Combined plasma gas-phase synthesis and colloidal processing of InP/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals

Indium phosphide nanocrystals (InP NCs) with diameters ranging from 2 to 5 nm were synthesized with a scalable, flow-through, nonthermal plasma process at a rate ranging from 10 to 40 mg/h. The NC size is controlled through the plasma operating parameters, with the residence time of the gas in the plasma region strongly influencing the NC size. The NC size distribution is narrow with the standard deviation being less than 20% of the mean NC size. Zinc sulfide (ZnS) shells were grown around the plasma-synthesized InP NCs in a liquid phase reaction. Photoluminescence with quantum yields as high as 15% were observed for the InP/ZnS core-shell NCs

Determinants of Longitudinal Adherence in Smartphone-Based Self-Tracking for Chronic Health Conditions: Evidence from Axial Spondyloarthritis

The use of interactive mobile and wearable technologies for understanding and managing health conditions is a growing area of interest for patients, health professionals and researchers. Self-tracking technologies such as smartphone apps and wearabledevices for measuring symptoms and behaviours generate a wealth of patient-centric data with the potential to support clinical decision making. However, the utility of self-tracking technologies for providing insight into patients’ conditions is impacted by poor adherence with data logging. This paper explores factors associated with adherence in smartphone-based tracking, drawing on two studies of patients living with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), a chronic rheumatological condition. In Study1, 184 axSpA patients used the uMotif health tracking smartphone app for a period of up to 593 days. In Study 2, 108 axSpA patients completed a survey about their experience of using self-tracking technologies. We identify six significant correlates of self-tracking adherence, providing insight into the determinants of tracking behaviour. Specifically, our data provides evidence that adherence correlates with the age of the user, the types of tracking devices that are being used (smartphone OS and physical activity tracker), preferences for types of data to record, the timing of interactions with a self-tracking app, and the reported symptom severity of the user. We discuss how these factors may have implications for those designing, deploying or using mobile and wearable tracking technologies to support monitoring and management of chronic diseases

Determinants of Longitudinal Adherence in Smartphone-Based Self-Tracking for Chronic Health Conditions: Evidence from Axial Spondyloarthritis

The use of interactive mobile and wearable technologies for understanding and managing health conditions is a growing area of interest for patients, health professionals and researchers. Self-tracking technologies such as smartphone apps and wearabledevices for measuring symptoms and behaviours generate a wealth of patient-centric data with the potential to support clinical decision making. However, the utility of self-tracking technologies for providing insight into patients’ conditions is impacted by poor adherence with data logging. This paper explores factors associated with adherence in smartphone-based tracking, drawing on two studies of patients living with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), a chronic rheumatological condition. In Study1, 184 axSpA patients used the uMotif health tracking smartphone app for a period of up to 593 days. In Study 2, 108 axSpA patients completed a survey about their experience of using self-tracking technologies. We identify six significant correlates of self-tracking adherence, providing insight into the determinants of tracking behaviour. Specifically, our data provides evidence that adherence correlates with the age of the user, the types of tracking devices that are being used (smartphone OS and physical activity tracker), preferences for types of data to record, the timing of interactions with a self-tracking app, and the reported symptom severity of the user. We discuss how these factors may have implications for those designing, deploying or using mobile and wearable tracking technologies to support monitoring and management of chronic diseases

Epigenetic Regulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Focus on Osteogenic and Adipogenic Differentiation

Stem cells are characterized by their capability to self-renew and terminally differentiate into multiple cell types. Somatic or adult stem cells have a finite self-renewal capacity and are lineage-restricted. The use of adult stem cells for therapeutic purposes has been a topic of recent interest given the ethical considerations associated with embryonic stem (ES) cells. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic, or myogenic lineages. Owing to their ease of isolation and unique characteristics, MSCs have been widely regarded as potential candidates for tissue engineering and repair. While various signaling molecules important to MSC differentiation have been identified, our complete understanding of this process is lacking. Recent investigations focused on the role of epigenetic regulation in lineage-specific differentiation of MSCs have shown that unique patterns of DNA methylation and histone modifications play an important role in the induction of MSC differentiation toward specific lineages. Nevertheless, MSC epigenetic profiles reflect a more restricted differentiation potential as compared to ES cells. Here we review the effect of epigenetic modifications on MSC multipotency and differentiation, with a focus on osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. We also highlight clinical applications of MSC epigenetics and nuclear reprogramming

HIF1α–dependent glycolytic pathway orchestrates a metabolic checkpoint for the differentiation of TH17 and Treg cells

HIF1α induction by mTOR represents a metabolic checkpoint for the differentiation of TH17 and Treg cells

Quantitative trait loci and candidate gene mapping of aluminum tolerance in diploid alfalfa

Aluminum (Al) toxicity in acid soils is a major limitation to the production of alfalfa (Medicago sativa subsp. sativa L.) in the USA. Developing Al-tolerant alfalfa cultivars is one approach to overcome this constraint. Accessions of wild diploid alfalfa (M. sativa subsp. coerulea) have been found to be a source of useful genes for Al tolerance. Previously, two genomic regions associated with Al tolerance were identified in this diploid species using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers and single marker analysis. This study was conducted to identify additional Al-tolerance quantitative trait loci (QTLs); to identify simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers that flank the previously identified QTLs; to map candidate genes associated with Al tolerance from other plant species; and to test for co-localization with mapped QTLs. A genetic linkage map was constructed using EST-SSR markers in a population of 130 BC(1)F(1) plants derived from the cross between Al-sensitive and Al-tolerant genotypes. Three putative QTLs on linkage groups LG I, LG II and LG III, explaining 38, 16 and 27% of the phenotypic variation, respectively, were identified. Six candidate gene markers designed from Medicago truncatula ESTs that showed homology to known Al-tolerance genes identified in other plant species were placed on the QTL map. A marker designed from a candidate gene involved in malic acid release mapped near a marginally significant QTL (LOD 2.83) on LG I. The SSR markers flanking these QTLs will be useful for transferring them to cultivated alfalfa via marker-assisted selection and for pyramiding Al tolerance QTLs

The SPINK gene family and celiac disease susceptibility

The gene family of serine protease inhibitors of the Kazal type (SPINK) are functional and positional candidate genes for celiac disease (CD). Our aim was to assess the gut mucosal gene expression and genetic association of SPINK1, -2, -4, and -5 in the Dutch CD population. Gene expression was determined for all four SPINK genes by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in duodenal biopsy samples from untreated (n = 15) and diet-treated patients (n = 31) and controls (n = 16). Genetic association of the four SPINK genes was tested within a total of 18 haplotype tagging SNPs, one coding SNP, 310 patients, and 180 controls. The SPINK4 study cohort was further expanded to include 479 CD cases and 540 controls. SPINK4 DNA sequence analysis was performed on six members of a multigeneration CD family to detect possible point mutations or deletions. SPINK4 showed differential gene expression, which was at its highest in untreated patients and dropped sharply upon commencement of a gluten-free diet. Genetic association tests for all four SPINK genes were negative, including SPINK4 in the extended case/control cohort. No SPINK4 mutations or deletions were observed in the multigeneration CD family with linkage to chromosome 9p21-13 nor was the coding SNP disease-specific. SPINK4 exhibits CD pathology-related differential gene expression, likely derived from altered goblet cell activity. All of the four SPINK genes tested do not contribute to the genetic risk for CD in the Dutch population

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead