High MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 protein levels in osteoarthritis

Our study examined the relationship between the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 proteins and the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). We employed rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria in computer-based bibliographic databases to extract published studies relevant to this investigation. The STATA 12.0 software was used for the statistical analyses. A total of 1408 studies were initially searched, and 10 studies with 458 OA patients and 295 healthy controls were included in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis results suggested that the protein levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 were higher in patients with OA than those in the control group. A subgroup analysis according to ethnicity showed that the protein levels of MMP-1 and MMP-2 were higher in Asian patients with OA than in controls. Caucasians showed no statistically significant differences in protein expression of MMP-1 and MMP-2 between the OA patient group and the control group. Interestingly, the protein levels of MMP-9 in patients with OA were higher than those in the control group in both Asians and Caucasians. A sample-source analysis suggested that the serum levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins were higher in patients with OA than in controls, while MMP-1 and MMP-9 protein expressions were higher in the synovial joint fluid of patients with OA than in controls. In conclusion, our meta-analysis results suggested that the increased expression of MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 proteins might be associated with the pathogenesis of OA.

Full three-dimensional power flow analysis of single-emitter-plasmonic-nanoantenna system

We present a full three-dimensional (3D) power flow analysis of an emitter-nanoantenna system. A conventional analysis, based on the total Poynting vector, calculates only the coupling strength in terms of the Purcell enhancement. For a better understanding of the emitter-nanoantenna system, not only the Purcell enhancement but also complete information on the energy transfer channels is necessary. The separation of the pure scattering and emitter output Poynting vectors enables the quantification of the individual energy transfer channels. Employing the finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD), we examine a nanodisk antenna that supports the bright dipole and dark quadrupole resonance modes for which the power flow characteristics are completely distinct, and we analyze the power flow enhancements to the energy transfer channels with respect to the wavelength, polarization, and position of the emitter coupled to the antenna. The 3D power flow analysis reveals how the constructive or destructive interference between the emitter and the antenna resonance mode affects the power flow enhancements and the far-field radiation pattern. Our proposed power flow analysis should play a critical role in characterizing the emitter-antenna system and customizing its energy transfer properties for desired applications.

Plasmonic nano-comb structures for efficient large-area second harmonic generation

We propose and demonstrate plasmonic nano-comb (PNC) structures for efficient large-area second-harmonic generation (SHG). The PNCs are made of 250 nm-thick gold film and have equally-spaced 30 nm-slits filled with ployvinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene (P(VDF-TrFE)). The PNC with 1.0 μm-spacing couples resonantly with 1.56 μm 100-fs laser beams. For the 1.0 μm-spacing PNCs under the fixed-pump-power condition, the nonlinear SHG power remains almost independent of the pump diameter ranging from 2 μm to 6 μm. The SHG power from the resonant PNC is measured to be 8 times larger than that of the single-nano-gap metallic structure, when the pump beam is tightly-focused to 2 μm in diameter in both cases. This relative enhancement of the total nonlinear SHG signal power reaches up to >200 when the pump beam diameter is increased to 6 μm. We attribute this unusual phenomenon to the resonant coupling of the finite-size pump wave with the finite-size one-dimensional plasmonic mode.

Developmental immunolocalization of the Klotho protein in mouse kidney epithelial cells

A defect in Klotho gene expression in the mouse results in a syndrome that resembles rapid human aging. In this study, we investigated the detailed distribution and the time of the first appearance of Klotho in developing and adult mouse kidney. Kidneys from 16-(F16), 18-(F18) and 20-day-old (F20) fetuses, 1- (P1), 4- (P4), 7- (P7), 14- (P14), and 21-day-old (P21) pups and adults were processed for immunohistochemistry and immunoblot analyses. In the developing mouse kidney, Klotho immunoreactivity was initially observed in a few cells of the connecting tubules (CNT) of 18-day-old fetus (F) and in the medullary collecting duct (MCD) and distal nephron of the F16 developing kidney. In F20, Klotho immunoreactivity was increased in CNT and additionally observed in the outer portion of MCD and tip of the renal papilla. During the first 3 weeks after birth, Klotho-positive cells gradually disappeared from the MCD due to apoptosis, but remained in the CNT and cortical collecting ducts (CCD). In the adult mouse, the Klotho protein was expressed only in a few cells of the CNT and CCD in cortical area. Also, Klotho immunoreactivity was observed in the aquaporin 2-positive CNT, CCD, and NaCl co-transporter-positive distal convoluted tubule (DCT) cells and type B and nonA-nonB intercalated cells of CNT, DCT, and CCD. Collectively, our data indicate that immunolocalization of Klotho is closely correlated with proliferation in the intercalated cells of CNT and CCD from aging, and may be involved in the regulation of tubular proliferation.

