Influence of specific HSP70 domains on fibril formation of the yeast prion protein Ure2.

Ure2p is the protein determinant of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae prion state [URE3]. Constitutive overexpression of the HSP70 family member SSA1 cures cells of [URE3]. Here, we show that Ssa1p increases the lag time of Ure2p fibril formation in vitro in the presence or absence of nucleotide. The presence of the HSP40 co-chaperone Ydj1p has an additive effect on the inhibition of Ure2p fibril formation, whereas the Ydj1p H34Q mutant shows reduced inhibition alone and in combination with Ssa1p. In order to investigate the structural basis of these effects, we constructed and tested an Ssa1p mutant lacking the ATPase domain, as well as a series of C-terminal truncation mutants. The results indicate that Ssa1p can bind to Ure2p and delay fibril formation even in the absence of the ATPase domain, but interaction of Ure2p with the substrate-binding domain is strongly influenced by the C-terminal lid region. Dynamic light scattering, quartz crystal microbalance assays, pull-down assays and kinetic analysis indicate that Ssa1p interacts with both native Ure2p and fibril seeds, and reduces the rate of Ure2p fibril elongation in a concentration-dependent manner. These results provide new insights into the structural and mechanistic basis for inhibition of Ure2p fibril formation by Ssa1p and Ydj1p.

Silver paint as a soldering agent for DyBaCuO single-domains welding

Silver paint has been tested as a soldering agent for DyBaCuO single-domain welding. Junctions have been manufactured on Dy-Ba-Cu-O single-domains cut either along planes parallel to the c-axis or along the ab-planes. Microstructural and superconducting characterisations of the samples have been performed. For both types of junctions, the microstructure in the joined area is very clean: no secondary phase or Ag particles segregation has been observed. Electrical and magnetic measurements for all configurations of interest are reported $\rho(T)$ curves, and Hall probe mapping). The narrow resistive superconducting transition reported for all configurations shows that the artificial junction does not affect significantly the measured superconducting properties of the material.

Investigation of DyBa2Cu3O7-d superconducting domains grown by the infiltration technique starting with small size Dy-211 particles

An infiltration and growth process is here used as an alternative to the classical top-seeded melt-textured growth process for the production of Dy-123 single-domains with finely dispersed small size Dy-211 particles. The starting materials are the 211-particles and a barium and copper rich liquid phase precursor. The infiltration and growth process allows for controlling both the spatial and size distribution of the 211-particles in the final superconducting 123-single-domain. The main parameters (set-ups, maximum processing temperature with respect to the peritectic temperature, nature of reactant, porosity of the 211-preform) of the infiltration and growth process are discussed. Moreover, different processes of chimie douce are shown in order to produce Dy-211 particles with controlled shape and size, particles that can be used as precursors for the infiltration and growth process. © 2005 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Influence of specific HSP70 domains on fibril formation of the yeast prion protein Ure2.

Ure2p is the protein determinant of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae prion state [URE3]. Constitutive overexpression of the HSP70 family member SSA1 cures cells of [URE3]. Here, we show that Ssa1p increases the lag time of Ure2p fibril formation in vitro in the presence or absence of nucleotide. The presence of the HSP40 co-chaperone Ydj1p has an additive effect on the inhibition of Ure2p fibril formation, whereas the Ydj1p H34Q mutant shows reduced inhibition alone and in combination with Ssa1p. In order to investigate the structural basis of these effects, we constructed and tested an Ssa1p mutant lacking the ATPase domain, as well as a series of C-terminal truncation mutants. The results indicate that Ssa1p can bind to Ure2p and delay fibril formation even in the absence of the ATPase domain, but interaction of Ure2p with the substrate-binding domain is strongly influenced by the C-terminal lid region. Dynamic light scattering, quartz crystal microbalance assays, pull-down assays and kinetic analysis indicate that Ssa1p interacts with both native Ure2p and fibril seeds, and reduces the rate of Ure2p fibril elongation in a concentration-dependent manner. These results provide new insights into the structural and mechanistic basis for inhibition of Ure2p fibril formation by Ssa1p and Ydj1p.

