750 research outputs found
Chirality in Bare and Passivated Gold Nanoclusters
Chiral structures have been found as the lowest-energy isomers of bare
(Au and Au_{28}(SCH_{16}_{38}(SCH_{3})_{24}) gold nanoclusters. The degree of chirality existing in
the chiral clusters was calculated using the Hausdorff chirality measure. We
found that the index of chirality is higher in the passivated clusters and
decreases with the cluster size. These results are consistent with the observed
chiroptical activity recently reported for glutahione-passivated gold
nanoclusters, and provide theoretical support for the existence of chirality in
these novel compounds.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure. Submitted to PR
Frizzled-8 integrates Wnt-11 and transforming growth factor-β signaling in prostate cancer
Wnt-11 promotes cancer cell migration and invasion independently of β-catenin but the receptors involved remain unknown. Here, we provide evidence that FZD8 is a major Wnt-11 receptor in prostate cancer that integrates Wnt-11 and TGF-β signals to promote EMT. FZD8 mRNA is upregulated in multiple prostate cancer datasets and in metastatic cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Analysis of patient samples reveals increased levels of FZD8 in cancer, correlating with Wnt-11. FZD8 co-localizes and co-immunoprecipitates with Wnt-11 and potentiates Wnt-11 activation of ATF2-dependent transcription. FZD8 silencing reduces prostate cancer cell migration, invasion, three-dimensional (3D) organotypic cell growth, expression of EMT-related genes, and TGF-β/Smad-dependent signaling. Mechanistically, FZD8 forms a TGF-β-regulated complex with TGF-β receptors that is mediated by the extracellular domains of FZD8 and TGFBR1. Targeting FZD8 may therefore inhibit aberrant activation of both Wnt and TGF-β signals in prostate cancer
Structural and energetic properties of nickel clusters:
The four most stable structures of Ni clusters with from 2 to 150
have been determined using a combination of the embedded-atom method in the
version of Daw, Baskes and Foiles, the {\it variable metric/quasi-Newton}
method, and our own {\it Aufbau/Abbau} method. A systematic study of
energetics, structure, growth, and stability of also larger clusters has been
carried through without more or less severe assumptions on the initial
geometries in the structure optimization, on the symmetry, or on bond lengths.
It is shown that cluster growth is predominantly icosahedral with of
{\it fcc}, {\it tetrahedral} and {\it decahedral} growth. For the first time in
unbiased computations it is found that Ni is the multilayer (third
Mackay) icosahedron. Further, we point to an enhanced ability of {\it fcc}
clusters to compete with the icosahedral and decahedral structures in the
vicinity of N=79. In addition, it is shown that conversion from the {\it
hcp}/anti-Mackay kind of icosahedral growth to the {\it fcc}/Mackay one occurs
within a transition layer including several cluster sizes. Moreover, we present
and apply different analytical tools in studying structural and energetic
properties of such a large class of clusters. These include means for
identifying the overall shape, the occurrence of atomic shells, the similarity
of the clusters with, e.g., fragments of the {\it fcc} crystal or of a large
icosahedral cluster, and a way of analysing whether the -atom cluster can be
considered constructed from the -atom one by adding an extra atom. In
addition, we compare in detail with results from chemical-probe experiment.
Maybe the most central result is that first for clusters with above 80
general trends can be identified.Comment: 37 pages, 11 figure
A major star formation region in the receding tip of the stellar Galactic bar. II. Supplementary information and evidence that the bar is not the same structure as the triaxial bulge previouly reported
This paper is the second part of Garzon et al. (1997: ApJ 491, L31) in which
we presented an outline of the analysis of 60 spectra from a follow-up program
to the Two Micron Galactic Survey (TMGS) project in the l=27 deg., b=0 deg.
area. In this second part, we present a more detailed explanation of the
analysis as well a library of the spectra for more complete information for
each of the 60 stars, and further discussions on the implications for the
structure of the Galaxy.
This region contains a prominent excess in the flux distribution and star
counts previously observed in several spectral ranges, notably in the TMGS.
More than 50% of the spectra of the stars detected with m_K<5.0 mag, within a
very high confidence level, correspond to stars of luminosity class I, and a
significant proportion of the remainder are very late giants which must also be
rapidly evolving. We make the case, using all the available evidence, that we
are observing a region at the nearer end of the Galactic bar, where the Scutum
spiral arm breaks away, and that this is powerful evidence for the presence of
the bar. Alternative explanations do not give nearly such a satisfactory
account of the observations.
