Graphene sublattice symmetry and isospin determined by circular dichroism in angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

The Dirac-like electronic structure of graphene originates from the equivalence of the two basis atoms in the honeycomb lattice. We show that the characteristic parameters of the initial state wave function (sublattice symmetry and isospin) can be determined using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) with circularly polarized synchrotron radiation. At a photon energy of hν = 52 eV, transition matrix element effects can be neglected allowing us to determine sublattice symmetry and isospin with high accuracy using a simple theoretical model.     

Biological activities of malvidin, a red wine anthocyanidin

Malvidin (mv) has been identified as a potential inhibitor of 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterases (PDE). This study was to investigate if, as a possible consequence of intracellular PDE inhibition, the activity of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is affected by mv treatment. At a concentration of 5 microM of mv a significant decrease of phosphorylated ERK1 and ERK2 (ERK, extracellular regulated kinase) in HT29 cells was observed. However, an increase in substance concentration led to a substantial recurrence of the phosphorylated enzymes. Cell cycle analysis underlined that indeed G(1)-relevant targets are only marginally affected by mv. The recurrence of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and the lack of effectiveness on the G(1)-passage up to 100 microM indicated that the inhibition of cAMP-specific PDEs is of minor relevance for the growth-inhibitory properties of mv in HT29 cells. In contrast, the release of cells, synchronised in the G(2)/M-phase of the cell cycle by nocodazole treatment, was effectively blocked in the presence of 1 microM mv. These results suggest that mv interferes with cellular targets relevant for G(2)/M-progression which have not been identified so far.     

Electrospray ion beam deposition of clusters and biomolecules

An ion beam source using electrospray ionization is presented for nondestructive vacuum deposition of mass-selected large organic molecules and inorganic clusters. Electrospray ionization is used to create an ion beam from a solution containing the nanoparticles or molecules to be deposited. To form and guide the ion beam, radio frequency and electrostatic ion optics are utilized. The kinetic energy distribution of the particles is measured to control the beam formation and the landing process. The particle mass-to-charge ratio is analyzed by in situ time-of-flight mass spectrometry. To demonstrate the performance of the setup, deposition experiments with gold nanoclusters and bovine serum albumin proteins on graphite surfaces were performed and analyzed by ex situ atomic force microscopy. The small gold clusters are found to form three-dimensional agglomerations at the surface, preferentially decorating the step edges. In contrast, bovine serum albumin creates two-dimensional fractal nanostructures on the substrate terraces due to strong intermolecular interactions.     

Host Attractants for Red Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus: Identification, Electrophysiological Activity, and Laboratory Bioassay

A steam distillate from the freshly cut young bark of coconut palm Cocos nucifera was analyzed by gas chromatography, combined gas chromatography–electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and GC-MS to detect host attractants for the curculionid weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, one of the major coconut pests in Sri Lanka. A twin FID peak consisting of a minor and a major component was shown to possess electrophysiological (EAG) activity. The minor peak was identified as -nonanoic lactone 1, while the major peak was identified as 4-hydroxy-3-methoxystyrene 2. In an EAG assay the synthetic racemic nonanoic lactone 1 did not elicit a considerable response in the antenna of R. ferrugineus, whereas the laboratory synthesized 2 showed activity. In a laboratory bioassay using a Y-type olfactometer, synthetic 1 and 2 elicited moderate attractant properties to R. ferrugineus, whereas a 1:1 mixture of the compounds showed increased attraction over that of the individual compounds.     

Apertureless near-field optical microscopy: differences between heterodyne interferometric and non-interferometric images

We analyze simulations of the image generation process in apertureless Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy to study the differences between heterodyne interferometric and non-interferometric detection schemes implemented in experiments. Beyond the well-known possibilities of interferometry to enhance signals and extract optical phase information, we find that heterodyne interferometric detection may in fact lead to more robust and easier to interpret experimental results. Further, our results illustrate how simulations that do not include the use of interferometric detection in a given experiment can lead to significant disagreements with the measurements.     

