Retarded Charge–Carrier Recombination in Photoelectrochemical Cells from Plasmon‐Induced Resonance Energy Transfer

N‐type metal oxides such as hematite (α‐Fe₂O₃) and bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) are promising candidate materials for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting; however, their short minority carrier diffusion length and restricted carrier lifetime result in undesired rapid charge recombination. Herein, a 2D arranged globular Au nanosphere (NS) monolayer array with a highly ordered hexagonal hole pattern (hereafter, Au array) is introduced onto the surface of photoanodes comprised of metal oxide films via a facile drying and transfer‐printing process. Through plasmon‐induced resonance energy transfer, the Au array provides a strong electromagnetic field in the near‐surface area of the metal oxide film. The near‐field coupling interaction and amplification of the electromagnetic field suppress the charge recombination with long‐lived photogenerated holes and simultaneously enhance the light harvesting and charge transfer efficiencies. Consequently, an over 3.3‐fold higher photocurrent density at 1.23 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) is achieved for the Au array/α‐Fe₂O₃. Furthermore, the high versatility of this transfer printing of Au arrays is demonstrated by introducing it on the molybdenum‐doped BiVO₄ film, resulting in 1.5‐fold higher photocurrent density at 1.23 V versus RHE. The tailored metal film design can provide a potential strategy for the versatile application in various light‐mediated energy conversion and optoelectronic devices.     

Deinococcus swuensis sp. nov., a gamma-radiation-resistant bacterium isolated from soil

Strain DY59^T, a Gram-positive non-motile bacterium, was isolated from soil in South Korea, and was characterized to determine its taxonomic position. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain DY59^T revealed that the strain DY59^T belonged to the family Deinococcaceae in the class Deinococci. The highest degree of sequence similarities of strain DY59^T were found with Deinococcus radiopugnans KACC 11999^T (99.0%), Deinococcus marmoris KACC 12218^T (97.9%), Deinococcus saxicola KACC 12240^T (97.0%), Deinococcus aerolatus KACC 12745^T (96.2%), and Deinococcus frigens KACC 12220^T (96.1%). Chemotaxonomic data revealed that the predominant fatty acids were iso-C_15:0 (19.0%), C_16:1 ω7c (17.7%), C_15:1 ω6c (12.6%), iso-C_17:0 (10.3%), and iso-C_17:1 ω9c (10.3%). A complex polar lipid profile consisted of a major unknown phosphoglycolipid. The predominant respiratory quinone is MK-8. The cell wall peptidoglycan contained D-alanine, L-glutamic acid, glycine, and L-ornithine (di-amino acid). The novel strain showed resistance to gamma radiation, with a D₁₀ value (i.e. the dose required to reduce the bacterial population by 10-fold) in excess of 5 kGy. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and phenotypic data, strain DY59^T (=KCTC 33033^T =JCM 18581^T) should be classified as a type strain of a novel species, for which the name Deinococcus swuensis sp. nov. is proposed.     

Crif1 Deficiency Reduces Adipose OXPHOS Capacity and Triggers Inflammation and Insulin Resistance in Mice

Impaired mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) has been proposed as an etiological mechanism underlying insulin resistance. However, the initiating organ of OXPHOS dysfunction during the development of systemic insulin resistance has yet to be identified. To determine whether adipose OXPHOS deficiency plays an etiological role in systemic insulin resistance, the metabolic phenotype of mice with OXPHOS–deficient adipose tissue was examined. Crif1 is a protein required for the intramitochondrial production of mtDNA–encoded OXPHOS subunits; therefore, Crif1 haploinsufficient deficiency in mice results in a mild, but specific, failure of OXPHOS capacity in vivo. Although adipose-specific Crif1-haploinsufficient mice showed normal growth and development, they became insulin-resistant. Crif1-silenced adipocytes showed higher expression of chemokines, the expression of which is dependent upon stress kinases and antioxidant. Accordingly, examination of adipose tissue from Crif1-haploinsufficient mice revealed increased secretion of MCP1 and TNFα, as well as marked infiltration by macrophages. These findings indicate that the OXPHOS status of adipose tissue determines its metabolic and inflammatory responses, and may cause systemic inflammation and insulin resistance.     

Curcumin ameliorates TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and subsequent THP-1 adhesiveness via the induction of heme oxygenase-1 in the HaCaT cells

Adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1 are important in the infiltration of leukocytes into the site of inflammation. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of curcumin on ICAM-1 expression and monocyte adhesiveness as well as its underlying action mechanism in the TNF-α-stimulated keratinocytes. Curcumin induced expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. In addition, curcumin induced Nrf2 activation in dose- and time-dependent manners in the HaCaT cells. Curcumin suppressed TNF-α- induced ICAM-1 expression and subsequent monocyte adhesion, which were reversed by the addition of tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), a specific inhibitor of HO-1, or HO-1 knockdown using siRNA. Furthermore, Nrf2 knockdown using siRNA reversed the inhibitory effect of curcumin on the TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and adhesion of monocytes to keratinocytes. These results suggest that curcumin may exert its anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression and subsequent monocyte adhesion via expression of HO-1 in the keratinocytes. [BMB Reports 2013;46(8): 410-415]     

Diversity and selective pressures of anticoagulants in three medicinal leeches (Hirudinida: Hirudinidae,Macrobdellidae)

