Protein Synthesis in Sub‐Micrometer Water‐in‐Oil Droplets

Water‐in‐oil (w/o) emulsions are used as a cellular model because of their unique cell‐like architecture. Previous works showed the capability of eukaryotic‐cell‐sized w/o droplets (5–50 μm) to support protein synthesis efficiently; however data about smaller w/o compartments (<1 μm) are lacking. This work focuses on the biosynthesis of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) inside sub‐micrometric lecithin‐based w/o droplets (0.8–1 μm) and on its dependence on the compartments’ dynamic properties in terms of solute exchange mechanisms. We demonstrated that protein synthesis is strongly affected by the nature of the lipid interface. These findings could be of value and interest for both basic and applied research.     

Alignment of Rod‐Shaped Single‐Photon Emitters Driven by Line Defects in Liquid Crystals

Arrays of liquid crystal defects—linear smectic dislocations—are used to trap semiconductor CdSe/CdS dot‐in‐rods which behave as single‐photon emitters. Measurements of the emission diagram are combined together with measurements of the emitted polarization of the single emitters. It is shown that the dot‐in‐rods are confined parallel to the linear defects to allow for a minimization of the disorder energy associated with the dislocation cores. It is demonstrated that the electric dipoles associated with the dot‐in‐rods, tilted with respect to the rods, remain oriented in the plane including the smectic linear defects and perpendicular to the substrate, most likely due to dipole/dipole interactions between the dipoles of the liquid crystal molecules and those of the dot‐in‐rods. Using smectic dislocations, nanorods can consequently be oriented along a unique direction for a given substrate, independently of the ligands' nature, without any induced aggregation, leading as well to a fixed azimuthal orientation for the dot‐in‐rods' dipoles. These results open the way for the fine control of nanoparticle anisotropic optical properties, in particular, fine control of single‐photon emission polarization.     

Application of response surface methodology to evaluate the effect of dry‐spinning parameters on poly (ε‐caprolactone) fiber properties

Poly (ε‐caprolactone) fibers were prepared by dry‐spinning method. The effect of processing parameters on linear density, mechanical, and morphological properties of fibers was investigated using the response surface methodology (RSM). This method allowed evaluating a quantitative relationship between polymer concentrations, spinning speed, and draw ratio on the properties of the fibers. Polynomial regression model was fitted to the experimental data to generate predicted response. The results were subjected to analysis of variance to determine significant parameters. It was found that all three parameters had significant effect on linear density of fibers. Combined effect of concentration and spinning speed was observed in which the linear density of fiber was more sensitive to changes in the solution concentration at lower spinning speed. Polymer concentration had the largest influence on the mechanical properties of fibers. An average cross‐sectional radius of fibers was affected by concentration and draw ratio in opposite manner. Among all three parameters, only polymer concentration had significant effect on circularity of fiber cross sections. By applying the RSM, it was possible to obtain a mathematical model that can be used to better define processing parameters to fabricate dry‐spun PCL fiber in a more rational manner. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42113.     

The effect of processing routes on the thermal and mechanical properties of poly(urethane‐isocyanurate) nanocomposites

A systematic investigation of four processing routes was implemented so as to evaluate the thermal and mechanical properties of nanosilica (NS) reinforced poly(urethane‐isocyanurate) nanocomposites (NC). The NS dispersion in the Polmix and the Isomix routes was performed in the polyol and the isocyanate precursor, respectively. The Isopol and the Solvmix routes consisted on the dispersion of the filler after the mixing of the precursors and with the aid of solvents, respectively. The NS dispersion, fractography (SEM, TEM), flexural and tensile mechanical properties, thermogravimetric analysis and FTIR analysis of NCs was performed as a function of processing route, isocyanate index, and NS concentration. Each route produced a NC with distinct properties, which were correlated to the NS agglomeration degree and how the NS affected the thermal transitions of the HS and the relative ratio of urethane and isocyanurate chemical groups. For example, the NC prepared with the Polmix route had substantial improvements of σ_t and ε_t of around +40 and +52%, respectively and an improved thermal resistance of the Hard Segments. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42750.     

The G Protein-Coupled Receptor Heterodimer Network (GPCR-HetNet) and Its Hub Components

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) oligomerization has emerged as a vital characteristic of receptor structure. Substantial experimental evidence supports the existence of GPCR-GPCR interactions in a coordinated and cooperative manner. However, despite the current development of experimental techniques for large-scale detection of GPCR heteromers, in order to understand their connectivity it is necessary to develop novel tools to study the global heteroreceptor networks. To provide insight into the overall topology of the GPCR heteromers and identify key players, a collective interaction network was constructed. Experimental interaction data for each of the individual human GPCR protomers was obtained manually from the STRING and SCOPUS databases. The interaction data were used to build and analyze the network using Cytoscape software. The network was treated as undirected throughout the study. It is comprised of 156 nodes, 260 edges and has a scale-free topology. Connectivity analysis reveals a significant dominance of intrafamily versus interfamily connections. Most of the receptors within the network are linked to each other by a small number of edges. DRD2, OPRM, ADRB2, AA2AR, AA1R, OPRK, OPRD and GHSR are identified as hubs. In a network representation 10 modules/clusters also appear as a highly interconnected group of nodes. Information on this GPCR network can improve our understanding of molecular integration. GPCR-HetNet has been implemented in Java and is freely available at http://www.iiia.csic.es/~ismel/GPCR-Nets/index.html.     

