BINA

Production of multilayered microstructures composed of conducting and insulating materials is of great interest as they can be utilized as microelectronic components. Current proposed fabrication methods of these microstructures include top-down and bottom-up methods, each having their own set of drawbacks. Laser-based methods were shown to pattern various materials with micron/sub-micron resolution; however, multilayered structures demonstrating conducting/insulating/conducting properties were not yet realized. Here, we demonstrate laser printing of multilayered microstructures consisting of conducting platinum and insulating silicon oxide layers by a combination of thermally driven reactions with microbubble-assisted printing. PtCl2 dissolved in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) was used as a precursor to form conducting Pt layers, while tetraethyl orthosilicate dissolved in NMP formed insulating silicon …

While the curvature of the classical liquid surfaces exhibits only a weak temperature dependence, we demonstrate here a reversible temperature-tunable concave–convex shape switching in capillary-contained, surfactant-decorated, oil–water interfaces. The observed switching gives rise to a concave–convex shape transition, which takes place as a function of the width of the containing capillary. This apparent violation of Young’s equation results from a hitherto-unreported sharp reversible hydrophobic–hydrophilic transition of the glass capillary walls. The transition is driven by the interfacial freezing effect, which controls the balance between the competing surfactants’ adsorption on, and consequent hydrophobization of, the capillary walls and their incorporation into the interfacially frozen monolayer. Since capillary wetting by surfactant solutions is fundamental for a wide range of technologies and natural …

Metal–support interactions have been widely utilized for optimizing the catalytic reactivity of oxide-supported Au nanoparticles. Optimized reactivity was mainly detected with small (1–5 nm) oxide-supported Au nanoparticles and correlated to highly reactive sites at the oxide–metal interface. However, catalytically active sites are not necessarily restricted to the interface but reside as well on the Au surface. Uncovering the interconnection between reactive sites located at the interface and those situated at the metal surface is of crucial importance for understanding the reaction mechanism on Au nanoparticles. Herein, high-spatial-resolution IR nanospectroscopy measurements were conducted to map the localized reactivity in hydrogenation reactions on oxide-supported Au particles while using nitro-functionalized ligands as probes molecules. Comparative analysis of the reactivity pattern on single particles supported …

The ability to direct neurons into organized neural networks has great implications for regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and bio-interfacing. Many studies have aimed at directing neurons using chemical and topographical cues. However, reports of organizational control on a micron-scale over large areas are scarce. Here, an effective method has been described for placing neurons in preset sites and guiding neuronal outgrowth with micron-scale resolution, using magnetic platforms embedded with micro-patterned, magnetic elements. It has been demonstrated that loading neurons with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) converts them into sensitive magnetic units that can be influenced by magnetic gradients. Following this approach, a unique magnetic platform has been fabricated on which PC12 cells, a common neuron-like model, were plated and loaded with superparamagnetic nanoparticles. Thin films of ferromagnetic (FM) multilayers with stable perpendicular magnetization were deposited to provide effective attraction forces toward the magnetic patterns. These MNP-loaded PC12 cells, plated and differentiated atop the magnetic platforms, were preferentially attached to the magnetic patterns, and the neurite outgrowth was well aligned with the pattern shape, forming oriented networks. Quantitative characterization methods of the magnetic properties, cellular MNP uptake, cell viability, and statistical analysis of the results are presented. This approach enables the control of neural network formation and improves neuron-to-electrode interface through the manipulation of magnetic forces, which can be an effective tool for in vitro …

The utilization of lignocellulosic biomass is effective to produce chemicals and fuels, which are of importance for the establishment of a sustainable society. The conversion of cellulose, which is the main component of the lignocellulosic biomass, into signi cant chemicals that can be further converted to different chemicals or fuels in the subsequent step, under gentle conditions is a promising route. Organic acids such as acetic acid, glycolic acid and formic acid are signi cant chemicals are examples of such products. A novel method to producing important platform chemicals from Micro-crystalline cellulose was developed. Micro-crystalline cellulose was degraded as a result of an oxidation with potassium chlorate by microwave radiation, in a one-pot procedure, e cient reaction conditions such as short reaction time and full conversion of the cellulose were identi ed. The reaction products have been analyzed by 1H, 13C NMR, XPS, TGA and XRD.

