Amine-induced growth of an In2O3 shell on colloidal InP nanocrystals

A simple and rapid method for the growth of an In2O3 shell on colloidal InP nanocrystals is described, increasing their fluorescence efficiency by one order of magnitude.     

Exploring the functional interaction between POSH and ALIX and the relevance to HIV-1 release

Background

The ALG2-interacting protein X (ALIX)/AIP1 is an adaptor protein with multiple functions in intracellular protein trafficking that plays a central role in the biogenesis of enveloped viruses. The ubiquitin E3-ligase POSH (plenty of SH3) augments HIV-1 egress by facilitating the transport of Gag to the cell membrane. Recently, it was reported, that POSH interacts with ALIX and thereby enhances ALIX mediated phenotypes in Drosophila.

Results

In this study we identified ALIX as a POSH ubiquitination substrate in human cells: POSH induces the ubiquitination of ALIX that is modified on several lysine residues in vivo and in vitro. This ubiquitination does not destabilize ALIX, suggesting a regulatory function. As it is well established that ALIX rescues virus release of L-domain mutant HIV-1, HIV-1Δ_PTAP, we demonstrated that wild type POSH, but not an ubiquitination inactive RING finger mutant (POSH^V14A), substantially enhances ALIX-mediated release of infectious virions derived from HIV-1Δ_PTAP L-domain mutant (YPX_nL-dependent HIV-1). In further agreement with the idea of a cooperative function of POSH and ALIX, mutating the YPX_nL-ALIX binding site in Gag completely abrogated augmentation of virus release by overexpression of POSH. However, the effect of the POSH-mediated ubiquitination appears to be auxiliary, but not necessary, as silencing of POSH by RNAi does not disturb ALIX-augmentation of virus release.

Conclusion

Thus, the cumulative results identified ALIX as an ubiquitination substrate of POSH and indicate that POSH and ALIX cooperate to facilitate efficient virus release. However, while ALIX is obligatory for the release of YPX_nL-dependent HIV-1, POSH, albeit rate-limiting, may be functionally interchangeable.     

Adsorption and fluctuations of giant liposomes studied by electrochemical impedance measurements

The present study describes a novel approach based on electrochemical impedance measurements to follow the adsorption of giant liposomes on protein-coated solid surfaces with a time resolution in the order of seconds. The technical key features are circular gold-film electrodes as small as a few hundred micrometers in diameter and measurements of the electrode capacitance using AC signals in the kilohertz regime. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we were able to support the experiments and extract the rate constant of liposome adsorption. Besides monitoring the adsorption of liposomes on protein-coated surfaces, we also applied this technique to study shape fluctuations of the adsorbed vesicles and compared the corresponding power spectra with those recorded for hard particles and living animal cells.     

Apparent entropy,residual entropy,causality, metastability,constraints, and the glass transition

A thermodynamic framework for the investigation of ‘residual entropy’ and related phenomena is developed, expanding and clarifying the work of Kivelson and Reiss and the important work of several other investigators. The main difficulties encountered in the development of such a framework are the need to deal with constrained equilibrium as well as to include irreversible processes in the overall study. These challenges are met by using the device of auxiliary constraints and the equivalent equilibrated states that they produce. The importance of a thermodynamic framework is tied to the fact that evolving molecular theories of residual entropy, which also impact the glass transition, no matter how sophisticated, invariably contain approximations whose effects are hard to assess. Thus a thermodynamic framework provides a vehicle within which the internal consistency of a theory can be tested. Phenomena that are treated in such a framework, along with others, are those mentioned in the title of this paper. The concept of residual entropy, its reality or unreality, is often considered to be an unimportant issue. The findings of this paper, besides emphasizing the unreality of residual entropy, show that the question of its existence is a significant one. Among other things, the fundamental principle of causality is involved and we should not be so cavalier as to dispense with it. Among other rigorous analysis we present an argument involving an ideal binary solution whose behavior as the limiting behavior of a real solution provides access, in principle, to experiment. The argument does make the generally accepted assumption that, at equilibrium at 0 K, pure crystals of the binary system’s components have zero entropy. It strongly suggests that residual entropy, in general, is an impression that stems from the inclusion of an irreversible step in an experimental thermodynamic cycle.     

The J = 2 ortho levels of the v = 0 to 6 np singlet Rydberg series of molecular hydrogen revisited

The energies of the J = 2 ortho levels of the v = 0 to 6 Rydberg np singlet series of molecular hydrogen with absolute intensities of the R(1) and P(3) absorption lines were measured by a high-resolution synchrotron radiation experiment and calculated through a full ab initio multi-channel quantum defect approach.     

A Linear Model for the Interpretation of Optical Emission Spectroscopy Measurements in Low Pressure DC Magnetron Sputtering

For a balanced dc magnetron discharge a linear model for the formation of excited and ionized species is presented. The consideration is based on collisional kinetic theory and a correlation of discharge current with ionization rates, and leads to normalized rate coefficients. The electron energy distribution changes according to the determining external parameters, but needs neither to be known in detail nor to be of Maxwellian type. The model calculations are consistent with measurements done by optical emission spectroscopy (OES) on the magnetron sputtering of aluminium in argon discharges. The dependences of optical emission intensities on discharge current and on argon pressure show that both, excited argon atoms as well as excited argon ions, are generated from neutral argon by direct, fast electron impact. It is additionally shown that at least for low argon pressure the excitation of aluminium atoms is also caused by direct electron impact.     

The teaching of proof at the lower secondary level—a video study

Teaching mathematical proof is one of the most challenging topics for teachers. Several empirical studies revealed repeatedly different kinds of students’ problems in this area. The results give support that students’ abilities in proving are significantly influenced by their specific mathematics classrooms. In this paper we will present a method for evaluating proof instruction and some results of a video study that describe proving processes in mathematics classrooms at the lower secondary level from a mathematical perspective.     

Sharp rates of convergence of maximum likelihood estimators in nonparametric models

Summary Sharp rates of convergence of maximum likelihood estimators are established in models which are defined by probability densities having bounded derivatives. This result is achieved by making use of local properties of the empirical distribution function.