In Silico Investigation of Potential Applications of Gamma Carbonic Anhydrases as Catalysts of CO2 Biomineralization Processes: A Visit to the Thermophilic Bacteria Persephonella hydrogeniphila,Persephonella marina,Thermosulfidibacter takaii,and Thermus thermophilus

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) have been identified as ideal catalysts for CO₂ sequestration. Here, we report the sequence and structural analyses as well as the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of four γ-CAs from thermophilic bacteria. Three of these, Persephonella marina, Persephonella hydrogeniphila, and Thermosulfidibacter takaii originate from hydrothermal vents and one, Thermus thermophilus HB8, from hot springs. Protein sequences were retrieved and aligned with previously characterized γ-CAs, revealing differences in the catalytic pocket residues. Further analysis of the structures following homology modeling revealed a hydrophobic patch in the catalytic pocket, presumed important for CO₂ binding. Monitoring of proton shuttling residue His69 (P. marina γ-CA numbering) during MD simulations of P. hydrogeniphila and P. marina’s γ-CAs (γ-PhCA and γ-PmCA), showed a different behavior to that observed in the γ-CA of Escherichia coli, which periodically coordinates Zn²⁺. This work also involved the search for hotspot residues that contribute to interface stability. Some of these residues were further identified as key in protein communication via betweenness centrality metric of dynamic residue network analysis. T. takaii’s γ-CA showed marginally lower thermostability compared to the other three γ-CA proteins with an increase in conformations visited at high temperatures being observed. Hydrogen bond analysis revealed important interactions, some unique and others common in all γ-CAs, which contribute to interface formation and thermostability. The seemingly thermostable γ-CA from T. thermophilus strangely showed increased unsynchronized residue motions at 423 K. γ-PhCA and γ-PmCA were, however, preliminarily considered suitable as prospective thermostable CO₂ sequestration agents.     

Heterogeneity in Youth Symptom Trajectories Following Psychiatric Crisis: Predictors and Placement Outcome.

The authors examined heterogeneity in symptom trajectories among youths following psychiatric crises as well as the psychosocial correlates and placement outcomes associated with identified trajectories. Using semiparametric mixture modeling with 156 youths approved for psychiatric hospitalization, the authors identified 5 trajectories based on symptoms over the 16 months following crisis: high improved, high unimproved, borderline improved, borderline unimproved, and subclinical. Membership in unimproved symptom groups was associated with less suicidality, younger age, more youth hopelessness, and more caregiver empowerment. Improved symptom group membership predicted long-term decreases in days in out-of-home placements. More important, and in contrast with general impressions from the existing literature, findings suggest that a substantive proportion of youths with serious emotional disturbance sustain high levels of symptomatology following intensive mental health services. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Closed-loop expressions of minimum energy control for single-inputlinear digital systems

Closed-loop expressions for the minimum energy control of a single-input linear digital system are described. They are obtained by two different methods. The optimal inputs are given by state feedback with the bounded variable gains. The gains are independent of the initial state of the system     

4*4 directional coupler switch matrix with an InGaAlAs/InAlAs multiquantum well structure

A 4*4 directional coupler switch matrix is developed which uses, for the first time, the quantum confined Stark effect of InGaAlAs/InAlAs multiquantum well structures. The rearrangeable nonblocking 4*4 network with six 2*2 switches is shown to be perfectly functional with switching voltages between 5 and 6 V and crosstalk below -17 dB in all the operation states.<>     

High-bandwidth graded-index polymer optical fiber with high-temperature stability

A newly developed graded-index polymer optical fiber (GI-POF) with high-temperature and high-humidity stability was proposed. As it was found that the high numerical aperture and high glass transition temperature (T/sub g/) at the core center of the GI-POF were key issues to achieve both high-temperature and humidity stability, a partially fluorinated polymer material was adopted to obtain both characteristics in the GI-POF. The newly developed GI-POF had low-loss (140 dB/km at 650-nm wavelength), high-bandwidth (higher than 1 GHz for 100 m transmission), high-temperature and humidity stability at 70/spl deg/C, 80% relative humidity (R.H.) and low bending loss.     

Characterization and electrochemical properties of CF4 plasma-treated boron-doped diamond surfaces

The effect of CF₄ plasma etching on diamond surfaces, with respect to treatment time, was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical measurements. SEM observations and Raman spectra indicated an increase in surface roughening on a scale of 10–20 nm, and an increase in crystal defect density was apparent with treatment time in the range of 10 s to 30 min. In contrast, alteration of the diamond surface terminations from oxygen to fluorine was found to be rather rapid, with saturation of the F/C atomic ratio estimated from XPS analysis after treatment durations of 1 min and more. The redox kinetics of Fe(CN)₆^3−/4− was also found to be significantly modified after 10 s of CF₄ plasma treatment. This behavior shows that C–F terminations predominantly affect the redox kinetics compared to the effect on the surface roughness and crystal defects. The double-layer capacitance (C_dl) of the electrolyte/CF₄ plasma-treated boron-doped diamond interface was found to show a minimum value at 1 min of treatment. These results indicate that a short-duration CF₄ plasma treatment is effective for the fabrication of fluorine-terminated diamond surfaces without undesirable surface damage.     

A Nonvolatile Organic Memory Device Using ITO Surfaces Modified by Ag‐Nanodots

We report on a single‐layer organic memory device made of poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) embedded between an Al electrode and ITO modified with Ag nanodots (Ag‐NDs). Devices exhibit high ON/OFF switching ratios of 10⁴. This level of performance could be achieved by modifying the ITO electrodes with some Ag‐NDs that act as trapping sites, reducing the current in the OFF state. Temperature dependence of the electrical characteristics suggest that the current of the low‐resistance state can be attributed to Schottky charge tunnelling through low‐resistance pathways of Al particles in the polymer layer and that the high‐resistance state can be controlled by charge trapping by the Al particles and Ag‐NDs.     

Respiratory mechanics during mechanical ventilation: a model study on the effects of leak around a tracheal tube

Recently published studies indicate a potential clinical application of PET in head and neck tumors. In the preoperative staging phase, PET enables confirmation of regional lymph node extension and guides nodal neck dissection or systemic treatment. In this phase, a high negative predictive value, near 100%, could make it possible to avoid many negative neck dissections. This is a reliable technique for confirming or excluding the presence of recurrent/residual tumor and for obtaining an early evaluation of chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic response. PET imaging in many cases makes it possible to locate and guide histological study of tumors with an unknown primary. PET imaging for these indications is a perfect complementary method for clinical exploration and better than other imaging techniques.