Photoluminescence of Alq3‐ and Tb‐activated aluminium–tris(8‐hydroxyquinoline) complex for blue chip‐excited OLEDs

The tris(8‐hydroxyquinoline)–aluminium complex is the most important and widely studied as electron transporting and green light emitting material. Alq₃ and Tb_xAl_(1‐x)q₃ have been synthesized (where x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9) and blended films of Alq₃ and Tb_xAl_(1‐x)q₃ with PMMA and PS at different percentage weight (wt%) concentrations (e.g., 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 wt%) have been prepared. The synthesized materials and their blended thin films have been characterized by a photoluminescence (PL) technique; the synthesis and PL characterization are reported in this paper. The synthesized metal complex shows bright emission of green light with blue light excitation (440 nm) and the prepared Tb_xAl_(1‐x)q₃ phosphor may be applicable in blue chip‐excited OLEDs for the newly developed wallpaper lighting technology. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Integrating frugivory and animal movement: a review of the evidence and implications for scaling seed dispersal

General principles about the consequences of seed dispersal by animals for the structure and dynamics of plant populations and communities remain elusive. This is in part because seed deposition patterns emerge from interactions between frugivore behaviour and the distribution of food resources, both of which can vary over space and time. Here we advocate a frugivore‐centred, process‐based, synthetic approach to seed dispersal research that integrates seed dispersal ecology and animal movement across multiple spatio‐temporal scales. To guide this synthesis, we survey existing literature using paradigms from seed dispersal and animal movement. Specifically, studies are discussed with respect to five criteria: selection of focal organisms (animal or plant); measurement of animal movement; characterization of seed shadow; animal, plant and environmental factors included in the study; and scales of the study. Most studies focused on either frugivores or plants and characterized seed shadows directly by combining gut retention time with animal movement data or indirectly by conducting maternity analysis of seeds. Although organismal traits and environmental factors were often measured, they were seldom used to characterize seed shadows. Multi‐scale analyses were rare, with seed shadows mostly characterized at fine spatial scales, over single fruiting seasons, and for individual dispersers. Novel animal‐ and seed‐tracking technologies, remote environmental monitoring tools, and advances in analytical methods can enable effective implementation of a hierarchical mechanistic approach to the study of seed dispersal. This kind of mechanistic approach will provide novel insights regarding the complex interplay between the factors that modulate animal behaviour and subsequently influence seed dispersal patterns across spatial and temporal scales.     

The History and Advances of Reversible Terminators Used in New Generations of Sequencing Technology

DNA sequencing using reversible terminators, as one sequencing by synthesis strategy, has garnered a great deal of interest due to its popular application in the second-generation high-throughput DNA sequencing technology. In this review, we provided its history of development, classification, and working mechanism of this technology. We also outlined the screening strategies for DNA polymerases to accommodate the reversible terminators as substrates during polymerization; particularly, we introduced the "REAP" method developed by us. At the end of this review, we discussed current limitations of this approach and provided potential solutions to extend its application.     

Permeation through Phospholipid Bilayers,Skin‐Cell Penetration,Plasma Stability,and CD Spectra of α‐ and β‐Oligoproline Derivatives

After a survey of the special role, which the amino acid proline plays in the chemistry of life, the cell‐penetrating properties of polycationic proline‐containing peptides are discussed, and the widely unknown discovery by the Giralt group (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002 , 124, 8876) is acknowledged, according to which fluorescein‐labeled tetradecaproline is slowly taken up by rat kidney cells (NRK‐49F). Here, we describe details of our previously mentioned (Chem. Biodiversity 2004 , 1, 1111) observation that a hexa‐β³‐Pro derivative penetrates fibroblast cells, and we present the results of an extensive investigation of oligo‐L ‐ and oligo‐D ‐α‐prolines, as well as of oligo‐β²h‐ and oligo‐β³h‐prolines without and with fluorescence labels ( 1 – 8 ; Fig. 1). Permeation through protein‐free phospholipid bilayers is detected with the nanoFAST biochip technology (Figs. 2–4). This methodology is applied for the first time for quantitative determination of translocation rates of cell‐penetrating peptides (CPPs) across lipid bilayers. Cell penetration is observed with mouse (3T3) and human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF; Figs. 5 and 6–8, resp.). The stabilities of oligoprolines in heparin‐stabilized human plasma increase with decreasing chain lengths (Figs. 9–11). Time‐ and solvent‐dependent CD spectra of most of the oligoprolines (Figs. 13 and 14) show changes that may be interpreted as arising from aggregation, and broadening of the NMR signals with time confirms this assumption.     

