Calixazulenes: azulene-based calixarene analogues - an overview and recent supramolecular complexation studies.

Some of the least studied calixarenes are those that consist of azulene rings bridged by -CH- groups. Since Lash and Colby's discovery of a simple and convenient method for producing the parent all-hydrocarbon calix[4]azulene, there have been two other all-hydrocarbon calix[4]azulenes which have been synthesized in good yields by their method. This allowed studying their supramolecular properties.

Laminin α1 is a genetic modifier of TGF-β1-stimulated pulmonary fibrosis.

The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the pathologic fibrosis in diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are poorly understood. To identify genetic factors affecting susceptibility to IPF, we analyzed a murine genetic model of IPF in which a profibrotic cytokine (TGF-β1) was expressed in the lungs of 10 different inbred mouse strains. Surprisingly, the extent of TGF-β1-induced lung fibrosis was highly strain dependent.

Exfoliation and Characterization of V₂Se₉ Atomic Crystals.

Mass production of one-dimensional, V₂Se₉ crystals, was successfully synthesized using the solid-state reaction of vanadium and selenium. Through the mechanical exfoliation method, the bulk V₂Se₉ crystal was easily separated to nanoribbon structure and we have confirmed that as-grown V₂Se₉ crystals consist of innumerable single V₂Se₉ chains linked by van der Waals interaction. The exfoliated V₂Se₉ flakes can be controlled thickness by the repeated-peeling method.

Selectivity of Threefold Symmetry in Epitaxial Alignment of Liquid Crystal Molecules on Macroscale Single-Crystal Graphene.

Epitaxial alignment of organic liquid crystal (LC) molecules on single-crystal graphene (SCG), an effective epitaxial molecular assembly template, can be used in alignment-layer-free liquid crystal displays. However, selectivity among the threefold symmetric easy axes of LCs on graphene is not well understood, which limits its application. Here, sixfold symmetric radial LC domains are demonstrated by dropping an LC droplet on clean SCG, which reveals that the graphene surface does not have an intrinsic preferential direction.

Endothelial cell monolayer-based microfluidic systems mimicking complex in vivo microenvironments for the study of leukocyte dynamics in inflamed blood vessels.

In response to inflammatory signals, leukocytes circulating in blood vessels undergo dynamic interaction with endothelium lining blood vessel walls, known as leukocyte adhesion cascade, to leave the blood vessels, and infiltrate the inflamed tissue. During leukocyte extravasation, leukocytes recognize and respond to various biophysical and biochemical cues present in the complex microenvironments of inflamed blood vessels to find optimal pathways. Although advances in intravital imaging of live animals have enabled us to observe leukocyte dynamics during extravasation, in vitro model systems mimicking complex in vivo microenvironments are still needed for mechanistic studies.

Biomimetic, Flexible, and Self-Healable Printed Silver Electrode by Spontaneous Self-Layering Phenomenon of a Gelatin Scaffold.

Organic-inorganic hybrid layer-by-layer (LBL) composite structures can not only increase the strength and ductility of materials but also well disperse nanomaterials for better-conducting pathways. Here, we discovered the self-assembly process of an organic and silver (Ag) LBL hybrid structure having excellent sustainability during the long-term bending cycle. During the assembly process, the organic and Ag hybrid structure can be self-assembled into a layered structure.

Importance of Effective Surface Smoothness on the Electrical Performance of Organic Thin-Film Transistors.

We presented further analysis to explain how the surface morphology influence the mobility of the organic thin film transistors with gate insulator having large undulated surface (GU-OTFTs) and introduced a new parameter in order to clearly understand the relation between surface roughness and field-effect mobility. The average of the slope between two adjacent points on the surface of a gate insulator, or effective surface smoothness (ES), was closely investigated. A smooth-contact-pressing (SCP) process affected the surface smoothness of the P(VDF-TrFE) insulator with a significant change in root-mean-square roughness (Zrms).

Pharmacokinetics, Biodistribution, and Toxicity Evaluation of Anti-SEMA3A (F11) in Models.

Background/aim: The aim of our study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK), tissue distribution and toxicity of F11 antibody to semaphorin 3A in mouse models and explore its anti-angiogenic and tumor-inhibitory effect.

Materials And Methods: Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models were established via subcutaneous implantation of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells and treated with F11.

Results: F11 significantly attenuated tumor growth and angiogenesis in the GBM PDX model.

Interregional synaptic maps among engram cells underlie memory formation.

Memory resides in engram cells distributed across the brain. However, the site-specific substrate within these engram cells remains theoretical, even though it is generally accepted that synaptic plasticity encodes memories. We developed the dual-eGRASP (green fluorescent protein reconstitution across synaptic partners) technique to examine synapses between engram cells to identify the specific neuronal site for memory storage.

β-Adrenergic signaling is required for the induction of a labile state during memory reconsolidation.

Memory reconsolidation is the process by which previously consolidated memories reenter a labile state through reactivation of the memory trace and are actively consolidated through de novo protein synthesis. Although extensive studies have shown that β-adrenergic signaling plays a critical role in the restabilization of reactivated memory, its role in the destabilization of long-term memory is not well-studied. In this study, we found that membrane excitability increased in hippocampal CA1 neurons immediately after the retrieval of contextual fear memory.

Publisher Correction: CODA: Integrating multi-level context-oriented directed associations for analysis of drug effects.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.

Potential of serum soluble CD93 as a biomarker for asthma in an ovalbumin-induced asthma murine model.

