as a function of ligand concentration is employed to determine estimates for the parameters K{sub D} and the maximum chemical shift change ({Delta}{delta}{sub max}). During a typical NMR titration, the initial protein concentration, [P{sub 0}], is held nearly constant. For this condition, to determine the most accurate parameters for K{sub D} and {Delta}{delta}{sub max} from nonlinear least squares analyses requires initial protein concentrations that are {approx}0.5 Multiplication-Sign K{sub D}, and a maximum concentration for the ligand, or titrant, of {approx}10 Multiplication-Sign [P{sub 0}]. From a practical standpoint, these requirements are often difficult to achieve. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we demonstrate that co-variation of the ligand and protein concentrations during a titration leads to an increase in the precision of the fitted K{sub D} and {Delta}{delta}{sub max} values when [P{sub 0}] > K{sub D}. Importantly, judicious choice of protein and ligand concentrations for a given NMR titration, combined with nonlinear least squares analyses using two independent variables (ligand and protein concentrations) and two parameters (K{sub D} and {Delta}{delta}{sub max}) is a straightforward approach to increasing the accuracy of measured dissociation constants for 1:1 protein-ligand interactions.

  19. Differential isotope dansylation labeling combined with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry for quantification of intact and N-terminal truncated proteins

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tang, Yanan; Li, Liang, E-mail: Liang.Li@ualberta.ca

    2013-08-20

    Graphical abstract: -- Highlights: •LC–MS was developed for quantifying protein mixtures containing both intact and N-terminal truncated proteins. •{sup 12}C{sub 2}-Dansylation of the N-terminal amino acid of proteins was done first, followed by microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis. •The released {sup 12}C{sub 2}-dansyl labeled N-terminal amino acid was quantified using {sup 13}C{sub 2}-dansyl labeled amino acid standards. •The method provided accurate and precise results for quantifying intact and N-terminal truncated proteins within 8 h. -- Abstract: The N-terminal amino acids of proteins are important structure units for maintaining the biological function, localization, and interaction networks of proteins. Under different biological conditions, one or several N-terminal amino acids could be cleaved from an intact protein due to processes, such as proteolysis, resulting in the change of protein properties. Thus, the ability to quantify the N-terminal truncated forms of proteins is of great importance, particularly in the area of development and production of protein-based drugs where the relative quantity of the intact protein and its truncated form needs to be monitored. In this work, we describe a rapid method for absolute quantification of protein mixtures containing intact and N-terminal truncated proteins. This method is based on dansylation labeling of the N-terminal amino acids of proteins, followed by microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis of the proteins into amino acids. It is shown that dansyl labeled amino acids are stable in acidic conditions and can be quantified by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC–MS) with the use of isotope analog standards.

  20. Fluorination of La{sub 2−x}Sr{sub x}CuO{sub 4} (x = 0, 0.15, 0.3) and study on the crystal structures, magnetic properties of their fluorinated products

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Chen, Xiuhua [Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026 (China); Tang, Kaibin, E-mail: kbtang@ustc.edu.cn [Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026 (China); Zeng, Suyuan [Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and Novel Cell Technology, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059 (China); Hao, Qiaoyan; Wang, Dake; Gao, Zhan; Wang, Yan [Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026 (China)

    2015-03-25

    Highlights: • Fluorination of La{sub 2−x}Sr{sub x}CuO{sub 4} (x = 0, 0.15, 0.3) by ZnF{sub 2} with few byproducts. • Less of impurities are benefit to research its structure and properties. • Suffering a phase transformation and unit cell expansion after fluorination. • Determining chemical formula and fluorine ions occupation of fluorinated product. - Abstract: Here we report using the transition metal difluoride ZnF{sub 2} to fluorinate K{sub 2}NiF{sub 4}-type cuprates La{sub 2−x}Sr{sub x}CuO{sub 4} (x = 0, 1.5, 0.3). Unlike other fluorinating agents, the technique is nontoxic, easy to handle and the byproduct ZnO can be removed. After fluorination, the fluorinated product of La{sub 2}CuO{sub 4} suffers a phase transformation and unit cell expansion. While La{sub 1.85}Sr{sub 0.15}CuO{sub 4} and La{sub 1.7}Sr{sub 0.3}CuO{sub 4} indicate no change in structure after fluorination, their space groups still are I/4mmm, however, their lattices become larger, too. We emphasis the structural characterizations for fluorinated product of La{sub 1.7}Sr{sub 0.3}CuO{sub 4} by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images and electron diffraction (ED) patterns. Moreover, we determine the chemical formula to be La{sub 1.54}Sr{sub 0.46}CuO{sub 3.1}F{sub 0.9} and the fluorine ions are prone to be located in the apical sites of the Cu(O, F){sub 6} octahedron in the structure of post-treated fluorinated product of La{sub 1.7}Sr{sub 0.3}CuO{sub 4}. Magnetization investigations demonstrate that partial replacement of the lanthanum by strontium changes the magnetism of post-treated fluorinated products of La{sub 2−x}Sr{sub x}CuO{sub 4} (x = 0, 0.15, 0.3) and they exhibit a paramagnetic behavior.

  1. Study of hydrogenation of Sm{sub 2}Fe{sub 17-y}Ga{sub y} by means of X-ray diffraction

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Teresiak, A.; Uhlemann, M.; Kubis, M.; Gebel, B.; Mattern, N.; Mueller, K.-H. [Institut fuer Festkoerper- und Werkstofforschung Dresden e.V. (Germany)

    2000-06-06

    The hydrogenation process of Sm{sub 2}Fe{sub 17-y}Ga{sub y}(y=0-2) was studied. X-ray investigations show a decreasing hydrogen solubility in the intermetallic alloy with increasing Ga-content from 4.0{+-}0.3 atoms per formula unit for Sm{sub 2}Fe{sub 17} to 2.85{+-}0.05 for Sm{sub 2}Fe{sub 15}Ga{sub 2}. The larger Ga atoms reduce the size of the interstitial sites and thereby the maximum hydrogen concentration is decreased. The behaviour of the lattice parameters a and c with increasing Ga content points to a changed hydrogen distribution on the interstitial sites, becoming more statistical. In situ observations by means of high temperature X-ray diffraction show that the hydrogen absorption process is diffusion controlled. The hydrogen absorption starts at an annealing temperature of 120-140 C in all cases. The solubility of hydrogen decreases with increasing temperature. The hydrogen is completely desorbed above 350 C in all cases. The absorption/desorption process is reversible between room temperature and 400 C. Annealing at temperatures above 400 C leads to the decomposition of the Sm{sub 2}Fe{sub 17} phase, indicated by emerging of {alpha}-Fe. The formation of SmH{sub x} is established at 600 C. The decomposition temperature increases with increasing Ga-content. Up to 750 C, only Sm{sub 2}Fe{sub 17} is completely decomposed. (orig.)

  2. Doxycycline-regulated 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line with inducible, stable expression of adenoviral E4orf1 gene: a cell model to study insulin-independent glucose disposal.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Krishnapuram, Rashmi; Dhurandhar, Emily J; Dubuisson, Olga; Hegde, Vijay; Dhurandhar, Nikhil V

    2013-01-01

    Impaired glycemic control and excessive adiposity are major risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes mellitus. In rodent models, Ad36, a human adenovirus, improves glycemic control, independent of dietary fat intake or adiposity. It is impractical to use Ad36 for therapeutic action. Instead, we identified that E4orf1 protein of Ad36, mediates its anti-hyperglycemic action independent of insulin signaling. To further evaluate the therapeutic potential of E4orf1 to improve glycemic control, we established a stable 3T3-L1 cell system in which E4orf1 expression can be regulated. The development and characterization of this cell line is described here. Full-length adenoviral-36 E4orf1 cDNA obtained by PCR was cloned into a tetracycline responsive element containing vector (pTRE-Tight-E4orf1). Upon screening dozens of pTRE-Tight-E4orf1 clones, we identified the one with the highest expression of E4orf1 in response to doxycycline treatment. Furthermore, using this inducible system we characterized the ability of E4orf1 to improve glucose disposal in a time dependent manner. This stable cell line offers a valuable resource to carefully study the novel signaling pathways E4orf1 uses to enhance cellular glucose disposal independent of insulin.

  3. Doxycycline-regulated 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line with inducible, stable expression of adenoviral E4orf1 gene: a cell model to study insulin-independent glucose disposal.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Rashmi Krishnapuram

    Full Text Available Impaired glycemic control and excessive adiposity are major risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes mellitus. In rodent models, Ad36, a human adenovirus, improves glycemic control, independent of dietary fat intake or adiposity. It is impractical to use Ad36 for therapeutic action. Instead, we identified that E4orf1 protein of Ad36, mediates its anti-hyperglycemic action independent of insulin signaling. To further evaluate the therapeutic potential of E4orf1 to improve glycemic control, we established a stable 3T3-L1 cell system in which E4orf1 expression can be regulated. The development and characterization of this cell line is described here. Full-length adenoviral-36 E4orf1 cDNA obtained by PCR was cloned into a tetracycline responsive element containing vector (pTRE-Tight-E4orf1. Upon screening dozens of pTRE-Tight-E4orf1 clones, we identified the one with the highest expression of E4orf1 in response to doxycycline treatment. Furthermore, using this inducible system we characterized the ability of E4orf1 to improve glucose disposal in a time dependent manner. This stable cell line offers a valuable resource to carefully study the novel signaling pathways E4orf1 uses to enhance cellular glucose disposal independent of insulin.

