PPARγ/ETV2 axis regulates endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in pulmonary hypertension.

Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) plays an important role in pulmonary hypertension (PH) but the molecular mechanisms regulating EndoMT remain to be defined. We demonstrate that the axis of the transcription factors PPARγ (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma) and ETV2 (ETS variant 2) play important roles in the pathogenesis of PH. Decreased levels of the expression of PPARγ and ETV2 along with reduced endothelial and increased EndoMT markers are consistently observed in lungs and pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, in hypoxia-exposed mouse lungs, human PAECs, and in induced-EndoMT cells.

Direct patterning of liquid materials on flat and curved substrates using flexible molds with through-hole and post arrays.

Liquids undergo continuous deformation in the presence of external shear stresses; however, they are pinned between structures owing to their viscosity. Therefore, reshaping the liquids using their intrinsic material properties and structural interfaces is possible. In this study, we used the template-guided forming (TGF) method to reshape and produce oil patterns on flat and curved substrates.

Porous nanorods by stacked NiO nanoparticulate exhibiting corn-like structure for sustainable environmental and energy applications.

A porous 1D nanostructure provides much shorter electron transport pathways, thereby helping to improve the life cycle of the device and overcome poor ionic and electronic conductivity, interfacial impedance between electrode-electrolyte interface, and low volumetric energy density. In view of this, we report on the feasibility of 1D porous NiO nanorods comprising interlocked NiO nanoparticles as an active electrode for capturing greenhouse CO, effective supercapacitors, and efficient electrocatalytic water-splitting applications. The nanorods with a size less than 100 nm were formed by stacking cubic crystalline NiO nanoparticles with dimensions less than 10 nm, providing the necessary porosity.

Light-driven biocatalytic oxidation.

Enzymes are the catalyst of choice for highly selective reactions, offering nature-inspired approaches for sustainable chemical synthesis. Oxidative enzymes (, monooxygenases, peroxygenases, oxidases, or dehydrogenases) catalyze a variety of enantioselective oxyfunctionalization and dehydrogenation reactions under mild conditions. To sustain the catalytic cycles of these enzymes, constant supply with or withdrawal of reducing equivalents (electrons) is required.

Controlling Graphene Wrinkles through the Phase Transition of a Polymer with a Low Critical Solution Temperature.

A novel method for controlling reduced graphene oxide (rGO) wrinkles through a phase transition in a solution using a low critical solution temperature (LCST) polymer dispersant has been developed. The polymer dispersant is designed by control of architecture and composition using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Synthesized poly(2-(dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate-block-styrene) (PDbS) can be successfully functionalized on the rGO surface via noncovalent functionalization.

Nanostructured CuO with a thin g-CN layer as a highly efficient photocathode for solar water splitting.

A g-CN/CuO nanostructure featuring improved photoelectrochemical properties was successfully prepared using a facile and cost-effective method involving electrodeposition and thermal oxidation. The improved photoelectrochemical properties were mainly ascribed to the increased surface area and improved charge transportation of the g-CN/CuO photocathode. This photocathode can be used in novel strategies for resolving problems associated with low-efficiency CuO photocathodes.

Carbon fibers for treatment of cancer metastasis in bone.

When cancer metastasizes to bone, the resulting pain and functional disorders due to bone destruction adversely affect the patient's quality of life. We have developed a new cancer metastasis control system consisting of anticancer agents conjugated to carbon fibers (CFs), which are nonbiodegradable, carriers of a wide variety of molecules with extremely high affinity for bone. In the evaluation of cancer suppression effects on Walker 256 cancer cells, cisplatin (CDDP)-conjugated CFs (CF-CDDP) were found to be as effective in cancer suppression as CDDP.

Polymer wrapping-induced dispersion of single walled carbon nanotubes in ethylene glycol under mild sonication.

SWCNTs were individually dispersed in ethylne glycol (EG) mild bath-type sonication using quaternized poly(furfuryl methacrylate)--(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) p(FMA--QDMAEMA) as a dispersing agent. QDMAEMA, which has alkyl groups, was more favorable to the dispersion ability of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The dispersion mechanism of SWCNTs in EG helical wrapping of polymer chains along their sidewalls was suggested based on transmission electron microscopic observation.

Double-Hydrophobic-Coating through Quenching for Hydrogels with Strong Resistance to Both Drying and Swelling.

In recent years, various hydrogels with a wide range of functionalities have been developed. However, owing to the two major drawbacks of hydrogels-air-drying and water-swelling-hydrogels developed thus far have yet to achieve most of their potential applications. Herein, a bioinspired, facile, and versatile method for fabricating hydrogels with high stability in both air and water is reported.

N-Enriched carbon nanofibers for high energy density supercapacitors and Li-ion batteries.

Nitrogen enriched carbon nanofibers have been obtained by one-step carbonization/activation of PAN-based nanofibers with various concentrations of melamine at 800 °C under a N atmosphere. As synthesised carbon nanofibers were directly used as electrodes for symmetric supercapacitors. The obtained PAN-MEL fibers with 5% melamine stabilised at 280 °C and carbonized at 800 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere showed excellent electrochemical performance with a specific capacitance of up to 166 F g at a current density of 1A g using 6 M KOH electrolyte and a capacity retention of 109.

Self-Assembled Nickel Pyrophosphate-Decorated Amorphous Bimetal Hydroxides 2D-on-2D Nanostructure for High-Energy Solid-State Asymmetric Supercapacitor.

To obtain a supercapacitor with a remarkable specific capacitance and rate performance, a cogent design and synthesis of the electrode material containing abundant active sites is necessary. In present work, a scalable strategy is developed for preparing 2D-on-2D nanostructures for high-energy solid-state asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs). The self-assembled vertically aligned microsheet-structured 2D nickel pyrophosphate (Ni P O ) is decorated with amorphous bimetallic nickel cobalt hydroxide (NiCo-OH) to form a 2D-on-2D nanostructure arrays electrode.

Poly(styrene)-supported N-heterocyclic carbene coordinated iron chloride as a catalyst for delayed polyurethane polymerization.

An advanced organometallic catalyst based on N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) coordinated FeCl has been synthesized and used to control the reaction rate in polyurethane (PUR) polymerization. The imidazolium (Im)-based NHC was functionalized on the surface of the supporting material of bead-type chloromethyl polystyrene (PS) resin. The PS-Im-FeCl catalyst was synthesized through the coordination reaction between Im and FeCl.

Transcriptome Characterization for Non-Model Endangered Lycaenids, Protantigius superans and Spindasis takanosis, Using Illumina HiSeq 2500 Sequencing.

The Lycaenidae butterflies, Protantigius superans and Spindasis takanosis, are endangered insects in Korea known for their symbiotic association with ants. However, necessary genomic and transcriptomics data are lacking in these species, limiting conservation efforts. In this study, the P.