Can One Define the Conductance of Amino Acids?

We studied the electron-transport properties of ten different amino acids and one dimer (di-methionine) using the mechanically controlled break-junction (MCBJ) technique. For methionine and cysteine, additional measurements were performed with the scanning tunneling microscope break-junction (STM-BJ) technique. By means of a statistical clustering technique, we identified several conductance groups for each of the molecules considered.

Computational metabolism modeling predicts risk of distant relapse-free survival in breast cancer patients.

Differences in metabolism among breast cancer subtypes suggest that metabolism plays an important role in this disease. Flux balance analysis is used to explore these differences as well as drug response. Proteomics data from breast tumors were obtained by mass-spectrometry.

Bridging the theoretical gap between semantic representation models without the pressure of a ranking: some lessons learnt from LSA.

In recent years, latent semantic analysis (LSA) has reached a level of maturity at which its presence is ubiquitous in technology as well as in simulation of cognitive processes. In spite of this, in recent years there has been a trend of subjecting LSA to some criticisms, usually because it is compared to other models in very specific tasks and conditions and sometimes without having good knowledge of what the semantic representation of LSA means, and without exploiting all the possibilities of which LSA is capable other than the cosine. This paper provides a critical review to clarify some of the misunderstandings regarding LSA and other space models.

Sestrins as a Therapeutic Bridge between ROS and Autophagy in Cancer.

The regulation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels and the contribution therein from networks regulating cell metabolism, such as autophagy and the mTOR-dependent nutrient-sensing pathway, constitute major targets for selective therapeutic intervention against several types of tumors, due to their extensive rewiring in cancer cells as compared to healthy cells. Here, we discuss the sestrin family of proteins-homeostatic transducers of oxidative stress, and drivers of antioxidant and metabolic adaptation-as emerging targets for pharmacological intervention. These adaptive regulators lie at the intersection of those two priority nodes of interest in antitumor intervention-ROS control and the regulation of cell metabolism and autophagy-therefore, they hold the potential not only for the development of completely novel compounds, but also for leveraging on synergistic strategies with current options for tumor therapy and classification/stadiation to achieve personalized medicine.

Phase behavior of hard C_{2h}-symmetric particle systems.

Using Monte Carlo numerical simulation, this work sketches the phase diagram of systems of certain hard C_{2h}-symmetric particles, formed by gluing two aligned and displaced hard spherocylinders with a cylindrical-length-to-diameter ratio realistically, if viewed not only from the lyotropic colloidal liquid-crystal side but also from the thermotropic low-molecular-mass liquid-crystal side, equal to 5, as a function of the displacement. Several distinctive phases are observed, such as a nonperiodic smectic-B-like phase, a nonperiodic smectic-H-like phase, a smectic-C phase, and a short-layer-spacing uniaxial smectic-A phase but no biaxial nematic phase.

Amperometric Biosensing of miRNA-21 in Serum and Cancer Cells at Nanostructured Platforms Using Anti-DNA-RNA Hybrid Antibodies.

This paper describes a disposable amperometric biosensor for simple and sensitive determination of miRNA-21. The bioplatform consists of gold nanoparticles-nanostructured electrode surfaces on which a direct hybridization assay involving the immobilization of a specific thiolated DNA capture probe and recognition of the formed DNA-miRNA-21 heteroduplex by a specific antibody is implemented. The antibody is further recognized through its Fc region by a commercial bacterial protein containing 40 units of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) (ProtA-polyHRP40).

Explosive breeding in tropical anurans: environmental triggers, community composition and acoustic structure.

Background: Anurans largely rely on acoustic communication for sexual selection and reproduction. While multiple studies have focused on the calling activity patterns of prolonged breeding assemblages, species that concentrate their reproduction in short-time windows, explosive breeders, are still largely unknown, probably because of their ephemeral nature. In tropical regions, multiple species of explosive breeders may simultaneously aggregate leading to massive, mixed and dynamic choruses.

Hierarchical Uniform Supramolecular Conjugated Spherulites with Suppression of Defect Emission.

