RGD Peptide-Grafted Graphene Oxide as a New Biomimetic Nanointerface for Impedance-Monitoring Cell Behaviors

A new biomimetic nanointerface was constructed by facile grafting the bioactive arginylglycylaspartic acid (RGD) peptide on the graphene oxide (GO) surface through carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide coupling amidation reaction. The formed RGD-GO nanocomposites own unique two-dimensional structure and desirable electrochemical performance. The linked RGD peptides could improve GO’s biocompatibility and support the adhesion and proliferation of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPLFs) on RGD-GO biofilm surface. Furthermore the biologically active RGD-GO nanocomposites were demonstrated as a potential biomimetic nanointerface for monitoring cell biobehaviors by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). By analysis of the data obtained from equivalent circuit-fitting impedance spectroscopy, the information related to cell membrane capacitance, cell-cell gap resistance, and cell-electrode interface gap resistance in the process of cell adhesion and proliferation could be obtained. Besides, this proposed impedance-based cell sensor could be used to assess the inhibition effect of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the HPLFs proliferation. Findings from this work suggested that RGD peptide functionalized GO nanomaterials may be not only applied in dental tissue engineering but also used as a sensor interface for electrochemical detection and analysis of cell behaviors in vitro

SPORT TOURISM: CONTRIBUTION TO A DEFINITION AND CATEGORIZATION

Prilikom razmatranja ideje o povezivanju sporta i turizma neke od najsloženijih i najpolemičnijih tema su terminologija, definicija i kategorizacija. Važno je diskutirati o ovim pitanjima i definirati pojmove kako bi se uspostavila linija razmišljanja koja znanstvenicima i stručnjacima u području sportskog turizma pruža mogućnosti pokretanja zajedničkih projekata i rada prema istom obrascu. Analiza se zasniva na odabranoj literaturi uz primjenu metode analize sadržaja kako bi se ispitali glavni radovi koji se bave ovim trima temama. Razmatra se preferiranje termina sport tourism u odnosu na sports tourism ili nekog drugog termina u skladu s gledištima nekih znanstvenika kako bi se zahvatilo što veće područje sporta kao društvene pojave. Na osnovi analiziranih slučajeva, definiranje i kategoriziranja sportskog turizma prikazuje se sa strane ponude te korespondira s potražnjom. Time se ovim pojmom preciziraju granice sportskog turizma i donose alati za mjerenje njegovog ekonomskog utjecaja unutar granica održivog razvoja uz istodobno uvođenje novog gledišta – stranu ponude.When discussing the idea of linking sport and tourism, some of the most complex and debated topics are the terminology, definition and categorization. It is important to debate and define these issues to establish a conceptual line of thinking, allowing the researchers and professionals in sport tourism to build joint projects and to work following the same patterns. The analysis is based on selected literature, applying a contents analysis method to examine the main works focusing on these three topics. The use of the term sport tourism rather than sports tourism or any other term is discussed, in line with the perspective of some scholars advocating more extensive studies into social signifi cance of sport. Additionally, based on the analyzed studies, the defi nition and categorization of sport tourism is presented from the supply side and matched with the demand side. The concept introduced hereafter aims fi rst to precise what the borders of sport tourism, then to give tools to measure its economic impact within the limits of sustainable development while introducing a new point of view – the supply side

Synthesis of ultra-narrow PbTe nanorods with extremely strong quantum confinement

Monodisperse, high-quality, ultra-narrow PbTe nanorods were synthesized for the first time in a one-pot, hot-injection reaction using trans-2-decenoic acid as the agents for lead precursors and tris(diethylamino)phosphine telluride together with free tris(diethylamino)phosphine as the telluride precursors. High monomer reactivity, rapid nucleation and fast growth rate derived from the new precursors led to the anisotropic growth of PbTe nanocrystals at low reaction temperatures

“Mješovita decentralizacija”: razmišljanja o organizacijskoj strukturi vrhunskih sportskih manifestacija u kini

