Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ying Tu, Kaushik Pal, Jacob Austin, Xuefeng Wang
Summary: Filopodia are narrow cell extensions involved in various physiological processes. Integrins mediate filopodia adhesion and regulate filopodia formation and functions. The force dynamics and sources of filopodia integrin tension (FIT) were investigated using the integrative tension sensor (ITS). Results showed that FIT is generated in discrete foci along single filopodia. Actin polymerization and myosin II activity play differential roles in the force nodes at filopodia tips and bases, suggesting different force sources. Vinculin is required for the transmission of strong FIT, while myosin X is not directly responsible for generating FIT.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lindsey A. Lee, Samantha K. Barrick, Ada E. Buvoli, Jonathan Walklate, W. Tom Stump, Michael Geeves, Michael J. Greenberg, Leslie A. Leinwand
Summary: For a long time, sarcomeric myosin heavy chain proteins were believed to only exist in striated muscles where they function as molecular motors. However, an evolutionarily ancient member of this myosin family, MYH7b, has been found in mammalian nonmuscle tissues and is linked to hereditary hearing loss. The functional effects of mutations in MYH7b were unknown until now. This study investigates the effects of two hearing loss-associated mutations on the motor activity, structural and assembly properties of MYH7b.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ashley A. Martin, Brian R. Thompson, Jonathan P. Davis, Hluechy Vang, Dongwoo Hahn, Joseph M. Metzger
Summary: The sarcomere is the functional unit of skeletal muscle, playing a crucial role in muscle contraction. However, investigating the activation of sarcomere in real time physiological twitch contractions has been challenging. In this study, a new biosensor was developed to investigate the dynamic process of sarcomere activation. The results showed that the biosensor accurately reflected the activation/deactivation of sarcomere.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Nina Ljubojevic, J. Michael Henderson, Chiara Zurzolo
Summary: Actin remodeling is crucial for cell response to stimuli, with tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) representing a novel addition to actin-supported cellular protrusions, serving as conduits for cargo transfer between distant cells. While TNTs have been described in various pathological and physiological scenarios, the molecular basis of TNT formation remains unclear.
TRENDS IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ashim Rai, Rachit Shrivastava, Duha Vang, Michael Ritt, Fredrik Sadler, Shreyas Bhaban, Murti Salapaka, Sivaraj Sivaramakrishnan
Summary: This study investigates the role of cargo adaptor GIPC in regulating the activity of myosin VI, a motor protein involved in cell migration. The researchers find that GIPC releases an autoinhibitory interaction within myosin VI, leading to conformational changes that increase the flexibility of the adaptor-motor linkage. The increased flexibility correlates with faster actomyosin association and dissociation rates, resulting in faster cargo transport.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Miriam S. Weber, Matthias Eibauer, Suganya Sivagurunathan, Thomas M. Magin, Robert D. Goldman, Ohad Medalia
Summary: This study analyzed the structure of keratin 5/keratin 14 filaments within ghost mouse keratinocytes using cryo-electron microscopy and revealed the complex and remarkable heterogenic architecture of keratin filaments, suggesting that they are highly flexible, dynamic cytoskeletal structures. Cross-section views of filaments showed that keratins form hollow cylinders consisting of multiple protofilaments, with an electron dense core located in the center of the filament.
