High-mobility solution-processed copper phthalocyanine-based organic field-effect transistors

© 2011 National Institute for Materials ScienceSolution-processed films of 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octakis(hexyl) copper phthalocyanine (CuPc6) were utilized as an active semiconducting layer in the fabrication of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) in the bottom-gate configurations using chemical vapour deposited silicon dioxide (SiO2) as gate dielectrics. The surface treatment of the gate dielectric with a self-assembled monolayer of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) resulted in values of 4×10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1 and 106 for saturation mobility and on/off current ratio, respectively. This improvement was accompanied by a shift in the threshold voltage from 3V for untreated devices to −2V for OTS treated devices. The trap density at the interface between the gate dielectric and semiconductor decreased by about one order of magnitude after the surface treatment. The transistors with the OTS treated gate dielectrics were more stable over a 30-day period in air than untreated ones.Technology Strategy Board, UK (Project No: TP/6/EPH/6/S/K2536J)

Global distribution of two fungal pathogens threatening endangered sea turtles

This work was supported by grants of Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain (CGL2009-10032, CGL2012-32934). J.M.S.R was supported by PhD fellowship of the CSIC (JAEPre 0901804). The Natural Environment Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council supported P.V.W. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Thanks Machalilla National Park in Ecuador, Pacuare Nature Reserve in Costa Rica, Foundations Natura 2000 in Cape Verde and Equilibrio Azul in Ecuador, Dr. Jesus Muñoz, Dr. Ian Bell, Dr. Juan Patiño for help and technical support during samplingPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Late Wenlock sequence stratigraphy in central England

The late Wenlock Series (Homerian Stage) of the northern Midland Platform (central England) comprises silty mudstones and limestones of the upper part of the Coalbrookdale and overlying Much Wenlock Limestone formations. Based on Outcrop Studies and borehole data, the sequence stratigraphical interpretation developed for the inliers of the West Midlands is slightly revised, and extended to the stratotype sections along Wenlock Edge. A single third-order cycle of sea-level change is identified, punctuated by a regressive-transgressive episode associated with a higher-order glacioeustatic cycle, allowing the upper Wenlock Series of the area to be divided into two subsequences (A and B). Subsequence A and the early transgressive systems tract began with regression associated with the basal sequence boundary in late Crytograptus lundgreni Biozone times. This was followed by a period of slow transgression or stillstand, allowing shallower water carbonate environments to prograde. A minor phase of regression followed resulting in the generation of the shallowest water deposits of both the Lower Quarried Limestone and Farley members (of the Much Wenlock Limestone and Coalbrookdale formations, respectively). The overlying Subsequence B and the late transgressive systems tract are marked by transgression and a period of rapid sea-level fluctuation and are likely contained within the Gothograptus nassa Biozone. A minor highstand is widely recognizable at this time. The rest of Subsequence B consists of an initial phase of weak progradation (highstand systems tract), followed by a marked regression (falling stage systems tract) culminating in an erosive upper sequence boundary at or close to the top of the Monograptus ludensis Biozone, but within the uppermost Much Wenlock Limestone Formation. Above Subsequence B is a marked transgression into the Lower Elton Formation and the Ludlow Series. Both late Wenlock lowstands and the succeeding flooding events have been recognized on other palaeocontinents, reflecting the eustatic nature of sea-level changes reported here

Interleukin-17D and Nrf2 mediate initial innate immune cell recruitment and restrict MCMV infection.

Innate immune cells quickly infiltrate the site of pathogen entry and not only stave off infection but also initiate antigen presentation and promote adaptive immunity. The recruitment of innate leukocytes has been well studied in the context of extracellular bacterial and fungal infection but less during viral infections. We have recently shown that the understudied cytokine Interleukin (IL)-17D can mediate neutrophil, natural killer (NK) cell and monocyte infiltration in sterile inflammation and cancer. Herein, we show that early immune cell accumulation at the peritoneal site of infection by mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) is mediated by IL-17D. Mice deficient in IL-17D or the transcription factor Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), an inducer of IL-17D, featured an early decreased number of innate immune cells at the point of viral entry and were more susceptible to MCMV infection. Interestingly, we were able to artificially induce innate leukocyte infiltration by applying the Nrf2 activator tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), which rendered mice less susceptible to MCMV infection. Our results implicate the Nrf2/IL-17D axis as a sensor of viral infection and suggest therapeutic benefit in boosting this pathway to promote innate antiviral responses

Transatlantic lipid guideline divergence: same data but different interpretations

Despite consensus that excessive circulating concentrations of apoB-lipoproteins is a key driver for the atherosclerotic process and that treatments that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering by up-regulation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol receptor expression reduces that risk, divergent viewpoints on interpretation of study data have resulted in substantial differences in European and American lipid guideline recommendations. This article explores those differences and highlights the importance of understanding guideline-based lipid management to improve patient care and reduce the risk of clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Адаптация персонала организации на примере сети кафе «Пельмени Project»

