Transcriptomic Profiles of CD47 in Breast Tumors Predict Outcome and Are Associated with Immune Activation

Targeting the innate immune system has attracted attention with the development of anti- CD47 antibodies. Anti-CD47 antibodies block the inhibition of the phagocytic activity of macrophages caused by the up-regulation of CD47 on tumor cells. In this study, public genomic data was used to identify genes highly expressed in breast tumors with elevated CD47 expression and analyzed the association between the presence of tumor immune infiltrates and the expression of the selected genes. We found that 142 genes positively correlated with CD47, of which 83 predicted favorable and 32 detrimental relapse-free survival (RFS). From those associated with favorable RFS, we selected the genes with immunologic biological functions and defined a CD47-immune signature composed of PTPRC, HLA-E, TGFBR2, PTGER4, ETS1, and OPTN. In the basal-like and HER2+ breast cancer subtypes, the expression of the CD47-immune signature predicted favorable outcome, correlated with the presence of tumor immune infiltrates, and with gene expression signatures of T cell activation. Moreover, CD47 up-regulated genes associated with favorable survival correlated with pro-tumoral macrophages. In summary, we described a CD47-immune gene signature composed of 6 genes associated with favorable prognosis, T cell activation, and pro-tumoral macrophages in breast cancer tumors expressing high levels of CD47.     

Colloidal Quantum Dot Infrared Lasers Featuring Sub-Single-Exciton Threshold and Very High Gain

The use of colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) as a gain medium in infrared laser devices has been underpinned by the need for high pumping intensities, very short gain lifetimes, and low gain coefficients. Here, PbS/PbSSe core/alloyed-shell CQDs are employed as an infrared gain medium that results in highly suppressed Auger recombination with a lifetime of 485 ps, lowering the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) threshold down to 300 µJ cm⁻², and showing a record high net modal gain coefficient of 2180 cm⁻¹. By doping these engineered core/shell CQDs up to nearly filling the first excited state, a significant reduction of optical gain threshold is demonstrated, measured by transient absorption, to an average-exciton population-per-dot 〈N^th〉_g of 0.45 due to bleaching of the ground state absorption. This in turn have led to a fivefold reduction in ASE threshold at 〈N^th〉_ASE = 0.70 excitons-per-dot, associated with a gain lifetime of 280 ps. Finally, these heterostructured QDs are used to achieve near-infrared lasing at 1670 nm at a pump fluences corresponding to sub-single-exciton-per-dot threshold (〈N^th〉_Las = 0.87). This work brings infrared CQD lasing thresholds on par to their visible counterparts, and paves the way toward solution-processed infrared laser diodes.     

OSMOTIC DEHYDRATION OP PAPAYA WITH CORN SYRDP SOLIDS

Abstract

The water activity (a_w) lowering capacity of four corn syrup solids (CSS) with nominal dextrose equivalent (DE) values of 10, 20, 30, and 40, and the osmotic concentration kinetics of papaya with solutions (50% w/w) of these solutes were studied. Apparent molecular weights (MW_a) were calculated and the a_wlowering capacity was characterized for each solute with Norrish's equation calculating a specific constant (K). The a_wlowering capacity increased as the DE value increased. Logarithmic relationships were found between the MW_aand the DE value and between K and DE (r ≥ 0.993).. The predicted a_wvalues using the MW_aand K of each CSS were in good agreement (average root mean square deviation ≤0.002) with the experimental data. Osmotic concentration was evaluated in terms of water loss (WL), loss of weight (LW) and solid gain (SG). The final values of SG increased and WL and LW decreased as the DE decreased. SG, WL and LW varied from 7.3 to 21.1% 76.1 to 49.1% and 72.0 to 28.0%, respectively for the CSS of 10 and 40 DE.     

