Electron-deficient materials based on azaheterocycles : towards supramolecular electronics

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Synthesis and characterization of N-t-BOC protected pyrrole-sulfur oligomers and polymers

The synthesis and characterization of a new class of pyrrole-sulfur compounds is described. These compounds are designed to be precursors for an organic analogue of poly(sulfur nitride). Poly(N-t-BOC-2.5-pyrrolyl sulfide) was prepared from N-t-BOC-2,5-dibromopyrrole by first lithiating this compound with n-BuLi, followed by the addition of bis(p-tosyl) sulfide. Similarly, bis(N-t-BOC-2-pyrrolyl) sulfide was prepared starting from N-t-BOC-2-bromopyrrole. Subsequent selective oxidation with one or two equivalents of m-CPBA quantitatively gave bis(N-t-BOC-2-pyrrolyl) sulfoxide and -sulfone, respectively. Thermal deprotection of the t-BOC groups of the oligomers and the polymer resulted in decomposition of these compounds; the lauer is presumably due to a combination of sulfur-extrusion and polymerization

Coarse Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Fusion of Vesicles Incorporating Water Channels

As the dynamics of the cell membrane and the working mechanisms of proteins cannot be readily asserted at a molecular level, many different hypotheses exist that try to predict and explain these processes, for instance vesicle fusion. Therefore, we use coarse grained molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the fusion mechanism of vesicles. The implementation of this method with hydrophilic and hydrophobic particles is known for its valid representation of bilayers. With a minimalistic approach, using only 3 atom types, 12 atoms per two-tailed phospholipids and incorporating only a bond potential and Lennard-Jones potential, phospholipid bilayers and vesicles can be simulated exhibiting authentic dynamics. We have simulated the spontaneous full fusion of both tiny (6 nm diameter) and larger (13 nm diameter) vesicles. We showed that, without applying constraints to the vesicles, the initial contact between two fusing vesicles, the stalk, is initiated by a bridging lipid tail that extends from the membrane spontaneously. Subsequently it is observed that the evolution of the stalk can proceed via two pathways, anisotropic and radial expansion, which is in accordance with literature. Contrary to the spherical vesicles of in vitro experiments, the fused vesicles remain tubular since the internal volume of these vesicles is too small compared to their membrane area. While the lipid bilayer has some permeability for water, it is not high enough to allow for the large flux required to equilibrate the vesicle content in the time accessible to our simulations. To increase the membrane permeability, we incorporate proteinaceous water channels, by applying the coarse grained technique to aquaporin. Even though incorporating water channels in the vesicles does significantly increase water permeability, the vesicles do not become spherical. Presumably the lipids have to be redistributed as well

Pericytes promote skin regeneration by inducing epidermal cell polarity and planar cell divisions.

The cellular and molecular microenvironment of epithelial stem/progenitor cells is critical for their long-term self-renewal. We demonstrate that mesenchymal stem cell-like dermal microvascular pericytes are a critical element of the skin's microenvironment influencing human skin regeneration using organotypic models. Specifically, pericytes were capable of promoting homeostatic skin tissue renewal by conferring more planar cell divisions generating two basal cells within the proliferative compartment of the human epidermis, while ensuring complete maturation of the tissue both spatially and temporally. Moreover, we provide evidence supporting the notion that BMP-2, a secreted protein preferentially expressed by pericytes in human skin, confers cell polarity and planar divisions on epidermal cells in organotypic cultures. Our data suggest that human skin regeneration is regulated by highly conserved mechanisms at play in other rapidly renewing tissues such as the bone marrow and in lower organisms such as Drosophila. Our work also provides the means to significantly improve ex vivo skin tissue regeneration for autologous transplantation

Развитие ионизационного монитора поперечного сечения протонного пучка линейного ускорителя ИЯИ РАН

