Active Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Platform Based on a 2D Material-Flexible Nanotip Array.

Two-dimensional materials with a nanostructure have been introduced as promising candidates for SERS platforms for sensing application. However, the dynamic control and tuning of SERS remains a long-standing problem. Here, we demonstrated active tuning of the enhancement factor of the first- and second-order Raman mode of monolayer (1L) MoS transferred onto a flexible metallic nanotip array.

Effect of Paprika Powder on the Antioxidant Capacity of Emulsion-Type Sausages.

Antioxidant activity of freeze-dried paprika powder and storage properties of emulsion-type pork sausages containing diverse concentrations of this powder (0%, 1%, 2%, and 3%) were analyzed. Antioxidant activities of red and yellow paprika powders were analyzed by evaluating their 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenol content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC). The yellow paprika powder exhibited remarkably higher DPPH radical scavenging activity, FRAP values, and TPC than the red paprika powder (p<0.

CD39 delineates chimeric antigen receptor regulatory T cell subsets with distinct cytotoxic & regulatory functions against human islets.

Human regulatory T cells (Treg) suppress other immune cells. Their dysfunction contributes to the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes (T1D). Infusion of Tregs is being clinically evaluated as a novel way to prevent or treat T1D.

Structural insights reveal interplay between LAG-3 homodimerization, ligand binding, and function.

Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) is an inhibitory receptor expressed on activated T cells and an emerging immunotherapy target. Domain 1 (D1) of LAG-3, which has been purported to directly interact with major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) and fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1), has been the major focus for the development of therapeutic antibodies that inhibit LAG-3 receptor-ligand interactions and restore T cell function. Here, we present a high-resolution structure of glycosylated mouse LAG-3 ectodomain, identifying that cis-homodimerization, mediated through a network of hydrophobic residues within domain 2 (D2), is critically required for LAG-3 function.

Recent progress of exciton transport in two-dimensional semiconductors.

Spatial manipulation of excitonic quasiparticles, such as neutral excitons, charged excitons, and interlayer excitons, in two-dimensional semiconductors offers unique capabilities for a broad range of optoelectronic applications, encompassing photovoltaics, exciton-integrated circuits, and quantum light-emitting systems. Nonetheless, their practical implementation is significantly restricted by the absence of electrical controllability for neutral excitons, short lifetime of charged excitons, and low exciton funneling efficiency at room temperature, which remain a challenge in exciton transport. In this comprehensive review, we present the latest advancements in controlling exciton currents by harnessing the advanced techniques and the unique properties of various excitonic quasiparticles.

Direct 3D-printed CdSe quantum dots scanning micropipette.

The micropipette, pencil-shaped with an aperture diameter of a few micrometers, is a potentially promising tool for the three-dimensional (3D) printing of individual microstructures based on its capability to deliver low volumes of nanomaterial solution on a desired spot resulting in micro/nanoscale patterning. Here, we demonstrate a direct 3D printing technique in which a micropipette with a cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dot (QD) solution is guided by an atomic force microscope with no electric field and no piezo-pumping schemes. We define the printed CdSe QD wires, which are a composite material with a QD-liquid coexistence phase, by using photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy to analyze their intrinsic properties and additionally demonstrate a means of directional falling.

Ulnar positive variance associated with TFCC foveal tear.

Objective: The ulnar positive variance (UPV) can be observed on simple radiography due to a triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) foveal tear. This study investigated to identify how much radiographic UPV occurs due to a TFCC foveal tear, which may be misdiagnosed as an ulnar impaction syndrome (UIS).

Materials And Methods: One hundred forty patients who underwent arthroscopic transosseus TFCC foveal repair from March 2013 to March 2019 in our institution were enrolled in this study.

Hershberger Assays for Bisphenol-A and Its Substitute Candidates.

Bisphenol-A(BPA) is a member of alkylphenol family, and shows adverse effects including reduced fertility, reproductive tract abnormalities, metabolic disorder, cancer induction, neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity. In the present study, we conducted Hershberger assay to evaluate whether the two candidates to replace BPA have androgenic or antiandrogenic activity. The assay was carried out using immature castrated Sprague-Dawley male rats.

Effect of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) Intake on the Female Reproductive Organs and Lipid Accumulation in Adult Rats.