  4. Magnesium hexafluoridozirconates MgZrF{sub 6}.5H{sub 2}O, MgZrF{sub 6}.2H{sub 2}O, and MgZrF{sub 6}. Structures, phase transitions, and internal mobility of water molecules

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Gerasimenko, Andrey V.; Gaivoronskaya, Kseniya A.; Slobodyuk, Arseny B.; Didenko, Nina A. [Institute of Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok (Russian Federation)

    2017-12-04

    The MgZrF{sub 6}.nH{sub 2}O (n = 5, 2 and 0) compounds were studied by the methods of X-ray diffraction and {sup 19}F, MAS {sup 19}F, and {sup 1}H NMR spectroscopy. At room temperature, the compound MgZrF{sub 6}.5H{sub 2}O has a monoclinic C-centered unit cell and is composed of isolated chains of edge-sharing ZrF{sub 8} dodecahedra reinforced with MgF{sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 4} octahedra and uncoordinated H{sub 2}O molecules and characterized by a disordered system of hydrogen bonds. In the temperature range 259 to 255 K, a reversible monoclinic <-> two-domain triclinic phase transition is observed. The phase transition is accompanied with ordering of hydrogen atoms positions and the system of hydrogen bonds. The structure of MgZrF{sub 6}.2H{sub 2}O comprises a three-dimensional framework consisting of chains of edge-sharing ZrF{sub 8} dodecahedra linked to each other through MgF{sub 4}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2} octahedra. The compound MgZrF{sub 6} belongs to the NaSbF{sub 6} type and is built from regular ZrF{sub 6} and MgF{sub 6} octahedra linked into a three-dimensional framework through linear Zr-F-Mg bridges. The peaks in {sup 19}F MAS spectra were attributed to the fluorine structural positions. The motions of structural water molecules were studied by variable-temperature {sup 1}H NMR spectroscopy. (copyright 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  5. Effect of cerium addition on the microstructure, electrical and relaxor behavior of Sr{sub 0.5}Ba{sub 0.5}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 6} ceramics

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Velayutham, T.S., E-mail: t_selvi@um.edu.my; Salim, N.I.F.; Gan, W.C.; Abd Majid, W.H.

    2016-05-05

    Sr{sub 0.5}Ba{sub 0.5}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 6} (SBN50) ceramic doped with different concentrations of Cerium (Ce) according to the stoichiometry formulation of Sr{sub 0.5-3y/2}Ba{sub 0.5}Ce{sub y}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 6} (Ce-SBN) with y = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05 was prepared using the conventional solid state reaction method. The morphology, structure, and electrical properties of the samples were studied using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ferroelectric and dielectric spectroscopy, respectively. The FESEM images reveal a strong influence of cerium on the SBN microstructure. The X-ray diffraction patterns show that all compositions of SBN ceramic exhibit tetragonal tungsten bronze structure. As the dopant concentration, y increased, both unit cell volume and axial ratio c/a decreased gradually. In addition, dopant incorporation lowers the phase transition temperature, T{sub m}. As a result, all practical parameters are sufficiently increased, i.e. the dielectric constant and remnant polarization. SBN50 doped with a 3% Ce sample is most attractive for practical applications due to its high remnant polarization, P{sub r} = 58.6 μC/cm{sup 2} and dielectric constant, ε’ ≈ 8000 (10 kHz) at room temperature, respectively. - Highlights: • Sr{sub 0.5-3y/2}Ba{sub 0.5}Ce{sub y}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 6} synthesized using solid-state reaction method. • Cerium dopant improved the overall properties of SBN. • Dopant incorporation lowers the phase transition temperature, T{sub m}. • 3% Ce dopant exhibits best functional properties among the rest of the composition. • The P{sub r} of 3%Ce-doped SBN is 58.6 μC/cm{sup 2} and ε’ ≈ 8000 (10 kHz) at room temperature.

  6. Protein-protein interface detection using the energy centrality relationship (ECR characteristic of proteins.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Sanjana Sudarshan

    Full Text Available Specific protein interactions are responsible for most biological functions. Distinguishing Functionally Linked Interfaces of Proteins (FLIPs, from Functionally uncorrelated Contacts (FunCs, is therefore important to characterizing these interactions. To achieve this goal, we have created a database of protein structures called FLIPdb, containing proteins belonging to various functional sub-categories. Here, we use geometric features coupled with Kortemme and Baker's computational alanine scanning method to calculate the energetic sensitivity of each amino acid at the interface to substitution, identify hotspots, and identify other factors that may contribute towards an interface being FLIP or FunC. Using Principal Component Analysis and K-means clustering on a training set of 160 interfaces, we could distinguish FLIPs from FunCs with an accuracy of 76%. When these methods were applied to two test sets of 18 and 170 interfaces, we achieved similar accuracies of 78% and 80%. We have identified that FLIP interfaces have a stronger central organizing tendency than FunCs, due, we suggest, to greater specificity. We also observe that certain functional sub-categories, such as enzymes, antibody-heavy-light, antibody-antigen, and enzyme-inhibitors form distinct sub-clusters. The antibody-antigen and enzyme-inhibitors interfaces have patterns of physical characteristics similar to those of FunCs, which is in agreement with the fact that the selection pressures of these interfaces is differently evolutionarily driven. As such, our ECR model also successfully describes the impact of evolution and natural selection on protein-protein interfaces. Finally, we indicate how our ECR method may be of use in reducing the false positive rate of docking calculations.

  7. Optimization and physicochemical characterization of a cationic lipid-phosphatidylcholine mixed emulsion formulated as a highly efficient vehicle that facilitates adenoviral gene transfer

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Kim SY

    2017-10-01

    Full Text Available Soo-Yeon Kim,1,2 Sang-Jin Lee,2 Jin-Ki Kim,3 Han-Gon Choi,3 Soo-Jeong Lim1 1Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Sejong University, Seoul, Kwangjin-gu, Seoul, 2Immunotherapeutics Branch, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 3College of Pharmacy & Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Sangnok-gu, Ansan, Republic of Korea Abstract: Cationic lipid-based nanoparticles enhance viral gene transfer by forming electrostatic complexes with adenoviral vectors. We recently demonstrated the superior complexation capabilities of 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP emulsion compared with a liposomal counterpart but the cytotoxicity of DOTAP emulsions remained a challenge. The present study is aimed at formulating an emulsion capable of acting as a highly effective viral gene transfer vehicle with reduced cytotoxicity and to physicochemically characterize the structures of virus-emulsion complexes in comparison with virus–liposome complexes when the only difference between emulsions and liposomes was the presence or absence of inner oil core. The emulsion formulation was performed by 1 reducing the content of DOTAP while increasing the content of zwitterionic lipid 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC, and 2 optimizing the oil content. The complexation capability of formulated DOTAP:DMPC mixed emulsions was similar to those of emulsions containing DOTAP alone while displaying significantly lower cytotoxicity. The complexation capabilities of the DOTAP:DMPC mixed emulsion were serum-compatible and were monitored in a variety of cell types, whereas its liposomal counterpart was totally ineffective. Characterization by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and dynamic light scattering studies indicated that the optimized emulsions spontaneously surrounded the virus particles to generate emulsions that

  8. Syngas production from CO{sub 2}-reforming of CH{sub 4} over sol-gel synthesized Ni-Co/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-MgOZrO{sub 2} nanocatalyst: effect of ZrO{sub 2} precursor on catalyst properties and performance

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Sajjadi, Seyed Mehdi; Haghighi, Mohammad; Rahmani, Farhad, E-mail: haghighi@sut.ac.ir [Reactor and Catalysis Research Center, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz (Iran, Islamic Republic of)

    2015-05-15

    Ni-Co/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-MgO-ZrO{sub 2} nanocatalyst with utilization of two different zirconia precursors, namely, zirconyl nitrate hydrate (ZNH) and zirconyl nitrate solution (ZNS), was synthesized via the sol-gel method. The physiochemical properties of nanocatalysts were characterized by XRD, FESEM, EDX, BET and FTIR analyses and employed for syngas production from CO{sub 2}-reforming of CH{sub 4}. XRD patterns, exhibiting proper crystalline structure and homogeneous dispersion of active phase for the nanocatalyst ZNS precursor employed (NCAMZ-ZNS). FESEM and BET results of NCAMZ-ZNS presented more uniform morphology and smaller particle size and consequently higher surface areas. In addition, average particle size of NCAMZ-ZNS was 15.7 nm, which is close to the critical size for Ni-Co catalysts to avoid carbon formation. Moreover, FESEM analysis indicated both prepared samples were nanoscale. EDX analysis confirmed the existence of various elements used and also supported the statements made in the XRD and FESEM analyses regarding dispersion. Based on the excellent physiochemical properties, NCAMZ-ZNS exhibited the best reactant conversion across all of the evaluated temperatures, e.g. CH{sub 4} and CO{sub 2} conversions were 97.2 and 99% at 850 °C, respectively. Furthermore, NCAMZZNS demonstrated a stable yield with H{sub 2}/CO close to unit value during the 1440 min stability test. (author)