Для обеспечения прозрачных измерений поперечного сечения и профилей токовых импульсов в широком диапазоне энергий и амплитуд разработан и установлен на ускорителе специальный ионизационный монитор поперечного сечения (ИМПС) на остаточном газе. ИМПС оборудован зеркально-линзовым трактом для транспортировки изображения пучка от детектора до ТВ-камеры и защиты ПЗС-матрицы и электроники ТВ-камеры от бомбардировки нейтронами и γ-квантами. В работе приводится схема и описание датчика, а также некоторые детали программного и аппаратного обеспечения системы съема и обработки изображений. Представлены полученные результаты измерений импульсного тока протонов.Для забезпечення прозорих вимірів поперечного переріза й профілів струмових імпульсів у широкому діапазоні енергій і амплітуд розроблений і встановлений на прискорювачі спеціальний іонізаційний монітор поперечного переріза (ІМПС) на залишковому газі. ІМПС обладнаний дзеркально-лінзовим трактом для транспортування зображення пучка від детектора до ТВ-камери і захисту Пзс-матриці й електроніки ТВ-камеры від бомбардування нейтронами і γ-квантами. У роботі приводиться схема й опис датчика, а також деякі деталі програмного й апаратного забезпечення системи знімання й обробки зображень. Представлено отримані результати вимірів імпульсного струму протонів.To provide non-intercepting measurements of beam pulse transverse section and profile the special residual gas ion transverse section monitor (ITSM) for wide energy and amplitude range is developed and installed on the accelerator. ITSM is provided by lens-mirror line for transport beam image from the detector to TV camera and saving CCD and electronics of TV camera from neutron and γ hitting. The ITSM functioning details and image processing system are described. The available results of beam pulse measurements are presented

Priming of plant innate immunity by rhizobacteria and beta-aminobutyric acid: differences and similarities in regulation

P>Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS417r bacteria and beta-aminobutyric acid can induce disease resistance in Arabidopsis, which is based on priming of defence. In this study, we examined the differences and similarities of WCS417r- and beta-aminobutyric acid-induced priming. Both WCS417r and beta-aminobutyric acid prime for enhanced deposition of callose-rich papillae after infection by the oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsis. This priming is regulated by convergent pathways, which depend on phosphoinositide- and ABA-dependent signalling components. Conversely, induced resistance by WCS417r and beta-aminobutyric acid against the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae are controlled by distinct NPR1-dependent signalling pathways. As WCS417r and beta-aminobutyric acid prime jasmonate- and salicylate-inducible genes, respectively, we subsequently investigated the role of transcription factors. A quantitative PCR-based genome-wide screen for putative WCS417r- and beta-aminobutyric acid-responsive transcription factor genes revealed distinct sets of priming-responsive genes. Transcriptional analysis of a selection of these genes showed that they can serve as specific markers for priming. Promoter analysis of WRKY genes identified a putative cis-element that is strongly over-represented in promoters of 21 NPR1-dependent, beta-aminobutyric acid-inducible WRKY genes. Our study shows that priming of defence is regulated by different pathways, depending on the inducing agent and the challenging pathogen. Furthermore, we demon-strated that priming is associated with the enhanced expression of transcription factors. New Phytologist (2009) 183: 419-431doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02851.x

Reclaiming the political : emancipation and critique in security studies

The critical security studies literature has been marked by a shared commitment towards the politicization of security – that is, the analysis of its assumptions, implications and the practices through which it is (re)produced. In recent years, however, politicization has been accompanied by a tendency to conceive security as connected with a logic of exclusion, totalization and even violence. This has resulted in an imbalanced politicization that weakens critique. Seeking to tackle this situation, the present article engages with contributions that have advanced emancipatory versions of security. Starting with, but going beyond, the so-called Aberystwyth School of security studies, the argument reconsiders the meaning of security as emancipation by making the case for a systematic engagement with the notions of reality and power. This revised version of security as emancipation strengthens critique by addressing political dimensions that have been underplayed in the critical security literature