Structural elements of a pH-sensitive inhibitor binding site in NMDA receptors.

Context-dependent inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors has important therapeutic implications for the treatment of neurological diseases that are associated with altered neuronal firing and signaling. This is especially true in stroke, where the proton concentration in the afflicted area can increase by an order of magnitude. A class of allosteric inhibitors, the 93-series, shows greater potency against GluN1-GluN2B NMDA receptors in such low pH environments, allowing targeted therapy only within the ischemic region.

Damping Force and Loading Position Dependence of Mass Sensitivity of Magnetoelastic Biosensors in Viscous Liquid.

We established the vibration governing equation for a magnetoelastic (ME) biosensor with target loading in liquid. Based on the equation, a numerical simulation approach was used to determine the effect of the target loading position and viscous damping coefficient on the node ("blind points") and mass sensitivity () of an ME biosensor under different order resonances. The results indicate that viscous damping force causes the specific nodes shift but does not affect the overall variation trend of as the change of target loading position and the effect on Sm gradually reduces when the target approaches to the node.

Facile Activation of Commercial Carbon Felt as a Low-Cost Free-Standing Electrode for Flexible Supercapacitors.

High cost, low capacitance, and complicated synthesis process are still the key limitations for carbon-negative materials to meet their industrial production and application in high-energy-density asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs). In this work, we demonstrate the facile preparation of ultrahigh-surface-area free-standing carbon material from low-cost industrial carbon felt (CF) and its application for flexible supercapacitor electrode with outstanding performance. Through a simple freeze-drying-assisted activation method, the as-prepared activated CF (ACF) was endowed with satisfactory flexibility, ultrahigh specific surface area of 2109 m g, good electric conductivity (311 S m), and excellent wettability to aqueous electrolyte.

Microbial Transplantation With Human Gut Commensals Containing CutC Is Sufficient to Transmit Enhanced Platelet Reactivity and Thrombosis Potential.

Rationale: Gut microbes influence cardiovascular disease and thrombosis risks through the production of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). Microbiota-dependent generation of trimethylamine (TMA)-the precursor to TMAO-is rate limiting in the metaorganismal TMAO pathway in most humans and is catalyzed by several distinct microbial choline TMA-lyases, including the proteins encoded by the cutC/D (choline utilization C/D) genes in multiple human commensals.

Objective: Direct demonstration that the gut microbial cutC gene is sufficient to transmit enhanced platelet reactivity and thrombosis potential in a host via TMA/TMAO generation has not yet been reported.

Multidimensional Ternary Hybrids with Synergistically Enhanced Electrical Performance for Conductive Nanocomposites and Prosthetic Electronic Skin.

Graphene and silver nanowires (AgNWs) are ideal fillers for conductive polymer composites, but they tend to aggregate in the polymer matrix due to the lack of surface functional groups and large specific surface area, which is hard for the polymer composites filled with them to reach their full potential. Here, ternary hybrids with multidimensional architectures including 3D polystyrene (PS) microspheres, 2D reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheets, and 1D AgNWs are obtained using a simple, but effective, electrostatic attraction strategy. The electrical conductivity (136.

Rapid Mouse Follicle Stimulating Hormone Quantification and Estrus Cycle Analysis Using an Automated Microfluidic Chemiluminescent ELISA System.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) plays a critical role in female reproductive development and homeostasis. The blood/serum concentration of FSH is an important marker for reporting multiple endocrinal functions. The standardized method for mouse FSH (mFSH) quantification based on radioimmunoassay (RIA) suffers from long assay time (∼2 days), relatively low sensitivity, larger sample volume (60 μL), and small dynamic range (2-60 ng/mL); thus, it is insufficient for monitoring fast developing events with relatively small mFSH fluctuations (e.

Fabrication and Properties of Electrospun Magnetoelectric Graphene/Fe₃O₄/Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Short Nanofibers.

When used in tissue engineering, polymer nanofibers with magnetic and electrical functionality could promote the growth of tissues and cells by applying magnetic and electric stimulation. Short nanofibers with these properties, which have a high specific surface area and can be arranged through magnetic induction, have potential applications in the fields of materials and biomedical engineering. In this study, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanofibers with nano-Fe₃O₄ particles were subjected to electrostatic spinning to obtain superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄/PLGA nanofibers.

