Full current statistics of incoherent "cold electrons"

We evaluate the full current statistics (FCS) in the low-dimensional (1D and 2D) diffusive conductors in the incoherent regime eV>E(Th)=D/L(2), E(Th) being the Thouless energy. It is shown that the Coulomb interaction substantially enhances the probability of big current fluctuations for short conductors with E(Th)>1/tau(E), tau(E) being the energy relaxation time, leading to the exponential tails in the current distribution. The current fluctuations are most strong for low temperatures, provided E(Th) approximately [(eV)(2)/Dnu(2)(1)](1/3) for 1D and E(Th) approximately (eV/g)ln(g for 2D, where g is a dimensionless conductance and nu(1) is a 1D density of states. The FCS in the "hot electron" regime is also discussed.     

三芳胺和二氢吲哚作为给体的染料对钴电解质的染料敏化太阳能电池性能的影响

合成了两种有机染料,三芳胺染料XS51和二氢吲哚染料XS52,并分别用于钴基电解质和碘基电解质的染料敏化太阳能电池中. 考察了染料结构对光物理性能、电化学性能和电池性能的影响. XS51为含有四个己氧基的三芳胺结构,表现出较好的空间位阻,从而提高了光电压. XS52中二氢吲哚的给电子能力强,从而短路电流较大. 同碘电解质相比,所合成的染料更适合用于钴电解质的染料敏化电池中. 在100 mW/cm²的光强下,基于染料XS52的钴电解质太阳能电池总的光电转换效率达到6.58%.     

Construction and screening of M13 phage libraries displaying long random peptides

Summary We have constructed two phage display libraries expressing N-terminal pIII fusions in M13 composed of 37 and 43 random amino acid domains, respectively. The D38 library expresses 37 random amino acids with a central alanine residue, and the DC43 library contains 43 random amino acids with a central cysteine flanked by two glycine residues, giving the displayed peptide the potential to form disulfide loops of various sizes. We demonstrate that the majority of random sequences in both libraries are compatible in pentavalent display with phage viability. The M13 phage display vector itself has been engineered to contain a factor Xa protease cleavage site to provide an alternative to acid elution during affinity selection. An in-frame amber mutation has been inserted between the pIII cloning sites to allow for efficient selection against nonrecombinant phage in the library. These libraries have been panned against mAb 7E11-C5, which recognizes the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSM). Isolated phage display a consensus sequence that is homologous to a region in the PSM molecule.     

Calpain chronicle--an enzyme family under multidisciplinary characterization

Calpain is an intracellular Ca2+-dependent cysteine protease (EC 3.4.22.17; Clan CA, family C02) discovered in 1964. It was also called CANP (Ca2+-activated neutral protease) as well as CASF, CDP, KAF, etc. until 1990. Calpains are found in almost all eukaryotes and a few bacteria, but not in archaebacteria. Calpains have a limited proteolytic activity, and function to transform or modulate their substrates' structures and activities; they are therefore called, "modulator proteases." In the human genome, 15 genes--CAPN1, CAPN2, etc.--encode a calpain-like protease domain. Their products are calpain homologs with divergent structures and various combinations of functional domains, including Ca2+-binding and microtubule-interaction domains. Genetic studies have linked calpain deficiencies to a variety of defects in many different organisms, including lethality, muscular dystrophies, gastropathy, and diabetes. This review of the study of calpains focuses especially on recent findings about their structure-function relationships. These discoveries have been greatly aided by the development of 3D structural studies and genetic models.     

Increased yield of immunogold labeling of epoxy sections by adding para-phenylendiamine in the tissue processing

