Magnetic silica colloids for catalysis

Monodisperse magnetizable colloidal silica particles in a stable dispersion have been functionalized with a homogeneous catalyst: a PCP–pincer Pd-complex. In a proof-of-principle experiment we demonstrate the catalytic activity of the colloids in a C–C bond formation reaction. Advantages of the magnetic silica carriers are the large surface-to-volume ratio and the easy recovery by magnetic separation. After magnetic separation, the catalyst-loaded particles are readily redispersed for further use.     

Nickel nanostructured materials from liquid phase photodeposition

Liquid Phase Photo-Deposition (LPPD) technique has been used to obtain both colloidal particles and thin films of metallic and chloride nickel from solutions of only precursor Ni(acac)₂ (acac=2,4-pentandionato). Metallic nickel was obtained from ethanol solutions by direct nickel(II) photoreduction at 254 nm and by acetone sensitised reaction at 300 nm. In this latter process the rate was higher than in the first one. NiCl₂ was formed from CCl₄ solution by a solvent-initiated reaction. TEM analysis, performed on colloidal particles of nickel, showed that their dimensions are in the range 2–4 nm. The films did not present carbon contamination and were characterized by AFM, XPS and GIXRD. Metallic films consisted of particles of 20–40 nm that are the result of the aggregation of smaller crystallites (4–5 nm). Larger agglomerations (around 200 nm) have been observed for NiCl₂ films.     

The influence of glass coating on the single domain wall potential in amorphous glass-coated Fe-based microwires

The effect of the glass coating on the single domain wall potential in amorphous glass-coated Fe-based microwire has been studied by the switching field distribution technique. The thermoactivated mechanism model is used to describe the thermally activated switching through the complex energy barrier in amorphous FeSiB microwires. Glass removal leads to the increase of the probability of the thermally activated switching pointing to the decrease of the energy barrier.     

Impairment of mitochondrial calcium handling in a mtSOD1 cell culture model of motoneuron disease

Background  

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective loss of motor neurons (MN) in the brain stem and spinal cord. Intracellular disruptions of cytosolic and mitochondrial calcium have been associated with selective MN degeneration, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. The present evidence supports a hypothesis that mitochondria are a target of mutant SOD1-mediated toxicity in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) and intracellular alterations of cytosolic and mitochondrial calcium might aggravate the course of this neurodegenerative disease. In this study, we used a fluorescence charged cool device (CCD) imaging system to separate and simultaneously monitor cytosolic and mitochondrial calcium concentrations in individual cells in an established cellular model of ALS.     

The Electron Density is Smooth Away from the Nuclei

We prove that the electron densities of electronic eigenfunctions of atoms and molecules are smooth away from the nuclei.     

Hypoxia-induced transcription of dopamine D3 and D4 receptors in human neuroblastoma and astrocytoma cells

Background

The aim of this study is to examine the influence of the catechol-O-methyltranferase (COMT) gene (polymorphism Val158 Met) as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment of amnesic type (MCI), and its synergistic effect with the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE). A total of 223 MCI patients, 345 AD and 253 healthy controls were analyzed. Clinical criteria and neuropsychological tests were used to establish diagnostic groups. The DNA Bank of the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU) (Spain) determined COMT Val158 Met and APOE genotypes using real time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLPs), respectively. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to determine the risk of AD and MCI.

Results

Neither COMT alleles nor genotypes were independent risk factors for AD or MCI. The high activity genotypes (GG and AG) showed a synergistic effect with APOE ε4 allele, increasing the risk of AD (OR = 5.96, 95%CI 2.74-12.94, p < 0.001 and OR = 6.71, 95%CI 3.36-13.41, p < 0.001 respectivily). In AD patients this effect was greater in women. In MCI patients such as synergistic effect was only found between AG and APOE ε4 allele (OR = 3.21 95%CI 1.56-6.63, p = 0.02) and was greater in men (OR = 5.88 95%CI 1.69-20.42, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

COMT (Val158 Met) polymorphism is not an independent risk factor for AD or MCI, but shows a synergistic effect with APOE ε4 allele that proves greater in women with AD.     

Cytogenetics of four Omophoita species (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Alticinae): A comparative analysis using mitotic and meiotic cells submitted to the standard staining and C-banding technique

Omophoita belongs to the tribe Oedionychini and is endemic from Neotropical region. The species of the tribe Oedionychini have revealed certain singular chromosomal features, such as sex chromosomes with extremely large size, asynapsis, and synthelic or amphithelic orientation during meiosis. Additionally, some species also showed post-reductional segregation of the gigantic sex chromosomes in meiotic division. The purpose of this work was to characterize cytogenetically four Omophoita species (O. magniguttis, O. octoguttata, O. personata, and O. sexnotata) in relation to their diploid number, chromosomal morphology, type of sex chromosome system, and constitutive heterochromatin pattern in mitotic and meiotic cells, and compare the obtained data with those of related species to establish the mechanism involved in the chromosomal differentiation of these species during the evolutionary process. The diploid number, 2n = 22 = 20 + X + y, and meiotic formulae, 10II + X + y, observed in these species were similar to those of the same genus and other species related. The autosomal morphology was acrocentric in O. magniguttis and O. octoguttata, metacentric in O. personata, and predominantly metacentric in O. sexnotata. In all these species, the sex chromosomes were metacentric. The secondary constriction occurred in pair 6 and X chromosome of O. personata, and in pair 6 and y chromosome of O. sexnotata. The constitutive heterochromatin was pericentromeric in O. magniguttis and centromeric in O. sexnotata, with the exception of the mitotic sex chromosomes of O. sexnotata, in which centromeric C band was lacking. Additional C bands in the sex chromosomes of O. magniguttis and certain autosomes and sex chromosomes of O. sexnotata were observed. Collochores were indirectly identified in the spermatocytes of O. octoguttata, O. personata, and O. sexnotata. The main mechanisms involved in the karyotype evolution of these species were discussed.     

Evolution of the ring-like vortices and spike structure in transitional boundary layers

At the late stage of transitional boundary layers, the nonlinear evolution of the ring-like vortices and spike structures and their effects on the surrounding flow were studied by means of direct numerical simulation with high order accuracy. A spatial transition of the flat-plate boundary layers in the compressible flow was conducted. Detailed numerical results with high resolution clearly represented the typical vortex structures, such as ring-like vortices and so on, and induced ejection and sweep events...     

Positive Solutions of Singular and Nonsingular Fredholm Integral Equations

The existence of positive solutions of the Fredholm nonlinear equation y(t) = h(t) + ∫^T₀k(t, s)[f(y(s)) + g(y(s))] ds is discussed. It is assumed that f is a continuous, nondecreasing function and g is continuous, nonincreasing, and possibly singular.     

On Possible Singular Solutions to the Navier — Stokes Equations

In this paper, we exclude the possibility of existence of a singular solution of the selfsimilar type proposed by Jean Leray More precisely, using a slightly stronger hypothesis we give a simpler proof to the analogous result established by J. Ne?as, M. Rú?i?ka and V. ?verák. We also discuss the possible existence of a singular solution of pseudo-selfsimilar type.