Single-molecule DNA-flow stretching assay as a versatile hybrid tool for investigating DNA-protein interactions.

Single-molecule techniques allow researchers to investigate individual molecules and obtain unprecedented details of the heterogeneous nature of biological entities. They play instrumental roles in studying DNA-protein interactions due to the ability to visualize DNA or proteins and to manipulate individual DNA molecules by applying force or torque. Here, we describe single-molecule DNA-flow stretching assays as hybrid tools that combine forces with fluorescence.

A Pressure Sensor Based on the Interaction between a Hard Magnet Magnetorheological Elastomer and a Hall Effect Structure.

In this article, we report a novel pressure sensing method based on the Hall effect and a hard magnet magnetorheological elastomer (hmMRE). The elastic property of the MRE under pressure was used to generate spatial variation in the magnetic flux density around the MRE, and the variation was detected by the Hall effect device underneath. As the first development in this kind of pressure sensing mechanism, we conducted research for the following three purposes: (1) to verify the Hall effect on the output signal, (2) to understand the sensor output variations under different modes of operation, and (3) to utilize the mechanism as a pressure sensor.

The Effect of the BEPC22 and BELP53 Combination (BN-202M) on Body Fat Percentage Loss in Overweight Individuals: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

BN-202M is derived from humans and consists of two strains, BEPC22 and BELP53. Body fat reduction effect and safety of BN-202M were assessed in overweight participants. A total of 150 participants were randomly assigned to the BN-202M and placebo groups at a 1:1 ratio.

A framework to validate fluorescently labeled DNA-binding proteins for single-molecule experiments.

Due to the enhanced labeling capability of maleimide-based fluorescent probes, lysine-cysteine-lysine (KCK) tags are frequently added to proteins for visualization. In this study, we employed an in vitro single-molecule DNA flow-stretching assay as a sensitive way to assess the impact of the KCK tag on the property of DNA-binding proteins. Using Bacillus subtilis ParB as an example, we show that, although no noticeable changes were detected by in vivo fluorescence imaging and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays, the KCK tag substantially altered ParB's DNA compaction rates and its response to nucleotide binding and to the presence of the specific sequence (parS) on the DNA.

Direct Electrochemical Functionalization of Graphene Grown on Cu Including the Reaction Rate Dependence on the Cu Facet Type.

We present an electrochemical method to functionalize single-crystal graphene grown on copper foils with a (111) surface orientation by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Graphene on Cu(111) is functionalized with 4-iodoaniline by applying a constant negative potential, and the degree of functionalization depends on the applied potential and reaction time. Our approach stands out from previous methods due to its transfer-free method, which enables more precise and efficient functionalization of single-crystal graphene.

Tactile Neuromorphic System: Convergence of Triboelectric Polymer Sensor and Ferroelectric Polymer Synapse.

Sensory neuromorphic systems are a promising technology, because they can replicate the way the human peripheral nervous system processes signals from the five sensory organs. Despite this potential, there are limited studies on how to implement these systems on a hardware neural network platform. In our research, we propose a tactile neuromorphic system that uses a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based triboelectric sensor and a molybdenum disulfide (MoS)/poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoro ethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) heterostructure-based ferroelectric synapse.

Using DNA flow-stretching assay as a tool to validate the tagging of DNA-binding proteins for single-molecule experiments.

Due to the enhanced labeling capability of maleimide-based fluorescent probes, lysine-cysteine-lysine (KCK) tags are frequently added to proteins for visualization. In this study, we employed single-molecule DNA flow-stretching assay as a sensitive way to assess the impact of the KCK-tag on the property of DNA-binding proteins. Using ParB as an example, we show that, although no noticeable changes were detected by fluorescence imaging and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays, the KCK-tag substantially altered ParB's DNA compaction rates, its response to nucleotide binding and to the presence of the specific sequence () on the DNA.

Remarkable Electrical Conductivity Increase and Pure Metallic Properties from Semiconducting Colloidal Nanocrystals by Cation Exchange for Solution-Processable Optoelectronic Applications.

