The negative effect of silica nanoparticles on adipogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Nanoparticles have drawn much attention for a wide variety of applications in biomedical and bioengineering fields. The combined use of nanoparticles and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine requires more knowledge of the influence of nanoparticles on cell viability and differentiation potential of hMSCs. The objective of this study is to investigate the in vitro uptake of silica nanoparticles (silica NPs) and their effect on adipogenic differentiation of hMSCs.

Enantioselective Synthesis of 1,3-Disubstituted 1,3-Dihydroisobenzofurans via a Cascade Allylboration/Oxo-Michael Reaction of o-Formyl Chalcones Catalyzed by a Chiral Phosphoric Acid.

The first chiral Brønsted acid-catalyzed asymmetric cascade allylboration/oxo-Michael reaction between o-formyl chalcones and allylboronate has been successfully discovered, which afforded chiral 1,3-disubstituted 1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans with a yield, diastereoselective ratio (dr) and enantioselective excess (ee) up to 94%, 2.5:1, and 98%, respectively. In addition, 2,3-dienylboronic pinacol ester was also applied into this cascade reaction with good catalytic results.

Detection of dynamic substrate binding using MRI.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is rarely used for molecular binding studies and never without synthetic metallic labels. We designed an MRI approach that can specifically detect the binding of natural substrates (i.e.

Emerging Microtechnologies and Automated Systems for Rapid Bacterial Identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing.

Rapid bacterial identification (ID) and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) are in great demand due to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria. Conventional culture-based AST methods suffer from a long turnaround time. By necessity, physicians often have to treat patients empirically with antibiotics, which has led to an inappropriate use of antibiotics, an elevated mortality rate and healthcare costs, and antibiotic resistance.

Linear σ-hole⋯CO⋯σ-hole intermolecular interactions between carbon monoxide and dihalogen molecules XY (X, Y=Cl, Br).

Carbon monoxide can interact with two dihalogen molecules XY (X, Y=Cl, Br) in the form of X(Y)⋯COX(Y)⋯CO⋯X(Y)X(Y) trimeric complex, and their nature and characteristics were investigated at MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level without and with counterpoise method, together with single point calculations at CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVDZ level. The optimized geometries, stretching modes and interaction energies of a series of X(Y)⋯COX(Y)⋯CO⋯X(Y)X(Y) trimeric complexes were obtained and discussed. The cooperativity in these complexes was evaluated.

Highly Sensitive Hot-Wire Anemometry Based on Macro-Sized Double-Walled Carbon Nanotube Strands.

This paper presents a highly sensitive flow-rate sensor with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as sensing elements. The sensor uses micro-size centimeters long double-walled CNT (DWCNT) strands as hot-wires to sense fluid velocity. In the theoretical analysis, the sensitivity of the sensor is demonstrated to be positively related to the ratio of its surface.

Analysis of the Dynamic Characteristics of a Micro-Piezoelectric Bimorph Beam Based on an Admittance Test.

A piezoelectric bimorph beam, as an upgraded cantilever beam structure, can be used to detect gas content and build a micro-actuator, among other functions. Thus, this beam is widely applied to microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), transformers, and precision machinery. For example, when photoacoustic spectroscopy is performed to detect oil-soluble gas in transformers, a micro-cantilever beam can be used to detect gas content.

Luminescent lanthanide metal-organic frameworks for chemical sensing and toxic anion detection.

Prototype lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (LnMOFs), Ln(BTC) (Ln = Eu and Tb; BTC = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate), have been considered as luminescent sensors for detecting toxic anions, while their neutral pore structures have limited the entrance and encapsulation of anions to produce highly anion-responsive photoluminescence (PL). To facilitate anions to enter the pore space of Ln(BTC), a one-pot synthesis method was proposed in which BTC was partially replaced with its structural analogue L·BF (HL·BF = 2,4,6-tricarboxy-1-methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate) which consists of an anion affinity site of cationic methylpyridinium. Compared to the original Ln(BTC), the co-doped cationic framework EuTb-BTCL is highly sensitive for detecting different toxic anions by tuning the energy absorption of organic chromophores, the energy transfer efficiency to Ln ions and the energy allocation between different Ln ions in the PL spectra.

