Unveiling the Multifunctional Carbon Fiber Structural Battery.

Structural batteries refer to the multifunctional device capable of both storing electrical energy and bearing mechanical loads concurrently. In this context, carbon fibers emerge as a compelling choice of material and serve dual purpose by storing energy and providing stiffness and strength to the battery. Previous investigation has demonstrated proof-of-concept of functional positive electrodes against metallic lithium in structural battery electrolyte.

Identification of Representative Equivalent Volumes on the Microstructure of 3D-Printed Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastics Based on Statistical Characterization.

The present work describes a methodology to compute equivalent volumes representing the microstructure of 3D-printed continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics, based on a statistical characterization of the fiber distribution. In contrast to recent work, the methodology herein presented determines the statistically equivalent fiber distribution directly from cross-section micrographs, instead of generating random fiber arrangements. For this purpose, several regions, with different sizes and from different locations, are cropped from main cross-section micrographs and different spatial descriptor functions are adopted to characterize the microstructures in terms of agglomeration and periodicity of the fibers.

Dataset of non-crimp fabric reinforced composites for an X-ray computer tomography aided engineering process.

This data in brief article describes a dataset used for an X-ray computer tomography aided engineering process consisting of X-ray computer tomography data and finite element models of non-crimp fabric glass fibre reinforced composites. Additional scanning electron microscope images are provided for the validation of the fibre volume fraction. The specimens consist of 4 layers of unidirectional bundles each supported by off-axis backing bundles with an average orientation on ±80° The finite element models, which were created solely on the image data, simulate the tensile stiffness of the samples.

X-ray tomography data of compression tested unidirectional fibre composites with different off-axis angles.

This data article contains lab-based micro-computed tomography (μCT) data of unidirectional (UD) non-crimp fabric (NCF) carbon fibre reinforced composite specimens that have been deformed by compression. The specimens contain UD fibres with off-axis angles of 0°, 5°, 10°, 15° and 20° and the compression testing induces kink-band formation. This data formed the basis for the analysis of the influence of in-plane shear on kink-plane orientation as reported in Wilhelmsson et al.

The Transcriptional Activator Krüppel-like Factor-6 Is Required for CNS Myelination.

Growth factors of the gp130 family promote oligodendrocyte differentiation, and viability, and myelination, but their mechanisms of action are incompletely understood. Here, we show that these effects are coordinated, in part, by the transcriptional activator Krüppel-like factor-6 (Klf6). Klf6 is rapidly induced in oligodendrocyte progenitors (OLP) by gp130 factors, and promotes differentiation.

Astrocytic TYMP and VEGFA drive blood-brain barrier opening in inflammatory central nervous system lesions.

In inflammatory central nervous system conditions such as multiple sclerosis, breakdown of the blood-brain barrier is a key event in lesion pathogenesis, predisposing to oedema, excitotoxicity, and ingress of plasma proteins and inflammatory cells. Recently, we showed that reactive astrocytes drive blood-brain barrier opening, via production of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). Here, we now identify thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP; previously known as endothelial cell growth factor 1, ECGF1) as a second key astrocyte-derived permeability factor, which interacts with VEGFA to induce blood-brain barrier disruption.

ARFGAP1 is dynamically associated with lipid droplets in hepatocytes.

The ARF GTPase Activating Protein 1 (ARFGAP1) associates mainly with the cytosolic side of Golgi cisternal membranes where it participates in the formation of both COPI and clathrin-coated vesicles. In this study, we show that ARFGAP1 associates transiently with lipid droplets upon addition of oleate in cultured cells. Also, that addition of cyclic AMP shifts ARFGAP1 from lipid droplets to the Golgi apparatus and that overexpression and knockdown of ARFGAP1 affect lipid droplet formation.

Combinatorial actions of Tgfβ and Activin ligands promote oligodendrocyte development and CNS myelination.

In the embryonic CNS, development of myelin-forming oligodendrocytes is limited by bone morphogenetic proteins, which constitute one arm of the transforming growth factor-β (Tgfβ) family and signal canonically via Smads 1/5/8. Tgfβ ligands and Activins comprise the other arm and signal via Smads 2/3, but their roles in oligodendrocyte development are incompletely characterized. Here, we report that Tgfβ ligands and activin B (ActB) act in concert in the mammalian spinal cord to promote oligodendrocyte generation and myelination.

Behavioral disturbances in adult mice following neonatal virus infection or kynurenine treatment--role of brain kynurenic acid.

Exposure to infections in early life is considered a risk-factor for developing schizophrenia. Recently we reported that a neonatal CNS infection with influenza A virus in mice resulted in a transient induction of the brain kynurenine pathway, and subsequent behavioral disturbances in immune-deficient adult mice. The aim of the present study was to investigate a potential role in this regard of kynurenic acid (KYNA), an endogenous antagonist at the glycine site of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor and at the cholinergic α7 nicotinic receptor.

Activation of kynurenine pathway in ex vivo fibroblasts from patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia: cytokine challenge increases production of 3-hydroxykynurenine.

Accumulating data suggest a causative link between immune stimulation, disturbed metabolism of tryptophan, and pathogenesis of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The goal of this study was to examine the production of kynurenic acid (KYNA), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) and the expression of kynurenine pathway enzymes involved in their synthesis and metabolism in cultured skin fibroblasts obtained from patients with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or from healthy control individuals. The assessment was performed under basal conditions or following treatment with interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, or their combinations, in cells exposed to exogenous kynurenine.

