Self-Reinforced Inductive Effect of Symmetric Bipolar Organic Molecule for High-Performance Rechargeable Batteries.

Herein, the self-reinforced inductive effect derived from coexistence of both p- and n-type redox-active motifs in a single organic molecule is presented. Molecular orbital energy levels of each motif are dramatically tuned, which leads to the higher oxidation and the lower reduction potentials. The self-reinforced inductive effect of the symmetric bipolar organic molecule, N,N'-dimethylquinacridone (DMQA), is corroborated, by both experimental and theoretical methods.

Activation of NFAT by HGF and IGF-1 via ARF6 and its effector ASAP1 promotes uveal melanoma metastasis.

Preventing or effectively treating metastatic uveal melanoma (UM) is critical because it occurs in about half of patients and confers a very poor prognosis. There is emerging evidence that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) promote metastasis and contribute to the striking metastatic hepatotropism observed in UM metastasis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which HGF and IGF-1 promote UM liver metastasis have not been elucidated.

All-Graphene Quantum Dot-Derived Battery: Regulating Redox Activity Through Localized Subdomains.

In the quest for materials sustainability for grid-scale applications, graphene quantum dot (GQD), prepared via eco-efficient processes, is one of the promising graphitic-organic matters that have the potential to provide greener solutions for replacing metal-based battery electrodes. However, the utilization of GQDs as electroactive materials has been limited; their redox behaviors associated with the electronic bandgap property from the sp carbon subdomains, surrounded by functional groups, are yet to be understood. Here, the experimental realization of a subdomained GQD-based anode with stable cyclability over 1000 cycles, combined with theoretical calculations, enables a better understanding of the decisive impact of controlled redox site distributions on battery performance.

Molecular electrostatic potential as a general and versatile indicator for electronic substituent effects: statistical analysis and applications.

It is necessary to quantitatively determine substituent effects to accurately elucidate reaction mechanisms in the field of organic chemistry. This paper reports that the molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) can be used as a general and versatile measure for the substituent effects in various chemical reactions by performing extensive density functional theory (DFT) calculations for more than 400 molecules, followed by statistical analyses. We observed a robust and linear correlation between the electrostatic potential and the substituent parameters for various cases of reactive systems, regardless of the DFT functionals, basis sets, and solvation models used.

Chloroquine Sensitizes -mutated Melanoma to MEK1/2 Inhibition.

Purpose: Mutational activation of or (), detected in >90% of uveal melanomas, leads to constitutive activation of oncogenic pathways, including MAPK and YAP. To date, chemo- or pathway-targeted therapies, either alone or in combination, have proven ineffective in the treatment of patients with metastatic uveal melanoma.

Experimental Design: We tested the efficacy of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, in combination with MAPK pathway inhibition in -mutated cells and and identified mechanisms of MEK1/2 inhibitor plus chloroquine-induced cytotoxicity.

Mouse models of uveal melanoma: Strengths, weaknesses, and future directions.

Uveal melanoma is the most common primary malignancy of the eye, and a number of discoveries in the last decade have led to a more thorough molecular characterization of this cancer. However, the prognosis remains dismal for patients with metastases, and there is an urgent need to identify treatments that are effective for this stage of disease. Animal models are important tools for preclinical studies of uveal melanoma.

The Small GTPase ARF6 Activates PI3K in Melanoma to Induce a Prometastatic State.

Melanoma has an unusual capacity to spread in early-stage disease, prompting aggressive clinical intervention in very thin primary tumors. Despite these proactive efforts, patients with low-risk, low-stage disease can still develop metastasis, indicating the presence of permissive cues for distant spread. Here, we show that constitutive activation of the small GTPase ARF6 (ARF6) is sufficient to accelerate metastasis in mice with BRAF/Cdkn2a melanoma at a similar incidence and severity to loss, a major driver of PI3K activation and melanoma metastasis.

Sulfuretin Prevents Obesity and Metabolic Diseases in Diet Induced Obese Mice.

The global obesity epidemic and associated metabolic diseases require alternative biological targets for new therapeutic strategies. In this study, we show that a phytochemical sulfuretin suppressed adipocyte differentiation of preadipocytes and administration of sulfuretin to high fat diet-fed obese mice prevented obesity and increased insulin sensitivity. These effects were associated with a suppressed expression of inflammatory markers, induced expression of adiponectin, and increased levels of phosphorylated ERK and AKT.

Social relationships enhance the time spent eating and intake of a novel diet in pregnant Hanwoo () heifers.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of social relationships on the feed intake, eating behavior, and growth, upon exposure to a novel diet, in Hanwoo () heifers during pregnancy. Twenty-four pregnant Hanwoo heifers, averaging 438 ± 27.8 kg in weight, 21 months in age, and 194 ± 8.