Molecular-beam epitaxy growth and characterization of mid-infrared quantum cascade laser structures

The development of molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) of GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures, used for fabrication of ∼9 μm quantum cascade lasers (QCLs), is reported. The X-ray diffractometry (XRD) structural characterization, as an integral part of this process, is presented as well. Some conclusions, concerning the relationships between the used type of epitaxial technology and the necessity of special procedures of growth rate (V_gr) calibration, are reached. The influence of the structural features of the QCL active region on the electronic band structure is calculated, and consequently some predictions as to the device electrical properties are presented as well.     

Expression of Alternative Splice Variants of 6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/Fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase-4 in Normoxic and Hypoxic Melanoma Cells

Cancer-specific isoenzyme of phosphofructokinase II (PFKFB4), as our previous research has shown, may be one of the most important enzymes contributing to the intensification of glycolysis in hypoxic malignant melanoma cells. Although the PFKFB4 gene seems to play a crucial role in the progression of melanoma, so far there are no complete data on the expression of PFKFB4 at the isoform level and the influence of hypoxia on alternative splicing. Using RT-qPCR and semi-quantitative RT-PCR, we presented the PFKFB4 gene expression profile at the level of six isoforms described in the OMIM NCBI database in normoxic and hypoxic melanoma cells. Additionally, using VMD software, we analyzed the structure of isoforms at the protein level, concluding about the catalytic activity of individual isoforms. Our research has shown that five isoforms of PFKFB4 are expressed in melanoma cells, of which the D and F isoforms are highly constitutive, while the canonical B isoform seems to be the main isoform induced in hypoxia. Our results also indicate that the expression profile at the level of the PFKFB4 gene does not reflect the expression at the level of individual isoforms. Our work clearly indicates that the PFKFB4 gene expression profile should be definitely analyzed at the level of individual isoforms. Moreover, the analysis at the protein level allowed the selection of those isoforms whose functional validation should be performed to fully understand the importance of PFKFB4 expression in the metabolic adaptation of malignant melanoma cells.     

Quest for the Molecular Basis of Improved Selective Toxicity of All-Trans Isomers of Aromatic Heptaene Macrolide Antifungal Antibiotics

Three aromatic heptaene macrolide antifungal antibiotics, Candicidin D, Partricin A (Gedamycin) and Partricin B (Vacidin) were subjected to controlled cis-trans → all trans photochemical isomerization. The obtained all-trans isomers demonstrated substantially improved in vitro selective toxicity in the Candida albicans cells: human erythrocytes model. This effect was mainly due to the diminished hemotoxicity. The molecular modeling studies on interactions between original antibiotics and their photoisomers with ergosterol and cholesterol revealed some difference in free energy profiles of formation of binary antibiotic/sterol complexes in respective membrane environments. Moreover, different geometries of heptaene: sterol complexes and variations in polyene macrolide molecule alignment in cholesterol-and ergosterol-containing membranes were found. None of these effects are of the crucial importance for the observed improvement of selective toxicity of aromatic heptaene antifungals but each seems to provide a partial contribution.     

Prognostic Impact and Functional Annotations of KIF11 and KIF14 Expression in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Genomic instability (GIN) has an important contribution to the pathology of colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, we selected mitosis and cytokinesis kinesins, KIF11 and KIF14, as factors of potential clinical and functional value in CRC, as their aberrant expression has been suspected to underlie GIN. We examined the expression and the prognostic and biological significance of KIF11 and KIF14 in CRC via in-house immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays, public mRNA expression datasets, as well as bioinformatics tools. We found that KIF11 and KIF14 expression, at both the protein and mRNA level, was markedly altered in cancer tissues compared to respective controls, which was reflected in the clinical outcome of CRC patients. Specifically, we provide the first evidence that KIF11 protein and mRNA, KIF14 mRNA, as well as both proteins together, can significantly discriminate between CRC patients with better and worse overall survival independently of other relevant clinical risk factors. The negative prognostic factors for OS were high KIF11 protein, high KIF11 protein + low KIF14 protein, low KIF11 mRNA and low KIF14 mRNA. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the gene sets related to the cell cycle, DNA replication, DNA repair and recombination, among others, were positively associated with KIF11 or KIF14 expression in CRC tissues. In TCGA cohort, the positive correlations between several measures related to GIN and the expression of KIFs were also demonstrated. In conclusion, our results suggest that CRC patients can be stratified into distinct risk categories by biological and molecular determinants, such as KIF11 and KIF14 expression and, mechanistically, this is likely attributable to their role in maintaining genome integrity.     