Design of plasmonic nano-antenna for total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy

We propose a gold modified bow-tie plasmonic nano-antenna, which can be suitably used in combination with total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. The plasmonic nano-antenna, supporting well-separated multiple resonances, not only concentrates the total internal reflection evanescent field at the deep subwavelength scale, but also enhances fluorescence emission by the Purcell effect. Finite-difference time-domain computations show that the enhancement of the excitation light strongly correlates with the far-field radiation pattern radiated from the antenna. Depending on the antenna geometry, the resonant modes are widely tuned and their wavelengths can be easily matched to the diverse emission or excitation wavelengths of fluorophores.

Resistive switching characteristics of the Cr/ZnO/Cr structure

Resistive random access memory (ReRAM) with conductor-dielectric-conductor structures has attracted extensive attention for next generation nonvolatile memory devices. The resistive switching effect has been observed in various materials, such as metal oxides and chalcogenide oxides. From our findings, we advocate the resistive switching characteristics of zinc oxide thin film, due to its simple composition and ease of manipulation. In this study, we investigated the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the Cr/ZnO/Cr capacitor structure. The Cr electrode and ZnO thin film were deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering at room temperature. The top electrode layers were patterned by 100 microm x 100 microm. The fabricated devices of the Cr/ZnO/Cr structures exhibited bipolar switching behavior. In addition, using the Cr-coated AFM tip replaced with the top electrode enabled us to map the local current image and measure the current flow at each point. This gave us more information to verify the resistive switching mechanism of ZnO thin film.

Anti-biofouling property of vanillin on Aeromonas hydrophila initial biofilm on various membrane surfaces

Biofouling is a serious problem on filter membranes of water purification systems due to formation of bacterial biofilms, which can be detrimental to the membrane performance. Biofouling occurs on membrane surface and therefore greatly influences the physical and chemical aspects of the surface. Several membranes including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes were used to learn about the anti-biofouling properties of vanillin affecting the membrane performances. Vanillin has been recognized as a potential quorum quenching compound for Aeromonas hydrophila biofilms. The initial attachment and dynamics of biofilm growth were monitored using scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Biofilm quantities were measured using a plate count method and total protein determinations. Vanillin addition was effective in the prevention of biofilm formation on the tested membrane surfaces. Among the membranes, RO membranes made with cellulose acetate showed the most substantial reduction of biofilm formation by addition of vanillin. The biofilm reduction was confirmed by the results of surface coverage, biomass and protein accumulation. The HPLC spectrum of the spent culture with vanillin addition showed that vanillin may interfere with quorum sensing molecules and thus prevent the formation of the biofilms.

Electronic structure of Zn doped Fe3O4 thin films

We investigated the effect of Zn doping on the electronic property of magnetite by using optical spectroscopy. The (Zn(x)Fe(1-x))Fe2O4 (ZFFO) (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.5) samples were prepared by PLD technique. The XRD measurement revealed that all the samples have an inverse spinel-type of crystalline structure. The M-H curves indicate that the saturation magnetization reduces with the increasing x. From the spectroscopic ellipsometry and infrared spectroscopy, we found that the doping of nonmagnetic Zn2+ ions leads to the dramatic change in the electronic structure of the ZFFO films. We discuss the correlation of our spectra with the electric and magnetic properties of the ZFFO films.

