Fabrication of Nanostructured Electroforming Copper Layer by Means of an Ultrasonic-assisted Mechanical Treatment

AbstractElectroformed copper layer with nanostructure is obtained using a subsequent mechanical treatment under the conditions of ultrasonic vibration according to the demand of high performance material in aeronautics. The microstructure of the electroformed copper layer is observed by optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The tensile strength is evaluated with a tensile tester. It is found that bulk crystal of electroformed copper's surface layer is changed to nanocrystals (about 10 nm in size) after the ultrasonic-assisted mechanical treatment (UMT) but the whole monocrystalline structure still remains. The tensile strength exhibited by the new copper layer is two times better than the regular electroformed copper layer, while the fracture strain remains constant. In addition, the strengthening mechanism of UMT process is proved to be dislocation strengthening mechanism

BBF RFC 101: Logic Gene Module Standard

This Request for Comments (RFC) describes a new framework for standardize logic gene relations among gene circuits. Each type of logic module in gene circuit can be summarized in a standard device in electronics. In this paper, we collect several frequently-used logic modules and the corresponding classic gene structure

BBF RFC97: Genetic Circuit Standard 1.0

Current, there is well adopted documentation of biobricks. The Registry of Standard Biology Part set the standard documentation for biobrick. However, there is no standard way to document a genetic circuit, what information should be included in a description of a genetic circuit. We have therefore develop the technique standard for recording a genetic circuits. This standard will help the sharing of genetic circuits’ information among synthetic biology community

Leucine-rich repeat transmembrane proteins instruct discrete dendrite targeting in an olfactory map

Olfactory systems utilize discrete neural pathways to process and integrate odorant information. In Drosophila, axons of first-order olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) and dendrites of second-order projection neurons (PNs) form class-specific synaptic connections at ~50 glomeruli. The mechanisms underlying PN dendrite targeting to distinct glomeruli in a three-dimensional discrete neural map are unclear. We found that the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) transmembrane protein Capricious (Caps) was differentially expressed in different classes of PNs. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies indicated that Caps instructs the segregation of Caps-positive and Caps-negative PN dendrites to discrete glomerular targets. Moreover, Caps-mediated PN dendrite targeting was independent of presynaptic ORNs and did not involve homophilic interactions. The closely related protein Tartan was partially redundant with Caps. These LRR proteins are probably part of a combinatorial cell-surface code that instructs discrete olfactory map formation

TSPAN8 promotes cancer cell stemness via activation of sonic Hedgehog signaling

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a major source of treatment resistance and tumor progression. However, regulation of CSCs stemness is not entirely understood. Here, we report that TSPAN8 expression is upregulated in breast CSCs, promotes the expression of the stemness gene NANOG, OCT4, and ALDHA1, and correlates with therapeutic resistance. Mechanistically, TSPAN8 interacts with PTCH1 and inhibits the degradation of the SHH/PTCH1 complex through recruitment of deubiquitinating enzyme ATXN3. This results in the translocation of SMO to cilia, downstream gene expression, resistance of CSCs to chemotherapeutic agents, and enhances tumor formation in mice. Accordingly, expression levels of TSPAN8, PTCH1, SHH, and ATXN3 are positively correlated in human breast cancer specimens, and high TSPAN8 and ATXN3 expression levels correlate with poor prognosis. These findings reveal a molecular basis of TSPAN8-enhanced Sonic Hedgehog signaling and highlight a role for TSPAN8 in promoting cancer stemness

Mechanosensitive Piezo1 protein as a novel regulator in macrophages and macrophage-mediated inflammatory diseases

Macrophages are the most important innate immune cells in humans. They are almost ubiquitous in peripheral tissues with a large variety of different mechanical milieus. Therefore, it is not inconceivable that mechanical stimuli have effects on macrophages. Emerging as key molecular detectors of mechanical stress, the function of Piezo channels in macrophages is becoming attractive. In this review, we addressed the architecture, activation mechanisms, biological functions, and pharmacological regulation of the Piezo1 channel and review the research advancements in functions of Piezo1 channels in macrophages and macrophage-mediated inflammatory diseases as well as the potential mechanisms involved