Mapping electronic reconstruction at the metal/insulator interfaces in \ce{LaVO_3/SrVO_3} heterostructures

A \ce{(LaVO_3)_6/(SrVO_3)_3} superlattice is studied with a combination of sub-{\AA} resolved scanning transmission electron microscopy and monochromated electron energy-loss spectroscopy. The V oxidation state is mapped with atomic spatial resolution enabling to investigate electronic reconstruction at the \ce{LaVO_3}/\ce{SrVO_3} interfaces. Surprisingly, asymmetric charge distribution is found at adjacent chemically symmetric interfaces. The local structure is proposed and simulated with double channeling calculation which agrees qualitatively with our experiment. We demonstrate that local strain asymmetry is the likely cause of the electronic asymmetry of the interfaces. The electronic reconstruction at the interfaces extends much further than the chemical composition, varying from 0.5 to 1.2 nm. This distance corresponds to the length of charge transfer previously found in the \ce{(LaVO_3)_m}/\ce{(SrVO_3)_n} metal/insulating and the \ce{(LaAlO_3)_m}/\ce{(SrTiO_3)_n} insulating/insulating interfaces.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Physical Review B, 201

Cloning, characterisation and functional analysis of horseshoe crab c-reactive proteins

Master'sMASTER OF SCIENC

Digital Entrepreneurship in China: Insight into Online Business Start-up Among Chinese University Students Based On Entrepreneurial Intention

This paper investigates the entrepreneurial intention of Chinese university students to provide insight into digital entrepreneurship. An online survey of 305 university students in Beijing was the basis for the data used to test a logistic regression model of the variables underpinning entrepreneurial intention. Factors determining whether Chinese students intend to engage in digital entrepreneurship were “family business”, “perceived motivations” (especially “Self-achievement”), and “perceived barriers” (especially “Lack of experience”). These are a subset of the antecedent factors influencing entrepreneurship more broadly. The nature of digital entrepreneurship may negate some of the factors, especially culture, that serve as barriers to entrepreneurship in the Chinese context. Although this study is limited by its quantitative methodology and focus on Chinese students attending a single university in Beijing, it contributes to knowledge regarding student engagement with digital entrepreneurship

Secretion of Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase, an Immunomodulatory Substance, by Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell

Lipoaspirate, a wasted by product from liposuction procedure recently has been shown to contain abundant adipose-derived-mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been studied in many research areas to regenerate many cell lineages. In addition, MSCs have immunomodulatory effect. This capability has been utilized in several clinical studies in hematopoetic stem cell and organ transplantation as a strategy to reduce the risk of Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD). It has been reported that the ‘stimulated’ MSC is able to secrete substances to suppress tissue rejection. One of the substances was known to be indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO).  A previous study has characterized the secretion of IDO by bone marrow-derived MSCs stimulated by an inflammatory mediator interferon gamma (IFN-γ). IDO has been detected using Western blot analysis and by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) assay. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of IDO in AD-MSCs culture with and without INFγ stimulation. Our study showed that AD-MSC stimulated with IFN-γ significantly secreted high level of IDO as detected by Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA). Despite its property as a proinflammatory mediator, IFN-γ has shown to be able to induce IDO secretion in MSC culture which suggests the immuno modulatory effect of MSC. This study clearly demonstrates the potential application of adipose-derived MSC in the immunomodulatory strategy for allogenic transplantation. Keyword : mesenchymal stem cell, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, IFN-

The prevalence of urinary distress in male and female adults with diabetes mellitus attending a Northern Australian endocrine centre

Internationally, diabetes is one of the major contributors to health care costs. As the population ages, it is expected that the personal and economic burden of diabetes on individuals, families, health systems and countries will continue to increase. It is important that the aetiology and comorbidities of diabetes are investigated. There is a known, strong association between diabetes and incontinence but exploration of specific subgroups at risk is needed. This study explored prevalence and associated characteristics of incontinence and storage lower urinary tract symptoms in people with diabetes mellitus. A convenience sample comprised 273 adults of both sexes who attended a regional diabetes service. A self-administered, paper-based survey method was used and included the Modified Urinary Distress Inventory Short Form (UDI-6). The level of urinary distress was high. Over two-thirds of both men and women reported symptoms of incontinence, irritation or both. Significantly, more respondents with type 2 diabetes than type 1 diabetes reported symptoms. The study identified a high prevalence of urinary incontinence in adults with diabetes, with a high level of distress in males identified that had not previously been reported in Australia. These findings have significant public health importance and all adults attending diabetes services, both male and female, should receive opportunistic screening for voiding dysfunction and continence issues