CsSnI3: Semiconductor or metal? High electrical conductivity and strong near-infrared photoluminescence from a single material. High hole mobility and phase-transitions

CsSnI(3) is an unusual perovskite that undergoes complex displacive and reconstructive phase transitions and exhibits near-infrared emission at room temperature. Experimental and theoretical studies of CsSnI(3) have been limited by the lack of detailed crystal structure characterization and chemical instability. Here we describe the synthesis of pure polymorphic crystals, the preparation of large crack-/bubble-free ingots, the refined single-crystal structures, and temperature-dependent charge transport and optical properties of CsSnI(3), coupled with ab initio first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In situ temperature-dependent single-crystal and synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction studies reveal the origin of polymorphous phase transitions of CsSnI(3). The black orthorhombic form of CsSnI(3) demonstrates one of the largest volumetric thermal expansion coefficients for inorganic solids. Electrical conductivity, Hall effect, and thermopower measurements on it show p-type metallic behavior with low carrier density, despite the optical band gap of 1.3 eV. Hall effect measurements of the black orthorhombic perovskite phase of CsSnI(3) indicate that it is a p-type direct band gap semiconductor with carrier concentration at room temperature of ∼ 10(17) cm(-3) and a hole mobility of ∼585 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). The hole mobility is one of the highest observed among p-type semiconductors with comparable band gaps. Its powders exhibit a strong room-temperature near-IR emission spectrum at 950 nm. Remarkably, the values of the electrical conductivity and photoluminescence intensity increase with heat treatment. The DFT calculations show that the screened-exchange local density approximation-derived band gap agrees well with the experimentally measured band gap. Calculations of the formation energy of defects strongly suggest that the electrical and light emission properties possibly result from Sn defects in the crystal structure, which arise intrinsically. Thus, although stoichiometric CsSnI(3) is a semiconductor, the material is prone to intrinsic defects associated with Sn vacancies. This creates highly mobile holes which cause the materials to appear metallic.

Human insulin secreted from insulinogenic xenograft restores normoglycemia in type 1 diabetic mice without immunosuppression

In the present study, we examined the therapeutic potential of human amnion-derived insulin-secreting cells for type 1 diabetes. Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMs) were isolated from amnion and cultivated to differentiate into insulin-secreting cells in vitro. After culture in vitro, the differentiated cells (hAM-ISCs) were intensively stained with dithizone and secreted insulin and c-peptide in a high-glucose-dependent manner. They expressed mRNAs of pancreatic cell-related genes, including INS, PDX1, Nkx6-1, NEUROG3, ISL1, NEUROD1, GLUT1, GLUT2, PC1/3, PC2, GCK, PPY, SST, and GC, and were positive for human insulin and c-peptide. Transplantation of hAM-ISCs into the kidneys of mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes restored body weight and normalized the blood glucose levels, which lasted for 210 days. Only human insulin and c-peptide were detected in the blood of normalized mice after 2 months of transplantation, but little mouse insulin and c-peptide. Removal of graft-bearing kidneys from these mice resulted in causing hyperglycemia again. Human cell-specific gene, hAlu, and human pancreatic cell-specific genes, insulin, PDX1, GLUT1, GLP1R, Nkx6-1, NEUROD1, and NEUROG3, were detected in the graft-bearing kidneys. Colocalization of human insulin and human nuclei antigen was also observed. These results demonstrate that hAMs could differentiate into functional insulin-secreting cells in vitro, and human insulin secreted from hAM-ISCs following transplantation into type 1 diabetic mice could normalize hyperglycemia, overcoming immune rejection for a long period.

Identification of histamine receptors and effects of histamine on murine and simian colonic excitability

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory responses can include recruitment of cells of hematopoietic origin to the tunica muscularis. These cells can secrete a variety of factors which can reset the gain of smooth muscle cells (SMC) and influence motor patterns. Histamine (H), a major mediator in inflammation, is released by mast cells and exerts diverse effects in SMC by binding to H receptors. The profiles of H receptor expression in animal models used to study inflammatory diseases are unknown.

METHODS

Histamine receptor expression and electro-mechanical responses to H were tested in simian and murine colonic smooth muscle using qualitative and quantitative PCR, isometric force measurements, microelectrode recordings and patch clamp techniques.

KEY RESULTS

H1, H2, and H4 receptor transcripts were expressed at similar levels in simian colonic tissue whereas only the H2 receptor transcript was detected in murine colonic tissue. Stimulation of simian colonic muscles with H caused depolarization and contraction in the presence of tetrodotoxin. Histamine activated non-selective cation channels in simian SMC. In contrast, H caused hyperpolarization and inhibited contractions of murine colon. The hyperpolarization was inhibited by the K(ATP) channel blocker, glibenclamide. Histamine-activated K(+) currents were inhibited by glibenclamide in murine colonic SMC.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Histamine receptor expression in simian SMC was similar to that reported in humans. However, H receptor profile and responses to H were considerably different in mice. Thus, monkey colon may be a more suitable model to study how inflammatory mediators affect the gain of smooth muscle excitability.

