Mechanistic basis for the activation of plant membrane receptor kinases by SERK-family coreceptors.

Plant-unique membrane receptor kinases with leucine-rich repeat ectodomains (LRR-RKs) can sense small molecule, peptide, and protein ligands. Many LRR-RKs require SERK-family coreceptor kinases for high-affinity ligand binding and receptor activation. How one coreceptor can contribute to the specific binding of distinct ligands and activation of different LRR-RKs is poorly understood. Here we quantitatively analyze the contribution of SERK3 to ligand binding and activation of the brassinosteroid receptor BRI1 and the peptide hormone receptor HAESA. We show that while the isolated receptors sense their respective ligands with drastically different binding affinities, the SERK3 ectodomain binds the ligand-associated receptors with very similar binding kinetics. We identify residues in the SERK3 N-terminal capping domain, which allow for selective steroid and peptide hormone recognition. In contrast, residues in the SERK3 LRR core form a second, constitutive receptor-coreceptor interface. Genetic analyses of protein chimera between BRI1 and SERK3 define that signaling-competent complexes are formed by receptor-coreceptor heteromerization in planta. A functional BRI1-HAESA chimera suggests that the receptor activation mechanism is conserved among different LRR-RKs, and that their signaling specificity is encoded in the kinase domain of the receptor. Our work pinpoints the relative contributions of receptor, ligand, and coreceptor to the formation and activation of SERK-dependent LRR-RK signaling complexes regulating plant growth and development

Single molecules detect ultra-slow oscillators in a molecular crystal excited by ac-voltages

Biological and Soft Matter Physic

Growth and properties of W-B-N diffusion barriers deposited by chemical vapor deposition

The authors have used chemical vapor deposition to grow ternary tungsten-based diffusion barriers to determine if they exhibit properties similar to those of sputter-deposited ternaries. A range of different W-B-N compositions in a band of compositions roughly between 20 and 40% W were produced. The deposition temperature was low, 350 C, and the precursors used are well accepted by the industry. Deposition rates are high for a diffusion barrier application. Resistivities range from 200 to 20,000 {micro}{Omega}-cm, the films with the best barrier properties having {approximately}1,000 {micro}{Omega}-cm resistivities. Adhesion to oxides is sufficient to allow these films to be used as the adhesion layer in a tungsten chemical mechanical polishing plug application. The films are x-ray amorphous as-deposited and have crystallization temperatures of up to 900 C. Barrier performance against Cu has been tested using diode test structures. A composition of W{sub .23}B{sub .49}N{sub .28} was able to prevent diode failure up to a 700 C, 30 minute anneal. These materials, deposited by CVD, display properties similar to those deposited by physical deposition techniques

Energetic particle influence on the Earth's atmosphere

This manuscript gives an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the effects of energetic particle precipitation (EPP) onto the whole atmosphere, from the lower thermosphere/mesosphere through the stratosphere and troposphere, to the surface. The paper summarizes the different sources and energies of particles, principally galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), solar energetic particles (SEPs) and energetic electron precipitation (EEP). All the proposed mechanisms by which EPP can affect the atmosphere are discussed, including chemical changes in the upper atmosphere and lower thermosphere, chemistry-dynamics feedbacks, the global electric circuit and cloud formation. The role of energetic particles in Earth’s atmosphere is a multi-disciplinary problem that requires expertise from a range of scientific backgrounds. To assist with this synergy, summary tables are provided, which are intended to evaluate the level of current knowledge of the effects of energetic particles on processes in the entire atmosphere

Le mixage ionique en métallurgie

Une revue des résultats expérimentaux obtenus par la technique récente du mixage atomique par faisceaux d’ions est présentée. Les travaux faits sur les systèmes semi-conducteurs/métaux et métaux/métaux montrent les possibilités de cette technique en tant que moyen d’étude, de modification et d’élaboration de nouveaux alliages qu’ils soient cristallins ou amorphes. Une phénoménologie simple est dégagée de ces résultats. Des exemples d’applications sont développés

Instabilities during wetting processes: wetting by tensioactive liquids.

Stick-slip phenomena may be observed when a liquid containing surface-active molecules advances on a hydrophilic solid surface. They are due to the diffusion of these molecules in front of the liquid edge, locally increasing the contact angle. This paper presents an experimental study of the instabilities of the liquid front. A simple theoretical analysis for the diffusion process is proposed, which accounts satisfactorily for the experimental results

The spreading of macroscopic droplets.