The purpose of this study was to examine if the presence of para-phenylendiamine (PPD) in the tissue processing could increase the yield of immunogold labeling of the epoxy sections. Renal swine tissue with glomerular immune complex deposits with reactivity against IgG was embedded in epoxy resin. PPD was added (1) at the beginning of the dehydration, (2) in the first step with propylene oxide, (3) in the beginning of the dehydration and in all steps with propylene oxide included the infiltration step where propylene oxide and epoxy resin are mixed, or (4) PPD was totally avoided. The tissue was embedded with two different combinations of accelerator. Immunogold labeling with anti-IgG was performed on both non-heated and heated ultrathin sections. The immunogold labeling on the heated sections which were based on processing with PPD in all steps (3) was about 55–65% higher than the corresponding labeling for epoxy sections processed in total absence of PPD (4). The immunolabeling was not significantly increased when the tissue was processed with PPD only in the start of the dehydration (1) or in the first step with propylene oxide (2). We believe that tissue processing with sufficient PPD contributes to reduce the co-polymerization between the antigens and the epoxy polymer in the same way as excess of accelerator does (Brorson and Skjørten, 1996a). The practical significance of this study provides better opportunities for increasing the immunogold labeling of epoxy sections by adding PPD in the tissue processing, and our result may inspire other researchers to develop even more efficient methods for controlling the copolymerization between antigens and epoxy resin.     

Effect of chitosan and thiolated chitosan coating on the inhibition behaviour of PIBCA nanoparticles against intestinal metallopeptidases

Surface modified nanoparticles composed of poly(isobutylcyanoacrylate) (PIBCA) cores surrounded by a chitosan and thiolated chitosan gel layer were prepared and characterized in previous works. The presence of such biopolymers on the nanoparticle surface conferred those nanosystems interesting characteristics that might partially overcome the gastrointestinal enzymatic barrier, improving the oral administration of pharmacologically active peptides. In the present work, the antiprotease behaviour of this family of core–shell nanoparticles was in vitro tested against two model metallopeptidases present in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT): Carboxypeptidase A -CP A- (luminal protease) and Leucine Aminopeptidase M -LAP M- (membrane protease). As previous step, the zinc-binding capacity of these nanoparticles was evaluated. Interestingly, an improvement of both the zinc-binding capacity and the antiprotease effect of chitosan was observed when the biopolymers (chitosan and thiolated chitosan) were used as coating component of the core–shell nanoparticles, in comparison with their behaviour in solution, thanks to the different biopolymer chains rearrangement. The presence of amino, hydroxyl and thiol groups on the nanoparticle surface promoted zinc binding and hence the inhibition of the metallopeptidases analysed. On the contrary, the occurrence of a cross-linked structure in the gel layer surrounding the PIBCA cores of thiolated formulations, due to the formation of interchain and intrachain disulphide bonds, partially limited the inhibition of the proteases. The low accessibility of cations to the active groups of the cross-linked polymeric shell was postulated as a possible explanation of this behaviour. Results obtained in this work make this family of surface-modified nanocarriers promising candidates for the successfull administration of pharmacologically active peptides and proteins by the oral route.     

Holographic derivation of entanglement entropy from the anti-de Sitter space/conformal field theory correspondence

A holographic derivation of the entanglement entropy in quantum (conformal) field theories is proposed from anti-de Sitter/conformal field theory (AdS/CFT) correspondence. We argue that the entanglement entropy in d + 1 dimensional conformal field theories can be obtained from the area of d dimensional minimal surfaces in AdS(d+2), analogous to the Bekenstein-Hawking formula for black hole entropy. We show that our proposal agrees perfectly with the entanglement entropy in 2D CFT when applied to AdS(3). We also compare the entropy computed in AdS(5)XS(5) with that of the free N=4 super Yang-Mills theory.     

Effect of high pressure on the reaction between bovine myofibrils and cathepsin D

This study deals with the effect of high pressure [50-500 MPa] and time of treatment [20-900 s] on the reaction between myofibrils and cathepsin D from bovine post mortem meat, using Surface Response Methodology. We shown that every high pressure treatment enhanced activity of cathepsin D as evaluated on haemoglobin as a substrate or on control meat myofibrils. We also put in evidence that cathepsin D could carry out the hydrolysis of high pressure treated myofibrils. At last we studied the action of pressurised cathepsin D on pressurised myofibrils, and proved that the hydrolysis was increasing up to 170 MPa and then decreased; above 300 MPa the activity was lower than with control cathepsin D and control myofibrils. Thus above 300 MPa recognition of natural substrate is affected by high pressure induced modifications. These results may help to explain why high pressure treatment of post rigor meat is not able to increase tenderness.     

