Functionality preservation with enhanced mechanical integrity in the nanocomposites of the metal-organic framework, ZIF-8, with BN nanosheets

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and boron nitride both possess novel properties, the former associated with microporosity and the latter with good mechanical properties. We have synthesized composites of the imidazolate based MOF, ZIF-8, and few-layer BN in order to see whether we can incorporate the properties of both these materials in the composites. The composites so prepared between BN nanosheets and ZIF-8 have compositions ZIF-1BN, ZIF-2BN, ZIF-3BN and similar to ZIF-4BN. The composites have been characterized by PXRD, TGA, XPS, electron microscopy, IR, Raman and solid state NMR spectroscopy. The composites possess good surface areas, the actual value decreasing only slightly with the increase in the BN content. The CO2 uptake remains nearly the same in the composites as in the parent ZIF-8. More importantly, the addition of BN markedly improves the mechanical properties of ZIF-8, a feature that is much desired in MOFs. Observation of microporous features along with improved mechanical properties in a MOF is indeed noteworthy. Such manipulation of properties can be profitably exploited in practical applications.

Controlling phase separation in La5/8-yPryCa3/8MnO3 (y=0.45) epitaxial thin films by strain disorder

Present study reveals that the length-scale of phase separation in La5/8-yPryCa3/8MnO3 thin films can be controlled by strain disorder invoked during the growth and relaxation process of film. Strain disorder provides an additional degree of freedom to tune colossal magnetoresistance. Magneto-transport measurements following cooling and heating in unequal fields protocol demonstrate that coherent strain stabilizes antiferromagnetic insulating phase, while strain disorder favors ferromagnetic metallic phase. Compared to bulk, antiferromagnetic-insulating phase freezes at lower temperatures in strain disordered films. Raman spectroscopy confirms the coexistence of charge-ordered-insulating and ferromagnetic-metallic phases which are structurally dissimilar and possess P2(1)/m and R-3C like symmetries, respectively. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.

Transport studies on La0.8-xPr0.2SrxMnO3 manganite films

In this communication, we report the results of the studies on structural, microstructural, transport and magnetotransport behavior of L0.8-xPr0.2SrxMnO3 (LPSMO) (x=0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) manganite films grown on (100) single crystalline SrTiO3 (STO) substrate using low cost chemical solution deposition (CSD) method. Films with similar compositions were also grown using sophisticated pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique and results of structural and transport studies obtained for CSD grown films were compared with PLD grown films. Structural studies show that all the CSD and PLD grown films possess single crystalline nature with compressive and tensile strain, respectively. Surface morphology, studied using atomic force microscope (AFM), reveals the island like grain morphology in CSD grown films while PLD grown films possess smooth film surfaces. Carrier density dependent transport properties of the films have been discussed in the context of zener double exchange (ZDE) mechanism. Lower resistivity and higher transition temperature (T-p) observed in CSD grown films as compared to PLD grown films have been discussed in the light of structural strain and surface morphology of the films. Various models and mechanisms have been employed to understand the charge transport in CSD and PLD grown films. Also, observation of low temperature resistivity minima behavior in all the CSD and PLD grown LPSMO films has been explained in the context of electron-electron scattering mechanism. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A novel DNA intercalator, 8-methoxy pyrimido4 `,5 `:4,5]thieno (2,3-b)quinoline-4(3H)-one induces apoptosis in cancer cells, inhibits the tumor progression and enhances lifespan in mice with tumor

Polycyclic aromatic molecules such as ellipticine intercalate into double-stranded DNA and interfere with physiological functions. In the present study, we evaluate the chemotherapeutic potential of MPTQ on animal models and its mode of action. In order to test the antitumor activity, monohydrochloride of MPTQ was orally administered in mice bearing tumor. Results showed a significant inhibition of tumor growth compared to that of untreated controls. More importantly, mean lifespan of tumor bearing animals treated with MPTQ was significantly higher as compared to that of untreated tumor bearing mice suggesting that the treatment affected viability of cancerous cells, but not of normal cells. Consistent with this, we find that administration of MPTQ to normal mice did not cause any major side effects as observed upon hematological and serum profiling. We also found that MPTQ induces cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines, by activating apoptosis both by intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Thus, MPTQ could be used as a potential cancer therapeutic agent. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Targeted Modifications in Adeno-Associated Virus Serotype 8 Capsid Improves Its Hepatic Gene Transfer Efficiency In Vivo

Recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors based on serotype 8 (AAV8) have shown significant promise for liver-directed gene therapy. However, to overcome the vector dose dependent immunotoxicity seen with AAV8 vectors, it is important to develop better AAV8 vectors that provide enhanced gene expression at significantly low vector doses. Since it is known that AAV vectors during intracellular trafficking are targeted for destruction in the cytoplasm by the host-cellular kinase/ubiquitination/proteasomal machinery, we modified specific serine/threonine kinase or ubiquitination targets on the AAV8 capsid to augment its transduction efficiency. Point mutations at specific serine (S)/threonine (T)/lysine (K) residues were introduced in the AAV8 capsid at the positions equivalent to that of the effective AAV2 mutants, generated successfully earlier. Extensive structure analysis was carried out subsequently to evaluate the structural equivalence between the two serotypes. scAAV8 vectors with the wild-type (WT) and each one of the S/T -> Alanine (A) or K-Arginine (R) mutant capsids were evaluated for their liver transduction efficiency in C57BL/6 mice in vivo. Two of the AAV8-S -> A mutants (S279A and S671A), and a K137R mutant vector, demonstrated significantly higher enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transcript levels (similar to 9- to 46-fold) in the liver compared to animals that received WT-AAV8 vectors alone. The best performing AAV8 mutant (K137R) vector also had significantly reduced ubiquitination of the viral capsid, reduced activation of markers of innate immune response, and a concomitant two-fold reduction in the levels of neutralizing antibody formation in comparison to WT-AAV8 vectors. Vector bio-distribution studies revealed that the K137R mutant had a significantly higher and preferential transduction of the liver (106 vs. 7.7 vector copies/mouse diploid genome) when compared to WT-AAV8 vectors. To further study the utility of the K137R-AAV8 mutant in therapeutic gene transfer, we delivered human coagulation factor IX (h. FIX) under the control of liver-specific promoters (LP1 or hAAT) into C57BL/6 mice. The circulating levels of h. FIX: Ag were higher in all the K137R-AAV8 treated groups up to 8 weeks post-hepatic gene transfer. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of the use of this novel AAV8 vectors for potential gene therapy of hemophilia B.

In-doped multifilled n-type skutterudites with ZT=1.8

In this paper we maximize the thermoelectric (TE) figure of merit, ZT, of n-type skutterudites, (In,Sr,Ba,Yb)(y)Co4Sb12, via three different routes: (i) find the optimum fraction of In as fourth filler (ii) check the influence of powder particle, grain, and crystallite size on the TE properties and (iii) check thermal stability. Filled n-type (Sr, Ba, Yb)(y)Co4Sb12 was mixed in three different proportions with In0.4Co4Sb12, ball milled (regular or high-energy (HB) ball milling) and hot-pressed. Particle size analyses and SEM pictures of the broken surfaces of the hot pressed samples document that only HB produces uniform particles/grains with average crystallite sizes similar to 100 nm, proven by transmission electron microscopy. X-ray Rietveld refinements combined with EDX indicate that in all cases indium entered the icosahedral voids of the skutterudite. Temperature dependent physical properties of all three regularly ball-milled samples show that increasing In-content infers an increasing electrical resistivity, increasing Seebeck coefficient but a decreasing total thermal conductivity. Although ZT (823 K) is in the same range as for the sample without In, the ZT values in the whole temperature range are higher and consequently the TE-conversion efficiency, eta is at least 10% higher. Annealing the samples at 600 degrees C for three days shows minor changes in structure and thermoelectric properties, indicating TE stability. The HB sample, due to uniformly small particles, equally sized grains and crystallites, exhibits a high power factor (4.4 mW/m K-2 at 730 K) and a very low thermal conductivity leading to an outstanding high ZT = 1.8 at 823 K (eta(max) = 17.5%). (C) 2015 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Pd-8 Tetrafacial Molecular Barrel as Carrier for Water Insoluble Fluorophore

