The Small Heat Shock Protein,HSPB1, Interacts with and Modulates the Physical Structure of Membranes

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) have been demonstrated to interact with lipids and modulate the physical state of membranes across species. Through these interactions, sHSPs contribute to the maintenance of membrane integrity. HSPB1 is a major sHSP in mammals, but its lipid interaction profile has so far been unexplored. In this study, we characterized the interaction between HSPB1 and phospholipids. HSPB1 not only associated with membranes via membrane-forming lipids, but also showed a strong affinity towards highly fluid membranes. It participated in the modulation of the physical properties of the interacting membranes by altering rotational and lateral lipid mobility. In addition, the in vivo expression of HSPB1 greatly affected the phase behavior of the plasma membrane under membrane fluidizing stress conditions. In light of our current findings, we propose a new function for HSPB1 as a membrane chaperone.     

Module-Based Reinforcement Learning: Experiments with a Real Robot

The behavior of reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms is best understood in completely observable, discrete-time controlled Markov chains with finite state and action spaces. In contrast, robot-learning domains are inherently continuous both in time and space, and moreover are partially observable. Here we suggest a systematic approach to solve such problems in which the available qualitative and quantitative knowledge is used to reduce the complexity of learning task. The steps of the design process are to: (i) decompose the task into subtasks using the qualitative knowledge at hand; (ii) design local controllers to solve the subtasks using the available quantitative knowledge, and (iii) learn a coordination of these controllers by means of reinforcement learning. It is argued that the approach enables fast, semi-automatic, but still high quality robot-control as no fine-tuning of the local controllers is needed. The approach was verified on a non-trivial real-life robot task. Several RL algorithms were compared by ANOVA and it was found that the model-based approach worked significantly better than the model-free approach. The learnt switching strategy performed comparably to a handcrafted version. Moreover, the learnt strategy seemed to exploit certain properties of the environment which were not foreseen in advance, thus supporting the view that adaptive algorithms are advantageous to nonadaptive ones in complex environments.     

Detection of Antimicrobial Peptides in Stratum Corneum by Mass Spectrometry

Antimicrobial and immunomodulatory peptides (AMPs) are considered as the key players in the maintenance of skin barrier functions. Here, we developed a novel approach for the examination of AMPs in the outermost layer of the epidermis, namely stratum corneum (SC). The SC sample collection by tape stripping was coupled with detection by highly specific and sensitive parallel reaction monitoring (PRM)-based mass spectrometry. We found that hexane-free processing of SC samples produced higher protein yield compared to hexane-based extraction. Of the 18 investigated peptides, 9 could be detected either in healthy or in inflamed skin specimens. Regarding the amount of S100A8, LCN2, LACRT and LYZ significant topographical differences were described among gland poor (GP), sebaceous gland rich (SGR) and apocrine gland rich (AGR) healthy skin regions. We applied a minimally invasive, reproducible approach for sampling, which can be assessed for research and diagnostic purposes and for monitoring the effectiveness of therapies in skin diseases.     

Ecological Evaluation of the Baja-Bezdan Canal (Hungary–Serbia) for Reconstruction Planning

Complying with the objectives of the European Union Water Framework Directive, the water management organisations of Hungary and Serbia launched a common project in 2010 in order to improve the status of the channel crossing the national border. During reconstruction planning they intended to take ecological aspects into consideration. Therefore the evaluation of ecological state has been carried out for the Baja-Bezdan channel complemented by on-the-spot monitoring and biological examinations. Such a detailed survey of the channel has no precedent to date. Besides the evaluation, ecology-based proposals were phrased, which not only serve the sustainable functioning of the channel, but also help to preserve its flora and fauna.     

Nonlinear electro-thermal modeling and field-simulation of OLEDs for lighting applications I: Algorithmic fundamentals

Large area OLEDs aimed at lighting applications should provide homogeneous luminance—homogeneity is one of the quality metrics of such devices. Local light generation depends on both the local temperature and the local voltage drop across the light emitting polymer(s) in the device. Therefore the thermal and electrical engineering of OLEDs aimed at lighting applications is critical. Due to the large area of these devices the coupled electrical and the thermal simulation problem is of distributed nature. Electrical characteristics of organic semiconductor materials used in OLED devices are highly nonlinear, and their nonlinear temperature-dependence is significant. In our present approach to distributed electro-thermal field simulation we address special needs of OLEDs, which is not yet the case with widely used, commercially available simulation tools. In this paper we present the latest version of our SUNRED electro-thermal field solver algorithm capable of handling coupled, non-linear electro-thermal problems. The new features of the algorithm are demonstrated by modeling some research OLED samples available to us in the Fast2Light project—this way simulation results are compared against measured data.     

