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Double stranded DNA bacteriophages achieve release of phage progeny by disrupting the cell envelope of the host cell. This is accomplished by two phage-encoded proteins, the holin and the endolysin. In bacteriophage lambda, the S holin is a small three TMD membrane protein that creates a lesion in the inner membrane of the host at a specific time, programmed in its primary structure. Lesion formation permits the cytoplasmic endolysin R access to the murein cell wall for degradation and cell lysis. Although it has been shown that S oligomerizes in the membrane, the structural nature of this complex has not been elucidated. In this study the S holin was purified using a mild non-ionic detergent and the structure of a ring complex formed by the holin was determined by electron microscopy and single particle analysis at a resolution of 2.6 nm. Biochemical characterization of the rings suggests that such a complex might represent the assembly formed by S in the membrane. Protein translocation in all organisms allows the export of proteins destined for localization outside the cytoplasm. In eubacteria, newly synthesized proteins are directed to the heterotrimeric membrane complex SecYEG by signals embedded in their sequence. The driving force through this complex is provided by the cytoplasmic ATPase SecA which combines ATP hydrolysis to mechanically insert proteins through the protein conducting channel. Using electron microscopy and single particle analysis we have obtained the structure of SecA from M. tuberculosis. The structure indicates that four SecA monomers assemble to form an elongated molecule with D2 symmetry. Docking of the EM map to the crystal structure of tb SecA confirms this arrangement of the subunits. This finding, that M. tuberculosis SecA forms a tetramer raises intriguing possibilities about SecA function.

Very recently, Rotello¡¦s research group synthesized nanoparticles bearing terpyridine (terpy) ligands and studied their self-assembly using a variety of transition metals. This paper describes a synthetic pathway to ferrocene- and biferrocene-functionalized terpyridine octanethiols, and the studies of self-organization of ferrocene- and biferrocene-functionalized terpyridine octanethiols chemisorbed on Au nanoparticles.

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Abstract The present thesis focused on the synthesis and phase transformation of tohdite and alumina via static compression of gels at high temperature-pressures and dynamic laser ablation condensation of metal target under oxygen background gas. In part I, hydrous Al2O3-TiO2 (78:22 in molar ratio) gel was fired at various PT conditions using a piston-cylinder apparatus and identified by XRD, FTIR, optical microscopy and electron microscopy. Below 675oC, the sample remained amorphous at ambient pressure, yet transformed at 1.5 kbar to Ti-doped tohdite, which is elongated along the crystallographic c-axis, with well-developed (0001) base and {10 0} faces. Tohdite has a significant water/hydroxy content and is therefore susceptible to pore coalescence parallel to the basal layer upon electron dosage. Tohdite also contains Ti4+ up to 3 at.%, which replaces Al3+ in tetrahedral and/or octahedral sites to form superstructures and defect microstructures. In contrast, a higher T-P condition (above 675oC and 8 kbar) caused the formation of more stable Ti-doped corundum, which is hexagonal-rhombohedral crystal form and in epitaxial association with rutile nuclei. Ti-doped tohdite and corundum shed light on a sol-gel route for their occurrence in peraluminous metamorphic rock. The nanoporous and nanodelaminated tohdite may have potential catalytic applications (Part I). In part II, amorphous Al2O3 nanocondensates were synthesized via very energetic Nd-YAG laser pulse irradiation of oxygen-purged Al target for a very rapid heating/cooling effect. The nanocondensates above a critical diameter of 20 nm were phase separated as

Hole-doped manganite La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 materials has been extensively studied because of its colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) characteristic in a magnetic field. Recently, a new member of CMR family La0.7Ce0.3MnO3 , an electron-doped manganite, raises a new wave of attention for possible application of p-n junctions. Single Phase La0.7Ce0.3Mn3 films were usually grown by the pulse laser deposition (PLD) technique with a relatively narrow growth window around 755¢J¡Ó5¢J. In this study, we use a RF sputtering technique to grow La0.7Ce0.3Mn3 epitaxial films, which has not been tried yet. Films are grown on SrTiO3, MgO and LaAlO3 substrates. The best film have the metal-insulator transition temperature (TP) 304K and the curie temperature (TC) 310K, which are higher than that of grown by PLD method

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The experimental tests and analysis of a fuel cell unit and a 150 W fuel cell stack are performance in this research. The experimental items in this study are various the types of flow channels, fasten torque, inlet gas pressure, Pt loading density, oxidizers, electron collector type etc. Through above a series of the tests, we can understand the key factors which influence the performance of the PEMFC. The experimental results can also provide us references when one assemble a fuel cell stack in future. PEMFC can start quickly at low temperature and achieves stable output voltage. When the 8 N-M torque is applied to fasten the reaction chamber, the contact resistance between electrode and electron collector reaches a minimum value. By designing the flow channel properly, the membrane hydration can remain a good state so that the conductivity of the proton exchange membrane can not be hinder. We found that the optimum channel among three types of the test channels is the conventional channel with the rib width 2 mm. When the output power is largest. Our experiments display that the increase of Pt loading in cathode can improve PEMFC performance. At certain voltage, there is a critical value in Pt loading. PEMFC performance can not be improved when Pt loading increases over this value. When the inlet pressure in cathode side increase to 10~20 psi higher than the pressure in anode side, the output power can improve apparently. Keyword: Proton exchange membrane, Pt loading, electron collector.

The relation between the electrical property and the material microstructure of InSb grown on Si utilizing electron beam evaporation technology has been investigated. The improvement of the InSb electrical property with controlling annealing environment after post annealing is demonstrated. The crystal structure of InSb thin films were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the surface morphology was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The composition of InSb films was analyzed by electron probe microscope analysis (EPMA) and the mobility of InSb films were measured by Hall measurement. Finally, the grain size and texture of InSb films microstructure were studied by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The films were grown with different In/Sb flux ratio by controlling electron energy during electron evaporation. The results show that the poly-InSb films were formed due to large lattice difference between Si and InSb . The InSb films which had higher In concentration behave higher mobility. The highest mobility of the as-grown film is around 12000(cm2/Vs). The mobility of InSb can be improved to 26000 (cm2/Vs) by added extra Sb source annealed at 500¢J for 5 hours in an sealed ampoule. The extra Sb which dissolved with the existed In droplet in the film and adjust the composition ratio of In/Sb closing to 1:1. Besides, the post-annealing process provides the InSb film to gain much better texture. Both these two factors contribute to improve the electrical property of InSb films.

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