Polydopamine coating, the first material‐independent surface chemistry, and its related methods significantly influence virtually all areas of material science and engineering. Functionalized ...surfaces of metal oxides, synthetic polymers, noble metals, and carbon materials by polydopamine and its related derivatives exhibit a variety of properties for cell culture, microfluidics, energy storage devices, superwettability, artificial photosynthesis, encapsulation, drug delivery, and numerous others. Unlike other articles, this review particularly focuses on the development of material science utilizing polydopamine and its derivatives coatings at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology for a decade. Herein, it is demonstrated how material‐independent coating methods provide solutions for challenging problems existed in many interdisciplinary areas in bio‐, energy‐, and nanomaterial science by collaborations and independent research.
Polydopamine coating, the first material‐independent surface chemistry, and its derivative methods influence nearly all areas of material sciences. Polydopamine chemistry—material science of four categories (catechol‐containing small molecules, catechol‐tethered polymers, gallol‐containing small molecules, and gallol‐conjugated polymers)—is discussed in detail.
The roles of adipokines, proinflammatory cytokines, and adipose tissue macrophages in obesity-associated insulin resistance have been explored in both animal and human studies. However, our current ...understanding of obesity-associated insulin resistance relies on studies of artificial metabolic extremes. The purpose of this study was to explore the roles of adipokines, proinflammatory cytokines, and adipose tissue macrophages in human patients with modest obesity and early metabolic dysfunction. We obtained omental adipose tissue and fasting blood samples from 51 females undergoing gynecologic surgery. We investigated serum concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines and adipokines as well as the mRNA expression of proinflammatory and macrophage phenotype markers in visceral adipose tissue using ELISA and quantitative RT-PCR. We measured adipose tissue inflammation and macrophage infiltration using immunohistochemical analysis. Serum levels of adiponectin and leptin were significantly correlated with HOMA-IR and body mass index. The levels of expression of MCP-1 and TNF-α in visceral adipose tissue were also higher in the obese group (body mass index ≥ 25). The expression of mRNA MCP-1 in visceral adipose tissue was positively correlated with body mass index (r = 0.428, p = 0.037) but not with HOMA-IR, whereas TNF-α in visceral adipose tissue was correlated with HOMA-IR (r = 0.462, p = 0.035) but not with body mass index. There was no obvious change in macrophage phenotype or macrophage infiltration in patients with modest obesity or early metabolic dysfunction. Expression of mRNA CD163/CD68 was significantly related to mitochondrial-associated genes and serum inflammatory cytokine levels of resistin and leptin. These results suggest that changes in the production of inflammatory biomolecules precede increased immune cell infiltration and induction of a macrophage phenotype switch in visceral adipose tissue. Furthermore, serum resistin and leptin have specific roles in the regulation of adipose tissue macrophages in patients with modest obesity or early metabolic dysfunction.
The enigmatic pseudogap phase in underdoped cuprate high-Tc superconductors has long been recognized as a central puzzle of the Tc problem. Recent data show that the pseudogap is likely a distinct ...phase, characterized by a medium range and quasistatic charge ordering. However, the origin of the ordering wave vector and the mechanism of the charge order is unknown. At the same time, earlier data show that precursive superconducting fluctuations are also associated with this phase. We propose that the pseudogap phase is a novel pairing state where electrons on the same side of the Fermi surface are paired, in strong contrast with conventional Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory which pairs electrons on opposite sides of the Fermi surface. In this state the Cooper pair carries a net momentum and belongs to a general class called pair density wave. The microscopic pairing mechanism comes from a gauge theory formulation of the resonating valence bond (RVB) picture, where spinons traveling in the same direction feel an attractive force in analogy with Ampere’s effects in electromagnetism. We call this Amperean pairing. Charge order automatically appears as a subsidiary order parameter even when long-range pair order is destroyed by phase fluctuations. Our theory gives a prediction of the ordering wave vector which is in good agreement with experiment. Furthermore, the quasiparticle spectrum from our model explains many of the unusual features reported in photoemission experiments. The Fermi arc, the unusual way the tip of the arc terminates, and the relation of the spanning vector of the arc tips to the charge ordering wave vector also come out naturally. Finally, we propose an experiment that can directly test the notion of Amperean pairing.