Background: CD93 is a membrane-associated glycoprotein, which can be released in a soluble form (sCD93) into the serum. CD93 has received renewed attention as a candidate biomarker of inflammation in various inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases, including asthma.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effects of airway inflammation on CD93 levels in murine models.

Endothelial Cell Focal Adhesion Regulates Transendothelial Migration and Subendothelial Crawling of T Cells.

Leukocytes circulating in the blood stream leave out of blood vessels and infiltrate into inflamed tissues to perform immune responses. Endothelial cells (ECs) lining interior of the post-capillary venules regulate various steps of leukocyte extravasation. In response to inflammatory signals, ECs upregulate adhesion molecules and produce/present chemokines to support firm adhesion and intraluminal crawling of leukocytes.

Design of Magnetically Labeled Cells (Mag-Cells) for in Vivo Control of Stem Cell Migration and Differentiation.

Cell-based therapies are attractive for treating various degenerative disorders and cancer but delivering functional cells to the region of interest in vivo remains difficult. The problem is exacerbated in dense biological matrices such as solid tissues because these environments impose significant steric hindrances for cell movement. Here, we show that neural stem cells transfected with zinc-doped ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (ZnMNPs) can be pulled by an external magnet to migrate to the desired location in the brain.

Rapid Turnover of Cortical NCAM1 Regulates Synaptic Reorganization after Peripheral Nerve Injury.

Peripheral nerve injury can induce pathological conditions that lead to persistent sensitized nociception. Although there is evidence that plastic changes in the cortex contribute to this process, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, we find that activation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) induced by peripheral nerve injury increases the turnover of specific synaptic proteins in a persistent manner.

Author Correction: CODA: Integrating multi-level context-oriented directed associations for analysis of drug effects.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.

Anti-SEMA3A Antibody: A Novel Therapeutic Agent to Suppress Glioblastoma Tumor Growth.

Purpose: Glioblastoma (GBM) is classified as one of the most aggressive and lethal brain tumor. Great strides have been made in understanding the genomic and molecular underpinnings of GBM, which translated into development of new therapeutic approaches to combat such deadly disease. However, there are only few therapeutic agents that can effectively inhibit GBM invasion in a clinical framework.

Characterization of a Major Allergen from Mongolian Oak, Quercus mongolica, a Dominant Species of Oak in Korea.

Background: Oaks are the most common trees in Korean forests, and Mongolian oak, Quercus mongolica, is the dominant species. However, no allergen has been characterized from Mongolian oak. In this study, we tried to characterize a major allergen from Mongolian oak.

Turning behaviors of T cells climbing up ramp-like structures are regulated by myosin light chain kinase activity and lamellipodia formation.

T cells navigate diverse microenvironments to perform immune responses. Micro-scale topographical structures within the tissues, which may inherently exist in normal tissues or may be formed by inflammation or injury, can influence T cell migration, but how T cell migration is affected by such topographical structures have not been investigated. In this study, we fabricated ramp-like structures with a 5 μm height and various slopes, and observed T cells climbing up the ramp-like structures.

Inhibition of anterior cingulate cortex excitatory neuronal activity induces conditioned place preference in a mouse model of chronic inflammatory pain.

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is known for its role in perception of nociceptive signals and the associated emotional responses. Recent optogenetic studies, involving modulation of neuronal activity in the ACC, show that the ACC can modulate mechanical hyperalgesia. In the present study, we used optogenetic techniques to selectively modulate excitatory pyramidal neurons and inhibitory interneurons in the ACC in a model of chronic inflammatory pain to assess their motivational effect in the conditioned place preference (CPP) test.

One-Step Sub-micrometer-Scale Electrohydrodynamic Inkjet Three-Dimensional Printing Technique with Spontaneous Nanoscale Joule Heating.

A one-step sub-micrometer-scale electrohydrodynamic (EHD) inkjet three-dimensional (3D)-printing technique that is based on the drop-on-demand (DOD) operation for which an additional postsintering process is not required is proposed. Both the numerical simulation and the experimental observations proved that nanoscale Joule heating occurs at the interface between the charged silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) because of the high electrical contact resistance during the printing process; this is the reason why an additional postsintering process is not required. Sub-micrometer-scale 3D structures were printed with an above-35 aspect ratio via the use of the proposed printing technique; furthermore, it is evident that the designed 3D structures such as a bridge-like shape can be printed with the use of the proposed printing technique, allowing for the cost-effective fabrication of a 3D touch sensor and an ultrasensitive air flow-rate sensor.

CODA: Integrating multi-level context-oriented directed associations for analysis of drug effects.

In silico network-based methods have shown promising results in the field of drug development. Yet, most of networks used in the previous research have not included context information even though biological associations actually do appear in the specific contexts. Here, we reconstruct an anatomical context-specific network by assigning contexts to biological associations using protein expression data and scientific literature.

PKCα-mediated phosphorylation of LSD1 is required for presynaptic plasticity and hippocampal learning and memory.

Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) is a histone demethylase that participates in transcriptional repression or activation. Recent studies reported that LSD1 is involved in learning and memory. Although LSD1 phosphorylation by PKCα was implicated in circadian rhythmicity, the importance of LSD1 phosphorylation in learning and memory is unknown.

Spontaneous Peripheral Ameloblastic Odontoma in a Male Sprague-Dawley Rat.

Peripheral ameloblastic odontoma is a rare variant of odontogenic tumor occurring in the extraosseous region. The present report describes a spontaneous tumor in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The clinically confirmed nodule in the right mandibular region was first observed when the rat was 42 weeks and remained until the terminal sacrifice date when the animal was 48 weeks of age.