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In the atmosphere, water can be present in liquid and solid phases, but the vapor phase is generally predominant. Condensed phases of water occur under a wide range of conditions, ranging from polar mesospheric clouds at the lowest atmospheric temperatures and at low pressure to the much warmer tropospheric clouds. The temperature range at which ice or water clouds are observed spans from T = 100 to 300 K with pressures ranging from about 10−3 mbar to about 1 bar. Over this wide range, water is known to form several condensed phases, which can be separated into crystalline (hexagonal and stacking disordered ice) and noncrystalline phases (liquid and supercooled liquid water, amorphous solid water). We report on the vapor pressure of these water phases with a focus on metastable amorphous solid water and stacking disordered ice in the light of recent experimental findings and discuss possible implications for the atmosphere. We present evidence that supercooled liquid water and low density amorphous solid water do not belong to the same phase and therefore, no continuous vapor pressure curve can be given.

BackgroundRecent studies have begun to identify the molecular determinants of inter-individual variability of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in response to exercise training programs. However, we still have an incomplete picture of the molecular mechanisms underlying trainability in response to exercise training.ObjectiveWe investigated baseline serum and skeletal muscle metabolomics profile and its associations with maximal power output (MPO) gains in response to 8-week of continuous endurance training (ET) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programs matched for total units of exercise performed (the TIMES study).MethodsEighty healthy sedentary young adult males were randomized to one of three groups and 70 were defined as completers (> 90% of sessions): ET (n = 30), HIIT (n = 30) and control (CO, n = 10). For the CO, participants were asked to not exercise for 8 weeks. Serum and skeletal muscle samples were analyzed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The targeted screens yielded 43 serum and 70 muscle reproducible metabolites (intraclass > 0.75; coefficient of variation < 25%). Associations of baseline metabolites with MPO trainability were explored within each training program via three analytical strategies: (1) correlations with gains in MPO; (2) differences between high and low responders to ET and HIIT; and (3) metabolites contributions to the most significant pathways related to gains in MPO. The significance level was set at P < 0.01 or false discovery rate of 0.1.ResultsThe exercise programs generated similar gains in MPO (ET = 21.4 ± 8.0%; HIIT = 24.3 ± 8.5%). MPO associated baseline metabolites supported by all three levels of evidence were: serum glycerol, muscle alanine, proline, threonine, creatinine, AMP and pyruvate for ET, and serum lysine, phenylalanine, creatine, and muscle glycolate for HIIT. The most common pathways suggested by the metabolite profiles were aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, and carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism.ConclusionWe suggest that MPO gains in both programs are potentially associated with metabolites indicative of baseline amino acid and translation processes with additional evidence for carbohydrate metabolism in ET.

Chronic increased workload of the human heart causes ventricular hypertrophy, re-expression of the atrial essential myosin light chain (hALC-1), and improved contractile function. Although hALC-1 is an important positive inotropic regulator of the human heart, little is known about its regulation. Therefore, we investigated the role of the sex hormone 17β-estradiol (E2) on hALC-1 gene expression, the underlying molecular mechanisms, and the impact of this regulatory process on cardiac contractile function. We showed that E2 attenuated hALC-1 expression in human atrial tissues of both sexes and in human ventricular AC16 cells. E2 induced the nuclear translocation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and hALC-1 in AC16 cells, where they cooperatively regulate the transcriptional activity of hALC-1 gene promoter. E2-activated ERα required the estrogen response element (ERE) motif within the hALC-1 gene promoter to reduce its transcriptional activity (vehicle: 15.55 ± 4.80 vs. E2: 6.51 ± 3.69; ~2 fold). This inhibitory effect was potentiated in the presence of hALC-1 (vehicle: 11.13 ± 3.66 vs. E2: 2.18 ± 1.10; ~5 fold), and thus, hALC-1 acts as a co-repressor of ERα-mediated transcription. Yeast two-hybrid screening of a human heart cDNA library revealed that ERα interacts physically with hALC-1 in the presence of E2. This interaction was confirmed by Co-Immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence in human atrium. As a further novel effect, we showed that chronic E2-treatment of adult mouse cardiomyocytes overexpressing hALC-1 resulted in reduced cell-shortening amplitude and twitching kinetics of these cells independent of Ca2+ activation levels. Together, our data showed that the expression of hALC-1 gene is, at least partly, regulated by E2/ERα, while hALC-1 acts as a co-repressor. The inotropic effect of hALC-1 overexpression in cardiomyocytes can be significantly repressed by E2.