Easily processed, well-defined, and hierarchical uniform artificial architectures with intrinsic strong crystalline emission properties are necessary for a range of light-emitting optoelectronic devices. Herein, we designed and prepared ordered supramolecular spherulites, comprising planar conformational molecules as primary structures and multiple hydrogen bonds as physical cross-links. Compared with serious aggregation-induced fluorescence quenching (up to 70%), these highly ordered architectures exhibited unique and robust crystalline emission with a high PLQY of 55%, which was much higher than those of other terfluorenes.

Timing and ecological priority shaped the diversification of sedges in the Himalayas.

Background: Diversification patterns in the Himalayas have been important to our understanding of global biodiversity. Despite recent broad-scale studies, the most diverse angiosperm genus of the temperate zone- L. (Cyperaceae), with ca.

Oxygen Vacancies on Layered Niobic Acid That Weaken the Catalytic Conversion of Polysulfides in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Oxygen vacancies are usually considered to be beneficial in catalytic conversion of polysulfides in lithium-sulfur batteries. Now it is demonstrated that the conversion of polysulfides was hindered by oxygen vacancies on ultrathin niobic acid. The inferior performance induced by the oxygen vacancy was mainly attributed to the decreased electric conductivity as well as the weakened adsorption of polysulfides on the catalyst surface.

Broad band high resolution rotational spectroscopy for Laboratory Astrophysics.

We present a new experimental setup devoted to the study of gas phase molecules and processes using broad band high spectral resolution rotational spectroscopy. A reactor chamber has been equipped with radio receivers similar to those used by radio astronomers to search for molecular emission in space. The whole Q (31.

In-Situ Growth of Gadolinium Phthalocyaninato Sandwich Complexes on the Ag(111) Surface.

We report a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy investigation of the in-situ growth of gadolinium phthalocyaninato complexes by combined deposition of free-base phthalocyanines and gadolinium atoms on a smooth Ag(111) substrate. A careful control of the stoichiometry allows the expression of a multilevel structurecomposed of irregularly distributed Gd (Pc) complexes, x=2-5, thus paving new avenues for surface-confined columnar growth.

Simultaneous amperometric immunosensing of the metastasis-related biomarkers IL-13Rα2 and CDH-17 by using grafted screen-printed electrodes and a composite prepared from quantum dots and carbon nanotubes for signal amplification.

This paper describes a dual electrochemical immunoassay for the simultaneous determination of IL-13Rα2 and CDH-17, two biomarkers of emerging relevance in metastatic processes. The sandwich assay uses a screen-printed dual carbon electrode that was electrochemically grafted with p-aminobenzoic acid to allow the covalent immobilization of capture antibodies. A hybrid composed of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) act as nanocarriers for the detection antibodies and horseradish peroxidase.

The Dissociation between Adult Intelligence and Personality with Respect to Maltreatment Episodes and Externalizing Behaviors Occurring in Childhood.

Here we analyze the simultaneous relationships among five variables. Two refer to childhood (episodes of various forms of maltreatment and externalizing behaviors), whereas three refer to early adulthood (intelligence, personality, and socialization difficulties). The 120 individuals considered for the present report were invited from the 650 schoolchildren participating in the Longitudinal Study of Intelligence and Personality (Minas Gerais, Brazil).

Formation of highly ordered micro fillers in polymeric matrix by electro-field-assisted aligning.

Nanocomposites composed by polymeric matrix with micro/nano fillers have drawn lots of attention since their dramatic properties beyond pristine polymers. The spatial distribution of the micro/nano fillers in the polymeric matrix determines the final desired properties of the nanocomposites, thus deserves to investigate. Here, we proposed an effective method of assembling the micro/nano fillers to pre-designed patterns within the polymeric matrix by AC-electro-field-assisted aligning.

Recurrent haemorrhagic pericardial effusion due to idiopathic pericarditis: a case report.

Background: Haemorrhagic pericardial effusion (PE) has been described in pericarditis due to infection, neoplasm, collagen vascular disease, uraemia, pericardial inflammation after acute myocardial infarction, trauma, irradiation, and idiopathic pericarditis. Patients with large haemorrhagic PE develop recurrence or constrictive pericarditis (CP) frequently as complication without being treated intensively.

Case Summary: A 22-year-old female patient with a previous episode of pericarditis with severe PE was admitted for acute pericarditis.