  9. The first study of antiferromagnetic eosphorite-childrenite series (Mn{sub 1−x}Fe{sub x})AlP(OH){sub 2}H{sub 2}O (x=0.5)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Behal, D. [Sektion Kristallographie, Department für Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Theresienstrasse 41, D-80333 Munich (Germany); Forschungsneutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II), Technische Universität München (TUM), Lichtenbergstrasse 1, D-85748 Garching (Germany); Röska, B. [Sektion Kristallographie, Department für Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Theresienstrasse 41, D-80333 Munich (Germany); Park, S.-H., E-mail: sohyun.park@lmu.de [Sektion Kristallographie, Department für Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Theresienstrasse 41, D-80333 Munich (Germany); Pedersen, B. [Forschungsneutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II), Technische Universität München (TUM), Lichtenbergstrasse 1, D-85748 Garching (Germany); Benka, G.; Pfleiderer, Ch. [Chair E21, Physik-Department, Technische Universität München (TUM), James-Franck-Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching (Germany); Wakabayashi, Y.; Kimura, T. [Division of Materials Physics, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-8531 (Japan)

    2017-04-15

    This study presents for the first time the antiferromagnetic structure of the eosphorite-childrenite series (Mn{sub 1-x}Fe{sub x})AlPO{sub 4}(OH){sub 2}H{sub 2}O (x=0.5), based on neutron single crystal diffraction at 3 K in combination with group theoretical representation analysis. The new magnetic structure is described in the magnetic space group P{sub C}mnb, maintaining the atomistic unit cell size (a×b×c) with a ~6.9 Å, b ~10.4 Å, c ~13.4 Å. Mn-rich and Fe-rich zones within solid solution crystals are expanded up to several hundred micrometers, as seen in electron microprobe and polarisation microscopy. Magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements on two different eosphorite-childrenite crystals show the magnetic transition temperature between 6.5 K and 6.8 K as the Mn{sup 2+}/Fe{sup 2+} ratio varies over single compositional zones. Below the Néel temperature, a magnetic field between 1.5 T and 2 T parallel to the a-axis causes a 180° spin-flip, reaching the saturation (5.25 μ{sub B} pfu) toward high magnetic fields. - Highlights: • New magnetic structure of (Mn{sub 1-x}Fe{sub x})AlPO{sub 4}(OH){sub 2}H{sub 2}O (x=0.5). • Magnetic phase transition at 6.5–6.6 K. • Magnetic interaction anisotropy in (Mn{sub 0.5}Fe{sub 0.5})AlPO{sub 4}(OH){sub 2}H{sub 2}O. • Compositional zones in the eosphorite-childrenite series.

  10. Developing magnetofunctionality: Coupled structural and magnetic phase transition in AlFe{sub 2}B{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Lewis, L.H., E-mail: lhlewis@neu.edu [Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115 (United States); Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115 (United States); George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security, Northeastern University, Burlington, MA (United States); Barua, R., E-mail: radhika.barua@gmail.com [Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115 (United States); Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115 (United States); George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security, Northeastern University, Burlington, MA (United States); Lejeune, B. [Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115 (United States); George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security, Northeastern University, Burlington, MA (United States)

    2015-11-25

    Understanding correlations between crystal structure and magnetism is key to tuning the response of magnetic materials systems that exhibit large functional effects in response to small excursions in magnetic field or strain. To this end, temperature-dependent structure-magnetic property correlations are reported in samples of AlFe{sub 2}B{sub 2} with the orthorhombic AlMn{sub 2}B{sub 2}-type layered structure as it traverses a thermally-hysteretic first-order magnetic phase change at a transition temperature of T{sub t} = 280 K. Temperature-dependent x-ray diffraction carried out in the temperature range 200 K ≤ T ≤ 298 K reveals that the a and b lattice parameters increase by 0.2% and 0.1% respectively upon heating, while the c lattice parameter decreases by 0.3%, providing a conserved unit cell volume through T{sub t}. A very small volumetric thermal expansion coefficient 4.4 × 10{sup −6}/K is determined in this temperature range that is one order of magnitude smaller than that of aluminum and only slightly larger than that of Invar. The latent heat of transformation associated with this magnetostructural phase transformation is determined as 4.4 J/g, similar to that of other magnetostructural materials. Overall, these features confirm a first-order thermodynamic phase change in the AlFe{sub 2}B{sub 2} system that emphasizes strong coupling between the magnetic spins and the lattice to support potential magnetofunctional applications for energy transformation and harvesting. - Highlights: • AlFe{sub 2}B{sub 2} undergoes a first-order magnetostructural transformation near room temperature. • The AlFe{sub 2}B{sub 2} Curie transition is thermally hysteretic and magnetic field dependent. • XRD reveals a volume-conserved change in the lattice constants of the AlFe{sub 2}B{sub 2} unit cell. • The latent heat of the magnetostructural transformation is determined as 4.4 J/g. • Results emphasize strong coupling between the magnetic spins and the lattice

  11. Accurate measurement of {sup 3}J{sub HNHα} couplings in small or disordered proteins from WATERGATE-optimized TROSY spectra

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Roche, Julien; Ying, Jinfa; Bax, Ad, E-mail: bax@nih.gov [National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Laboratory of Chemical Physics (United States)

    2016-01-15

    Provided that care is taken in adjusting the WATERGATE element of a {sup 1}H–{sup 15}N TROSY-HSQC experiment, such that neither the water magnetization nor the {sup 1}H{sup α} protons are inverted by its final 180° pulse, {sup 3}J{sub HNHα} couplings can be measured directly from splittings in the {sup 1}H dimension of the spectrum. With band-selective {sup 1}H decoupling, very high {sup 15}N resolution can be achieved. A complete set of {sup 3}J{sub HNHα} values, ranging from 3.4 to 10.1 Hz was measured for the 56-residue third domain of IgG-binding protein G (GB3). Using the H–N–C{sup α}–H{sup α} dihedral angles extracted from a RDC-refined structure of GB3, {sup 3}J{sub HNHα} values predicted by a previously parameterized Karplus equation agree to within a root-mean-square deviation (rmsd) of 0.37 Hz with the experimental data. Values measured for the Alzheimer’s implicated Aβ{sup 1−40} peptide fit to within an rmsd of 0.45 Hz to random coil {sup 3}J{sub HNHα} values.

  12. First-principles prediction of the structural, elastic, thermodynamic, electronic and optical properties of Li{sub 4}Sr{sub 3}Ge{sub 2}N{sub 6} quaternary nitride

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Boudrifa, O. [Laboratory for Developing New Materials and their Characterization, University of Setif 1, 19000 Setif (Algeria); Bouhemadou, A., E-mail: a_bouhemadou@yahoo.fr [Laboratory for Developing New Materials and their Characterization, University of Setif 1, 19000 Setif (Algeria); Guechi, N. [Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Setif 1, 19000 Setif (Algeria); Bin-Omran, S. [Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451 (Saudi Arabia); Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Humanitarian Studies, Salman Bin Abdalaziz University, Alkharj 11942 (Saudi Arabia); Al-Douri, Y. [Institute of Nano Electronic Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 01000 Kangar, Perlis (Malaysia); Khenata, R. [Laboratoire de Physique Quantique et de Modélisation Mathématique (LPQ3M), Département de Technologie, Université de Mascara, 29000 Mascara (Algeria)

    2015-01-05

    Highlights: • Some physical properties of the quaternary nitride Li{sub 4}Sr{sub 3}Ge{sub 2}N{sub 6} have been predicted. • Elastic parameters reveal that Li{sub 4}Sr{sub 3}Ge{sub 2}N{sub 6} is mechanically stable but anisotropi. • Li{sub 4}Sr{sub 3}Ge{sub 2}N{sub 6} is an indirect semiconductor. • The fundamental indirect band gap changes to direct one under pressure effect. • The optical properties exhibit noticeable anisotropy. - Abstract: Structural parameters, elastic constants, thermodynamic properties, electronic structure and optical properties of the monoclinic Li{sub 4}Sr{sub 3}Ge{sub 2}N{sub 6} quaternary nitride are investigated theoretically for the first time using the pseudopotential plane-wave based first-principles calculations. The calculated structural parameters are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. This serves as a proof of reliability of the used theoretical method and gives confidence in the predicted results on aforementioned properties of Li{sub 4}Sr{sub 3}Ge{sub 2}N{sub 6}. The predicted elastic constants C{sub ij} reveal that Li{sub 4}Sr{sub 3}Ge{sub 2}N{sub 6} is mechanically stable but anisotropic. The elastic anisotropy is further illustrated by the direction-dependent of the linear compressibility and Young’s modulus. Macroscopic elastic parameters, including the bulk and shear moduli, the Young’s modulus, the Poisson ratio, the velocities of elastic waves and the Debye temperature are numerically estimated. The pressure and temperature dependence of the unit cell volume, isothermal bulk modulus, volume expansion coefficient, specific heat and Debye temperature are investigated through the quasiharmonic Debye model. The band structure and the density of states of Li{sub 4}Sr{sub 3}Ge{sub 2}N{sub 6} are analyzed, which reveals the semiconducting character of Li{sub 4}Sr{sub 3}Ge{sub 2}N{sub 6}. The complex dielectric function, refractive index, extinction coefficient, absorption coefficient, reflectivity