VCP/p97 regulates Beclin-1-dependent autophagy initiation

Autophagy is an essential cellular process that removes harmful protein species, and autophagy upregulation may be able to protect against neurodegeneration and various pathogens. Here, we have identified the essential protein VCP/p97 as a novel regulator of autophagosome biogenesis, where VCP regulates autophagy induction in two ways, both dependent on Beclin-1. Utilizing small-molecule inhibitors of VCP ATPase activity, we show that VCP stabilizes Beclin-1 levels by promoting the deubiquitinase activity of Ataxin-3 towards Beclin-1. VCP also regulates the assembly and activity of the Beclin-1-containing phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) complex I, thus regulating the production of PI(3)P, a key signaling lipid responsible for the recruitment of downstream autophagy factors. Decreased levels of VCP, or inhibition of its ATPase activity impairs starvation-induced production of PI(3)P and limits downstream recruitment of WIPI2, ATG16L and LC3, thereby decreasing autophagosome formation, illustrating an important role for VCP in early autophagy initiation.We are grateful for funding from the UK Dementia Research Institute (funded by the MRC, Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Alzheimer’s Society) (UKDRI-2002 to DCR), The Tau Consortium, Alzheimer’s Research UK, an anonymous donation to the Cambridge Centre for Parkinson-Plus, AstraZeneca, the Swedish Natural Research Council (VR) (reference 2016–06605; to S.M.H;) and from the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO long-term fellowships, ALTF 1024-2016 and ALTF 135-2016, to SMH and LW; respectively)

Enhancing student engagement in science and information technology: A collaborative approach

BACKGROUND Improving student engagement and retention is a sector-wide enterprise and commitment. At Victoria University, a collaborative project between discipline-based Colleges and central areas, in particular, Academic Support & Development has been established to improve student engagement and success. A key driver of this initiative has been the creation of ‘First Year Champion’ roles in different disciplines and the development and implementation of specific and targeted strategies for first year Higher Education (HE) students. AIMS The main aim of this project is to increase engagement and retention of first year Science and Information Technology (IT) students through a suite of targeted strategies. A further aim is to address curriculum issues and the quality of teaching, through the establishment of a Community of Practice (CoP) involving teaching and other academic support staff. This paper will report on the specific strategies and preliminary findings from the project for the disciplines of Science and IT. DESCRIPTION OF INTERVENTION A situational analysis, including a ‘Commencement Questionnaire’ was conducted to determine the scope of the project and inform the specific strategies. The questionnaire revealed that many students work more than 10 hours/week and are studying subjects such as Biology, Chemistry or Computer Programming for the first time. The strategies were designed to identify the specific learning requirements of students and embed appropriate support, as well as to improve teaching approaches and the curriculum, where possible. For example, in Science, a review of assessment tasks, submission dates and relative weightings have provided a platform for discussions regarding targeted academic support, prevention of assessment fatigue and early identification of ‘at risk’ students. In IT, a Bridging Program conducted a week before the start of semester, addressed the gap in knowledge and skills of students articulating from Vocational Education into HE sector. RESULTS Establishment of the CoPs was seen to have a positive effect towards increasing staff engagement in teaching and learning issues. Assessment tasks in first year Science were re-distributed to provide a manageable workload for both students and staff, as preliminary work on assessment patterns revealed an uneven distribution across semester with little opportunity for effective or timely feedback. Anecdotal evidence from the bridging program for IT indicated that it prepared articulating students for HE, as attendees displayed increased confidence and enthusiasm for their academic work. Furthermore, a ‘meet-and-greet’ event for female students helped to welcome and support female students who are under-presented in the cohort. Many of the other strategies are ongoing; the outcomes of which will be discussed at the presentation. CONCLUSIONS The collaborative approach towards enhancing student engagement in Science and IT has thus far been positive. Preliminary feedback from students indicated their appreciation for the additional support provided through new strategies that were implemented. In addition, through initiatives, such as the CoPs, staff members have been able to able to address the specific learning needs of students in a collaborative and effective manner

Randomized phase 3 evaluation of trifarotene 50 μg/g cream treatment of moderate facial and truncal acne.

