Naturally elaborated membrane bleb fractions BI and BII of Neisseria gonorrhoeae contain both linear and circular DNAs. Because little is known about the interactions between DNA and blebs, studies were initiated to identify specific proteins that bind DNA in elaborated membrane blebs. Western immunoblots of whole-cell and bleb proteins from transformation-competent and DNA-uptake-deficient (du...

We compare the initial stages of growth of Ge on Si~111! with Bi as a surfactant and without surfactant. At the beginning of growth, three-dimensional islands with a strain relieving dislocation network at their base are formed in both growth systems. These islands can be regarded as seeds of a flat relaxed Ge layer on Si~111!. However, such Ge layer forms at later stages of growth only in the ...

The atomic-scale response of dielectrics/ferroelectrics to electric fields is central to their functionality. Here we introduce an in situ characterization method that reveals changes in the local atomic structure in polycrystalline materials under fields. The method employs atomic pair distribution functions (PDFs), determined from X-ray total scattering that depends on orientation relative to...

The electronic state evolution of single bilayer (1BL) Bi(1 1 1) deposited on three-dimensional (3D) Bi2SexTe3−x topological insulators at x = 0, 1.26, 2, 2.46, 3 is systematically investigated by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). Our results indicate that the electronic structures of epitaxial Bi films are strongly influenced by the substrate especially the topmost sublayer ne...

Scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy experiments complemented by first-principles calculations have been conducted to study the electronic structure of 4 monolayer Bi(110) nanoribbons on epitaxial graphene on silicon carbide [4H-SiC(0001)]. In contrast with the semimetal property of elemental bismuth, an energy gap of 0.4 eV is measured at the centre of the Bi(110) nanoribbons. Edge ...

INTRODUCTION The C. difficile BI/NAP 1 hyper virulent strain has been responsible for the nosocomial outbreaks in several countries. The present study describes the infection control strategies utilized to achieve outbreak control as well as the factors associated with a C. difficile BI/NAP 1 hyper virulent strain outbreak in Costa Rica. METHODOLOGY A descriptive analysis of the C. difficile ...