Toxicology and Pharmacology of an AAV Vector Expressing Codon-Optimized RPGR in RPGR-Deficient Rd9 Mice.

Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (AGTC) is developing a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector AGTC-501, also designated AAV2tYF-GRK1-RPGRco, to treat retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in patients with mutations in the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene. The vector contains a codon-optimized human RPGR cDNA (RPGRco) driven by a photoreceptor-specific promoter (G protein-coupled receptor kinase 1, GRK1) and is packaged in an AAV2 capsid with three surface tyrosine residues changed to phenylalanine (AAV2tYF). We conducted a safety and potency study of this vector administered by subretinal a injection in the naturally occurring RPGR-deficient Rd9 mouse model.

Adsorption Mechanism of Oil-in-Water on a TiO/AlO-Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Ultrafiltration Membrane.

For the sake of gaining a clear idea of the adsorption mechanism involved with an oil emulsion-membrane system, Daqing crude oil emulsion and two types of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltration membranes made in our laboratory were used as the objects to pursue the adsorption characteristics in this system. Several isotherm and kinetics models were used here to simulate the adsorption process; the effect of variables such as time, initial concentration, temperature, as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra were investigated to assist in understanding the mechanism. The results show that the Redlich-Peterson model and the pseudo-first-order kinetic model are the best fitting models, with all of the models exhibiting correlation coefficient ( R) values of >0.

Tbx20 Is Required in Mid-Gestation Cardiomyocytes and Plays a Central Role in Atrial Development.

Rationale: Mutations in the transcription factor TBX20 (T-box 20) are associated with congenital heart disease. Germline ablation of Tbx20 results in abnormal heart development and embryonic lethality by embryonic day 9.5.

Anticorrosive, Ultralight, and Flexible Carbon-Wrapped Metallic Nanowire Hybrid Sponges for Highly Efficient Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

Metal-based materials with exceptional intrinsic conductivity own excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance. However, high density, corrosion susceptibility, and poor flexibility of the metal severely restrict their further applications in the areas of aircraft/aerospace, portable and wearable smart electronics. Herein, a lightweight, flexible, and anticorrosive silver nanowire wrapped carbon hybrid sponge (Ag@C) is fabricated and employed as ultrahigh efficiency EMI shielding material.

Microstructural, Magnetic, and Optical Properties of Pr-Doped Perovskite Manganite LaCaMnO Nanoparticles Synthesized via Sol-Gel Process.

We report on microstructural, magnetic, and optical properties of Pr-doped perovskite manganite (LaPr)CaMnO (LPCMO, x = 0.0-0.5) nanoparticles synthesized via sol-gel process.

Binary Strengthening and Toughening of MXene/Cellulose Nanofiber Composite Paper with Nacre-Inspired Structure and Superior Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Properties.

With the growing popularity of electrical communication equipment, high-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials are widely used to deal with radiation pollution. However, the large thickness and poor mechanical properties of many EMI shielding materials usually limit their applications. In this study, ultrathin and highly flexible TiCT (d-TiCT , MXene)/cellulose nanofiber (CNF) composite paper with a nacre-like lamellar structure is fabricated via a vacuum-filtration-induced self-assembly process.

Aligning Solution-Derived Carbon Nanotube Film with Full Surface Coverage for High-Performance Electronics Applications.

The main challenge for application of solution-derived carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in high performance field-effect transistor (FET) is how to align CNTs into an array with high density and full surface coverage. A directional shrinking transfer method is developed to realize high density aligned array based on randomly orientated CNT network film. Through transferring a solution-derived CNT network film onto a stretched retractable film followed by a shrinking process, alignment degree and density of CNT film increase with the shrinking multiple.

Tough and Conductive Hybrid Hydrogels Enabling Facile Patterning.

Conductive polymer hydrogels (CPHs) that combine the unique properties of hydrogels and electronic properties of conductors have shown their great potentials in wearable/implantable electronic devices, where materials with remarkable mechanical properties, high conductivity, and easy processability are demanding. Here, we have developed a new type of polyion complex/polyaniline (PIC/PAni) hybrid hydrogels that are tough, conductive, and can be facilely patterned. The incorporation of conductive phase (PAni) into PIC matrix through phytic acid resulted in hybrid gels with ∼65 wt % water; high conductivity while maintaining the key viscoelasticity of the tough matrix.

