Periodic organic nanodot patterns for optical memory

The fabrication of organic nanodots from photoswitchable fulgide molecules is shown. The dots are formed by dewetting of thin precursor films of the organic molecules on topographically structured substrates. In this way, we are able to control size, density, and arrangement of nanodots on millimeter-squared sized areas. We show that nanodots can be switched between isomeric molecular conformation reversibly.     

Systems biology of the neurospora biological clock

A major challenge of systems biology is explaining complex traits, such as the biological clock, in terms of the kinetics of macromolecules. The clock poses at least four challenges for systems biology: (i) identifying the genetic network to explain the clock mechanism quantitatively; (ii) specifying the clock's functional connection to a thousand or more genes and their products in the genome; (iii) explaining the clock's response to light and other environmental cues; and (iv) explaining how the clock's genetic network evolves. Here, the authors illustrate an approach to these problems by fitting an ensemble of genetic networks to microarray data derived from oligonucleotide arrays with approximately all 11 000 Neurospora crassa genes represented. A promising genetic network for the clock mechanism is identified.     

Berechnungsverfahren zur Ermittlung der Wärmedurchgangskoeffizienten von zweischaligen Wand‐ und Dachaufbauten in Leichtbauweise

Methods of calculation to determine the thermal transmittance of lightweight wall and roof constructions. The regulation for energy saving demands the calculation of the mean heat transition coefficient. For lightweight structures, losses at the systematically existing thermal bridges have to be considered. The procedure based on the Swedish Standard SS 02 42 30 is processed and explained for 6 wall constructions and 2 roof constructions. Since the calculation by hand with the given formulae is rather extensive, nomograms are made available. With them, the mean heat transition coefficient for the usual parameter range of the roof and wall constructions treated in this paper can easily be obtained.     

The muscle-specific laminin receptor alpha7 beta1 integrin negatively regulates alpha5 beta1 fibronectin receptor function

alpha7 beta1 is the major integrin complex expressed in differentiated muscle cells where it functions as a laminin receptor. In this work we have expressed the alpha7 integrin subunit in CHO cells to investigate the functional properties of this receptor. After transfection with alpha7 CHO cells acquired the ability to adhere and spread on laminin 1 consistent with the laminin receptor activity of the alpha7 beta1. alpha7 transfectants, however, showed a 70% reduction in the ability to adhere to fibronectin and were unable to assemble a fibronectin matrix. The degree of reduction was inversely related to the level of alpha7 expression. To define the mechanisms underlying this adhesive defect we analyzed surface expression and functional properties of the alpha5 beta1 fibronectin receptor. Although cell surface expression of alpha5 beta1 was reduced by a factor of 20-25% in alpha7 transfectants compared to control untransfected cells, this slight reduction was not sufficient to explain the dramatic reduction in cell adhesion (70%) and matrix assembly (close to 100%). Binding studies showed that the affinity of 125I-fibronectin for its surface receptor was decreased by 50% in alpha7 transfectants, indicating that the alpha5 beta1 integrin is partially inactivated in these cells. Inactivation can be reversed by Mn2+, a cation known to increase integrin affinity for their ligands. In fact, incubation of cells with Mn2+ restored fibronectin binding affinity, adhesion to fibronectin, and assembly of fibronectin matrix in alpha7 transfectants. These data indicate that alpha7 expression leads to the functional down regulation of alpha5beta1 integrin by decreasing ligand binding affinity and surface expression. In conclusion, the data reported establish the existence of a negative cooperativity between alpha7 and alpha5 integrins that may be important in determining functional regulation of integrins during myogenic differentiation.     

Isometric contraction induces the Ca2+-independent activation of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase

Shear stress and tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors have been shown to activate the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) in a Ca2+/calmodulin-independent manner. We report here that isometric contraction of rabbit aorta activates eNOS by a pharmacologically identical pathway. Endothelium-intact aortic rings were precontracted under isometric conditions up to 60% of the maximal phenylephrine-induced tone. The NO synthase inhibitor NGnitro-L-arginine (L-NA) and the soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor NS 2028 induced an additional contraction, the amplitude of which depended on the level of precontraction. The maximal production of NO by isometrically contracted aortic rings (as estimated by the increase in cGMP in detector smooth muscle cells in a superfusion bioassay) was observed during the initial phase of isometric contraction and was greater than that detected following the application of acetylcholine. The supplementary L-NA-induced increase in vascular tone was inhibited by the nonselective kinase inhibitor staurosporine and the tyrosine kinase inhibitors erbstatin A and herbimycin A. Another tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, the calmodulin antagonist calmidazolium, and the selective protein kinase C inhibitor, Ro 31-8220, had no effect. Coincident with the enhanced NO formation during isometric contraction was an increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of endothelial proteins, which also correlated with the level of precontraction. Thus, isometric contraction activates eNOS via a Ca2+-independent, tyrosine kinase inhibitor-sensitive pathway and, like shear stress, seems to be an independent determinant of mechanically induced NO formation.     

Chemically resolved dynamical imaging of catalytic reactions on composite surfaces

The catalytic reduction of NO by hydrogen is investigated at (T = 650 K and (p≈10^-6 mbar on a microstructured Rh/Pt(100) surface consisting of Pt(100) domains surrounded by a 600 Åthick Rh film. Synchrotron radiation scanning photoemission microscopy (SPEM), using photons focused into a spot of less than 0.2 μm diameter, is employed as a spatially and chemically resolving in situ technique. The chemical waves which arise in the bistable system NO+H₂/Rh are imaged with SPEM monitoring the N 1s and O 1s photoelectrons. The reaction fronts initiate transitions from an inactive oxygen-covered surface (Θ_O≈0.25 ML) to a reactive nitrogen-covered surface (Θ_N≈0.06 ML). At the Pt/Rh interface, synergetic effects can be observed: the chemical waves on the Rh film nucleate preferentially at the Pt/Rh interface. This nucleation is poisoned by carbon contamination on the Pt area but is prevented in the vicinity of the Pt/Rh interface by the adjacent clean Rh film. No segregation of Pt to the surface was observed for the 600 Å thick Rh film.     

Ozone/electron beam process for water treatment: Design,limitations and economic considerations

Electron beam irradiation of water is technically the easiest way to generate OH free radicals but the efficiency of the irradiation process as an advanced oxidation process (AOP) is deteriorated by reducing species formed simultaneously with the OH free radicals. Addition of ozone to the water before or during irradiation improves the efficiency by converting the reducing species into OH free radicals and turning the irradiation process into a full AOP. The main reaction pathways of the primary species formed by the action of ionizing radiation on water in a natural groundwater with and without the presence of ozone are reviewed. Based on these data an explanation of both the dose rate effect and the ozone effect is attempted. New data are presented which illustrate the effect of alkalinity on the way in which ozone is introduced into the water, and the impact of both water matrix and chemical structure of the pollutants to the efficacy of the ozone/electron beam process.