Mechano-Chemical Coupling at Molecular Level: Forced Dissociation of Selectin/Ligand Binding

Mechano-chemical coupling is a common phenomenon that exists in various biological processes at different physiological levels. Bone tissue remodeling strongly depends on the local mechanical load. Leukocytes are sheared to form the transient aggregates with platelets or other leukocytes in the circulation. Flow pattern affects the signal transduction pathways in endothelial cells. Receptor/ligand interactions are important to cell adhesion since they supply the physical linkages...

Carbon transition efficiency and process cost in high-rate, large-area deposition of diamond films by DC arc plasma jet

A new DC plasma torch in which are jet states and deposition parameters can be regulated over a wide range has been built. It showed advantages in producing stable plasma conditions at a small gas flow rate. Plasma jets with and without magnetically rotated arcs could be generated. With straight are jet deposition, diamond films could be formed at a rate of 39 mu m/h on Mo substrates of Phi 25 mm, and the conversion rate of carbon in CH4 to diamond was less than 3%. Under magnetically rotated conditions, diamond films could be deposited uniformly in a range of Phi 40 mm at 30 mu m/h, with a quite low total gas flow rate and high carbon conversion rate of over 11%. Mechanisms of rapid and uniform deposition of diamond films with low gas consumption and high carbon transition efficiency are discussed.

Forced Dissociation of Selectin-ligand Complexes Using Steered Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Selectin-ligand interactions are crucial to such biological processes as inflammatory cascade or tumor metastasis. How transient formation and dissociation of selectin-ligand bonds in blood flow are coupled to molecular conformation at atomic level, however, has not been well understood. In this study, steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations were used to elucidate the intramolecular and intermolecular conformational evolutions involved in forced dissociation of three selectin-ligand systems: the construct consisting of P-selectin lectin (Lec) and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains (P-LE) interacting with synthesized sulfoglycopeptide or SGP-3, P-LE with sialyl Lewis X (sLeX), and E-LE with sLeX. SMD simulations were based on newly built-up force field parameters including carbohydrate units and sulfated tyrosine(s) using an analogy approach. The simulations demonstrated that the complex dissociation was coupled to the molecular extension. While the intramolecular unraveling in P-LESGP-3 system mainly resulted from the destroy of the two anti-parallel sheets of EGF domain and the breakage of hydrogen-bond cluster at the Lec-EGF interface, the intermolecular dissociation was mainly determined by separation of fucose (FUC) from Ca2+ ion in all three systems. Conformational changes during forced dissociations depended on pulling velocities and forces, as well as on how the force was applied. This work provides an insight into better understanding of conformational changes and adhesive functionality of selectin-ligand interactions under external forces.

Influence of Forced Convection on Columnar Microstructure During Directional Solidification of Al-Ni Alloys

This paper presents a summary of cellular and dendritic morphologies resulting from the upward directional solidification of Al - Ni alloys in a cylindrical crucible. We analysed the coupling of solid-liquid interface morphology with natural and forced convection. The influence of natural convection was first analyzed as a function of growth parameters (solute concentration, growth rate and thermal gradient). In a second step, the influence of axial vibrations on solidification microstructure was investigated by varying vibration parameters (amplitude and frequency). Experimental results were compared to preliminary numerical simulations and a good agreement is found for natural convection. In this study, the critical role of the mushy zone in the interaction between fluid flow and solidification microstructure is pointed out.

