Physical fundamentals of external transient latch-up and corrective actions

Detailed transient latch-up (TLU) analysis of external test structures show that a DC trigger does not necessarily reflect worst-case conditions. Furthermore, the classical guard ring latch-up protection approach fails for a transient trigger. In this contribution, the physical mechanism of TLU triggering is presented. The knowledge of physical phenomenons causing TLU triggering enables the derivation of design recommendations for integrated circuits.     

Fat‐soluble arsenic – new lipids with a sting in their tail

Lipids encompass a myriad of natural compounds with many essential biological functions and applications across the areas of food and nutrition, health and medicine, and modern nanotechnologies. Arsenic has long been known as a highly toxic element. What happens when the two come together?     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Papain‐Family Cathepsin L‐Like Cysteine Protease Inhibitors Containing a 1,4‐Benzodiazepine Scaffold as Antiprotozoal Agents

Novel papain‐family cathepsin L‐like cysteine protease inhibitors endowed with antitrypanosomal and antimalarial activity were developed, through an optimization study of previously developed inhibitors. In the present work, we studied the structure–activity relationships of these derivatives, with the aim to develop new analogues with a simplified and more synthetically accessible structure and with improved antiparasitic activity. The structure of the model compounds was significantly simplified by modifying or even eliminating the side chain appended at the C3 atom of the benzodiazepine scaffold. In addition, a simple methylene spacer of appropriate length was inserted between the benzodiazepine ring and the 3‐bromoisoxazoline moiety. Several rhodesain and falcipain‐2 inhibitors displaying single‐digit micromolar or sub‐micromolar antiparasitic activity against one or both parasites were identified, with activities that were one order of magnitude more potent than the model compounds.     

Linking Spatial Planning and Land Use Management in the City of Cape Town: The Case of the Package of Plans

Spatial planning has been the subject of critique within the South African context, particularly the disconnect between the intentions of spatial plans and land use decision-making. The City of Cape Town uses a land use assessment mechanism called the Package of Plans, originally developed for the assessment of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront development, which based on the hierarchical nature of the approach, can provide a link between strategic spatial planning and land use decision-making. Although the mechanism was developed for a specific purpose over 20 years ago, it has not been reviewed within the current spatial planning and land use legislative context. The paper reviews the Package of Plans within this current context and discusses the role it can play in linking spatial planning and land use management within the Cape Town context (and perhaps elsewhere). In so doing, it raises particular questions regarding the role of the mechanism within the City of Cape Town and ways its implementation could be improved.     

\upalpha 5\upbeta 1-integrin and MT1-MMP promote tumor cell migration in 2D but not in 3D fibronectin microenvironments

Cell migration is a crucial event for physiological processes, such as embryonic development and wound healing, as well as for pathological processes, such as cancer dissemination and metastasis formation. Cancer cell migration is a result of the concerted action of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), expressed by cancer cells to degrade the surrounding matrix, and integrins, the transmembrane receptors responsible for cell binding to matrix proteins. While it is known that cell-microenvironment interactions are essential for migration, the role of the physical state of such interactions remains still unclear. In this study we investigated human fibrosarcoma cell migration in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) fibronectin (FN) microenvironments. By using antibody blocking approach and cell-binding site mutation, we determined that $\upalpha _{5}\upbeta _{1}$ -integrin is the main mediator of fibrosarcoma cell migration in 2D FN, whereas in 3D fibrillar FN, the binding of $\upalpha _{5}\upbeta _{1}$ - and $\upalpha _\mathrm{v}\upbeta _{3}$ -integrins is not necessary for cell movement in the fibrillar network. Furthermore, while the general inhibition of MMPs with GM6001 has no effect on cell migration in both 2D and 3D FN matrices, we observed opposing effect after targeted silencing of a membrane-bound MMP, namely MT1-MMP. In 2D fibronectin, silencing of MT1-MMP results in decreased migration speed and loss of directionality, whereas in 3D FN matrices, cell migration speed is increased and integrin-mediated signaling for actin dynamics is promoted. Our results suggest that the fibrillar nature of the matrix governs the migratory behavior of fibrosarcoma cells. Therefore, to hinder migration and dissemination of diseased cells, matrix molecules should be directly targeted, rather than specific subtypes of receptors at the cell membrane.     

Electrochemical Synthesis of Magnetostrictive Fe–Ga/Cu Multilayered Nanowire Arrays with Tailored Magnetic Response

Arrays of nanowires are fabricated with alternating segments of the magnetostrictive alloy Fe_1–xGa_x and Cu using electrochemical deposition in nanoporous anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) templates. The difficult nature of Ga‐alloy electrochemistry is overcome by controlling mass‐transfer and hydrodynamic conditions using novel rotating disk electrode templates to obtain highly uniform segment lengths throughout the arrays. Extensive structural characterization by XRD, EBSD and TEM reveals a strong <110> textured Fe_1–xGa_x growth. Furthermore, using vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), we demonstrate that control of magnetization reversal processes is possible once uniform aspect ratios are obtained for both the Fe–Ga and Cu segments.     

Analyzing UV/Vis/NIR spectra with the single-layer model—Sputtered SnS thin films I: Space-time dependencies

Exact, contact-free and non-destructive, optical analysis of semiconducting layers, are advantageous for thin film solar cell applications. A non-numerical theoretical model has been developed to extract approximation-free optical and electrical data from UV/Vis/NIR spectra. Special focus has been set on single layers; an adequate single-layer model is provided. Complex parameter evaluation is possible.This exact data acquisition model provides deeper insights in the process-parameter dependencies of pulsed direct current and radio frequency sputtered, opaque tin-sulphide thin films upon glass substrates. They have been analysed with respect to space-time dependencies of the sputter process. Therefore, sputter-depositions have been examined, referring to positions upon the substrate, r, target-substrate distances, d_TarSub, and sputter durations, t_Sp. Theoretical sputter-concepts were proved and enhanced. Results were compared with those of the well-known Keradec/Swanepoel model. The necessity of taking both spectra—transmission and reflection spectra—into account has been shown.A non-contact, optical conductivity measurement possibility by use of UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy has been provided. Optically evaluated conductivities, σ_L, were compared with electrically taken values, by use of a four-tip measurement system.     

Automatic detection of conserved RNA structure elements in complete RNA virus genomes

We propose a new method for detecting conserved RNA secondary structures in a family of related RNA sequences. Our method is based on a combination of thermodynamic structure prediction and phylogenetic comparison. In contrast to purely phylogenetic methods, our algorithm can be used for small data sets of approximately 10 sequences, efficiently exploiting the information contained in the sequence variability. The procedure constructs a prediction only for those parts of sequences that are consistent with a single conserved structure. Our implementation produces reasonable consensus structures without user interference. As an example we have analysed the complete HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) genomes as well as the small segment of hantavirus. Our method confirms the known structures in HIV-1 and predicts previously unknown conserved RNA secondary structures in HCV.