Hybrid energy harvester based on nanopillar solar cells and PVDF nanogenerator.

A tandem device which integrates a PVDF nanogenerator and silicon (Si) nanopillar solar cell is fabricated. The Si nanopillar solar cell was fabricated using a mask-free plasma etching technique and annealing process. The PVDF nanogenerator was stacked on top of the Si nanopillar solar cell using a spinning method.

Characterization and expression analysis of the starch synthase gene family in grain amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.).

Characterization and expression analysis of the starch synthase gene family was performed from grain amaranth. Extensive searches for sequence data for amaranth starch synthase genes were done in the literature and in GenBank, and identified four genes encoding GBSSI, SSSI, SSSII, and SBE. Alignment of predicted amino acid sequences showed that there were low levels of sequence identity among these four genes (10.

A mononuclear non-heme manganese(IV)-oxo complex binding redox-inactive metal ions.

Redox-inactive metal ions play pivotal roles in regulating the reactivities of high-valent metal-oxo species in a variety of enzymatic and chemical reactions. A mononuclear non-heme Mn(IV)-oxo complex bearing a pentadentate N5 ligand has been synthesized and used in the synthesis of a Mn(IV)-oxo complex binding scandium ions. The Mn(IV)-oxo complexes were characterized with various spectroscopic methods.

Assembly and properties of heterobimetallic Co(II/III)/Ca(II) complexes with aquo and hydroxo ligands.

The use of water as a reagent in redox-driven reactions is advantageous because it is abundant and environmentally compatible. The conversion of water to dioxygen in photosynthesis illustrates one example, in which a redox-inactive Ca(II) ion and four manganese ions are required for function. In this report we describe the stepwise formation of two new heterobimetallic complexes containing Co(II/III) and Ca(II) ions and either hydroxo or aquo ligands.

Explorations of linked editosome domains leading to the discovery of motifs defining conserved pockets in editosome OB-folds.

Trypanosomatids form a group of protozoa which contain parasites of human, animals and plants. Several of these species cause major human diseases, including Trypanosoma brucei which is the causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis, also called sleeping sickness. These organisms have many highly unusual features including a unique U-insertion/deletion RNA editing process in the single mitochondrion.

Rapid identification of Amaranthus caudatus and Amaranthus hypochondriacus by sequencing and PCR-RFLP analysis of two starch synthase genes.

The objective of this study was to develop a PCR-RFLP method to identity the cultivated species of grain amaranth based on variations in the sequences of their starch synthase genes. We sequenced the SSSI and GBSSI loci in 126 accessions of cultivated grain amaranth collected from diverse locations around the world. We aligned the gene sequences and searched for restriction enzyme cleavage sites specific to each species for use in the PCR-RFLP analysis.

Cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA enhance IL-15-induced natural killer cell differentiation.

Natural killer (NK) cells are a subset of lymphocytes crucial for innate and adaptive immune responses. Here we show a stimulatory effect of cryptotanshinone (CTS) and tanshinone IIA (TS), isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, on the differentiation of NK cells. In the presence of IL-15, tanshinones increased NK cell maturation, NK cell differentiation and the expression of several transcription factors, including Id2, GATA3, T-bet, and Ets-1.

The structure of the C-terminal domain of the largest editosome interaction protein and its role in promoting RNA binding by RNA-editing ligase L2.

Trypanosomatids, such as the sleeping sickness parasite Trypanosoma brucei, contain a ∼ 20S RNA-editing complex, also called the editosome, which is required for U-insertion/deletion editing of mitochondrial mRNAs. The editosome contains a core of 12 proteins including the large interaction protein A1, the small interaction protein A6, and the editing RNA ligase L2. Using biochemical and structural data, we identified distinct domains of T.

Functional changes in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) during tumor growth: FKBP51 contributes to the regulation of the immunosuppressive function of MDSCs.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are increased by tumor-derived factors and suppress anti-tumor immunity. MDSCs obtained at a late time point after tumor injection had stronger suppressive activity than MDSCs obtained at an early time point, as measured by T cell proliferation assays. To find factors in MDSCs that change during tumor growth, we analyzed gene expression profiles from MDSCs at different time points after tumor injection.

A hybrid piezoelectric structure for wearable nanogenerators.

A hybrid-fiber nanogenerator comprising a ZnO nanowire array, PVDF polymer and two electrodes is presented. Depending on the bending or spreading action of the human arm, at an angle of ∼90°, the hybrid fiber reaches electrical outputs of ∼0.1 V and ∼10 nA cm(-2) .

Synthesis, structure, and physical properties for a series of trigonal bipyramidal M(II)-Cl complexes with intramolecular hydrogen bonds.

A series of transition metal chloro complexes with the tetradentate tripodal tris(2-amino-oxazoline)amine ligand (TAO) have been synthesized and characterized. X-Ray structural analyses of these compounds demonstrate the formation of the mononuclear complexes [M(II)(TAO)(Cl)](+), where M(II) = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn. These complexes exhibit distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry, coordinating the metal through an apical tertiary amine, three equatorial imino nitrogen atoms, and an axial chloride anion.

Porous PVDF as effective sonic wave driven nanogenerators.