Forced extension of P-selectin construct using steered molecular dynamics

P-selectin, a 70-nm-long cellular adhesive molecule, possesses elastic and extensible properties when neutrophils roll over the activated endotheliam of blood vessel in inflammatory reaction. Transient formation and dissociation of P-selectin/ligand bond on applied force of blood flow induces the extension of P-selectin and relevant ligands. Steered molecular dynamics simulations were performed to stretch a single P-selectin construct consisting of a lectin (Lec) domain and an epithelial growth factor (EGF)-like domain, where P-selectin construct was forced to extend in water with pulling velocities of 0.005-0.05 nm/ps and with constant forces of 1000-2500 pN respectively. Resulting force-extension profiles exhibited a dual-peak pattern on various velocities, while both plateaus and shoulders appeared in the extension-time profiles on various forces. The force or extension profiles along stretching pathways were correlated to the conformational changes, suggesting that the structural collapses of P-selectin Lec/EGF domains were mainly attributed to the burst of hydrogen bonds within the major beta sheet of EGF domain and the disruptions of two hydrophobic cores of Lee domain. This work furthers the understanding of forced dissociation of P-selectin/ligand bond.

Instability of the vertically forced surface wave in a circular cylindrical container

The nonlinear amplitude equation, which was derived by Jian Yongjun employing expansion of two-time scales in inviscid fluids in a vertically oscillating circular cylindrical vessel, is modified by introducing a damping term due to the viscous dissipation of this system. Instability of the surface wave is analysed and properties of the solutions of the modified equation are determined together with phase-plane trajectories. A necessary condition of forming a stable surface wave is obtained and unstable regions are illustrated. Research results show that the stable pattern of surface wave will not lose its stability to an infinitesimal disturbance.

Vertically forced surface wave in weakly viscous fluids bounded in a circular cylindrical vessel

Two-time scale perturbation expansions were developed in weakly viscous fluids to investigate surface wave motions by linearizing the Navier-Stokes equation in a circular cylindrical vessel which is subject to a vertical oscillation. The fluid field was divided into an outer potential flow region and an inner boundary layer region. A linear amplitude equation of slowly varying complex amplitude, which incorporates a damping term and external excitation, was derived for the weakly viscid fluids. The condition for the appearance of stable surface waves was obtained and the critical curve was determined. In addition, an analytical expression for the damping coefficient was determined and the relationship between damping and other related parameters (such as viscosity, forced amplitude, forced frequency and the depth of fluid, etc.) was presented. Finally, the influence both of the surface tension and the weak viscosity on the mode formation was described by comparing theoretical and experimental results. The results show that when the forcing frequency is low, the viscosity of the fluid is prominent for the mode selection. However, when the forcing frequency is high, the surface tension of the fluid is prominent.

Internal resonance of an L-shaped beam with a limit stop .2. Forced vibration

A limit stop is placed at the elbow of an L-shaped beam whose linear natural frequencies are nearly commensurable. As a result of this hardening device the non-linear system exhibits multiple internal resonances, which involve various degree of coupling between the first five modes of the beam in free vibration. A point load is so placed as to excite several modes and the resulting forced vibration is examined. In the undamped case, three in-phase and two out-of-phase solution branches have been found. The resonance curve is extremely complicated, with multiple branches and interactions between the first four modes. The amplitudes of the higher harmonics are highly influenced by damping, the presence of which can effectively attenuate internal resonances. Consequently parts of the resonance curve may be eliminated, with the resulting response comprising different distinctive branches. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited

2D Kinetics and Forced Dissociation of Selectin-ligand Bindings

Cell adhesion is crucial to many pathophysiological processes, such as inflammatory reaction and tumor metastasis. It is mediated by specific interactions between receptors and ligands, and provides the physical linkages among cells. For example, interactions between selectins and glycoconjugate ligands mediate leukocyte initially tethering to and subsequently rolling on vascular surfaces in sites of inflammation or injury, which is determined by their fast kinetic rates. To mediate cell adhesion, the interacting receptors and ligands must anchor to apposing surfaces of two cells or a cell and the substratum, i.e. , the so-called two-dimensional (2D) binding, which differs from interactions in the fluid phase, i.e. , the three-dimensional (3D) binding. How structural variations and surface environments of interacting molecules affect their 2D kinetics, and how external forces manipulate their dissociation has little been known quantitatively, and nowadays attracts more and more attentions.

