In this work, we discuss the precision of the effective medium approximation (EMA) model in the data analysis of spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) for solid materials with micro-rough surfaces by ...drawing the regime map. The SE parameters ψ (amplitude ratio) and Δ (phase difference) of the EMA model were solved by rigorous coupled-wave analysis. The electromagnetic response of the actual surfaces with micro roughness was simulated by the finite-difference time-domain method, which was validated by the experimental results. The regime maps associated with the SE parameters and optical constants n (refractive index) and k (extinction coefficient) of the EMA model were drawn by a comparison of the actual values with the model values. We find that using EMA to model micro-rough surfaces with high absorption can result in a higher precision of the amplitude ratio and extinction coefficient. The precisions of ψ, Δ, n and k increase as the relative roughness σ/λ (σ: the root mean square roughness, λ: the incident wavelength) decreases. The precision of ψ has an influence on the precision of k and the precision of Δ affects the precision of n. Changing σ alone has little effect on the regime maps of the relative errors of SE parameters and optical constants. A superior advantage of drawing the regime map is that it enables the clear determination as to whether EMA is able to model the rough surfaces or not.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Formaldehyde is one of the most dangerous air pollutants, which can cause sick building syndrome. Thus, it is very crucial to precisely determine formaldehyde with a low cost and simple operation. In ...this paper, a smartphone-based microfluidic colorimetric sensor is devised for gaseous formaldehyde determination with high sensitivity and selectivity. Specifically, a novel microfluidic chip is proposed based on the 4-aminohydrazine-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole (AHMT) method to determine formaldehyde; the chip consists of two reagent reservoirs, one reaction reservoir and a mixing column. In this design to prevent the fluid from flowing out while letting the gas molecule in, a hydrophobic porous poly tetra fluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane is put on the top of the reaction reservoir. Using the microfluidic chip sensor, a smartphone-based formaldehyde determination system is developed, which makes the measuring process automated and simple. As per the experiment results, the limit-of-detection (LOD) of the system is as low as 0.01 ppm, which is much lower than the maximum exposure concentration (0.08 ppm) recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Moreover, the sensor is hardly affected by acetaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or acidic-alkaline, which shows great selectivity. Finally, the performance of the proposed sensor is verified by using it for the determination of formaldehyde in a newly decorated house.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Dynamic structural coloration in Tmesisternus isabellae beetle elytra is a unique example of Bragg stack‐based wavelength tuning in response to external stimuli. The underlying principles could guide ...the design of quantitative optical stimuli‐responsive polymers. Existing nanofabrication techniques to create such materials are costly, time‐consuming, and require high expertise. This study reports a nanofabrication method to produce slanted Bragg stack structures in poly(acrylamide‐co‐poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate) hydrogel films by combining laser interference lithography and silver halide chemistry in a cost‐effective and rapid process (≈10 min). The Bragg stacks consist of silver bromide nanocrystal multilayers having a lattice spacing of ≈200 nm. Upon broadband light illumination, the Bragg stacks diffract a narrow‐band peak at 520 nm at ≈10° with respect to the normal incidence. The lattice spacing of the hydrogel films can be modulated by external stimuli to shift the Bragg peak for dynamic quantitative measurements. To demonstrate the utility of this method, the Bragg stacks are functionalized with phenylboronic acid molecules. Bragg peak shift analysis allows reversible glucose sensing within a physiological dynamic range (0.0–20.0 mmol L−1) having a sensitivity of 0.2 mmol L−1. The developed Bragg stacks may have application in portable, wearable, and implantable real‐time medical diagnostics at point‐of‐care settings.
Laser‐directed interference lithography involving silver halide chemistry is utilized as a rapid nanofabrication technique to create a slanted Bragg stack consisting of silver bromide nanocrystals in a hydrogel film. The lattice spacing of the Bragg stacks can be modulated by external stimuli to obtain dynamic diffraction peak shifts. The hydrogel functionalized with phenylboronic acid enables reversible quantitative measurements of glucose.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
•OGD-induced DAMPs activated cGAS-STING pathway and microglia polarization in BV2 cells.•cGAS-STING pathway and microglia polarization were activated in MCAO mouse brain.•si-cGAS inhibited microglial ...M1 polarization in BV2 cells or isolated microglial cells from MCAO mouse.•cGAS knockdown reduced brain cell apoptosis and cerebral infarction to improve nerve function.
Inflammation plays a pivotal role in promoting the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke (IS). Microglia is the major immunocompetent cells involved in different neuropathologies. The activation of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and its downstream signaling protein-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is increasingly recognized as a crucial determinant of neuropathophysiology. However, the mechanisms underlying cGAS-STING signaling regulating inflammatory response during IS remains to be elucidated. In this study, HT22 cells was used to establish an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) cell model in vitro, and then this cell culture supernatant containing OGD-induced DAMPs (OIDs) was employed to stimulate BV2 microglia. Furthermore, a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model was established. Cells and MCAO mice were treated with si-cGAS or si-NC lentivirus. The expression levels of STING, cGAS and p-IRF3 in BV2 cells or MCAO mouse brain; the microglial M1/M2 polarization of BV2 microglia or isolated microglial cells from MCAO mouse brain; the contents of iNOS, TNF-α, TGF-β and IL-10 in the culture medium of BV2 cells or in murine brain homogenates, were all detected. In addition, the severity of cerebral infarction with or without the knockdown of cGAS in a MCAO mouse model was also determined by TTC staining. Results showed that OGD-induced DAMPs strongly activated cGAS-STING pathway and triggered microglia polarization in BV2 cells, reflecting as the accumulation of a plethora of pro-inflammatory factors in activated microglia. However, these effects could be inhibited by cGAS knockdown. In the MCAO mouse model, the inhibition of cGAS-STING pathway resulted from cGAS knockdown could effectively diminish cell apoptosis in mouse brain stimulated by MIDs (MCAO-induced DAMPs), reduced the area ratio of cerebral infarction and ultimately improved the injured nerve function during IS. Taken together, our elucidation of underlying mechanisms involved in the microglial inflammatory response, triggered by cGAS-STING signaling, highlights this pathway as a potential therapeutic target in IS.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background
To evaluate the clinical significance of tumor response to induction chemotherapy (IC) in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC) patients and further to develop a ...nomogram for predicting survival prognosis.
