CCL21Ser is one of the ligands for chemokine receptor CCR7. Kozai et al. report that CCL21Ser is essential for the accumulation of developing thymocytes in the thymic medulla and the establishment of self-tolerance in T cells, indicating a functional inequality among CCR7 ligands in vivo.

No abstract

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films were prepared by sulfurization of electrodeposited Cu‐Zn‐Sn precursors. The Cu‐Zn‐Sn precursors were deposited on Mo‐coated glass substrates in a one‐step process from an electrolyte containing copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate, zinc sulfate heptahydrate, tin (II) chloride dehydrate and tri‐sodium citrate dehydrate. The precursors were sulfurized by annealing with sulfur at temperatures of 580 °C and 600 °C in an N2 atmosphere. X‐ray diffraction peaks attributable to CZTS were detected in the sulfurized films. Photovoltaic cells with the structure glass/Mo/CZTS/ CdS/ZnO:Al/Al were fabricated using the CZTS films by sulfurizing the electrodeposited precursors. The best photovoltaic cell performance was obtained with Zn‐rich samples. An open‐circuit voltage of 540 mV, a short‐circuit current of 12.6 mA/cm2 and an efficiency of 3.16% were achieved. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The first catalytic process for protection of hydroxyl groups in sugars has been developed. Highly regioselective protection was accomplished along with high chemical yield. The regioselectivity of the benzoylation was realized as an intrinsic character of sugars based on a stereorelationship among their hydroxyl groups. Furthermore, complete protection of alpha-methyl glucoside and beta-methyl xyloside was accomplished.

A unique approach for nanoscale covalent functionalization of graphite surfaces employing self-assembled molecular monolayers of n-alkanes as templating masks is presented.Linearly aligned aryl groups with a lateral periodicity of 5 or 7 nm is demonstrated utilizing molecular templates of different lengths. The key feature of this approach is the use of a phase separated solution double layer consisting of a thin organic layer containing template molecules topped by an aqueous layer containing aryldiazonium molecules capable of electrochemical reduction to generate aryl radicals which bring about surface grafting. Upon sweeping of the potential, lateral displacement dynamics at the n-alkane terminal edges acts in conjunction with 2 electrochemical diffusion to result in templated covalent bond formation in a linear fashion. This protocol was demonstrated to be applicable to linear grafting of graphene. The present processing described herein opens molecular frontiers for the realization of rationally designed nanoscale materials.

These results indicated that M2 macrophages, rather than M1, play an important role in promoting retinal pathological neovascularization probably by producing secreted factors. Thus, targeting M2 macrophages could be a potential therapeutic option for inhibiting retinal pathological neovascularization.

No abstract

The elevated levels of MCP-1 and IL-6 may indicate prolonged inflammation even after successful vitrectomy, which can cause postoperative DME.