First Report of Leaf Blight Caused by Nigrospora sphaerica on Curcuma in China

Curcuma (family Zingiberaceae) is commonly cultivated for the use of rhizomes within traditional Chinese medicines. In October 2009 and 2010, severe leaf blight was observed on Curcuma wenyujin Y.H. Chen & C. Ling (4) in fields located in Ruian, China. The area of cultivation in Ruian encompasses 90% of the production in Zhejiang Province. Disease incidence was approximately 90% of plants observed in affected fields. Early symptoms were yellow-to-brown, irregular-shaped lesions on the leaf margin or tip. After several days, lesions expanded along the mid-vein until the entire leaf was destroyed. Blighted leaves turned grayish to dark brown and withered, and severely affected plants died. Eight fungal isolates were recovered from symptomatic C. wenyujin leaves, collected from eight different fields, on potato dextrose agar (PDA). These fungal colonies were initially white, becoming light to dark gray and produced black, spherical to subspherical, single-celled conidia (14 to 17 × 12 to 15 μm), which were borne on a hyaline vesicle at the tip of the conidiophores. On the basis of these morphological features, the isolates appeared to be similar to Nigrospora sphaerica (2). Strain ZJW-1 was selected as a representative for molecular identification. Genomic DNA was extracted from the isolate, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) was amplified using ITS1 (5'-TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG-3') and ITS4 (5'-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3') primers (3). The ITS region was further cloned and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. JF738028) and was 99% identical to N. sphaerica (GenBank Accession No. FJ478134.1). On the basis of morphological data and the ITS rDNA sequence, the isolate was determined to be N. sphaerica. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on four leaves of four C. wenyujin plants by placing agar pieces (5 mm in diameter) from 8-day-old cultures on pushpin-wounded leaves. An equal number of control plants were wounded and inoculated with noncolonized PDA agar pieces. Plants were placed in moist chambers at 25°C with a 12-h photoperiod. Brown-to-black lesions were observed on wounded leaves after 3 days and expanded to an average of 56 × 40 mm 15 days after inoculation. No symptoms developed on the control leaves. The pathogen was reisolated from the margins of necrotic tissues but not from the controls. The pathogen has been reported as a leaf pathogen on several hosts worldwide (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of N. sphaerica as a leaf pathogen of C. wenyujin in China. Future research will focus primarily on management of this disease. References: (1) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases, Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Retrieved from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ , March 31, 2011. (2) E. W. Mason. Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 12:152, 1927. (3) T. J. White et al. PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990. (4) J. Zhao et al. Molecules 15:7547, 2010.

Optical recoil of asymmetric nano-optical antenna

We propose nano-optical antennas with asymmetric radiation patterns as light-driven mechanical recoil force generators. Directional antennas are found to generate recoil force efficiently when driven in the spectral proximity of their resonances. It is also shown that the recoil force is equivalent to the Poynting vector integrated over a closed sphere containing the antenna structures.

Silymarin efficacy against influenza A virus replication

The anti-influenza A/PR/8/34 virus activity of silymarin was evaluated in MDCK cells and investigated the effect of silymarin on synthesis of viral mRNAs. Silymarin was investigated for its antiviral activity against influenza A/PR virus using a cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction method. Silymarin exhibited anti-influenza A/PR/8/34 virus activity of 98% with no cytotoxicity at the concentration of 100 μg/ml reducing the formation of a visible CPE. Oseltamivir also did show moderate antiviral activity of about 52% against influenza A/PR/8/34 virus at the concentration of 100 μg/ml. Furthermore, the mechanism of anti-influenza virus action in the inhibition of viral mRNA synthesis was analyzed by Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), and the data indicated an inhibitory effect in late viral RNA synthesis compared with oseltamivir in the presence of 100 μg/ml of silymarin. Therefore, the potential of silymarin for use in treating influenza virus infection merits greater attention.

Thallium chalcohalides for X-ray and γ-ray detection

We report that the chalcohalide compound Tl(6)SeI(4) is a promising material for efficient X-ray and γ-ray detection. This material has a higher figure of merit than the current state-of-the-art material for room-temperature operation, Cd(0.9)Zn(0.1)Te (CZT). We have synthesized high-quality single-crystalline wafers of Tl(6)SeI(4) with detector-grade resistivities and good carrier transport of both electrons and holes. We demonstrate that pulse height spectra recorded using Co-57 radiation show an energy resolution matching that of a commercial CZT detector material.

