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Additional file 1: Table S1. The genetic sequences used in this study. Table S2. The amino acid sequences used in this study. Table S3. Fluorescence ratios of six proteins fused with YFP at the N-terminus to YFP at the C-terminus. Table S4. Structural information of six proteins. Fig. S1. The protein structure design diagram. Fig. S2. The plasmid map of pET23a-mCherry-FucU. Fig. S3. The plasmid map of pET23a-sfGFP-FucU. Fig. S4. The plasmid map of pET23a-TFX-FucU. Fig. S5. The plasmid map of pET23a-YFP-FucU. Fig. S6. The plasmid map of pET23a-FucU-YFP. Fig. S7. The workflow of cell-free protein synthesis system. Fig. S8. The workflow for the effects of redox environments on cell-free protein expression and self-assembly. Fig. S9. The workflow for the effects of NaCl concentration on cell-free protein expression and self-assembly. Fig. S10. The size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) results of six proteins. Fig. S11. Imaging of YFP, sfGFP, mCherry proteins expressed individually in CFPS system under confocal microscope. Fig. S12. Imaging of the self-assembled protein YFP-LdcI under a confocal microscope. Fig. S13. Imaging of the self-assembled protein YFP-AsnC under a confocal microscope. Fig. S14. Imaging of the self-assembled protein YFP-IadA under a confocal microscope. Fig. S15. Imaging of the self-assembled protein YFP-FucU under a confocal microscope. Fig. S16. Imaging of the self-assembled protein YFP-PanB under a confocal microscope. Fig. S17. Imaging of the self-assembled protein YFP-AdiA under a confocal microscope. Fig. S18. Western blot analysis of proteins fused with TFX.

Magnetic microspheres measuring 15–35 µm in diameter are believed to be useful for intra-arterial hyperthermia. In this study, we attempted to prepare titanium dioxide (TiO2) microspheres containing magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). MNP-containing TiO2 microspheres with diameters of approximately 30 µm were successfully obtained by sol–gel reaction of titanium tetraisopropoxide in a water-in-oil emulsion with added cosurfactant of 1-butanol and subsequent heat treatment at 200°C. The microspheres showed ferrimagnetism owing to high content of MNPs in approximately 60 wt % and had a low-crystalline TiO2 matrix. Furthermore, the agar phantom was heated to above 43°C after approximately 1 min under an alternating magnetic field of 100 kHz and 300 Oe and showed in vitro biocompatibility similar to that of MNP-free TiO2 microspheres. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 2308–2314, 2017.

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The diverse fungal communities that colonize fruit surfaces are closely associated with fruit development, preservation and quality control. However, the overall fungi adhering to the fruit surface and the inference of environmental factors are still unknown. Here, we characterized the fungal signatures on apple surfaces by sequencing internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region. We collected the surface fungal communities from apple fruits cultivated in rural and peri-urban orchards. A total of 111 fungal genera belonging to 4 phyla were identified, showing remarkable fungal diversity on the apple surface. Comparative analysis of rural samples harboured higher fungal diversity than those from peri-urban orchards. In addition, fungal composition varied significantly across apple samples. At the genus level, the protective genera Coniothyrium, Paraphaeosphaeria and Periconia were enriched in rural samples. The pathogenic genera Acremonium, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Tilletiposis were enriched in peri-urban samples. Our findings indicate that rural samples maintained more diverse fungal communities on apple surfaces, whereas peri-urban-planted apple carried potential pathogenic risks. This study sheds light on ways to improve fruit cultivation and disease prevention practices.

Initial cell responses following implantation are important for inducing osteoconductivity. We investigated cell adhesion, spreading, and proliferation in response to native and bovine serum albumin (BSA)-adsorbed disc of hydroxyapatite (HA) or alpha-type alumina (α-Al2O3) using mouse MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells and mouse RAW264.7 macrophages. The adsorbed BSA inhibited adhesion and spreading of MC3T3-E1 cells, but did not affect MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation on HA and α-Al2O3 substrates. Thus, MC3T3-E1 cells quickly adhere to original HA before cell binding is impeded by adsorption of BSA in quantities sufficient to inhibit the adhesion of MC3T3-E1 cells. The adsorbed BSA inhibits adhesion of RAW264.7 cells to α-Al2O3, but not to HA. BSA adsorption does not affect RAW264.7 cell spreading and proliferation on both HA and α-Al2O3 substrates. Thus, BSA adsorbed on HA stimulates a different cell response than α-Al2O3. Moreover, quick adherence of osteoblast cells and monocyte-macrophage lineage cells plays a role in HA osteoconductivity.

Roundabouts have been continuously constructed in the U.S. in recent years, as studies have shown their capability of reducing crash risk and severity when compared with signalized intersections. Despite of the safety benefits offered by roundabouts, operational efficiency is required be analyzed when considering building roundabouts. As a prevailing simulation platform for modeling roundabouts, VISSIM have been widely applied in practice to facilitate analyzing the operational performance of roundabouts. Considering that an essential prerequisite to preparing a VISSIM roundabout model is to calibrate the model by adjusting VISSIM parameters, comprehensive calibration guidance is of great importance to practitioners. Previous calibration research has conducted qualitative analysis to study the impact of VISSIM parameters on roundabout capacity. However, parameter values based on field data and quantitative calibration guidelines are more helpful to facilitate fast and accurate modeling of roundabouts. This paper addresses these important needs. Speed trajectories of free-flow entering vehicles were collected in the field using a radar sensor. Location, length, speed distribution, and deceleration rate parameters for the VISSIM Reduced Speed Areas (RSA) were determined through the analysis of the radar data. The impact of VISSIM parameters on critical gap and follow-up headway was quantitatively analyzed through sensitivity analysis of minimum gap for PR, speed distribution and deceleration rate for RSA, and additive and multiplicative settings for the Wiedemann 74 model. Numerical guidelines for calibrating VISSIM roundabout models were ultimately developed, and validated via a case study.