Visible-Light Acceleration of H Evolution from Aqueous Solutions of Inorganic Hydrides Catalyzed by Gold-Transition-Metal Nanoalloys.

Production of hydrogen (H) upon hydrolysis of inorganic hydrides potentially is a key step in green energy production. We find that visible-light irradiation of aqueous solutions of ammonia-borane (AB) or NaBH containing "click"-dendrimer-stabilized alloyed nanocatalysts composed of nanogold and another late transition-metal nanoparticle (LTMNP) highly enhances catalytic activity for H generation while also inducing alloy to Au core@M shell nanocatalyst restructuration. In terms of visible-light-induced acceleration of H production from both AB and NaBH, the AuRu alloy catalysts show the most significant light-boosting effect.

Young Neurons Tickle Memory during REM Sleep.

Memory formation is a dynamic process and sleep is part of it. Consolidation of memories relies on finely orchestrated brain activities occurring during the post-learning sleep period. In this issue of Neuron, Kumar and colleagues provide evidence that the activity of adult-born hippocampal neurons during REM sleep is critical for the consolidation of episodic memory.

Scanning Probe Microscopy Analysis of Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells.

In this work, scanning probe microscopies (SPMs) are used for the analysis of PBDB-T, ITIC, and PBDB-T:ITIC layers of solar cells (OSCs). Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images of PBDB-T reveal that thin films (<1 nm) tend to form worm-like pattern (amorphous type) domains with an average chain-to-chain distance of 950 pm; likewise, STM images of ITIC show that side arms form chain-like patterns. STM images of PBDB-T:ITIC blend suggest why PBDB-T domains could facilitate charge dissociation.

New genome assembly of the barn owl ().

New genomic tools open doors to study ecology, evolution, and population genomics of wild animals. For the Barn owl species complex, a cosmopolitan nocturnal raptor, a very fragmented draft genome was assembled for the American species () (Jarvis et al. 2014).

Chitotetraose activates the fungal-dependent endosymbiotic signaling pathway in actinorhizal plant species.

Mutualistic plant-microbe associations are widespread in natural ecosystems and have made major contributions throughout the evolutionary history of terrestrial plants. Amongst the most remarkable of these are the so-called root endosymbioses, resulting from the intracellular colonization of host tissues by either arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi or nitrogen-fixing bacteria that both provide key nutrients to the host in exchange for energy-rich photosynthates. Actinorhizal host plants, members of the Eurosid 1 clade, are able to associate with both AM fungi and nitrogen-fixing actinomycetes known as Frankia.

(Bio)chemical Strategies To Modulate Amyloid-β Self-Assembly.

Amyloid plaques are one of the two hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). They consist mainly of fibrils made of self-assembled amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides. Aβ is produced in healthy brains from proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein.

The Impact of Future Fuel Consumption on Regional Air Quality in Southeast Asia.

Aerosols emitted from fossil fuel burning can cause air quality and human health issues. In this sensitivity study, we examine the impact of fossil fuel aerosols on air quality in Southeast Asia under five different hypothetical fuel consumption scenarios. These scenarios reflect air pollutant outcomes of implementations of certain idealized policies in the power generation, industry, and residential sectors.

Fra1 Controls Rheumatoid Factor Autoantibody Production by Bone Marrow Plasma Cells and the Development of Autoimmune Bone Loss.

Next to proinflammatory cytokines, autoimmunity has been identified as a key trigger for osteoclast activation and bone loss. IgG-rheumatoid factor (IgG-RF) immune complexes, which are present in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, were shown to boost osteoclast differentiation. To date, the regulation of IgG-RF production in the absence of inflammatory triggers is unknown.

On the Ethics of Biodiversity Models, Forecasts and Scenarios.

The development of numerical models to produce realistic prospective scenarios for the evolution of biological diversity is essential. Only integrative impact assessment models are able to take into account the diverse and complex interactions embedded in social-ecological systems. The knowledge used is objective, the procedure of their integration is rigorous and the data massive.

Permafrost thaw and climate warming may decrease the CO, carbon, and metal concentration in peat soil waters of the Western Siberia Lowland.

Soil pore waters are a vital component of the ecosystem as they are efficient tracers of mineral weathering, plant litter leaching, and nutrient uptake by vegetation. In the permafrost environment, maximal hydraulic connectivity and element transport from soils to rivers and lakes occurs via supra-permafrost flow (i.e.

Coupling Mechanical and Electrical Properties in Spin Crossover Polymer Composites.

Spin crossover particles of formula [Fe{(Htrz) (trz)} (NH -trz) ](BF ) and average size of 20 nm ± 8 nm are homogeneously dispersed in poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoro-ethylene), P(VDF-TrFE), and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrices to form macroscopic (cm-scale), freestanding, and flexible nanocomposite materials. The composites exhibit concomitant thermal expansion and discharge current peaks on cycling around the spin transition temperatures, i.e.

