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| 3. |
- Beal, Jacob, et al.
(författare)
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Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density
- 2020
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Ingår i: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 3:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data.
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| 4. |
- Klionsky, Daniel J., et al.
(författare)
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Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy
- 2012
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Ingår i: Autophagy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1554-8635 .- 1554-8627. ; 8:4, s. 445-544
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field.
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| 5. |
- You, Xiaohu, et al.
(författare)
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Towards 6G wireless communication networks: vision, enabling technologies, and new paradigm shifts
- 2021
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Ingår i: Science China Information Sciences. - : Science Press. - 1674-733X .- 1869-1919. ; 64:1
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The fifth generation (5G) wireless communication networks are being deployed worldwide from 2020 and more capabilities are in the process of being standardized, such as mass connectivity, ultra-reliability, and guaranteed low latency. However, 5G will not meet all requirements of the future in 2030 and beyond, and sixth generation (6G) wireless communication networks are expected to provide global coverage, enhanced spectral/energy/cost efficiency, better intelligence level and security, etc. To meet these requirements, 6G networks will rely on new enabling technologies, i.e., air interface and transmission technologies and novel network architecture, such as waveform design, multiple access, channel coding schemes, multi-antenna technologies, network slicing, cell-free architecture, and cloud/fog/edge computing. Our vision on 6G is that it will have four new paradigm shifts. First, to satisfy the requirement of global coverage, 6G will not be limited to terrestrial communication networks, which will need to be complemented with non-terrestrial networks such as satellite and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication networks, thus achieving a space-air-ground-sea integrated communication network. Second, all spectra will be fully explored to further increase data rates and connection density, including the sub-6 GHz, millimeter wave (mmWave), terahertz (THz), and optical frequency bands. Third, facing the big datasets generated by the use of extremely heterogeneous networks, diverse communication scenarios, large numbers of antennas, wide bandwidths, and new service requirements, 6G networks will enable a new range of smart applications with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data technologies. Fourth, network security will have to be strengthened when developing 6G networks. This article provides a comprehensive survey of recent advances and future trends in these four aspects. Clearly, 6G with additional technical requirements beyond those of 5G will enable faster and further communications to the extent that the boundary between physical and cyber worlds disappears.
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| 6. |
- Xie, Jiaying, et al.
(författare)
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STING activation in TET2-mutated hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells contributes to the increased self-renewal and neoplastic transformation
- 2023
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Ingår i: Leukemia. - : Springer Nature. - 0887-6924 .- 1476-5551. ; 37:12, s. 2457-2467
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Somatic loss-of-function mutations of the dioxygenase Ten-eleven translocation-2 (TET2) occur frequently in individuals with clonal hematopoiesis (CH) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These common hematopoietic disorders can be recapitulated in mouse models. However, the underlying mechanisms by which the deficiency in TET2 promotes these disorders remain unclear. Here we show that the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is activated to mediate the effect of TET2 deficiency in dysregulated hematopoiesis in mouse models. DNA damage arising in Tet2-deficient hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) leads to activation of the cGAS-STING pathway which in turn promotes the enhanced self-renewal and development of CH. Notably, both pharmacological inhibition and genetic deletion of STING suppresses Tet2 mutation-induced aberrant hematopoiesis. In patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, STING inhibition specifically attenuates the proliferation of leukemia cells from TET2-mutated individuals. These observations suggest that the development of CH associated with TET2 mutations is powered through chronic inflammation dependent on the activated cGAS-STING pathway and that STING may represent a potential target for intervention of relevant hematopoietic diseases.
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| 8. |
- Wang, Yu-Cheng, et al.
(författare)
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Porous Carbon Membrane-Supported Atomically Dispersed Pyrrole-Type Fe-N-4 as Active Sites for Electrochemical Hydrazine Oxidation Reaction
- 2020
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Ingår i: Small. - : Wiley. - 1613-6810 .- 1613-6829. ; 16:31
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The rational design of catalytically active sites in porous materials is essential in electrocatalysis. Herein, atomically dispersed Fe-N-x sites supported by hierarchically porous carbon membranes are designed to electrocatalyze the hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR), one of the key techniques in electrochemical nitrogen transformation. The high intrinsic catalytic activity of the Fe-N-x single-atom catalyst together with the uniquely mixed micro-/macroporous membrane support positions such an electrode among the best-known heteroatom-based carbon anodes for hydrazine fuel cells. Combined with advanced characterization techniques, electrochemical probe experiments, and density functional theory calculation, the pyrrole-type Fe-N-4 structure is identified as the real catalytic site in HzOR.
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| 9. |
- Peng, Shi-Yu, et al.