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is widely used as sweetener, and its overconsumption is become a major health problem. In the present study, we used adult female rats and applied a 28 days HFCS feeding model to monitor the estrous cycle and changes in tissue weights and histology. Adult female rats were divided into three groups.

Nicastrin overexpression in transgenic mice induces aberrant behavior and APP processing.

Nicastrin (NCT) is a component of the presenilin protein complex, which is involved in the cleavage of β-amyloid precursor protein (βAPP) and Notch. The aim of this study was to determine the manner in which overexpression of wild-type human nicastrin (hNCTw) or mutant human nicastrin (hNCTm, D336A/Y337A) regulates brain functions and amyloid precusor protein (APP) processing. For this, we created transgenic (Tg) mice expressing neuron-specific enolase (NSE)-controlled hNCTw or hNCTm and measured their phenotypes as time passed.

Neuroprotective effects of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Bark on amyloid beta(25-35)-induced learning and memory impairments in mice.

In the present study, we examined whether aqueous extract of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Bark (EUE) with graded doses exerted its neuroprotective effects on amyloid beta(25-35) (Aβ(25-35))-induced learning and memory impairments in mice. Mice received a single intracerebroventricular (i.

Neuroprotective effects of chlorogenic acid on scopolamine-induced amnesia via anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-oxidative activities in mice.

Chlorogenic acid is a major polyphenolic component of many plants and beverages, and is particularly abundant in coffee. We evaluated the neuroprotective effects of chlorogenic acid on learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg, i.

ProSight PTM 2.0: improved protein identification and characterization for top down mass spectrometry.

ProSight PTM 2.0 (http://prosightptm2.scs.

Precise and parallel characterization of coding polymorphisms, alternative splicing, and modifications in human proteins by mass spectrometry.

The human proteome is a highly complex extension of the genome wherein a single gene often produces distinct protein forms due to alternative splicing, RNA editing, polymorphisms, and posttranslational modifications. Such biological variation compounded by the high sequence identity within gene families currently overwhelms the complete and routine characterization of mammalian proteins by MS. A new data base of human proteins (and their possible variants) was created and searched using tandem mass spectrometric data from intact proteins.

ProSight PTM: an integrated environment for protein identification and characterization by top-down mass spectrometry.

ProSight PTM (https://prosightptm.scs.uiuc.

Shotgun annotation of histone modifications: a new approach for streamlined characterization of proteins by top down mass spectrometry.

Eukaryotic histones serve as prototypical examples of posttranslational complexity with diverse modifications (PTMs) on many different residues that comprise a "Histone Code". To help crack this code more efficiently, we demonstrate a new strategy for protein characterization wherein complete PTM descriptions are obtained by database retrieval instead of manual interpretation of information-rich data from high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). A database of nearly 50 000 modified histone H4 sequences was created and queried with 91 fragment ions from electron capture dissociation of a histone form +112 Da (versus unmodified mass) selectively accumulated in a quadrupole Fourier transform hybrid mass spectrometer.

Targeted analysis and discovery of posttranslational modifications in proteins from methanogenic archaea by top-down MS.

For more complete characterization of DNA-predicted proteins (including their posttranslational modifications) a "top-down" approach using high-resolution tandem MS is forwarded here by its application to methanogens in both hypothesis-driven and discovery modes, with the latter dependent on new automation benchmarks for intact proteins. With proteins isolated from ribosomes and whole-cell lysates of Methanococcus jannaschii (approximately 1,800 genes) using a 2D protein fractionation method, 72 gene products were identified and characterized with 100% sequence coverage via automated fragmentation of intact protein ions in a custom quadrupole/Fourier transform hybrid mass spectrometer. Three incorrect start sites and two modifications were found, with one of each determined for MJ0556, a 20-kDa protein with an unknown methylation at approximately 50% occupancy in stationary phase cells.

Web and database software for identification of intact proteins using "top down" mass spectrometry.

For the identification and characterization of proteins harboring posttranslational modifications (PTMs), a "top down" strategy using mass spectrometry has been forwarded recently but languishes without tailored software widely available. We describe a Web-based software and database suite called ProSight PTM constructed for large-scale proteome projects involving direct fragmentation of intact protein ions. Four main components of ProSight PTM are a database retrieval algorithm (Retriever), MySQL protein databases, a file/data manager, and a project tracker.