SiC陶瓷表面Mo-Ni-Si金属化及其与Ag的润湿性研究

采用真空熔烧工艺在SiC陶瓷表面制备了三种化学成分的Mo-Ni-Si金属化涂层,研究涂层的相组成和涂层/SiC陶瓷界面的微结构。通过座滴法实验考察纯Ag在SiC陶瓷涂层上的润湿与铺展特性,分析和讨论了Ag/金属化SiC陶瓷体系的界面行为。实验结果表明,该金属化涂层主要由Mo₅Si₃, MoSi₂, Ni₂Si, NiSi₂ 和MoNiSi组成,同时随着涂层中Mo的摩尔比由20%增加至40%,位于涂层表面的具有四方结构的MoSi₂晶粒逐渐消失。Ag对Mo20-Ni32-Si48、Mo30-Ni28-Si42、Mo40-Ni24-Si36金属化SiC陶瓷在1000 oC保温30分钟后对应的最终接触角分别为45o, 79o 和 85o,该结果与Ag滴和三种Mo-Ni-Si涂层之间的相互作用密切相关。同时在润湿试验前后,在Mo-Ni-Si涂层/SiC衬底界面没有发现明显的反应层。     

家之歌 意大利Home时装店

意大利Home时装店是一个充满奇妙色彩的地方,有如家般温馨舒适,又让人产生一定的距离感。设计师的灵感来源于英国电子乐队Depeche Mode的歌曲《Home》,以及荷兰摄影师为乐队拍摄的黑暗风格海报。项目的面积较小,空间区域呈狭长形,并在末端区越来越窄。业主要求尽可能将商品展示只安排在宽敞的中间部分。因     

Evaluating a cross-layer approach for routing in Wireless Mesh Networks

Routing in Wireless Mesh Networks is challenging due to the unreliable characteristics of the wireless medium. Traditional routing paradigms are not able to propose an efficient solution to this problem. Further, Gupta et al. demonstrated that the average throughput capacity per node of a wireless multi-hop network decreases as 1/n, where n is the number of nodes in the network. Recent studies have shown that a cross-layer approach is a promising solution to get closer to the theoretic throughput capacity bound. Cross-layer solutions have been already proposed either for specific TDMA/CDMA networks or for power-efficient routing protocols. These proposals are strongly MAC dependent, or suffer from targeting a steady state offering the best trade-off performance. In this paper, the problem we tackle in a more general context, disregarding the specific MAC and Physical layers technologies, can be formulated as follows: How to design a routing algorithm able to increase the average throughput capacity experienced by Wireless Mesh Networks? Starting from a theoretic result, we analyze the gain that a cross-layer approach can deliver, the metrics suitable to improve throughput capacity, and the power control policy that reduces interference. We take a MAC independent approach, focusing on the general characteristics of wireless links, targeting the improvement of throughput capacity in Wireless Mesh Networks. Our proposal performs path selection and power optimization based on three metrics, namely physical transmission rate, interference, and packet error rate. Performances are thoroughly analyzed and evaluated by extensive simulations, with both TCP and UDP traffic, and compared to other multi-hop routing protocols. For both kind of traffic, the simple heuristic we propose here allows to double the average throughput the network is able to route.     

TerraSAR-X reveals the impact of the mobile barrier works on Venice coastland stability

Land subsidence and eustacy concurred to make the relative sea level in Venice (Italy) 23 cm higher over the last century. In order to protect the city and its lagoon environment from increased flooding, a series of mobile barriers are under construction at the three inlets of Lido, Malamocco, and Chioggia connecting the Adriatic Sea to the inner water body. Since 2003 work has been proceeding with the reinforcement and extension of the existing jetties and the construction of breakwaters, harbors, and a small island within the Lido inlet. We detected significant local settlements of a few centimeters between March 2008 and January 2009 at the three inlets induced by the construction works through an interferometric analysis of 30 satellite radar images acquired by the new German TerraSAR-X mission. On a more regional scale we observe that the city of Venice and the other major urban settlements on the lagoon littorals are not impacted by subsidence during this period. The very high spatial resolution of 3 m and the short repeat-time interval of 11 days of TerraSAR-X enable the investigation of displacements with an unprecedented observed level of details, opening new perspectives to geodynamic's research and civil engineering sectors for the monitoring of large infrastructures with potential vulnerability to terrain motion.