  13. Monte Carlo simulation of roughness effect on magnetic and magnetotransport behavior of La{sub 2/3}Ca{sub 1/3}MnO{sub 3}/La{sub 1/3}Ca{sub 2/3}MnO{sub 3} bilayers

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Agudelo-Giraldo, J.D. [PCM Computational Applications, Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Sede Manizales, Km. 9 vía al aeropuerto, Manizales (Colombia); Restrepo-Parra, E., E-mail: erestrepopa@unal.edu.co [PCM Computational Applications, Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Sede Manizales, Km. 9 vía al aeropuerto, Manizales (Colombia); Restrepo, J. [Grupo de Magnetismo y Simulación, Instituto de Física, Universidad de Antioquia, A.A., 1226 Medellín (Colombia)

    2014-02-01

    In this work we address the study of the magnetic and magnetotransport properties of ferromagnetic (FM)/antiferromagnetic (AFM) La{sub 2/3}Ca{sub 1/3}MnO{sub 3}/La{sub 1/3}Ca{sub 2/3}MnO{sub 3} manganites bilayers by means of the standard Monte Carlo method. Simulations, implemented with a single spin flip Metropolis dynamics, were performed in the framework of a three-dimensional classical Heisenberg model. Four different superexchange interactions, with the two different types of ions Mn{sup 3+} and Mn{sup 4+} involved and the orbital differences accounting for the Mn{sup 3+} ions, were considered in the Hamiltonian. Likewise, terms dealing with magnetocrystalline anisotropy and the influence of an external applied magnetic field were also included. Samples were simulated having dimensions L×L×(d{sub FM}+d{sub AFM}) where L, measured in lattice parameter units, stands for the linear and lateral dimension along which periodic boundary conditions were implemented, whereas d{sub FM} and d{sub AFM} stand for the thicknesses of FM and AFM layers respectively with free boundary conditions. Different degrees of roughness at the interface were also simulated in order to analyze its influence on the magnetic and magnetotransport properties of the system. In particular, low-temperature results reveal a trend of the coercive field to increase with roughness contrary to the exchange bias field behavior, which tends to decrease. Both quantities are modulated by oscillations ascribed to the atomic disorder at the interface. Finally, the roughness effect upon the bilayer resistivity and on the metal–insulator temperature is also presented and discussed.

  14. Advances in Geological CO{sub 2} Sequestration and Co-Sequestration with O{sub 2}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Verba, Circe A; O& #x27; Connor, William K.; Ideker, J.H.

    2012-10-28

    The injection of CO{sub 2} for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and sequestration in brine-bearing formations for long term storage has been in practice or under investigation in many locations globally. This study focused on the assessment of cement wellbore seal integrity in CO{sub 2}- and CO{sub 2}-O{sub 2}-saturated brine and supercritical CO{sub 2} environments. Brine chemistries (NaCl, MgCl{sub 2}, CaCl{sub 2}) at various saline concentrations were investigated at a pressure of 28.9 MPa (4200 psi) at both 50{degree}C and 85{degree}C. These parameters were selected to simulate downhole conditions at several potential CO{sub 2} injection sites in the United States. Class H portland cement is not thermodynamically stable under these conditions and the formation of carbonic acid degrades the cement. Dissociation occurs and leaches cations, forming a CaCO{sub 3} buffered zone, amorphous silica, and other secondary minerals. Increased temperature affected the structure of C-S-H and the hydration of the cement leading to higher degradation rates.

  15. Synthesis and crystal structure of the quaternary compound AgFe{sub 2}GaTe{sub 4}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Delgado, Gerzon E., E-mail: gerzon@ula.ve [Laboratorio de Cristalografía, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101 (Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of); Quintero, Eugenio; Tovar, Rafael; Grima-Gallardo, Pedro; Quintero, Miguel [Centro de Estudio de Semiconductores, Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101 (Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of)

    2014-11-15

    Highlights: • New quaternary compound. • Synthesis from solid state reaction. • Crystal structure. • Rietveld refinement. - Abstract: The crystal structure of the quaternary compound AgFe{sub 2}GaTe{sub 4}, belonging to the system I–II{sub 2}–III–VI{sub 4}, was characterized by Rietveld refinement using X-ray powder diffraction data. The powder pattern was composed by 84.5% of the principal phase AgFe{sub 2}GaTe{sub 4} and 15.5% of the secondary phase FeTe. This material crystallizes with stannite structure in the tetragonal space group I-42m (N° 121), Z = 2, unit cell parameters a = 6.3409(2) Å, c = 12.0233(4) Å, V = 483.42(3) Å{sup 3}, and is isostructural with CuFe{sub 2}InSe{sub 4}.

  16. A Statistical Analysis of Laser Ablated Ba(Sub 0.50)Sr(Sub 0.50)TiO(Sub 3)/LaAlO(Sub 3) Films for Microwave Applications

    Science.gov (United States)

    Romanofsky, R. R.; Varaljay, N. C.; Alterovitz, S. A.; Miranda, F. A.; Mueller, C. M.; VanKeuls, F. W.; Kim, J.; Harshavardhan, K. S.

    2002-01-01

    The NASA Glenn Research Center is constructing a 616 element scanning phased array antenna using thin film Ba(sub x)Sr(sub 1-x)TiO(sub 3) based phase shifters. A critical milestone is the production of 616 identical phase shifters at 19 GHz with [asymptotically equal to]4 dB insertion loss and at least 337.5 deg phase shift with 3 percent bandwidth. It is well known that there is a direct relationship between dielectric tuning and loss due to the Kramers-Kronig relationship and that film crystallinity and strain, affected by the substrate template, play an important role. Ba(sub 0.50)Sr(sub 0.50)TiO (sub 3) films, nominally 400 nm thick, were deposited on 48 0.25 mm thick, 5 cm diameter LaAlO(sub 3) wafers. Although previous results suggested that Mn-doped films on MgO were intrinsically superior in terms of phase shift per unit loss, for this application phase shift per unit length was more important. The composition was selected as a compromise between tuning and loss for room temperature operation (e.g. crystallinity progressively degrades for Ba concentrations in excess of 30 percent). As a prelude to fabricating the array, it was necessary to process, screen, and inventory a large number of samples. Variable angle ellipsometry was used to characterize refractive index and film thickness across each wafer. Microstructural properties of the thin films were characterized using high resolution X-ray diffractometry. Finally, prototype phase shifters and resonators were patterned on each wafer and RE probed to measure tuning as a function of dc bias voltage as well as peak (0 field) permittivity and unloaded Q. The relationship among film quality and uniformity and performance is analyzed. This work presents the first statistically relevant study of film quality and microwave performance and represents a milestone towards commercialization of thin ferroelectric films for microwave applications.

  17. Characterization and magnetic properties of Nd{sub x}Bi{sub 1−x}Fe{sub 0.95}Co{sub 0.05}O{sub 3} nanopowders synthesized by combustion-derived method at low temperature

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Hernández, N., E-mail: netzahualpille.hernandeznv@uanl.edu.mx [Centro de Innovación, Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería y Tecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica y Eléctrica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Km. 10 de la nueva carretera al Aeropuerto Internacional de Monterrey, PIIT Monterrey, CP 66600 Apodaca, Nuevo León (Mexico); González-González, V.A.; Dzul-Bautista, I.B.; Cienfuegos-Pelaes, R.F. [Centro de Innovación, Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería y Tecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica y Eléctrica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Km. 10 de la nueva carretera al Aeropuerto Internacional de Monterrey, PIIT Monterrey, CP 66600 Apodaca, Nuevo León (Mexico); Barandiaran, J.M.; Gutierréz, J. [BCMaterials and Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Departamento de Electricidad y Electrónica, P.O Box 644, 48080 Bilbao (Spain); Hernández, T. [Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, C.P. 66450 San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León (Mexico); and others

    2015-03-01

    Nd{sub x}Bi{sub 1−x}Fe{sub 0.95}Co{sub 0.05}O{sub 3} (x=0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) nanopowders were prepared by a combustion-derived method. The Rietvelt fitting of the X-Ray diffraction data from the Nd{sub x}Bi{sub 1−x}Fe{sub 0.95}Co{sub 0.05}O{sub 3} (NBFCO) powders showed nanopowders with rhombohedral BiFeO{sub 3} crystalline structure (R3c) for x≤10 and a partial structural transition to orthorhombic phase (Pnma) for x=0.15. The differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis (DTA/TGA) showed a crystallization temperature of 180 °C. Transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM) images revealed that the NBFCO nanopowders were composed of fine particles under 60 nm. From Raman spectroscopy, a band of disordered anion lattice was observed at 653 cm{sup −1}. In spite of the antiferromagnetic nature of bulk BiFeO{sub 3}, the NBFCO nanopowders obtained displayed a ferromagnetic hysteresis loop, with coercivity about 0.1 T and remanent magnetization of 1.02–4.33 A m{sup 2}/kg were obtained at room temperature. This ferromagnetic behavior is due to increasing and uncompensated spins at the surface and the canted internal spin by the tilt of FeO{sub 6} octahedral units. We have developed a novel synthetic route for the preparation of ferromagnetic BFO-derived nanopowder materials by a surfactant-assisted combustion-derived method. - Highlights: • The structure of materials obtained is studied. • A new synthesis method was proposed to obtain ferrimagnetic–ferromagnetic BiFeO{sub 3} nanoparticles. • Synthesis temperature does not exceed 200 °C. • The obtained nanoparticles have sizes less than 52 nm.

