Modeling the Cooperative Adsorption of Solid-Binding Proteins on Silica: Molecular Insights from Surface Plasmon Resonance Measurements.

Combinatorially selected solid-binding peptides (SBPs) provide a versatile route for synthesizing advanced materials and devices, especially when they are installed within structurally or functionally useful protein scaffolds. However, their promise has not been fully realized because we lack a predictive understanding of SBP-material interactions. Thermodynamic and kinetic binding parameters obtained by fitting quartz crystal microbalance and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) data with the Langmuir model whose assumptions are rarely satisfied provide limited information on underpinning molecular interactions.

SyLMAND: a microfabrication beamline with wide spectral and beam power tuning range at the Canadian Light Source.

SyLMAND, the Synchrotron Laboratory for Micro and Nano Devices, is a recently commissioned microfabrication bend magnet beamline with ancillary cleanroom facilities at the Canadian Light Source. The synchrotron radiation is applied to pattern high-aspect-ratio polymer microstructures used in the area of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). SyLMAND particularly focuses on spectral and beam power adjustability and large exposable area formats in an inert gas atmosphere; a rotating-disk intensity chopper allows for independent beam-power reduction, while continuous spectral tuning between 1-2 keV and >15 keV photon energies is achieved using a double-mirror system and low-atomic-number filters.

Antinociceptive effect of flavonol and a few structurally related dimethoxy flavonols in mice.

Previous reports suggest flavonoids as potent analgesic compounds. Based on these observations, the present study investigated the antinociceptive action of flavonol, 3', 4'-dimethoxy flavonol, 6, 3'-dimethoxy flavonol, 7, 2'-dimethoxy flavonol, and 7, 3'-dimethoxy flavonol and the possible mechanisms involved in these effects. The antinociceptive effect of the investigated compounds in doses of 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg was evaluated in male Swiss albino mice using the acetic acid test, formalin-induced nociception, and hot water tail immersion test.

Persistent DNA-break potential near telomeres increases initiation of meiotic recombination on short chromosomes.

Faithful meiotic chromosome inheritance and fertility rely on the stimulation of meiotic crossover recombination by potentially genotoxic DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). To avoid excessive damage, feedback mechanisms down-regulate DSBs, likely in response to initiation of crossover repair. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, this regulation requires the removal of the conserved DSB-promoting protein Hop1/HORMAD during chromosome synapsis.

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) antisense oligonucleotide protected against hyperlipidemia-associated atherosclerosis.

Background And Aims: Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a representative EGF family member that interacts with EGFR under diverse stress environment. Previously, we reported that the HB-EGF-targeting using antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) effectively suppressed an aortic aneurysm in the vessel wall and circulatory lipid levels. In this study, we further examined the effects of the HB-EGF ASO administration on the development of hyperlipidemia-associated atherosclerosis using an atherogenic mouse model.

Optimal-Transport Analysis of Single-Cell Gene Expression Identifies Developmental Trajectories in Reprogramming.

Understanding the molecular programs that guide differentiation during development is a major challenge. Here, we introduce Waddington-OT, an approach for studying developmental time courses to infer ancestor-descendant fates and model the regulatory programs that underlie them. We apply the method to reconstruct the landscape of reprogramming from 315,000 single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) profiles, collected at half-day intervals across 18 days.

The catalytic activity and secretion of zebrafish RNases are essential for their in vivo function in motor neurons and vasculature.

Angiogenin (hANG), a member of the Ribonuclease A superfamily has angiogenic, neurotrophic and neuroprotective activities. Mutations in hANG have been found in patients with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The zebrafish (Danio rerio) rnasel-1, 2 and 3 are orthologues of hANG and of these only Rnasel-1 and Rnasel-2 have been shown to be angiogenic.

Using Passive Smartphone Sensing for Improved Risk Stratification of Patients With Depression and Diabetes: Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Background: Research studies are establishing the use of smartphone sensing to measure mental well-being. Smartphone sensor information captures behavioral patterns, and its analysis helps reveal well-being changes. Depression in diabetes goes highly underdiagnosed and underreported.

Principles of Moisturizer Product Design.

Moisturizers provide significant benefit in dermatology – as adjuvant therapy for many clinical conditions, as a key player in anti-aging regimens, and as a core component in maintaining healthy skin barrier function. Although they have been a mainstay for decades, lotions and creams are no longer formulated with a one-size-fits-all approach, where thickness was the primary cue for efficacy. In fact, moisturizer design today has become an art as well as a science.

Theoretical Insights into the Role of Water Molecules in the Guanidinium-Based Protein Denaturation Process in Specific to Aromatic Amino Acids.

Noncovalent interactions between the guanidinium cation (Gdm) and aromatic amino acids (AAs) in the water molecules have been studied using quantum chemical calculation and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our studies show that there are two different modes of interactions between Gdm and AAs with and without water molecules. It is observed that nonhydrated Gdm interacts with AAs through N-H···π interactions, whereas hydrated clusters of Gdm are stabilized by stacking interactions with the help of the water-mediated hydrogen bond.

Destabilization of amyloid fibrils on interaction with MoS-based nanomaterials.

