Fabrication of Sn@AlO Core-shell Nanoparticles for Stable Nonvolatile Memory Applications.

Sn@AlO core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) with narrow spatial distributions were synthesized in silicon dioxide (SiO). These Sn@AlO core-shell NPs were self-assembled by thermally annealing a stacked structure of SiO/Al/Sn/Al/SiO sandwiched between two SiO layers at low temperatures. The resultant structure provided a well-defined Sn NP floating gate with a SiO/AlO dielectric stacked tunneling barrier.

Molecular mechanism of constitutively active Rab11A was revealed by crystal structure of Rab11A S20V.

Rab11A is a small GTP-binding protein involved in the regulation of vesicle trafficking during recycling of endosomes. Substitution of S20 to V (S20V) at Rab11A inhibits the GTP hydrolysis activity of Rab11A. This mutation is known to be constitutively in an active form.

Purification, crystallization and X-ray crystallographic analysis of human RAB11(S20V), a constitutively active GTP-binding form.

RAB11, a member of the Ras superfamily of small G proteins, is involved in the regulation of vesicle trafficking during endosome recycling. Substitution of Ser20 by Val20 in Rab11 [RAB11(S20V)] inhibits its GTP hydrolysis activity and produces a constitutively active GTP-binding form. In this study, the RAB11(S20V) mutant was overexpressed in Escherichia coli with an engineered C-terminal His tag.

A novel scheme for nanoparticle steering in blood vessels using a functionalized magnetic field.

Magnetic drug targeting is a drug delivery approach in which therapeutic magnetizable particles are injected, generally into blood vessels, and magnets are then used to guide and concentrate them in the diseased target organ. Although many analytical, simulation, and experimental studies on capturing schemes for drug targeting have been conducted, there are few studies on delivering the nanoparticles to the target region. Furthermore, the sticking phenomenon of particles to vessels walls near the injection point, and far from the target region, has not been addressed sufficiently.

Structure of the TRAF4 TRAF domain with a coiled-coil domain and its implications for the TRAF4 signalling pathway.

The TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF) proteins are structurally similar scaffold proteins that mediate between members of the TNF receptor (TNFR) family and downstream effector molecules such as kinases in the immune signalling pathway. Seven TRAFs have been identified, including TRAF4, which is a unique member that participates in many ontogenic processes, including nerve-system development. TRAFs commonly contain the TRAF domain, which mediates interaction with target receptors and effectors.

Fabrication of N-doped porous ZnO nanosheets by annealing Zn films at low temperatures.

In this work, the direct growth of nitrogen (N)-doped porous ZnO nanosheets at low temperatures via the conventional plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) method is presented. The growth was based on the thermal annealing of a Zn film composed of Zn nanosheets in oxygen and nitrogen vapors produced via PECVD, with N2O as a source gas. The ZnO nanosheets with well-defined crystallinity were found to have been grown at temperatures over 280 degrees C, and to have had N-doped porous structures.

Preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of the TRAF domain of human TRAF4.

TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF) proteins were initially identified as tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-interacting proteins that perform critical functions in the regulation of inflammation, antiviral responses and apoptosis. Although TRAF4 is a canonical TRAF protein, it contains a unique domain boundary and functions differently in the cell. In this study, the human TRAF4 TRAF domain, corresponding to amino acids 290-470, was overexpressed in Escherichia coli using engineered C-terminal His tags.

Preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of the short form of the human TRAF4 TRAF domain.

TNF (tumour necrosis factor) receptor-associated factor 4 (TRAF4) is a unique TRAF protein that participates in morphogenetic and developmental function and cell migration. TRAF-family proteins contain a TRAF domain for target interaction. In this study, the short form of the human TRAF4 TRAF domain, corresponding to amino acids 290-462, was overexpressed in Escherichia coli using engineered C-terminal His tags.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of Rab6A'(Q72L): a GTP-locked form.

Rab6A, a member of the Ras superfamily of small G proteins, is involved in the regulation of vesicle trafficking, which is critical for endocytosis, cell differentiation and cell growth. Rab6A can exist in two isoforms termed Rab6A and Rab6A'. The substitution of Gln72 by Leu (Q72L) in the Rab6A family blocks GTP-hydrolysis activity, and this mutation usually causes the Rab6A protein to be in a constitutively active form.

Crystal structure of Rab6A'(Q72L) mutant reveals unexpected GDP/Mg²⁺ binding with opened GTP-binding domain.

The Ras small G protein-superfamily is a family of GTP hydrolases whose activity is regulated by GTP/GDP binding states. Rab6A, a member of the Ras superfamily, is involved in the regulation of vesicle trafficking, which is critical for endocytosis, biosynthesis, secretion, cell differentiation and cell growth. Rab6A exists in two isoforms, termed RabA and Rab6A'.

A comprehensive manually curated protein-protein interaction database for the Death Domain superfamily.

The Death Domain (DD) superfamily, which is one of the largest classes of protein interaction modules, plays a pivotal role in apoptosis, inflammation, necrosis and immune cell signaling pathways. Because aberrant or inappropriate DD superfamily-mediated signaling events are associated with various human diseases, such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases and immunological disorders, the studies in these fields are of great biological and clinical importance. To facilitate the understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which the DD superfamily is associated with biological and disease processes, we have developed the DD database (http://www.

Synthesis of cobalt-based nanocrystal layer in silicon dioxide for nonvolatile memory applications.

Cobalt silicide (CoSi) nanocrystal (NC) layer distributed within narrow spatial region is synthesized by thermal annealing of a sandwich structure comprised of a thin cobalt (Co) film sandwiched between two silicon-rich oxide (SiO(x)) layers. It is shown that the size of the CoSi NCs can be controlled by varying the Co film thickness, an increase in the size with increasing thickness. Capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements on a test metal/oxide/semiconductor (MOS) structure with floating gate based on CoSi NCs of 3.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of β-transaminase from Mesorhizobium sp. strain LUK.

β-Transaminase (β-TA) catalyzes the transamination reaction between β-aminocarboxylic acids and keto acids. This enzyme is a particularly suitable candidate for use as a biocatalyst for the asymmetric synthesis of enantiochemically pure β-amino acids for pharmaceutical purposes. The β-TA from Mesorhizobium sp.

Modeling of marine litter drift and beaching in the Japan Sea.

Characteristics of drift and beaching of floating marine litter in the Japan Sea are examined numerically using the reanalysis data of the Japan Sea Forecasting System of Kyushu University. The residence time of model marine litter deployed uniformly over the surface of the Japan Sea strongly depends on the buoyancy ratio. However, almost all litter beaches or flows out through straits within 3years.

The changes in particle charge distribution during rapid growth of particles in the plasma reactor.

The changes in particle charging were investigated during the rapid growth of particles in the plasma reactor by the discrete-sectional model and the Gaussian charge distribution function. The particle size distribution becomes bimodal in the plasma reactor and most of the large particles are charged negatively, but some fractions of small particles are in a neutral state or even charged positively. As the particles accumulate in the plasma reactor, the amount of electrons absorbed onto the particles increases, while the electron concentration in the plasma decreases.