InGaN light emitting diodes (LED) structure with an embedded 1/4λ-stack nanoporous-GaN/undoped-GaN distributed Bragg reflectors (DBR) structure have been demonstrated. Si-heavily doped GaN epitaxial ...layers (n(+)-GaN) in the 12-period n(+)-GaN/u-GaN stack structure are transformed into low refractive index nanoporous GaN structure through the doping-selective electrochemical wet etching process. The central wavelength of the nanoporous DBR structure was located at 442.3 nm with a 57 nm linewidth and a 97.1% peak reflectivity. The effective cavity length (6.0λ), the effective penetration depth (278 nm) in the nanoporous DBR structure, and InGaN active layer matching to Fabry-Pérot mode order 12 were observed in the far-field photoluminescence radiative spectra. High electroluminescence emission intensity and line-width narrowing effect were measured in the DBR-LED compared with the non-treated LED structure. Non-linear emission intensity and line-width reducing effect, from 11.8 nm to 0.73 nm, were observed by increasing the laser excited power. Resonant cavity effect was observed in the InGaN LED with bottom nanoporous-DBR and top GaN/air interface.
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Gastric cancer (GC) is a fatal malignant tumor, and effective therapies to attenuate its progression are lacking. Nanoparticle (NP)-based solutions may enable the design of novel treatments to ...eliminate GC. Refined, receptor-targetable NPs can selectively target cancer cells and improve the cellular uptake of drugs. To overcome the current limitations and enhance the therapeutic effects, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and low-concentration doxorubicin (DX) were encapsulated in fucoidan and d-alpha-tocopherylpoly (ethylene glycol) succinate-conjugated hyaluronic acid-based NPs for targeting P-selectin-and cluster of differentiation (CD)44-expressing gastric tumors. The EGCG/DX-loaded NPs bound to GC cells and released bioactive combination drugs, demonstrating better anti-cancer effects than the EGCG/DX combination solution. In vivo assays in an orthotopic gastric tumor mouse model showed that the EGCG/DX-loaded NPs significantly increased the activity of gastric tumors without inducing organ injury. Overall, our EGCG/DX-NP system exerted a beneficial effect on GC treatment and may facilitate the development of nanomedicine-based combination chemotherapy against GC in the future.
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Ischemic stroke is a devastating disease with complex pathophysiology. Much evidence confirms that opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) is related with mitochondrial ...dysfunction to apoptosis in ischemic stroke, thus elucidating its signaling mechanism and screening novel MPTP inhibitor is therefore of paramount importance. Our earlier studies identified that gallic acid (GA), a naturally occurring plant phenol, endows with effect on inhibition of mitochondrial dysfunction, which has significant neuroprotective effect in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, its molecular mechanisms regulating mitochondrial dysfunction remain elusive. Here, we uncover a role of GA in protecting mitochondria via MPTP inhibition. In addition to inhibit CypD binding to adenine nucleotide translocator, GA potentiates extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) phosphorylation, leading to a decrease in cyclophilin D (CypD) expression, resulting in a desensitization to induction of MPTP, thus inhibiting caspase activation and ultimately giving rise to cellular survival. Our study firstly identifies ERK-CypD axis is one of the cornerstones of the cell death pathways following ischemic stroke, and confirms GA is a novel inhibitor of MPTP, which inhibits apoptosis depending on regulating the ERK-CypD axis.