A new carbazole-based tetraimidazole ligand 1,3,6,8-tetra(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-9-methyl-9H-carbazole (L) has been synthesized. The unsymmetrical nature of L as well as the rotational freedom of imidazole donor moieties around C-N bond make it a special building unit, which upon treatment with cis-(tmeda)Pd(NO3)(2) produced an unprecedented single linkage-isomeric Pd-8 tetrafacial molecular nanobarrel (PSMBR-1) tmeda N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine]. Unlike closed architectures, open barrel architecture of water-soluble PSMBR-1 makes it an ideal host for some water insoluble polyaromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous medium; one such inclusion complex coroneneCPSMBR-1 was characterized by X-ray diffraction study. Moreover, the potential application of PSMER-1 as carrier in aqueous medium for the transportation of water insoluble fluorophore (perylene) for live cell imaging is explored.

Structural insights into N-terminal to C-terminal interactions and implications for thermostability of a (beta/alpha)(8)-triosephosphate isomerase barrel enzyme

Although several factors have been suggested to contribute to thermostability, the stabilization strategies used by proteins are still enigmatic. Studies on a recombinant xylanase from Bacilllus sp. NG-27 (RBSX), which has the ubiquitous (beta/alpha)(8)-triosephosphate isomerase barrel fold, showed that just a single mutation, V1L, although not located in any secondary structural element, markedly enhanced the stability from 70 degrees C to 75 degrees C without loss of catalytic activity. Conversely, the V1A mutation at the same position decreased the stability of the enzyme from 70 degrees C to 68 degrees C. To gain structural insights into how a single extreme N-terminus mutation can markedly influence the thermostability of the enzyme, we determined the crystal structure of RBSX and the two mutants. On the basis of computational analysis of their crystal structures, including residue interaction networks, we established a link between N-terminal to C-terminal contacts and RBSX thermostability. Our study reveals that augmenting N-terminal to C-terminal noncovalent interactions is associated with enhancement of the stability of the enzyme. In addition, we discuss several lines of evidence supporting a connection between N-terminal to C-terminal noncovalent interactions and protein stability in different proteins. We propose that the strategy of mutations at the termini could be exploited with a view to modulate stability without compromising enzymatic activity, or in general, protein function in diverse folds where N and C termini are in close proximity. Database The coordinates of RBSX, V1A and V1L have been deposited in the PDB database under the accession numbers 4QCE, 4QCF, and 4QDM, respectively

Status of the 98-125 GeV Higgs bosons scenario with updated LHC-8 data

In the context of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM), we discuss the possibility of the lightest Higgs boson with mass M-h = 98 GeV to be consistent with the 2.3 sigma excess observed at the LEP in the decay mode e(+)e(-) -> Zh, with h -> b (b) over bar. In the same region of the MSSM parameter space, the heavier Higgs boson (H) with mass M-H similar to 125 GeV is required to be consistent with the latest data on Higgs coupling measurements at the end of the 7 + 8 TeV LHC run with 25 fb(-1) of data. While scanning the MSSM parameter space, we impose constraints coming from flavor physics, relic density of the cold dark matter as well as direct dark matter searches. We study the possibility of observing this light Higgs boson in vector boson fusion process and associated production with W/Z-boson at the high luminosity (3000 fb(-1)) run of the 14 TeV LHC. Our analysis shows that this scenario can hardly be ruled out even at the high luminosity run of the LHC. However, the precise measurement of the Higgs signal strength ratios can play a major role to distinguish this scenario from the canonical MSSM one.