连铸板坯中心线偏析的预测

从生产经验和文献可知,结晶过程中产生的凝固收缩会导致中心线偏析,很多情况下,在热轧产品的中心也会发现结晶过程中产生的微细缩孔。从这方面讲,板坯凝固过程中形成缩孔簇的尺寸大小,以及形成这种缩孔的条件是首要的,在全面分析统计数据的基础上,对此进行了讨论,得出一个重要结论:当固液比率达到一定的值后,在此部位的铸坯中心只有糊状物,实际上没有更多的液体可以补充。建立了数学模型,用于计算板坯中心部位的流动速度和方向以及预测的疏松。计算表明,在给定的成分和冷却条件下,中心线偏析主要受支承辊的设置、形变和偏心度的影响,同时支承辊之间铸坯的鼓肚也是重要影响因素之一。     

An Irreversible Economic Approach to the Theory of Production

The general equilibrium theory — the most elaborated form of the value theory — is unable to integrate firms unless under the etiquette of 'techniques'. However, to study important economic questions, as for example growth, without firms is at most doubtful. As an alternative to the attempts aiming to rehabilitate firms (as for example Coase and the theory of organization) we propose to adopt a new approach which not only treats firms as real decision makers, i.e. they make irreversible economic decisions, but describes them from a dynamic point of view, i.e. an Onsagerian type of dynamics is developed. The main charateristics of this approach are the no-loss choice rule vis-à-vis the profit maximization, and the integration of quantity signals (and past experience) vis-à-vis the unique price signals. As a result, we are capable of separating three questions which are generally not distinguished in neoclassical economics, namely the evaluation (profitability), the choice of production level and that of trade. Hence, even in the linear technology and price taker case we have a meaningful answer as, for instance, the level of output.     

When Isolated at Full Receptivity,in Vitro Fertilized Wheat (Triticum aestivum,L.) Egg Cells Reveal [Ca2+]cyt Oscillation of Intracellular Origin

During in vitro fertilization of wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) in egg cells isolated at various developmental stages, changes in cytosolic free calcium ([Ca²⁺]_cyt) were observed. The dynamics of [Ca²⁺]_cyt elevation varied, reflecting the difference in the developmental stage of the eggs used. [Ca²⁺]_cyt oscillation was exclusively observed in fertile, mature egg cells fused with the sperm cell. To determine how [Ca²⁺]_cyt oscillation in mature egg cells is generated, egg cells were incubated in thapsigargin, which proved to be a specific inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca²⁺-ATPase in wheat egg cells. In unfertilized egg cells, the addition of thapsigargin caused an abrupt transient increase in [Ca²⁺]_cyt in the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺, suggesting that an influx pathway for Ca²⁺ is activated by thapsigargin. The [Ca²⁺]_cyt oscillation seemed to require the filling of an intracellular calcium store for the onset of which, calcium influx through the plasma membrane appeared essential. This was demonstrated by omitting extracellular calcium from (or adding GdCl₃ to) the fusion medium, which prevented [Ca²⁺]_cyt oscillation in mature egg cells fused with the sperm. Combined, these data permit the hypothesis that the first sperm-induced transient increase in [Ca²⁺]_cyt depletes an intracellular Ca²⁺ store, triggering an increase in plasma membrane Ca²⁺ permeability, and this enhanced Ca²⁺ influx results in [Ca²⁺]_cyt oscillation.     

Synthesis of an Aza Chiral Crown Ether Grafted to Nanofibrous Silica Support and Application in Asymmetric Michael Addition

We report on the synthesis of a new, supported phase transfer catalyst and its asymmetric induction. An inorganic-polymer-supported chiral crown ether was prepared by the reaction between an optically active macrocycle deriving from methyl-α-d-glucopyranoside and silica nanofibres. The inorganic carrier of the catalyst has high specific surface area due to its nanofibrous structure, which is favourable for heterogeneous catalytic reactions. SiO₂ fibres were electrospun from silica sol which was prepared via sol–gel reactions from tetraethylorthosilicate. The asymmetric Michael reaction of diethyl acetamidomalonate and β-nitrostyrene was selected for the comparison of the performance of various glucopyranoside-based macrocycles. The asymmetric inductions of macrocycles provided 20–99 % enantiomeric excess. A triethoxysilyl derivative was prepared from the highly enantioselective macrocycle in order to immobilize it on the surface of the silica nanofibres. The supported glucose based monoaza-15-crown-5 type macrocycle was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and compared with non-supported native crown ethers in the asymmetric Michael addition. The immobilized phase-transfer catalyst generated high enantiomeric excess (82 %) in spite of the fact that it was used in a three-phase reaction.     

Atmospheric pressure plasma enhanced synthesis of flame retardant cellulosic materials

Flame retardant cellulosic materials have been produced using a silicon dioxide (SiO₂) network coating. SiO₂ network armor was prepared through hydrolysis and condensation of the precursor tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), prior coating the substrates, and was cross linked on the surface of the substrates using atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) technique. Because of protection effects of the SiO₂ network armor, the cellulosic based fibers exhibit enhanced thermal properties (characterized by TGA and DSC) and improved flame retardant (proven by ASTM D1230‐99). Furthermore, the surface analysis (XPS and SEM) confirmed the presence of the SiO₂ network attached to the substrates even after intense ultrasound washes. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010