Intense laser illumination of cirrus-like ice particles increases the amount of condensed water and modifies the particles’ albedo., We investigate the interaction of ultrashort laser filaments with individual 90-μm ice particles, representative of cirrus particles. The ice particles fragment under laser illumination. By monitoring the evolution of the corresponding ice/vapor system at up to 140,000 frames per second over 30 ms, we conclude that a shockwave vaporization supersaturates the neighboring region relative to ice, allowing the nucleation and growth of new ice particles, supported by laser-induced plasma photochemistry. This process constitutes the first direct observation of filament-induced secondary ice multiplication, a process that strongly modifies the particle size distribution and, thus, the albedo of typical cirrus clouds.

The number and shape of ice crystals present in mixed phase and ice clouds influence the radiation properties, precipitation occurrence and lifetime of these clouds. Since clouds play the major role in the climate system, by influencing the energy budget by scattering sunlight and absorbing heat radiation from the earth, it is necessary to investigate the optical and microphysical properties of cloud particles particularly in-situ. The relationship between the microphysics and the single scattering properties of cloud particles is usually obtained by modeling the optical scattering properties from in-situ measurements of ice crystal size distributions. The measured size distribution and the assumed particle shape might be erroneous in case of non-spherical ice particles. There is a demand to obtain both information correspondently and simultaneously for individual cloud particles in their natural environment. For evaluating the average scattering phase function as a function of ice particle habit and crystal complexity in-situ measurements are required. To this end we have developed a novel airborne optical sensor (PHIPS-HALO) to measure simultaneously the optical properties and the corresponding microphysical parameters of individual cloud particles. PHIPS-HALO has been tested in the AIDA cloud simulation chamber and deployed in mountain stations as well as research aircrafts (HALO and Polar 6). It is a successive version of the laboratory prototype instrument PHIPS-AIDA. In this paper we present the detailed design of PHIPS-HALO including the detection mechanism, optical design, mechanical construction, and aerodynamic characterization.

It is 45 years since gap junctions were first described. Universities face increasing commercial pressures and declining federal funding, with governments and funding foundations showing greater interest in gaining return on their investments. This review outlines approaches taken to translate gap junction research to clinical application and the challenges faced. The need for commercialisation is discussed and key concepts behind research patenting briefly described. Connexin channel roles in disease and injury are also discussed, as is identification of the connexin hemichannel as a therapeutic target which appears to play a role in both the start and perpetuation of the inflammasome pathway. Furthermore connexin hemichannel opening results in vascular dieback in acute injury and chronic disease. Translation to human indications is illustrated from the perspective of one connexin biotechnology company, CoDa Therapeutics, Inc.

A cana-de-açúcar é uma cultura de grande importância econômica para o mundo, principalmente para o Brasil, onde representa 15% do PIB agrícola. Com as mudanças climáticas globais, alguns fenômenos extremos tendem a acontecer com mais frequência, entre eles, a seca que tem castigado várias culturas agrícolas. Apesar de ser uma planta resistente a seca, a ocorrência causa déficits de produtividade na cana-de-açúcar, causando enormes prejuízos aos produtores e um desequilíbrio no mercado de açúcar e combustíveis. Para monitorar eventos de seca diversos índices e métodos, baseados em dados climáticos ou em imagens espectrais, foram criados, porém nenhum deles é específico para a cultura da cana-de-açúcar. Testou-se as metodologias para identificar quais dos índices possuía capacidade de detecção de eventos de seca para a cana-de-açúcar. Para isso, foram utilizadas imagens espectrais dos sensores MODIS, para verificar se estes possuem capacidade de monitorar os efeitos da seca na cana-de-açúcar. Esta análise foi realizada em duas etapas: uma temporal e uma espacial. Os índices espectrais foram comparados com o SPI calculado para 1 e 3 meses. Foi observado que os índices GVMI e NDI6 tem uma melhor resposta para a análise temporal e os índices NDWI e SRWI para uma análise espacial.

