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The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase is overexpressed in many cancers and is reported to be phosphorylated by Akt. Here, Zhou et al.show that RSK, rather than Akt, phosphorylates EphA2 on Ser-897, and this regulates cell migration and invasion of metastatic cancer cells.

Organic–inorganic hybrid thin films containing [Ti₄(μ₃-O)(OiPr)₅(μ-OiPr)₃(O₃PPh)₃]·THF (TiOPPh) as element blocks were prepared via hybridization with the hydroxyl-substituted organic polymers (PVP, PSA, or PBE) by spin-coating. The hybrid thin films were characterized by AFM, DSC, and pencil hardness. The pencil hardness values of the PVP hybrid thin films were in the order 20 > 40 > 0 wt% and were dependent on the surface smoothness. When TiOPPh was reacted with excess ethanol, the core was retained. Therefore, the core of TiOPPh will be retained in the hybrid polymers.

Titanium phosphonate (TiOPPh: [Ti₄(μ₃-O)(OⁱPr)₅(μ-OⁱPr)₃(PhPO₃)₃]·thf) was synthesized. TiOPPh was mixed with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to prepare organic–inorganic hybrid polymer films. The film using PMMA was formed by the interaction between organic and inorganic components. The temperatures of 10% weight loss of TiOPPh–PMMA were 30 °C higher than that of PMMA only. The film using PVA was formed by the alcohol exchange reaction between TiOPPh and PVA. The transparency of TiOPPh-PVA in the visible region was higher than that of PVA only.

A polysilsesquioxane-based organic-inorganic hybrid membrane was prepared and applied as a proton-conducting membrane for fuel cells. A membrane of a random copolymer of ethyl 4-(2-methyl-3-triethoxysilylpropoxy)benzenesulfonate and triethoxy(methyl)silane showed proton conductivity of 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ to 1.1 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature. A membrane of a block copolymer of poly(3-(4-ethoxysulfonylphenoxy)-2-methylpropyl)silsesquioxane (SPES) and polymethylsilsesquioxane showed proton conductivity of 2.5 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹. The mixture of SPES and poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethylene oxide), or polyoctahedralpolysilsesquioxane showed proton conductivity of 2.7 × 10⁻³, 1.5x10⁻³ or 2.5 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹, respectively. The open-circuit voltage of the SPES membrane was 0.92 V.

Novel nickel–molybdenum–platinum ternary alloy nanoparticles (NiMoPtNPs) stabilized by oleylamine were prepared by a hot-soap method. The following ligand-exchange reaction of oleylamine with 50% N-methylated linear poly(ethyleneimine-co-N-methylethyleneimine) (poly(EI-co-NMEI)) provided poly(EI-co-NMEI)-protected NiMoPtNPs. The average radii of poly(EI-co-NMEI)-protected NiMoPtNPs were 1.9–2.5 nm and were decreased as compared with oleylamine-protected NiMoPtNPs. Poly(EI-co-NMEI)-protected NiMoPtNPs were dispersed in methanol, ethanol and water in the range of pH −1 to 14. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometric analysis showed that poly(EI-co-NMEI)-protected NiMoPtNPs are a ternary metal alloy.

Organic–inorganic hybrids containing [Ti₄(μ₃-O)(OiPr)₅(μ-OiPr)₃(O₃PPh)₃]·thf (TiOPPh) as element-blocks were prepared by hybridization with silicone polymers (poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), poly(methylsilsesquioxane) (PMS) or poly(ethoxysilsesquioxane) (PEOS)), the hydroxyl groups substituted organic polymers (poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(4-vinylphenol), poly(styrene-co-allyl alcohol) or poly(bisphenol A-co-epichlorohydrin) (PBE)) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The concentration of TiOPPh was increased to 40 wt% to form free-standing hybrid films with PDMS, PMS, PVA and PBE polymers. The tensile strengths and elongations of PMMA and PVA films were higher improved than only polymers because TiOPPh acted good crosslinkers.

The oxidant addition time and polymerization time were varied during the synthesis of oligo(3-methoxythiophene), and the effect of such polymerization conditions on the physicochemical properties of the oligomer and its cast films was investigated. The polymerization conditions changed the oligomer molecular weight and the amount of edge-on lamellar crystallites in the films and, in turn, affected the color and gloss of the films. The obtained results are expected to facilitate the fabrication of conductive oligo(3-methoxythiophene) films with tunable color and metal-like luster for diverse applications.