Methods
A total of 498 patients with stage III‐IVA NPC applying IC and concurrent chemotherapy were reviewed (training cohort, n = 376; validation cohort, n = 122).
Results
Tumor response was an independent predictor for clinical outcomes. The nomogram included age, N stage, pretreatment Epstein–Barr virus DNA, lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio, and tumor response achieved an ideal C‐index of 0.703 (95% CI 0.655–0.751) in the validation cohort for predicting overall survival (OS), which outperformed than that of the TNM system alone (C‐index, 0.670, 95% CI: 0.622–0.718). In addition, the nomogram could successfully classified patients into different risk groups.
Conclusions
We established and validated a precise and convenient nomogram based on tumor response for predicting the OS of LANPC patients.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Fungal diseases pose constant threats to the global economy and food safety. As the largest group of plant fungal pathogens, necrotrophic fungi cause heavy crop losses worldwide. The molecular ...mechanisms of the interaction between necrotrophic fungi and plants are complex and involve sophisticated recognition and signaling networks. Here, we review recent findings on the roles of phytotoxin and proteinaceous effectors, pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and small RNAs from necrotrophic fungi. We also consider the functions of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), the receptor-like protein kinase BIK1, and epigenetic regulation in plant immunity to necrotrophic fungi.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose
To identify the indications for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) irradiated by intensity-modulated photon radiotherapy (IMRT), proton radiotherapy (PRT) or carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) by ...comparing of dosimetric parameters and incidences of classic radiation-induced liver disease (RILD).
Methods
In all, 40 HCCs were divided into group A (tumors located > 1 cm away from gastrointestinal GI tract), and group B (tumors located < 1 cm away from GI tract). The prescribed curative doses were 60 Gy (relative biological effectiveness RBE) in 10 fractions for group A, and 67.5 Gy (RBE) in 15 fractions for group B. IMRT, PRT and CIRT plans were separately generated to reach the curative doses and coverage. Dosimetric parameters evaluated were mean dose to normal liver (MDTNL) and the volume of normal liver receiving more than 1 Gy (RBE) (V1). Lyman–Kutcher–Burman model was used to determine the incidences of classic RILD, and Power model of non-linear regression, to estimate the tumor volume that could be irradiated with the curative doses within dose constraint of MDTNL.
Results
With comparable target doses, the MDTNL (Gy RBE) were 18.8 ± 3.7, 13.5 ± 3.1 and 12.8 ± 2.7 in group A and 24.9 ± 7.1, 18.2 ± 3.7 and 17.5 ± 3.7 in group B, respectively, for IMRT, PRT and CIRT. The classic RILD incidences (%) were 22.3 ± 30.0 in IMRT, 2.3 ± 4.9 in PRT and 1.2 ± 2.4 in CIRT. V1 (%) were 89.9 ± 8.8, 43.0 ± 10.2 and 45.9 ± 8.8, respectively, for IMRT, PRT and CIRT.
Conclusions
PRT and CIRT could spare the liver more than IMRT. IMRT could deliver the curative doses to HCC up to a diameter of 7.9 cm; PRT, up to 13.2 cm; and CIRT, up to 14.8 cm.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, VSZLJ, ZAGLJ
Cells are organized on length scales ranging from ångström to micrometres. However, the mechanisms by which ångström-scale molecular properties are translated to micrometre-scale macroscopic ...properties are not well understood. Here we show that interactions between diverse synthetic, multivalent macromolecules (including multi-domain proteins and RNA) produce sharp liquid-liquid-demixing phase separations, generating micrometre-sized liquid droplets in aqueous solution. This macroscopic transition corresponds to a molecular transition between small complexes and large, dynamic supramolecular polymers. The concentrations needed for phase transition are directly related to the valency of the interacting species. In the case of the actin-regulatory protein called neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) interacting with its established biological partners NCK and phosphorylated nephrin, the phase transition corresponds to a sharp increase in activity towards an actin nucleation factor, the Arp2/3 complex. The transition is governed by the degree of phosphorylation of nephrin, explaining how this property of the system can be controlled to regulatory effect by kinases. The widespread occurrence of multivalent systems suggests that phase transitions may be used to spatially organize and biochemically regulate information throughout biology.
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DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Solid-state lithium batteries require the high energy density, easy processing and flexibility of electrolyte membranes. However, the low-temperature ionic conductivity and high interfacial impedance ...are still hindering the further application. Therefore, we developed the solution pouring method by using lithium bis(oxalate)borate (LiBOB) to prepare the PEO/LiBOB/LLZTO solid electrolyte for room-temperature solid-state lithium battery. Compared with the traditional LiPF
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as a lithium additive, the solid-state electrolytes with LiBOB as additive hold higher ionic conductivity and electrochemical window. Moreover, the fabricated solid-state LiFePO
4
|Li batteries own higher specific capacity and excellent cycle performance at room temperature (165.9 mAh g
−1
with capacity retention of 84.6% after 100 cycles). The large volume of LiBOB could effectively decrease the crystallization state of PEO to improve the conductivity of Li
+
ion by the increase in the amorphous region in the whole polymer electrolyte system. This study offers a feasible strategy of preparing solid electrolytes for room-temperature solid-state lithium battery with high performance.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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