High-frequency programmable acoustic wave device realized through ferroelectric domain engineering

Surface acoustic wave devices are extensively used in contemporary wireless communication devices. We used atomic force microscopy to form periodic macroscopic ferroelectric domains in sol-gel deposited lead zirconate titanate, where each ferroelectric domain is composed of many crystallites, each of which contains many microscopic ferroelastic domains. We examined the electro-acoustic characteristics of the apparatus and found a resonator behavior similar to that of an equivalent surface or bulk acoustic wave device. We show that the operational frequency of the device can be tailored by altering the periodicity of the engineered domains and demonstrate high-frequency filter behavior (>8GHz), allowing low-cost programmable high-frequency resonators. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Identification of a novel C2 domain factor in ovaries of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)

Follicle consists of an oocyte and a lot of surrounding follicular cells, and significant interactions exist between the oocyte and the somatic cells. In this study, a novel cDNA has been screened from a subtractive cDNA library between tail bud embryos and blastula embryos in the protogynous hermaphrodite orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). Its full-length cDNA is 821 bp, and has an ORF of 414 by for encoding a peptide of 137 aa, which shows 38%, 37%, 33%, and 33% homology with 4 putative proteins screened from zebrafish (Danio rerio). Conserved domain search in NCBI reveals a single C2 domain existing in the C2 domain superfamily proteins, and has only 7 beta strands in comparison with 8 beta strands of C2 domains in other C2 domain superfamily proteins. Artificial sex reversal, RT-PCR analysis and Western blot detection demonstrated ovary-specific expression of the C2 domain factor, and therefore the novel gene was designated as E. coioides ovary-specific C2 domain factor, EcOC2 factor. Moreover, predominant expression of EcOC2 factor was further revealed in grouper mature ovary, and its strong immunofluorescence signals were located between granulosa cells and oocyte zona radiata in grouper mature follicles. The data indicate that the novel EcOC2 factor might be a main component that associates between granulosa cells and the oocyte during oocyte maturation, and might play significant roles in regulating oocyte maturation and ovulation. Further studies on its developmental behaviour and physiological functions will elucidate the interactions between oocyte and the surrounding somatic cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. (C) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Differential expression and characterization analysis of a new gene with WD domains in fish oogenesis

A new gene with WD domains is cloned and characterized according to its differential transcription and expression between previtellogenic oocytes (phase I oocytes) and fully-grown oocytes (phase V oocytes) from natural gynogenetic silver crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) by using the combinative methods of suppressive subtraction hybridization, SMART cDNA synthesis and RACE-PCR. The full-length cDNA is 1870 bp. Its 5 ' untranslated region is 210 bp, followed by an open reading frame of 990 bp, which has the typical vertebrate initiator codon of ANNATG. The open reading frame encodes a protein with 329 amino acids. It has 670 bp of 3 ' untranslated region and an AATAAA polyadenylation signal. Because it has 92% homology to STRAP (serine-threonine kinase receptor-associated protein), a recently reported gene, we named it FSTRAP (fish STRAP). Virtual Northern blotting indicated that the FSTRAP was transcribed in fully-grown oocytes (phase V oocytes), but not in previtellogenic oocytes (phase I oocytes). RT-PCR analysis showed that FSTRAP was transcribed in brain, heart, kidney, muscle, ovary, spleen and testis, but not in liver. And its mRNA could be detected in the oocytes from phase II to phase V. Western blotting also showed that FSTRAP protein could be detected in brain, heart, kidney, muscle, ovary, spleen and testis except liver. Results of Western blotting on various oocytes were also similar to the RT-PCR data. FSTRAP protein was not expressed in the previtellogenic oocytes. Its expression initiated from phase II oocytes after vitellogenesis, and was consistent with the mRNA transcription.

Role of amorphous silicon domains on Er3+ emission in the Er-doped hydrogenated amorphous silicon suboxide film

An investigation on the correlation between amorphous Si (a-Si) domains and Er3+ emission in the Er-doped hydrogenated amorphous silicon suboxide (a-Si:O:H) film is presented. On one hand, a-Si domains provide sufficient carriers for Er3+ carrier-mediated excitation which has been proved to be the highest excitation path for Er3+ ion; on the other hand, hydrogen diffusion from a-Si domains to amorphous silicon oxide (a-SiOx) matrix during annealing has been found and this possibly decreases the number of nonradiative centres around Er3+ ions. This study provides a better understanding of the role of a-Si domains on Er3+ emission in a-Si:O:H films.