Nowdays China is in a transition from the planned economy to the market economy. During the transition all activities have rapidly developed, and so it is with China’s high-performance sports. However, due to the inadequate reformation of the sports system, the sports organization structure is still not clear enough. So, according to the current reality of high-performance sports in China, this paper proposes an organizational structure model which could be appropriate for development of high-performance sports in China and puts the model into precise sports terms to serve as a healthy and sustainable development of China’s highperformance sports. This paper is composed of two parts. In the first part by applying the methods of document collection and investigation, the authors state the changing process and the current problems of China’s high-performance sports events’ organizational structure and put forward a new model – that is “Joint-Decentralization” which includes three types: a) the government-oriented, b) the combined-oriented and c) the market-oriented decentralization. In the second part, on the basis of the investigation and analysis of the factors influencing the high-performance sports events, the authors classify different events into different organization structures.Danas je Kina u procesu tranzicije iz planske ekonomije prema tržišnoj ekonomiji. Tijekom tranzicijskog perioda sve aktivnosti se ubrzano mijenjaju i razvijaju, pa tako i kineski vrhunski sport. Ipak, zbog neadekvatne reforme sustava sporta u Kini, organizacijska struktura sportskih događaja još uvijek nije dovoljno jasna. Dakle, u skladu s trenutačnim stanjem vrhunskog sporta u Kini, ovaj članak predlaže model organizacijske strukture koji je primjeren za razvoj kineskog vrhunskog spora te stavlja taj model u okvire točno određenog sporta kako bi služila zdravom i održivom razvoju kineskog vrhunskog sporta. Članak je sastavljan od dva dijela. U prvom dijelu članka, primjenom metoda dokumentiranja i istraživanja, autori navode proces promjena i trenutačne probleme organizacijske strukture vrhunskih sportskih događaja te predstavljaju novi model – “mješovita decentralizacija” koji uključuje tri tipa organizacijskih struktura: a) vladin, b) kombinirani i c) tržišno orijentirana decentralizacija. U drugom dijelu, na temelju istraživanja i analize čimbenika koji utječu na događaje vrhunskog sporta, autori klasificiraju različite događaje i različite organizacijske strukture

The Low Temperature Induced Physiological Responses of Avena nuda

The paperaim of the was to study the effect of low temperature stress on Avena nuda L. seedlings. Cold stress leads to many changes of physiological indices, such as membrane permeability, free proline content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and chlorophyll content. Cold stress also leads to changes of some protected enzymes such as peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). We have measured and compared these indices of seedling leaves under low temperature and normal temperature. The proline and MDA contents were increased compared with control; the chlorophyll content gradually decreased with the prolongation of low temperature stress. The activities of SOD, POD, and CAT were increased under low temperature. The study was designated to explore the physiological mechanism of cold tolerance in naked oats for the first time and also provided theoretical basis for cultivation and antibiotic breeding in Avena nuda L

Dissecting the roles and clinical potential of YY1 in the tumor microenvironment

Yin-Yang 1 (YY1) is a member of the GLI-Kruppel family of zinc finger proteins and plays a vital dual biological role in cancer as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor during tumorigenesis and tumor progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is identified as the “soil” of tumor that has a critical role in both tumor growth and metastasis. Many studies have found that YY1 is closely related to the remodeling and regulation of the TME. Herein, we reviewed the expression pattern of YY1 in tumors and summarized the function and mechanism of YY1 in regulating tumor angiogenesis, immune and metabolism. In addition, we discussed the potential value of YY1 in tumor diagnosis and treatment and provided a novel molecular strategy for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumors

Characterization of the Autocrine/Paracrine Function of Vitamin D in Human Gingival Fibroblasts and Periodontal Ligament Cells

Background: We previously demonstrated that 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3, the precursor of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3, is abundant around periodontal soft tissues. Here we investigate whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 is converted to 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 in periodontal soft tissue cells and explore the possibility of an autocrine/paracrine function of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 in periodontal soft tissue cells. Methodology/Principal Findings: We established primary cultures of human gingival fibroblasts and human periodontal ligament cells from 5 individual donors. We demonstrated that 1 alpha-hydroxylase was expressed in human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells, as was cubilin. After incubation with the 1 alpha-hydroxylase substrate 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3, human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells generated detectable 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 that resulted in an up-regulation of CYP24A1 and RANKL mRNA. A specific knockdown of 1 alpha-hydroxylase in human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells using siRNA resulted in a significant reduction in both 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 production and mRNA expression of CYP24A1 and RANKL. The classical renal regulators of 1 alpha-hydroxylase (parathyroid hormone, calcium and 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3) and Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide did not influence 1 alpha-hydroxylase expression significantly, however, interleukin-1 beta and sodium butyrate strongly induced 1 alpha-hydroxylase expression in human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells. Conclusions/Significance: In this study, the expression, activity and functionality of 1 alpha-hydroxylase were detected in human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells, raising the possibility that vitamin D acts in an autocrine/paracrine manner in these cells.http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000305781700070&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=8e1609b174ce4e31116a60747a720701Multidisciplinary SciencesSCI(E)PubMed13ARTICLE6e39878

Existence of global solution to 3D density-dependent incompressible Navier-Stokes equations

In this article, we are committed to studying the three-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, where the viscosity depends on density according to a power law. We investigate the Cauchy problem by constructing an approximation system and bootstrap argument. Finally, we establish the existence of a global strong solution under the conditions of small initial data and the compatibility condition. Meanwhile, the algebraic decay-in-time rates for the solution are also obtained. It is worth pointing out that the degradation of viscosity is allowed