Wet Mechanochemical Synthesis of BH-Substituted Lithium Argyrodites.

In all-solid-state batteries, a solid electrolyte with high ionic conductivity is required for fast charging, uniform lithium deposition, and increased cathode capacity. Lithium argyrodite with BH substitution has promising potential due to its higher ionic conductivity compared to argyrodites substituted with halides. In this study, LiPS(BH), characterized by a high ionic conductivity of 13.

Detection of elusive DNA copy-number variations in hereditary disease and cancer through the use of noncoding and off-target sequencing reads.

Copy-number variants (CNVs) play a substantial role in the molecular pathogenesis of hereditary disease and cancer, as well as in normal human interindividual variation. However, they are still rather difficult to identify in mainstream sequencing projects, especially involving exome sequencing, because they often occur in DNA regions that are not targeted for analysis. To overcome this problem, we developed OFF-PEAK, a user-friendly CNV detection tool that builds on a denoising approach and the use of "off-target" DNA reads, which are usually discarded by sequencing pipelines.

The p.C759F Variant in USH2A Is a Pathogenic Mutation: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of 667 Genotypes.

Background: Although the p.C759F (c.2276G>T, p.

Borohydride and halide dual-substituted lithium argyrodites.

Solid electrolyte is a crucial component of all-solid-state batteries, with sulphide solid electrolytes such as lithium argyrodite being closest to commercialization due to their high ionic conductivity and formability. In this study, borohydride/halide dual-substituted argyrodite-type electrolytes, LiPS(BH)X (X = Cl, Br, I; + ≤ 1.8), have been synthesized using a two-step ball-milling method without post-annealing.

Novel Cu(II) complexes as DNA-destabilizing agents and their DNA nuclease activity.

Here, we report a series of four novel Cu complexes, namely 2-(piperidin-1-ylmethyl)quinoline copper(II) nitrate, [LCu(NO)] (), 4-(quinolin-2-ylmethyl)morpholine copper(II) nitrate, [LCu(NO)] (Cu2), 4-(quinolin-2-ylmethyl)morpholine copper(II) chloride, [LCuCl] (Cu3), and 2-(piperidin-1-ylmethyl)pyridine copper(II) chloride, [LCu(μ-Cl)Cl] (Cu4). X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the geometry around the Cu(II) center could be best described as distorted octahedral in Cu1 and Cu2, whereas Cu3 and Cu4 showed distorted tetrahedral and square pyramidal geometries, respectively. DNA binding studies showed that Cu complexes Cu1-3 containing quinoline interacted minor groove binding, whereas the Cu4 complex containing pyridine interacted intercalation.

Half-Bridge Silicon Strain Gauges with Arc-Shaped Piezoresistors.

Half-bridge silicon strain gauges are widely used in the fabrication of diaphragm-type high-pressure sensors, but in some applications, they suffer from low output sensitivity because of mounting position constraints. Through a special design and fabrication approach, a new half-bridge silicon strain gauge comprising one arc gauge responding to tangential strain and another linear gauge measuring radial strain was developed using Silicon-on-Glass (SiOG) substrate technology. The tangential gauge consists of grid patterns, such as the reciprocating arc of silicon piezoresistors on a thin glass substrate.

A Study on the O Plasma Etching Method of Spray-Formed SWCNT Films and Their Utilization as Electrodes for Electrochemical Sensors.

In this study, we analyzed the morphological changes and molecular structure changes on the surface of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films during oxygen plasma (O) etching of SWCNT surfaces formed by the spray method and analyzed their potential use as electrochemical electrodes. For this purpose, a SWCNT film was formed on the surface of a glass substrate using a self-made spray device using SWCNT powder prepared with DCB as a solvent, and SEM, AFM, and XPS analyses were performed as the SWCNT film was O plasma etched. SEM images and AFM measurements showed that the SWCNT film started etching after about 30 s under 50 W of O plasma irradiation and was completely etched after about 300 s.

Effectiveness and Safety of Acupotomy on Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Pragmatic, Pilot, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: In Korea, complex treatments such as acupotomy, acupuncture, and physical therapy are performed for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Although there are reports of acupotomy as monotherapy or acupuncture treatment for LSS, pragmatic studies are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy for LSS to provide baseline evidence for a large-scale study.

Reciprocating Arc Silicon Strain Gauges.

Currently, silicon-strain-gauge-based diaphragm pressure sensors use four single-gauge chips for high-output sensitivity. However, the four-single-gauge configuration increases the number of glass frit bonds and the number of aluminum wire bonds, reducing the long-term stability, reliability, and yield of the diaphragm pressure sensor. In this study, a new design of general-purpose silicon strain gauges was developed to improve the sensor output voltage while reducing the number of bonds.

A performance improvement of enzyme-based electrochemical lactate sensor fabricated by electroplating novel PdCu mediator on a laser induced graphene electrode.

A lactate sensor for lactate sensing using porous laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes with an electrodeposited PdCu catalyst was developed in this study. CO laser was used to convert the polyimide film surface to multilayered LIG. The morphology and composition of LIG were analyzed through field-emission scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, respectively, to confirm that the fabricated LIG electrode was composed of porous and stacked graphene layers.

