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[Display omitted] • Effect of crown ether cavity size on the performance of AEMs is investigated. • The QAPCE-18-6 AEM exhibits a highest ionic conductivity of 122.5 mS cm−1 at 80 °C. • The peak power density of QAPCE-18-6 in a H 2 /O 2 single cell is 562 mW cm−2. Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) have emerged as a promising alternative to proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) due to their adaptability to low-cost stack components and non-noble-metals catalysts. However, the poor alkaline resistance and low OH− conductivity of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) have impeded the large-scale implementation of AEMFCs. Herein, the preparation of a new type of AEMs with crown ether macrocycles in their main chains via a one-pot superacid catalyzed reaction was reported. The study aimed to examine the influence of crown ether cavity size on the phase separation structure, ionic conductivity and alkali resistance of anion exchange membranes. Attributed to the self-assembly of crown ethers, the poly (crown ether) (PCE) AEMs with dibenzo-18-crown-6-ether (QAPCE-18-6) exhibit an obvious phase separated structure and a maximum OH− conductivity of 122.5 mS cm−1 at 80 °C (ionic exchange capacity is 1.51 meq g−1). QAPCE-18-6 shows a good alkali resistance with the OH− conductivity retention of 94.5% albeit being treated in a harsh alkali condition. Moreover, the hydrogen/oxygen single cell equipped with QAPCE-18-6 can achieve a peak power density (PPD) of 574 mW cm−2 at a current density of 1.39 A cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Localization microscopy provides abundant data for precise quantitative analysis. • An algorithm to identify local density peaks within a 3D localization cluster. • New methods for quantitative analysis of trans-synaptic protein alignment and enrichment. • These algorithms can be easily adapted to analysis of other subcellular organizations. Nanoscale distribution of proteins and their relative positioning within a defined subcellular region are key to their physiological functions. Thanks to the super-resolution imaging methods, especially single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM), mapping the three-dimensional distribution of multiple proteins has been easier and more efficient than ever. Nevertheless, in spite of the many tools available for efficient localization detection and image rendering, it has been a challenge to quantitatively analyze the 3D distribution and relative positioning of proteins in these SMLM data. Here, using heterogeneously distributed synaptic proteins as examples, we describe in detail a series of analytical methods including detection of nanoscale density clusters, quantification of the trans-synaptic alignment between these protein densities, and automatic en face projection and averaging. These analyses were performed within customized Matlab routines and we make the full scripts available. The concepts behind these analytical methods and the scripts can be adapted for quantitative analysis of spatial organization of other macromolecular complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We examine molecular phylogeny of Koenigia using five markers. [•] Koenigia sensu lato is paraphyletic with Aconogonon species. [•] We propose Koenigia delicatula be elevated to a new genus. [•] The tricolpate pollen and quincuncial aestivation likely evolved early in the history of Koenigia and close relatives. [•] Himalayan uplift and Quaternary glaciation facilitated the rapid diversification of Koenigia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Jun activation domain-binding protein 1 (Jab1) was overexpressed in breast cancer, which was involved in degradation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 Kip1 . The objective of this study was to examine the effect of brain specific kinase 1 (BRSK1) expression on Jab1 over-expression and related signaling pathway in breast cancer. Methods Immunohistochemical analysis was performed in 95 human breast carcinoma samples and the data were correlated with clinicopathologic features. Furthermore, Western blot analysis was performed for BRSK1 and Jab1 in breast carcinoma samples and cell lines to evaluate their protein levels and molecular interaction. Results We found that the cytoplasmic BRSK1 expression was inversely associated with Jab1 expression ( P < 0.01) and correlated significantly with histologic grade ( P = 0.006), however nuclear BRSK1 expression couldn't obtain similar results. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that survival curves of low versus high expressers of cytoplasmic BRSK1 and Jab1 showed a highly significant separation in breast cancer ( P < 0.01). While in vitro, following release of breast cancer cell lines from serum starvation, the expression of Jab1, phosphor-Akt (p-Akt) was up-regulated, whereas BRSK1 and p27 Kip1 were decreased. Treatment of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 could diminish Jab1 expression but increase BRSK1 expression. In addition, we employed siRNA technique to knock down Jab1 and/or BRSK1 expression and observed their effects on MDA-MB-231 cell growth. Conclusions BRSK1 is a novel tumor suppressor in breast cancer which inversely correlated with Jab1 expression, may involve in the restoring Jab1-induced suppression of p27 Kip1 and may regulate cell cycle through the PI3K/Akt pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is implicated in varieties of pathologies, the aim of the present study is to characterize the effect and mechanism of mitochondrial uncouplers on NLRP3 inflammasome activation by using three types of uncouplers, niclosamide, CCCP and BAM15. Niclosamide, CCCP and BAM15 inhibited LPS plus ATP-induced increases of NLRP3 protein and IL-1β mRNA levels in RAW264.7 macrophages and THP-1 derived macrophages. Niclosamide, CCCP and BAM15 inhibited LPS plus ATP-induced increase of NFκB (P65) phosphorylation, and inhibited NFκB (P65) nuclear translocation in RAW264.7 macrophages. Niclosamide and BAM15 inhibited LPS-induced increase of IκBα phosphorylation in RAW264.7 macrophages, and the inhibitory effect was dependent on increased intracellular [Ca2+] i ; however, CCCP showed no significant effect on IκBα phosphorylation in RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated with LPS. In conclusion, chemical mitochondrial uncouplers niclosamide, CCCP and BAM15 share common inhibitory effect on NLRP3 inflammasome activation through inhibiting NFκB nuclear translocation. Unlabelled Image • Niclosamide, CCCP and BAM15 inhibit NLRP3 and IL-1β expressions in macrophages. • Niclosamide, CCCP and BAM15 inhibit NFκB nuclear translocation in macrophages. • Niclosamide and BAM15 but not CCCP inhibits LPS-induced IκBα phosphorylation. • Mitochondrial uncouplers are novel type of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]