The comprehensive 673 K steady-state data set of Perovic et al. (D.D. Perovic, G.C. Weatherly, J.-P. Noel, D.C. Houghton, J. Vac. Tech. B9 (1991) 2034 and D.D. Perovic, G.C. Weatherly, P.J. Simpson, P.J. Schulz, T.E. Jackman, G.C. Aers, J.-P. Noel, D.C. Houghton, Phys. Rev. B43 (1991) 14257) was later expanded to substrate temperature variations from 450 to 687 K with transients up to the steady state. Our particular experimental emphasis on temperature dependence and atomic force microscopy (AFM) at the nanostructure scale is combined and organized so as to exhibit complete systematics as a function of temperature. We show that the kinetics and instability patterns map with consistency to the steady-state 3D microstructures observed and predicted in binary cellular forced velocity solidification of metallic alloys. Adapting the solidification phenomenological algorithm to the MBE case, we are able to extract a plausible and useful Arrhenius expression for the diffusion of occluded vacant sites in ballistically formed Si. It is further illustrated that the MBE instability margin maps in some detail to the interface Rayleigh droplet-forming morphology of 3D binary solidification. We offer this example of universality in kinetics as a contribution to the non-linear science of pattern formation, as well as complementing the often preferred analyses within a molecular dynamics paradigm.

Prosobranch snails represent almost 50% of all recent molluscs, are ubiquitously distributed, play important roles in various ecosystems and exhibit a variety of reproductive modes and life-cycle-strategies. Many of them attain life spans of several years, which in combination with their limited ability to metabolize organic chemicals, may contribute to the fact that prosobranchs constitute one of the most endangered taxonomic groups in aquatic ecosystems. Although it is not yet known to what extent endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) contribute to this situation, the case of tributyltin (TBT) and its population-level impact on prosobranchs demonstrates the general susceptibility of these invertebrates. The existing evidence for comparable population-level effects in prosobranch snails by other androgens, antiandrogens, and estrogens is critically reviewed. The example of TBT demonstrates the difficulty to prove an endocrine mode of action for a given chemical. Although it is generally accepted that TBT causes imposex and intersex in prosobranch snails as a result of endocrine disruption, the detailed biochemical mechanism is still a matter of debate. The strengths and weaknesses of the five competing hypotheses are discussed, together with previously unpublished data. Finally, the ecological relevance of EDC effects on the population and community level and the application of prosobranchs for the assessment of EDCs are addressed.

Biomolecule conformational change has been widely investigated in solution using several methods; however, much less experimental data about structural changes are available for completely isolated, gas-phase biomolecules. Studies of conformational change in unsolvated biomolecules are required to complement the interpretation of mass spectrometry measurements and in addition, can provide a means to directly test theoretical simulations of biomolecule structure and dynamics independent of a simulated solvent. In this Feature Article, we review our recent introduction of a fluorescence-based method for probing local conformational dynamics in unsolvated biomolecules through interactions of an attached dye with tryptophan (Trp) residues and fields originating on charge sites. Dye-derivatized biomolecule ions are formed by electrospray ionization and are trapped in a variable-temperature quadrupole ion trap in which they are irradiated with either continuous or short pulse lasers to excite fluorescence. Fluorescence is measured as a function of temperature for different charge states. Optical measurements of the dye fluorescence include average intensity changes, changes in the emission spectrum, and time-resolved measurements of the fluorescence decay. These measurements have been applied to the miniprotein, Trp-cage, polyproline peptides and to a beta-hairpin-forming peptide, and the results are presented as examples of the broad applicability and utility of these methods. Model fits to Trp-cage fluorescence data measured as a function of temperature provide quantitative information on the thermodynamics of conformational changes, which are reproduced well by molecular dynamics. Time-resolved measurements of the fluorescence decays of Trp-cage and small polyproline peptides definitively demonstrate the occurrence of fluorescence quenching by the amino acid Trp in unsolvated biomolecules.