Characterization of Sarcocystis species in domestic animals using a PCR-RFLP analysis of variation in the 18S rRNA gene: a cost-effective and simple technique for routine species identification

Thirteen restriction endonucleases were used to investigate nucleotide sequence variation in the 18S rRNA DNA of 88 individuals from ten Sarcocystis taxa collected as cysts from their intermediate hosts, swine, cattle and water buffalo. A DNA sequence of

Rapid growth cost in “all-fish” growth hormone gene transgenic carp: Reduced critical swimming speed

Evidence has accumulated that there is a trade-off between benefits and costs associated with rapid growth. A trade-off between growth rates and critical. swimming speed (U-crit) had been also reported to be common in teleost fish. We hypothesize that growth acceleration in the F-3 generation of "all-fish" growth hormone gene (GH) transgenic common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) would reduce the swimming abilities. Growth and swimming performance between transgenic fish and non-transgenic controls were) compared. The results showed that transgenic fish had a mean body weight 1.4-1.9-fold heavier, and a mean specific growth rate (SGR) value 6%-10% higher than the controls. Transgenic fish, however, had a mean absolute U-crit (cm/s) value 22% or mean relative Ucrit (BL/s) value 24% lower than the controls. It suggested that fast-growing "all-fish" GH-transgenic carp were inferior swimmers. It is also supported that there was a trade-off between growth rates and swimming performance, i.e. faster-growing individuals had lower critical swimming speed.

A low-cost CMOS programmable temperature

A novel uncalibrated CMOS programmable temperature switch with high temperature accuracy is presented. Its threshold temperature T-th can be programmed by adjusting the ratios of width and length of the transistors. The operating principles of the temperature switch circuit is theoretically explained. A floating gate neural MOS circuit is designed to compensate automatically the threshold temperature T-th variation that results form the process tolerance. The switch circuit is implemented in a standard 0.35 mu m CMOS process. The temperature switch can be programmed to perform the switch operation at 16 different threshold temperature T(th)s from 45-120 degrees C with a 5 degrees C increment. The measurement shows a good consistency in the threshold temperatures. The chip core area is 0.04 mm(2) and power consumption is 3.1 mu A at 3.3V power supply. The advantages of the temperature switch are low power consumption, the programmable threshold temperature and the controllable hysteresis.

Fabrication of low-cost and high-reflectivity bottom mirrors for Si-based micro-cavity devices

A novel and simple way to prepare high-reflectivity bottom mirrors for Si-based micro-cavity devices is reported. The bottom mirror was deposited in the hole, which was etched from the backside of the sample by ethylenediamine-pyrocatechol-water solution with the buried Sio, layer in the silicon-on-insulator substrate as the etching-stop layer. The high-reflectivity of the bottom mirror deposited in the hole and the narrow hill width at half maximum of the cavity formed by this method both indicate the successful preparation of the bottom mirror for Si-based micro-cavity devices.

Demonstration of low-cost Si-based tunable long-wavelength resonant-cavity-enhanced photodetectors

A simple process for fabricating low-cost Si-based continuously tunable long-wavelength resonant-cavity-enhanced (RCE) photodetectors has been investigated. High-contrast SiO2/Si(Deltan similar to2) was employed as mirrors to eliminate the need to grow thick epitaxial distributed Bragg reflectors. Such high-reflectivity SiO2/Si mirrors were deposited on the as-grown InGaAs epitaxy layers, and then were bonded to silicon substrates at a low temperature of 350 C without any special treatment on bonding surfaces, employing silicate gel as the bonding medium. The cost is thus decreased. A thermally tunable Si-based InGaAs RCE photodetector operating at 1.3-1.6 mum was obtained, with a quantum efficiency of about 44% at the resonant wavelength of 1476 nm and a tuning range of 14.5 nm. It demonstrates a great potential for industry processes. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.