8阶群速度控制格式及其应用

构造了8阶精度的群速度控制型差分格式.根据激波捕捉能力及对小尺度分辨能力对格式系数进行了优化.采用该格式对可压缩均匀各向同性湍流进行了直接数值模拟,所计算的最大湍流马赫数达到0.95.相同计算条件下的结果与他人结果吻合较好,说明了格式在捕捉激波的同时对湍流小尺度有较好的分辨能力.

蛋白质吸附和竞争吸附对ROS 17/2.8细胞粘附和生长的影响

细胞在材料表面的粘附是贴壁依赖型细胞生长的前提.本文以胶原和牛血清蛋白(BSA)为模型蛋白,研究了两者的吸附和竞争吸附对细胞粘附和生长的影响.

Estudio preliminar sobre la utilización de la semilla de ayote (Cucurbita maxima) en el control de parasitos gastrointestinales en terneros de 3-8 meses de edad en la Hacienda San Emilio, Granada

El presente estudio se realizó con el objetivo de determinar si la semilla de ayote (Cucurbita maxima) fresca ejerce algún efecto en el control de parásitos gastrointestinales en terneros, el cual fue realizado en la Hacienda San Emilio ubicada en el Municipio de Diriomo, departamento de Granada, la temperatura del lugar oscila entre los 27-34ºC. La duración del experimento fue de 14 días a partir de la selección, identificación de los animales y aplicación de los tratamientos. En el estudio se utilizaron tablas de contingencia de variables dicotómicas: control total y reducción parasitaria como columnas y tratamientos como filas. Para el estudio se seleccionaron 20 animales entre los 3-8 meses de edad, estos se dividieron en 4 grupos constituidos por 5 animales para cada uno de los 4 tratamientos; Tratamiento 1: Doramectina 1% (10mg/50kg) SC, Tratamiento 2: semilla de ayote a dosis de 240 mg/kg/ día por 3 días PO, Tratamiento 3: semilla de ayote a dosis de 240mg/ kg por un día PO,Tratamiento 4: animales sin tratamiento. A los animales se les realizaron análisis coprológicos al inicio del estudio para identificar la familia de parásitos y la carga parasitaria. Los terneros fueron pesados e identificados para la aplicación de los tratamientos; posteriormente se realizó otro análisis coprológico con la técnica de Mc Master a los 14 días después del primer día de aplicación de los tratamientos. Se identificaron las familias Trichost rongylidae, Eimeriidae y Strongyloididae. Para la familia Eimeriidae demostró tener un mejor efecto el tratamiento con semilla de ayote; en lo que refiere a disminución de la carga parasitaria tanto la semilla de ayote como la doramectina resultaron efectivos en las familias Trichostrongylidae y Eimeriidae, mientras que en la familia Strongyloididae solo fue efectiva la doramectina. A través del análisis de costos se determinó que es económicamente factible la utilización de semilla de ayote en la Coccidiosis.

Autoconcepto y calidad de vida en niños entre 8 y 12 años que concurren a los hogares de tránsito de la ciudad de Concepción del Uruguay, Entre Ríos