Although medicinal leeches have long been used as treatment for various ailments because of their potent anticoagulation factors, neither the full diversity of salivary components that inhibit coagulation, nor the evolutionary selection acting on them has been thoroughly investigated. Here, we constructed expressed sequence tag libraries from salivary glands of two species of medicinal hirudinoid leeches, Hirudo verbana and Aliolimnatis fenestrata, and identified anticoagulant‐orthologs through BLASTx searches. The data set then was augmented by the addition of a previously constructed EST library from the macrobdelloid leech Macrobdella decora. The identified orthologs then were compared and contrasted with well‐characterized anticoagulants from a variety of leeches with different feeding habits, including non‐sanguivorous species. Moreover, four different statistical methods for predicting signatures of positive and negative evolutionary pressures were used for 10 rounds each to assess the level and type of selection acting on the molecules as a whole and on specific sites. In total, sequences showing putative BLASTx‐orthology with five and three anticoagulant‐families were recovered in the A. fenestrata and H. verbana EST libraries respectively. Selection pressure analyses predicted high levels of purifying selection across the anticoagulant diversity, although a few isolated sites showed signatures of positive selection. This study represents a first attempt at mapping the anticoagulant repertoires in a comparative fashion across several leech families.     

Suppressive effect of epigallocatechin‐3‐O‐gallate on endoglin molecular regulation in myocardial fibrosis in vitro and in vivo

Epigallocatechin‐3‐O‐gallate (EGCG), derived from green tea, has been studied extensively because of its diverse physiological and pharmacological properties. This study evaluates the protective effect of EGCG on angiotensin II (Ang II)‐induced endoglin expression in vitro and in vivo. Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) from the thoracic aorta of adult Wistar rats were cultured and induced with Ang II. Western blotting, Northern blotting, real‐time PCR and promoter activity assay were performed. Ang II increased endoglin expression significantly as compared with control cells. The specific extracellular signal‐regulated kinase inhibitor SP600125 (JNK inhibitor), EGCG (100 μM) and c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) siRNA attenuated endoglin proteins following Ang II induction. In addition, pre‐treated Ang II‐induced endoglin with EGCG diminished the binding activity of AP‐1 by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Moreover, the luciferase assay results revealed that EGCG suppressed the endoglin promoter activity in Ang II‐induced CFs by AP‐1 binding. Finally, EGCG and the JNK inhibitor (SP600125) were found to have attenuated endoglin expression significantly in Ang II‐induced CFs, as determined through confocal microscopy. Following in vivo acute myocardial infarction (AMI)‐related myocardial fibrosis study, as well as immunohistochemical and confocal analyses, after treatment with endoglin siRNA and EGCG (50 mg/kg), the area of myocardial fibrosis reduced by 53.4% and 64.5% and attenuated the left ventricular end‐diastolic and systolic dimensions, and friction shortening in hemodynamic monitor. In conclusion, epigallocatechin‐3‐O‐gallate (EGCG) attenuated the endoglin expression and myocardial fibrosis by anti‐inflammatory effect in vitro and in vivo, the novel suppressive effect was mediated through JNK/AP‐1 pathway.     

Breast MRI in nonpalpable breast lesions: a randomized trial with diagnostic and therapeutic outcome – MONET – study

Background

In orthodontic treatment, anchorage control is a fundamental aspect. Usually conventional mechanism for orthodontic anchorage control can be either extraoral or intraoral that is headgear or intermaxillary elastics. Their use are combined with various side effects such as tipping of occlusal plane or undesirable movements of teeth. Especially in cases, where key-teeth are missing, conventional anchorage defined as tooth-borne anchorage will meet limitations. Therefore, the use of endosseous implants for anchorage purposes are increasingly used to achieve positional stability and maximum anchorage.

Methods/Design

The intended study is designed as a prospective, multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT), comparing and contrasting the effect of early loading of palatal implant therapy versus implant loading after 12 weeks post implantation using the new ortho-implant type II anchor system device (Orthosystem Straumann, Basel, Switzerland). 124 participants, mainly adult males or females, whose diagnoses require temporary stationary implant-based anchorage treatment will be randomized 1:1 to one of two treatment groups: group 1 will receive a loading of implant standard therapy after a healing period of 12 week (gold standard), whereas group 2 will receive an early loading of orthodontic implants within 1 week after implant insertion. Participants will be at least followed for 12 months after implant placement. The primary endpoint is to investigate the behavior of early loaded palatal implants in order to find out if shorter healing periods might be justified to accelerate active orthodontic treatment. Secondary outcomes will focus e.g. on achievement of orthodontic treatment goals and quantity of direct implant-bone interface of removed bone specimens. As tertiary objective, a histologic and microtomography evaluation of all retrieved implants will be performed to obtain data on the performance of the SLA surface in human bone evaluation of all retrieved implants. Additionally, resonance frequency analysis (RFA, Osstell? mentor) will be used at different times for clinically monitoring the implant stability and for histological comparison in order to measure the reliability of the resonance frequency measuring device.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN97142521.     

Remains of Late Pleistocene reindeer from Chmielewo,northeast Poland

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) remains in Europe are well represented in Late Pleistocene sites in France, Germany, Ukraine, Poland and other countries. In a chalk mine at Chmielewo (near niardwy Lake, NE Poland) four antlers were recovered. Radiocarbon assays date the fossils to the end of the Pleistocene. All antlers belong to male reindeer. One of the discovered specimens is an uncast antler of the tundra reindeer form, while the others are of the woodland reindeer form. The uncast antler has distinctly visible parieto-frontal fixation of the beam to the skull that confirms its parallel position in relation to the ground.