Endogenous FGFs drive ERK-dependent cell fate patterning in 2D human gastruloids.

The role of FGF is the least understood of the morphogens driving mammalian gastrulation. Here we investigated the function of FGF in a stem cell model for human gastrulation known as a 2D gastruloid. We found a ring of FGF-dependent ERK activity that closely follows the emergence of primitive streak (PS)-like cells but expands further inward.

Extended culture of 2D gastruloids to model human mesoderm development.

Micropatterned human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) treated with BMP4 (2D gastruloids) are among the most widely used stem cell models for human gastrulation. Due to its simplicity and reproducibility, this system is ideal for high throughput quantitative studies of tissue patterning and has led to many insights into the mechanisms of mammalian gastrulation. However, 2D gastruloids have only been studied up to 48h.

The time integral of BMP signaling determines fate in a stem cell model for early human development.

How paracrine signals are interpreted to yield multiple cell fate decisions in a dynamic context during human development and remains poorly understood. Here we report an automated tracking method to follow signaling histories linked to cell fate in large numbers of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Using an unbiased statistical approach, we discovered that measured BMP signaling history correlates strongly with fate in individual cells.

Optimization and Effect of Water Hardness for the Production of Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water on Sanitization Efficacy.

Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) has been recently proposed as a novel promising sanitizer and cleaner in the agricultural and food industries. However, several factors, including water hardness, were considered to strongly affect the physical properties and sanitization efficacy of SAEW. To study the effect of water hardness on the SAEW production, we evaluated the production properties and sanitization effect of SAEW, which was generated from water sources in 16 representatively geographical locations of South Korea.

Development of Nanosensors Based Intelligent Packaging Systems: Food Quality and Medicine.

The issue of medication noncompliance has resulted in major risks to public safety and financial loss. The new omnipresent medicine enabled by the Internet of things offers fascinating new possibilities. Additionally, an in-home healthcare station (IHHS), it is necessary to meet the rapidly increasing need for routine nursing and on-site diagnosis and prognosis.

Challenges and opportunities in setting up a phase III vaccine clinical trial in resource limited settings: Experience from Nepal.

Clinical trials are complicated, time-consuming and costly. From the initial screening, informed consent and recruitment of the participants' to study completion, the sponsor must undertake a wide array of complex and closely monitored operations, complying with international standards for human subject research and local requirements. Conducting these studies in an underdeveloped country, with limited resources, infrastructure, and experience with regulated clinical trials adds to this complexity.

Effects of Al-Si Coating and Zn Coating on the Hydrogen Uptake and Embrittlement of Ultra-High Strength Press-Hardened Steel.

Press-hardened steel (PHS), used for automotive safety-related structure parts, is sensitive to hydrogen embrittlement due to its martensitic microstructure. Hydrogen is introduced in PHS during the hot press forming (HPF) process, by an atmospheric corrosion process. In this study, the hydrogen embrittlement behavior of uncoated, aluminized, and galvanized PHSs was investigated.

Poc1B and Sas-6 Function Together during the Atypical Centriole Formation in .

Insects and mammals have atypical centrioles in their sperm. However, it is unclear how these atypical centrioles form. sperm has one typical centriole called the giant centriole (GC) and one atypical centriole called the proximal centriole-like structure (PCL).

Author Correction: A novel atypical sperm centriole is functional during human fertilization.

In the original version of this Article, the affiliation details for Jadranka Loncarek and Vito Mennella were incorrectly given as 'Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada' and 'Laboratory of Protein Dynamics and Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 1050 Boyles Street, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA', respectively. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.

A novel atypical sperm centriole is functional during human fertilization.

The inheritance of the centrosome during human fertilization remains mysterious. Here we show that the sperm centrosome contains, in addition to the known typical barrel-shaped centriole (the proximal centriole, PC), a surrounding matrix (pericentriolar material, PCM), and an atypical centriole (distal centriole, DC) composed of splayed microtubules surrounding previously undescribed rods of centriole luminal proteins. The sperm centrosome is remodeled by both reduction and enrichment of specific proteins and the formation of these rods during spermatogenesis.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Scab of Japanese Apricot in Korea.

Scabs caused by greatly reduce the quality of the fruits of the Japanese apricot () when the disease is not properly managed. The disease produces a superficial blemish that is unlikely to affect the overall yield of processed fruit, but reduce the value of fruit intended for the fresh market. Incidence rates of scab at sprayed and unsprayed orchards range from 0% to 21.

Centriole Remodeling during Spermiogenesis in Drosophila.

The first cell of an animal (zygote) requires centrosomes that are assembled from paternally inherited centrioles and maternally inherited pericentriolar material (PCM) [1]. In some animals, sperm centrioles with typical ultrastructure are the origin of the first centrosomes in the zygote [2-4]. In other animals, however, sperm centrioles lose their proteins and are thought to be degenerated and non-functional during spermiogenesis [5, 6].

Standard addition/absorption detection microfluidic system for salt error-free nitrite determination.

A continuous-flow microfluidic chip-based standard addition/absorption detection system has been developed for accurate determination of nitrite in water of varying salinity. The absorption detection of nitrite is made via color development using the Griess reaction. We have found the yield of the reaction is significantly affected by salinity (e.

Atypical centrioles during sexual reproduction.

Centrioles are conserved, self-replicating, microtubule-based, 9-fold symmetric subcellular organelles that are essential for proper cell division and function. Most cells have two centrioles and maintaining this number of centrioles is important for animal development and physiology. However, how animals gain their first two centrioles during reproduction is only partially understood.

Polypyrrole/Agarose-based electronically conductive and reversibly restorable hydrogel.

Conductive hydrogels are a class of composite materials that consist of hydrated and conducting polymers. Due to the mechanical similarity to biointerfaces such as human skin, conductive hydrogels have been primarily utilized as bioelectrodes, specifically neuroprosthetic electrodes, in an attempt to replace metallic electrodes by enhancing the mechanical properties and long-term stability of the electrodes within living organisms. Here, we report a conductive, smart hydrogel, which is thermoplastic and self-healing owing to its unique properties of reversible liquefaction and gelation in response to thermal stimuli.

Novel GALT variations and mutation spectrum in the Korean population with decreased galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase activity.

Background: Classic galactosemia (OMIM #230400) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency of the galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT, EC2.7.7.

N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed domino cyclization of propargylic alcohols and benzoyl isocyanates.

N-Hetereocyclic carbenes (NHCs) were found to be efficient catalysts for the cyclization of propargylic alcohols and isocyanates. Domino cyclization reactions were carried out using isopropyl-substituted imidazolium salt as a precatalyst, and a wide range of substituted oxazolidinones were obtained in high yields.