Some experimental results on the macroscopic spreading of hanging and sessile drops on smooth surfaces are presented. The results for sessile drops nicely corroborate the main aspects of the spreading theory of de Gennes and Joanny. However, it is shown that one assumption of the theory, namely the retainment of a self-similar shape during spreading, which is approximately true for sessile drops, cannot be used for hanging drops, for which no theory is available. We propose a numerical resolution of the hydrodynamic equations which relaxes the necessity of self-similarity. The calculation involves the assumption that the shape of a (sessile or hanging) drop at any given time is in quasi-equilibrium with itself and can therefore be calculated through the Laplace equation. The calculation is indeed capable of describing the spreading of both sessile and hanging drops in detail. Spreading of sessile drops on rough surfaces may also be interpreted in the spirit of the theory of de Gennes and Joanny. Evidence is presented that the kinetics of the macroscopic foot which develops at the edge of a drop spreading on a rough surface is related to the heterogeneous distribution of the macroscopic contact angle and obeys simple equations.Nous avons étudié à l'échelle macroscopique l'étalement sur des surfaces lisses de gouttes posées ou pendantes. Pour les gouttes posées, les résultats sont en bon accord avec les prédictions de la théorie de de Gennes et Joanny. En revanche, l'hypothèse de self-similarité utilisée dans cette théorie et approximativement valable pour les gouttes posées est grossièrement inexacte pour les gouttes pendantes pour lesquelles n'existe pas de traitement théorique. Nous proposons une résolution numérique des équations hydrodynamiques, qui n'utilise pas cette hypothèse et est donc valable aussi bien pour les gouttes posées que pour les gouttes pendantes. Nous supposons en revanche que les gouttes sont, à tout instant, en quasi équilibre et que par conséquent leur forme peut être calculée à l'aide de l'équation de Laplace. Nous avons d'autre part interprété des expériences d'étalement de gouttes posées sur des surfaces rugueuses aléatoires par un modèle simple, inspiré des théories de de Gennes et Joanny, qui explique bien les modifications induites par la rugosité dans la dynamique de l'étalement

Barrier/Cu contact resistivity

The specific contact resistivity of Cu with ({alpha} + {beta})-Ta, TiN, {alpha}-W, and amorphous-Ta{sub 36}Si{sub 14}N{sub 50} barrier films is measured using a novel four-point-probe approach. Geometrically, the test structures consist of colinear sets of W-plugs to act as current and voltage probes that contact the bottom of a planar Cu/barrier/Cu stack. Underlying Al interconnects link the plugs to the current source and voltmeter. The center-to-center distance of the probes ranges from 3 to 200 {micro}m. Using a relation developed by Vu et al., a contact resistivity of roughly 7 {times} 10{sup {minus}9} {Omega} cm{sup 2} is obtained for all tested barrier/Cu combinations. By reflective-mode small-angle X-ray scattering, the similarity in contact resistivity among the barrier films may be related to interfacial impurities absorbed from the deposition process

Exploring Patient Multimorbidity and Complexity Using Health Insurance Claims Data: A Cluster Analysis Approach.

Although the trend of progressing morbidity is widely recognized, there are numerous challenges when studying multimorbidity and patient complexity. For multimorbid or complex patients, prone to fragmented care and high health care use, novel estimation approaches need to be developed. This study aims to investigate the patient multimorbidity and complexity of Swiss residents aged ≥50 years using clustering methodology in claims data. We adopted a clustering methodology based on random forests and used 34 pharmacy-based cost groups as the only input feature for the procedure. To detect clusters, we applied hierarchical density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise. The reasonable hyperparameters were chosen based on various metrics embedded in the algorithms (out-of-bag misclassification error, normalized stress, and cluster persistence) and the clinical relevance of the obtained clusters. Based on cluster analysis output for 18,732 individuals, we identified an outlier group and 7 clusters: individuals without diseases, patients with only hypertension-related diseases, patients with only mental diseases, complex high-cost high-need patients, slightly complex patients with inexpensive low-severity pharmacy-based cost groups, patients with 1 costly disease, and older high-risk patients. Our study demonstrated that cluster analysis based on pharmacy-based cost group information from claims-based data is feasible and highlights clinically relevant clusters. Such an approach allows expanding the understanding of multimorbidity beyond simple disease counts and can identify the population profiles with increased health care use and costs. This study may foster the development of integrated and coordinated care, which is high on the agenda in policy making, care planning, and delivery