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris often affects the face, shoulders, chest, and back, but treatment of nonfacial acne has not been rigorously studied. OBJECTIVES: Assess the safety and efficacy of trifarotene 50 μg/g cream, a novel topical retinoid, in moderate facial and truncal acne. METHODS: Two phase III double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled, 12-week studies of once-daily trifarotene cream versus vehicle in subjects aged 9 years or older. The primary end points were rate of success on the face, as determined by the Investigator\u27s Global Assessment (clear or almost clear and ≥2-grade improvement), and absolute change from baseline in inflammatory and noninflammatory counts from baseline to week 12. The secondary end points were rate of success on the trunk (clear or almost clear and ≥2-grade improvement) and absolute change in truncal inflammatory and noninflammatory counts from baseline to week 12. Safety was assessed through adverse events, local tolerability, vital signs, and routine laboratory testing results. RESULTS: In both studies, at week 12 the facial success rates according to the Investigator\u27s Global Assessment and truncal Physician\u27s Global Assessment and change in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesion counts (both absolute and percentage) were all highly significant (P \u3c .001) in favor of trifarotene when compared with the vehicle. LIMITATIONS: Adjunctive topical or systemic treatments were not studied. CONCLUSION: These studies demonstrate that trifarotene appears to be safe, effective, and well tolerated in treatment of both facial and truncal acne

Melanoma-initiating cells exploit M2 macrophage TGFβ and arginase pathway for survival and proliferation

International audienceM2 macrophages promote tumor growth and metastasis, but their interactions with specific tumor cell populations are poorly characterized. Using a mouse model of spontaneous melanoma, we showed that CD34 -but not CD34 + tumor-initiating cells (TICs) depend on M2 macrophages for survival and proliferation. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and macrophage-conditioned media protected CD34 -TICs from chemotherapy in vitro. In vivo, while inhibition of CD115 suppressed the macrophage-dependent CD34 -TIC population, chemotherapy accelerated its development. The ability of TICs to respond to TAMs was acquired during melanoma progression and immediately preceded a surge in metastatic outgrowth. TAM-derived transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) and polyamines produced via the Arginase pathway were critical for stimulation of TICs and synergized to promote their growth

Empowering Do-it-yourself Biology by Doing-it-together: Collective Responsibility in Maximizing Benefit and Mitigating Risk

Rapid technological advances in genome editing and synthetic biology have created an unprecedented ability for science to be conducted outside traditional research institutions. This open science movement, known as do-it-yourself biology (DIY Bio) has gained significant traction and has grown exponentially in the last decade with over 160 active groups and thousands of DIY Biologists from a range of backgrounds worldwide. As a result, the movement has become a platform for biotechnology entrepreneurship and an instrument for discovery-based science education and outreach (Kolodziejczyk 2017; Landrain et al. 2013). The COVID-19 pandemic has also further emphasised the potential positive impact that the DIY Bio community can bring towards enhancing the innovative capacity of the larger scientific enterprise. As DIY biologists and scientists from traditional institutions share experimental data and designs on various platforms including online forums in response to the current pandemic, it is becoming evident that the scientific ecosystem has much to gain by being more inclusive. However, the inherent fast-evolving, open and relatively unregulated nature of DIY Bio creates substantial safety and security concerns. Here, we discuss the benefits and risks of DIY Bio and how multiple stakeholders, especially the government and academia, might work together with the DIY Bio community to co-develop global and locally contextualized policies, regulatory frameworks and action plans for maximum benefit and minimum risk.The Global Young Academy receives its core funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the GYA DIY Biology Working Group’s activities have been co-funded by the Volkswagen Foundation