  18. Evaluating x-ray detectors for radiographic applications: A comparison of nSCdS:Ag with Gd sub 2 O sub 2 S:Tb and Y sub 2 O sub 2 S:Tb screens

    CERN Document Server

    Kandarakis, I; Panayiotakis, G S; Nomicos, C D

    1997-01-01

    ZnSCdS:Ag was evaluated as a radiographic image receptor and was compared with Gd sub 2 O sub 2 S:Tb and Y sub 2 O sub 2 S:Tb phosphors often used in radiography. The valuation of a radiographic receptor was modelled as a three-step process: i) determination of light output intensity as related to the input radiation dose, (ii) determination of visible light characteristics with respect to radiographic optical detectors, and (iii) determination of image information transfer efficiency. The light intensity emitted per unit of x-ray exposure rate was measured and theoretically calculated for laboratory prepared screens with coating thicknesses from 20 to 220 mg cm sup - sup 2 and tube voltages rom 50 to 250 kVp. ZnSCdS:Ag light intensity was higher than that of d sub 2 O sub 2 S:Tb or Y sub 2 O sub 2 S:Tb for tube voltages less than 70 and 80 kVp respectively. ZnSCdS:Ag displayed the highest x-ray to light conversion efficiency (0.207) and had optical properties close to those of Gd sub 2 O sub 2 S:Tb nd Y sub ...

  19. High pressure monoclinic phases of Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 3}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Souza, S.M.; Poffo, C.M.; Triches, D.M. [Departamento de Engenharia Mecanica, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitario Trindade, S/N, C.P. 476, 88040-900 Florianopolis, Santa Catarina (Brazil); Lima, J.C. de, E-mail: fsc1jcd@fisica.ufsc.br [Departamento de Fisica, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitario Trindade, S/N, C.P. 476, 88040-900 Florianopolis, Santa Catarina (Brazil); Grandi, T.A. [Departamento de Fisica, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitario Trindade, S/N, C.P. 476, 88040-900 Florianopolis, Santa Catarina (Brazil); Polian, A.; Gauthier, M. [Physique des Milieux Denses, IMPMC, CNRS-UMR 7590, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05 (France)

    2012-09-15

    The effect of pressure on nanostructured rhombohedral {alpha}-Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 3} (phase I) was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy (RS) up to 19.2 and 25.5 GPa, respectively. XRD patterns showed two new high pressure phases (named phases II and III). From a Rietveld refinement of XRD patterns of {alpha}-Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 3}, the unit cell volume as a function of pressure was obtained and the values were fitted to a Birch-Murnaghan equation of state (BM-EOS). The best fit was obtained for bulk modulus B{sub 0}=36.1{+-}0.9 GPa and its derivative B{sub 0}{sup Prime }=6.2{+-}0.4 (not fixed). Using the refined structural data for {alpha}-Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 3}, for pressures up to 9.8 GPa, changes in the angle of succession [Te-Sb-Te-Sb-Te], in the interaromic distances of Sb and Te atoms belonging to this angle of succession and in the interatomic distances of atoms located on the c axis were examined. This analysis revealed an electronic topological transition (ETT) along the a and c axes at close to 3.7 GPa. From the RS spectra, the full widths at half maximum (FWHM) of the Raman active modes of {alpha}-Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 3} were plotted as functions of pressure and showed an ETT along the a and c axes at close to 3.2 GPa. The XRD patterns of phases II and III were well reproduced assuming {beta}-Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} and {gamma}-Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} structures similar to those reported in the literature for {alpha}-Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}.

  20. Crystallization of Zr<sub>2sub>PdxCu>1-xsub> and Zr<sub>2sub>NixCu>1-xsub> Metallic Glass

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Xu, Min [Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

    2008-01-01

    One interesting aspect of rretallic glasses is the numerous instances of the deviation of the phase selection from the amorphous state to thermodynamically stable phases during the crystallization process. Their devitrification pathways allow us to study the relationship between the original amorphous structure and their crystalline counter parts. Among the various factors of phase selections, size and electronic effects have been most extensively studied. Elucidating the phase selection process of a glassy alloy will be helpful to fill in the puzzle of the changes from disordered to ordered structures. In this thesis, Two model Zr<sub>2sub>PdxCu>1-xsub> and Zr<sub>2sub>NixCu>1-xsub> (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1) glassy systems were investigated since: (1) All of the samples can be made into a homogenous metallic glass; (2) The atomic radii differ from Pd to Cu is by 11%, while Ni has nearly the identical atomic size compare to Cu. Moreover, Pd and Ni differ by only one valence electron from Cu. Thus, these systems are ideal to test the idea of the effects of electronic structure and size factors; (3) The small number of components in these pseudo binary systems readily lend themselves to theoretical modeling. Using high temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD) and thermal analysis, topological, size, electronic, bond and chemical distribution factors on crystallization selections in Zr<sub>2sub>PdxCu>1-xsub> and Zr<sub>2sub>NixCu>1-xsub> metallic glass have been explored. All Zr<sub>2sub>PdxCu>1-xsub> compositions share the same Cu11b phase with different pathways of meta-stable, icosahedral quasicrystalline phase (i-phase), and C16 phase formations. The quasicrystal phase formation is topologically related to the increasing icosahedral short range order (SRO) with Pd content in Zr<sub>2sub>PdxCu>1-xsub> system. Meta-stable C16 phase is competitive with

  1. Investigating the effect of V{sub 2}O{sub 5} addition on sodium barium borosilicate glasses

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Halder, Rumu, E-mail: rumuhalder24feb@gmail.com; Sengupta, Pranesh; Dey, G. K. [Materials Science Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai-700 085 (India); Sudarsan, V. [Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai-700 085 (India); Kaushik, C. P. [Waste Management Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai-700 085 (India)

    2016-05-23

    V{sub 2}O{sub 5} doped sodium barium borosilicate glasses were characterized by photoluminescence spectroscopy and electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA). The glass remains homogeneous for lower concentration of V{sub 2}O{sub 5} but a phase separation is observed when V{sub 2}O{sub 5} doping is increased beyond 5 mol%. Detailed microanalysis reveals that the phase separated glass consists of a phase containing V, Ba and Si and a separate Si rich phase within the glass matrix. The luminescence study demonstrated that at low concentration the vanadium mainly interacts with the structural units of B/Si while at higher concentrations, V-O-V/ V-O{sup −} Na{sup +}/Ba{sup 2+} linkages are formed.

  2. The Influence of Sub-Unit Composition and Expression System on the Functional Antibody Response in the Development of a VAR2CSA Based Plasmodium falciparum Placental Malaria Vaccine.

    Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

    Morten A Nielsen

    Full Text Available The disease caused by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf involves different clinical manifestations that, cumulatively, kill hundreds of thousands every year. Placental malaria (PM is one such manifestation in which Pf infected erythrocytes (IE bind to chondroitin sulphate A (CSA through expression of VAR2CSA, a parasite-derived antigen. Protection against PM is mediated by antibodies that inhibit binding of IE in the placental intervillous space. VAR2CSA is a large antigen incompatible with large scale recombinant protein expression. Vaccines based on sub-units encompassing the functionally constrained receptor-binding domains may, theoretically, circumvent polymorphisms, reduce the risk of escape-mutants and induce cross-reactive antibodies. However, the sub-unit composition and small differences in the borders, may lead to exposure of novel immuno-dominant antibody epitopes that lead to non-functional antibodies, and furthermore influence the folding, stability and yield of expression. Candidate antigens from the pre-clinical development expressed in High-Five insect cells using the baculovirus expression vector system were transitioned into the Drosophila Schneider-2 cell (S2 expression-system compliant with clinical development. The functional capacity of antibodies against antigens expressed in High-Five cells or in S2 cells was equivalent. This enabled an extensive down-selection of S2 insect cell-expressed antigens primarily encompassing the minimal CSA-binding region of VAR2CSA. In general, we found differential potency of inhibitory antibodies against antigens with the same borders but of different var2csa sequences. Likewise, we found that subtle size differences in antigens of the same sequence gave varying levels of inhibitory antibodies. The study shows that induction of a functional response against recombinant subunits of the VAR2CSA antigen is unpredictable, demonstrating the need for large-scale screening in order to identify antigens

  3. The uranium(VI) oxoazides [UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 2}.CH{sub 3}CN], [(bipy){sub 2}(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 4}], [(bipy)UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 3}]{sup -}, [UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 4}]{sup 2-}, and [(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 8}]{sup 4-}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Haiges, Ralf; Christe, Karl O. [Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States); Vasiliu, Monica; Dixon, David A. [Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL (United States)