Thermus thermophilus: a link in evolution of the tRNA-dependent amino acid amidation pathways

Thermus thermophilus possesses an aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (AspRS2) able to aspartylate efficiently tRNAAsp and tRNAAsn. Aspartate mischarged on tRNAAsn then is converted into asparagine by an omega amidase that differs structurally from all known asparagine synthetases. However, aspartate is not misincorporated into proteins because the binding capacity of aminoacylated tRNAAsn to elongation factor Tu is only conferred by conversion of aspartate into asparagine. T. thermophilus additionally contains a second aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (AspRS1) able to aspartylate tRNAAsp and an asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase able to charge tRNAAsn with free asparagine, although the organism does not contain a tRNA-independent asparagine synthetase. In contrast to the duplicated pathway of tRNA asparaginylation, tRNA glutaminylation occurs in the thermophile via the usual pathway by using glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase and free glutamine synthesized by glutamine synthetase that is unique. T. thermophilus is able to ensure tRNA aminoacylation by alternative routes involving either the direct pathway or by conversion of amino acid mischarged on tRNA. These findings shed light on the interrelation between the tRNA-dependent and tRNA-independent pathways of amino acid amidation and on the processes involved in fidelity of the aminoacylation systems.     

Hemodynamic rounds series II: Coronary hemodynamics for angioplasty and stenting after myocardial infarction: use of absolute, relative coronary velocity and fractional flow reserve

To assess the effects and site of action of a sub-anaesthetic concentration of isoflurane, desflurane and sevoflurane (0.1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC)) on respiratory control, we measured the ventilatory response to square wave changes in PE1CO2 against a background of normoxia. Using the computer steered "end-tidal forcing system", 2 min of steady state ventilation were followed by a step increase in PE1CO2 (1-1.5 kPa). This level was maintained for 8 min, followed by a step decrease to the original value for another 8 min. Each hypercapnic response was separated into a fast, peripheral component and a slow, central component, characterized by a time constant, carbon dioxide sensitivity, time delay and off-set. We studied 25 healthy volunteers; they performed 2-3 studies without and 2-3 studies during inhalation of the anaesthetic agent. Level of sedation was scored using a subjective seven-point scale from 0 (= alert and awake) to 6 (unrousable). In the isoflurane (16 subjects, 33 control, 37 drug studies) and sevoflurane (15 subjects, 40 control, 41 drug studies) studies, peripheral carbon dioxide sensitivity was reduced by approximately 45% and approximately 27% (ANOVA, P < 0.05 vs control), respectively, without affecting central carbon dioxide sensitivity or apnoeic threshold. In the desflurane study (16 subjects, 36 control, 37 drug studies), no significant effect was observed for any of the variables measured. A significant relation was observed between sedation score and change from control in central carbon dioxide sensitivities in the isoflurane and desflurane studies and in the change in the ratio peripheral carbon dioxide sensitivity over total carbon dioxide sensitivity in the sevoflurane studies. At the highest level of sedation observed (score 3-arousal state comparable with "light sleep"--in three subjects) these latter variables differed significantly from those in the other observed sedation levels (scores 1 and 2-a state of drowsiness). We conclude that 0.1 MAC of isoflurane and sevoflurane depressed the peripheral chemoreflex loop, without affecting the central chemoreflex loop. Desflurane at the same MAC showed no effect on peripheral and central carbon dioxide sensitivity. When the level of sedation was considered, our data suggested that at levels of sedation comparable with sleep, a depressive effect of all three anaesthetics was observed on the central chemoreflex loop.     

Learning probability distributions in continuous evolutionary algorithms – a comparative review

We present a comparative review of Evolutionary Algorithms that generate new population members by sampling a probability distributionconstructed during the optimization process. We present a unifying formulation for five such algorithms that enables us to characterize them based on the parametrization of the probability distribution, the learning methodology, and the use of historical information.The algorithms are evaluated on a number of test functions in order to assess their relative strengths and weaknesses. This comparative reviewhelps to identify areas of applicability for the algorithms and to guidefuture algorithmic developments.