The study of subtle effects on transport in semiconductors requires high-quality epitaxial structures with low defect density. Using hybrid molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), SrTiO films with low-temperature mobility exceeding 42,000 cmVs at low carrier density of 3 x 10 cm were achieved. A sudden and sharp decrease in residual resistivity accompanied by an enhancement in the superconducting transition temperature were observed across the second Lifshitz transition (LT) where the third band becomes occupied, revealing dominant intra-band scattering. These films further revealed an anomalous behavior in the Hall carrier density as a consequence of the antiferrodistortive (AFD) transition and the temperature-dependence of the Hall scattering factor. Using hybrid MBE growth, phenomenological modeling, temperature-dependent transport measurements, and scanning superconducting quantum interference device imaging, we provide critical insights into the important role of inter- vs intra-band scattering and of AFD domain walls on normal-state and superconducting properties of SrTiO.

We study the aberrations of four-wave mixing based time lenses resulting from the cross-phase modulations of the pump wave. These temporal aberrations have no spatial equivalent and are important when imaging weak signals with strong pump waves. We show that as the pump power increases, the cross-phase modulations of the pump are responsible for shifting, defocusing, and imposing temporal coma aberrations on the image. We present experimental results of these aberrations with high agreement to analytical and numerical calculations.

Simultaneous water and ethanol-based synthesis and coating of copper and zinc oxide (CuO/ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) on bandages was carried out by ultrasound irradiation. High resolution-transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the effects of the solvent on the particle size and shape of metal oxide NPs. An antibacterial activity study of metal-oxide-coated bandages was carried out against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative). CuO NP-coated bandages made from both water and ethanol demonstrated complete killing of S. aureus and E. coli bacteria within 30 min., whereas ZnO NP-coated bandages demonstrated five-log reductions in viability for both kinds of bacteria after 60 min of interaction. Further, the antibacterial mechanism of CuO/ZnO NP-coated bandages is proposed here based on electron spin resonance studies. Nanotoxicology investigations were conducted via in vivo examinations of the effect of the metal-oxide bandages on frog embryos (teratogenesis assay—Xenopus). The results show that water-based coatings resulted in lesser impacts on embryo development than the ethanol-based ones. These bandages should therefore be considered safer than the ethanol-based ones. The comparison between the toxicity of the metal oxide NPs prepared in water and ethanol is of great importance, because water will replace ethanol for bulk scale synthesis of metal oxide NPs in commercial companies to avoid further ignition problems. The novelty and importance of this manuscript is avoiding the ethanol in the typical water: ethanol mixture as the solvent for the preparation of metal …

Personalized cancer treatment based on specific mutations offers targeted therapy and is preferred over “standard” chemotherapy. Proteinoid polymers produced by thermal step-growth polymerization of amino acids may form nanocapsules (NCs) that encapsulate drugs overcoming miscibility problems and allowing passive targeted delivery with reduced side effects. The arginine-glycine-glutamic acid (RGD) sequence is known for its preferential attraction to αvβ3 integrin, which is highly expressed on neovascular endothelial cells that support tumor growth. Here, tumor-targeted RGD-based proteinoid NCs entrapping a synergistic combination of Palbociclib (Pal) and Alpelisib (Alp) were synthesized by self-assembly to induce the reduction of tumor cell growth in different types of cancers. The diameters of the hollow and drug encapsulating poly(RGD) NCs were 34 ± 5 and 22 ± 3 nm, respectively; thereby, their drug targeted efficiency is due to both passive and active targeting. The encapsulation yield of Pal and Alp was 70 and 90%, respectively. In vitro experiments with A549, MCF7 and HCT116 human cancer cells demonstrate a synergistic effect of Pal and Alp, controlled release and dose dependence. Preliminary results in a 3D tumor spheroid model with cells derived from patient-derived xenografts of colon cancer illustrate disassembly of spheroids, indicating that the NCs have therapeutic potential.

