Evolution of Non-Equilibrium Profile in Adsorbate Layer under Compressive Strain

We investigate the time evolution of an initial step profile separating a bare substrate region from the rest of the compressively strained adsorbate layer near a commensurate to incommensurate transition. The rate of profile evolution as a function of the mismatch, coverage and the strength of the substrate potential are determined by Brownian molecular dynamics simulations. We find that the results are qualitatively similar to those observed for the Pb/Si(111) system. The anomalously fast time evolution and sharpness of the non-equilibrium profile can be understood through the domain wall creation at the boundary and its subsequent diffusion into the interior of the adsorbate layer.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, Tribology Letter

The Atp-dependent Rna Helicase Hrpb Plays An Important Role In Motility And Biofilm Formation In Xanthomonas Citri Subsp. Citri

Background: RNA helicases are enzymes that catalyze the separation of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) using the free energy of ATP binding and hydrolysis. DEAD/DEAH families participate in many different aspects of RNA metabolism, including RNA synthesis, RNA folding, RNA-RNA interactions, RNA localization and RNA degradation. Several important bacterial DEAD/DEAH-box RNA helicases have been extensively studied. In this study, we characterize the ATP-dependent RNA helicase encoded by the hrpB (XAC0293) gene using deletion and genetic complementation assays. We provide insights into the function of the hrpB gene in Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri by investigating the roles of hrpB in biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces and host leaves, cell motility, host virulence of the citrus canker bacterium and growth in planta. Results: The hrpB gene is highly conserved in the sequenced strains of Xanthomonas. Mutation of the hrpB gene (Δ;hrpB) resulted in a significant reduction in biofilms on abiotic surfaces and host leaves. Δ;hrpB also exhibited increased cell dispersion on solid medium plates. Δ;hrpB showed reduced adhesion on biotic and abiotic surfaces and delayed development in disease symptoms when sprayed on susceptible citrus leaves. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR assays indicated that deletion of hrpB reduced the expression of four type IV pili genes. The transcriptional start site of fimA (XAC3241) was determined using rapid amplification of 5′-cDNA Ends (5′RACE). Based on the results of fimA mRNA structure predictions, the fimA 5′ UTR may contain three different loops. HrpB may be involved in alterations to the structure of fimA mRNA that promote the stability of fimA RNA. Conclusions: Our data show that hrpB is involved in adherence of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri to different surfaces. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a DEAH RNA helicase has been implicated in the regulation of type IV pili in Xanthomonas. © 2016 Granato et al.16

The kinetic fragility of liquids as manifestation of the elastic softening

We show that the fragility $m$, the steepness of the viscosity and relaxation time close to the vitrification, increases with the degree of elastic softening, i.e. the decrease of the elastic modulus with increasing temperature, in universal way. This provides a novel connection between the thermodynamics, via the modulus, and the kinetics. The finding is evidenced by numerical simulations and comparison with the experimental data of glassformers with widely different fragilities ($33 \le m \le 115$), leading to a fragility-independent elastic master curve extending over eighteen decades in viscosity and relaxation time. The master curve is accounted for by a cavity model pointing out the roles of both the available free volume and the cage softness. A major implication of our findings is that ultraslow relaxations, hardly characterised experimentally, become predictable by linear elasticity. As an example, the viscosity of supercooled silica is derived over about fifteen decades with no adjustable parameters.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures; Added new results, improved the theoretical sectio

Determining the function of zebrafish epithalamic asymmetry

As in many fishes, amphibians and reptiles, the epithalamus of the zebrafish, Danio rerio, develops with pronounced left–right (L–R) asymmetry. For example, in more than 95 per cent of zebrafish larvae, the parapineal, an accessory to the pineal organ, forms on the left side of the brain and the adjacent left habenular nucleus is larger than the right. Disruption of Nodal signalling affects this bias, producing equal numbers of larvae with the parapineal on the left or the right side and corresponding habenular reversals. Pre-selection of live larvae using fluorescent transgenic reporters provides a useful substrate for studying the effects of neuroanatomical asymmetry on behaviour. Previous studies had suggested that epithalamic directionality is correlated with lateralized behaviours such as L–R eye preference. We find that the randomization of epithalamic asymmetry, through perturbation of the nodal-related gene southpaw, does not alter a variety of motor behaviours, including responses to lateralized stimuli. However, we discovered significant deficits in swimming initiation and in the total distance navigated by larvae with parapineal reversals. We discuss these findings with respect to previous studies and recent work linking the habenular region with control of the motivation/reward pathway of the vertebrate brain

Ultraviolet astronomy from the space station: A case study

Recent Research Developments in Astronomy & Astrophysic