In silico identification of novel lncRNAs with a potential role in diagnosis of gastric cancer

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Due to the shortage of adequate symptoms in the early stages, it is diagnosed when the tumor has spread to distant organs. Early recognition of GC enhances the chance of successful treatment. Molecular mechanisms of GC are still poorly understood. LncRNAs are emerging as new players in cancer in both oncogene and tumor suppressor roles. High-throughput technologies such as RNA-Seq, have revealed thousands of lncRNAs which are dysregulated in GC. In this study, we retrieved lncRNAs obtained by High-throughput technologies from OncoLnc database. Consequently, retrieved lncRNAs were compared in literature-based databases including PubMed. As a result, two lists, including experimentally validated lncRNAs and predicted lncRNAs were provided. We found 43 predicted lncRNAs that had not been experimentally validated in GC, so far. Further Bioinformatics analyses were performed to obtain the expression profile of predicted lncRNAs in tumor and normal tissues. Also, the roles and targets of predicted lncRNAs in GC were identified by related databases. Finally, using the GEPIA database was reviewed the significant relationship of predicted lncRNAs with the survival of GC patients. By recognizing the lncRNAs involved in initiation and progression of GC, they may be considered as potential biomarkers in the GC early diagnosis or targeted treatment and lead to novel therapeutic strategies.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

Real-time dissolved carbon dioxide monitoring I: Application of a novel in situ sensor for CO2 monitoring and control

Dissolved carbon dioxide (dCO₂) is a well-known critical parameter in bioprocesses due to its significant impact on cell metabolism and on product quality attributes. Processes run at small-scale faces many challenges due to limited options for modular sensors for online monitoring and control. Traditional sensors are bulky, costly, and invasive in nature and do not fit in small-scale systems. In this study, we present the implementation of a novel, rate-based technique for real-time monitoring of dCO₂ in bioprocesses. A silicone sampling probe that allows the diffusion of CO₂ through its wall was inserted inside a shake flask/bioreactor and then flushed with air to remove the CO₂ that had diffused into the probe from the culture broth (sensor was calibrated using air as zero-point calibration). The gas inside the probe was then allowed to recirculate through gas-impermeable tubing to a CO₂ monitor. We have shown that by measuring the initial diffusion rate of CO₂ into the sampling probe we were able to determine the partial pressure of the dCO₂ in the culture. This technique can be readily automated, and measurements can be made in minutes. Demonstration experiments conducted with baker's yeast and Yarrowia lipolytica yeast cells in both shake flasks and mini bioreactors showed that it can monitor dCO₂ in real-time. Using the proposed sensor, we successfully implemented a dCO₂-based control scheme, which resulted in significant improvement in process performance.     

A novel immunoproteomics method for identifying in vivo-induced Campylobacter jejuni antigens using pre-adsorbed sera from infected patients

Background

Campylobacter jejuni is an important food-borne and zoonotic pathogen with a worldwide distribution. Humans and chickens are hosts of this pathogen. At present, there is no ideal vaccine for controlling human campylobacteriosis or the carriage of C. jejuni by chickens. Bacterial in vivo-induced antigens are useful as potential vaccine candidates and biomarkers of virulence.

Methods

In this study, we developed a novel systematic immunoproteomics approach to identify in vivo-induced antigens among the total cell proteins of C. jejuni using pre-adsorbed sera from patients infected with C. jejuni.

Results

Overall, 14 immunoreactive spots were probed on a PVDF membrane using pre-adsorbed human sera against C. jejuni. Then, we excised these protein spots from a duplicate gel and identified using MALDI–TOF MS. In total, 14 in vivo-induced antigens were identified using PMF and BLAST analysis. The identified proteins include CadF (CadF-1 and CadF-2), CheW, TufB, DnaK, MetK, LpxB, HslU, DmsA, PorA, ProS, CJBH_0976, CSU_0396 and hypothetical protein cje135_05017. Real-time RT-PCR was performed on 9 genes to compare their expression levels in vivo and in vitro. The data showed that 8 of the 9 analyzed genes were significantly upregulated in vivo relative to in vitro.

Conclusion

We successfully developed a novel immunoproteomics method for identifying in vivo-induced Campylobacter jejuni antigens by using pre-adsorbed sera from infected patients.

General significance

This new analysis method may prove to be useful for identifying in vivo-induced antigens within any host infected by bacteria and will contribute to the development of new subunit vaccines.     

Nanocapsules: A Novel Lipid Formulation Platform for Platinum-based Anti-cancer Drugs

Platinum-based anti-cancer agents have been used for many years to treat many different types of cancer. However, the efficacy of these drugs is limited by serious side effects. One of the strategies to reduce the side effects is encapsulation of the drug in a lipid formulation. Recently, we discovered a novel method for the efficient encapsulation of cisplatin in a lipid formulation. The method is unique in that it does not generate conventional liposomes but nanocapsules: small aggregates of solid cisplatin covered by a lipid bilayer. Also carboplatin, a cisplatin-derived anti-cancer drug with different chemical properties, can be efficiently encapsulated by a similar method. The encapsulation in nanocapsules dramatically improves the in vitro cytotoxicity of the platinum drugs. Our results hold the promise that the nanocapsule technology could prove successful in the efficient encapsulation of many other (platinum-based) drugs, and thereby improve their therapeutic index and profile in vivo.     

Bio-encapsulation of microbial cells for targeted agricultural delivery

Biofertilizers, namely Rhizobium and biocontrol agents such as Pseudomonas and Trichoderma have been well established in the field of agricultural practices for many decades. Nevertheless, research is still going on in the field of inoculant production to find methods to improve advanced formulation and application in fields. Conventionally used solid and liquid formulations encompass several problems with respect to the low viability of microorganisms during storage and field application. There is also lack of knowledge regarding the best carrier in conventional formulations. Immobilization of microorganisms however improves their shelf-life and field efficacy. In this context, microencapsulation is an advanced technology which has the possibility to overcome the drawbacks of other formulations, results in extended shelf-life, and controlled microbial release from formulations enhancing their application efficacy. This review discusses different microencapsulation technologies including the production strategies and application thereof in agricultural practices.