Wide range and tunable linear TMR sensor using two exchange pinned electrodes

A magnetic tunnel junction sensor is proposed, with both the detection and the reference layers pinned by IrMn. Using the differences in the blocking temperatures of the IrMn films with different thicknesses, crossed anisotropies can be induced between the detection and the reference electrodes. The pinning of the sensing electrode ensures a linear and reversible output. It also allows tuning both the sensitivity and the linear range of the sensor. The authors show that the sensitivity varies linearly with the ferromagnetic thickness of the detection electrode. It is demonstrated that an increased thickness leads to a rise of sensitivity and a reduction of the operating range

Shifting CCR7 towards Its Monomeric Form Augments CCL19 Binding and Uptake.

The chemokine receptor CCR7, together with its ligands, is responsible for the migration and positioning of adaptive immune cells, and hence critical for launching adaptive immune responses. CCR7 is also induced on certain cancer cells and contributes to metastasis formation. Thus, CCR7 expression and signalling must be tightly regulated for proper function. CCR7, like many other members of the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily, can form homodimers and oligomers. Notably, danger signals associated with pathogen encounter promote oligomerisation of CCR7 and is considered as one layer of regulating its function. Here, we assessed the dimerisation of human CCR7 and several single point mutations using split-luciferase complementation assays. We demonstrate that dimerisation-defective CCR7 mutants can be transported to the cell surface and elicit normal chemokine-driven G-protein activation. By contrast, we discovered that CCR7 mutants whose expression are shifted towards monomers significantly augment their capacities to bind and internalise fluorescently labelled CCL19. Modeling of the receptor suggests that dimerisation-defective CCR7 mutants render the extracellular loops more flexible and less structured, such that the chemokine recognition site located in the binding pocket might become more accessible to its ligand. Overall, we provide new insights into how the dimerisation state of CCR7 affects CCL19 binding and receptor trafficking

Coulomb-U and magnetic moment collapse in δ\delta-Pu

The around-the-mean-field version of the LDA+U method is applied to investigate electron correlation effects in $\delta$-Pu. It yields a non-magnetic ground state of $\delta-$Pu, and provides a good agreement with experimental equilibrium volume, bulk modulus and explains important features of the photoelectron spectra

FastaValidator: an open-source Java library to parse and validate FASTA formatted sequences

Background: Advances in sequencing technologies challenge the efficient importing and validation of FASTA formatted sequence data which is still a prerequisite for most bioinformatic tools and pipelines. Comparative analysis of commonly used Bio*-frameworks (BioPerl, BioJava and Biopython) shows that their scalability and accuracy is hampered. Findings: FastaValidator represents a platform-independent, standardized, light-weight software library written in the Java programming language. It targets computer scientists and bioinformaticians writing software which needs to parse quickly and accurately large amounts of sequence data. For end-users FastaValidator includes an interactive out-of-the-box validation of FASTA formatted files, as well as a non-interactive mode designed for high-throughput validation in software pipelines. Conclusions: The accuracy and performance of the FastaValidator library qualifies it for large data sets such as those commonly produced by massive parallel (NGS) technologies. It offers scientists a fast, accurate and standardized method for parsing and validating FASTA formatted sequence data

Distinct Fates of Chemokine and Surrogate Molecule Gradients: Consequences for CCR7-Guided Dendritic Cell Migration.

Chemokine-guided leukocyte migration is a hallmark of the immune system to cope with invading pathogens. Intruder confronted dendritic cells (DCs) induce the expression of the chemokine receptor CCR7, which enables them to sense and migrate along chemokine gradients to home to draining lymph nodes, where they launch an adaptive immune response. Chemokine-mediated DC migration is recapitulated and intensively studied in 3D matrix migration chambers. A major caveat in the field is that chemokine gradient formation and maintenance in such 3D environments is generally not assessed. Instead, fluorescent probes, mostly labelled dextran, are used as surrogate molecules, thereby neglecting important electrochemical properties of the chemokines. Here, we used site-specifically, fluorescently labelled CCL19 and CCL21 to study the establishment and shape of the chemokine gradients over time in the 3D collagen matrix. We demonstrate that CCL19 and particularly CCL21 establish stable, but short-distance spanning gradients with an exponential decay-like shape. By contrast, dextran with its neutral surface charge forms a nearly linear gradient across the entire matrix. We show that the charged C-terminal tail of CCL21, known to interact with extracellular matrix proteins, is determinant for shaping the chemokine gradient. Importantly, DCs sense differences in the shape of CCL19 and CCL21 gradients, resulting in distinct spatial migratory responses

High-resolution modelling of interactions between soil moisture and convective development in a mountain enclosed Tibetan Basin

