For the possible highest performance of single-stage combined partial nitritation/anammox (PNA) process, a continuous complete-mix granular reactor was operated at progressively higher nitrogen ...loading rate. The variations in bacterial community structure of granules were also characterized using high-throughput pyrosequencing, to give a detail insight to the relationship between reactor performance and functional organism abundance within completely autotrophic nitrogen removal system. In 172 days of operation, a superior total nitrogen (TN) removal rate over 3.9 kg N/(m
3
/day) was stable implemented at a fixed dissolved oxygen concentration of 1.9 mg/L, corresponding to the maximum specific substrate utilization rate of 0.36/day for TN based on the related kinetics modeling. Pyrosequencing results revealed that the genus
Nitrosomonas
responsible for aerobic ammonium oxidation was dominated on the granule surface, which was essential to offer the required niche for the selective enrichment of anammox bacteria (genus
Candidatus
Kuenenia) in the inner layer. And the present of various heterotrophic organisms with general functions, known as fermentation and denitrification, could not be overlooked. In addition, it was believed that an adequate excess of ammonium in the bulk liquid played a key role in maintaining process stability, by suppressing the growth of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria through dual-substrate competitions.
Understanding the electromagnetic interactions between plasmonic noble metal nanocrystals and different substrates is very important because a number of plasmon-based devices and applications, such ...as chemical and biological sensing, metamaterials, subwavelength waveguides, plasmon-enhanced photovoltaic cells, plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy, and photoswitches, require the attachment of metal nanocrystals onto various substrates. In this study, we focused on the effect of the dielectric properties of substrates on the far-field scattering patterns of supported Au nanorods. Seven types of substrates, including metals, semiconductors, and insulators, were examined. The far-field scattering patterns from individual Au nanorods were found to exhibit a doughnut shape when the modulus of the dielectric constant of the substrate is above ∼7, while they appear as solid bright spots when the modulus is below ∼7. This finding was validated by numerical electrodynamic calculations. Moreover, the doughnut-shaped scattering patterns are very sensitive to the spacing between the nanorod and substrate. For the nanorods supported on silicon wafers, when the spacing is increased above ∼14 nm, the scattering patterns change from the doughnut shape to the solid bright spot. These results will be useful for the understanding of the plasmonic properties of noble metal nanocrystals supported on substrates and the development of a number of plasmon-based optical and optoelectronic devices at different size scales.
Both the excitation and emission processes of a fluorescent molecule positioned near a noble metal nanocrystal can interact strongly with the localized surface plasmon resonance of the metal ...nanocrystal. While the effects of this plasmon-fluorophore interaction on the intensity, polarization, and direction of the fluorescence emission have been intensively investigated, the plasmonic effect on the emission spectrum has barely been explored. We show, on the single-particle level, that the localized surface plasmon resonance of Au nanorods can strongly alter the spectral profile of the emission from adjacent fluorescent molecules. The fluorescent molecules are embedded in a mesostructured silica shell that is uniformly coated on each Au nanorod. The longitudinal plasmon resonance wavelengths of the nanorods are deliberately shifted away from the intrinsic fluorescence emission peak wavelength by synthetically tuning the nanorod aspect ratio. The resultant emission spectra of the fluorescent molecules are found to be remarkably modulated. Besides the intrinsic fluorescence peak, a plasmon-induced new peak emerges at the plasmon resonance wavelength. The intensity of this plasmon-induced fluorescence peak increases as the size of the Au nanorod is increased. This spectral modulation can be understood by depicting the decay process of the fluorophore with multiple vibrational energy levels. The plasmon with a specific resonance energy will enhance the transition rate between the energy levels that have the transition energy approximately equal to the plasmon energy. This plasmon-enhanced transition rate results in a modulated spectral profile of the fluorescence emission.
The plasmon coupling between metal nanocrystals can lead to large plasmon shifts, enormous electric field enhancements, and new plasmon modes. Metal nanorods, unlike spherical ones, possess a ...transverse and a longitudinal plasmon mode owing to their geometrical anisotropy. Consequently, the plasmon coupling between metal nanorods is much more complicated than that between nanospheres. For the latter, experimental approaches, simple scaling relationships, and exact analytic solutions have been developed for describing the plasmon coupling. In this study, we have carried out extensive finite-difference time-domain simulations to understand the plasmon coupling in the dimers of Au nanorods that are aligned along their length axes. The effects of the gap distance, longitudinal plasmon energy, and end shape of the nanorod monomers on the plasmon coupling have been scrutinized. The coupling energy diagrams show a general anticrossing behavior. All of them can be rescaled into one simple and universal hyperbolic formula. A theoretical model based on two interacting mechanical oscillators has been developed to understand the plasmon coupling between two arbitrarily varying Au nanorods. This model, together with the universal equation, allows for the determination of the coupled plasmon energies of Au nanorod dimers with high accuracies. Furthermore, the Fano interference has been observed in the nanorod heterodimers, with its behavior being dependent on the gap distance and plasmon energies of the nanorod monomers. Our results will be useful for predicting the coupled plasmon energies of metal nanorod dimers in a variety of plasmonic applications and understanding the Fano resonance in plasmonic nanostructures.
