Single cell analysis of neutrophils NETs by Microscopic LSPR imaging system

A simple microengraving cell monitoring method for neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) released from single neutrophils has been realized using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microwell array (MWA) sheet on a plasmon chip platform. An imbalance between NETs formation and the succeeding degradation (NETosis) are considered associated with autoimmune disease and its pathogenesis. Thus, an alternative platform that can conduct monitoring of this activity on single cell level at minimum cost but with great sensitivity is greatly desired. The developed MWA plasmon chips allow single cell isolation of neutrophils from 150 μL suspension (6.0 × 105 cells/mL) with an efficiency of 36.3%; 105 microwells with single cell condition. To demonstrate the utility of the chip, trapped cells were incubated between 2 to 4 h after introducing with 100 nM phorbol 12- myristate 13-acetate (PMA) before measurement. Under observation using a hyperspectral imaging system that allows high-throughput screening, the neutrophils stimulated by PMA solution show a significant release of fibrils and NETs after 4 h, with observed maximum areas between 314–758 μm2. An average absorption peak wavelength shows a redshift of Δλ = 1.5 nm as neutrophils release NETs

Different impressions of other agents obtained through social interaction uniquely modulate dorsal and ventral pathway activities in the social human brain

Internal (neuronal) representations in the brain are modified by our experiences, and this phenomenon is not unique to sensory and motor systems. Here, we show that different impressions obtained through social interaction with a variety of agents uniquely modulate activity of dorsal and ventral pathways of the brain network that mediates human social behavior. We scanned brain activity with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 16 healthy volunteers when they performed a simple matching-pennies game with a human, human-like android, mechanical robot, interactive robot, and a computer. Before playing this game in the scanner, participants experienced social interactions with each opponent separately and scored their initial impressions using two questionnaires. We found that the participants perceived opponents in two mental dimensions: one represented “mind-holderness” in which participants attributed anthropomorphic impressions to some of the opponents that had mental functions, while the other dimension represented “mind-readerness” in which participants characterized opponents as intelligent. Interestingly, this “mind-readerness” dimension correlated to participants frequently changing their game tactic to prevent opponents from envisioning their strategy, and this was corroborated by increased entropy during the game. We also found that the two factors separately modulated activity in distinct social brain regions. Specifically, mind-holderness modulated activity in the dorsal aspect of the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) and medial prefrontal and posterior paracingulate cortices, while mind-readerness modulated activity in the ventral aspect of TPJ and the temporal pole. These results clearly demonstrate that activity in social brain networks is modulated through pre-scanning experiences of social interaction with a variety of agents. Furthermore, our findings elucidated the existence of two distinct functional networks in the social human brain. Social interaction with anthropomorphic or intelligent-looking agents may distinctly shape the internal representation of our social brain, which may in turn determine how we behave for various agents that we encounter in our society

Enhanced electrochemiluminescence of N-(aminobutyl)-N-(ethylisoluminol) functionalized gold nanoparticles by Graphene Oxide Nanoribbons

The mechanism of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of an N-(aminobutyl)-N-(ethylisoluminol) -functionalized gold nanoparticle (ABEI-AuNP) hybrid with graphene oxide nanoribbons (GONRs) as a functional supporting matrix on a modified screen-printed electrode (SPE) was studied under alkaline conditions.In our catalytic system, ABEI-AuNPs supported by GONRs were profoundly superior to the unsupported ABEI-AuNP/SPE, and exhibited greatly enhanced ECL intensity (≈30.0%).This difference is attributed not only to an 80.2% increase in the total surface area of the ABEI-AuNP-GONR/SPE, but also to enhancements of the ABEI-AuNP catalytic activity resulting from metal-oxygen bonding between the functional groups on the GONRs and the Au active sites.This improved catalytic activity of ABEI-AuNP facilitates both oxidative radical generation and fast reaction kinetics of the ABEI oxidation process. To further elucidate the mechanism of the counter-peak phenomenon in the ABEI ECL under cyclic voltammetry (CV) conditions, the effects of various factors, including pH of buffer solution, existence of dissolved oxygen, and concentration of hydrogen peroxide, on the ECL of ABEI were investigated.The mechanisms of liquid-phase ABEI on bare SPE and GONR/SPE were also compared to that of solid-phase ABEI-AuNP to validate the proposed mechanism for ABEI-AuNP-GONR/SPE

The influence of melt infiltration on the Li and Mg isotopic composition of the Horoman Peridotite Massif

We have analysed the Li and Mg isotope ratios of a suite of samples from the Horoman peridotite massif. Our results show that most Li and all Mg isotopic compositions of the Horoman peridotites are constant over 100 metres of continuous outcrop, yielding values for pristine mantle of δ7Li = 3.8 ± 1.4 ‰ (2SD, n = 9), δ25Mg = -0.12 ± 0.02 ‰ and δ26Mg = -0.23 ± 0.04 ‰ (2SD, n = 17), in keeping with values for undisturbed mantle xenoliths. However, there are also some anomalously low δ7Li values (-0.2 to 1.6 ‰), which coincide with locations that show enrichment of incompatible elements, indicative of the prior passage of small degree melts. We suggest Li diffused from the infiltrating melts with high [Li] into the low [Li] minerals and kinetically fractionated 7Li/6Li as a result. Continued diffusion after the melt flow had ceased would have resulted in the disappearance of this isotopically light signature in less than 15 Ma. In order to preserve this feature, the melt infiltration must have been a late stage event and the massif must have subsequently cooled over a maximum of ∼0.3 Ma from peak temperature (950°C, assuming the melts are hydrous) to Li closure temperature (700°C), likely during emplacement. The constant δ26Mg values of Horoman peridotites suggest that chemical potential gradients caused by melt infiltration were insufficient to drive associated δ26Mg fractionation greater than our external precision of 0.03 ‰

Gold Nanoparticle-Based Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering for Noninvasive Molecular Probing of Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation

This study reports the use of gold nanoparticle-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for probing the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells, including undifferentiated single cells, embryoid bodies (EBs), and terminally differentiated cardiomyocytes. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were successfully delivered into all 3 mES cell differentiation stages without affecting cell viability or proliferation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the localization of GNPs inside the following cell organelles: mitochondria, secondary lysosome, and endoplasmic reticulum. Using bright- and dark-field imaging, the bright scattering of GNPs and nanoaggregates in all 3 ES cell differentiation stages could be visualized. EB (an early differentiation stage) and terminally differentiated cardiomyocytes both showed SERS peaks specific to metabolic activity in the mitochondria and to protein translation (amide I, amide II, and amide III peaks). These peaks have been rarely identified in undifferentiated single ES cells. Spatiotemporal changes observed in the SERS spectra from terminally differentiated cardiomyocyte tissues revealed local and dynamic molecular interactions as well as transformations during ES cell differentiation