Search results for " Structures"
showing 10 items of 4162 documents
Exciton and multiexciton optical properties of single InAs/GaAs site-controlled quantum dots
2013
We have studied the optical properties of InAs site-controlled quantum dots (SCQDs) grown on pre-patterned GaAs substrates. Since InAs nucleates preferentially on the lithography motifs, the location of the resulting QDs is determined by the pattern, which is fabricated by local oxidation nanolithography. Optical characterization has been performed on such SCQDs to study the fundamental and excited states. At the ground state different exciton complex transitions of about 500 μeV linewidth have been identified and the fine structure splitting of the neutral exciton has been determined (≈65 μeV). The observed electronic structure covers the demands of future quantum information technologies.…
Methionine in a protein hydrophobic core drives tight interactions required for assembly of spider silk
2019
Web spiders connect silk proteins, so-called spidroins, into fibers of extraordinary toughness. The spidroin N-terminal domain (NTD) plays a pivotal role in this process: it polymerizes spidroins through a complex mechanism of dimerization. Here we analyze sequences of spidroin NTDs and find an unusually high content of the amino acid methionine. We simultaneously mutate all methionines present in the hydrophobic core of a spidroin NTD from a nursery web spider’s dragline silk to leucine. The mutated NTD is strongly stabilized and folds at the theoretical speed limit. The structure of the mutant is preserved, yet its ability to dimerize is substantially impaired. We find that side chains of…
Bleomycin: Action on growth of oncogenic RNA viruses and on cell transformation
1975
Bleomycin (BLM) inhibits cell proliferation of noninfected chick embryo fibroblasts by blocking their DNA synthesis selectively. Chick embryo fibroblasts have beentransformed by Schmidt-Ruppin D strain of Rous Sarcoma Virus. Transformation has been determined by a focus assay. Foci formation is strongly reduced by BLM. Virus replication is inhibited by BLM in growing and confluent monolayer cells. This result might be explained by the observation that this drug reduces proliferation of growing and of confluent monolayer cells very sensitively. During the first 24 hours after infection the BLM inhibitory effect is more pronounced than in the case of BLM-application during the period 24--48 h…
Systemic therapies for mucopolysaccharidosis: ocular changes following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation or enzyme replacement therapy - a rev…
2010
The management of mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) is focused on the multi-organ, sometimes life-threatening, clinical manifestations that occur over time. In the past, the limited, symptom-based treatment options led physicians to adopt a palliative approach towards individual disease-associated complications. The availability of systemic treatments such as haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has created a better prognosis for MPS patients, particularly when initiated early in life. As part of an integrated management approach, these therapies could be valuable in managing the ocular features that are present in many children with MPS. HSCT has b…
Protective coloration of European vipers throughout the predation sequence
2020
Antipredator adaptations in the form of animal coloration are common and often multifunctional. European vipers (genus Vipera) have a characteristic dorsal zigzag pattern, which has been shown to serve as a warning signal to potential predators. At the same time, it has been suggested to decrease detection risk, and to cause a motion dazzle or flicker-fusion effect during movement. We tested these hypotheses by asking whether (1) the zigzag pattern decreases detection risk and (2) the detection is dependent on the base coloration (grey or brown) or the snake's posture (coiled, basking form or S-shaped, active form). Additionally, (3) we measured the fleeing speed of adders, Vipera berus, an…
Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity Depending from Keratoconus Apex Position
2017
Abstract Various studies have demonstrated that patients with keratoconus have significant loss of contrast sensitivity while its value varies in different studies. None of these studies has analysed reduced contrast sensitivity depending on the position of apex of corneal conus. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were evaluated for patients with keratoconus using the FrACT software. Contrast sensitivity was assessed at the following frequencies: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 cycles per degree (cpd). Twenty-four eyes with keratoconus were analysed. Contrast sensitivity was significantly lower for patients with the apex at the centre compared with apex on the periphery both with (p = 0.0…
Winter male plumage coloration correlates with breeding status in a cooperative breeding species
2007
The function of colored ornaments is usually related to the signaling of individual quality in intra- and intersexual interactions. In cooperative breeding species, where only a fraction of the male population access the breeding status and the other fraction has the option to help breeding pairs, colored traits might provide the females with a reliable information on the quality of potential mate. Males of the cooperative breeding azure-winged magpies (Cyanopica cyanus) display conspicuous blue plumage coloration. Here we explored the role played by structural blue coloration of males and the probability of becoming a breeder or a helper. Birds were trapped during 4 consecutive years, and …
Thermoelectric Radiation Detector Based on Superconductor-Ferromagnet Systems
2017
We suggest an ultrasensitive detector of electromagnetic fields exploiting the giant thermoelectric effect recently found in superconductor-ferromagnet hybrid structures. Compared with other types of superconducting detectors where the detected signal is based on variations of the detector impedance, the thermoelectric detector has the advantage of requiring no external driving fields. This is especially relevant in multipixel detectors, where the number of bias lines and the heating induced by them are an issue. We propose different material combinations to implement the detector and provide a detailed analysis of its sensitivity and speed. In particular, we perform a proper noise analysis…
Species size affects hatching response to different temperature regimes in a rotifer cryptic species complex
2013
The strategy of decreasing size with increasing temperature known as Bergmann’s rule operates at geographic scale and in spite of extensive studies still presents a puzzle to researches. The aim of this work was to verify whether patterns of diapausing egg hatching of closely related species are consistent with the expectations from Bergmann’s rule. In a laboratory study of the cryptic species complex of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, the response to temperature (17.5, 22.5, and 25.0 °C) of diapausing eggs collected in a pond where the three tested species coexist was assessed by (1) the number of hatchlings emerging or (2) the time needed to hatch. Our results show that the response to…
Structure and phase transitions in ethylenediammonium dichloride and its salts with antimony trichloride
2000
During the mixing of ethylenediammonium dichloride and antimony trichloride except of reported earlier [NH3(CH2)2NH3]5(Sb2Cl11)2 · 4 H2O a new salt [NH3(CH2)2NH3](SbCl4)2 was obtained. The crystals are monoclinic at 295 K, space group C2/m, a = 13.829(3), b = 7.408(1), c = 7.588(2) Å; β = 103.18(3)°; V = 756.9(3) Å3; Z = 2; dc = 2.585, dm = 2.56(2) g · cm–3. The structure consists of anionic sublattice built of Sb2Cl82– units composed of two SbCl52– square pyramids connected by edge. The ethylenediammonium cations are located in anionic cavities. The cations are disordered. Each methylene carbon atom is split between two positions. The X‐ray diffraction, DSC, TGA and dilatometric methods we…