Mutations in the ribosome biogenesis factor gene LTV1 are linked to LIPHAK syndrome, a novel poikiloderma-like disorder.

In the framework of the UK 100 000 Genomes Project, we investigated the genetic origin of a previously undescribed recessive dermatological condition, which we named LIPHAK (LTV1-associated Inflammatory Poikiloderma with Hair abnormalities and Acral Keratoses), in four affected individuals from two UK families of Pakistani and Indian origins, respectively. Our analysis showed that only one gene, LTV1, carried rare biallelic variants that were shared in all affected individuals, and specifically they bore the NM_032860.5:c.

Functionalization of Molybdenum Disulfide via Plasma Treatment and 3-Mercaptopropionic Acid for Gas Sensors.

Monolayer and multilayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS) materials are semiconductors with direct/indirect bandgaps of 1.2-1.8 eV and are attractive due to their changes in response to electrical, physicochemical, biological, and mechanical factors.

Enhancement of Withstand Voltage in Silicon Strain Gauges Using a Thin Alkali-Free Glass.

We present a cost-effective approach to produce silicon strain gauges that can withstand very high voltage without using any complex package design and without sacrificing any sensor performance. This is achieved by a special silicon strain gauge structure created on an alkali-free glass substrate that has a high breakdown voltage. A half-bridge silicon strain gauge is designed, fabricated, and then tested to measure its output characteristics.

Binding Properties of Various Cationic Porphyrins to DNA in the Molecular Crowding Condition Induced by Poly(ethylene glycol).

The binding modes of various cationic porphyrins to DNA in an aqueous solution and under the molecular crowding condition induced by poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were compared by normal absorption, circular dichroism (CD), and linear dichroism (LD) spectroscopy techniques. Large negative CD and LD signals in the Soret absorption regions of the - and -TMPyP [-tetrakis (--methylpyridiniumyl) porphyrin (, = 3) and (, = 4)] were apparent in the aqueous solution, indicating an intercalative-binding mode, while a positive CD spectrum and a less intense negative LD spectrum for the -TMPyP ( = 2)-complexed DNA suggested a major-groove-binding mode. These binding modes are retained under a molecular crowding condition, suggesting that the PEG cluster cannot access the TMPyPs that are intercalated between the DNA base pairs or that bind at the major groove.

Conformational change of a G-quadruplex under molecular crowding conditions.

This study examined the influence of the molecular crowding condition induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the G-quadruplex structure of the thrombin-binding aptamer sequence, 5'-GGGTTGGGTGTGGGTTGGG (G3), in a solution containing a sufficient concentration of mono cations (K and Na). Although the G3 sequence preferably formed the antiparallel type G-quadruplex structure in a Na solution, conversion to the parallel type occurred when PEG was added. The antiparallel type was maintained at low PEG concentrations.

Highly sensitive and selective mercury sensor based on mismatched base pairing with dioxT.

A highly selective and sensitive sensor for mercury was designed based on a new fluorescent nucleobase, dioxT. Its metal-sensing ability was investigated using mismatched dioxT-T and dioxT-C base pairing. The sensor exhibited a high sensitivity (quenching efficiency, 80%, 1 : 1 binding mode) and selectivity upon the addition of mercury ions.

A chloroplast-targeted pentatricopeptide repeat protein PPR287 is crucial for chloroplast function and Arabidopsis development.

Background: Even though the roles of pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins are essential in plant organelles, the function of many chloroplast-targeted PPR proteins remains unknown. Here, we characterized the function of a chloroplast-localized PPR protein (At3g59040), which is classified as the 287th PPR protein among the 450 PPR proteins in Arabidopsis ( http://ppr.plantenergy.

New Size-Expanded Fluorescent Thymine Analogue: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application.

Here, the synthesis, photophysical characterization, and application of a new size-expanded thymine nucleoside, T, is described. T has desirable qualities as a T surrogate, including excellent quantum yield (0.36) and high environmental sensitivity.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Popliteal Cysts with and without Cystectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes of the arthroscopic treatments for popliteal cysts with and without cystectomy.

Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, KoreaMed, and Cochrane Library were searched from the earliest available date of indexing through August 2016. The methodological quality of all articles was assessed according to the Coleman methodology score (CMS).

The overexpression of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) genes that encode the branched-chain amino acid transferase modulate flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The overexpression of CsBCATs promotes flowering in Arabidopsis by regulating the expression of flowering time genes. The branched-chain amino acid transferases (BCATs) play an important role in the metabolism of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), such as isoleucine, leucine, and valine. They function in both the synthesis and the degradation of this class of amino acids.

Approach to the Investigation of Nucleosome Structure by Using the Highly Emissive Nucleobase dG-tC FRET Pair.

A distance- and orientation-factor-dependent FRET system is a useful and attractive approach to the investigation of the conformational dynamics of nucleosomes. In this study, the application of the highly emissive nucleobase dG-tC FRET pair to 601 nucleosomes is reported. It was found that the dG-tC FRET pair was successfully incorporated to 145 bp 601 sequences, and different FRET efficiencies were obtained for the designated donor and acceptor positions in the nucleosome.