Formation of Iron Phosphide Nanobundles from an Iron Oxyhydroxide Precursor.

Iron phosphide (FeP) nanoparticles have excellent properties such as fast charge transfer kinetics, high electrical conductivity, and high stability, making them a promising catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). A challenge to the wide use of iron phosphide nanomaterials for this application is the available synthesis protocols that limit control over the resulting crystalline phase of the product. In this study, we report a method for synthesizing FeP through a solution-based process.

Engineering Pt/Co/AlOheterostructures to enhance the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction.

The study of interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) in perpendicularly magnetized structurally asymmetric heavy metal/ferromagnet multilayer systems is of high importance due to the formation of chiral magnetic textures in the presence of DMI. Here, we report the impact of cobalt oxidation at the Co/AlOinterface in Pt/Co/AlOtrilayer structures on the DMI by varying the post-growth annealing time, Al thickness and substrate. To quantify DMI we employed magneto-optical imaging of the asymmetric domain wall expansion, hysteresis loop shift, and spin-wave spectroscopy techniques.

Human prefrontal cortex gene regulatory dynamics from gestation to adulthood at single-cell resolution.

Human brain development is underpinned by cellular and molecular reconfigurations continuing into the third decade of life. To reveal cell dynamics orchestrating neural maturation, we profiled human prefrontal cortex gene expression and chromatin accessibility at single-cell resolution from gestation to adulthood. Integrative analyses define the dynamic trajectories of each cell type, revealing major gene expression reconfiguration at the prenatal-to-postnatal transition in all cell types followed by continuous reconfiguration into adulthood and identifying regulatory networks guiding cellular developmental programs, states, and functions.

Novel inhibitors of phosphorylation independent activity of GRK2 modulate cAMP signaling.

G protein-coupled receptors kinase 2 (GRK2) plays a major role in receptor regulation and, as a consequence, in cell biology and physiology. GRK2-mediated receptor desensitization is performed by its kinase domain, which exerts receptor phosphorylation promoting G protein uncoupling and the cessation of signaling, and by its RGS homology (RH) domain, able to interrupt G protein signaling. Since GRK2 activity is exacerbated in several pathologies, many efforts to develop inhibitors have been conducted.

Antihistamines Potentiate Dexamethasone Anti-Inflammatory Effects. Impact on Glucocorticoid Receptor-Mediated Expression of Inflammation-Related Genes.

Antihistamines and glucocorticoids (GCs) are often used together in the clinic to treat several inflammation-related situations. Although there is no rationale for this association, clinical practice has assumed that, due to their concomitant anti-inflammatory effects, there should be an intrinsic benefit to their co-administration. In this work, we evaluated the effects of the co-treatment of several antihistamines on dexamethasone-induced glucocorticoid receptor transcriptional activity on the expression of various inflammation-related genes in A549 and U937 cell lines.

Biased agonism at histamine H receptor: Desensitization, internalization and MAPK activation triggered by antihistamines.

Histamine H receptor ligands used clinically as antiallergics rank among the most widely prescribed and over-the-counter drugs in the world. They exert the therapeutic actions by blocking the effects of histamine, due to null or negative efficacy towards Gα-phospholipase C (PLC)-inositol triphosphates (IP)-Ca and nuclear factor-kappa B cascades. However, there is no information regarding their ability to modulate other receptor responses.

High-Temperature Atomic Layer Deposition of GaN on 1D Nanostructures.

Silica nanosprings (NS) were coated with gallium nitride (GaN) by high-temperature atomic layer deposition. The deposition temperature was 800 °C using trimethylgallium (TMG) as the Ga source and ammonia (NH) as the reactive nitrogen source. The growth of GaN on silica nanosprings was compared with deposition of GaN thin films to elucidate the growth properties.

Synthesis of Magnetite Nanorods from the Reduction of Iron Oxy-Hydroxide with Hydrazine.

Nanowires and nanorods of magnetite (FeO) are of interest due to their varied biological applications but most importantly for their use as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. One-dimensional (1D) structures of magnetite, however, are more challenging to synthesize because the surface energy favors the formation of isotropic structures. Synthetic protocols can be dichotomous, producing either the 1D structure or the magnetite phase but not both.

