Strong coupling between WS monolayer excitons and a hybrid plasmon polariton at room temperature.

Light-matter interactions between plasmonic and excitonic modes have attracted considerable interest in recent years. A major challenge in achieving strong coupling is the identification of suitable metallic nanostructures that combine tight field confinement with sufficiently low losses. Here, we report on a room-temperature study on the interaction of tungsten disulfide (WS) monolayer excitons with a hybrid plasmon polariton (HPP) mode supported by nanogroove grating structures milled into single-crystalline silver flakes.

Species-specific circuitry of double cone photoreceptors in two avian retinas.

In most avian retinas, double cones (consisting of a principal and accessory member) outnumber other photoreceptor types and have been associated with various functions, such as encoding luminance, sensing polarized light, and magnetoreception. However, their down-stream circuitry is poorly understood, particularly across bird species. Analysing species differences is important to understand changes in circuitry driven by ecological adaptations.

Genetically encoded barcodes for correlative volume electron microscopy.

While genetically encoded reporters are common for fluorescence microscopy, equivalent multiplexable gene reporters for electron microscopy (EM) are still scarce. Here, by installing a variable number of fixation-stable metal-interacting moieties in the lumen of encapsulin nanocompartments of different sizes, we developed a suite of spherically symmetric and concentric barcodes (EMcapsulins) that are readable by standard EM techniques. Six classes of EMcapsulins could be automatically segmented and differentiated.

Retinal horizontal cells use different synaptic sites for global feedforward and local feedback signaling.

In the outer plexiform layer (OPL) of the mammalian retina, cone photoreceptors (cones) provide input to more than a dozen types of cone bipolar cells (CBCs). In the mouse, this transmission is modulated by a single horizontal cell (HC) type. HCs perform global signaling within their laterally coupled network but also provide local, cone-specific feedback.

Double Cones and the Diverse Connectivity of Photoreceptors and Bipolar Cells in an Avian Retina.

Double cones are the most common photoreceptor cell type in most avian retinas, but their precise functions remain a mystery. Among their suggested functions are luminance detection, polarized light detection, and light-dependent, radical pair-based magnetoreception. To better understand the function of double cones, it will be crucial to know how they are connected to the neural network in the avian retina.

FRET-based Tau seeding assay does not represent prion-like templated assembly of Tau filaments.

Tau aggregation into amyloid fibers based on the cross-beta structure is a hallmark of several Tauopathies, including Alzheimer Disease (AD). Trans-cellular propagation of Tau with pathological conformation has been suggested as a key disease mechanism. This is thought to cause the spreading of Tau pathology in AD by templated conversion of naive Tau in recipient cells into a pathological state, followed by assembly of pathological Tau fibers, similar to the mechanism of nucleated polymerization proposed for prion pathogenesis.

Extracellular Vesicle Isolation and Characterization from Periprosthetic Joint Synovial Fluid in Revision Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) comprise an as yet insufficiently investigated intercellular communication pathway in the field of revision total joint arthroplasty (RTJA). This study examined whether periprosthetic joint synovial fluid contains EVs, developed a protocol for their isolation and characterized them with respect to quantity, size, surface markers as well as documented their differences between aseptic implant failure (AIF) and periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). EV isolation was accomplished using ultracentrifugation, electron microscopy (EM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis evaluated EV presence as well as particle size and quantity.

Supramolecular aptamer nano-constructs for receptor-mediated targeting and light-triggered release of chemotherapeutics into cancer cells.

Platforms for targeted drug-delivery must simultaneously exhibit serum stability, efficient directed cell internalization, and triggered drug release. Here, using lipid-mediated self-assembly of aptamers, we combine multiple structural motifs into a single nanoconstruct that targets hepatocyte growth factor receptor (cMet). The nanocarrier consists of lipidated versions of a cMet-binding aptamer and a separate lipidated GC-rich DNA hairpin motif loaded with intercalated doxorubicin.

The SWI/SNF subunit Bcl7a contributes to motor coordination and Purkinje cell function.

Chromatin remodelers have emerged as prominent regulators of epigenetic processes and potential drivers of various human pathologies. The multi-subunit chromatin-remodeling SWI/SNF complex determines gene expression programs and, consequently, contributes to the differentiation, maturation and plasticity of neurons. Here, we investigate the elusive biological function of Bcl7a and Bcl7b, two newly identified subunits of the SWI/SNF complex that are highly expressed throughout the brain.

The release and trans-synaptic transmission of Tau via exosomes.

Background: Tau pathology in AD spreads in a hierarchical pattern, whereby it first appears in the entorhinal cortex, then spreads to the hippocampus and later to the surrounding areas. Based on this sequential appearance, AD can be classified into six stages ("Braak stages"). The mechanisms and agents underlying the progression of Tau pathology are a matter of debate.

Higher-order architecture of rhodopsin in intact photoreceptors and its implication for phototransduction kinetics.

