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Abstract: The manufacturing of silicon carbide reinforced ceramic matrix composites by a hybrid process is explored. Fibre preforms are infiltrated with TiSi2 powders using the slurry method. Using TiSi2 active filler leads to reduce the porosity by the subsequent formation of nitride phases after treatment under N2 atmosphere at low temperatures (≤1100°C). Taking into account the influence of the specific surface area of the powder on the nitridation rate, it is shown that it is possible to produce nitrides TiN and Si3N4 at 1100°C with an interesting volume expansion inside the composite. To complete the densification of the composite, a polymer impregnation and pyrolysis (PIP) process are performed with a liquid polymeric precursor. Characterizations of the composites show that mechanical properties are improved with the presence of the TiN and Si3N4 phases, and the number of PIP cycles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents several scientific studies on tissue engineering. 'Uses of Polyester Fabrics Modified by Insulin/RGD in Serum-Free Cell Cultures,' by H. T ü rkoglu and M. G ü m ü sderelioglu; 'Tissue Engineering of Bone Using Collagen and PHBV Matrices,' by G. Torun K ö se, F. Korkusuz, A. Ö zkul, S. Ber, H. Kenar and V. Hasirci'; 'Angiogenesis in Tissue Engineering,' by Y.M. Elcin.

Abstract: This paper reports on the nitriding process of TiSi2 micro/submicrometer-sized powders. TiSi2 powders were treated under nitrogen flow, at 1100°C, during various durations. The composition and morphology of the nitride powders are characterized by X-ray diffraction and observed on cross-section, prepared using ion polishing system by scanning electron microscopy whereas the chemical composition is analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. All these analyses revealed that under nitrogen flow, TiSi2 grains are first transformed into a core-shell structure composed of TiN, surrounded by Si. Long nitriding treatments result in the complete transformation of Si3N4. These results are discussed in terms of various diffusion limitation phenomena. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The stepwise, one-pot synthesis of heterobimetallic carbene gold(i) platinum(ii) complexes from readily available starting materials is presented. The protecting group free methodology is based on the graduated nucleophilicities of aliphatic and aromatic amines as linkers between both metal centers. This enables the selective, sequential installation of the metal fragments. In addition, the obtained complexes were tested as potential anticancer agents and directly compared to their gold(i) palladium(ii) counterparts., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Fluorescence lifetime sensing enables researchers to probe the physicochemical environment of a fluorophore providing a window through which we can observe the complex molecular make-up of the cell. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) quantifies and maps cell biochemistry, a complex ensemble of dynamic processes. Unfortunately, typical high-resolution FLIM systems exhibit rather limited acquisition speeds, often insufficient to capture the time evolution of biochemical processes in living cells. Here, we describe the theoretical background that justifies the developments of high-speed single photon counting systems. We show that systems with low dead-times not only result in faster acquisition throughputs but also improved dynamic range and spatial resolution. We also share the implementation of hardware and software as an open platform, show applications of fast FLIM biochemical imaging on living cells and discuss strategies to balance precision and accuracy in FLIM. The recent innovations and commercialisation of fast time-domain FLIM systems are likely to popularise FLIM within the biomedical community, to impact biomedical research positively and to foster the adoption of other FLIM techniques as well. While supporting and indeed pursuing these developments, with this work we also aim to warn the community about the possible shortcomings of fast single photon counting techniques and to highlight strategies to acquire data of high quality.

Mutations activating KRAS underlie many forms of cancer, but are refractory to therapeutic targeting. Here, we develop Poloppin, an inhibitor of protein-protein interactions via the Polo-box domain (PBD) of the mitotic Polo-like kinases (PLKs), in monotherapeutic and combination strategies to target mutant KRAS. Poloppin engages its targets in biochemical and cellular assays, triggering mitotic arrest with defective chromosome congression. Poloppin kills cells expressing mutant KRAS, selectively enhancing death in mitosis. PLK1 or PLK4 depletion recapitulates these cellular effects, as does PBD overexpression, corroborating Poloppin's mechanism of action. An optimized analog with favorable pharmacokinetics, Poloppin-II, is effective against KRAS-expressing cancer xenografts. Poloppin resistance develops less readily than to an ATP-competitive PLK1 inhibitor; moreover, cross-sensitivity persists. Poloppin sensitizes mutant KRAS-expressing cells to clinical inhibitors of c-MET, opening opportunities for combination therapy. Our findings exemplify the utility of small molecules modulating the protein-protein interactions of PLKs to therapeutically target mutant KRAS-expressing cancers., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas (AITLs) are the second most frequent peripheral T-cell lymphomas in humans worldwide and histomorphologically well characterized. MicroRNAs are a group of small non-coding RNAs that can negatively regulate gene expression on a posttranscriptional level. Their dysregulation has been shown to be of importance in numerous tumour entities., Materials and Methods: As a first step towards understanding the possible influence of microRNA-dysregulation in AITL, we analyzed the expression signatures of 760 microRNAs in 30 nodal AITLs in comparison to reactive lymphadenitis with T-zone hyperplasia., Results: We found miR-34a, miR-146a and miR-193b to be up-regulated, as well as miR-140-3p, let-7g, miR-30b and miR-664 to be down-regulated in AITL to a significant level., Conclusion: The microRNA-signatures of AITL reveal some overlap to autoimmune diseases, virus-triggered lymphomas and angiogenic factors that, coupled with future studies, will potentially provide better understanding of this disease., (Copyright© 2015 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.)

Glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive adult brain tumor, is characterized by extreme phenotypic diversity and treatment failure. Through fluorescence-guided resection, we identified fluorescent tissue in the sub-ependymal zone (SEZ) of patients with glioblastoma. Histologic analysis and genomic characterization revealed that the SEZ harbors malignant cells with tumor-initiating capacity, analogous to cells isolated from the fluorescent tumor mass (T). We observed resistance to supramaximal chemotherapy doses along with differential patterns of drug response between T and SEZ in the same tumor. Our results reveal novel insights into glioblastoma growth dynamics, with implications for understanding and limiting treatment resistance., (©2014 American Association for Cancer Research.)

The G2 checkpoint monitors DNA damage, preventing mitotic entry until the damage can be resolved. The mechanisms controlling checkpoint recovery are unclear. Here, we identify non-genetic heterogeneity in the fidelity and timing of damage-induced G2 checkpoint enforcement in individual cells from the same population. Single-cell fluorescence imaging reveals that individual damaged cells experience varying durations of G2 arrest, and recover with varying levels of remaining checkpoint signal or DNA damage. A gating mechanism dependent on polo-like kinase-1 (PLK1) activity underlies this heterogeneity. PLK1 activity continually accumulates from initial levels in G2-arrested cells, at a rate inversely correlated to checkpoint activation, until it reaches a threshold allowing mitotic entry regardless of remaining checkpoint signal or DNA damage. Thus, homeostatic control of PLK1 by the dynamic opposition between checkpoint signalling and pro-mitotic activities heterogeneously enforces the G2 checkpoint in each individual cell, with implications for cancer pathogenesis and therapy.

Tissue-specific stem cells are considered to have a limited differentiation potential. Recently, this notion was challenged by reports that showed a broader differentiation potential of neural stem cells, in vitro and in vivo, although the molecular mechanisms that regulate plasticity of neural stem cells are unknown. Here, we report that neural stem cells derived from mouse embryonic cortex respond to Lif and serum in vitro and undergo epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)-mediated dedifferentiation process within 48 h, together with transient upregulation of pluripotency markers and, more notably, upregulation of mesendoderm genes, Brachyury (T) and Sox17. These induced putative mesendoderm cells were injected into early gastrulating chick embryos, which revealed that they integrated more efficiently into mesoderm and endoderm lineages compared to non-induced cells. We also found that TGFβ and Jak/Stat pathways are necessary but not sufficient for the induction of mesendodermal phenotype in neural stem cells. These results provide insights into the regulation of plasticity of neural stem cells through EMT. Dissecting the regulatory pathways involved in these processes may help to gain control over cell fate decisions.

The mutagenic threat of hydrolytic DNA cytosine deamination is met mostly by uracil DNA glycosylases (UDG) initiating base excision repair. However, several sequenced genomes of archaeal organisms are devoid of genes coding for homologues of the otherwise ubiquitous UDG superfamily of proteins. Previously, two possible solutions to this problem were offered by (i) a report of a newly discovered family of uracil DNA glycosylases exemplified by MJ1434, a protein found in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, and (ii) the description of TTC0482, an EndoIV homologue from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus HB27, as being able to excise uracil from DNA. Sequence homologues of both proteins can be found throughout the archaeal domain of life. Three proteins orthologous to MJ1434 and the family founder itself were tested for but failed to exhibit DNA uracil glycosylase activity when produced in an Ung-deficient Escherichia coli host. Likewise, no DNA uracil processing activity could be detected to be associated with TTC0482, while the protein was fully active as an AP endonuclease. We propose that the uracil processing activities formerly found were due to contaminations with Ung enzyme. Use of Deltaung-strains as hosts for production of putatively DNA-U processing enzymes provides a simple safeguard.

In this study, the aim was to produce tissue-engineered bone using osteoblasts and a novel matrix material, poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-3-hydroxyvaleric acid) (PHBV). In order to prepare a porous PHBV matrix with uniform pore size, sucrose crystals were loaded in the foam and then leached leaving pores behind. The surface of the PHBV matrix was treated with rf-oxygen plasma to increase the surface hydrophilicity. SEM examination of the PHBV matrices was carried out. Stability of PHBV foams in aqueous media was studied. The pH decrease is an indication of the degradation extent. The weight and density were unchanged for a period of 120 days but then a significant decrease was observed for the rest of the study. Osteoblast cells were then isolated from rat bone marrow and seeded onto PHBV matrices. The metabolization and proliferation on the foams was determined with MTS assay which showed that osteoblasts proliferated on PHBV. It was also found that cells proliferated better on large pore size foams (300-500 microm) than on the small pore size foams (75-300 microm). Production of ALP was measured spectrophotometrically. The present study demonstrated that PHBV matrices are suitable substrates for osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.