Electrostatic attraction between cationic-anionic assemblies with surface compositional heterogeneities

Electrostatics plays a key role in biomolecular assembly. Oppositely charged biomolecules, for instance, can co-assembled into functional units, such as DNA and histone proteins into nucleosomes and actin-binding protein complexes into cytoskeleton components, at appropriate ionic conditions. These cationic-anionic co-assemblies often have surface charge heterogeneities that result from the delicate balance between electrostatics and packing constraints. Despite their importance, the precise role of surface charge heterogeneities in the organization of cationic-anionic co-assemblies is not well understood. We show here that co-assemblies with charge heterogeneities strongly interact through polarization of the domains. We find that this leads to symmetry breaking, which is important for functional capabilities, and structural changes, which is crucial in the organization of co-assemblies. We determine the range and strength of the attraction as a function of the competition between the steric and hydrophobic constraints and electrostatic interactions.Comment: JCP June/200

Unusual features in the nonlinear microwave surface impedance of Y-Ba-Cu-O thin films

Striking features have been found in the nonlinear microwave (8 GHz) surface impedance $Z_s=R_s + jX_s$ of high-quality YBaCuO thin films with comparable low power characteristics [$R_{res}\sim 35--60 \mu\Omega$ and $\lambda_L(15 K)\sim 130--260 nm$]. The surface resistance $R_s$ is found to increase, decrease, or remain independent of the microwave field $H_{rf}$ (up to 60 mT) at different temperatures and for different samples. However, the surface reactance $X_s$ always follows the same functional form. Mechanisms which may be responsible for the observed variations in $R_s$ and $X_s$ are briefly discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Leukocytes phagocytic activity under moderate hypotension conditions in some representatives of bony fish, amphibians and reptiles

The leukocytes phagocytic activity against Bacillus subtilis and agromerulated latex particles in representatives of bony fish, amphibians and reptiles under reduced medium osmolarity conditions was studied. It was found that in moderate hypotension compared with isotonia, the white blood cells absorption capacity of the fish was not changed, but it was reduced for amphibians and reptile

The vertex coordinates of the Galaxy's stellar systems according to the Gaia DR3 catalogue

We present the results of determining the coordinates of the vertices of various stellar systems, the centroids of which are located in the Galactic plane. To do this, the positions, parallaxes, proper motions, and radial velocities of red giants and subgiants contained in the $Gaia$~DR3 catalogue have been used. When determining the components of the deformation velocity tensors in local coordinate systems, we found the coordinates of the vertices of the stellar systems under study. It turned out that there is a complex dependence of vertex deviations $l_{xy}$ in Galactocentric cylindrical ($R, \theta$) and Galactic rectangular ($X,Y$) coordinates. Based on the approach proposed in this paper, heliocentric distances to vertices have been determined for the first time. The results obtained show that in addition to the fact that the angular coordinates of the Galactic center and the vertices of stellar systems do not coincide, their heliocentric distances do not coincide as well. This presumably indicates that there are structures in the Galaxy that noticeably affect its axisymmetry.Comment: 10 pages, 14 figures, 1 table

Tunable coaxial cavity resonator for linear and nonlinear microwave characterization of superconducting wires

We discuss experimental results obtained using a tunable cylindrical coaxial cavity constituted by an outer Cu cylinder and an inner Pb-BSCCO wire. We have used this device for investigating the microwave response of the superconducting wire, both in the linear and nonlinear regimes. In particular, by tuning the different modes of the cavity to make them resonant at exactly harmonic frequencies, we have detected the power emitted by the superconducting inner wire at the second- and third-harmonic frequency of the driving field. The results obtained in the nonlinear regime, whether for the microwave surface impedance or the harmonic emission, are qualitatively accounted for considering intergrain fluxon dynamics. The use of this kind of device can be of strong interest to investigate and characterise wires of large dimensions to be used for implementing superconducting-based microwave devices.Comment: 14 pages, 6 embedded figures, accepted for publication in Supercond. Sci. Techno

Enhanced Support for High Intensity Users of the Criminal Justice System – an evaluation of mental health nurse input into Integrated Offender Management Services in the North East of England

The current UK Government’s focus on the development of services to manage and support offenders with mental health problems has resulted in a number of innovative project developments. This research examines a service development in the North East of England which co-located Mental Health nurses with two Integrated Offender Management teams. While not solving all problems, the benefits of co-location were clear – although such innovations are now at risk from government changes which will make Integrated Offender Management the responsibility of new providers without compelling them to co-operate with health services

Physical modeling of various processes in development of the system for monitoring the concentration of suspended particles in the air

The paper shows the need to develop a system for monitoring the concentration of suspended particles in the atmosphere, ensuring industrial safety at enterprises, facilities and in rooms with high dust content. The main possible consumers of this system are presented. Different measuring techniques of suspended particles and their fractions in the air are described, their advantages and weaknesses are mentione

The development of radio and 3G based telemetry system for the remote gas accounting and control nodes

In this article we have described the use of vortex and recently developed ultrasonic flowmeters with high dynamic range of 1 to 1500 for industrial applications. Its software and the software of corresponding computing device is able to avoid gas leakage, to minimize energy consumption and to save human resources while maintaining metrological data. Described is the low power consumption that makes it possible to use this ultrasonic flowmeter in hard remote environment without direct management for a period of several month

Prophylactic dendritic cell vaccination controls pancreatic cancer growth in a mouse model

PURPOSE: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths with high recurrence after surgery due to a paucity of effective post-surgical adjuvant treatments. DC vaccines can activate multiple anti-tumor immune responses but have not been explored for post-surgery PDAC recurrence. Intraperitoneal (IP) delivery may allow increased DC vaccine dosage and migration to lymph nodes. Here, we investigated the role of prophylactic DC vaccination controlling PDAC tumor growth with IP delivery as an administration route for DC vaccination. METHODS: DC vaccines were generated using ex vivo differentiation and maturation of bone marrow-derived precursors. Twenty mice were divided into four groups (n = 5) and treated with DC vaccines, unpulsed mature DCs, Panc02 lysates or no treatment. After tumor induction, mice underwent three magnetic resonance imaging scans to track tumor growth. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging measurement of tumor microstructure, was calculated. Survival was tracked. Tumor tissue was collected after death and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and anti-CD8 stains for histology. RESULTS: DC-vaccinated mice demonstrated stronger anti-tumor cytotoxicity compared with control groups on lactate dehydrogenase assay. DC vaccine mice also demonstrated decreased tumor volume, prolonged survival and increased ΔADC compared with control groups. On histology, the DC vaccine group had increased apoptosis, increased CD8+ T cells and decreased collagen. ΔADC negatively correlated with % collagen in tumor tissues. DISCUSSION: Prophylactic DC vaccination may inhibit PDAC tumor growth during recurrence and prolong survival. ΔADC may be a potential imaging biomarker that correlates with tumor histological features