    2017-01-12

    The reaction between [UO{sub 2}F{sub 2}] and an excess of Me{sub 3}SiN{sub 3} in acetonitrile solution results in fluoride-azide exchange and the uranium(VI) dioxodiazide adduct [UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 2}.CH{sub 3}CN] was isolated in quantitative yield. The subsequent reaction of [UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 2}.CH{sub 3}CN] with 2,2{sup '}-bipyridine (bipy) resulted in the formation of the azido-bridged binuclear complex [(bipy){sub 2}(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 4}]. The triazido anion [(bipy)UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 3}]{sup -} was obtained by the reaction of [UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 2}.CH{sub 3}CN] with stoichiometric amounts of bipy and the ionic azide [PPh{sub 4}][N{sub 3}]. The reaction of [UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 2}] with two equivalents of the [PPh{sub 4}][N{sub 3}] resulted in the formation of the mononuclear tetraazido anion [UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 4}]{sup 2-} as well as the azido-bridged binuclear anion [(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 8}]{sup 4-}. The novel uranium oxoazides were characterized by their vibrational spectra and in the case of [(bipy){sub 2}(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 4}].CH{sub 3}CN, [PPh{sub 4}][(bipy)UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 3}], [PPh{sub 4}]{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 4}], [PPh{sub 4}]{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 4}].2CH{sub 3}CN, and [PPh{sub 4}]{sub 4}[(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(N{sub 3}){sub 8}].4CH{sub 3}CN by their X-ray crystal structures. (copyright 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  4. Troponin T3 regulates nuclear localization of the calcium channel Ca{sub v}β{sub 1a} subunit in skeletal muscle

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Zhang, Tan; Taylor, Jackson; Jiang, Yang [Department of Internal Medicine-Gerontology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157 (United States); Pereyra, Andrea S. [Department of Histology, National University of La Plata, 1900 La Plata (Argentina); Messi, Maria Laura; Wang, Zhong-Min [Department of Internal Medicine-Gerontology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157 (United States); Hereñú, Claudia [Department of Histology, National University of La Plata, 1900 La Plata (Argentina); Delbono, Osvaldo, E-mail: odelbono@wakehealth.edu [Department of Internal Medicine-Gerontology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157 (United States); Neuroscience Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157 (United States)

    2015-08-15

    The voltage-gated calcium channel (Ca{sub v}) β{sub 1a} subunit (Ca{sub v}β{sub 1a}) plays an important role in excitation–contraction coupling (ECC), a process in the myoplasm that leads to muscle-force generation. Recently, we discovered that the Ca{sub v}β{sub 1a} subunit travels to the nucleus of skeletal muscle cells where it helps to regulate gene transcription. To determine how it travels to the nucleus, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screening of the mouse fast skeletal muscle cDNA library and identified an interaction with troponin T3 (TnT3), which we subsequently confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and co-localization assays in mouse skeletal muscle in vivo and in cultured C2C12 muscle cells. Interacting domains were mapped to the leucine zipper domain in TnT3 COOH-terminus (160–244 aa) and Ca{sub v}β{sub 1a} NH{sub 2}-terminus (1–99 aa), respectively. The double fluorescence assay in C2C12 cells co-expressing TnT3/DsRed and Ca{sub v}β{sub 1a}/YFP shows that TnT3 facilitates Ca{sub v}β{sub 1a} nuclear recruitment, suggesting that the two proteins play a heretofore unknown role during early muscle differentiation in addition to their classical role in ECC regulation. - Highlights: • Previously, we demonstrated that Ca{sub v}β{sub 1a} is a gene transcription regulator. • Here, we show that TnT3 interacts with Ca{sub v}β{sub 1a}. • We mapped TnT3 and Ca{sub v}β{sub 1a} interaction domain. • TnT3 facilitates Ca{sub v}β{sub 1a} nuclear enrichment. • The two proteins play a heretofore unknown role during early muscle differentiation.

  5. Characterization of the phase composition, crystal structure and superconducting properties of Fe{sub 1.02}Se{sub y}Te{sub 1−y−x}S{sub x}

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Abouhaswa, A.S., E-mail: aliabohaswa@hotmail.com [Institute of Natural Sciences, Ural Federal University, 620083, Ekaterinburg (Russian Federation); Merentsov, A.I. [Institute of Natural Sciences, Ural Federal University, 620083, Ekaterinburg (Russian Federation); Baranov, N.V. [Institute of Natural Sciences, Ural Federal University, 620083, Ekaterinburg (Russian Federation); M.N. Miheev Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch of RAS, 620990, Ekaterinburg (Russian Federation)

    2016-08-15

    Highlights: • The Fe{sub 1.02}Se{sub 0.5}Te{sub 0.5−x}S{sub x} and Fe{sub 1.02}Se{sub 0.4}Te{sub 0.6−x}S{sub x} samples have been synthesized. • The S for Te substitution results in a small expansion of the crystal lattice of the PbO-type phase. • This expansion is attributed to changes in the phase relation and chemical composition of phases. • There is a correlation between the changes of T{sub c} and lattice parameters of the PbO-type phase. - Abstract: Two series of the Fe{sub 1.02}Se{sub 0.5}Te{sub 0.5–x}S{sub x} (I) and Fe{sub 1.02}Se{sub 0.4}Te{sub 0.6–x}S{sub x} (II) samples with the sulfur for tellurium substitution and with the invariable Se concentrations have been synthesized and studied by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The superconducting PbO-type phase is found to persists in the first series up to x = 0.4 and in the second one up to x = 0.5. Despite the lower ionic radius of sulfur in comparison with tellurium the replacement of tellurium by sulfur does not lead to contraction of the unit cell volume of the superconducting phase in both I and II series with ternary mixture of chalcogens. Variations of the lattice parameters caused by the S for Te substitution in the Fe{sub 1.02}Se{sub 0.5}Te{sub 0.5–x}S{sub x} and Fe{sub 1.02}Se{sub 0.4}Te{sub 0.6–x}S{sub x} samples are found to be less pronounced than that reported for the Fe{sub 1.02}Te{sub 0.5}Se{sub 0.5-x}S{sub x} system and are accompanied by lowering of the critical temperature. The behavior of the lattice parameters and critical temperature of Fe(S,Se,Te) materials with the ternary mixture of chalcogens at substitutions is ascribed to the changes in the volume fraction and chemical compositions of the coexisting tetragonal and hexagonal phases.

  6. Nanoscale morphology of Ni{sub 50}Ti{sub 45}Cu{sub 5} nanoglass

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Śniadecki, Z., E-mail: sniadecki@ifmpan.poznan.pl [Institute of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Smoluchowskiego 17, 60-179 Poznań (Poland); Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (Germany); Wang, D. [Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (Germany); Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (Germany); Ivanisenko, Yu. [Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (Germany); Chakravadhanula, V.S.K. [Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (Germany); Helmholtz Institute Ulm, Helmholtzstraße 11, 89081, Ulm (Germany); Joint Research Laboratory Nanomaterials (KIT-TUD), Institute of Materials Science, TU Darmstadt, Jovanka-Bontschits-Str. 2, 64287 Darmstadt (Germany); Kübel, C. [Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (Germany); Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (Germany); Hahn, H. [Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (Germany); Joint Research Laboratory Nanomaterials (KIT-TUD), Institute of Materials Science, TU Darmstadt, Jovanka-Bontschits-Str. 2, 64287 Darmstadt (Germany); Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Herbert Gleiter Institute of Nanoscience, Building 340, Nanjing, Jiangsu 2 10094 (China); and others

    2016-03-15

    Nanoglasses are noncrystalline solids with a granular nano-/microstructure. In contrast to their nanocrystalline analogs, typically constituted of grains and grain boundaries, nanoglasses consist of glassy regions with a structure corresponding to melt-quenched glasses and amorphous interfaces characterized by a reduced density. Their unique properties can be controlled by modifying size and chemical composition of the granular and interfacial regions. Ni{sub 50}Ti{sub 45}Cu{sub 5} amorphous films were obtained by magnetron sputtering and analyzed to determine their nanoscale morphology and the formation mechanisms. The nanoglasses were noted to have a hierarchical nano-columnar structure with the smallest Ni-rich (Ni:Ti ratio of ca. 5:3) amorphous columns with diameters of about 8 nm and Ti-rich glassy interfacial regions with a substantially lower density. The results were obtained utilizing X-ray diffraction and different microscopic methods, e.g., atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. A detailed analysis indicates the complexity of the formation mechanisms of topologically and chemically distinguishable structural units with curvature driven surface diffusion, surface mobility, self-shadowing and internal stresses as the most important parameters. Common and simple synthesis method and the possibility for easy modification of the morphology and, consequently, the physical properties offer an opportunity for intensive studies of this new class of materials, opening the way towards possible applications. - Highlights: • Ni{sub 50}Ti{sub 45}Cu{sub 5} thin film nanoglasses were synthesized by magnetron sputtering. • Ti amorphous interfacial phase with reduced density is observed. • Stabilization of interfaces by specific local thermodynamic conditions.

