Interfacial charge-transfer transitions enable photovoltaic conversion with CO-fixation products.

We demonstrate that organic-inorganic interfacial charge-transfer transitions enable favourable photovoltaic conversion with CO-fixation products such as aromatic carboxylic acids, verifying a new possibility of CO-fixation products in the development of optoelectronic conversion materials.

The tyrosine kinase KDR is essential for the survival of HTLV-1-infected T cells by stabilizing the Tax oncoprotein.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection is linked to the development of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and the neuroinflammatory disease, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The HTLV-1 Tax oncoprotein regulates viral gene expression and persistently activates NF-κB to maintain the viability of HTLV-1-infected T cells. Here, we utilize a kinome-wide shRNA screen to identify the tyrosine kinase KDR as an essential survival factor of HTLV-1-transformed cells.

Thymocyte Development of Humanized Mice Is Promoted by Interactions with Human-Derived Antigen Presenting Cells upon Immunization.

Immune responses in humanized mice are generally inefficient without co-transplantation of human thymus or HLA transgenes. Previously, we generated humanized mice via the intra-bone marrow injection of CD133+ cord blood cells into irradiated adult immunodeficient mice (IBMI-huNSG mice), which could mount functional immune responses against HTLV-1, although the underlying mechanisms were still unknown. Here, we investigated thymocyte development in IBMI-huNSG mice, focusing on the roles of human and mouse MHC restriction.

Linkage Dependence of Interfacial Charge-Transfer Transitions in ZnO: Carboxylate versus Sulfur Linker.

Interfacial charge-transfer transitions (ICTTs) between organic compounds and inorganic semiconductors have recently attracted much attention due to the unique features of a wide range of visible light absorption with colorless organic molecules and direct interfacial charge separation for their potential applications in photoenergy conversions and chemical sensing. As the research on ICTT has almost been limited to titanium oxide semiconductors such as TiO, the exploration of ICTT in other inorganic semiconductors is a high-priority issue. Recently, we demonstrated that ICTT is strongly induced by chemisorption of aromatic thiols on ZnO nanoparticles via the sulfur atom.

Epigenomic regulation of human T-cell leukemia virus by chromatin-insulator CTCF.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus that causes an aggressive T-cell malignancy and a variety of inflammatory conditions. The integrated provirus includes a single binding site for the epigenomic insulator, CCCTC-binding protein (CTCF), but its function remains unclear. In the current study, a mutant virus was examined that eliminates the CTCF-binding site.

Specific substrates composed of collagen and fibronectin support the formation of epithelial cell sheets by MDCK cells lacking α-catenin or classical cadherins.

The effect of the extracellular matrix substrates on the formation of epithelial cell sheets was studied using MDCK cells in which the α-catenin gene was disrupted. Although the mutant cells did not form an epithelial cell sheet in conventional cell culture, the cells formed an epithelial cell sheet when they were cultured on or in a collagen gel; the same results were not observed when cells were cultured on collagen-coated cover glasses or culture dishes. Moreover, the cells cultured on the cell culture inserts coated with fibronectin, Matrigel, or vitronectin formed epithelial cell sheets, whereas the cells cultured on cover glasses coated with these proteins did not form the structure, implying that the physical and chemical features of the substrates exert a profound effect on the formation of epithelial cell sheets.

Immobilizing a π-Conjugated Catecholato Framework on Surfaces of SiO Insulator Films via a One-Atom Anchor of a Platinum Metal Center to Modulate Organic Transistor Performance.

Chemical modification of insulating material surfaces is an important methodology to improve the performance of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). However, few redox-active self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been constructed on gate insulator film surfaces, in contrast to the numerous SAMs formed on many types of conducting electrodes. In this study, we report a new approach to introduce a π-conjugated organic fragment in close proximity to an insulating material surface via a transition metal center acting as a one-atom anchor.

Interfacial charge-transfer transitions in ZnO induced exclusively by adsorption of aromatic thiols.

Interfacial charge-transfer transitions (ICTTs) between organic compounds and inorganic semiconductors have recently gained increasing interest as a new visible light absorption mechanism for optical biosensing via direct visualization, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and circular dichroism (CD) and also as a direct charge separation mechanism for photoenergy conversions such as photocatalytic reactions. So far, ICTTs have been observed with various organic compounds, while inorganic materials are almost limited to titanium oxides such as TiO2. Although SERS via ICTTs has been reported with several kinds of inorganic semiconductors, their ICTT bands have not been observed directly except for TiO2.

Photoinduced H-aggregation of cationic dyes on metal-oxide surfaces via light activated molecular migration.