Simulation System for Analysis of Specialized Mobile Robots

The aim of this paper is to present the simulation system for analysis of specialized mobile robots, which is equipped with a supporting human operator (on–board or teleoperator) computer system. Simulation is performed in real time, using a computer system and a mobile robot. Visualization of the environment simulation, movements of the vehicle, and behavior of the human operator are done by computer animation and partly by a mobile robot and its physical environment. The performance of the control unit in different environmental conditions, including detection of obstacles using different sensors, can be observed using a mobile robot moving in a simulated environment configured according to experimental requirements.     

Effect of zone annealing on LARC-CPI thermoplastic polyimide

Mechanical properties and structure were studied for undrawn and zone-drawn films of LARC-CPI thermoplastic polyimide. The dynamic modulus of undrawn glassy material ranged from about 1.8 to 4.3 GPa, depending upon the degree of crystallinity. After zone drawing to draw ratio of 3.6–4.0, the dynamic glassy modulus was increased to a maximum of 9.5 GPa. The highest moduli were attained in samples that were multiply zone-drawn. The maximum-achievable draw ratio increased with the maximum drawing temperature, but the semicrystalline nature of the starting material limited the ultimate drawability. For the first time, highly oriented crystalline films were obtained for X-ray diffraction and preliminary crystal structure analysis. The crystal lattice was fit to the orthorhombic crystal system, and the results indicate that the lattice parameters are a = 8.0 ± 0.2 Å, b = 5.9 ± 0.2 Å, and c = 36.5 ± 0.3 Å. The value of the c-axis lattice parameter is very close to the fully extended chain length of the monomer repeat unit. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Microstructure and electrical properties of 3Y-TZP/Al2O3 composite obtained using the citrate gel method

3Y-TZP sinters with 1, 5, 10, and 15 mol% of Al₂O₃ were prepared using two different procedures from a 3-YSZ powder synthesized via the citrate process. In the first procedure, alumina was introduced during synthesis via the citrate method. In the second one, the 3-YSZ powder was impregnated with aluminum nitrate. All samples were sintered at 1773 K. The prepared composites were evaluated in terms of their microstructure, chemical and phase composition, and electrical properties. The total conductivity of the 3Y-TZP/Al₂O₃ composite material, which contained primarily the tetragonal phase, was found to increase with temperature, and to decrease for reduced concentrations of alumina in 3Y-TZP. In the case of the samples which had alumina introduced via impregnation, its higher content was not associated with significantly lower electrical conductivity. These samples generally exhibited higher conductivity than the samples to which alumina had been added via chemical synthesis.     

Functionalized Peptide Fibrils as a Scaffold for Active Substances in Wound Healing

Technological developments in the field of biologically active peptide applications in medicine have increased the need for new methods for peptide delivery. The disadvantage of peptides as drugs is their low biological stability. Recently, great attention has been paid to self-assembling peptides that can form fibrils. Such a formulation makes bioactive peptides more resistant to enzymatic degradation and druggable. Peptide fibrils can be carriers for peptides with interesting biological activities. These features open up prospects for using the peptide fibrils as long-acting drugs and are a valid alternative to conventional peptidic therapies. In our study, we designed new peptide scaffolds that are a hybrid of three interconnected amino acid sequences and are: pro-regenerative, cleavable by neutrophilic elastase, and fibril-forming. We intended to obtain peptides that are stable in the wound environment and that, when applied, would release a biologically active sequence. Our studies showed that the designed hybrid peptides show a high tendency toward regular fibril formation and are able to release the pro-regenerative sequence. Cytotoxicity studies showed that all the designed peptides were safe, did not cause cytotoxic effects and revealed a pro-regenerative potential in human fibroblast and keratinocyte cell lines. In vivo experiments in a dorsal skin injury model in mice indicated that two tested peptides moderately promote tissue repair in their free form. Our research proves that peptide fibrils can be a druggable form and a scaffold for active peptides.     

Coniferous Wood Sawdust-based Activated Carbons as Adsorbents Obtained with the Use of Microwave Radiation

Activated carbons were prepared by physical and direct activation of sawdust pellets coming from coniferous trees, with the use of microwave radiation. The activated carbons obtained were used as adsorbents for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. Liquid-phase adsorption experiments were conducted and the maximum adsorption capacity of each activated carbon sample was determined. The effects of activation procedure as well as adsorption tests parameters i.e., temperature, pH, initial methylene blue concentration, and contact time on the sorption capacity of each activated carbon were investigated. The kinetic models for MB adsorption on the activated carbons were also studied. Better fit to the experimental data was obtained with the Langmuir isotherm than Freundlich one, for all samples.