Does a not-so-recent ankle sprain influence interjoint coordination during walking?

Background: Ankle sprains are common joint injuries in daily and sports activities, whose underlying mechanisms have been amply studied. If joint structures are directly damaged, neuromuscular activity can be affected, particularly in the time domain. This study aims to establish whether previous ankle injury correlates with changes in the inter-joint synergy of the entire lower limb and in the muscle activity pattern during walking.

Analysis of vascular homogeneity and anisotropy on high-resolution primate brain imaging.

Using a systematic investigation of brain blood volume, in high-resolution synchrotron 3D images of microvascular structures within cortical regions of a primate brain, we challenge several basic questions regarding possible vascular bias in high-resolution functional neuroimaging. We present a bilateral comparison of cortical regions, where we analyze relative vascular volume in voxels from 150 to 1000 μm side lengths in the white and grey matter. We show that, if voxel size reaches a scale smaller than 300 µm, the vascular volume can no longer be considered homogeneous, either within one hemisphere or in bilateral comparison between samples.

Identification of plant cells in black pigments of prehistoric Spanish Levantine rock art by means of a multi-analytical approach. A new method for social identity materialization using chaîne opératoire.

We present a new multi-analytical approach to the characterization of black pigments in Spanish Levantine rock art. This new protocol seeks to identify the raw materials that were used, as well as reconstruct the different technical gestures and decision-making processes involved in the obtaining of these black pigments. For the first of these goals, the pictorial matter of the black figurative motifs documented at the Les Dogues rock art shelter (Ares del Maestre, Castellón, Spain) was characterized through the combination of physicochemical and archeobotanical analyses.

History of Smallpox and Its Spread in Human Populations.

Smallpox is considered among the most devastating of human diseases. Its spread in populations, initiated for thousands of years following a probable transmission from an animal host, was concomitant with movements of people across regions and continents, trade and wars. Literature permitted to retrace the occurrence of epidemics from ancient times to recent human history, smallpox having affected all levels of past society including famous monarchs.

Elastic coupling between spin-crossover particles and cellulose fibers.

Composite materials made of cellulose fibers and spin crossover micro-particles were investigated by magnetic measurements and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The storage modulus of the cellulose handsheet (0.6 GPa at room T) is significantly enhanced in the composite (1.

Pauses During Autobiographical Discourse Reflect Episodic Memory Processes in Early Alzheimer's Disease.

There is a large body of research on discourse production in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Some studies have focused on pause production, revealing that patients make extensive use of pauses during speech. This has been attributed to lexical retrieval difficulties, but pausing may also reflect other forms of cognitive impairment as it increases with cognitive load.

Predicting the spatial organization of chromosomes using epigenetic data.

Chromosome folding can reinforce the demarcation between euchromatin and heterochromatin. Two new studies show how epigenetic data, including DNA methylation, can accurately predict chromosome folding in three dimensions. Such computational approaches reinforce the idea of a linkage between epigenetically marked chromatin domains and their segregation into distinct compartments at the megabase scale or topological domains at a higher resolution.

Simulated Prosthetic Vision: The Benefits of Computer-Based Object Recognition and Localization.

Clinical trials with blind patients implanted with a visual neuroprosthesis showed that even the simplest tasks were difficult to perform with the limited vision restored with current implants. Simulated prosthetic vision (SPV) is a powerful tool to investigate the putative functions of the upcoming generations of visual neuroprostheses. Recent studies based on SPV showed that several generations of implants will be required before usable vision is restored.

Molecular actuators driven by cooperative spin-state switching.

Molecular switches have great potential to convert different forms of energy into mechanical motion; however, their use is often limited by the narrow range of operating conditions. Here we report on the development of bilayer actuator devices using molecular spin crossover materials. Motion of the bilayer cantilever architecture results from the huge spontaneous strain accompanying the spin-state switching.

A large-scale multi-technique approach identifies forty-nine new players of keratinocyte terminal differentiation in human epidermis.

At the latest stage of terminal differentiation in the epidermis, granular keratinocytes (GKs) undergo cornification, a programmed cell death required for the establishment of a functional skin barrier. A complex genetic regulatory network orchestrates the underlying biochemical modifications, but very few transcription factors specific to this programme have been identified to date. Here, we describe a large-scale, multi-technique approach performed on cells purified from normal human epidermis, primarily focusing on the identification of regulators.

Deimination is regulated at multiple levels including auto-deimination of peptidylarginine deiminases.

Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) catalyze deimination, converting arginyl to citrullyl residues. Only three PAD isotypes are detected in the epidermis where they play a crucial role, targeting filaggrin, a key actor for the tissue hydration and barrier functions. Their expression and activation depends on the keratinocyte differentiation state.