HRTEM observation of the monoclinic-to-tetragonal m-t) phase transition in nanocrystalline ZrO2

The orientation relations m(100) || t(001), m[001] || t[110]; m(011) || t(100), m[100] || t[001]; m(100) || t(110), m[001] || t[001]; m(013) || t(116), m[001] || t[001] (indices for the primitive tetragonal cell) have been found between the tetragonal (t) and monoclinic (m) domains during the electron irradiation-induced m-t phase transition observed in-situ with HREM within isolated zirconia nanoparticles. Geometric models of the m-t interfaces are proposed.     

Representation of shift-invariant operators onL 2 byH ∞ transfer functions: An elementary proof,a generalization toL p,and a counterexample forL ∞

We give an elementary proof of the well-known fact that shift-invariant operators onL ²[0, ∞) are represented by transfer functions which are bounded and analytic on the right open half-plane. We prove a generalization to Banach space-valuedL ^p -functions, where 1≤p<∞. We show that the result no longer holds forp=∞. This research was supported partially by the Weizmann Fellowship, and partially by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Contract F49620-86-C-0111.     

Low Temperature Acoustic Properties of Poly-Crystalline Aluminium

As in other structurally disordered solids, the low temperature acoustic properties of poly-crystalline aluminium are governed by atomic two-level tunneling systems. The particular temperature variation of sound velocity and internal friction depends on the dynamical behaviour of these tunneling systems, which is expected to be determined by interaction with thermal phonons and conduction electrons as in metallic glasses. In earlier measurements on aluminium-wires no significant difference was found whether the sample was superconducting or kept in the normal state by a sufficiently high magnetic field and the concluding claim was ‘absence of electron-assisted relaxation for tunneling systems in poly-crystalline metals’. In this report, vibrating reed measurements are presented of pure poly-crystalline Al with a special sample shape that reduces the influence of the clamping. We in fact find significant differences between the sample being normal conducting or superconducting. The overall behaviour indeed resembles very closely that of metallic glasses and clearly demonstrates that also in Al tunneling systems couple to conduction electrons as expected. As a quantitative result we may state that the density of states of tunneling systems in poly-crystalline Al is considerably smaller than in metallic glasses. PACS numbers: 61.43.-j, 62.65.+k, 63.50.+x     

Relationship between the genomic organization and the overlapping embryonic expression patterns of the zebrafish dlx genes

To understand the relationship between the expression and the genomic organization of the zebrafish dlx genes, we have determined the genomic structure of the dlx2 and dlx4 loci. This led to the identification of the zebrafish dlx1 and dlx6 genes, which are closely linked to dlx2 and dlx4, respectively. Therefore, the inverted convergent configuration of Dlx genes is conserved among vertebrates. Analysis of the expression patterns of dlx1 and dlx6 showed striking similarities to those of dlx2 and dlx4, respectively, the genes to which they are linked. Furthermore, the expression patterns of dlx3 and dlx7, which likely constitute a third pair of convergently transcribed genes, are indistinguishable. Thus, the overlapping expression patterns of linked Dlx genes during embryonic development suggest that they share cis-acting sequences that control their spatiotemporal expression. The evolutionary conservation of the genomic organization and combinatorial expression of Dlx genes in distantly related vertebrates suggest tight control mechanisms that are essential for their function during development.     

Effects of serotonin and the serotonin blocker metergoline on meal patterns and macronutrient selection

Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)] in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of rats has a suppressive effect on feeding behavior and causes a selective decrease in carbohydrate ingestion, specifically at the onset of the natural (dark) feeding period. Studies conducted here provide further evidence for this phenomena, showing a similar dose-related decrease in carbohydrate ingestion at dark onset after PVN injection of 5-HT or of the agonists, d-norfenfluramine or fluoxetine, which act through endogenous 5-HT. To further characterize the effects of this indoleamine on the macrostructure of feeding, a computer-automated data acquisition system was used to analyze macronutrient feeding patterns in freely feeding animals maintained on the pure diets of protein, carbohydrate, and fat. Results indicate that PVN administration of 5-HT at dark onset decreases intake of the carbohydrate nutrient by decreasing meal size, feeding time, and feeding rate for this nutrient and increasing the satiating effect of carbohydrate. These effects, which occur specifically during the first meal after injection, are opposite those seen after peripheral administration of the 5-HT receptor antagonist, metergoline. This drug stimulates feeding through a selective increase in carbohydrate intake, characterized by an increase in meal size, percent composition, and feeding time for this nutrient and a decrease in the satiety ratio for carbohydrate. These results implicate the serotonergic system in the termination of carbohydrate-rich meals that are prevalent during the early hours of the natural feeding cycle.     

Solution structure of the superactive monomeric des-[Phe(B25)] human insulin mutant: elucidation of the structural basis for the monomerization of des-[Phe(B25)] insulin and the dimerization of native insulin

The three-dimensional solution structure of des-[Phe(B25)] human insulin has been determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and restrained molecular dynamics calculations. Thirty-five structures were calculated by distance geometry from 581 nuclear Overhauser enhancement-derived distance constraints, ten phi torsional angle restraints, the restraints from 16 helical hydrogen bonds, and three disulfide bridges. The distance geometry structures were optimized using simulated annealing and restrained energy minimization. The average root-mean-square (r.m.s.) deviation for the best 20 refined structures is 1.07 angstroms for the backbone and 1.92 angstroms for all atoms if the less well-defined N and C-terminal residues are excluded. The helical regions are more well defined, with r.m.s. deviations of 0.64 angstroms for the backbone and 1.51 angstroms for all atoms. It is found that the des-[Phe(B25)] insulin is a monomer under the applied conditions (4.6 to 4.7 mM, pH 3.0, 310 K), that the overall secondary and tertiary structures of the monomers in the 2Zn crystal hexamer of native insulin are preserved, and that the conformation-averaged NMR solution structure is close to the structure of molecule 1 in the hexamer. The structure reveals that the lost ability of des-[Phe(B25)] insulin to self-associate is caused by a conformational change of the C-terminal region of the B-chain, which results in an intra-molecular hydrophobic interaction between Pro(B28) and the hydrophobic region Leu(B11)-Leu(B15) of the B-chain alpha-helix. This interaction interferes with the inter-molecular hydrophobic interactions responsible for the dimerization of native insulin, depriving the mutant of the ability to dimerize. Further, the structure displays a series of features that may explain the high potency of the mutant on the basis of the current model for the insulin-receptor interaction. These features are: a change in conformation of the C-terminal region of the B-chain, the absence of strong hydrogen bonds between this region and the rest of the molecule, and a relatively easy accessibility to the Val(A3) residue.