Porphyrin-templated synthetic G-quartet (PorphySQ): a second prototype of G-quartet-based G-quadruplex ligand

Template-assembled synthetic G-quartet (TASQ) has been reported recently as a G-quadruplex ligand interacting with DNA according to an unprecedented, nature-inspired 'like likes like' approach, based on the association between two G-quartets, one being native (quadruplex) and the other one artificial (ligand). Herein, a novel TASQ-based ligand is designed, synthesized and its quadruplex-recognition properties are evaluated in vitro: PorphySQ (for porphyrin-templated synthetic G-quartet) displays enhanced quadruplex recognition properties as compared to the very first reported prototype (DOTASQ, for DOTA-templated synthetic G-quartet), since the porphyrin template insures a more stable intramolecular G-quartet fold due to self-stabilizing interactions that may take place intramolecularly between the porphyrin ring and the formed G-quartet.     

Existence and regularity of maximal metrics for the first Laplace eigenvalue on surfaces

We investigate in this paper the existence of a metric which maximizes the first eigenvalue of the Laplacian on Riemannian surfaces. We first prove that, in a given conformal class, there always exists such a maximizing metric which is smooth except at a finite set of conical singularities. This result is similar to the beautiful result concerning Steklov eigenvalues recently obtained by Fraser and Schoen (Sharp eigenvalue bounds and minimal surfaces in the ball, 2013). Then we get existence results among all metrics on surfaces of a given genus, leading to the existence of minimal isometric immersions of smooth compact Riemannian manifold (M, g) of dimension 2 into some k-sphere by first eigenfunctions. At last, we also answer a conjecture of Friedlander and Nadirashvili (Int Math Res Not 17:939–952, 1999) which asserts that the supremum of the first eigenvalue of the Laplacian on a conformal class can be taken as close as we want of its value on the sphere on any orientable surface.     

Electrical parameters of Schottky contacts in CaCu3Ti4O12 thin film capacitors

CaCu₃T_i4O₁₂ (CCTO) thin films were grown by pulsed laser deposition on Pt and La_0.9Sr_1.1NiO₄ (LSNO) bottom electrodes. The electrical characteristics of the CCTO/Pt and CCTO/LSNO Schottky junctions have been analyzed by impedance spectroscopy, capacitance–voltage (C–V) and current–voltage (I–V) measurements as a function of frequency (40 Hz–1 MHz) and temperature (300–475 K). Similar results were obtained for the two Schottky diodes. The conduction mechanism through the Schottky junctions was described using a thermionic emission model and the electrical parameters were determined. The strong deviation from the ideal I–V characteristics and the increase in capacitance at low frequency for ?0.5 V bias are in agreement with the presence of traps near the interfaces. Results point toward the important effect of defects generated at the interface by deposition of CCTO.     

Impact of process factors on the performance of hole array metallic filters

In this work, we evaluate through rigorous coupled-wave analysis simulations the effect of various process-related inaccuracies on plasmonic filters performance, especially regarding cross-shaped-hole arrays. Focusing exclusively on CMOS-compatible materials, we demonstrate the potential of these structures for reliable integration and fabrication at wafer level. A high monitoring of the deposition parameters is required to control the transmission level and the resonant wavelength of the filters. Optical proximity calculations show that double patterning is a way to limit corner rounding and to avoid losing the resonant mode of the crosses. The impacts on plasmon resonances of the metal oxidation, or a sloped profile after metal etching, are evaluated. These results allow for a good anticipation regarding process issues to realize efficient plasmonic filters.     

Asymptotically Hyperbolic Manifolds with Small Mass

For asymptotically hyperbolic manifolds of dimension n with scalar curvature at least equal to ?n(n ? 1) the conjectured positive mass theorem states that the mass is non-negative, and vanishes only if the manifold is isometric to hyperbolic space. In this paper we study asymptotically hyperbolic manifolds which are also conformally hyperbolic outside a ball of fixed radius, and for which the positive mass theorem holds. For such manifolds we show that the conformal factor tends to one as the mass tends to zero.     

Conformal Compactification of Asymptotically Locally Hyperbolic Metrics II: Weakly ALH Metrics

In this paper we pursue the work initiated in [6 Bahuaud , E. ( 2009 ). Intrinsic characterization for Lipschitz asymptotically hyperbolic metrics . Pacific J. Math. 239 : 231 – 249 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], 7 Bahuaud , E. , Gicquaud , R. ( 2011 ). Conformal compactification of asymptotically locally hyperbolic metrics . J. Geom. Anal. 21 : 1085 – 1118 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]]: study the extent to which conformally compact asymptotically hyperbolic metrics can be characterized intrinsically. We show how the decay rate of the sectional curvature to ?1 controls the Hölder regularity of the compactified metric. To this end, we construct harmonic coordinates that satisfy some Neumann-type condition at infinity. Combined with a new integration argument, this permits us to recover to a large extent our previous result without any decay assumption on the covariant derivatives of the Riemann tensor.     

Influence of processing parameters on regeneration kinetics and morphology of porous cellulose from cellulose–NaOH–water solutions

The kinetics of cellulose regeneration in acetic acid bath from cellulose–8% NaOH–water solutions and gels is studied as a function of gelation conditions, acid concentration and bath temperature. The diffusion coefficient of NaOH from cellulose solution or gel into regenerating bath was calculated. It does not depend either on gelation mode or on acid concentration. On the contrary, cellulose regeneration from non-gelled solutions is slower than from a gel. The increase in bath temperature induces diffusion coefficient increase obeying Arrhenius law. Scanning electron microscopy images of regenerated swollen-in-water freeze-dried cellulose and of the same samples dried in supercritical CO₂ show highly porous morphology. CEMEF is a Member of the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE), .