Cytokinesis mediates separation of daughter cells at the end of cell division. We have developed a high-throughput approach for monitoring cell-autonomous cytokinesis in non-adherent cells. Focusing on cytokinesis termination, we show that chemical inhibition of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and PP2A specifically in late cytokinesis activates cytokinesis regression, which is distinct from any known cytokinesis failure, and is not a by-product of abnormal furrow ingression or chromatin bridges. This process is characterized by the formation of cortical blebs primarily at the intercellular bridge, reopening of the cleavage furrow and reassembly of an interphase-like microtubule network, but not by chromatin recondensation and mitotic spindle formation. Finally, cytokinesis regression is suppressed by chemical inhibition of aurora kinases but not Cdk1 or PLK1. Altogether, our results highlight a hitherto uncharacterized facet of the counter-activity of PP1/PP2A and aurora kinases in the final step of cell division, which ultimately secure the conclusion of cytokinesis, thereby preventing polyploidy and genomic instability.

Page 1. Use of cell doublets for studying cytokinesis regulation reveals a new form of cytokinesis regression Nofar Levi-Dadon1 Bar-Ilan University Einat Panet Bar-Ilan University Shira Huri Ohev Shalom Bar-Ilan University Ohad Kraus Bar-Ilan University Irit Shoval Bar-Ilan University Roxane Lahmi Bar-Ilan University Howard Shapiro The Center for Microbial Cytometry, West Newton, MA, USA Amit Tzur (  Amit.Tzur@biu.ac.il ) Bar-Ilan University Article Keywords: Cytokinesis regression, Cytokinesis index, Flow cytometry, Doublet discrimination cell- autonomous regulation, lymphocytic leukemia cells L1210 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-730080/v1 License:   This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License …

The self-assembly of proteins into sophisticated multicomponent assemblies is a hallmark of all living systems and has spawned extensive efforts in the construction of novel synthetic protein architectures with emergent functional properties. Protein assemblies in nature are formed via selective association of multiple protein surfaces through intricate noncovalent protein–protein interactions, a challenging task to accurately replicate in the de novo design of multiprotein systems. In this protocol, we describe the application of metal-coordinating hydroxamate (HA) motifs to direct the metal-mediated assembly of polyhedral protein architectures and 3D crystalline protein–metal–organic frameworks (protein-MOFs). This strategy has been implemented using an asymmetric cytochrome cb562 monomer through selective, concurrent association of Fe3+ and Zn2+ ions to form polyhedral cages. Furthermore, the use of …

Understanding the charge transport properties of proteins at the molecular scale is crucial for the development of novel bioelectronic devices. In this contribution, we report on the preparation and electrical characterization of thin films of bacteriorhodopsin grafted on the surface of titanium nitride via aminophosphonate linkers. Thickness analysis using atomic force microscopy revealed a protein film thickness of 8.2±1.5 nm, indicating the formation of a protein bilayer. Electrical measurements were carried out in the dry state, in a vertical arrangement with a eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) or an evaporated Ti/Au top contact. DC current-voltage measurements yielded comparable effective tunneling decay constants for the EGaIn top contact and for the Ti/Au top contact. The results presented herein may establish a novel platform for studying charge transport via protein molecules in a solid-state …

J Exp Bot. 2021 Jul 31;erab333. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erab333. Online ahead of print … 1 Robert H Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel … 2 Electron Microscopy Facility, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS-TIFR), Bangalore, India … 3 Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel … 4 Department of Entomology, Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel … 5 Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, VIB/Ghent University, Gent, Belgium … 6 Danziger Innovations Limited, Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

The present work considers the production of a cheap and effective sorbent based on natural clay from the Kyzylsok deposit (Almaty region) in order to purify wastewater from heavy metal ions (Cd 2+, Pb 2+). It was found that the starting material is applicable for the extraction of Cd 2+ ions (the degree of extraction is (97.00±1.99)%), while for the extraction of Pb 2+ ions the initial clay must be modified. The modification was carried out using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The degree of extraction of Pb 2+ ions with modified clay increased from (70.00±1.77)% to (98±1.13)% The influence of PVP concentration in the composite material (modified clay) on its sorption properties was studied: the optimal concentration of PVP was 0.1% solution. The desorption of metal ions was also investigated in the work, it does not exceed 2%. It was found that the sorption process is described by the monomolecular Langmuir isotherm …