Sigma Terms and Strangeness Contents of Baryon Octet in Modified Chiral Perturbation Theory

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Cross-reactivity of T lymphocytes in infection and autoimmunity

T helper (Th) lymphocytes mediate critical effector and regulatory functions in infectious, allergic, or autoimmune diseases. Th cells possess clonal receptors that recognize antigenic peptides that are complexed with self-molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on the surface of antigen presenting cells. An organism's repertoire of T cell receptors must be broad enough to recognize any possible microbial antigen. At the same time, tissue destruction resulting from the attack of autoreactive T lymphocytes that recognize self-peptides must be avoided. It was therefore believed that the immune system could distinguish between self and non-self antigens. This hypothesis was supported by several lines of evidence, including the seemingly exquisite specificity of immune responses. What, then, triggers autoaggressive attacks by the immune system? Clinical and epidemiological observations strongly suggest a link between infection and autoimmunity. A popular hypothesis considers autoimmunity as a side effect of antimicrobial immune responses. Cross-reactive T cells, capable of recognizing both microbial and self-peptides, have been prime suspects as instigators of autoimmunity ever since computerized data base searches revealed astonishing sequence homologies between microbial and self-peptides. Here we review recent data that show a previously unexpected degeneracy of antigen recognition by T cells. It has become clear that each individual T cell receptor can recognize a large number of different ligands. Furthermore, structural criteria rather than sequence homology dictate the antigen recognition process. Thus, the idea that cross-reactivity per se would cause autoimmune disease is most likely too simple. Instead, a variety of different molecularmechanisms dictate the immunological outcome of ligand recognition by T cells.     

高光谱早稻生理指标可跨期预测性的初步研究

叶绿素含量和叶片氮含量是作物生长状况的重要指标,对其实时精准的监测有助于田间生产管理以及作物品质产量的提高。当前,高光谱技术和经验回归方法被广泛应用于构建作物生化参数预测模型。但是,有关同一生命活动周期内,作物跨期预测叶片生化参数的研究还存在空白。以超级早稻为研究对象,分别获取了蘖盛期、孕穗期、齐穗期、灌浆期和成熟期5个时期120组叶片高光谱数据、叶绿素以及叶片氮含量（LNC）,采用python 3.6编程,scikit-learn(0.22.1)用来构建模型和验证评估,通过网格搜索(GridSearch)和五折交叉验证(5-flod cross validation)在训练集中确定偏最小二乘回归(PLSR)、随机森林（RF）、支持向量回归（SVR）3种不同算法的最佳模型参数,结合数据的跨期处理,分别建立针对不同生育期的水稻叶片氮含量跨期预测模型和叶绿素跨期预测模型。此外,评估跨期预测模型与传统非跨期预测模型,独立数据对模型进行检验。结果表明,(1) 基于高光谱的早稻叶绿素、氮素的非跨期预测模型中,PLSR模型预测效果最佳,分别为叶绿素（R2=0.84, RMSE=1.85）、氮素（R2=0.85, RMSE=0.11）。(2) 基于SVR的早稻叶绿素跨期预测模型预测效果最佳,分别为跨分蘖期（R2=0.54）、跨孕穗期（R2=0.36）、跨齐穗期（R2=0.30）、跨灌浆期（R2=0.55）、跨成熟期（R2=0.74）。该结果为利用高光谱数据构建超级稻叶绿素含量预测模型提供新的理论参考,为水稻叶绿素含量的动态监测提供了模型依据。(3)早稻叶片氮含量跨期预测模型的拟合度很差,叶片氮含量预测具有不可跨期性。与非跨期预测模型相比,跨期预测模型虽然精度有所下降,但能有效克服经验模型普适性差的缺陷,有利于在同一生命活动周期内,实现作物不同生育期的生理指标预测,对实际生产管理具有重要意义。研究发现,作物生理指标存在可跨期预测性,这一概念为作物表型、作物内部品质以及产量的预测研究提供了新的思路。     

高压与加热协同处理对牛肌肉中蛋白酶活性的影响

在不同温度(20～60℃)和压力(0.1～600 MPa)下处理20 min,对牛肌肉中蛋白酶活性的影响进行了研究.结果显示:室温下,随着处理压力的增加,酶的活力显著下降,而压力达400 MPa及以上时,酶的活力则没有明显变化,同时在pH值为3和7.5时酶的活性几乎完全丧失.200 MPa以下的压力处理使肌肉中游离氨基...     