Introduction
The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) family is highly expressed in a variety of tumor types and represents a new target for cancer therapy. Different FGFR subtype aberrations ...have been found to exhibit highly variable sensitivity and efficacy to FGFR inhibitors.
Methods
The present study is the first to suggest an imaging method for assessing FGFR1 expression. The FGFR1-targeting peptide NOTA-PEG2-KAEWKSLGEEAWHSK was synthesized by manual solid-phase peptide synthesis and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification and then labeled with fluorine-18 using NOTA as a chelator.
In vitro
and
in vivo
experiments were conducted to evaluate the stability, affinity and specificity of the probe. Tumor targeting efficacy and biodistribution were evaluated by micro-PET/CT imaging in RT-112, A549, SNU-16 and Calu-3 xenografts.
Results
The radiochemical purity of 18FF-FGFR1 was 98.66% ± 0.30% (n = 3) with excellent stability. The cellular uptake rate of 18FF-FGFR1 in the RT-112 cell line (FGFR1 overexpression) was higher than that in the other cell lines and could be blocked by the presence of excess unlabeled FGFR1 peptide. Micro-PET/CT imaging revealed a significant concentration of 18FF-FGFR1 in RT-112 xenografts with no or very low uptake in nontargeted organs and tissues, which demonstrated that 18FF-FGFR1 was selectively taken up by FGFR1-positive tumors.
Conclusion
18FF-FGFR1 showed high stability, affinity, specificity and good imaging capacity for FGFR1-overexpressing tumors
in vivo
, which provides new application potential in the visualization of FGFR1 expression in solid tumors.
Increased expression of TK1 is associated with the progression of a variety of tumors. However, the relationship of TK1 expression with immune cell infiltration and its prognostic value in ...hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unknown. In this study the TCGA database was used to evaluate TK1 expression and its impact on survival in patients with HCC. Compared with normal tissue, TK1 in the liver tissue of patients with HCC was significantly up-regulated at both the mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, TK1 expression was significantly related to pathological stage, tumor stage and lymph node metastasis, with high TK1 expression being an unfavorable prognostic factor for HCC. TK1 expression was also significantly associated with the infiltration of B cells, T cells, and dendritic cells in HCC. Single-cell sequencing analysis revealed that TK1 was associated with relatively large changes in T cells, especially gamma-delta T cells. A prognostic risk score based on TK1-related immune genes (CD40LG and TNFRSF4) was established using COX regression analysis. By integrating the immune-related risk score model with clinical features, a nomogram was constructed to predict the survival rate of HCC patients (1 year, 3-year and 5-year AUC of 0.782, 0.783 and 0.771, respectively). Knockdown of the target gene for TK1 was found to have significant anti-apoptosis and pro-proliferation effects on HepG2 cells. The level of TK1 in the serum and liver tissue of patients with HCC was significantly increased relative to healthy controls. These findings highlight the role of TK1 in the tumor immune response of HCC patients and in the proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cells. TK1 could therefore be a potential immunotherapy target for HCC patients, while the two immune genes related to TK1 (CD40LG And TNFRSF4) may be promising prognostic biomarkers in HCC.
