Contralaterally transplanted human embryonic stem cell-derived neural precursor cells (ENStem-A) migrate and improve brain functions in stroke-damaged rats

The transplantation of neural precursor cells (NPCs) is known to be a promising approach to ameliorating behavioral deficits after stroke in a rodent model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). Previous studies have shown that transplanted NPCs migrate toward the infarct region, survive and differentiate into mature neurons to some extent. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of NPC migration following transplantation into stroke animals have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the fates of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived NPCs (ENStem-A) for 8 weeks following transplantation into the side contralateral to the infarct region using 7.0T animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). T2- and T2*-weighted MRI analyses indicated that the migrating cells were clearly detectable at the infarct boundary zone by 1 week, and the intensity of the MRI signals robustly increased within 4 weeks after transplantation. Afterwards, the signals were slightly increased or unchanged. At 8 weeks, we performed Prussian blue staining and immunohistochemical staining using human-specific markers, and found that high percentages of transplanted cells migrated to the infarct boundary. Most of these cells were CXCR4-positive. We also observed that the migrating cells expressed markers for various stages of neural differentiation, including Nestin, Tuj1, NeuN, TH, DARPP-32 and SV38, indicating that the transplanted cells may partially contribute to the reconstruction of the damaged neural tissues after stroke. Interestingly, we found that the extent of gliosis (glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells) and apoptosis (TUNEL-positive cells) were significantly decreased in the cell-transplanted group, suggesting that hESC-NPCs have a positive role in reducing glia scar formation and cell death after stroke. No tumors formed in our study. We also performed various behavioral tests, including rotarod, stepping and modified neurological severity score tests, and found that the transplanted animals exhibited significant improvements in sensorimotor functions during the 8 weeks after transplantation. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that hESC-NPCs have the capacity to migrate to the infarct region, form neural tissues efficiently and contribute to behavioral recovery in a rodent model of ischemic stroke.     

A Robust 3D Cage‐like Ultramicroporous Network Structure with High Gas‐Uptake Capacity

A three‐dimensional (3D) cage‐like organic network (3D‐CON) structure synthesized by the straightforward condensation of building blocks designed with gas adsorption properties is presented. The 3D‐CON can be prepared using an easy but powerful route, which is essential for commercial scale‐up. The resulting fused aromatic 3D‐CON exhibited a high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area of up to 2247 m² g^?1. More importantly, the 3D‐CON displayed outstanding low pressure hydrogen (H₂, 2.64 wt %, 1.0 bar and 77 K), methane (CH₄, 2.4 wt %, 1.0 bar and 273 K), and carbon dioxide (CO₂, 26.7 wt %, 1.0 bar and 273 K) uptake with a high isosteric heat of adsorption (H₂, 8.10 kJ mol^?1; CH₄, 18.72 kJ mol^?1; CO₂, 31.87 kJ mol^?1). These values are among the best reported for organic networks with high thermal stability (ca. 600 °C).     

Lithium‐Ion Endohedral Fullerene (Li+@C60) Dopants in Stable Perovskite Solar Cells Induce Instant Doping and Anti‐Oxidation

Herein, we report use of [Li⁺@C₆₀]TFSI^? as a dopant for spiro‐MeOTAD in lead halide perovskite solar cells. This approach gave an air stability nearly 10‐fold that of conventional devices using Li⁺TFSI^?. Such high stability is attributed to the hydrophobic nature of [Li⁺@C₆₀]TFSI^? repelling moisture and absorbing intruding oxygen, thereby protecting the perovskite device from degradation. Furthermore, [Li⁺@C₆₀]TFSI^? could oxidize spiro‐MeOTAD without the need for oxygen. The encapsulated devices exhibited outstanding air stability for more than 1000 h while illuminated under ambient conditions.     

Studies of degradation behaviors of poly (3‐hexylthiophene) layers by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Degradation behaviors of poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (P3HT) layers on NiO in the presence of H₂O at ambient pressure and dark conditions were studied using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Upon H₂O exposure at 120 °C, partial oxidation of P3HT together with molecular water incorporation, but with the maintained local ring‐structure, were deduced by XPS. Valence band spectra of XPS evidenced that the partial oxidation of P3HT local structure could alter π‐conjugation systems of P3HT layers, forming additional electronic states close to its original highest occupied molecular orbital. For comparison, P3HT surface was also exposed to O₂, and no change in the S 2p and C 1s spectra was found by O₂ exposure at 120 °C, implying that H₂O plays a major role at the initial stage of P3HT oxidation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance studies of a full-length prototype for the CASTOR forward calorimeter at the CMS experiment

The Time-Of-Flight detector (TOF) of the ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC is based on Multi-gap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPCs). The TOF detector consists of 152928 readout channels covering a total area of 141 m². In this paper the results of the calibration with cosmic-ray data collected during 2009 are presented.     

Spectroscopic investigation on the electronic structure of a 5d band insulator SrHfO3 in proximity to ferroelectric instability: Comparison with SrTiO3 and SrZrO3

We investigated the high-energy electronic structure of a 5d perovskite SrHfO₃ by using optical spectroscopy and O 1s x-ray absorption spectroscopy. From the combined spectra the values of electronic structure parameters are estimated properly. In particular, the crystal field splitting energy, which is closely associated with the p–d hybridization strength, is as high as ～5 eV, and the Sr 4d bands appear to be strongly mixed with the Hf 5d bands. These findings are discussed in relation to a possible ferroelectric instability in SrHfO₃, and are compared with electronic properties of similar compounds, 3d SrTiO₃ and 4d SrZrO₃.     

Spectroscopic investigations of 1.06 μm emission in Nd-doped alkali niobium zinc tellurite glasses

Thermal, structural and optical properties of Nd³⁺ ions in tellurite glass (TeO₂-ZnO-Na₂O-Li₂O-Nb₂O₅) have been investigated. Differential thermal analysis revealed reasonably good forming tendency of the glass composition. FTIR spectra were used to analyze the functional groups present in the glass. Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters were derived from the absorption spectrum and used to calculate the radiative lifetime, branching ratio and stimulated emission cross-section of the ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_9/2, _{11/2, 13/2} transitions. The quantum efficiency of the ⁴F_3/2 level is comparable as well as higher than the typical value of the other tellurite based glasses. The decay from the ⁴F_3/2 level is found to be single exponential for different concentrations of Nd³⁺ ions with a shortening of lifetime with increasing concentration. The experimental values of branching ratio and saturation intensity of ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_11/2 transition indicate the favourable lasing action with low threshold power.