In Situ Formation of Free-Standing Single-Atom-Thick Antiferromagnetic Chromium Membranes.

Compared to van der Waals two-dimensional (2D) layers with lateral covalent bonds, metallic bonding systems favor close-packed structures, and thus, free-standing 2D metals have remained, for the most part, elusive. However, a number of theoretical studies suggest a number of metals can exist as 2D materials and a few early experiments support this notion. Here we demonstrate free-standing single-atom-thick crystalline chromium (Cr) suspended membranes using aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy and image simulations.

Ripk3 licenced protection against microbial infection in the absence of Caspase1-11 inflammasome.

Receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (Ripk3) is a signal relay protein involved in initiation of programmed cell death (necroptosis) and modulation of inflammasome activation. While caspase 1 and 11 are pro-inflammatory caspases responsible for unleashing inflammation and cell death by enzymatic activation of the executioners of inflammation and cell death (pyroptosis). Upon Salmonella infection, the host mounts a pro-inflammatory response which require Ripk3 and Caspase1/11.

Culling of APCs by inflammatory cell death pathways restricts TIM3 and PD-1 expression and promotes the survival of primed CD8 T cells.

We evaluated the impact of premature cell death of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) by Caspase-1- and RipK3-signaling pathways on CD8 T-cell priming during infection of mice with Salmonella typhimurium (ST). Our results indicate that Caspase1 and RipK3 synergize to rapidly eliminate infected APCs, which does not influence the initial activation of CD8 T cells. However, the maintenance of primed CD8 T cells was greatly compromised when both these pathways were disabled.

The Heterogeneity of Ly6C Monocytes Controls Their Differentiation into iNOS Macrophages or Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells.

Inflammation triggers the differentiation of Ly6C monocytes into microbicidal macrophages or monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs). Yet, it is unclear whether environmental inflammatory cues control the polarization of monocytes toward each of these fates or whether specialized monocyte progenitor subsets exist before inflammation. Here, we have shown that naive monocytes are phenotypically heterogeneous and contain an NR4A1- and Flt3L-independent, CCR2-dependent, Flt3CD11cMHCIIPU.

Boron-Filled Hybrid Carbon Nanotubes.

A unique nanoheterostructure, a boron-filled hybrid carbon nanotube (BHCNT), has been synthesized using a one-step chemical vapor deposition process. The BHCNTs can be considered to be a novel form of boron carbide consisting of boron doped, distorted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) encapsulating boron nanowires. These MWCNTs were found to be insulating in spite of their graphitic layered outer structures.

Dependence of Raman Spectral Intensity on Crystal Size in Organic Nano Energetics.

Raman spectra for various nitramine energetic compounds were investigated as a function of crystal size at the nanoscale regime. In the case of 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20), there was a linear relationship between intensity of Raman spectra and crystal size. Notably, the Raman modes between 120 cm(-1) and 220 cm(-1) were especially affected, and at the smallest crystal size, were completely eliminated.

Transcription factor Batf3 is important for development of CD8+ T-cell response against a phagosomal bacterium regardless of the location of antigen.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (ST) is a virulent intracellular bacterium that conceals itself in the phagosomes of infected cells. Although CD8(+) T cells promote protection against various intracellular pathogens, the role of CD8(+) T cells against virulent ST has been unclear due to early fatality of susceptible (B6) mice. Herein, we generated MHC I-deficient mice on the resistant (129SvJ) and susceptible (Nramp1 transgenic B6) background to evaluate the role of CD8(+) T cells against virulent ST.

Radiation oncology: physics advances that minimize morbidity.

Radiation therapy has become an ever more successful treatment for many cancer patients. This is due in large part from advances in physics including the expanded use of imaging protocols combined with ever more precise therapy devices such as linear and particle beam accelerators, all contributing to treatments with far fewer side effects. This paper will review current state-of-the-art physics maneuvers that minimize morbidity, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy, volummetric arc therapy, image-guided radiation, radiosurgery and particle beam treatment.

Future radiation therapy: photons, protons and particles.

Radiation therapy plays a critical role in the current management of cancer patients. The most common linear accelerator-based treatment device delivers photons of radiation. In an ever more precise fashion, state-of-the-art technology has recently allowed for both modulation of the radiation beam and imaging for this treatment delivery.

Impaired natural killer cell self-education and "missing-self" responses in Ly49-deficient mice.

Ly49-mediated recognition of MHC-I molecules on host cells is considered vital for natural killer (NK)-cell regulation and education; however, gene-deficient animal models are lacking because of the difficulty in deleting this large multigene family. Here, we describe NK gene complex knockdown (NKC(KD)) mice that lack expression of Ly49 and related MHC-I receptors on most NK cells. NKC(KD) NK cells exhibit defective killing of MHC-I-deficient, but otherwise normal, target cells, resulting in defective rejection by NKC(KD) mice of transplants from various types of MHC-I-deficient mice.

Tumorigenic adenovirus 12 cells evade NK cell lysis by reducing the expression of NKG2D ligands.

Activation of natural killer (NK) cells depends on a balance between signals received from activation and inhibitory ligands expressed on the surface of target cells. Tumorigenic human adenovirus 12 (Ad12) transformed cells express low levels of the NK cell inhibitory ligand MHC I, but do not exhibit increased sensitivity to NK cell lysis compared to their non-tumorigenic counterparts. Analysis of the expression of activation ligands that bind to the NKG2D receptor revealed that RAE1β and H60 were reduced on the surface of Ad12 mouse cells as well as at the level of transcription.

Effect of Ly49 haplotype variance on NK cell function and education.

The class I MHC-specific receptors expressed by murine NK cells exhibit remarkable variation. Specific activating killer Ig-related receptor/Ly49 have major effects on autoimmune and infectious disease induction and outcome in humans and mice. However, these studies are greatly affected by individual background genetics.