The present work is motivated by the established concept that the structure and energetics of biomacromolecules can be modulated by confining their dimensions in the nanoscale. In particular, here we use force-field methods to understand the stability of amyloid fibrils at nanostructured interfaces, which can be useful for the development of new therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease. We explore the binding modes and structural properties of fibrils at the interface of molybdenum disulphide nanotubes and the nanosurface using classical molecular dynamics simulations.

MicroRNA-103a regulates sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter-1 expression in intestinal epithelial cells.

Intestinal absorption of ascorbic acid (AA) occurs via a Na-dependent carrier-mediated process facilitated through the human sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters-1 &-2 (hSVCT1 and hSVCT2). Many studies have shown that hSVCT1 (product of the SLC23A1 gene) is expressed on the apical membrane of polarized enterocytes where it mediates AA absorption. hSVCT1 expression levels are therefore an important determinant of physiological vitamin C homeostasis.

Persistent reduction of mitral regurgitation by implantation of a transannular mitral bridge: durability and effectiveness of the repair at 2 years-results of a prospective trial†.

Objectives: Ring annuloplasty reduces the septal-lateral diameter (SLD) indirectly by circumferential annular cinching and frequently results in the recurrence of mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with functional MR (FMR). Our goal was to report the results from the trial and the 2-year post-trial surveillance data. We evaluated whether direct reduction of the SLD with a transannular mitral bridge could achieve significant and durable MR reduction in patients with FMR.

Decreasing Risk of First and Subsequent Surgeries in Patients With Crohn's Disease in England From 1994 through 2013.

Background & Aims: Gastrointestinal (GI) surgery is an important part of the treatment algorithm for patients with Crohn's disease (CD) that is complicated or does not respond to medical therapy. Cohort studies from Denmark and Canada have shown that the risk of primary surgery is decreasing but there is a lack of contemporary data on subsequent resections. We examined trends in first and second GI resections in patients with CD.

BASELINE EVALUATION STUDY OF NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIONUCLIDES IN SOIL SAMPLES FROM VICINITY OF INDIA'S FIRST FAST REACTOR FUEL CYCLE FACILITY (FRFCF), DAE COMPLEX, KALPAKKAM, INDIA.

The activity concentration of 238U, 232Th and 40K were measured in the soil samples collected from Fast Reactor Fuel Cycle Facility (FRFCF) site, using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. This study is aimed to establish the baseline data of naturally occurring radionuclides within the site. The average activity concentrations were found to be 416.

A multimodal (FACILE) classification for optical diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease associated neoplasia.

Background: Characterization of colonic lesions in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains challenging. We developed an endoscopic classification of visual characteristics to identify colitis-associated neoplasia using multimodal advanced endoscopic imaging (Frankfurt Advanced Chromoendoscopic IBD LEsions [FACILE] classification).

Methods: The study was conducted in three phases: 1) development - an expert panel defined endoscopic signs and predictors of dysplasia in IBD and, using multivariable logistic regression created the FACILE classification; 2) validation - using 60 IBD lesions from an image library, two assessments of diagnostic accuracy for neoplasia were performed and interobserver agreement between experts using FACILE was determined; 3) reproducibility - the reproducibility of the FACILE classification was tested in gastroenterologists, trainees, and junior doctors after completion of a training module.

Appearance of SERS activity in single silver nanoparticles by laser-induced reshaping.

We report simultaneous plasmonic scattering and Raman spectroscopic observations of single citrate capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) which exhibit surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) upon meeting specific conditions induced by laser (532 nm) exposure. We show that nanoparticles which are not initially SERS active become SERS active by laser-induced reshaping/reorientation. A set-up developed for these observations enabled in situ high speed time-lapse characterization using plasmonic and Raman spectroscopies in conjunction with dark-field microscopy (DFM).

Excited state C-N bond dissociation and cyclization of tri-aryl amine-based OLED materials: a theoretical investigation.

Tri-aryl amines (TAA) such as triphenylamine (TPA) are widely used for designing chromophores for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) and organic light-emitting diodes (OLED). These materials degrade over time and hence result in reduced performance. Therefore, exploring the associated mechanistic pathways and factors controlling the degradation is necessary for future development of durable TAA-based devices.

Detection of scales and its thickness determination in industrial pipes using Compton backscattering system.

The ability to detect and quantify scales in pipes has been an important yardstick for efficient transfer of fluids in domestic as well as in application related industries. Knowledge of different kinds of scales formed has become a precondition for trouble-shooting in operational lines. In this paper, collimated Compton backscattered gamma rays from a radioactive source have been used to inspect the scales by automatic scanning in steps along the axial direction of different pipes.

An Empathy-Driven, Conversational Artificial Intelligence Agent (Wysa) for Digital Mental Well-Being: Real-World Data Evaluation Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: A World Health Organization 2017 report stated that major depression affects almost 5% of the human population. Major depression is associated with impaired psychosocial functioning and reduced quality of life. Challenges such as shortage of mental health personnel, long waiting times, perceived stigma, and lower government spends pose barriers to the alleviation of mental health problems.

C9orf72, a protein associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), two late onset neurodegenerative diseases, have been shown to share overlapping cellular pathologies and genetic origins. Studies suggest that a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the first intron of the C9orf72 gene is the most common cause of familial FTD and ALS pathology. The C9orf72 protein is predicted to be a differentially expressed in normal and neoplastic cells domain protein implying that C9orf72 functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) to regulate specific Rab GTPases.