High-Performance Microsupercapacitors Based on Bioinspired Graphene Microfibers.

The miniaturization of portable electronic devices has fueled the development of microsupercapacitors that hold great potential to complement or even replace microbatteries and electrolytic capacitors. In spite of recent developments taking advantage of printing and lithography, it remains a great challenge to attain a high energy density without sacrificing the power density. Herein, a new protocol mimicking the spider's spinning process is developed to create highly oriented microfibers from graphene-based composites via a purpose-designed microfluidic chip.

Susceptibility to Hypertensive Renal Disease in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat Is Influenced by 2 Loci Affecting Blood Pressure and Immunoglobulin Repertoire.

High blood pressure exerts its deleterious effects on health largely through acceleration of end-organ diseases. Among these, progressive loss of renal function is particularly important, not only for the direct consequences of kidney damage but also because loss of renal function is associated with amplification of other adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Genetic susceptibility to hypertension and associated end-organ disease is non-Mendelian in both humans and in a rodent model, the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR).

Ni Nanobuffer Layer Provides Light-Weight CNT/Cu Fibers with Superior Robustness, Conductivity, and Ampacity.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber has not shown its advantage as next-generation light-weight conductor due to the large contact resistance between CNTs, as reflected by its low conductivity and ampacity. Coating CNT fiber with a metal layer like Cu has become an effective solution to this problem. However, the weak CNT-Cu interfacial bonding significantly limits the mechanical and electrical performances.

Novel in-frame deletions result in aberrant RNA splicing in CLL patients.

We identify and characterize novel in-frame deletions in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.These deletions are functionally similar to well-known hotspot mutations and are sensitive to splicing modulation.

Facile synthesis of hierarchical N-doped hollow porous carbon whiskers with ultrahigh surface area via synergistic inner-outer activation for casein hydrolysate adsorption.

N-doped hollow porous carbon materials have attracted significant scientific interest in the field of peptide adsorption, drug delivery and catalysis. However, their facile synthesis is still a challenge due to the lack of an ideal template and effective route for high specific surface area (SSA). In this work, we report a facile approach for preparing N-doped hollow porous carbon whiskers (HPCWs) by using CaCO whiskers as a green template and double inner-activating agent.

Simultaneously improving the mechanical and electrical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) composites by high-quality graphitic nanoribbons.

Although carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown great potential for enhancing the performance of polymer matrices, their reinforcement role still needs to be further improved. Here we implement a structural modification of multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) to fully utilize their fascinating mechanical and electrical properties via longitudinal splitting of MWCNTs into graphitic nanoribbons (GNRs). This nanofiller design strategy is advantageous for surface functionalization, strong interface adhesion as well as boosting the interfacial contact area without losing the intrinsic graphitic structure.

The pristine graphene produced by liquid exfoliation of graphite in mixed solvent and its application to determination of dopamine.

The pristine graphene can be easily prepared in isopropanol-water mixture with salts as assistant via liquid-phase exfoliation method. The concentration of graphene dispersion reaches as high as 0.565 mg/mL.

[Prospective study of ketogenic diet in treatment of children with global developmental delay].

Objective: To study the effect of ketogenic diet (KD) on neurobehavioral development, emotional and social behaviors, and life ability in children with global developmental delay (GDD).

Methods: A prospective case-control study was performed for hospitalized children with GDD, who were randomly divided into KD treatment group (n=40) and conventional treatment group (n=37). The children in both groups were given comprehensive rehabilitation training, and those in the KD treatment group were given modified Atkins diet in addition to the comprehensive rehabilitation training.

CCND2 Overexpression Enhances the Regenerative Potency of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes: Remuscularization of Injured Ventricle.

Rationale: The effectiveness of transplanted, human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) for treatment of ischemic myocardial injury is limited by the exceptionally low engraftment rate.

Objective: To determine whether overexpression of the cell cycle activator CCND2 (cyclin D2) in hiPSC-CMs can increase the graft size and improve myocardial recovery in a mouse model of myocardial infarction by increasing the proliferation of grafted cells.

Methods And Results: Human CCND2 was delivered to hiPSCs via lentiviral-mediated gene transfection.