The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the clinical outcomes in patients who underwent rapid deployment aortic valve replacement (RDAVR) and conventional bio prosthetic aortic valve replacement ...(CAVR).We performed a literature search by August 2018. The primary outcomes were hospital and 1-year mortality, and the secondary endpoints included the aortic cross-clamp (ACC), cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, and postoperative and valve-related complications.Two randomized controlled trials and 13 propensity score-matched studies were included. There was no difference between RDAVR and CAVR in hospital mortality (2.5% versus 2.1%; risk ratio (RR) 1.16 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80-1.68) or 1-year mortality (2.9% versus 4.1%; RR 0.69 95% CI 0.34-1.34). RDAVR significantly reduced the ACC time ( (mean difference (MD) −24.33 95% CI −28.35 to −20.32) and CPB time (MD −21.51 95% CI −22.83 to −20.20). The pooled analysis showed that RDAVR doubled the occurrence of permanent pacemaker implantation (8.6% versus 4.3%; RR 2.05 95% CI 1.62-2.60). Meanwhile, the blood transfusion amount (MD −1.54 95% CI −2.22 to −0.86) and postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) occurrence (RR 0.83 95% CI 0.69-0.99) was reduced. The difference of paravalvular leakage frequency between RDAVR and CAVR was marginal (RR 1.77 95% CI 1.00-3.17; P = 0.05). Furthermore, RDAVR was related to larger valves (MD 0.70 cm 95% CI 0.33-1.07) and lower mean pressure gradients (MD −1.93 mmHg 95% CI −3.58 to −0.28).The hospital and 1-year survival rates between RDAVR and CAVR are comparable. RDAVR reduces POAF occurrence and blood transfusion but is associated with a higher occurrence of pacemaker implantation.
Introduction Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes substantial economic losses in the global swine industry. The current vaccine options offer limited protection against ...PRRSV transmission, and there are no effective commercial antivirals available. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new antiviral strategies that slow global PRRSV transmission. Methods In this study, we synthesized a dicoumarol-graphene oxide quantum dot (DIC-GQD) polymer with excellent biocompatibility. This polymer was synthesized via an electrostatic adsorption method using the natural drug DIC and GQDs as raw materials. Results Our findings demonstrated that DIC exhibits high anti-PRRSV activity by inhibiting the PRRSV replication stage. The transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that DIC treatment stimulates genes associated with the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signalling pathway. In porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs), DIC-GQDs induce TYK2, JAK1, STAT1, and STAT2 phosphorylation, leading to the upregulation of JAK1, STAT1, STAT2, interferon-β (IFN-β) and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Animal challenge experiments further confirmed that DIC-GQDs effectively alleviated clinical symptoms and pathological reactions in the lungs, spleen, and lymph nodes of PRRSV-infected pigs. Discussion These findings suggest that DIC-GQDs significantly inhibits PRRSV proliferation by activating the JAK/STAT signalling pathway. Therefore, DIC-GQDs hold promise as an alternative treatment for PRRSV infection.
The effects of various factors on the resonance coupling between elongated Au nanocrystals and organic dyes have been systematically investigated through the preparation of hybrid nanostructures ...between Au nanocrystals and the electrostatically adsorbed dye molecules. A nanocrystal sample is chosen for each dye to match the longitudinal plasmon resonance wavelength with the absorption peak wavelength of the dye as close as possible so that the resonance coupling strength can be maximized. The resonance coupling strength is found to approximately increase as the molecular volume-normalized absorptivity is increased. It is mainly determined by the plasmon resonance energy of the Au nanocrystals instead of their shapes and sizes. Moreover, the resonance coupling can be reversibly controlled if the dye in the hybrid nanostructures is pH-sensitive. The coupling can also be weakened in the presence of metal ions. These results will be highly useful for designing resonance coupling-based sensing devices and for plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy.
Despite extensive debates about the mental health impacts of the use of social networking sites (SNSs), including WeChat, the association and mechanisms between social interaction of WeChat use ...intensity and antenatal depression are unclear.
We aimed to test the mediating roles of upward social comparison on social interaction of WeChat and rumination in the association between social interaction of WeChat use intensity and antenatal depression.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in four hospitals with the self-reported measures of social interaction of WeChat use intensity, upward social comparison on social interaction of WeChat, rumination, antenatal depression, and control variables. The mediation analysis was performed through Model 6 from the PROCESS macro 4.0 in SPSS 26.
Results from 2661 participants showed that antenatal depression was unrelated to social interaction of WeChat use intensity (P=.54), but was significantly positively related to the attitude toward social interaction of WeChat (P=.01). The direct effect of attitude toward social interaction of WeChat use on antenatal depression was not statistically significant (β=-.03, P=.05). The results supported an indirect relationship between attitude toward social interaction of WeChat use and antenatal depression via (1) upward social comparison on social interaction of WeChat (indirect effect value=0.04, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.06); (2) rumination (indirect effect value=-0.02, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.01); and (3) upward social comparison on social interaction of WeChat and rumination in sequence (indirect effect value=0.07, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.08).
Our findings highlight the necessity of focusing on attitudes toward SNS use, and the importance of upward social comparison and rumination in understanding the effect of SNS use on antenatal depression.
PDF
