Tunable Membrane Potential Reconstituted in Giant Vesicles Promotes Permeation of Cationic Peptides at Nanomolar Concentrations.

We investigate the influence of membrane potential on the permeation of cationic peptides. Therefore, we employ a microfluidic chip capable of capturing giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) in physical traps and fast exchange of chemical compounds. Control experiments with calcein proved that the vesicle membranes' integrity is not affected by the physical traps and applied shear forces.

A One Donor-Two Acceptor Lipid Bilayer FRET Assay Based on Asymmetrically Labeled Liposomes.

The fusion of two opposing membranes is essential in biological functions such as fertilization, viral entry, membrane trafficking and synaptic transmission. Before the membrane bilayers are fully connected, at some stage a hemifusion intermediate-when the outer leaflets are merged but not the inner leaflets-is formed. However, the position of hemifusion in the energy landscape and the duration of it vary and have not been fully mapped out.

Control of membrane gaps by synaptotagmin-Ca2+ measured with a novel membrane distance ruler.

Fast synchronous neurotransmitter release is triggered by calcium that activates synaptotagmin-1 (syt-1), resulting in fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane. Syt-1 possesses two Ca(2+)-binding C2 domains that tether membranes via interactions with anionic phospholipids. It is capable of crosslinking membranes and has recently been speculated to trigger fusion by decreasing the gap between them.

Cis- and trans-membrane interactions of synaptotagmin-1.

In neurotransmission synaptotagmin-1 tethers synaptic vesicles to the presynaptic plasma membrane by binding to acidic membrane lipids and SNAREs and promotes rapid SNARE-mediated fusion upon Ca(2+) triggering. However, recent studies suggested that upon membrane contact synaptotagmin may not only bind in trans to the target membrane but also in cis to its own membrane. Using a sensitive membrane tethering assay we have now dissected the structural requirements and concentration ranges for Ca(2+)-dependent and -independent cis-binding and trans-tethering in the presence and absence of acidic phospholipids and SNAREs.

Harvesting highly electronically excited energy to triplet manifolds: state-dependent intersystem crossing rate in Os(II) and Ag(I) complexes.

A series of newly synthesized Os(II) and Ag(I) complexes exhibit remarkable ratiometric changes of intensity for phosphorescence versus fluorescence that are excitation wavelength dependent. This phenomenon is in stark contrast to what is commonly observed in condensed phase photophysics. While the singlet to triplet intersystem crossing (ISC) for the titled complexes is anomalously slow, approaching several hundred picoseconds in the lowest electronic excited state (S(1) → T(1)), higher electronic excitation leads to a much accelerated rate of ISC (10(11)-10(12) s(-1)), which is competitive with internal conversion and/or vibrational relaxation, as commonly observed in heavy transition metal complexes.

Identification of Rickettsia felis in fleas but not ticks on stray cats and dogs and the evidence of Rickettsia rhipicephali only in adult stage of Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides.

Rickettsia spp. are zoonotic pathogens and mainly transmitted by various arthropod vectors, such as fleas, ticks, and lice. Previous epidemiological studies indicated that ectoparasites infested on dogs or cats may be infected by Rickettsia spp.

Systematic investigation of the metal-structure-photophysics relationship of emissive d10-complexes of group 11 elements: the prospect of application in organic light emitting devices.

A series of new emissive group 11 transition metal d(10)-complexes 1-8 bearing functionalized 2-pyridyl pyrrolide together with phosphine ancillary such as bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl] ether (POP) or PPh(3) are reported. The titled complexes are categorized into three classes, i.e.

Bartonella infection in shelter cats and dogs and their ectoparasites.

Mainly through vector transmission, domestic cats and dogs are infected by several Bartonella spp. and represent a large reservoir for human infections. This study investigated the relationship of prevalences of Bartonella infection in shelter dogs and cats and various ectoparasite species infesting them (fleas, ticks, and lice).

Effects of multibranching on 3-hydroxyflavone-based chromophores and the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer dynamics.

A series of one-, two-, and three-branched chromophores based on 3-hydroxyflavones (1-3) have been synthesized as the first example of multibranched chromophores demonstrating excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). Coupling between the 3-hydroxyflavone branches connected by an electron-donating triphenylamine core is manifested in the red-shifted and asymmetric absorption band of 2, whereas the absorption of 3 is governed by the divided donor strength. Their excited-state charge-transfer (ESCT)-coupled ESIPT dynamics is investigated via femtosecond fluorescence upconversion and is proved to be well correlated with the ratio of normal/tautomer emission in the fluorescence spectra.

Effects of using relaxation breathing training to reduce music performance anxiety in 3rd to 6th graders.

The current study examined the effects of applying relaxation breathing training (RBT) as a means to reduce music performance anxiety (MPA) in young, talented musicians. A group of 59 young musicians from 3rd to 6th grade participated in this study, and all of them started RBT twice a week for 2 months prior to the examination. Four tests--2 mos, 1 mos, half an hour and 5 min before the examination--were conducted to examine the level of MPA after the application of RBT.

Synthesis, photophysical and theoretical studies of luminescent silver(I)-copper(I) alkynyl-diphosphine complexes.

The novel heterometallic aggregates [Ag(8)Cu(2)(C(2)C(6)H(4)X)(6)(PPh(2)C(6)H(4)PPh(2))(6)][PF(6)](4) (X = H, 1; OMe, 2; NMe(2), 3) were prepared by the self-assembly reactions starting from simple precursors. These compounds consist of the central [Ag(6)Cu(2)(C(2)C(6)H(4)X)(6)](2+) clusters capped by two tripodal fragments [Ag(diphosphine)(3)](+). The solid state structures of complexes 1 and 3 have been determined by X-ray crystallographic studies, and NMR spectroscopy confirmed that the compounds remain intact in solution.

Small supernumerary marker chromosome originating from chromosome 10 associated with an apparently normal phenotype.

Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC) originating from chromosome 10 are rare. Only seven cases have been documented, and among those three cases were diagnosed prenatally. We reported on another prenatal diagnosis of a de novo mosaic sSMC in an apparently normal female fetus whose mother had conceived with assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures.

Dual fluorescent photochromic colorants bearing pyrano[3,2-c]chromen-5-one moiety.

In this study, the photochromic processes of 8-N,N-dimethylamino-2,2-dimethyl-2H-pyrano[3,2-c]chromen-5-one (1) and its derivatives (2, 3) are investigated with steady-state, temperature-dependent and time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy. The differences among compounds 1-3 lie in their various substituents anchored at the pyran moiety that is subject to the photoinduced ring-opening reaction. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibit salient photochromism with a very unique phenomenon, in which fluorescence is observed in 1 for both the ring-closed form (1-CF, lambda(max) approximately 445 nm) and the ring-open form (1-OF, lambda(max) approximately 650 nm in CH2Cl2).

Photogeneration and thermal generation of pentacene from soluble precursors for OTFT applications.

A CO adduct of pentacene with an unsymmetrical structure is synthesized; it is soluble and can be spin-coated into thin films. Pentacene is regenerated in near quantitative yield by either thermal or photoinduced elimination of CO. OTFT devices fabricated by this compound exhibit typical FET characteristics.