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Cuicui Luo
Summary: In this paper, a hybrid approach for credit scoring is presented and its classification performance is compared with 4 base learners in machine learning. The results of an empirical study show that the bagging ensemble method can improve the performance of decision tree, multilayer perceptron, and k-nearest neighbours. However, the performance of support vector machine does not improve after applying bagging ensemble. This paper demonstrates that k-nearest neighbour is the most suitable method for dealing with large unbalanced datasets in credit scoring.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
N. Shanmugasundaram, S. Praveenkumar, K. Gayathiri, S. Divya
Summary: This study uses Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to predict the compressive strength of Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) by considering the mix proportions and physical properties of polyvinyl alcohol fibers (PVA). The results show that this method can effectively predict the performance of ECC.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yubao Zhao, Peng Zhang, Zhenchun Yang, Lina Li, Jingyu Gao, Sheng Chen, Tengfeng Xie, Caozheng Diao, Shibo Xi, Beibei Xiao, Chun Hu, Wonyong Choi
Summary: The use of sodium cyanaminate moiety in polymeric carbon nitride frameworks enhances solar-driven H2O2 production by promoting photon absorption, altering the energy landscape, improving charge separation efficiency, enhancing surface adsorption, and creating selective oxygen reduction reaction surface-active sites. An electronic coupling interaction between O-2 and the surface is experimentally substantiated to boost the population and prolong the lifetime of active shallow-trapped electrons. This renewable approach to chemical synthesis provides a sustainable and environmentally friendly method for H2O2 production.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ling-Yu Xu, Bo-Tao Huang, Jian-Guo Dai
Summary: This study developed Engineered/Strain-Hardening Cementitious Composites (ECC/SHCC) using artificial fine aggregates, achieving compressive strength over 120 MPa. While the developed GPA-ECC and CBA-ECC showed lower compressive and tensile strength compared to control mix, they demonstrated higher tensile strain capacity and a more saturated multiple cracking behavior, showcasing the feasibility of using artificial fine aggregates in ECC production.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biophysics
Larry S. Tobacman
Summary: Recent advances in understanding the structural basis of troponin-tropomyosin's regulation of striated muscle contraction, particularly through cryo-electron microscopy data, have revealed compelling atomic models for both apo- and Ca2+-saturated states. Subsequent analyses have further elucidated these findings, showing the hindering effects of troponin and tropomyosin on myosin-actin binding in relaxed muscle and the specific bindings in the Ca2+-saturated state.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Robotics
Maria Lombardi, Davide Liuzza, Mario di Bernardo
Summary: Designing artificial avatars capable of interacting with humans in a safe, smart, and natural way is a current challenge in control engineering. Utilizing methods based on Markov chains and reinforcement learning, researchers aim to create synthetic models that can coordinate their movements with target individuals and mimic specific human behaviors when performing joint motor tasks.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ROBOTICS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Elif Ilhan, Songul Ulag, Ali Sahin, Betul Karademir Yilmaz, Nazmi Ekren, Osman Kilic, Mustafa Sengor, Deepak M. Kalaskar, Faik Nuzhet Oktar, Oguzhan Gunduz
Summary: In this research, 3D printed patches for treating tympanic membrane perforations were produced using a combination of PLA, Chitosan, and Sodium Alginate. By adding different ratios of Chitosan and Sodium Alginate to PLA, the biocompatibility of the produced scaffolds was increased. Among all concentrations tested, groups containing 3 wt% Chitosan and 3 wt% Sodium Alginate showed significantly superior printing quality. This study suggests that PLA/Chitosan and PLA/Sodium Alginate 3D printed artificial patches have the potential to provide tissue engineering solutions for repairing tympanic membrane perforations in individuals with hearing loss.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Weizhuo Zhang, Chenhao Zheng, Zhenlin Li, Hesong Jin, Jun Liu, Jihua Zhu, Wei Liu, Feng Xing
Summary: This study investigated the effect of PP fibers and SCMs on the properties of seawater ECC. The results showed that incorporating 25% LC2 improved the mechanical properties and promoted early hydration. Adding 2% volume of PP fiber, especially in combination with 25% LC2, further increased the toughness of the material compared to ordinary seawater ECCs.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yanhua Guan, Yifan Li, Hongzhi Zhang, Renjuan Sun, Jun Tian, Yongwei Yang
Summary: The current study focuses on developing low-cost green engineered cementitious composites using gold tailings, unoiled PVA fiber, and large-volume fly ash. The results show that incorporating gold tailings increases compressive strength while reducing ductility.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rebecca E. Taylor, Maliha Zahid
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Utku M. Sonmez, Stephen Coyle, Rebecca E. Taylor, Philip R. LeDuc
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sriram Kumar, Alexander Pearse, Ying Liu, Rebecca E. Taylor
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sriram Kumar, Ying Liu, Rebecca E. Taylor
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bolutito Babatunde, D. Sebastian Arias, Jonathan Cagan, Rebecca E. Taylor
Summary: This article introduces a novel formal approach for routing the single-stranded scaffold DNA that defines the shape of DNA origami nanostructures. This automated scaffold routing broadens the design space and generates complex multilayer DNA origami designs in an optimally driven way, based on a set of constraints and desired features. The technique computes unique designs of DNA origami assemblies by utilizing shape annealing, integrating shape grammars and the simulated annealing algorithm.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rishabh M. Shetty, Sarah R. Brady, Paul W. K. Rothemund, Rizal F. Hariadi, Ashwin Gopinath
Summary: A new benchtop technique has been introduced to create DNA origami nanoarrays using self-assembled colloidal nanoparticles, bypassing the need for traditional top-down fabrication. This approach offers a higher yield and the ability to convert traditional low-throughput, stochastic single-molecule assays into high-throughput, deterministic ones without compromising data quality.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Piyumi Wijesekara, Ying Liu, Weitao Wang, Elizabeth K. Johnston, Mara L. G. Sullivan, Rebecca E. Taylor, Xi Ren
Summary: This study demonstrated that DNA nanotiles can effectively predict cell-to-cell accessibility by anchoring on the glycocalyx, providing a functional measure of glycocalyx barrier integrity. Compared to PLB anchoring, the glycocalyx-anchoring mechanism enhanced cell-surface stability and cellular uptake of nanotiles.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yunhui Xing, Saigopalakrishna S. Yerneni, Weitao Wang, Rebecca E. Taylor, Phil G. Campbell, Xi Ren
Summary: This article describes a strategy for long-term in vivo retention of chemoselectively immobilized metabolically incorporated azido ligand-bearing extracellular vesicles (EVs) through click chemistry. The immobilized EVs exhibited enhanced therapeutic effects compared to non-immobilized EVs, promoting host cell infiltration, angiogenesis, and immunoregulatory responses.