Longitudinal properties of the PARADISE24fin questionnaire in treatment of substance use disorders.

Aim: Improvement of overall functioning is an important goal in the treatment of substance use disorders, and thus tools for monitoring change are needed. The current study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal metric invariance and sensitivity to change for the PARADISE24fin questionnaire.

Methods: A total of 1153 patients with substance use disorders completed the PARADISE24fin in two measurement occasions along their treatment.

Tailing miniSOG: structural bases of the complex photophysics of a flavin-binding singlet oxygen photosensitizing protein.

miniSOG is the first flavin-binding protein that has been developed with the specific aim of serving as a genetically-encodable light-induced source of singlet oxygen (O). We have determined its 1.17 Å resolution structure, which has allowed us to investigate its mechanism of photosensitization using an integrated approach combining spectroscopic and structural methods.

On-Surface Synthesis of Ethynylene-Bridged Anthracene Polymers.

Engineering low-band-gap π-conjugated polymers is a growing area in basic and applied research. The main synthetic challenge lies in the solubility of the starting materials, which precludes advancements in the field. Here, we report an on-surface synthesis protocol to overcome such difficulties and produce poly(p-anthracene ethynylene) molecular wires on Au(111).

Bicuspid aortic valve behaviour in elite athletes.

Aims: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) among elite athletes and to analyse the effect of long-term exercise training on their aortas.

Methods And Results: Consecutive BAV and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) elite athletes from a population of 5136 athletes evaluated at the Sports Medicine Center of the Spanish National Sports Council were identified using echocardiography. A total of 41 BAV elite athletes were matched with 41 TAV elite athletes, and 41 BAV non-athletic patients from three Spanish tertiary hospitals.

Mild Covalent Functionalization of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides with Maleimides: A "Click" Reaction for 2H-MoS and WS.

The physical properties of ultrathin transition metal dichalcogenides (2D-TMDCs) make them promising candidates as active nanomaterials for catalysis, optoelectronics, and biomedical applications. Chemical modification of TMDCs is expected to be key in modifying/adding new functions that will help make such promise a reality. We present a mild method for the modification of the basal planes of 2H-MoS and WS.

A near infrared light emitting electrochemical cell with a 2.3 V turn-on voltage.

We report on an organic electroluminescent device with simplified geometry and emission in the red to near infrared (NIR) spectral region which, has the lowest turn-on voltage value, 2.3 V, among light emitting electrochemical cells (LEECs). We have synthesized and characterized three novel ruthenium π-extended phenanthroimidazoles which differ on their N^N ligands.

A Three-Dimensional Dynamic Supramolecular "Sticky Fingers" Organic Framework.

Engineering high-recognition host-guest materials is a burgeoning area in basic and applied research. The challenge of exploring novel porous materials with advanced functionalities prompted us to develop dynamic crystalline structures promoted by soft interactions. The first example of a pure molecular dynamic crystalline framework is demonstrated, which is held together by means of weak "sticky fingers" van der Waals interactions.

Iron and Humic Acid Accumulation on Soybean Roots Fertilized with Leonardite Iron Humates under Calcareous Conditions.

Iron humates are eco-friendly fertilizers that are less efficient than iron synthetic chelates at correcting iron chlorosis. The aim of this work was to improve the efficiency of a leonardite iron humate (LIH), by studying the relationship among humic acid (HA) accumulation, iron biomineralization on soybean roots, and iron nutrition in soybean plants under calcareous conditions. Two hydroponic experiments were performed: a short-term bioassay (21 days) with several doses (10, 20, 50, and 100 μmol of Fe pot) of LIH applied once a week and a long-term bioassay (60 days) with just one application of LIH (250 μmol of Fe pot).

Targeting autophagy using metallic nanoparticles: a promising strategy for cancer treatment.

Despite the extensive genetic and phenotypic variations present in the different tumors, they frequently share common metabolic alterations, such as autophagy. Autophagy is a self-degradative process in response to stresses by which damaged macromolecules and organelles are targeted by autophagic vesicles to lysosomes and then eliminated. It is known that autophagy dysfunctions can promote tumorigenesis and cancer development, but, interestingly, its overstimulation by cytotoxic drugs may also induce cell death and chemosensitivity.