First Insight into the Molecular Epidemiology of Isolates from the Minority Enclaves of Southwestern China.

Yunnan is a province located in southwestern China. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of (MTB) strains circulating in Yunnan Province. We used spoligotyping and a 12-locus high-resolution VNTR set to identify a total of 271 MTB isolates collected from six prefectures' Yunnan.

A dual-layer macro/mesoporous structured TiO surface improves the initial adhesion of osteoblast-like cells.

A dual-layer TiO surface with hierarchical macro and mesoporous structure was prepared by a combinational approach of micro-arc oxidation followed by evaporation-induced self-assembly of nano-crystallites. The mesoporous layer contains pores with an average size of <10nm and consists of anatase TiO nanocrystallites. The dual-layer hierarchical macro/mesoporous structured TiO surface improves the hydrophilicity and fibronectin adsorption ability in comparison with the sole macroporous or smooth TiO surface.

Locomotor Assay in .

This protocol describes a simple locomotor assay in . In brief, the locomotor of each single fly in the culture dish is recorded by a web camera. The moving time, walking length, speed and the locomotor trails of the single fly could be quantitatively analyzed.

Correlation between fractional exhaled nitric oxide and sputum eosinophilia in exacerbations of COPD.

Introduction: Measurements of eosinophils in induced sputum and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) are noninvasive biomarkers for assessing airway inflammation phenotypes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Nevertheless, the clinical application of the correlation between FeNO levels and sputum eosinophilia is controversial. The study aimed to investigate the correlation and predictive relationship between FeNO levels and sputum eosinophils in patients with COPD exacerbation.

Nanofiber Composite Membrane with Intrinsic Janus Surface for Reversed-Protein-Fouling Ultrafiltration.

Janus nanofiber based composite ultrafiltration (UF) membranes were fabricated via a two-step method, i.e., consecutive electrospinning of hydrophilic nylon-6,6/chitosan nanofiber blend and conventional casting of hydrophobic poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) dope solution.

ADAMTS13 controls vascular remodeling by modifying VWF reactivity during stroke recovery.

Angiogenic response is essential for ischemic brain repair. The von Willebrand factor (VWF)-cleaving protease disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type I motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13) is required for endothelial tube formation in vitro, but there is currently no in vivo evidence supporting a function of ADAMTS13 in angiogenesis. Here we show that mice deficient in ADAMTS13 exhibited reduced neovascularization, brain capillary perfusion, pericyte and smooth muscle cell coverage on microvessels, expression of the tight junction and basement membrane proteins, and accelerated blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown and extravascular deposits of serum proteins in the peri-infarct cortex at 14 days after stroke.

Pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of an oral amoxicillin-apramycin combination in pigs.

A new compound granular premix of amoxicillin (20% w/w dry mass)/apramycin (5% w/w dry mass) was developed, and its pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability were determined in pigs following oral administration following a cross-over study design. The pharmacokinetic parameters of amoxicillin (t1/2λ = 6.43 ± 4.

Enhancement of ethanol production from green liquor-ethanol-pretreated sugarcane bagasse by glucose-xylose cofermentation at high solid loadings with mixed strains.

Background: Efficient cofermentation of glucose and xylose is necessary for economically feasible bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. Here, we demonstrate pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) with green liquor (GL) combined with ethanol (GL-Ethanol) by adding different GL amounts. The common (CSC) and thermophilic (TSC) strains were used and different yeast cell mass ratios (CSC to TSC) were compared.

A Noncrystallization Approach toward Uniform Thylakoids-like 2D "Nano-coins" and Their Grana-like 3D Suprastructures.

