Mechanistic Insight into the Electrochemical Performance of Zn/VO2 Batteries with an Aqueous ZnSO4 Electrolyte

Rechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) are promising for cheap stationary energy storage. Challenges for Zn‐ion insertion hosts are the large structural changes of the host structure upon Zn‐ion insertion and the divalent Zn‐ion transport, challenging cycle life and power density respectively. Here a new mechanism is demonstrated for the VO₂ cathode toward proton insertion accompanied by Zn‐ion storage through the reversible deposition of Zn₄(OH)₆SO₄·5H₂O on the cathode surface, supported by operando X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, neutron activation analysis, and density functional theory simulations. This leads to an initial discharge capacity of 272 mAh g^?1 at a current density of 3.0 A g^?1, of which 75.5% is maintained after 945 cycles. It is proposed that the competition between proton and Zn‐ion insertion in the VO₂ host is determined by the solvation energy of the salt anion and proton insertion energetics, where proton insertion has the advantage of minimal structural distortion leading to a long cycle life. As the discharge kinetics are capacitive for the first half of the process and diffusion limited for the second half, the VO₂ cathode takes the middle road possessing both fast kinetics and high practical capacities revealing a reaction mechanism that provides new perspective for the development of aqueous ZIBs.     

A Mathematical Model to Elucidate Brain Tumor Abrogation by Immunotherapy with T11 Target Structure

T11 Target structure (T11TS), a membrane glycoprotein isolated from sheep erythrocytes, reverses the immune suppressed state of brain tumor induced animals by boosting the functional status of the immune cells. This study aims at aiding in the design of more efficacious brain tumor therapies with T11 target structure. We propose a mathematical model for brain tumor (glioma) and the immune system interactions, which aims in designing efficacious brain tumor therapy. The model encompasses considerations of the interactive dynamics of glioma cells, macrophages, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CD8+ T-cells), TGF-β, IFN-γ and the T11TS. The system undergoes sensitivity analysis, that determines which state variables are sensitive to the given parameters and the parameters are estimated from the published data. Computer simulations were used for model verification and validation, which highlight the importance of T11 target structure in brain tumor therapy.     

Polysaccharides as Constituents in Chromosome Organization: A Study on Meiotic Chromosomes of Grasshopper and Polytene Chromosomes of Dipterous Flies

Study on meiotic chromosomes of grasshopper, Gesonula punctifrons and interphase polytene chromosomes from Dipteran larvae as of Chironomus striatipennis and Drosophila melanogaster following staining by periodic acid-Schiff technique revealed that chromosomes contained polysaccharides as an integral part of their organization. PAS +ve nature of the chromosomes both at highly condensed state as available during meiotic cell division and at extended state as in polytene chromosomes supports the idea that chromosomes contain polysaccharides as one of the constituent biological macromolecules. PAS +ve chromosomes appeared to be fluorescent under fluorescence microscope and fluorescence was found to be more or less uniform along the whole length of the meiotic chromosomes, while in case of polytene chromosomes intense fluorescence could be noticed along the band regions of the chromosomes.     

Knockdown of Ki-67 by Dicer-Substrate Small Interfering RNA Sensitizes Bladder Cancer Cells to Curcumin-Induced Tumor Inhibition

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder is the most common cancer of the urinary tract. Most of the TCC cases are of the superficial type and are treated with transurethral resection (TUR). However, the recurrence rate is high and the current treatments have the drawback of inducing strong systemic toxicity or cause painful cystitis. Therefore, it would be of therapeutic value to develop novel concepts and identify novel drugs for the treatment of bladder cancer. Ki-67 is a large nucleolar phosphoprotein whose expression is tightly linked to cell proliferation, and curcumin, a phytochemical derived from the rhizome Curcuma longa, has been shown to possess powerful anticancer properties. In this study, we evaluated the combined efficacy of curcumin and a siRNA against Ki-67 mRNA (Ki-67-7) in rat (AY-27) and human (T-24) bladder cancer cells. The anticancer effects were assessed by the determination of cell viability, apoptosis and cell cycle analysis. Ki-67-7 (10 nM) and curcumin (10 µM), when treated independently, were moderately effective. However, in their combined presence, proliferation of bladder cancer cells was profoundly (>85%) inhibited; the rate of apoptosis in the combined presence of curcumin and Ki-67-7 (36%) was greater than that due to Ki-67-7 (14%) or curcumin (13%) alone. A similar synergy between curcumin and Ki-67-7 in inducing cell cycle arrest was also observed. Western blot analysis suggested that pretreatment with Ki-67-7 sensitized bladder cancer cells to curcumin-mediated apoptosis and cell cycle arrest by p53- and p21-independent mechanisms. These data suggest that a combination of anti-Ki-67 siRNA and curcumin could be a viable treatment against the proliferation of bladder cancer cells.     

Hydrophobic and Charged Residues in the Central Segment of the Measles Virus Hemagglutinin Stalk Mediate Transmission of the Fusion-Triggering Signal

The pH-independent measles virus membrane fusion process begins when the attachment protein H binds to a receptor. Knowing that the central segment of the tetrameric H stalk transmits the signal to the fusion protein trimer, we investigated how. We document that exact conservation of most residues in the 92 through 99 segment is essential for function. In addition, hydrophobic and charged residues in the 104 through 125 segment, arranged with helical periodicity, are critical for F protein interactions and signal transmission.     

Electrical activity as a developmental regulator in the formation of spinal cord circuits

Spinal cord development is a complex process involving generation of the appropriate number of cells, acquisition of distinctive phenotypes and establishment of functional connections that enable execution of critical functions such as sensation and locomotion. Here we review the basic cellular events occurring during spinal cord development, highlighting studies that demonstrate the roles of electrical activity in this process. We conclude that the participation of different forms of electrical activity is evident from the beginning of spinal cord development and intermingles with other developmental cues and programs to implement dynamic and integrated control of spinal cord function.