  7. Role of P{sub 2}O{sub 5} on protonic conduction in sol-gel-derived binary phosphosilicate glasses

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wang, C.; Abe, Y.; Kasuga, T.; Nogami, M. [Nagoya Institute of Technology, Aichi (Japan). Dept. of Materials Sceince and Engineering

    1999-11-01

    Sol-gel derived P{sub 2}O{sub 5}-SiO{sub 2} glasses were studied and a remarkable improvement in protonic conduction was observed by increasing the P{sub 2}O{sub 5} content. This was attributed to (1) the variation in glass structure including the reduction of the degree of cross-linking skeleton and the increase of specific surface area of glass due to the non-bridging oxygen (P=O) in P-O tetrahedron, (2) the formation of stronger hydrogen bond between hydroxyl group and P=O group as well as hydroxyl group and, (3) the p-{pi} resonance effect in O{sub (3-t)}PO(OH){sub t} unit. (author)

  8. Experimental and theoretical investigations for site preference and anisotropic size change of RE{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 6−x}M{sub x} (RE = La, Ce; M = Li, Ge; x = 1, 1.96)

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Jeon, Beom-Yong; Jeon, Jieun [Department of Chemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763 (Korea, Republic of); Lee, Junseong [Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Chonnam 500-757 (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Jongsik [Department of Chemistry, Dong-A University, Pusan 604-714 (Korea, Republic of); You, Tae-Soo [Department of Chemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763 (Korea, Republic of)

    2015-01-25

    Graphical abstract: Reported is experimental and theoretical studies to understand the site-preference between anionic elements and the anisotropic size-change of the 3-D anionic frameworks of two polar intermetallic compounds in the RE{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 6−x}M{sub x} (RE = La, Ce; M = Li, Ge; x = 1, 1.96) phase. Indium atoms with a smaller electronegativity prefer to occupy the “dumbbell-site” having the smaller QVAL value, and the anisotropic size-change of the anionic framework in La{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 5.00(1)}Li{sub 1.00} is rationalized by using various COHP curves analyses. - Highlights: • Site-preference between anions was elucidated by the QVAL value of each site. • Ten models with different atomic orderings were examined by coloring problems. • COHP curves explained the anisotropic size-change of La{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 5.00(1)}Li{sub 1.00}. - Abstract: Two polar intermetallic compounds in the RE{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 6−x}M{sub x} (RE = La, Ce; M = Li, Ge; x = 1, 1.96) series have been synthesized by conventional high-temperature reactions and characterized by both single-crystal and powder X-ray diffractions. Both compounds crystallized in the tetragonal crystal system (space group I4/mmm, Z = 4, Pearson symbol tI84) with nine crystallographically independent atomic positions in the asymmetric unit and adopted the Sm{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 6}-type structure, which can be considered as an ordered version of the Ho{sub 11}Ge{sub 10}-type. The lattice parameters are a = 11.8370(4) Å and c = 17.2308(7) Å for La{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 5.00(1)}Li{sub 1.00}; a = 11.8892(4) Å, c = 16.5736(7) Å for Ce{sub 11}Ge{sub 5.96(3)}In{sub 4.04}. The overall crystal structures of two isotypic compounds can be described as a combination of the cage-shaped 3-dimensional (3-D) anionic framework and three different types of cationic polyhedra filling the inside of the 3-D frameworks. Anionic elements consisting of the frameworks indicate the

  9. CsB{sub 4}O{sub 6}F. A congruent-melting deep-ultraviolet nonlinear optical material by combining superior functional units

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Wang, Xuefei [Key Lab. of Functional Materials and Devices for Special Environments, Xinjiang Technical Inst. of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang Key Lab. of Electronic Information Materials and Devices, Urumqi (China); University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (China); Wang, Ying; Zhang, Bingbing; Zhang, Fangfang; Yang, Zhihua; Pan, Shilie [Key Lab. of Functional Materials and Devices for Special Environments, Xinjiang Technical Inst. of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang Key Lab. of Electronic Information Materials and Devices, Urumqi (China)

    2017-11-06

    The discovery of new nonlinear optical (NLO) materials for coherent light generation in the deep-ultraviolet (DUV, wavelength below 200 nm) region is essential for the development of laser technologies. Herein, we report a new material CsB{sub 4}O{sub 6}F (CBF), which combines the superior structural properties of two well-known NLO materials, β-BaB{sub 2}O{sub 4} (BBO) and KBe{sub 2}BO{sub 3}F{sub 2} (KBBF). CBF exhibits excellent DUV optical properties including a short cutoff edge (155 nm), a large SHG response (∼1.9 x KDP), and a suitable birefringence that enables frequency doubling down to 171.6 nm. Remarkably, CBF melts congruently and shows an improved growth habit. In addition, our rational design strategy will contribute to the discovery of DUV NLO materials. (copyright 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

  10. Sodium bicarbonate injection: a small-plant SO sub 2 /NO sub x option

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Darmstaedter, E. (NaTec Resources Inc. (USA). Environmental Systems Division)

    1990-12-01

    The sodium bicarbonate injection process provides a cost effective alternative to flue gas desulfurization for smaller power plants. EPRI and NaTec Resources have been conducting demonstrations on coal-fired utility boilers. 90% SO{sub 2} reduction was achieved in EPRI's High-Sulfur Test Centre 4 MW pilot HYPAS installation near Barker, NY. During 1990 Public Service Company of Colorado and NaTec completed a two-phase commercial demonstration for continuous SO{sub 2}/NO{sub x} control on Cherokee Unit 1 to determine levels of urea and injection locations for urea and sodium bicarbonate to minimise NO{sub 2} and NH{sub 3} emissions while maintaining a high level of SO{sub 2} reduction. Methods for sodium sulphate by-product recovery/sale are described - these are higher value than those from the limestone process. Costs for the whole process, driven by sorbent costs, work out typically for a dry sorbent injection/HYPAS system at $610/ton SO{sub 2} removed. 11 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.

  11. Cloning, purification and preliminary crystallographic analysis of a conserved hypothetical protein, SA0961 (YlaN), from Staphylococcus aureus

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Xu, Ling; Sedelnikova, Svetlana E.; Baker, Patrick J.; Rice, David W., E-mail: d.rice@sheffield.ac.uk [Krebs Institute for Biomolecular Research, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN (United Kingdom)

    2006-08-01

    SA0961 is an unknown hypothetical protein from Staphylococcus aureus that can be identified in the Firmicutes division of Gram-positive bacteria. SA0961 was cloned and the protein was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, purified and subsequently crystallized. SA0961 is an unknown hypothetical protein from Staphylococcus aureus that can be identified in the Firmicutes division of Gram-positive bacteria. The gene for the homologue of SA0961 in Bacillus subtilis, ylaN, has been shown to be essential for cell survival, thus identifying the protein encoded by this gene as a potential target for the development of novel antibiotics. SA0961 was cloned and the protein was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, purified and subsequently crystallized. Crystals of selenomethionine-labelled SA0961 diffract to beyond 2.4 Å resolution and belong to the monoclinic space group P2{sub 1}, with unit-cell parameters a = 31.5, b = 42.7, c = 62.7 Å, β = 92.4° and two molecules in the asymmetric unit. A full structure determination is under way to provide insights into the function of this protein.

  12. Phase composition and superconducting properties of (Pb sub 0 sub . sub 6 Sn sub y Cu sub 0 sub . sub 4 sub - sub y)Sr sub 2 (Y sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x)Cu sub 2 O sub z

    CERN Document Server

    Balchev, N; Kunev, B; Souleva, A; Tsacheva, T

    2001-01-01

    The effect of Sn-doping in (Pb sub 0 sub . sub 6 Sn sub y Cu sub 0 sub . sub 4 sub - sub y)Sr sub 2 (Y sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x)Cu sub 2 O sub z for 0 <= y <= 0.3 and 0 <= x <= 0.7 was investigated. It was established that a nearly pure 1212 phase could be obtained at 0 <= y <= 0.1 and 0 <= x <= 0.3. The obtained X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns as well as the results of the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis showed that the Sn-substitution was possible in the (Pb,Cu)-1212 phase. Superconductivity was observed at 0.4 <= x <= 0.7. The onset of the diamagnetic transitions varied from 10 to 30 K. The influence of the strong Pb deficiency on the superconducting properties of the samples was discussed. (authors)

  13. H{sub 2}O{sub 2} and/or TiO{sub 2} photocatalysis under UV irradiation for the removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria and their antibiotic resistance genes

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Guo, Changsheng [State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012 (China); Wang, Kai [State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012 (China); Wuxi SensingNet Industrialization Research Institute, Wuxi 214000 (China); Hou, Song; Wan, Li; Lv, Jiapei; Zhang, Yuan [State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012 (China); Qu, Xiaodong [State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, and Department of Water Environment, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038 (China); Chen, Shuyi [Wuxi SensingNet Industrialization Research Institute, Wuxi 214000 (China); Xu, Jian, E-mail: xujian@craes.org.cn [State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012 (China)

    2017-02-05

    Highlights: • TiO{sub 2} thin film was successfully synthesized for treating ARB and ARGs from water. • More than 5.5 log units of ARB reduction was achieved by TiO{sub 2} under UV irradiation. • With TiO{sub 2}, ARGs were reduced by more than 5 log units under UV irradiation. • TiO{sub 2} could remove both intracellular and extracellular forms of ARGs. - Abstract: Inactivating antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and removing antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are very important to prevent their spread into the environment. Previous efforts have been taken to eliminate ARB and ARGs from aqueous solution and sludges, however, few satisfying results have been obtained. This study investigated whether photocatalysis by TiO{sub 2} was able to reduce the two ARGs, mecA and ampC, within the host ARB, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. The addition of H{sub 2}O{sub 2} and matrix effect on the removal of ARB and ARGs were also studied. TiO{sub 2} thin films showed great effect on both ARB inactivation and ARGs removal. Approximately 4.5-5.0 and 5.5–5.8 log ARB reductions were achieved by TiO{sub 2} under 6 and 12 mJ/cm{sup 2} UV{sub 254} fluence dose, respectively. For ARGs, 5.8 log mecA reduction and 4.7 log ampC reduction were achieved under 120 mJ/cm{sup 2} UV{sub 254} fluence dose in the presence of TiO{sub 2}. Increasing dosage of H{sub 2}O{sub 2} enhanced the removal efficiencies of ARB and ARGs. The results also demonstrated that photocatalysis by TiO{sub 2} was capable of removing both intracellular and extracellular forms of ARGs. This study provided a potential alternative method for the removal of ARB and ARGs from aqueous solution.