The visual pigment rhodopsin belongs to the family of G protein-coupled receptors that can form higher oligomers. It is controversial whether rhodopsin forms oligomers and whether oligomers are functionally relevant. Here, we study rhodopsin organization in cryosections of dark-adapted mouse rod photoreceptors by cryoelectron tomography.

CRIS-a novel cAMP-binding protein controlling spermiogenesis and the development of flagellar bending.

The second messengers cAMP and cGMP activate their target proteins by binding to a conserved cyclic nucleotide-binding domain (CNBD). Here, we identify and characterize an entirely novel CNBD-containing protein called CRIS (cyclic nucleotide receptor involved in sperm function) that is unrelated to any of the other members of this protein family. CRIS is exclusively expressed in sperm precursor cells.

From isolated metaatoms to photonic metamaterials: evolution of the plasmonic near-field.

Metamaterials are artificial media which can provide optical properties not available from natural materials. These properties often result from the resonant excitation of plasmonic modes in the metallic building blocks ("metaatoms") of the metamaterial. Electromagnetic interactions between the metaatoms significantly modify the resonances of the individual metaatoms and influence the optical properties of the whole metamaterial.

Atomic vapor deposition approach to In2O3 thin films.

In2O3 thin films were grown by atomic vapor deposition (AVD) on Si(100) and glass substrates from a tris-guanidinate complex of indium [In(N(i)Pr2guanid)3] under an oxygen atmosphere. The effects of the growth temperature on the structure, morphology and composition of In2O3 films were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements revealed that In2O3 films deposited in the temperature range 450-700 degreesC crystallised in the cubic phase.

Interdigitating biocalcite dendrites form a 3-D jigsaw structure in brachiopod shells.

We report a newly discovered dense microstructure of dendrite-like biocalcite that is formed by marine organisms. High spatial resolution electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was carried out under specific analytical conditions (15 and 10 kV) on the primary layer of the modern brachiopod Gryphus vitreus. The primary layer of modern brachiopods, previously termed nanocrystalline, is formed by an array of concave/convex calcite grains with interdigitated recesses and protrusions of abutting crystals without any cavities in or between the dendrites.

Malonate complexes of dysprosium: synthesis, characterization and application for LI-MOCVD of dysprosium containing thin films.

A series of malonate complexes of dysprosium were synthesized as potential metalorganic precursors for Dy containing oxide thin films using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) related techniques. The steric bulkiness of the dialkylmalonato ligand employed was systematically varied and its influence on the resulting structural and physico-chemical properties that is relevant for MOCVD was studied. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the five homoleptic tris-malonato Dy complexes (1-5) are dimers with distorted square-face bicapped trigonal-prismatic geometry and a coordination number of eight.

Measurement of submicrometre diameters of tapered optical fibres using harmonic generation.

Applications of subwavelength-diameter optical fibres in nonlinear optics require precise knowledge of the submicrometre fibre waist diameter. We demonstrate a new technique for optical measurement of the diameter based on second- and third-harmonic generation with an accuracy of better than 2%. To generate the harmonic light, inter-modal phase matching must be achieved.

Using human neural crest-derived progenitor cells to investigate osteogenesis: an in vitro study.

Human tooth contains a distinct population of neural crest-derived progenitor cells (dNC-PCs) which are known to give rise to specialized daughter cells of an osteogenic lineage. We hypothesised that dNC-PCs could develop into neural crest-derived bone in a self-propagating and extracorporal culture system. Thus, we examined the three-dimensional structure obtained from osteogenic-stimulated dNC-PCs by morphological, biochemical and spectroscopic methods.

Synthesis of flexible, ultrathin gold nanowires in organic media.

Gold nanoparticles are very interesting because of their potential applications in microelectronics, optical devices, analytical detection schemes, and biomedicine. Though shape control has been achieved in several polar solvents, the capability to prepare organosols containing elongated gold nanoparticles has been very limited. In this work we report a novel, simplified method to produce long, thin gold nanowires in an organic solvent (oleylamine), which can be readily redispersed into nonpolar organic solvents.

The morphology of anisotropic 3D-printed hydroxyapatite scaffolds.

Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds with tailored pores ranging from the nanometer to millimeter scale can support the reconstruction of centimeter-sized osseous defects. Three-dimensional-printing processes permit the voxel-wise fabrication of scaffolds. The present study rests upon 3D-printing with nano-porous hydroxyapatite granulates.

Hydroxyapatite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering made by 3D printing.

Nowadays, there is a significant need for synthetic bone replacement materials used in bone tissue engineering (BTE). Rapid prototyping and especially 3D printing is a suitable technique to create custom implants based on medical data sets. 3D printing allows to fabricate scaffolds based on Hydroxyapatite with complex internal structures and high resolution.

Three-dimensional printing of porous ceramic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

This article reports a new process chain for custom-made three-dimensional (3D) porous ceramic scaffolds for bone replacement with fully interconnected channel network for the repair of osseous defects from trauma or disease. Rapid prototyping and especially 3D printing is well suited to generate complex-shaped porous ceramic matrices directly from powder materials. Anatomical information obtained from a patient can be used to design the implant for a target defect.