Static and dynamic electric field domain formation in a doped GaAs/AlAs superlattice

We have observed the transition from static to dynamic electric field domain formation induced by a transverse magnetic field and the sample temperature in a doped GaAs/AlAs superlattice. The observations can be very well explained by a general analysis of instabilities and oscillations of the sequential tunnelling current in superlattices based solely on the magnitude of the negative differential resistance region in the tunnelling characteristic of a single barrier. Both increasing magnetic field and sample temperature change the negative differential resistance and cause the transition between static and dynamic electric field domain formation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Formation mechanism of electric field domains

Hydrostatic pressure measurements are used to investigate the formation mechanism of electric field domains in doped weakly-coupled GaAs/AlAs superlattices. For the first plateau-like region in the I-V curve, two kinds of sequential resonant tunnelling are observed. For P<2 kbar the high-field domain is formed by the Gamma-Gamma process, while for P>2 kbar the high-field domain is formed by the T-X process. For the second plateau-libe region, the high-field domain is attributed to Gamma-X sequential resonant tunnelling. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Domains in ferroelectric nanodots

Almost free-standing single crystal mesoscale and nanoscale dots of ferroelectric BaTiO(3) have been made by direct focused ion beam patterning of bulk single crystal material. The domain structures which appear in these single crystal dots, after cooling through the Curie temperature, were observed to form into quadrants, with each quadrant consisting of fine 90 degrees stripe domains. The reason that these rather complex domain configurations form is uncertain, but we consider and discuss three possibilities for their genesis: first, that the quadrant features initially form to facilitate field-closure, but then develop 90 degrees shape compensating stripe domains in order to accommodate disclination stresses; second, that they are the result of the impingement of domain packets which nucleate at the sidewalls of the dots forming "Forsbergh" patterns (essentially the result of phase transition kinetics); and third, that 90 degrees domains form to conserve the shape of the nanodot as it is cooled through the Curie temperature but arrange into quadrant packets in order to minimize the energy associated with uncompensated surface charges (thus representing an equilibrium state). While the third model is the preferred one, we note that the second and third models are not mutually exclusive.

The Category-Theoretic Solution of Recursive Domain Equations

Recursive specifications of domains plays a crucial role in denotational semantics as developed by Scott and Strachey and their followers. The purpose of the present paper is to set up a categorical framework in which the known techniques for solving these equations find a natural place. The idea is to follow the well-known analogy between partial orders and categories, generalizing from least fixed-points of continuous functions over cpos to initial ones of continuous functors over $\omega $-categories. To apply these general ideas we introduce Wand's ${\bf O}$-categories where the morphism-sets have a partial order structure and which include almost all the categories occurring in semantics. The idea is to find solutions in a derived category of embeddings and we give order-theoretic conditions which are easy to verify and which imply the needed categorical ones. The main tool is a very general form of the limit-colimit coincidence remarked by Scott. In the concluding section we outline how compatibility considerations are to be included in the framework. A future paper will show how Scott's universal domain method can be included too.

Current oscillations and stable electric field domains in doped GaAs/AlAs superlattices

The crossover between two regimes has been observed in the vertical electric transport of weakly coupled GaAs/AlAs superlattices (SLs). At fixed d.c. bias, the SLs can be triggered by illumination to switch from a regime of temporal current oscillation to the formation of a stable electric field domain. The conversion can be reversed by raising the sample temperature to about 200 K. An effective carrier injection model is proposed to explain the conversion processes, taking into account the contact resistance originating from DX centres in the n(+)-Al0.5Ga0.5As contact layers which is sensitive to light illumination and temperature. In addition, quasiperiodic oscillations have been observed at a particular d.c. bias voltage.

An investigation of the formation mechanisms of electric field domains in GaAs/AlAs superlattices

We have studied the vertical transport and formation mechanisms of electric field domains in doped weakly-coupled GaAs/AlAs superlattices. Under hydrostatic pressure two kinds of sequential resonant tunneling are observed within the pressure range from 0 to 4.5 kbar. A transition from Gamma-Gamma to Gamma-X sequential resonant tunneling occurs at P-t approximate to 1.6 kbar. For P < P-t, the high electric field domain is formed by the Gamma-Gamma process, while for P > P-t it is preferentially formed by the Gamma-X process.

Static and dynamic electric field domain formation in a doped GaAs/AlAs superlattice

We have observed the transition from static to dynamic electric field domain formation induced by a transverse magnetic field and the sample temperature in a doped GaAs/AlAs superlattice. The observations can be very well explained by a general analysis of instabilities and oscillations of the sequential tunnelling current in superlattices based solely on the magnitude of the negative differential resistance region in the tunnelling characteristic of a single barrier. Both increasing magnetic field and sample temperature change the negative differential resistance and cause the transition between static and dynamic electric field domain formation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.