Molecular transport by use of light energy is a new photofunction for light powered molecular carriers and light induced nano-structure formation on a substrate. However, this research field has not been cultivated yet. In order to understand the basic mechanism and potentialities, experimental observations of photoactivated molecular migration and its functions in various systems are required.

Induction of APOBEC3B cytidine deaminase in HTLV-1-infected humanized mice.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). Following viral infection with HTLV-1, certain infected cells exhibit clonal proliferation. Additional genetic and epigenetic changes in these clonally proliferating cells provide them with the selective advantage of growth, which eventually results in ATL.

Prevalence of and factors associated with dysfunctional low back pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with dysfunctional low back pain (LBP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1276 RA outpatients from two hospitals. The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire was used to address the functional-dysfunctional state criterion.

Visible-light circular dichroism of colourless chiral organic compounds enabled by interfacial charge-transfer transitions.

We report the visible-light circular dichroism (CD) of colourless organic compounds based on interfacial charge-transfer (ICT) transitions with TiO2 nanoparticles. We employed three kinds of colourless chiral compounds, l-ascorbic acid, d-ascorbic acid, and l-noradrenaline. These compounds showed a broad ICT band in the visible region between 400 and 600 nm upon their chemisorption on TiO2 nanoparticles.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 infects multiple lineage hematopoietic cells in vivo.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infects mainly CD4+CCR4+ effector/memory T cells in vivo. However, it remains unknown whether HTLV-1 preferentially infects these T cells or this virus converts infected precursor cells to specialized T cells. Expression of viral genes in vivo is critical to study viral replication and proliferation of infected cells.

Na /K -ATPase coupled to endothelin receptor type B stimulates peripheral nerve regeneration via lactate signalling.

We have recently demonstrated that endothelin (ET) is functionally coupled to Na , a Na concentration-sensitive Na channel for lactate release via ET receptor type B (ET R) and is involved in peripheral nerve regeneration in a sciatic nerve transection-regeneration mouse model. Na is known to interact directly with Na /K -ATPase, leading to lactate production in the brain. To investigate the role of Na /K -ATPase in peripheral nerve regeneration, in this study, we applied ouabain, a Na /K -ATPase inhibitor, to the cut site for 4 weeks with an osmotic pump.

Potential role of heme metabolism in the inducible expression of heme oxygenase-1.

Background: The degradation of heme significantly contributes to cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress and inflammation. The enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), involved in the degradation of heme, forms carbon monoxide (CO), ferrous iron, and bilirubin in conjunction with biliverdin reductase, and is induced by various stimuli including oxidative stress and heavy metals. We examined the involvement of heme metabolism in the induction of HO-1 by the inducers sulforaphane and sodium arsenite.

Achievement of over 1.4 V photovoltage in a dye-sensitized solar cell by the application of a silyl-anchor coumarin dye.

A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) fabricated by using a novel silyl-anchor coumarin dye with alkyl-chain substitutes, a Br/Br redox electrolyte solution containing water, and a Mg-doped anatase-TiO electrode with twofold surface modification by MgO and AlO exhibited an open-circuit photovoltage over 1.4 V, demonstrating the possibility of DSSCs as practical photovoltaic devices.

Interfacial charge-transfer transitions and reorganization energies in sulfur-bridged TiO2-x-benzenedithiol complexes (x: o, m, p).

Surface complexes formed between TiO2 nanoparticles and enediol compounds such as 1,2-benzenediol (o-BDO) via Ti-O-C linkages show absorption of visible light due to interfacial charge-transfer (ICT) transitions. The ICT transitions take place from the π-conjugated systems to TiO2. Recently, we reported a surface complex formed between TiO2 and 1,2-benzenedithiol (o-BDT) via Ti-S-C linkages.

A strategy to minimize the energy offset in carrier injection from excited dyes to inorganic semiconductors for efficient dye-sensitized solar energy conversion.

Photoinduced carrier injection from dyes to inorganic semiconductors is a crucial process in various dye-sensitized solar energy conversions such as photovoltaics and photocatalysis. It has been reported that an energy offset larger than 0.2-0.

Interfacial charge-transfer transitions in a TiO2-benzenedithiol complex with Ti-S-C linkages.

Interfacial charge-transfer (ICT) transitions between organic materials and inorganic semiconductors are a new mechanism for light absorption at organic-semiconductor interfaces. ICT transitions cause one-step interfacial charge separation without loss of energy. This feature is potentially useful to realize efficient organic-inorganic hybrid solar cells.