CD1c presentation of synthetic glycolipid antigens with foreign alkyl branching motifs

Human CD1c is a protein that activates alphabeta T cells by presenting self antigens, synthetic mannosyl phosphodolichols, and mycobacterial mannosyl phosphopolyketides. To determine which molecular features of antigen structure confer a T cell response, we measured activation by structurally divergent Mycobacterium tuberculosis mannosyl-beta1-phosphomycoketides and synthetic analogs with either stereorandom or stereospecific methyl branching patterns. T cell responses required both a phosphate and a beta-linked mannose unit, and they showed preference for C(30-34) lipid units with methyl branches in the S-configuration. Thus, T cell responses were strongest for synthetic compounds that mimicked the natural branched lipids produced by mycobacterial polyketide synthase 12. Incorporation of methylmalonate to form branched lipids is a common bacterial lipid-synthesis pathway that is absent in vertebrates. Therefore, the preferential recognition of branched lipids may represent a new lipid-based pathogen-associated molecular pattern.     

Saturated long linear aliphatic chain sodium monocarboxylates for the corrosion inhibition of lead objects—an initiative towards the conservation of our lead cultural heritage

In this study, sodium salts of saturated linear carboxylic acids with the general formula CH₃(CH₂) _n?2COONa (n = 14, 18)—labeled NaC₁₄ and NaC₁₈—were used to inhibit the corrosion of metallic lead via the development of protective coatings for lead heritage objects. The salts were dissolved in water/ethanol 1:1 (V/V) mixture at 50 °C to increase their solubility, and the coatings were formed by immersing lead samples in the resulted solutions for 24 h. The coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A hydrophobic layer of lead carboxylates appeared to form on the metal surface, and its corrosion inhibition properties were examined by linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in a corrosive solution simulating the environment of museums with uncontrolled conditions. The lead carboxylates formed a protective barrier that inhibited further lead corrosion.

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On the correlation between microstructure and magnetic losses in electrical steel

The magnetic properties of electrical steel such as magnetization curves, magnetization behavior and specific magnetic losses are related to the microstructure and the texture of the steel. A quantitative model, which describes the effect of microstructure and texture and their interplay on the magnetic losses P, is still missing. Based on experimental data for nonoriented electrical steels and FeSi-samples with high (Si, Al)-content, a more general formula is proposed for the dependence of P, at a given value of magnetic induction B, as a function of the mean value of the grain size d of the material and of the intensities of the relevant magnetic texture components.     

Separating Growth from Nucleation for Facile Control over the Size and Shape of Palladium Nanocrystals

In order to maximize the performance of nanocrystals in a specific application, it is necessary to control both their size and shape. Here we report a one-pot protocol that allows us to separate growth from nucleation for achieving better control over the size and shape of Pd nanocrystals. The two processes are temporally separated from each other, although the synthesis is carried out in the same reaction container. Size control is achieved by simply varying the ratio between the amounts of precursor allocated to the growth and nucleation processes. With the involvement of seeds at a fixed number, increasing the amount of precursor for growth leads to increasingly larger nanocrystals. Shape control is made possible by varying the capping agent, with bromide leading to a cubic shape and citrate inducing the formation of an octahedral shape. The synthesis can also be scaled up by at least tenfold without compromising the quality.     

Molecular dynamics-based approach to study the anisotropic self-diffusion of molecules in porous materials with multiple cage types: application to H2 in losod

The anisotropic self-diffusion of molecular hydrogen in the multiple cage clathrasil losod (LOS) is modeled by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of up to 1 micros for the temperature range 900-1200 K while treating the framework as fully flexible. The LOS diffusion tensor is calculated employing an analytical method based on hopping rates. The diffusion in the c-direction of the unit cell is found to be approximately two times more rapid than in the a- and the b-directions, a characteristic of importance for the application of LOS as a membrane. The overall diffusion is based on five different hop types for which the individual hopping rates and diffusion barriers are calculated separately. We show explicitly that the shape and volume of the cages have a significant effect on the hopping rates and further that even small deformations of the circular Si6O6 apertures have a large influence on the energetic barrier for hydrogen diffusion. Compared to the single cage clathrasils dodecasil 3C (MTN) and sodalite (SOD), LOS has a lower diffusion rate. However, from a technical point of view this rate (at 573 K) is still fast enough for LOS to be interesting as a size-selective membrane or as a hydrogen-adsorption medium.     

Sequence specific DNA cross-linking triggered by visible light

A new biocompatible strategy for photoinduced DNA interstrand cross-linking is presented. Methylene blue induced (1)O(2) formation triggers furan oxidation; the resulting aldehyde then rapidly reacts with complementary A or C with formation of stable adducts. Easily accessible furan modified nucleosides, a commercially available photosensitizer, and visible light irradiation constitute the necessary tools to achieve selective duplex interstrand cross-linking.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and thermal stability of a new layered germanate structure, Na4Ge16O28(OH)12

The new layered germanate structure Na4Ge16O28(OH)12 has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, FTIR, and SEM. The crystal lattice parameters are a = 7.3216(6) A, b = 14.3986(9) A, c = 7.7437(6) A, alpha = 90.0 degrees, beta = 100.179(7) degrees, gamma = 90.0 degrees, and V = 803.5(1) A3. The space group is C2/m with Z = 1. The germanium oxide sheets are connected non-covalently via electrostatic interactions with the sodium cations and H-bridging. At temperatures above 400 degrees C, the structure starts decomposing into sodium enneagermanate (Na4Ge9O20), germanium dioxide, and water as determined by powder X-ray diffraction, TGA, DTA, DSC, and GCMS.