The authors report a strategic approach to achieve metallic properties from semiconducting CuFeS colloidal nanocrystal (NC) solids through cation exchange method. An unprecedentedly high electrical conductivity is realized by the efficient generation of charge carriers onto a semiconducting CuS NC template via minimal Fe exchange. An electrical conductivity exceeding 10 500 S cm (13 400 S cm at 2 K) and a sheet resistance of 17 Ω/sq at room temperature, which are among the highest values for solution-processable semiconducting NCs, are achieved successfully from bornite-phase CuFeS NC films possessing 10% Fe atom.

Learning quadrupedal locomotion on deformable terrain.

Simulation-based reinforcement learning approaches are leading the next innovations in legged robot control. However, the resulting control policies are still not applicable on soft and deformable terrains, especially at high speed. The primary reason is that reinforcement learning approaches, in general, are not effective beyond the data distribution: The agent cannot perform well in environments that it has not experienced.

Highly Exposed NH Edge on Fragmented g-C N Framework with Integrated Molybdenum Atoms for Catalytic CO Cycloaddition: DFT and Techno-Economic Assessment.

This study focuses on the applicability of single-atom Mo-doped graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) nanosheets which are specifically engineered with high surface area (exfoliated GCN), NH rich edges, and maximum utilization of isolated atomic Mo for propylene carbonate (PC) production through CO cycloaddition of propylene oxide (PO). Various operational parameters are optimized, for example, temperature (130 °C), pressure (20 bar), catalyst (Mo GCN), and catalyst mass (0.1 g).

Multispectral Benchmark Dataset and Baseline for Forklift Collision Avoidance.

In this paper, multispectral pedestrian detection is mainly discussed, which can contribute to assigning human-aware properties to automated forklifts to prevent accidents, such as collisions, at an early stage. Since there was no multispectral pedestrian detection dataset in an intralogistics domain, we collected a dataset; the dataset employs a method that aligns image pairs with different domains, i.e.

Conductive and Ultrastable Covalent Organic Framework/Carbon Hybrid as an Ideal Electrocatalytic Platform.

Developing covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with good electrical conductivity is essential to widen their range of practical applications. Thermal annealing is known to be a facile approach for enhancing conductivity. However, at higher temperatures, most COFs undergo amorphization and/or thermal degradation because of the lack of linker rigidity and physicochemical stability.

Digital selective transformation and patterning of highly conductive hydrogel bioelectronics by laser-induced phase separation.

The patterning of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) hydrogels with excellent electrical property and spatial resolution is a challenge for bioelectronic applications. However, most PEDOT:PSS hydrogels are fabricated by conventional manufacturing processes such as photolithography, inkjet printing, and screen printing with complex fabrication steps or low spatial resolution. Moreover, the additives used for fabricating PEDOT:PSS hydrogels are mostly cytotoxic, thus requiring days of detoxification.

Identification and characterization of bisbenzimide compounds that inhibit human cytomegalovirus replication.

The shortcomings of current anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) drugs has stimulated a search for anti-HCMV compounds with novel targets. We screened collections of bioactive compounds and identified a range of compounds with the potential to inhibit HCMV replication. Of these compounds, we selected bisbenzimide compound RO-90-7501 for further study.

A Novel, Selective c-Abl Inhibitor, Compound 5, Prevents Neurodegeneration in Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement. The nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Abl has shown a potential role in the progression of PD. As such, c-Abl inhibition is a promising candidate for neuroprotection in PD and α-synucleinopathies.

Immuno-enhancement effects of Korean Red Ginseng in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Most clinical studies of immune responses activated by Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) have been conducted exclusively in patients. However, there is still a lack of clinical research on immune-boosting benefits of KRG for healthy persons. This study aims to confirm how KRG boosts the immune system of healthy subjects.

Ferroelectric polymer-based artificial synapse for neuromorphic computing.