An automatic crystallographic orientation indexing procedure is developed for transmission electron microscopes. The numerical identification is performed by mapping the spot diffraction patterns with pre-calculated templates. The diffraction patterns are acquired thanks to an external CCD camera that points to the fluorescent screen through the TEM window. Orientation maps with spatial resolution better than 10 nm were obtained with this low cost equipment.

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We report on measurements of the rate of homogeneous ice nucleation in supercooled water microdroplets levitated in an electrodynamic balance. By comparison of the freezing probability for droplets of radius 49 µm and 19 µm, we are able to conclude that homogeneous freezing is a volume-proportional process and that surface nucleation might only be important, if at all, for much smaller droplets.

Through tapping mode atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, we were able to directly visualize the nature of crystal domains of liquid crystalline poly(3,3‘ ‘‘-dialkylquaterthiophene) in its spin-coated films. The size of domains, consisting of large anisotropic lamellar stacks formed by arrays of π−π stacking polymer chains, was highly dependent on annealing temperature covering the range from the crystal-to-liquid crystal to the liquid crystal-to-isotropic phase transitions. After annealing at the melting temperature, slow cooling gave rise to close packing of parallel lamellar stacks within the domain, while fast cooling led to clear separation of lamellar stacks. The surface modification of the substrate was particularly critical to the orientation of these domains of lamellar stacks: the SiO2-surface modified with octyltrichlorosilane led to lamellar stacking domains oriented with their lamellar axes normal to the modified surface.

We present a novel method for the determination of the index of refraction of single droplets by light scattering measurements in the region of the first and second order rainbow. An inversion algorithm is proposed which allows to extract the refractive index with high precision from the position and width of both rainbow peaks. The method is applied to determine the index of refraction of supercooled levitated water droplets in the temperature region between 237 K and 273 K.

The fluorescence-based nanosize metrology approach, proposed recently by Geddes and Birch (Geddes, C. D.; Birch, D. J. S. J. Non-Cryst. Solids 2000, 270, 191), was used to characterize the extent of binding of a fluorescent cationic solute, rhodamine 6G (R6G), to the surface of silica particles after modification of the surface with the hydrophilic polymer poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) of various molecular weights. The measurement of the rotational dynamics of R6G in PEO solutions showed the absence of strong interactions between R6G and PEO chains in water and the ability of the dye to sense the presence of polymer clusters in 30 wt % solutions. Time-resolved anisotropy decays of polymer-modified Ludox provided direct evidence for distribution of the dye between bound and free states, with the bound dye showing two decay components: a nanosecond decay component that is consistent with local motions of bound probes and a residual anisotropy component due to slow rotation of large silica particles. The data showed that the dye was strongly adsorbed to unmodified silica nanoparticles, to the extent that less than 1% of the dye was present in the surrounding aqueous solution. Addition of PEO blocked the adsorption of the dye to a significant degree, with up to 50% of the probe being present in the aqueous solution for Ludox samples containing 30 wt % of low molecular weight PEO. The addition of such agents also decreased the value and increased the fractional contribution of the nanosecond rotational correlation time, suggesting that polymer adsorption altered the degree of local motion of the bound probe. Atomic force microscopy imaging studies provided no evidence for a change in the particle size upon surface modification but did suggest interparticle aggregation after polymer adsorption. Thus, this redistribution of the probe is interpreted as being due to coverage of particles with the polymer, resulting in lower adsorption of R6G to the silica. The data clearly show the power of time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy decay measurements for probing the modification of silica surfaces and suggest that this method should prove useful in characterization of new chromatographic stationary phases and nanocomposite materials.