Synthesis in ionic liquids: [Bi2Te2Br](AlCl4), a direct gap semiconductor with a cationic framework

The Lewis acidic ionic liquid EMIMBr-AlCl(3) (EMIM = 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium) allows a novel synthetic route to the semiconducting layered metal chalcogenides halide [Bi(2)Te(2)Br](AlCl(4)) and its Sb analogue. [Bi(2)Te(2)Br](AlCl(4)) is a direct band gap, strongly anisotropic semiconductor and consists of cationic infinite layers of [Bi(2)Te(2)Br](+) and [AlCl(4)](-) anions inserted between the layers.

Interfacial Dirac cones from alternating topological invariant superlattice structures of Bi2Se3

When the three-dimensional topological insulators Bi2Se3 and Bi2Te3 have an interface with vacuum, i.e., a surface, they show remarkable features such as topologically protected and spin-momentum locked surface states. However, for practical applications, one often requires multiple interfaces or channels rather than a single surface. Here, for the first time, we show that an interfacial and ideal Dirac cone is realized by alternating band and topological insulators. The multichannel Dirac fermions from the superlattice structures open a new way for applications such as thermoelectric and spintronics devices. Indeed, utilizing the interfacial Dirac fermions, we also demonstrate the possible power factor improvement for thermoelectric applications.

Microscopic origins for stabilizing room-temperature ferromagnetism in ultrathin manganite layers

La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO(3) is a conducting ferromagnet at room temperature. Combined with thin SrTiO(3) layers, the resulting heterostructures could be used as highly spin-polarized magnetic-tunnel-junction memories. However, when shrunk to dimensions below an apparent critical thickness, the structures become insulating and ferromagnetic ordering is suppressed. Interface spin and charge modulations are thought to create an interfacial dead layer, thus fundamentally limiting the use of this material in atomic-scale devices. The thickness of this dead layer, and whether it is intrinsic, is still controversial. Here we use atomic-resolution electron spectroscopy to demonstrate that the degradation of the magnetic and transport properties of La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO(3)/SrTiO(3) multilayers correlates with atomic intermixing at the interfaces, and the presence of extended two-dimensional cation defects in the La(0.7)Sr(0.3)MnO(3) layers (in contrast to three-dimensional precipitates in thick films). When these extrinsic defects are eliminated, metallic ferromagnetism at room temperature can be stabilized in five-unit-cell-thick manganite layers in superlattices, placing the upper limit for any intrinsic dead layer at two unit cells per interface.

Inhibitory effects of orobol 7-O-D-glucoside from banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa L.) on human rhinoviruses replication

AIMS

The anti-human rhinovirus (HRV) activity of orobol 7-O-d-glucoside (O7G) from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. (Lythraceae) was evaluated in Hela cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We tested anti-HRV activity of O7G using a cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction method, which exhibited broad-spectrum anti-HRVs activity with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) ranging from 0.58 to 8.80 microg ml(-1). The 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC(50)) of O7G is more than 100 microg ml(-1), and the derived therapeutic indices are more than 12. Ribavirin didn't possess antiviral activity against HRV15, HRV3 and HRV5, but exhibited weak antiviral activity against HRV2 and HRV3, and showed strong anti-HRV6 and -14 activities.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that O7G is a novel drug class with broad spectrum antiviral activity against HRV species A (HRV1B, HRV2, HRV15 and HRV40) and species B (HRV3, HRV6 and HRV14), as well as pleconaril-resistant virus (HRV5).

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Therefore, these findings provide important information for the utilization of Q7G promising broad spectrum for human rhinovirus treatment.

One-dimensional parabolic-beam photonic crystal laser

We report one-dimensional (1-D) parabolic-beam photonic crystal (PhC) lasers in which the width of the PhC slab waveguide is parabolically tapered. A few high-Q resonant modes are confirmed in the vicinity of the tapered region where Gaussian-shaped photonic well is formed. These resonant modes originate from the dielectric PhC guided mode and overlap with the gain medium efficiently. It is also shown that the far-field radiation profile is closely associated with the symmetry of the structural perturbation.