Structural characterization of retrocyclin. (a) CD spectrum demonstrating the similarity in structure between retrocyclin and RTD-1, both at 0.5 mg/ml in a 1:1 mixture of trifluoroethanol in PBS at pH 7.4. (b) A hypothetical model of retrocyclin made by templating its sequence on the backbone of a similar peptide from porcine neutrophils, protegrin-1 (PDB accession code: 1PG1). (c) A cartoon version of b, wherein arginines are black, cysteines are gray, and the other residues are identified by single letter code. (d) A similar cartoon of rhesus RTD-1, indicating the similarity in structure with retrocyclin.

New research in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology identifies potential protective agent against flu infection...

Zinc rich food items

Study may provide a road map for treatment and prevention. Zinc supplements can significantly inhibit the proliferation of esophageal cancer cells, according to a new study. Previous studies had shown that zinc is essential for maintaining human health and protects the esophagus from cancer. However, it has never been fully understood why zinc has the ability to prevent cancer in the esophagus.

In this study, a team led by Zui Pan, an associate professor of nursing at UTA’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation and a noted esophageal cancer researcher, discovered that zinc selectively halts the growth of cancer cells but not normal esophageal epithelial cells...

Structure of ?-CuSCN and cross-sectional SEM micrograph of a complete solar cell. Credit: M. Ibrahim Dar/EPFL

Operational stability of perovskite solar cells has been achieved by cuprous thiocyanate protected by a thin layer of reduced graphene oxide. Devices lost less than 5% performance when subjected to a crucial accelerated aging test during which they were exposed for more than 1,000 hours to full sunlight at 60°C. Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) can offer high light-conversion efficiency with low manufacturing costs. But to be commercially viable, perovskite films must also be durable and not degrade under solar light over time...

Literal flexibility may bring the power of a new transistor developed at UW–Madison to digital devices that bend and move. PHOTO COURTESY OF JUNG-HUN SEO, UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

A team of UW-M engineers has created the most functional flexible transistor in the world – and with it, a fast, simple and inexpensive fabrication process that’s easily scalable to the commercial level. It’s an advance that could open the door to an increasingly interconnected world, enabling manufacturers to add “smart,” wireless capabilities to any number of large or small products or objects – like wearable sensors and computers for people and animals – that curve, bend, stretch and move.

Transistors are ubiquitous building blocks of modern electronics...