A 3D model of the human hepatobiliary junction.

Cholestasis, or disruption in bile flow, is a common yet poorly understood feature of many liver diseases and injuries. Despite this, many engineered human tissue models of liver disease fail to recapitulate physiological bile flow. Here, we present a 3D multicellular spheroid-based model of the human hepatobiliary junction, the interface between hepatocytes and cholangiocytes often disrupted in liver disease that is required for directing bile excreted by hepatocytes into the biliary ductal system.

Plasma membrane folding enables constant surface area-to-volume ratio in growing mammalian cells.

All cells are subject to geometric constraints, including the surface area-to-volume (SA/V) ratio, which can limit nutrient uptake, maximum cell size, and cell shape changes. Like the SA/V ratio of a sphere, it is generally assumed that the SA/V ratio of cells decreases as cell size increases. However, the structural complexity of the plasma membrane makes studies of the surface area challenging in cells that lack a cell wall.

Investigation of Charge Transfer Kinetics in Multilayer PEO/LLZO Solid-State Batteries.

Lithium-metal batteries employing solid electrolytes (ceramics or polymers) could surpass the energy and power densities of current state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries. Unfortunately, ceramic electrolyte/electrode interfaces suffer from poor interfacial contact, and polymer electrolytes show insufficient ionic conductivities for practical uses. Composite solid electrolytes, comprised of mixtures of ceramic and polymer electrolytes, could mitigate these challenges by combining high ionic conductivity with good interfacial contact.

Plasma membrane folding enables constant surface area-to-volume ratio in growing mammalian cells.

All cells are subject to geometric constraints, including the surface area-to-volume (SA/V) ratio, which can limit nutrient uptake, maximum cell size, and cell shape changes. Like the SA/V ratio of a sphere, it is generally assumed that the SA/V ratio of cells decreases as cell size increases. However, the structural complexity of the plasma membrane makes studies of the surface area challenging in cells that lack a cell wall.

CryoEM Status Update and Innovative Developments.

Truong, C. D. et al.

Programmable Anisotropy and Percolation in Supramolecular Patchy Particle Gels.

Patchy particle interactions are predicted to facilitate the controlled self-assembly and arrest of particles into phase-stable and morphologically tunable "equilibrium" gels, which avoids the arrested phase separation and subsequent aging that is typically observed in traditional particle gels with isotropic interactions. Despite these promising traits of patchy particle interactions, such tunable equilibrium gels have yet to be realized in the laboratory due to experimental limitations associated with synthesizing patchy particles in high yield. Here, we introduce a supramolecular metal-coordination platform consisting of metallic nanoparticles linked by telechelic polymer chains, which validates the predictions associated with patchy particle interactions and facilitates the design of equilibrium particle hydrogels through limited valency interactions.

A Micro-CT-based Method for Characterizing Lesions and Locating Electrodes in Small Animal Brains.

Lesion and electrode location verification are traditionally done via histological examination of stained brain slices, a time-consuming procedure that requires manual estimation. Here, we describe a simple, straightforward method for quantifying lesions and locating electrodes in the brain that is less laborious and yields more detailed results. Whole brains are stained with osmium tetroxide, embedded in resin, and imaged with a micro-CT scanner.

A micro-CT-based method for quantitative brain lesion characterization and electrode localization.

Lesion verification and quantification is traditionally done via histological examination of sectioned brains, a time-consuming process that relies heavily on manual estimation. Such methods are particularly problematic in posterior cortical regions (e.g.

Reconstruction of genetically identified neurons imaged by serial-section electron microscopy.

Resolving patterns of synaptic connectivity in neural circuits currently requires serial section electron microscopy. However, complete circuit reconstruction is prohibitively slow and may not be necessary for many purposes such as comparing neuronal structure and connectivity among multiple animals. Here, we present an alternative strategy, targeted reconstruction of specific neuronal types.

The multilayered interlaced network (MIN) in the sporoplasm of the microsporidium Anncaliia algerae is derived from Golgi.

This study provides evidence for the Golgi-like activity of the multilayered interlaced network (MIN) and new ultrastructural observations of the MIN in the sporoplasm of Anncaliia algerae, a microsporidium that infects both insects and humans. The MIN is attached to the end of the polar tubule upon extrusion from the germinating spore. It surrounds the sporoplasm, immediately below its plasma membrane, and most likely maintains the integrity of the sporoplasm, as it is pulled through the everting polar tube.