Iron Pyrite Nanocrystals: A Potential Catalyst for Selective Transfer Hydrogenation of Functionalized Nitroarenes.

We report a solution-based synthetic method to produce shape-tunable iron pyrite (FeS) nanocrystals using iron oxy-hydroxide (β-FeOOH) as a precursor and their application for selective reduction of functionalized nitroarenes to aniline derivatives with formic acid-triethylamine (HCOOH-EtN) as a hydrogen donor system.

The Regulator of G Protein Signaling Homologous Domain of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 Mediates Short-Term Desensitization of β3-Adrenergic Receptor.

G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) kinases (GRKs) are key regulators of GPCR signaling. Canonical mechanism of GPCR desensitization involves receptor phosphorylation by GRKs followed by arrestin recruitment and uncoupling from heterotrimeric G protein. Although β3-adrenergic receptor (β3AR) lacks phosphorylation sites by GRKs, agonist treatment proved to induce β3AR desensitization in many cell types.

Enhancement in the performance of nanostructured CuO-ZnO solar cells by band alignment.

In this study, we investigated the effect of cobalt doping on band alignment and the performance of nanostructured ZnO/CuO heterojunction solar cells. ZnO nanorods and CuO nanostructures were fabricated by a low-temperature and cost-effective chemical bath deposition technique. The band offsets between Zn Co O ( = 0, 0.

Roughened graphite biointerfaced with P450 liver microsomes: Surface and electrochemical characterizations.

Low-cost, voltage-driven biocatalytic designs for rapid drug metabolism assay, chemical toxicity screening, and pollutant biosensing represent considerable significance for pharmaceutical, biomedical, and environmental applications. In this study, we have designed biointerfaces of human liver microsomes with various roughened, high-purity graphite disk electrodes to study electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties. Successful spectral and microscopic characterizations, direct bioelectronic communication, direct electron-transfer rates from the electrode to liver microsomal enzymes, microsomal heme-enzyme specific oxygen reduction currents, and voltage-driven diclofenac hydroxylation (chosen as the probe reaction) are presented.

ZnO Microfiltration Membranes for Desalination by a Vacuum Flow-Through Evaporation Method.

ZnO was deposited on macroporous α-alumina membranes atomic layer deposition (ALD) to improve water flux by increasing their hydrophilicity and reducing mass transfer resistance through membrane pore channels. The deposition of ZnO was systemically performed for 4-128 cycles of ALD at 170 °C. Analysis of membrane surface by contact angles (CA) measurements revealed that the hydrophilicity of the ZnO ALD membrane was enhanced with increasing the number of ALD cycles.

Identification of inhibitors of the RGS homology domain of GRK2 by docking-based virtual screening.

Aims: G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinases (GRKs) are mainly involved in the desensitization of GPCRs. Among them, GRK2 has been described to be upregulated in many pathological conditions and its crucial role in cardiac hypertrophy, hypertension, and heart failure promoted the search for pharmacological inhibitors of its activity. There have been several reports of potent and selective inhibitors of GRK2, most of them directed to the kinase domain of the protein.

Alumina Coated Silica Nanosprings (NS) Support Based Cobalt Catalysts for Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuel Production From Syngas.

The effects of AlO coating on the performance of silica nanospring (NS) supported Co catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) were evaluated in a quartz fixed-bed microreactor. The Co/NS-AlO catalysts were synthesized by coating the Co/NS and NS with AlO by an alkoxide-based sol-gel method (NS-Al-A and NS-Al-B, respectively) and then by decorating them with Co. Co deposition was via an impregnation method.

Buckypaper-Bilirubin Oxidase Biointerface for Electrocatalytic Applications: Buckypaper Thickness.

Electrode materials play an important role on the electrocatalytic properties of immobilized biocatalysts. In this regard, achieving direct electronic communication between the electrode and redox sites of biocatalysts eliminates the need for additional electron transfer mediators for biocatalytic applications in fuel cells and other electrochemical energy devices. In order to increase electrocatalytic currents and power in fuel cells and metal-air batteries, conductive carbon-nanostructure-modified large surface area electrodes are quite useful.