(författare)
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Reduced motor cortex GABABR function following chronic alcohol exposure
- 2021
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Ingår i: Molecular Psychiatry. - : SPRINGERNATURE. - 1359-4184 .- 1476-5578. ; 26:2, s. 383-395
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The GABA(B) receptor (GABA(B)R) agonist baclofen has been used to treat alcohol and several other substance use disorders (AUD/SUD), yet its underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate cortical GABA(B)R dynamics following chronic alcohol exposure. Ex vivo brain slice recordings from mice chronically exposed to alcohol revealed a reduction in GABA(B)R-mediated currents, as well as a decrease of GABA(B1/2)R and G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channel 2 (GIRK2) activities in the motor cortex. Moreover, our data indicated that these alterations could be attributed to dephosphorylation at the site of serine 783 (ser-783) in GABA(B2) subunit, which regulates the surface expression of GABA(B)R. Furthermore, a human study using paired-pulse-transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) analysis further demonstrated a reduced cortical inhibition mediated by GABA(B)R in patients with AUD. Our findings provide the first evidence that chronic alcohol exposure is associated with significantly impaired cortical GABA(B)R function. The ability to promote GABA(B)R signaling may account for the therapeutic efficacy of baclofen in AUD.
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| 10. |
- Gao, Xindi, et al.
(författare)
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Cryptococcal Hsf3 controls intramitochondrial ROS homeostasis by regulating the respiratory process
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 13:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mitochondrial quality control prevents accumulation of intramitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species (mtROS), thereby protecting cells against DNA damage, genome instability, and programmed cell death. However, underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood, particularly in fungal species. Here, we show that Cryptococcus neoformans heat shock factor 3 (CnHsf3) exhibits an atypical function in regulating mtROS independent of the unfolded protein response. CnHsf3 acts in nuclei and mitochondria, and nuclear- and mitochondrial-targeting signals are required for its organelle-specific functions. It represses the expression of genes involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle while promoting expression of genes involved in electron transfer chain. In addition, CnHsf3 responds to multiple intramitochondrial stresses; this response is mediated by oxidation of the cysteine residue on its DNA binding domain, which enhances DNA binding. Our results reveal a function of HSF proteins in regulating mtROS homeostasis that is independent of the unfolded protein response.
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| 11. |
- Liu, Chun-Yan, et al.
(författare)
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Massively Parallel Aligned Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Nanofibrils in All-Organic Dielectric Polymer Composite Films for Electric Energy Storage
- 2023
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Ingår i: Macromolecules. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0024-9297 .- 1520-5835. ; 56:4, s. 1481-1491
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is a formidable challenge to combine the perform-ance advantages of linear and nonlinear polymer dielectrics for developing all-organic film capacitors with high energy density and low loss. In this work, massively parallel aligned poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibrils were in situ fabricated for the first time in the polyethylene (PE) matrix via a multistage stretching technology involving hot stretching and solid-state stretching at an elevated temperature. The largely enhanced interfacial area of PVDF nanofibrils could effectively induce interfacial polarization, imparting PE composite films with a high dielectric constant of 4.50. More interestingly, the nanoconfinement effect of PVDF nanofibrils greatly restricted the migration of free electrons and impurity ions, and an impressive breakdown strength of 624 MV m-1 was obtained. As a result, the as-prepared PE/PVDF composite films exhibited an attractive discharged energy density of as high as 6.4 J cm-3, which was more than 10 times of the conventional counterparts, and outperformed the current linear dielectric polymers. The ingenious structure design of in situ nonlinear dielectric nanofibrils provides a promising approach to maximize the advantageous polarizations and minimize the disadvantageous polarizations in the linear and nonlinear polymer dielectric blends, achieving all-organic polymer dielectric composite films with high energy density and low loss.
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| 12. |
- Sheng, Renwang, et al.
(författare)
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Material stiffness in cooperation with macrophage paracrine signals determines the tenogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells
- 2023
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Ingår i: Advanced Science. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2198-3844. ; 10:17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stiffness is an important physical property of biomaterials that determines stem cell fate. Guiding stem cell differentiation via stiffness modulation has been considered in tissue engineering. However, the mechanism by which material stiffness regulates stem cell differentiation into the tendon lineage remains controversial. Increasing evidence demonstrates that immune cells interact with implanted biomaterials and regulate stem cell behaviors via paracrine signaling; however, the role of this mechanism in tendon differentiation is not clear. In this study, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates with different stiffnesses are developed, and the tenogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exposed to different stiffnesses and macrophage paracrine signals is investigated. The results reveal that lower stiffnesses facilitates tenogenic differentiation of MSCs, while macrophage paracrine signals at these stiffnesses suppress the differentiation. When exposed to these two stimuli, MSCs still exhibit enhanced tendon differentiation, which is further elucidated by global proteomic analysis. Following subcutaneous implantation in rats for 2 weeks, soft biomaterial induces only low inflammation and promotes tendon-like tissue formation. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that soft, rather than stiff, material has a greater potential to guide tenogenic differentiation of stem cells, which provides comprehensive evidence for optimized bioactive scaffold design in tendon tissue engineering.
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