Dietary Supplementation of Calcium may Counteract Obesity in Mice Mediated by Changes in Plasma Fatty Acids

The scope of this study was to assess the impact of calcium and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on plasma fatty acid profiles and to evaluate potential synergistic effects of both compounds against dietary obesity. Mice separated into five experimental groups were followed: control (C), high-fat diet (HF), HF with calcium (Ca), HF plus CLA and HF with both Ca and CLA. Plasma metabolites and fatty acids were determined by commercial kits and gas chromatography, respectively. Both dietary calcium and CLA supplementation contributed to lower body fat gain under a HF diet. Maximum efficacy was seen with calcium; no additional effect was associated with the combined treatment with CLA. Plasma leptin, adiponectin and HOMA index were in accordance with an altered glucose/insulin homeostasis in the HF and HF + CLA groups, whereas control levels were attained under Ca-enriched diets. Plasma fatty acids showed minor changes associated to CLA treatment, but a high impact on PUFA was observed under Ca-enriched diets. Our results show that the mechanism underlying the anti-obesity effects of calcium supplementation is mediated mainly by changes in PUFA plasma profile. In addition, the lack of synergy on body weight reduction in combination with associated lipid profiles of calcium and CLA suggests that calcium may interfere with absorption and/or bioactivity of CLA, which can be of relevance when using CLA-fortified dairy products against human obesity.     

Formation versus Hydrolysis of the Peptide Bond from a Quantum-mechanical Viewpoint: The Role of Mineral Surfaces and Implications for the Origin of Life

The condensation (polymerization by water elimination) of molecular building blocks to yield the first active biopolymers (e.g. of amino acids to form peptides) during primitive Earth is an intriguing question that nowadays still remains open since these processes are thermodynamically disfavoured in highly dilute water solutions. In the present contribution, formation and hydrolysis of glycine oligopeptides occurring on a cluster model of sanidine feldspar (001) surface have been simulated by quantum mechanical methods. Results indicate that the catalytic interplay between Lewis and Brønsted sites both present at the sanidine surface, in cooperation with the London forces acting between the biomolecules and the inorganic surface, plays a crucial role to: i) favour the condensation of glycine to yield oligopeptides as reaction products; ii) inhibit the hydrolysis of the newly formed oligopeptides. Both facts suggest that mineral surfaces may have helped in catalyzing, stabilizing and protecting from hydration the oligopeptides formed in the prebiotic era.     

Highly Efficient,Bright, and Stable Colloidal Quantum Dot Short‐Wave Infrared Light‐Emitting Diodes

Unbalanced charge injection is deleterious for the performance of colloidal quantum dot (CQD) light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) as it deteriorates the quantum efficiency, brightness, and operational lifetime. CQD LEDs emitting in the infrared have previously achieved high quantum efficiencies but only when driven to emit in the low‐radiance regime. At higher radiance levels, required for practical applications, the efficiency decreased dramatically in view of the notorious efficiency droop. Here, a novel methodology is reported to regulate charge supply in multinary bandgap CQD composites that facilitates improved charge balance. The current approach is based on engineering the energetic potential landscape at the supra‐nanocrystalline level that has allowed to report short‐wave infrared PbS CQD LEDs with record‐high external quantum efficiency in excess of 8%, most importantly, at a radiance level of ≈5 W sr^?1 m², an order of magnitude higher than prior reports. Furthermore, the balanced charge injection and Auger recombination reduction has led to unprecedentedly high operational stability with radiance half‐life of 26 068 h at a radiance of 1 W sr^?1 m^?2.     

Polyphenoloxidase Activity and Color of Blanched and High Hydrostatic Pressure Treated Banana Puree

The effects of blanching and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatments on natural flora evolution, polyphenoloxidase (PPO) activity and color of banana puree adjusted to pH 3.4 and water activity (a_w) of 0.97 were evaluated during 15 days storage at 25°C. Standard plate as well as yeast and mold counts of HHP treated purees were <10 CFU/g throughout storage. Blanching time was found to affect (P<0.05) puree color. HHP treatments retained the initial color of the banana purees. Longer browning induction times and slower browning rates were observed when a longer blanching time was combined with a 689 MPa pressure treatment. A residual PPO activity < 5% was observed in the puree when a 7 min blanch was followed by HHP treatment at 689 MPa for 10 min.