Recently, various efforts have been made to implement synaptic characteristics with a ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FeFET), but in-depth physical analyses have not been reported thus far. Here, we investigated the effects by (i) the formation temperature of the ferroelectric material, poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) P(VDF-TrFE) and (ii) the nature of the contact metals (Ti, Cr, Pd) of the FeFET on the operating performance of a FeFET-based artificial synapse in terms of various synaptic performance indices. Excellent ferroelectric properties were induced by maximizing the size and coverage ratio of the β-phase domains by annealing the P(VDF-TrFE) film at 140 °C.

Efficacy and Safety of Electroacupuncture for Insomnia Disorder: A Multicenter, Randomized, Assessor-Blinded, Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture in treating insomnia.

Patients And Methods: In a multicenter, randomized, assessor-blinded, controlled trial, 150 patients with DSM-5-diagnosed insomnia with Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores ≥ 15 were randomly assigned to three different groups that underwent 10 sessions of electroacupuncture, sham-electroacupuncture, or usual care for 4 weeks from October 2015 to June 2016 at four Korean medicine hospitals, Republic of Korea. The primary outcome included the ISI score at Week 4; the secondary outcomes included evaluations of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), sleep diary, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), EuroQoL five dimension (EQ-5D), Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), and salivary melatonin and cortisol levels.

Highly Stable Artificial Synapse Consisting of Low-Surface Defect van der Waals and Self-Assembled Materials.

The long-term plasticity of biological synapses was successfully emulated in an artificial synapse fabricated by combining low-surface defect van der Waals (vdW) and self-assembled (SA) materials. The synaptic operation could be achieved by facilitating hole trapping and releasing only via the amine (NH) functional groups in 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, which consequently induced a gradual conductance change in the WSe channel. The vdW-SA synaptic device exhibited extremely stable long-term potentiation/depression (LTP/LTD) characteristics; its dynamic range and nonlinearity reproduced near 100 and 3.

Artificial van der Waals hybrid synapse and its application to acoustic pattern recognition.

Brain-inspired parallel computing, which is typically performed using a hardware neural-network platform consisting of numerous artificial synapses, is a promising technology for effectively handling large amounts of informational data. However, the reported nonlinear and asymmetric conductance-update characteristics of artificial synapses prevent a hardware neural-network from delivering the same high-level training and inference accuracies as those delivered by a software neural-network. Here, we developed an artificial van-der-Waals hybrid synapse that features linear and symmetric conductance-update characteristics.

Negative differential transconductance device with a stepped gate dielectric for multi-valued logic circuits.

Multi-valued logic (MVL) technology is a promising approach for improving the data-handling capabilities and decreasing the power consumption of integrated circuits. This is especially attractive as conventional complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology is approaching its scaling and power density limits. Here, an ambipolar WSe field-effect transistor with two or more negative-differential-transconductance (NDT) regions in its transfer characteristic (NDTFET) is proposed for MVL applications of various radices.

The Gene-Silencing Protein MORC-1 Topologically Entraps DNA and Forms Multimeric Assemblies to Cause DNA Compaction.

Microrchidia (MORC) ATPases are critical for gene silencing and chromatin compaction in multiple eukaryotic systems, but the mechanisms by which MORC proteins act are poorly understood. Here, we apply a series of biochemical, single-molecule, and cell-based imaging approaches to better understand the function of the Caenorhabditis elegans MORC-1 protein. We find that MORC-1 binds to DNA in a length-dependent but sequence non-specific manner and compacts DNA by forming DNA loops.

Polarity control in a single transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) transistor for homogeneous complementary logic circuits.

Recently, there have been various attempts to demonstrate the feasibility of transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) transistors for digital logic circuits. A complementary inverter circuit, which is a basic building block of a logic circuit, was implemented in earlier works by heterogeneously integrating n- and p-channel transistors fabricated on different TMD materials. Subsequently, to simplify the circuit design and fabrication process, complementary inverters were constructed on single-TMD materials using ambipolar transistors.