Abstract. The Tibetan Plateau plays a significant role in atmospheric circulation and the Asian monsoon system. Turbulent surface fluxes and the evolution of boundary-layer clouds to deep and moist convection provide a feedback system that modifies the plateau's surface energy balance on scales that are currently unresolved in mesoscale models. This work analyses the land surface's role and specifically the influence of soil moisture on the triggering of convection at a cross section of the Nam Co Lake basin, 150 km north of Lhasa using a cloud-resolving atmospheric model with a fully coupled surface. The modelled turbulent fluxes and development of convection compare reasonably well with the observed weather. The simulations span Bowen ratios of 0.5 to 2.5. It is found that convective development is the strongest at intermediate soil moisture. Dry cases with soils close to the permanent wilting point are moisture limited in convective development, while convection in wet soil moisture cases is limited by cloud cover reducing incoming solar radiation and sensible heat fluxes, which has a strong impact on the surface energy balance. This study also shows that local development of convection is an important mechanism for the upward transport of water vapour, which originates from the lake basin that can then be transported to dryer regions of the plateau. Both processes demonstrate the importance of soil moisture and surface–atmosphere interactions on the energy and hydrological cycles of the Tibetan Plateau. This research was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Priority Programme 1372 “Tibetan Plateau: Formation, Climate, Ecosystems” as part of the Atmosphere–Ecology–Glaciology–Cluster (TiP-AEG): FO 226/18- 1,2. The work described in this publication has been supported by the European Commission (Call FP7-ENV-2007-1 grant no. 212921) as part of the CEOP-AEGIS project coordinated by the University of Strasbourg. The map of Nam Co was produced by Sophie Biskop (University of Jena) and Jan Kropacek (University of Tübingen) within DFG-TiP and Phil Stickler of the Cambridge Geography Department Cartography Unit. This publication was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the University of Bayreuth in the funding programme Open-Access Publishing.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from European Geosciences Union via http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4023-201

"Ich wußt' ja selber, daß ich nicht grad der Beste bin ... ": zur Abkühlungsproblematik bei Mißerfolg im schulischen und beruflichen Bildungssystem

"Das vorliegende Arbeitspapier, welches im Rahmen des Sfb 186 entstanden ist, behandelt die Verarbeitung schulischer Selektionserfahrungen sowie die Bewältigungsstrategien an der 1. Schwelle des Übergangs in das Beschäftigungssystem kurz nach Schulabgang. Neben differenzierenden Einsichten zum theoretischen Ansatz enthält es insbesondere eine fallnahe Darstellung des variantenreichen Verhältnisses von institutioneller Selektion und individuellen Folgerungen.

Glutathione-S-transferase subtypes α and π as a tool to predict and monitor graft failure or regeneration in a pilot study of living donor liver transplantation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) subtype α and π are differentially expressed in adult liver tissue. Objective of the study was if GST α and p may serve as predictive markers for liver surgery, especially transplantations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>13 patients receiving living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and their corresponding donors were analyzed for standard serum parameters (ALT, AST, gGT, bilirubin) as well as GST-α and -π before LDLT and daily for 10 days after LDLT. Patients (R) and donors (D) were grouped according to graft loss (R1/D1) or positive outcome (R2/D2) and above named serum parameters were compared between the groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>R1 showed significantly increased GST-α and significantly lower GST-π levels than R2 patients or the donors. There was a positive correlation between GST-α and ALT, AST as well as bilirubin and a negative correlation to γGT. However, γGT correlated positively with GST-π. Graft failure was associated with combined low GST-π levels in donors and their recipients before living donor liver transplantation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data suggest that high GST-α serum levels reflect ongoing liver damage while GST-P indicates the capacity and process of liver regeneration. Additionally, GST-π may be useful as marker for optimizing donor and recipient pairs in living donor liver transplantation.</p

A Rare Case of Propofol-Induced Acute Liver Failure and Literature Review

The incidence of drug-induced acute liver failure is increasing. A number of drugs can inhibit mitochondrial functions, alter β-oxidation and cause accumulation of free fatty acids within the hepatocytes. This may result in hepatic steatosis, cell death and liver injury. In our case, propofol, an anesthetic drug commonly used in adults and children, is suspected to have induced disturbance of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, which in consequence led to insufficient energy supply and finally liver failure. We report the case of a 35-year-old Caucasian woman with acute liver failure after anesthesia for stripping of varicose veins. Liver histology, imaging and laboratory data indicate drug-induced acute liver failure, presumably due to propofol. Hepatocyte death and microvesicular fatty degeneration of 90% of the liver parenchyma were observed before treatment with steroids. Six months later, a second biopsy was performed, which revealed only minimal steatosis and minimal periportal hepatitis. We suggest that propofol led to impaired fatty acid oxidation possibly due to a genetic susceptibility. This caused free fatty acid accumulation within hepatocytes, which presented as hepatocellular fatty degeneration and cell death. Large scale hepatocyte death was followed by impaired liver function and, consecutively, progressed to acute liver failure

Turbulent flux modelling with a simple 2-layer soil model and extrapolated surface temperature applied at Nam Co Lake basin on the Tibetan Plateau

This paper introduces a surface model with two soil-layers for use in a high-resolution circulation model that has been modified with an extrapolated surface temperature, to be used for the calculation of turbulent fluxes. A quadratic temperature profile based on the layer mean and base temperature is assumed in each layer and extended to the surface. The model is tested at two sites on the Tibetan Plateau near Nam Co Lake during four days during the 2009 Monsoon season. In comparison to a two-layer model without explicit surface temperature estimate, there is a greatly reduced delay in diurnal flux cycles and the modelled surface temperature is much closer to observations. Comparison with a SVAT model and eddy covariance measurements shows an overall reasonable model performance based on RMSD and cross correlation comparisons between the modified and original model. A potential limitation of the model is the need for careful initialisation of the initial soil temperature profile, that requires field measurements. We show that the modified model is capable of reproducing fluxes of similar magnitudes and dynamics when compared to more complex methods chosen as a reference