Articles in 2010

In transition metal oxide heterostructures, electron correlations can give rise to interesting phenomena. The authors show that an LaTiO₃/SrTiO₃ interface undergoes a superconducting transition, and that the 2D electron gas thus formed is located mostly on the SrTiO₃side.

Ocean tides and infragravity waves—the Earths 'hum'—have very different periods and wavelengths. Sugioka and colleagues report resonance between these two phenomena using arrays of broadband ocean-bottom seismometers and show that some tidal energy is transferred to the deep oceans through this coupling.

Understanding the thermal transitions of confined polymers is important for the design of molecular scale devices. In this study, unusual thermal transitions are observed in polyethylene glycol chains incorporated in nanochannels of porous coordination polymers.

The assembly of nanoparticles into stoichiometry-controlled structures could lead to materials with novel properties and functions. Here, reaction systems are developed, which allow the rational assembly of differently functionalized gold nanoparticles (A and B) to give AB, AB₂, AB₃ and AB₄nanoclusters.

One challenge in the development of proton exchange fuel cells is the requirement for durable, high-conductivity electrolytes. The authors show that incorporating ionic liquids into synthetic block co-polymer electrolytes results in nanostructured membranes with much higher conductivities than currently available.

The kinase Dyrk1A is essential for brain function and development, and its excessive activity has been implicated in Down syndrome. In this study, a selective inhibitor of Dyrk1A is developed, which may help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of normal and diseased brain.

NMDA receptors are complexes of NR1 and NR2 subunits that mediate excitatory synaptic transmission and have roles in neurological disorders. Here, a subunit-selective potentiator of NMDA receptors is identified, which may allow the evaluation of the functional roles of individual NMDA receptor subunits.

The challenge of reconstructing the image of an object when viewed through an opaque material is of particular importance for biological tissues. Here, the authors show that it is possible to reconstruct the image of a complex object from interference patterns of multiple wavefronts using phase-shifting interferometry.

Toll-like receptors are involved in pathogen recognition by the innate immune system and rely on the molecular chaperone, gp96, for correct folding. In this article, the chaperone activity of gp96 is shown to be dependent on an additional endoplasmic reticulum protein, CNPY3, for some Toll-like receptors.

A crucial transition in the origin of life was the emergence of self-replicating RNA and its compartmentalization within protocellular structures. Here it is shown that the physicochemical properties of ice, a simple medium widespread on a temperate early earth, could have mediated this transition.

The authors report a new kind of magnetism at the interface between two complex oxides, which shows both spin and orbital components due to degeneracy in the electronic states of SrTiO₃. This could be useful in magnetic tunnel junctions and to further study superexchange coupling.

A comparison of related genomes provides valuable information about how they evolve. Here, the complete sequence of the smallest known nuclear genome from the microsporidiaE. intestinalis is described and compared with its larger sister E. cuniculi, revealing what parts are indispensable in even the most reduced genomes.

The mass production of high-quality reduced graphene oxide could aid the scale-up of graphene-based technologies. Here, a one-pot reduction of graphene oxide using hydriodic acid and acetic acid provides large quantities of highly conductive reduced graphene oxide.

The spontaneous ordering of molecules into two-dimensional arrays is usually a result of directional intermolecular interactions. Here, it is shown that electrospray-deposited Mn₁₂(acetate)₁₆forms filamentary aggregates driven by anisotropic interactions, which are a consequence of the complex shape of the molecule.

The physics governing the propagation of solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs), an important cause of bad space weather on Earth, is poorly understood. The authors model a CME's three-dimensional propagation and determine accurate arrival times near the Earth's surface.

Superfetation, or conception while already pregnant, has been reported in some species. Using up-to-date ultrasound imaging techniques, the authors of this study confirm superconception in the European brown hare and suggest that this phenomenon is an evolutionary adaptation.

Global vegetation models are too coarse to predict climate change effects at the hillslope level. Using high-resolution LiDAR, the authors explore the three-dimensional structure and vegetation of an African savanna, and suggest that finer hydrogeomorphological features will shape future climate effects.

The phase of a laser pulse is usually random, which prevents its use for phase-resolved measurements. Here, the authors seed a quantum cascade laser with coherent terahertz pulses, forcing laser action to start on a fixed phase. This kind of laser could be used as a source in time-domain spectroscopy.

The bar-tailed godwit departs from New Zealand for breeding sites in Alaska. Here, using geolocators, godwits are shown to time their migration depending on the latitude of their breeding site in Alaska; early migrators locate in the south of Alaska, whereas later birds breed in the North.

Many animals have complex body patterns, which are fixed in some species and flexible in others. Here, using reaction-diffusion mathematical models, together with salmonid fish crosses, intermediate patterns are shown to occur in hybrid animals produced by mating species with different flexible patterns.