The space localization of one and, a fortiori, of both ends of the bar allows
us to infer a position angle for the bar of around 75 deg. with respect to the
Sun-Galactic centre line. The angle is different from that given by other
authors for the bar and this, we think, is because they refer to the triaxial
bulge and not to the bar as detected here.Comment: 21 pages, 1 table, 9 figures, accepted in A
A major star formation region in the receding tip of the stellar Galactic bar
We present an analysis of the optical spectroscopy of 58 stars in the
Galactic plane at \arcdeg, where a prominent excess in the flux
distribution and star counts have been observed in several spectral regions, in
particular in the Two Micron Galactic Survey (TMGS) catalog. The sources were
selected from the TMGS, to have a magnitude brighter than +5 mag and be
within 2 degrees of the Galactic plane. More than 60% of the spectra correspond
to stars of luminosity class I, and a significant proportion of the remainder
are very late giants which would also be fast evolving. This very high
concentration of young sources points to the existence of a major star
formation region in the Galactic plane, located just inside the assumed origin
of the Scutum spiral arm. Such regions can form due to the concentrations of
shocked gas where a galactic bar meets a spiral arm, as is observed at the ends
of the bars of face-on external galaxies. Thus, the presence of a massive star
formation region is very strong supporting evidence for the presence of a bar
in our Galaxy.Comment: 13 pages (latex) + 4 figures (eps), accepted in ApJ Let
Stiff monatomic gold wires with a spinning zigzag geometry
Using first principles density functional calculations, gold monatomic wires
are found to exhibit a zigzag shape which remains under tension, becoming
linear just before breaking. At room temperature they are found to spin, what
explains the extremely long apparent interatomic distances shown by electron
microscopy.The zigzag structure is stable if the tension is relieved, the wire
holding its chainlike shape even as a free-standing cluster. This unexpected
metallic-wire stiffness stems from the transverse quantization in the wire, as
shown in a simple free electron model.Comment: 4 pages, latex, 5 figures, submitted to PR
Plasmin activity in Manchega ewe milk: The effect of lactation, parity and health of the udder, and its influence on milk composition and rennet coagulation
Milk from 40 Manchega ewes was collected monthly and analysed during a complete lactation (5 months). Milk samples were classified by their origin in 3 categories, termed PR (primiparous ewes), M1 (multiparous ewes with no damage of the udder in the previous lactation) and M2 (multiparous ewes with udder damage in the previous lactation). The influence on plasmin of several factors as stage of lactation, parity, somatic cell count and udder health status was studied, as well as the effect of plasmin activity on milk composition and rennet coagulation. Plasmin activity decreased throughout lactation but was not affected by parity or somatic cell count (P > 0.05). A strong negative correlation was found between plasmin activity and protein (especially casein), presumably due to the proteolysis of ß-casein. Plasmin also worsened rennet coagulation, increasing rennet clotting time (RCT) and negatively affecting curd firmness (A60), especially in multiparous ewes. However, the good health condition in the herd may have camouflaged some effects of plasmin over renneting
A QM/MM approach for the study of monolayer-protected gold clusters
We report the development and implementation of hybrid methods that combine
quantum mechanics (QM) with molecular mechanics (MM) to theoretically
characterize thiolated gold clusters. We use, as training systems, structures
such as Au25(SCH2-R)18 and Au38(SCH2-R)24, which can be readily compared with
recent crystallographic data. We envision that such an approach will lead to an
accurate description of key structural and electronic signatures at a fraction
of the cost of a full quantum chemical treatment. As an example, we demonstrate
that calculations of the 1H and 13C NMR shielding constants with our proposed
QM/MM model maintain the qualitative features of a full DFT calculation, with
an order-of-magnitude increase in computational efficiency.Comment: Journal of Materials Science, 201
Granzyme A inhibition reduces inflammation and increases survival during abdominal sepsis
Aims: Peritonitis is one of the most common causes of sepsis, a serious syndrome characterized by a dysregulated systemic inflammatory response. Recent evidence suggests that Granzyme A (GzmA), a serine protease mainly expressed by NK and T cells, could act as a proinflammatory mediator and could play an important role in the pathogenesis of sepsis. This work aims to analyze the role and the therapeutic potential of GzmA in the pathogenesis of peritoneal sepsis. Methods: The level of extracellular GzmA as well as GzmA activity were analyzed in serum from healthy volunteers and patients with confirmed peritonitis and were correlated with the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. Peritonitis was induced in C57Bl/6 (WT) and GzmA-/- mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Mice were treated intraperitoneally with antibiotics alone or in combination serpinb6b, a specific GzmA inhibitor, for 5 days. Mouse survival was monitored during 14 days, levels of some proinflammatory cytokines were measured in serum and bacterial load and diversity was analyzed in blood and spleen at different times. Results: Clinically, elevated GzmA was observed in serum from patients with abdominal sepsis suggesting that GzmA plays an important role in this pathology. In the CLP model GzmA deficient mice, or WT mice treated with an extracellular GzmA inhibitor, showed increased survival, which correlated with a reduction in proinflammatory markers in both serum and peritoneal lavage fluid. GzmA deficiency did not influence bacterial load in blood and spleen and GzmA did not affect bacterial replication in macrophages in vitro, indicating that GzmA has no role in bacterial control. Analysis of GzmA in lymphoid cells following CLP showed that it was mainly expressed by NK cells. Mechanistically, we found that extracellular active GzmA acts as a proinflammatory mediator in macrophages by inducing the TLR4-dependent expression of IL-6 and TNFa. Conclusions: Our findings implicate GzmA as a key regulator of the inflammatory response during abdominal sepsis and provide solid evidences about its therapeutic potential for the treatment of this severe pathology
An upper limit on hypertriton production in collisions of Ar(1.76 AGeV)+KCl
A high-statistic data sample of Ar(1.76 AGeV)+KCl events recorded with HADES
is used to search for a hypertriton signal. An upper production limit per
centrality-triggered event of x on the level is
derived. Comparing this value with the number of successfully reconstructed
hyperons allows to determine an upper limit on the ratio
, which is confronted with statistical and
coalescence-type model calculations
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