Study on the relationship between structure and taste activity of the umami peptide of Stropharia rugosoannulata prepared by ultrasound

Through virtual screening, electronic tongue verification, and molecular docking technology, the structure-taste activity relationship of 47 kinds of umami peptides (octapeptide - undecapeptide) from Stropharia rugosoannulata prepared by simultaneous ultrasonic-assisted directional enzymatic hydrolysis was analyzed. The umami peptides of S.rugosoannulata can form hydrogen bond interaction and electrostatic interaction with umami receptors T1R1/T1R3. The amino acid residues at the peptides' N-terminal and C-terminal play a vital role in binding with the receptors to form a stable complex. D, E, and R are the primary amino acids in the peptides that easily bind to T1R1/T1R3. The basic amino acid in the peptides is more easily bound to T1R1, and the acidic amino acid is more easily bound to T1R3. The active amino acid sites of the receptors to which the peptides bind account for 42%−65% of the total active amino acid residues in the receptors. ASP147 and ASP219 are the critical amino acid residues for T1R1 to recognize the umami peptides, and ARG64, GLU45, and GLU48 are the critical amino acid residues for T1R3 to recognize the umami peptides. The increase in the variety and quantity of umami peptides is the main reason for improving the umami taste of the substrate prepared by synchronous ultrasound-assisted directional enzymatic hydrolysis. This study provides a theoretical basis for understanding simultaneous ultrasound-assisted directional enzymatic hydrolysis for preparing umami peptides from S.rugosoannulata, enhancing the flavor of umami, and the relationship between peptide structure and taste activity.     

Occurrence of alternating parity levels in bands of the odd-Z219Ac nucleus

A positive and a negative parity band in²²¹Th have been investigated via the²⁰⁸Pb(¹⁶O, 3n)²²¹Th reaction. Strong E1 transitions compete with stretched E2 transitions deexciting levels of alternating parity. The measured averaged =2.6 · 10^?6 fm^?2 is similar to that observed in neighbouring nuclei. The level scheme may be interpreted assuming an octupole deformed core.     

Hall resistivity of granular metals

We calculate the Hall conductivity sigma(xy) and resistivity rho(xy) of a granular system at large tunneling conductance g(T)>1. We show that in the absence of Coulomb interaction the Hall resistivity depends neither on the tunneling conductance nor on the intragrain disorder and is given by the classical formula rho(xy)=H/(n*ec), where n* differs from the carrier density n inside the grains by a numerical coefficient determined by the shape of the grains. The Coulomb interaction gives rise to logarithmic in temperature T correction to rho(xy) in the range Gamma less or similar T less or similar min(g(T)E(c), E(Th)), where Gamma is the tunneling escape rate, E(c) is the charging energy, and E(Th) is the Thouless energy of the grain.     

Mapping of a discontinuous and highly conformational binding site on follicle stimulating hormone subunit-β (FSH-β) using domain Scan™ and Matrix Scan™ technology