Astrocyte-derived VEGF-A drives blood-brain barrier disruption in CNS inflammatory disease.

In inflammatory CNS conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), current options to treat clinical relapse are limited, and more selective agents are needed. Disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an early feature of lesion formation that correlates with clinical exacerbation, leading to edema, excitotoxicity, and entry of serum proteins and inflammatory cells. Here, we identify astrocytic expression of VEGF-A as a key driver of BBB permeability in mice.

Promoting myelin repair and return of function in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the CNS. Conduction block in demyelinated axons underlies early neurological symptoms, but axonal transection and neuronal loss are believed to be responsible for more permanent chronic deficits. Several therapies are approved for treatment of relapsing-remitting MS, all of which are immunoregulatory and clinically proven to reduce the rate of lesion formation and exacerbation.

ARFGAP2 and ARFGAP3 are essential for COPI coat assembly on the Golgi membrane of living cells.

Coat protein complex I (COPI) vesicles play a central role in the recycling of proteins in the early secretory pathway and transport of proteins within the Golgi stack. Vesicle formation is initiated by the exchange of GDP for GTP on ARF1 (ADP-ribosylation factor 1), which, in turn, recruits the coat protein coatomer to the membrane for selection of cargo and membrane deformation. ARFGAP1 (ARF1 GTPase-activating protein 1) regulates the dynamic cycling of ARF1 on the membrane that results in both cargo concentration and uncoating for the generation of a fusion-competent vesicle.

Neonatal infection with neurotropic influenza A virus induces the kynurenine pathway in early life and disrupts sensorimotor gating in adult Tap1-/- mice.

Epidemiological studies suggest that early life infections may contribute to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders later in life. Experimental studies employing infections during neonatal life support this notion by reporting persistent changes in the behaviour of adult animals, including deficits in sensorimotor gating. We have previously described an induction of the kynurenine pathway in neonatal wild-type (WT) mice following a systemic infection with neurotropic influenza A/WSN/33 virus.

Neonatal infection with neurotropic influenza A virus affects working memory and expression of type III Nrg1 in adult mice.

Epidemiological studies suggest that early life infections may contribute to the development of psychiatric disorders characterized by cognitive deficits. Here, we studied the effects of a neonatal influenza A/WSN/33 virus infection on locomotor activity, working memory and emotional behavior in adult mice. In addition to wild type mice, immunodeficient (Tap1(-/-)) mice lacking functional CD8(+) T cells, were included in the study to model the potential influence of a genetic deficit relating to virus clearance.

Early stages of Golgi vesicle and tubule formation require diacylglycerol.

We have investigated the role for diacylglycerol (DAG) in membrane bud formation in the Golgi apparatus. Addition of propranolol to specifically inhibit phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (PAP), an enzyme responsible for converting phosphatidic acid into DAG, effectively prevents formation of membrane buds. The effect of PAP inhibition on Golgi membranes is rapid and occurs within 3 min.

Induction of the kynurenine pathway by neurotropic influenza A virus infection.

Glutamatergic NMDA (N-methyl D-aspartate) receptors play a critical role in brain development and neurotransmission. Kynurenic acid, an end product of tryptophan degradation along the kynurenine pathway, is an endogenous NMDA receptor antagonist. In the present study, the effects of neurotropic influenza A virus infection on the kynurenine pathway were investigated in mouse brain primary cell cultures and in mouse brain after infection on day 3 of postnatal life.

Influenza A virus transactivates the mouse envelope gene encoding syncytin B and its regulator, glial cells missing 1.

Recently, two candidate analogs for human syncytin, denoted syncytins A and B, were identified in the murine genome. These were found to have expression patterns and functions similar to human syncytin. In addition, the identification of glial cells missing (GCM)-binding motifs in putative promoter regions of the mouse syncytins imply analogous regulation.

PLD1 and ERK2 regulate cytosolic lipid droplet formation.

We have previously uncovered roles for phospholipase D (PLD) and an unknown cytosolic protein in the formation of cytosolic lipid droplets using a cell-free system. In this report, PLD1 has been identified as the relevant isoform, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) as the cytosolic protein. Increased expression of PLD1 increased lipid droplet formation whereas knockdown of PLD1 using siRNA was inhibitory.

Adipocyte differentiation-related protein promotes fatty acid storage in cytosolic triglycerides and inhibits secretion of very low-density lipoproteins.

Objective: We investigated the role of adipocyte differentiation-related protein (ADRP) in triglyceride turnover and in the secretion of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) from McA-RH7777 cells and primary rat hepatocytes.

Methods And Results: An increase in the expression of ADRP increased triglyceride accumulation in cytosolic lipid droplets and prevented the incorporation of fatty acids into secretable triglycerides, thereby reducing the secretion of triglycerides as well as of apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) and apoB-48 VLDL. The ability of ADRP to block the secretion of apoB-100 VLDL1 decreased with increasing quantities of fatty acids in the medium, indicating a saturable process and emphasizing the importance of sequestering of fatty acids for the effect of ADRP on VLDL secretion.

Gene expression changes in brains of mice exposed to a maternal virus infection.

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that exposure to a maternal infection during fetal life can lead to the appearance of alterations in the brain later in life. C57BL/6 mice were infected intranasally with influenza A/WSN/33 virus on day 14 of gestation. The levels of transcripts encoding neuroleukin and fibroblast growth factor 5 were significantly elevated in the brains of the virus-exposed offspring at 90 and 280 days of age, but not at earlier time-points.