This paper is about better engineering of cyber-physical systems (CPSs) through better models. Deterministic models have historically proven extremely useful and arguably form the kingpin of the ...industrial revolution and the digital and information technology revolutions. Key deterministic models that have proven successful include differential equations, synchronous digital logic and single-threaded imperative programs. Cyber-physical systems, however, combine these models in such a way that determinism is not preserved. Two projects show that deterministic CPS models with faithful physical realizations are possible and practical. The first project is PRET, which shows that the timing precision of synchronous digital logic can be practically made available at the software level of abstraction. The second project is Ptides (programming temporally-integrated distributed embedded systems), which shows that deterministic models for distributed cyber-physical systems have practical faithful realizations. These projects are existence proofs that deterministic CPS models are possible and practical.
•Chitosan has been available since 1980 for innovative applications.•Chemical and molecular properties of chitosan have been defined.•Chitosan has applications associated with plant defense.•Chitosan ...activates defense responses in plants.•Nuclear DNA is a target in the activation of defense genes.
Chitosan, a naturally occurring polymer, became available in the 1980s in industrial quantities enabling it to be tested as an agricultural chemical. A usual procedure for developing agricultural chemicals starts by testing a number of different chemically synthesized molecules on a targeted biological system. Alternately, chitosan has been investigated as a single natural molecule assayed with numerous biological systems. This report describes the unique properties of the molecule and its oligomers, primarily in plant defense, additionally in yield increase, induction of cell death and stomatal closing. The plant plasma membrane and nuclear chromatin have been proposed as targets, though chitosan oligomers enter most regions of the cell. Subsequent changes occur in: cell membranes, chromatin, DNA, calcium, MAP kinase, oxidative burst, reactive oxygen species (ROS), callose, pathogenesis related (PR) genes/proteins, and phytoalexins. Chitosan oligomer mode(s) of action are proposed for different plant systems. Chitosan efficacy was based on documentation from published data. Attention was given to how chitosan, either applied externally or released by fungal inoculum, is transferred into plant cells and its subsequent action upon membrane and/or chromatin components. Within is a proposed scheme describing chitosan generation, signaling routes and mechanisms of defense gene activation. Examples of beneficial chitosan applications to major crop/food plants were included.
Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) has been reported as associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to investigate the characteristics of mucosa-associated ...E. coli and the clinical significance of AIEC in Korean IBD patients. E. coli strains were isolated from the mucosal tissues of 18 Crohn's disease (CD) patients, 24 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, and 9 healthy controls (HC). Adhesion, invasion, and survival assays were performed to evaluate phenotypic features of E. coli isolates and to identify AIEC. The presence of virulence genes and cytokine expression were examined using PCR. In addition, data on IBD-related hospitalization were collected. A total of 59 E. coli strains were isolated (25 from CD, 27 from UC, and 7 from HC). The average levels of adhesion, invasion, and survival were higher in E. coli strains from IBD patients than those from HC (adhesion: 1.65 vs. 0.71, p = 0.046; invasion: 1.68 vs. 0.52, p = 0.039; survival: 519.55 vs. 47.55, p = 0.363). Prevalence of AIEC in HC, CD and UC patients was 22.2%, 38.9% and 37.5%, respectively. E. coli isolates from IBD patients had various virulence genes and were associated with increased expression of TNF-α and IL-17. IBD-related hospitalization within 3 years was 18.8% in patients with AIEC and 11.5% in patients without AIEC. E. coli strains from IBD patients showed high levels of adhesion, invasion, and survival. AIEC strains were identified in both CD and UC patients at a similar rate. AIEC may be associated with sustaining inflammation in the pre-existing inflammatory mucosa.
Between the deaths of the Emperors Julian (363) and Justinian (565), the Roman Empire underwent momentous changes. Most obviously, control of the west was lost to barbarian groups during the fifth ...century, and although parts were recovered by Justinian, the empire's centre of gravity shifted irrevocably to the east, with its focal point now the city of Constantinople. Equally important was the increasing dominance of Christianity not only in religious life, but also in politics, society and culture.
Doug Lee charts these and other significant developments which contributed to the transformation of ancient Rome and its empire into Byzantium and the early medieval west. By emphasising the resilience of the east during late antiquity and the continuing vitality of urban life and the economy, this volume offers an alternative perspective to the traditional paradigm of decline and fall.
Key features:• Provides a clear analytical narrative of pivotal political, military, and religious developments• Complements this with an examination of overarching trends in urban life and the economy• Gives particular attention to the dynamics of political and religious power and of Roman-barbarian relations during the fifth century
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