Participation of Gα-Adenylate Cyclase and ERK1/2 in Mas Receptor Signaling Pathways.

The MasR receptor (MasR) is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor proposed as a candidate for mediating the angiotensin (Ang)-converting enzyme 2-Ang-(1-7) protective axis of renin-angiotensin system. This receptor has been suggested to participate in several physiological processes including cardio- and reno-protection and regulation of the central nervous system function. Although the knowledge of the signaling mechanisms associated with MasR is essential for therapeutic purposes, these are still poorly understood.

Electrical characterization of ZnO-coated nanospring ensemble by impedance spectroscopy: probing the effect of thermal annealing.

The effects of thermal annealing on the electrical properties of randomly oriented ZnO-coated nanospring ensembles were extensively investigated through AC impedance spectroscopy. Annealing the nanospring mats for an hour at 873 K in air showed significant change in ZnO morphology, reduced electrical conductivity due to the presence of grain boundaries, decreased apparent donor concentration, and faster decay of sub-band gap photocurrent. The role of the nanospring-nanospring junctions in the conduction of carriers in the ensemble was also examined, as well as evaluation of their responsiveness to thermal and optical stimulations.

Thermo-Optical Properties of Cobalt-Doped Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanorods.

Thermo-optical and structural properties of cobalt-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods grown by chemical bath deposition were investigated. The average nanorods diameter was found to increase with cobalt doping. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis confirm the substitution of cobalt into ZnO lattice without forming any impurities at higher doping and preserving the hexagonal wurtzite structure.

The Effect of UV Illumination on the Room Temperature Detection of Vaporized Ammonium Nitrate by a ZnO Coated Nanospring-Based Sensor.

The effect of UV illumination on the room temperature electrical detection of ammonium nitrate vapor was examined. The sensor consists of a self-assembled ensemble of silica nanosprings coated with zinc oxide. UV illumination mitigates the baseline drift of the resistance relative to operation under dark conditions.

Pyrenyl-carbon nanostructures for scalable enzyme electrocatalysis and biological fuel cells.

The objective of this article is to demonstrate the electrode geometric area-based scalability of pyrenyl-carbon nanostructure modification for enzyme electrocatalysis and fuel cell power output using hydrogenase anode and bilirubin oxidase cathode as the model system.

Formation of nanotubular TiO structures with varied surface characteristics for biomaterial applications.

Nanotubular structures were generated on the surface of titanium c.p. by anodization technique in an aqueous solution of acetic acid (14% v/v) with different sources of fluoride ion (HF, NaF, NH F).

Pharmacological Rac1 inhibitors with selective apoptotic activity in human acute leukemic cell lines.

Rac1 GTPase has long been recognized as a critical regulatory protein in different cellular and molecular processes involved in cancer progression, including acute myeloid leukemia. Here we show the antitumoral activity of ZINC69391 and 1A-116, two chemically-related Rac1 pharmacological inhibitors, on a panel of four leukemic cell lines representing different levels of maturation. Importantly, we show that the main mechanism involved in the antitumoral effect triggered by the Rac1 inhibitors comprises the induction of the mitochondrial or intrinsic apoptotic pathway.

[Relation between preoperative prognostic Onodera's Index and postsurgery complications in the R0 gastric carcinoma resection].

Background: It has been postulated in the Asian literature that a low prognostic nutritional index (OI) could be associated with a higher rate of complications following radical gastric cancer surgery, but there is a lack of data concerning western countries. The aim is to analyze the relationship between a low preoperative OI and the frequency and severity of surgical complications in R0 gastric cancer resection.

Patients And Methods: In the present article, 124 cases of gastric cancer with R0 resection were reviewed.

Buprenorphine shared medical appointments for the treatment of opioid dependence in a homeless clinic.

Background: Opioid misuse and dependence are prevalent and rising problems in the United States. Treatment with buprenorphine is a successful treatment option for individuals with opioid dependence. This study describes and preliminarily evaluates a unique delivery system that provides buprenorphine treatment via a shared medical appointment.