Piezomaterials are known to display enhanced energy conversion efficiency at nanoscale due to geometrical effect and improved mechanical properties. Although piezoelectric nanowires have been the most widely and dominantly researched structure for this application, there only exist a limited number of piezomaterials that can be easily manufactured into nanowires, thus, developing effective and reliable means of preparing nanostructures from a wide variety of piezomaterials is essential for the advancement of self-powered nanotechnology. In this study, we present nanoporous arrays of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), fabricated by a lithography-free, template-assisted preparation method, as an effective alternative to nanowires for robust piezoelectric nanogenerators.

Selective dispersion of high purity semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes with regioregular poly(3-alkylthiophene)s.

Conjugated polymers, such as polyfluorene and poly(phenylene vinylene), have been used to selectively disperse semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (sc-SWNTs), but these polymers have limited applications in transistors and solar cells. Regioregular poly(3-alkylthiophene)s (rr-P3ATs) are the most widely used materials for organic electronics and have been observed to wrap around SWNTs. However, no sorting of sc-SWNTs has been achieved before.

Soyasaponin Ab ameliorates colitis by inhibiting the binding of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 on macrophages.

Many clinical studies have shown that daily intake of soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr., Fabacease] or its foods may reduce the risk of osteoporosis, heart attack, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, cardiovascular and chronic renal diseases, and cancers, including prostate, colon, and breast cancers.

Crystal structure of a heterodimer of editosome interaction proteins in complex with two copies of a cross-reacting nanobody.

The parasite Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of sleeping sickness across sub-Saharan Africa, depends on a remarkable U-insertion/deletion RNA editing process in its mitochondrion. A approximately 20 S multi-protein complex, called the editosome, is an essential machinery for editing pre-mRNA molecules encoding the majority of mitochondrial proteins. Editosomes contain a common core of twelve proteins where six OB-fold interaction proteins, called A1-A6, play a crucial role.

IL-22 producing NKp46+ innate lymphoid cells can differentiate from hematopoietic precursor cells.

The IL-22 NKp46(+) innate lymphoid cells, NCR22 cells, are very important for the early host defense against microbial pathogens. We show here that NCR22 cells were differentiated from Lin(-)CD127(+)CD117(+) cells that were derived from hematopoietic precursor cells (HPCs) of mouse bone marrow cells. The combination of low concentrations of IL-23 and IL-15 induced differentiation of NCR22 cells from Lin(-)CD127(+)CD117(+) cells.

IL-15-induced IL-10 increases the cytolytic activity of human natural killer cells.

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates diverse functions of immune cells. Natural killer (NK) cells express the IL-10 and IL-10 receptor, but little is known about the function of IL-10 on NK cell activation. In this study, we show the expression and role of IL-10 in human NK cells.

The effects of redox-inactive metal ions on the activation of dioxygen: isolation and characterization of a heterobimetallic complex containing a Mn(III)-(μ-OH)-Ca(II) core.

Rate enhancements for the reduction of dioxygen by a Mn(II) complex were observed in the presence of redox-inactive group 2 metal ions. The rate changes were correlated with an increase in the Lewis acidity of the group 2 metal ions. These studies led to the isolation of heterobimetallic complexes containing Mn(III)-(μ-OH)-M(II) cores (M(II) = Ca(II), Ba(II)) in which the hydroxo oxygen atom is derived from O(2).

A receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Tyrphostin A9 induces cancer cell death through Drp1 dependent mitochondria fragmentation.

Mitochondria dynamics controls not only their morphology but also functions of mitochondria. Therefore, an imbalance of the dynamics eventually leads to mitochondria disruption and cell death. To identify specific regulators of mitochondria dynamics, we screened a bioactive chemical compound library and selected Tyrphostin A9, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, as a potent inducer of mitochondrial fission.

Identifying metabolically obese but normal-weight (MONW) individuals in a nondiabetic Korean population: the Chungju Metabolic disease Cohort (CMC) study.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and identify the phenotype of individuals suspected to be metabolically obese but normal weight (MONW).

Design And Subjects: Eight thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven nondiabetic subjects aged over 40 years were selected from the Chungju Metabolic disease Cohort study performed in 2003-2006 in Korea. Those within the highest quartile in the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) with a normal body mass index (BMI) between 18·5 and 23 kg/m(2) were classified as MONW.

Post-grafting of silica surfaces with pre-functionalized organosilanes: new synthetic equivalents of conventional trialkoxysilanes.

This article describes recent advances that have been made in the development of methods for post-grafting of silica surfaces using functionalized organosilanes. While procedures employing conventional trialkoxysilane precursors have been utilized to immobilize organic and biological molecules onto inorganic supports, such as silica and glass, they have intrinsic limitations including sensitivity to hydrolysis and slow reaction rates. In this context, new synthetic equivalents to conventional trialkoxysilanes and new grafting methods have been devised to overcome these drawbacks and improve post-grafting processes.

Structures of a key interaction protein from the Trypanosoma brucei editosome in complex with single domain antibodies.

Several major global diseases are caused by single-cell parasites called trypanosomatids. These organisms exhibit many unusual features including a unique and essential U-insertion/deletion RNA editing process in their single mitochondrion. Many key RNA editing steps occur in ∼20S editosomes, which have a core of 12 proteins.