Imaging with a twist: Three-dimensional insights of the chiral nematic phase of cellulose nanocrystals via SHG microscopy.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are bio-based nanoparticles that, under the right conditions, self-align into chiral nematic liquid crystals with a helical pitch. In this work, we exploit the inherent confocal effect of second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy to acquire highly resolved three-dimensional (3D) images of the chiral nematic phase of CNCs in a label-free manner. An in-depth analysis revealed a direct link between the observed variations in SHG intensity and the pitch.

Thermodynamics of interactions between cellulose nanocrystals and monovalent counterions.

Alkali and quaternary ammonium cations interact with negatively charged cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) bearing sulfated or carboxylated functional groups. As these are some of the most commonly occurring cations CNC encounter in applications, the thermodynamic parameters of these CNC-counterion interactions were evaluated with isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Whereas the adsorption of monovalent counterions onto CNCs was thermodynamically favourable at all evaluated conditions as indicated by a negative Gibbs free energy, the enthalpic and entropic contributions to the CNC-ion interactions were found to be strongly dependent on the hydration characteristics of the counterion and could be correlated with the potential barrier to water exchange of the respective ions.

Dimensions of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Cotton and Bacterial Cellulose: Comparison of Microscopy and Scattering Techniques.

Different microscopy and scattering methods used in the literature to determine the dimensions of cellulose nanocrystals derived from cotton and bacterial cellulose were compared to investigate potential bias and discrepancies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), depolarized dynamic light scattering (DDLS), and static light scattering (SLS) were compared. The lengths, widths, and heights of the particles and their respective distributions were determined by AFM.

New Insight Into the Interspecies Shift of Anammox Bacteria "Brocadia" and "Jettenia" in Reactors Fed With Formate and Folate.

The sensitivity of anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria to environmental fluctuations is a frequent cause of reactor malfunctions. It was hypothesized that the addition of formate and folate would have a stimulating effect on anammox bacteria, which in turn would lead to the stability of the anammox process under conditions of a sharp increase in ammonium load, i.e.

Multilayer corrosion-resistant material based on iron-carbon alloys.

In this study, the architecture of a multilayer metallic material of iron-carbon alloys with an internal protector was developed based on theoretical studies. The operability of the proposed architecture was experimentally verified using gravimetry and electrochemical analysis. The internal position of the protector enabled the modification of the mechanism of corrosion.

High-Speed and High-Capacity Removal of Methyl Orange and Malachite Green in Water Using Newly Developed Mesoporous Carbon: Kinetic and Isotherm Studies.

A novel mesoporous carbon nanostructured material was prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and X-ray diffractometry. The material demonstrated high-speed and high-adsorption capacities of 827.5 and 2484.

Metagenomic data of the microbial community of lab-scale nitritation-anammox sequencing-batch bioreactor performing nitrogen removal from synthetic wastewater.

The nitritation-anammox process, which involves partial aerobic oxidation of the ammonium to nitrite and following oxidation of ammonium by nitrite to molecular nitrogen, is an efficient and cost-effective approach for biological nitrogen removal from wastewater. To characterize the microbial communities involved in the nitrogen and carbon cycles in wastewater treatment bioreactors employing this process, we sequenced the metagenome of a sludge sample collected from the lab-scale nitritation-anammox sequencing-batch reactor. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi were the most numerous groups.

Graphene based adsorbents for remediation of noxious pollutants from wastewater.

The contamination of water resources with noxious pollutants is a serious issue. Many aquatic systems are contaminated with different toxic inorganic and organic species; coming to wastewater from various anthropogenic sources such as industries, agriculture, mining, and domestic households. Keeping in view of this, wastewater treatment appears to the main environmental challenge.

Inhibition of telomerase activity by splice-switching oligonucleotides targeting the mRNA of the telomerase catalytic subunit affects proliferation of human CD4 T lymphocytes.

Telomerase activity is regulated at the mRNA level by alternative splicing (AS) of its catalytic subunit hTERT. The aim of this study was to define the ability of splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) that pair with hTERT pre-mRNA to induce AS and inhibit telomerase activity in human CD4 T lymphocytes. SSOs that blocked the binding of a single splicing regulatory protein, SRp20 or SRp40, to its site within intron 8 of hTERT pre-mRNA demonstrated rather moderate capacities to induce AS and inhibit telomerase.

Endonuclease G modulates the alternative splicing of deoxyribonuclease 1 mRNA in human CD4 T lymphocytes and prevents the progression of apoptosis.

Apoptotic endonucleases act cooperatively to fragment DNA and ensure the irreversibility of apoptosis. However, very little is known regarding the potential regulatory links between endonucleases. Deoxyribonuclease 1 (DNase I) inactivation is caused by alternative splicing (AS) of DNase I pre-mRNA skipping exon 4, which occurs in response to EndoG overexpression in cells.

Measuring corrosion rate and protector effectiveness of advanced multilayer metallic materials by newly developed methods.

The paper estimates corrosion resistance of new multilayer metallic materials with internal protector against pitting. Using an electron microscope method, the mechanism of the layers' corrosive destruction has been experimentally substantiated. The authors have suggested chemical and electrochemical methods of accelerated corrosion tests allowing for determining the corrosion destruction rate.

Contact-independent suppressive activity of regulatory T cells is associated with telomerase inhibition, telomere shortening and target lymphocyte apoptosis.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a fundamental role in the maintenance of immunological tolerance by suppressing effector target T, B and NK lymphocytes. Contact-dependent suppression mechanisms have been well-studied, though contact-independent Treg activity is not fully understood. In the present study, we showed that human native Tregs, as well as induced ex vivo Tregs, can cause in vitro telomere-dependent senescence in target T, B and NK cells in a contact-independent manner.

Murine regulatory T cells induce death of effector T, B, and NK lymphocytes through a contact-independent mechanism involving telomerase suppression and telomere-associated senescence.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress the activity of effector T, B and NK lymphocytes and sustain immunological tolerance, but the proliferative activity of suppressed cells remains unexplored. In the present study, we report that mouse Tregs can induce replicative senescence and the death of responder mouse CD4CD25 T cells, CD8 T cells, B cells and NK cells in vitro and in vivo. Contact-independent in vitro co-cultivation with Tregs up-regulated endonuclease G (EndoG) expression and its translocation to the nucleus in responder cells.

Water treatment by new-generation graphene materials: hope for bright future.

Water is the most important and essential component of earth's ecosystem playing a vital role in the proper functioning of flora and fauna. But, our water resources are contaminating continuously. The whole world may be in great water scarcity after few decades.

Alternative splicing of telomerase catalytic subunit hTERT generated by apoptotic endonuclease EndoG induces human CD4 T cell death.

Telomerase activity is regulated by alternative splicing of its catalytic subunit human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA. Induction of a non-active spliced hTERT leads to inhibition of telomerase activity. However, very little is known about the mechanism of hTERT mRNA alternative splicing.