Energy expenditure through metabolic equivalent (MET) prediction during resistance exercises in humans can be modeled by using cardiorespiratory parameters. In this study, we aimed to predict MET ...during six moderate-intensity resistance training sessions consisting of three different exercises. Eleven participants were recruited into two groups; an untrained (n = 5; with no resistance training experience) and a trained group (n = 6; with 2 months resistance training experience). Each participant completed six training sessions separated with a rest interval of 1–2 days. While wearing a mask for indirect calorimetric measurements using Cortex Metalyzer 3B, each participant performed training sessions consisting of three types of dumbbell exercises: shoulder press, deadlift, and squat. The metabolic equivalents (METs), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), blood lactate (BL), and Borg rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured. The MET was predicted using generalized estimating equations (GEE) for repeated measure data collected during exercise and rest periods. It was observed that during exercise period, RER, HR, SBP, and BL for the training group (QIC = 187, 95% CI = −0.012~0.915, p = 0.000*~0.033*) while RER, HR, SBP, DBP, and RPE (QIC = 48, 95% CI = −0.024~0.422, p = 0.000*~0.002*) during resting period for untrained group significantly predicted MET for moderate-intensity interval resistance training. It is concluded that the cardiorespiratory variables are significantly related to MET. During exercise, RER and HR significantly predicted MET for both groups along with additional parameters of SBP and BL for the training group. While during the resting period, RER, HR, SBP, DBP, and RPE related significantly for untrained and BL for training group respectively.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with oxidative stress and Ca2+-handling abnormalities in atrial myocytes. Our prior study has demonstrated the involvement of CD44, a membrane receptor for ...hyaluronan (HA), in the pathogenesis of AF. This study further evaluated whether CD44 and its related signaling mediate atrial tachycardia-induced oxidative stress and Ca2+-handling abnormalities. Tachypacing in atrium-derived myocytes (HL-1 cell line) induced the activation of CD44-related signaling, including HA and HA synthase (HAS) expression. Blocking HAS/HA/CD44 signaling attenuated tachypacing-induced oxidative stress (NADPH oxidase NOX 2/4 expression) and Ca2+-handling abnormalities (oxidized Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II ox-CaMKII and phospho-ryanodine receptor type 2 p-RyR2 expression) in HL-1 myocytes. Furthermore, a direct association between CD44 and NOX4 was documented in tachy-paced HL-1 myocytes and atrial tissues from AF patients. In vitro, Ca2+ spark frequencies in atrial myocytes isolated from CD44−/− mice were lower than those from wild-type mice. Furthermore, administration of an anti-CD44 blocking antibody in atrial myocytes isolated from wild-type mice diminished the frequency of Ca2+ spark. Ex vivo tachypacing models of CD44−/− mice exhibited a lower degree of oxidative stress and expression of ox-CaMKII/p-RyR2 in their atria than those of wild-type mice. In vivo, burst atrial pacing stimulated a less inducibility of AF in CD44−/−mice than in wild-type mice. In conclusion, atrial tachypacing-induced Ca2+-handling abnormalities are mediated via CD44/NOX4 signaling, which provides a possible explanation for the development of AF.
•Tachypacing induces an activation of HAS/HA/CD44 signaling in atrial myocytes.•There is a direct association between CD44 and NOX4 in tachy-paced atrial myocytes.•Blockade of CD44 signaling attenuates tachypacing-induced oxidative stress, Ca2+-handling abnormalities, and atrial fibrillation.•Atrial tachypacing-induced Ca2+-handling abnormalities are mediated via CD44/NOX4 signaling.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•We present a facile synthesis method for preparing network (NW)-silica-coated green- and red-emitting Cd-based quantum dots pristine GRQDs.•The main novelty of this method involves the coating of ...oil-soluble QDs with a silica shell without performing a ligand exchange or phase transfer.•The as-synthesized NW–silica-coated G(R)QD nanoparticles G(R)QD@NW–silica NPs presented evident enhancements against the high-energy blue-light radiation, a water medium, and heat.•This study proposes an effective approach for improving the luminous efficiency and long-term operation of composite QD-WLEDs, which have tremendous potential for use in next-generation display applications such as full-color mini-LEDs and micro-LEDs.