Two-dimensional (2D) circular shape nanostructures (e.g., "nano-coins") are ubiquitously present in thylakoids and grana within chloroplasts of plant cells in nature.

Release of an HtrA-Like Protease from the Cell Surface of Thermophilic sp. WF146 via Substrate-Induced Autoprocessing of the N-terminal Membrane Anchor.

High-temperature requirement A (HtrA)-like proteases participate in protein quality control in prokaryotes and eukaryotes by degrading damaged proteins; however, little is known about HtrAs produced by thermophiles. HtrAw is an HtrA-like protease of thermophilic sp. WF146.

Revisiting the impact of OXTR rs53576 on empathy: A population-based study and a meta-analysis.

Oxytocin in the brain is related to empathy, which refers to the ability to understand and share others' internal states or responses. Previous studies have investigated the impact of OXTR rs53576, the most intensively examined polymorphism in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene, on individual differences in empathy. However, these studies produced inconsistent results.

The CAG polymorphism in androgen receptor (AR) gene impacts the moral permissibility of harmful behavior in females.

The moral permissibility of harm is strikingly varied among individuals. In light of the connection between testosterone levels and utilitarian moral judgment, this study examined to what extent a CAG polymorphism in the androgen receptor gene, a genetic polymorphism with the ability to regulate testosterone function, contributes to individual differences in moral judgment. Four hundred and thirty-nine Chinese Han participants completed permissibility ratings of harm in moral dilemmas and moral transgression scenarios.

BMI and BMI Changes to All-cause Mortality among the Elderly in Beijing: a 20-year Cohort Study.

Objective: To explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and all-cause mortality among the elderly in Beijing.

Methods: This analysis was based on the Beijing multidimensional longitudinal study of aging (BLSA), which included 2,090 subjects over 55 years old and was followed-up from 1992 to 2012. BMI-mortality curves were drawn to find the optimal BMI range with the lowest mortality.

Total Syntheses of (+)-Gabosine P, (+)-Gabosine Q, (+)-Gabosine E, (-)-Gabosine G, (-)-Gabosine I, (-)-Gabosine K, (+)-Streptol, and (-)-Uvamalol A by a Diversity-Oriented Approach Featuring Tunable Deprotection Manipulation.

A new diversity-oriented approach to C7-cyclitols, which possess a broad spectrum of biological activities, is developed. The key polyoxygenated intermediates with different O-protecting groups were accessed by an intramolecular aldol-cyclization of a diketone derived from δ-d-gluconolactone. The versatile intermediates can be easily transformed into structurally different carbasugars based on control of deprotection manipulation.

Insights into the Diels-Alder Reaction between 3-Vinylindoles and Methyleneindolinone without and with the Assistance of Hydrogen-Bonding Catalyst Bisthiourea: Mechanism, Origin of Stereoselectivity, and Role of Catalyst.

The Diels-Alder reaction between 3-vinylindoles and methyleneindolinone can proceed both under catalyst-free conditions and with bisthiourea as the catalyst. The reaction with bisthiourea is much faster and results in higher stereoselectivity of the product. The reaction mechanism, origin of stereoselectivity, and role of the catalyst were elaborated based on quantum mechanical calculations and theoretical methods of reactivity indices, NCI, QTAIM, and distortion/interaction models.

Doxycycline Induces Mitophagy and Suppresses Production of Interferon-β in IPEC-J2 Cells.

Previous reports have demonstrated that the second-generation tetracycline derivative doxycycline (DOX) interrupts mitochondrial proteostasis and physiology, inhibits proliferation of many cell types, and induces apoptosis. However, the effects of DOX, which is widely used in porcine husbandry by feed, on the porcine intestinal epithelium are unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that DOX damaged mitochondrial morphology and induced the co-localization of mitochondria with autophagosomes, suggesting that DOX induces mitophagy in IPEC-J2 cells.