This paper describes the application of two novel screening technologies, i.e. Domain Scan (24- and 30-mer peptides) and Matrix Scan (24-mer peptides) technology, in the mapping of a discontinuous epitope on FSH-beta for a series of 20 monoclonal antibodies. 11 out of 20 mAb's, mapping of which was not successful by conventional Pepscan technology (12-mer peptides), showed selective binding to peptide-constructs corresponding to the beta3-loop of FSH in the Domain and/or Matrix Scan. Systematic replacement analysis studies with peptide-construct 57VYETVRVPGCAC-SAc-ADSLYTYPVATQ81 revealed that for most mAb's the amino acids R62, A70, D71, and L73 form the core of the epitope. A Domain Scan performed in the C-O format showed highly selective binding for mAb's 1 and 2 with only three beta1-beta3 peptide-constructs covering the residues 60TVRVPGCAHHADSLY74 in combination with 10IAIEKEECRFAI21, while for mAb 10 binding was observed with peptide-constructs containing the C-terminal residues 97RGLGPSYCSFGEMKE114 in combination with the residues 10IAIEKEECRFAI21. A Matrix Scan of mAb 17 showed that peptides from four different regions on FSH (1st strand beta3-loop, alpha 1-loop, long alpha2-loop, det. loop) showed enhanced binding in combination with several 70ADSL73-containing peptides. BIACORE measurements with mAb's 1, 2, 13, and 17 using a set of 21 different peptide(-construct)s partially confirmed the Domain and Matrix Scan screening results. Only 24- and 33-mer peptides covering both the 1st and 2nd strand of the beta3-loop showed measurable binding. Cyclic beta3-loop peptide mimics were found to bind significantly stronger (Kd approximately 5 microM) than the lineair analogues, in agreement with the fact that the discontinuous epitope is part of a loop structure. Coupling of the lineair beta1-peptide 1oIAIEKEECRFAI21 to the linear beta3-peptide *52TFKELVYETVRVPGCAHHADSLYTYPVATQAH83# via disulfide bond formation showed a 2-3 fold increase in Kd, thus conforming participation of the beta 1-loop in antibody binding for these mAb's.     

直流法测试薄膜热导的数值模拟研究

薄膜的热导率是薄膜热学性能的最重要参数之一, 相对于多数文献的二维或三维测试结构, 本文采用一维双端支撑悬臂梁结构研究了薄膜热导率的测试方法. 悬臂梁包含上层的兼做加热电阻及测温电阻的金属条和下层的待测试薄膜. 利用一维热传导方程推导并获得了在直流电流加热条件下, 悬臂梁的温升分布(Δ T)及加热电阻两端电压增量(Δ U) 表达式与薄膜热导率之间的关系. 采用ANSYS有限元软件仿真了不同仿真参数时的Δ T及Δ U, 仿真结果与温升表达式计算结果符合得很好. 与常用的3倍频率法(3ω) 薄膜热学性能测试方法相比, 一维悬臂梁直流法测试结构及手段较为简单且可以获得更为精确的结果.     

Phase-rectified signal averaging for the detection of quasi-periodicities and the prediction of cardiovascular risk

We present the phase-rectified signal averaging (PRSA) method as an efficient technique for the study of quasi-periodic oscillations in noisy, nonstationary signals. It allows the assessment of system dynamics despite phase resetting and noise and in relation with either increases or decreases of the considered signal. We employ the method to study the quasi-periodicities of the human heart rate based on long-term ECG recordings. The center deflection of the PRSA curve characterizes the average capacity of the heart to decelerate (or accelerate) the cardiac rhythm. It can be measured by a central wavelet coefficient which we denote as deceleration capacity (DC). We find that decreased DC is a more precise predictor of mortality in survivors of heart attack than left ventricular ejection fraction, the current "gold standard" risk predictor. In addition, we discuss the dependence of the DC parameter on age and on diabetes.     

Dendritic cells: In the forefront of immunopathogenesis and vaccine development - A review

Dendritic cellls (DCs) comprise an essential component of the immune system. These cells, as antigen presenting cells (APCs) to na?ve T cells, are crucial in the initiation of antigen specific immune responses. In the past years, several DC subsets have been identified in different organs which exert different effects in order to elicit adaptive immune responses. Thus, identification of such DC subsets has led to a better understanding of their distribution and function in the body. In this review, several key properties of the immunobiology, immunopathogenesis and vaccine strategies using DCs will be discussed.     

Dendritic cells: In the forefront of immunopathogenesis and vaccine development – A review

Dendritic cellls (DCs) comprise an essential component of the immune system. These cells, as antigen presenting cells (APCs) to na?ve T cells, are crucial in the initiation of antigen specific immune responses. In the past years, several DC subsets have been identified in different organs which exert different effects in order to elicit adaptive immune responses. Thus, identification of such DC subsets has led to a better understanding of their distribution and function in the body. In this review, several key properties of the immunobiology, immunopathogenesis and vaccine strategies using DCs will be discussed.