  14. Effects of hole doping on the electronic transport properties of PrBa sub 1 sub . sub 8 Sr sub 0 sub . sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub y and PrSr sub 2 Cu sub 2 sub . sub 7 Mo sub 0 sub . sub 3 O sub y

    CERN Document Server

    Yang, C F; Zhang, H

    2002-01-01

    We investigate the effect of Ca doping on the electronic transport properties and superconductivity of Pr sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x Ba sub 1 sub . sub 8 Sr sub 0 sub . sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub y and Pr sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x Sr sub 2 Cu sub 2 sub . sub 7 Mo sub 0 sub . sub 3 O sub y systems. It is found that when PrBa sub 2 Cu sub 3 O sub y (Pr123) is in a highly localized state, the Ca doping mainly decreases the 4f-2p hybridized states and thus releases the holes into the CuO sub 2 planes. Whereas when Pr123 is in a less localized state, the Ca doping not only introduces holes into the CuO sub 2 planes, but also induces dramatic charge transfer. Our results suggest that only when the hole concentration in both the CuO chain and the CuO sub 2 planes reaches a proper value, can the superconductivity be restored in the Pr123 system.

  15. Solubility of hydrogen in LaNi{sub 5}-, LaCo{sub 5}- und LaNi{sub 5-x}Co{sub x}-alloys; Die Wasserstoff-Loeslichkeit in LaNi{sub 5}-, LaCo{sub 5}- und LaNi{sub 5-x}Co{sub x}-Legierungen

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Schlotfeld, K.

    2004-07-01

    Hydrogen absorption isotherms of the alloys LaNi{sub 5}, LaNi{sub 4}Co, LaNi{sub 3}Co{sub 2} and LaCo{sub 5} were measured with an electronic microbalance between 313 and 533 K and between 0.01 and 120 bar. The unit cells of the binary alloys LaNi{sub 5} and LaCo{sub 5} contain a large number of interstitial sites of various kinds, which have to be considered for the occupation with hydrogen. Initially, the larger sites, which require the lowest energy, are filled. At rising concentrations the smaller sites associated with higher energy are successively entered. However, even at the highest hydrogen pressures of 1000 bar applied so far, most interstitial sites remain empty, due to an empirical rule which is theoretically well understood, that the dissolved hydrogen atoms cannot approach each other closer than the minimal distance of 0.21 nm. These conditions lead to a maximal hydrogen/metal ratio of 1.5 at 1000 bar and of roughly 1.2 at 150 bar. A statistical description of the two binary alloys has already been presented by Brodowsky, Yasuda, and Itagaki, which includes the energy differences of hydrogen in the various classes of sites. For the interpretation of the miscibility gaps below a critical temperature the influence of the volume expansion of the dissolved hydrogen on the excess functions was taken into account, similarly the shift of the Fermi energy of the system. In the ternary alloys, there is the complication that the energy of the sites is not is not equal within each group but that the levels have a distribution according to the number of Ni or Co atoms, respectively, around a particular interstitial site. Although this splitting up of the energy levels could not be treated quantitatively, it was very evident in the juxtaposition of the absorption isotherms of the various alloys. The measurements have shown, that the plateau pressure, which is important for the practical application of these alloys, is lowered in steps in the transition from LaNi{sub

  16. Phase diagram and EXAFS study of La sub 0 sub . sub 7 Ca sub 0 sub . sub 3 sub - sub x Ba sub x MnO sub 3 manganites

    CERN Document Server

    Ulyanov, A N; Yang, D S

    2003-01-01

    The phase diagram and local structure of La sub 0 sub . sub 7 Ca sub 0 sub . sub 3 sub - sub x Ba sub x MnO sub 3 (x=0; 0.03; 0.06; ... 0.3) lanthanum manganites were studies. The Curie temperature, T sub c , of the compositions showed a sharp change near the concentrational structural orthorhombic-rhombohedral phase transition. Maximums of dispersion, sigma sub M sub n sub - sub O sup 2 , and asymmetry, sigma M sub n sub - sub O sup 3 , of pair distribution function for the Mn-O bond distances of MnO sub 6 octahedron on x-dependence were observed by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis. The maximum of sigma sub M sub n sub - sub O sup 2 is caused by increase of dynamic rms displacements of Mn-O bond distances near the T sub c. The observed x dependence of sigma sub M sub n sub - sub O sup 3 reflects the reduction of charge carriers mobility at approaching to T sub c. (author)

  17. Lipofectamine and related cationic lipids strongly improve adenoviral infection efficiency of primitive human hematopoietic cells.

    Science.gov (United States)

    Byk, T; Haddada, H; Vainchenker, W; Louache, F

    1998-11-20

    Adenoviral vectors have the potential to infect a large number of cell types including quiescent cells. Their use in hematopoietic cells is limited by the episomal form of their DNA, leading to transgene loss in the progeny cells. However, the use of this vector may be interesting for short-term in vitro modifications of primitive human hematopoietic cells. Therefore, we have investigated the ability of adenovirus to transduce cord blood CD34+ cells. Several promoters were tested using the lacZ reporter gene. The PGK and CMV promoters induced transgene expression in 18-25% of the cells, whereas the HTLV-I and especially the RSV promoter were almost inactive. To improve infection efficiency, adenovirus was complexed with cationic lipids. Lipofectamine, Cellfectin, and RPR120535b, but not Lipofectin, Lipofectace, or DOTAP, markedly improved transgene expression in CD34+ cells (from 19 to 35%). Lipofectamine strongly enhanced infection efficiency of the poorly infectable primitive CD34+CD38low cells (from 11 to 28%) whereas the more mature CD34+CD38+ cells were only slightly affected (from 24 to 31%). Lipofectamine tripled the infection of CFU-GMs and LTC-ICs derived from the CD34+CD38low cell fraction (from 4 to 12% and from 5 to 16%, respectively) and doubled that of BFU-Es (from 13 to 26%). We conclude that cationic lipids can markedly increase the efficiency of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer into primitive hematopoietic cells.

  18. Negative compressibility at LaAlO{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} interfaces explored with scanning force microscopy

    Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

    Tinkl, Veronika; Breitschaft, Martin; Hammerl, German; Kopp, Thilo [Experimentalphysik VI, Zentrum fuer Elektronische Korrelationen und Magnetismus, Universitaet Augsburg, Augsburg (Germany); Richter, Christoph; Mannhart, Jochen [Experimentalphysik VI, Zentrum fuer Elektronische Korrelationen und Magnetismus, Universitaet Augsburg, Augsburg (Germany); Max-Planck-Institut fuer Festkoerperforschung, Stuttgart (Germany)

    2012-07-01

    The interface between the band insulators LaAlO{sub 3} and SrTiO{sub 3} is currently one of the most actively investigated structures in the field of oxide interfaces. If the LaAlO{sub 3}-film thickness exceeds three unit cells on a TiO{sub 2}-terminated SrTiO{sub 3} substrate a conducting layer is formed at the interface. This conducting layer can be driven insulating by electric fields. In this presentation we demonstrate that the interface exhibits negative compressibility as the carrier density is reduced. We investigated interfaces consisting of four unit cells LaAlO{sub 3} with a low temperature ultra-high vacuum scanning probe microscope. Contact potential difference measurements were performed at various carrier densities of the interface electron system. The difference in the work functions of interface and tip depends on the applied electric field. We show that the chemical potential at the interface increases with decreasing carrier density. This effect is caused by electron-electron interactions and corresponds to a negative compressibility. The negative compressibility gives rise to applications by, for example, making use of the resulting large enhancement of the capacitance.

  19. Chemical and Biological Training for Army and Marine Corps Units in the Republic of Korea Needs Improvement (REDACTED)

    Science.gov (United States)

    2016-02-24

    informs the public . Vision Our vision is to be a model oversight organization in the Federal Government by leading change, speaking truth, and...PAM 750-8(AUG 05) A- CBRN Adminstration # Question: MSC Sub Unit Sub1 Sub Unit Sub2 Sub Unit Sub3 Sub Unit Sub4 1 Does the CBRN section have a copy...2-6] (Company) Select Select Select Select Select 8 Does the unit have the following required references/ publications w/changes and updates on hand

  20. Word/sub-word lattices decomposition and combination for speech recognition

    OpenAIRE

    Le , Viet-Bac; Seng , Sopheap; Besacier , Laurent; Bigi , Brigitte

    2008-01-01

    International audience; This paper presents the benefit of using multiple lexical units in the post-processing stage of an ASR system. Since the use of sub-word units can reduce the high out-of-vocabulary rate and improve the lack of text resources in statistical language modeling, we propose several methods to decompose, normalize and combine word and sub-word lattices generated from different ASR systems. By using a sub-word information table, every word in a lattice can be decomposed into ...