We present a facile synthesis for preparing network (NW)–silica-coated green- and red-emitting Cd-based quantum dot pristine GRQD powders. Mixing these powders with a methylphenyl silicone (MPS) encapsulant leads to an excellent long-term operation as QD-on-chip white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs). Pristine QDs coated with NW– or chain (Ch)–silica structures (determined by the synthesis temperature) were obtained by a hydrolysis/condensation pathway. Experimentally, in a harsh stability analysis, the as-synthesized NW–silica-coated G(R)QD nanoparticles G(R)QD@NW–silica NPs presented evident enhancements against the high blue energy irradiation (~45 mW), a water medium (aging for 1,000 hr), and heat (to 300°C) when compared with that of pristine G(R)QDs. Notably, the GRQD@NW–silica/MPS hybrid WLEDs (composite QD–WLEDs) were subjected to a high temperature and high humidity condition (85°C/85% RH) for long-term aging, which demonstrated that the luminous flux was maintained at 100% after aging for 1,000 hr (that of pristine QD–WLEDs decays 23%). Additionally, composite QD–WLEDs were also subjected to a long-term reliability analysis (25°C/60% RH) and exhibited an outstanding reliability with only 17% decay after continuous operation for 2,352 hr, as well as a high luminous efficacy of 81 lm/W and a wide color gamut (122% of NTSC). This study proposes an effective approach for improving the luminous efficiency and long-term operation of composite QD–WLEDs, which have tremendous potential for use in next-generation display applications such as full-color mini-LEDs and micro-LEDs.
We present a facile synthesis method for preparing network-silica-coated full-color Cd-based quantum dots, which demonstrated excellent stability for encapsulated into QD-on-chip white light-emitting diodes. This study proposes an effective approach for improving the luminous efficiency and long-term operation of composite QD-WLEDs, which have tremendous potential for use in next-generation display applications such as full-color mini-LEDs and micro-LEDs. Display omitted
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background： During the past decades, the incidence of invasive aspergillosis （IA） caused by Aspergillus funtigatus has increased dramatically. The aims of this study were to investigate the ...susceptibility of clinical isolates of A.fumigatus to triazole and the underlying cyp51A mutations in triazole-resistant A. fumigatus. Methods： A total of 126 A.Jumigatus clinical isolates from 126 patients with proven or probable IA were obtained from four large tertiary hospitals in Nanjing, China, between August 2012 and July 2015. The determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations （MICs） for itraconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole was performed by broth microdilution according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing reference method. Results： A total of 4 A.fumigatus isolates （3.17%） were confinned to be itraconazole resistant, with MICs of ≥8 mg/L, and one isolate （0.8%） was confirmed to be voriconazole resistant and posaconazole resistant, with MICs of 4 mg/L and 0.5 mg/L, respectively. We found that two of the 4 isolates of triazole-resistant A. fumigatus had the L98H amino acid substitution in combination with a 34-base pair tandem repeat in the promoter region, one isolate had an M2201 mutation, and another itraconazole-resistant isolate did not have a substitution in the civp51A gene. Conclusions： This study shows that triazole-resistant A.fumigatus clinical isolates are present in Nanjing, China, which is a new challenge to the clinical management of IA.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide; therefore, there is an emerging need for novel experimental models that allow for the identification and ...validation of biomarkers for CRC-specific progression. In the present study, a repeated sphere-forming assay was used as a strategy to select a malignant subpopulation from a CRC cell line, namely HCT116. The assay was validated by confirming that canonical stemness markers were upregulated in the sphere state at every generation of the selection assay. The resulting subpopulation, after eight rounds of selection, exhibited increased sphere-forming capacity in vitro and increased tumorigenicity in vivo. Furthermore, dipeptidase 1 (DPEP1) was identified as the major differentially expressed gene in the selected clone, and its depletion suppressed the elevated sphere-forming capacity in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. Overall, the present study established an experimental strategy to isolate a malignant subpopulation from a CRC cell line. Additionally, results from the present model revealed that DPEP1 may serve as a promising prognostic biomarker for CRC. Key words: cell line, colorectal cancer, DPEP1, malignant subpopulation, sphere-forming
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