Объектом исследования является–система адаптации персонала в кафе «Пельмени Project» и разработка путей ее совершенствования. Предметом исследования является – система адаптации персонала. Цель работы– оценка системы адаптации и разработка методов ее совершенствования в кафе «Пельмени Project». В процессе исследования проводился комплексный опрос. В результате исследования были разработаны рекомендации по улучшению системы адаптации персоналом в кафе «Пельмени Project». Степень внедрения:система адаптации молодых сотрудников в кафе «Пельмени Project» находится на хорошем уровне, проводятся различные мероприятия для благоприятной адаптации на работе, несмотря на это, все равно существует ряд недоработок в этой области, подтверждением тому является текучка кадров и неудовлетворенность новых сотрудников.The object of this study is to adapt the system-staff in the cafe "Dumplings Project» and to develop ways to improve it. The subject issledovaniyayavlyaetsya - personnel system adaptation. The purpose work- evaluation system to adapt and develop methods to improve it in the cafe "Dumplings Project». The study conducted a comprehensive survey. The study developed recommendations to improve the personnel system to adapt to the cafe "Dumplings Project». Degree of implementation: adapting the system of young staff in the cafe "Dumplings Project» is at a good level, hosts a variety of supportive measures for adaptation to work, in spite of this, all still there are some shortcomings in this area, confirming that is staff turnover and dissatisfaction with the new employees

The functional architecture of mother-infant communication, and the development of infant social expressiveness in the first two months

By two-three months, infants show active social expressions during face-to-face interactions. These interactions are important, as they provide the foundation for later emotional regulation and cognition, but little is known about how infant social expressiveness develops. We considered two different accounts. One emphasizes the contingency of parental responsiveness, regardless of its form; the other, the functional architecture account, emphasizes the preparedness of both infants and parents to respond in specific ways to particular forms of behaviour in their partner. We videotaped mother-infant interactions from one to nine weeks, and analysed them with a micro-analytic coding scheme. Infant social expressiveness increased through the nine-week period, particularly after 3 weeks. This development was unrelated to the extent of maternal contingent responsiveness, even to infant social expressions. By contrast, specific forms of response that mothers used preferentially for infant social expressions - mirroring, marking with a smile- predicted the increase in these infant behaviours over time. These results support a functional architecture account of the perceptual and behavioural predispositions of infants and parents that allows young infants to capitalize on relatively limited exposure to specific parental behaviours, in order to develop important social capacities

Tubulin isoform composition tunes microtubule dynamics

Microtubules polymerize and depolymerize stochastically, a behavior essential for cell division, motility and differentiation. While many studies advanced our understanding of how microtubule-associated proteins tune microtubule dynamics in trans, we have yet to understand how tubulin genetic diversity regulates microtubule functions. The majority of in vitro dynamics studies are performed with tubulin purified from brain tissue. This preparation is not representative of tubulin found in many cell types. Here we report the 4.2Å cryo-EM structure and in vitro dynamics parameters of α1B/βI+βIVb microtubules assembled from tubulin purified from a human embryonic kidney cell line with isoform composition characteristic of fibroblasts and many immortalized cell lines. We find that these microtubules grow faster and transition to depolymerization less frequently compared to brain microtubules. Cryo-EM reveals that the dynamic ends of α1B/βI+βIVb microtubules are less tapered and that these tubulin heterodimers display lower curvatures. Interestingly, analysis of EB1 distributions at dynamic ends suggests no differences in GTP cap sizes. Lastly, we show that the addition of recombinant α1A/βIII tubulin, a neuronal isotype overexpressed in many tumors, proportionally tunes the dynamics of α1B/βI+βIVb microtubules. Our study is an important step towards understanding how tubulin isoform composition tunes microtubule dynamics

Measurement of the Bottom-Strange Meson Mixing Phase in the Full CDF Data Set

We report a measurement of the bottom-strange meson mixing phase \beta_s using the time evolution of B0_s -> J/\psi (->\mu+\mu-) \phi (-> K+ K-) decays in which the quark-flavor content of the bottom-strange meson is identified at production. This measurement uses the full data set of proton-antiproton collisions at sqrt(s)= 1.96 TeV collected by the Collider Detector experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron, corresponding to 9.6 fb-1 of integrated luminosity. We report confidence regions in the two-dimensional space of \beta_s and the B0_s decay-width difference \Delta\Gamma_s, and measure \beta_s in [-\pi/2, -1.51] U [-0.06, 0.30] U [1.26, \pi/2] at the 68% confidence level, in agreement with the standard model expectation. Assuming the standard model value of \beta_s, we also determine \Delta\Gamma_s = 0.068 +- 0.026 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps-1 and the mean B0_s lifetime, \tau_s = 1.528 +- 0.019 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps, which are consistent and competitive with determinations by other experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, Phys. Rev. Lett 109, 171802 (2012

Оцінка оновлення основних засобів за рахунок позикових коштів

Оновлення основних засобів є актуальною проблемою сьогодення. Для багатьох підприємств кредити банків є чи не єдиним джерелом коштів на модернізацію виробничих потужностей. В даній статті нами були розглянуті можливості і перспективи приватних фірм для використання з цією метою позикових засобів, оцінений ступінь прозорості банківських установ, річні ставки за інвестиційними кредитами та інші умови їхнього надання.Modernizing of the basic assets is a topical problem of the present. For many business firms bank loans are may be the only source of funds for renewal of production facilities. In the article we have considered the opportunities and prospects for use of borrowed funds by private firms for this purpose, rated the degree of transparency of banking institutions, the annual rates of investment credits and other conditions of their granting