Ni-rich layered oxide LiNi1 – x – yCoxMnyO2 (1 – x – y > 0.5) materials are favorable cathode materials in advanced Li-ion batteries for electromobility applications because of their high initial discharge capacity. However, they suffer from poor cycling stability because of the formation of cracks in their particles during operation. Here, we present improved structural stability, electrochemical performance, and thermal durability of LiNi0.85Co0.1Mn0.05O2(NCM85). The Nb-doped cathode material, Li(Ni0.85Co0.1Mn0.05)0.997Nb0.003O2, has enhanced cycling stability at different temperatures, outstanding capacity retention, improved performance at high discharge rates, and a better thermal stability compared to the undoped cathode material. The high electrochemical performance of the doped material is directly related to the structural stability of the cathode particles. We further propose that Nb-doping in NCM85 …

Calcium-based battery systems are promising postlithium candidates; however, only a few amenable calcium materials were reported in nonaqueous electrolytes. Here, reversible storage of Ca2+ ions in aqueous and nonaqueous electrolyte solutions is shown for crystalline 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride. The carbonyl functional groups and the π-electrons constitute redox centers, which can reversibly interact with divalent ions. This phenomenon was clearly uncovered by combined electrochemistry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ex situ X-ray diffraction analyses. Very promising calcium storage performances are shown with a highly reversible capacity around ∼158 mAh g–1 at a rate of 10 mA g–1 with an average voltage of ∼2.3 V band sufficient capacity retention in saturated Ca …

The study of subtle effects on transport in semiconductors requires high-quality epitaxial structures with low defect density. Using hybrid molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), SrTiO films with low-temperature mobility exceeding 42,000 cmVs at low carrier density of 3 x 10 cm were achieved. A sudden and sharp decrease in residual resistivity accompanied by an enhancement in the superconducting transition temperature were observed across the second Lifshitz transition (LT) where the third band becomes occupied, revealing dominant intra-band scattering. These films further revealed an anomalous behavior in the Hall carrier density as a consequence of the antiferrodistortive (AFD) transition and the temperature-dependence of the Hall scattering factor. Using hybrid MBE growth, phenomenological modeling, temperature-dependent transport measurements, and scanning superconducting quantum interference device imaging, we provide critical insights into the important role of inter- vs intra-band scattering and of AFD domain walls on normal-state and superconducting properties of SrTiO.

Personalized cancer treatment based on specific mutations offers targeted therapy and is preferred over “standard” chemotherapy. Proteinoid polymers produced by thermal step-growth polymerization of amino acids may form nanocapsules (NCs) that encapsulate drugs overcoming miscibility problems and allowing passive targeted delivery with reduced side effects. The arginine-glycine-glutamic acid (RGD) sequence is known for its preferential attraction to αvβ3 integrin, which is highly expressed on neovascular endothelial cells that support tumor growth. Here, tumor-targeted RGD-based proteinoid NCs entrapping a synergistic combination of Palbociclib (Pal) and Alpelisib (Alp) were synthesized by self-assembly to induce the reduction of tumor cell growth in different types of cancers. The diameters of the hollow and drug encapsulating poly (RGD) NCs were 34±5 and 22±3 nm, respectively; thereby, their drug targeted efficiency is due to both passive and active targeting. The encapsulation yield of Pal and Alp was 70 and 90%, respectively. In vitro experiments with A549, MCF7 and HCT116 human cancer cells demonstrate a synergistic effect of Pal and Alp, controlled release and dose dependence. Preliminary results in a 3D tumor spheroid model with cells derived from patient-derived xenografts of colon cancer illustrate disassembly of spheroids, indicating that the NCs have therapeutic potential. View Full-Text

Imaging turbid media is range limited. In contrast, sensing the medium’s optical properties is possible in larger depths using the iterative multi-plane optical properties extraction technique. It analyzes the reconstructed reemitted light phase image. The root mean square of the phase image yields two graphs with opposite behaviors that intersect at µ’s,cp. These graphs enable the extraction of a certain range of the reduced scattering coefficient, µ’s. Here, we aim to extend the range of µ’s detection by optical magnification. We use a modified diffusion theory and show how µ’s,cp shifts with the varying magnification. The theoretical results were tested experimentally, showing that the technique can be adapted to different ranges of µ’s by changing the magnification.