Review
Virology
Swechchha Pradhan, Arvind Varsani, Chloe Leff, Carter J. Swanson, Rizal F. Hariadi
Summary: Viral aggregation is a complex phenomenon that can affect viral infectivity. It can both promote and limit viral infections, depending on the context. Understanding viral aggregation is important for understanding the viral infection cycle and developing therapeutic interventions.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yana Roka-Moiia, Vismaya Walawalkar, Ying Liu, Joseph E. Italiano, Marvin J. Slepian, Rebecca E. Taylor
Summary: In this study, we successfully instrumented platelets with DNA origami constructs without significant effects on platelet morphology and function. Our method enables efficient high-density binding of DNA origami to platelets, offering a potential avenue for further development of DNA origami nanoconstructs for cell-adherent mechanosensing and therapeutic agent delivery.
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Franky Djutanta, Peter T. Brown, Bonfilio Nainggolan, Alexis Coullomb, Sritharini Radhakrishnan, Jason Sentosa, Bernard Yurke, Rizal F. Hariadi, Douglas P. Shepherd
Summary: The hydrodynamic properties of bacteria's helical-shaped propellers, which drive their complex motility, have never been directly measured. To solve this problem, a dual statistical viewpoint is adopted, connecting to the hydrodynamics through the fluctuation-dissipation theorem (FDT). By regarding the propellers as colloidal particles, their Brownian fluctuations are characterized, and a measurement is performed using high-resolution oblique plane microscopy. The results provide a direct measurement of the propulsion matrix of a microhelix, revealing the inefficiency of the flagella as propellers.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Weitao Wang, Peter R. Hayes, Xi Ren, Rebecca E. Taylor
Summary: Cell damage and death in bioengineering applications can be limited by cell encapsulation, which provides essential protection. In this study, researchers cross-linked two layers of DNA nanorods on the cellular plasma membrane to form a modular and programmable nanoshell, targeting the cell-surface glycocalyx. The DNA origami nanoshell modulates the biophysical properties of cell membranes, enhances membrane stiffness, lowers lipid fluidity, and protects cells against mechanical stress, enabling effective and robust multicellular assembly.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jason Sentosa, Franky Djutanta, Brian Horne, Dominic Showkeir, Robert F. Rezvani, Chloe Leff, Swechchha Pradhan, Rizal Hariadi
Summary: DNA origami purification is crucial in various fields, and LEGO gradient mixer enables rapid preparation of density gradients for purifying DNA origami nanostructures. This method effectively removes excess staple strands and separates DNA origami dimers from monomers. It provides an alternative for purifying DNA origami nanostructures in large quantities in resource-limited settings.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Emma Benjaminson, Taryn Imamura, Aria Lorenz, Sarah Bergbreiter, Matthew Travers, Rebecca E. E. Taylor
Summary: Magnetically-actuated swimming microrobots are a promising tool for navigating and manipulating materials in confined spaces. Recent research has shown that these systems can be built using polymer microspheres, magnetic particles, and DNA nanotechnology. However, the variability in these materials makes it challenging to predict and optimize the microswimmer's velocity. To address this, researchers have developed a novel experimental platform using two-photon polymerization to build a customizable two-link milliswimmer.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ying Liu, Piyumi Wijesekara, Sriram Kumar, Weitao Wang, Xi Ren, Rebecca E. Taylor
Summary: Structural DNA nanotechnology can guide and affix biomolecules to cell surfaces through targeted binding, with the efficiency highly dependent on the shape of DNA origami and the location of binding overhangs. Edge-decorated nanotiles showed successful labeling of cells, and modulating the labeling efficiency can be achieved by adjusting the proximity of binding overhangs towards the edges and vertices. The findings provide guidelines for rational design of future functional DNA nanostructures.