Resumen: La presente investigación, de tipo descriptiva-correlacional y transversal, se centró en conocer la relación que existe entre el autoconcepto y la calidad de vida de los niños entre 8 y 12 años que concurren a los hogares de tránsito, en la ciudad de Concepción del Uruguay, Entre Ríos. La muestra (no probabilística, intencional) estuvo conformada por 64 niños, de ambos sexos, 33 varones y 31 mujeres. Los mismos tenían entre 8 y 12 años. Los individuos evaluados eran asistentes a los hogares de tránsito mencionados anteriormente. Las técnicas de recolección de datos utilizadas fueron las siguientes: la Escala Verbal para Niños y Adolescentes del Autoconcepto de Martina Casullo, adaptación de Piers-Harris (1964) y el Cuestionario para Calidad de Vida Kidscreen-27. La Escala Verbal para Niños y Adolescentes del Autoconcepto (Casullo, 1990), cuenta con seis dimensiones: comportamiento, estatus intelectual y escolar, imagen corporal, sentimientos de ansiedad, percepciones acerca del reconocimiento que otros hacen de la propia conducta (popularidad) y bienestar y satisfacción personal. El cuestionario Kidscreen-27 (Quintero, Lugo, García, y Sánchez, 2011) consta de cinco dimensiones: actividad física y salud, estado de ánimo y sentimientos, vida familiar y tiempo libre, apoyo social y amigos, y entorno escolar. Los datos fueron recabados por medio de la concurrencia a ambos hogares, solicitando previamente las autorizaciones correspondientes a los directivos, como así también a los padres y/o tutores de los niños. Respecto a los procedimientos de análisis de los datos, se utilizó el programa estadístico informático SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) versión 15.0 para Windows. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las dos variables principales de esta investigación (autoconcepto y calidad de vida) con el objetivo de conocer los niveles con que se presentan en niños. Además, para conocer la relación entre ambas variables, se llevó a cabo el análisis de correlación de Pearson. Para estudiar si existe diferencia en el autoconcepto y la calidad de vida en función del sexo de los niños, se realizó análisis multivariados de varianza (MANOVA). Los resultados obtenidos indicaron niveles elevados en la mayoría de las dimensiones de las variables estudiadas (autoconcepto y calidad de vida). En cuanto a las distinciones según el sexo en dichas variables, no se encontraron diferencias significativas, sólo una variación mínima en dos dimensiones del autoconcepto, donde se visualiza que el comportamiento social y la popularidad es más elevada en los niños que en las niñas.Se hallaron, por otro lado, correlaciones estadísticamente significativas en la mayoría de las dimensiones de ambas variables, las mismas son: entre comportamiento y actividad física/salud; entre comportamiento y apoyo social/amigos; entre comportamiento y entorno escolar; entre estatus intelectual/escolar y actividad física/salud; entre estatus intelectual/escolar y estado de ánimo/sentimientos; entre estatus intelectual/escolar y entorno escolar; entre imagen corporal con apoyo social/amigos; entre sentimientos de ansiedad y actividad física/salud; entre sentimientos de ansiedad y estado de ánimo/sentimientos; entre sentimientos de ansiedad y apoyo social/amigos; entre popularidad y estado de ánimo/sentimientos; entre popularidad y apoyo social/amigos; entre bienestar/satisfacción vital y actividad física/salud; entre bienestar/satisfacción vital y estado de ánimo/sentimientos; entre bienestar/satisfacción vital y apoyo social/amigos; entre bienestar/satisfacción vital y entorno escolar; entre el total global del autoconcepto y actividad física/salud; entre el total global del autoconcepto y estado de ánimo/sentimientos; entre el total global del autoconcepto y apoyo social/amigos; entre el total global del autoconcepto y entorno escolar. Sólo una dimensión de la calidad de vida no se relaciona con ninguna de las dimensiones del autoconcepto, a saber, vida familiar/tiempo libre. En lo que respecta a las conclusiones, puede considerarse que los resultados de esta investigación verifican que existe correlación entre el autoconcepto y la calidad de vida de los niños concurrentes a los hogares de tránsito Santa Clara de Asís y la Casa del Menor

Teología, 1966, Tomo IV/1 nº 8 (número completo)

La Comunión de vida con Dios en la Iglesia (Capítulos V, VII y VIII) / Rafael A. Tello -- La Jerarquía: una potestad al servicio de la Iglesia (Capítulo III) / Carmelo J. Giaquinta -- El Laicado en la Iglesia (capítulo IV) / Pedro Geltman -- La vida religiosa en la Constitución “Lumen Gentium” (Capítulo VI) / Domingo Basso -- Crónica de la Facultad (enero-marzo 1966) -- Bibliografía