Electron Transfer in a Bio-Photoelectrode Based on Photosystem I Multilayer Immobilized on the Conducting Glass

A film of ~40 layers of partially oriented photosystem I (PSI) complexes isolated from the red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae formed on the conducting glass through electrodeposition was investigated by time-resolved absorption spectroscopy and chronoamperometry. The experiments were performed at a range of electric potentials applied to the film and at different compositions of electrolyte solution being in contact with the film. The amount of immobilized proteins supporting light-induced charge separation (active PSI) ranged from ~10%, in the absence of any reducing agents (redox compounds or low potential), to ~20% when ascorbate and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol were added, and to ~35% when the high negative potential was additionally applied. The origin of the large fraction of permanently inactive PSI (65–90%) was unclear. Both reducing agents increased the subpopulation of active PSI complexes, with the neutral P700 primary electron donor, by reducing significant fractions of the photo-oxidized P700 species. The efficiencies of light-induced charge separation in the PSI film (10–35%) did not translate into an equally effective generation of photocurrent, whose internal quantum efficiency reached the maximal value of 0.47% at the lowest potentials. This mismatch indicates that the vast majority of the charge-separated states in multilayered PSI complexes underwent charge recombination.     

Effects of Long-Term Temozolomide Treatment on Glioblastoma and Astrocytoma WHO Grade 4 Stem-like Cells

Glioblastoma leads to a fatal course within two years in more than two thirds of patients. An essential cornerstone of therapy is chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ). The effect of TMZ is counteracted by the cellular repair enzyme O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). The MGMT promoter methylation, the main regulator of MGMT expression, can change from primary tumor to recurrence, and TMZ may play a significant role in this process. To identify the potential mechanisms involved, three primary stem-like cell lines (one astrocytoma with the mutation of the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), CNS WHO grade 4 (HGA)), and two glioblastoma (IDH-wildtype, CNS WHO grade 4) were treated with TMZ. The MGMT promoter methylation, migration, proliferation, and TMZ-response of the tumor cells were examined at different time points. The strong effects of TMZ treatment on the MGMT methylated cells were observed. Furthermore, TMZ led to a loss of the MGMT promoter hypermethylation and induced migratory rather than proliferative behavior. Cells with the unmethylated MGMT promoter showed more aggressive behavior after treatment, while HGA cells reacted heterogenously. Our study provides further evidence to consider the potential adverse effects of TMZ chemotherapy and a rationale for investigating potential relationships between TMZ treatment and change in the MGMT promoter methylation during relapse.     

Sex influence on face recognition memory moderated by presentation duration and reencoding.

Objective: It has been suggested that women have a better face recognition memory than men. Here we analyzed whether this advantage depends on a better encoding or consolidation of information and if the advantage is visible during short-term memory (STM), only, or whether it also remains evident in long-term memory (LTM). Method: We tested short- and long-term face recognition memory in 36 nonclinical participants (19 women). We varied the duration of item presentation (1, 5, and 10 s), the time of testing (immediately after the study phase, 1 hr, and 24 hr later), and the possibility to reencode items (none, immediately after the study phase, after 1 hr). Results: Women showed better overall face recognition memory than men (ηp2 = .15, p     

Materials Surgery – Reactivity Differences of Organic Groups in Hybrids

Synergistic properties in hybrid materials can emerge if the inorganic matrix has an electronic influence on the organic constituents and vice versa. This paper describes the drastic effect of SiO₂ in periodically ordered mesoporous organosilica materials (PMOs) on ethylene groups. A sophisticated, in situ solid‐state NMR spectroscopy study showed that the ozonolysis of ethylene groups follows an entirely different mechanism than is normal for organic, molecular groups. Ultimately, this leads to the topotactic transformation of the PMO material. Only if silicon is not in the alpha position to the double bond does it became possible to establish a new method to functionalize PMOs materials: the targeted scission of the ethylene group and the creation of functionalized pockets inside the pore walls of the mesoporous solid.     

Gas–Solid Interactions During Nonisothermal Heat Treatment of a High-Strength CrMnCN Austenitic Steel Powder: Influence of Atmospheric Conditions and Heating Rate on the Densification Behavior

This work deals with gas?Csolid interactions between a high-alloyed steel powder and the surrounding atmosphere during continuous heating. It is motivated by the recently developed corrosion-resistant CrMnCN austenitic cast steels. Here, powder metallurgical processing would be desirable to manufacture highly homogeneous parts and/or novel corrosion-resistant metal-matrix composites. However, the successful use of this new production route calls for a comprehensive investigation of interactions between the sintering atmosphere and the metallic powder to prevent undesirable changes to the chemical composition, e.g., degassing of nitrogen or evaporation of manganese. In this study, dilatometric measurements combined with residual gas analysis, high-temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, and thermodynamic equilibrium calculations provided detailed information about the influence of different atmospheric conditions on the microstructure, constitution, and densification behavior of a gas-atomized CrMnCN steel powder during continuous heating. Intensive desorption of nitrogen led to the conclusion that a vacuum atmosphere is not suitable for powder metallurgical (PM) processing. Exposure to an N₂-containing atmosphere resulted in the formation of nitrides and lattice expansion. Experimental findings have shown that the N content can be controlled by the nitrogen partial pressure. Furthermore, the reduction of surface oxides because of a carbothermal reaction at elevated temperatures and the resulting enhancement of the powder??s densification behavior are discussed in this work.     

Self-equilibrating moments in FRP-reinforced continuous structures

In continuous steel or concrete structures with surface-mounted fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) plates as flexural reinforcement, self-equilibrating moments can influence the loads at first yield and at failure, the latter due to potential buckling of the FRP plate or to end-peel both on account of offsets between points of contraflexure and the nearby FRP curtailments. In this paper, expressions are derived for the total (including self-equilibrating) moments along 2-span continuous structures with differential settlement. The expressions show how moments depend on support-to-member stiffness ratios and on distributions of section stiffness for service and ultimate limit states. Thus, the analysis is generic, applicable to FRP-reinforced steel and concrete structures. This analysis is verified via test data (including observation of end-peel in FRP compression curtailment zones offset from nearby contraflexure) and is used to construct 3D plots that facilitate identification of stiffness ratios which lead to significant self-equilibrating moments and contraflexure offset effects. Use of the plots to assess influences of differential settlement on laboratory test specimens is discussed. The analysis is shown to lead to an unprecedented result, namely that a unique point of load application exists for which changes to the stiffness layout have no impact on the moment distribution.